
Location:
United States
Genres:
News & Politics Podcasts
Networks:
Progressive Voices
Description:
The Only True Democracy in Talk Radio
Language:
English
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Impending Government Shutdown; Dangers of RFK Jr.'s New Vaccine Policies
9/22/2025
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by Kate Ackley, a Senior Reporter for Bloomberg Government. The two examine the impending government shutdown, which is set to happen October 1st. Democrats seem less eager to bail out Republicans than they did at the beginning of the current Trump administration, drawing the line at new massive healthcare cuts which would drive up premiums 10-20% for folks with Affordable Care Act health plans. Then, Brad is joined by Dr. Bob Bollinger is the Raj and Kamla Gupta Professor of Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. They examine the chaos caused at the CDC by RFK Jr. and the Trump administration, and the potentially dangerous new restrictions on who can now receive vaccines. Dr. Bollinger holds joint appointments in International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and in Community Public Health at the JH School of Nursing. He has more than 45 years of experience in international public health, clinical research, and education dealing with such global health priorities as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, dengue, antibiotic resistant infections, COVID-19 and other emerging diseases. Dr. Bollinger is also Associate Director of the Center for Clinical Global Health Education (CCGHE). Their website is main.ccghe.net. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
Duration:00:41:46
AFT President Discusses New Book, "Why Fascists Fear Teachers;" Trump Sending Troops to Memphis Next
9/15/2025
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). They discuss her brand new book, "Why Fascists Fear Teachers. Public Education and the Future of Democracy." The book's Publisher, Penguin House, describes it as "A rousing defense of public education as the cornerstone of American democracy, by the woman attacked by the far right as “the most dangerous person in the world” Attacks on schools and teachers have long been a hallmark of fascist regimes: Throughout history, as many dictators rose to power they began banning books and controlling curriculum. Fascists fear teachers because teachers foster an educated and empowered population that can see past propaganda and scare tactics. Fascists fear teachers because they teach young people how to think for themselves. Drawing on history, stories from teachers on the front lines, and decades of experience with America’s public schools, Weingarten argues that teaching students to think critically is the key to defeating would-be dictators. She encourages teachers to continue focusing on their vital mission to help young people thrive." The book is available for purchase here: https://sites.prh.com/whyfascistsfearteachers During the second half of the show, Brad is joined by Sara Haghdoosti and she is the Executive Director of Win Without War, a diverse network of activists and organizations working towards a progressive U.S. foreign policy. She details the dangers of militarizing local law enforcement, and what it means for everyday people that the President is willing to position troops in American cities to enforce his own agenda (with Memphis, TN just the latest). Based just outside of Chicago, Sara also speaks to what the local community is experiencing right now as Trump targets the city. Sara also talks about her organization’s ‘Know Your Rights Campaign’ for military service members that do not want to follow unlawful orders from the Trump administration: https://winwithoutwar.org/win-without-war-launches-notwhatyousignedupfor-org-for-members-of-the-military-during-trumps-authoritarian-crackdown/ Finally, Brad and Sara talk foreign policy, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as the Trump administration's controversial airstrike on a Venezuelan boat that Trump claims contained drug smugglers transporting fentanyl. Randi Weingarten is president of the 1.8 million-member AFT, which represents teachers; paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; higher education faculty and staff; nurses and other healthcare professionals; local, state and federal government employees; and early childhood educators. The AFT is dedicated to the belief that every person in America deserves the freedom to thrive, fueled by opportunity, justice and a voice in our democracy. Their website is www.AFT.org and their handle on BlueSky is @aftunion.bsky.social. Randi's handle is @rweingarten.bsky.social. 'Win Without War' is a national grassroots organization that works with elected officials, policymakers, media, advocacy organizations, and movement leaders to promote and advance a values-based progressive national security strategy that prioritizes human security and diplomacy over war. They believe that by democratizing U.S. foreign policy and providing progressive alternatives, we can achieve more peaceful, just, and common sense policies that ensure that all people — regardless of race, nationality, gender, religion, or economic status — can find and take advantage of opportunity equally and feel secure. Their website is WinWithoutWar.org. Their handle on BlueSky is @winwithoutwar.bsky.social. Sara's handle...
Duration:00:41:01
Trump Using Military in New, Dangerous Ways While His Tariffs Weigh Down Consumers
9/8/2025
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton. Col. Leighton (USAF-Ret.) provides his expert analysis on Venezuela and the Trump administration's ill-considered attack on the purported drug boat and what that might mean for how the current regime uses our military. The two also posit the political and diplomatic implications of Trump's “name change” from the Department of Defense to the Department of War. Col. Leighton also breaks down the significance of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Un joining Xi Jinping in a show of strength as China unveiled new weapons at a huge military parade. Finally, the Colonel gives the latest updates on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Then, Brad is joined by Sarah Jones, the Editor-in-Chief of PoliticusUSA. The two examine the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) again handing President Trump a bleak set of jobs numbers, just one month after he fired the agency's commissioner over weak employment data. They also detail the specific damage the President's tariffs have done on the U.S. economy, as well as a new report from Goldman Sachs estimating that 86% of the tariff revenue collected so far has been paid by American businesses and consumers. Additionally, the pair talks about the latest news surrounding the Epstein files. Finally, they discuss the chilling implications as Trump continues working to turn the military into his own police force, which he seeks to unleash in predominantly Democratic-led American cities. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton. bsky.social. Sarah Jones' handle on BlueSky is @politicussarah.bsky.social and the website for PoliticusUSA is www.PoliticusUSA.com. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
Duration:00:41:59
AFL-CIO's 'It’s Better in a Union’ Nationwide Bus Tour
9/5/2025
Leslie welcomes back Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the 63 unions and 15 million members of the AFL-CIO. In 2022, he was unanimously elected to the position as the highest ranking African American officer in the history of America’s labor movement. Secretary Redmond shares how he and the AFL-CIO just wrapped up their nationwide “It’s Better in a Union: Fighting for Freedom, Fairness and Security” bus tour. While big corporations profit off the backs of working people and politicians continue to raise costs and cut essential lifesaving services, the labor movement traveled the country providing voice to and building power with workers in the lead up to Labor Day. Mr. Redmond also blasts the new Trump administration's Union-busting executive order, which was issued right before Labor Day. The new order rips away collective bargaining rights from workers at NASA, the International Trade Association, the NWS, and more. The website for the AFL-CIO is AFLCIO.org and their handle on Blue Sky is @AFLCIO.org. Their handle on Facebook, Instagram and X is @AFLCIO. Fred's handle on X is @STRedmond.
Duration:00:22:57
Trump Gets Abysmal Job Numbers in First Report After Firing BLS Chief
9/5/2025
Leslie is joined by Dr. Robert Shapiro, Chairman of Sonecon, an economic advisory firm, and a Senior Fellow of the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. The two examine the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) again handing President Trump a bleak set of jobs numbers, just one month after he fired the agency's commissioner over weak employment data. On Friday morning, the BLS reported that nonfarm payroll employment rose by only 22,000 in August. Analysts had forecast that the economy would add 75,000 jobs during the month. According to the agency, gains made in health care were offset by losses in federal government employment, as well as mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction. While July's figures were revised up to 79,000 from 73,000, June's numbers were revised down by 27,000, dropping from 14,000 to minus-13,000. That means this past June marked the first time the labor market shed jobs since late 2020. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate edged up to 4.3 percent from 4.2 percent in August. Leslie and Dr. Shapiro also discuss his latest blog, "The Lies Behind Trump's D.C. Troop Sure." (Link: https://washingtonmonthly.com/2025/08/18/the-lies-behind-trumps-d-c-troop-surge/) In it, Dr. Shapiro breaks down how President Trump’s justification for deploying troops in Washington, D.C. on the basis of crime is false, as FBI data show crime rates in the capital have sharply declined and are lower than in many comparable U.S. cities. Instead, Dr. Shapiro details how Trump’s actions reflect a partisan strategy and authoritarian impulse to consolidate power and intimidate opposition, rather than any genuine concern for public safety. Dr. Shapiro's website is Sonecon.com and his handle on X is @RobShapiro.
Duration:00:19:59
No Peace Deal as Putin Steamrolls Trump; Hypocritical GOP Sends National Guard to D.C. for 'Violent Crime'
8/18/2025
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by Robert Benson, D.Phil., Associate Director for National Security and International Policy at American Progress. The two breakdown Trump's summit with Putin, where he failed to secure a peace deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine. Then, Brad is joined by Tara Devlin, host of the podcast, 'TARABUSTER.' The pair exposes Trump and the GOP's hypocrisy as they deploy the National Guard to Washington D.C. with the excuse of stopping violent crime, yet they are the same people who pardoned those who violently assaulted Capitol Police Officers right in Washington D.C. on January 6th. They also discuss California Governor Gavin Newsom's efforts to nullify Trump led efforts to gerrymander Texas congressional districts, with the goal of gaining GOP house seats, by doing the same in California, in order to gain Democratic House seats to balance things out. The website for American Progress is http://www.AmericanProgress.org and their handle on BlueSky is @americanprogress.bsky.social. Robert's handle is @robertbenson92.bsky.social. Tara Devlin is a New York City based comedian, writer, and host of the unapologetically-liberal podcast "TARABUSTER.” Tarabuster is 5-star viewer-reviewed and 100% viewer-supported. Help keep the REAL liberal media going – and growing – by becoming a Patron of Tarabuster at Patreon.com/TaraDevlin. You can follow Tara on BlueSky at @tarabuster.bsky.social and on Instagram at @Taradackty. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
Duration:00:41:50
Economic Shocks, Tariff Talks, and Dorm Room Blocks - Manufacturing a Stronger America
8/15/2025
Leslie welcomes back Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, for an in-depth look at four timely topics shaping the global economy and American industry. They break down China’s worsening economic crisis and what it means for global markets, and unpack the latest developments in U.S. tariff negotiations with key trading partners. The pair also highlights practical Made-in-America products perfect for outfitting a dorm room or first apartment, and finally, explores how programs like Manufacturing USA and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership are fueling innovation, strengthening supply chains, and creating good-paying jobs here at home. AAM's website is AmericanManufacturing.org and their YouTube channel is youtube.com/@AmericanMfg (where you can watch episode's of AAM's podcast, "The Manufacturing Report") If you want to listen to episodes of "The Manufacturing Report," visit AmericanManufacturing.org/Podcast. Their handles on X and BlueSky are @KeepItMadeInUSA, and @keepitmadeinusa.bsky.social, respectively. Scott's handle on X is @ScottPaulAAM.
Duration:00:41:13
Media Capitulation to Trump; Palestinian Children Dying of Starvation in Gaza
8/11/2025
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by Tim Karr, Senior of Director of Strategy and Communications at 'Free Press,' a nonpartisan organization fighting for your rights to connect and communicate. The pair examines the increasingly disturbing trend of the mainstream media's capitulation to Trump and his administration. This includes a discussion on Free Press's newly created 'Media Capitulation Index,' and a report that Tim authored on the way forward. It's titled, "A More Perfect Media: Saving America’s Fourth Estate from Billionaires, Broligarchy and Trump." Then, Brad is joined by Hadar Susskind, President and CEO of 'The New Jewish Narrative." The organization's mission statement identifies their members as "American Jews, deeply rooted in the story of our people and the history of our struggle for peace and justice. In our narrative, peace and justice are the birthright of Israelis, of Palestinians, and of all people." The two discuss the increasingly dire situation in Gaza, where the United Nation's Humanitarian Affairs Office says that food consumption has "declined to its lowest level since the onset of the war." They report that "nearly 90% of households have resorted to extremely severe coping mechanisms to feed themselves, including taking significant risks to obtain food and scavenging from garbage." Gaza health authorities also report that over 200 people have died of starvation since the war began 22 months ago, and that nearly half of them were children. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
Duration:00:41:37
Trump Struggles to Distance Himself from Epstein; Trump's Family Separation 2.0 Policies
7/28/2025
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is joined by the White House Correspondent for CQ Roll Call, John Bennett. The pair discusses President Trump's struggles to distance himself from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal that has overtaken the political world, and the put the GOP on defense. They also discuss the humanitarian crisis happening in Gaza, as well as the Trump's attacks on the indepence of the Federal Reserve and its Chairman, Jerome Powell (who Trump appointed during his first administration). Then, Brad is joined by Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, an Immigration Attorney and Advocate. The two discuss the Trump administration's family separation policies and the militarization of ICE. Kate also tells the powerful story that led her to want to help vulnerable immigrants and their families. The website for CQ Roll Call is www.RollCall.com and John's handle on X is @BennettJohnT. Kate is also the Owner and CEO of Lincoln-Goldfinch Law and their website is www.LincolnGoldfinch.com. Kate's handle is @AttorneyKLG on X, @attorneykatelg on Instagram, and @abogadakate on TikTok. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
Duration:00:41:26
United Steelworkers are Fighting to Protect Veterans
7/22/2025
Leslie is joined by Jim Savage, Legislative Representative for the United Steelworkers (USW). The two discuss how the U.S. Dept. of Veterans' Affairs has been understaffed and underfunded for decades, often proving to be a barrier to those who served getting the care they need. However, rather than bolstering this vital lifeline, early on in the Trump administration, amid brutal cuts to a number of federal agencies, it announced that it would eliminate approximately 83,000 positions at the VA. While this was part of a larger effort to gut the federal government in the name of efficiency, as in other areas, there was nothing targeted or strategic about these cuts. Jim explains how the USW and their "Veterans of Steel" group is not only fighting these cuts, but working across the political aisle to promote common sense legislation to further help U.S. military veterans. Follow the USW on Facebook, Instagram and X, using the handle @steelworkers, and visit their website at USW.org. Also, check them out on Blue Sky where their handle is @steelworkers.bsky.social. Jim's handle on Blue Sky is @savageusw.bsky.social.
Duration:00:43:12
Trump's Epstien Ties Under Scrutiny; Inflation and CPI Rise as Trump Tariffs Take Hold
7/21/2025
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by Sarah Jones, the Editor-in-Chief of PoliticusUSA. The two discuss the Wall Street Journal Report that, in 2003, Trump sent Jeffrey Epstein, his then close friend, a graphic birthday card with a self-drawn picture of a naked woman, with the message, "Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret." Then, Brad is joined by Dr. Robert Shapiro, Chairman of Sonecon, an economic advisory firm and a Senior Fellow of the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. The pair examines the new economic data showing that both inflation, and the consumer price index (CPI) rose in June. This shows that the Trump tariffs are raising both inflation, and prices for goods that the American people purchase regularly. Brad also talks with Dr. Shapiro about his new piece for Washington Monthly, titled, "Trump's Budget Could Break the Economy." (Link: https://washingtonmonthly.com/2025/07/20/trumps-deficits-could-break-the-economy/) Sarah Jones' handle on BlueSky is @politicussarah.bsky.social and the website for PoliticusUSA is www.PoliticusUSA.com. Dr. Shapiro's website is www.sonecon.com, where you can find his latest blog posts as well. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
Duration:00:42:00
Made in America - Manufacturing, Trade, and the Fight for the Middle Class
7/11/2025
Leslie is joined by Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a partnership established by some of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union. The pair first discusses a new piece that Scott wrote for 'Industry Week' that finally puts to rest one of U.S. manufacturing naysayers’ favorite lines: “Who wants to work in a factory anyway?” Next, they explore what progress has the Trump administration made on all of their attempted trade deals after the White House extended its reciprocal tariff pause to August 1st, with the hope of securing more deals. Third, Scott and Leslie explain why Americans should be pleased about a new 10-year end to 'the de minimis exemption,' a Customs loophole that Chinese e-commerce behemoths like Temu and DHGate had been exploiting. Fourth, Leslie asks Scott about an FTC letter sent on the same day Amazon launched its Prime Day sale this week, which called on the e-commerce giant (and Walmart) to put a stop to false “Made in USA” claims on its website. This comes after Amazon’s marketplace has increasingly become a Wild West of products from third-party vendors as it seeks to emulate SHEIN and Temu. Finally, both Leslie and Scott applauded Senator Elissa Slotkin for a recent speech she gave outlining her “Economic War Plan." They also found this particular line from the speech very timely: "As a CIA officer and Pentagon official by training, I believe that the single, greatest security threat to the United States is *not* coming from abroad. It’s the shrinking middle class here at home." Here is where you can find more of Scott and the AAM's work: WEBSITE: AmericanManufacturing.org YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@AmericanMfg (where you can watch episode's of AAM's podcast, "The Manufacturing Report") X: 1. AAM - @KeepItMadeInUSA 2. Scott Paul - @ScottPaulAAM BlueSky: @keepitmadeinusa.bsky.social
Duration:00:42:40
How Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Affects Student Loans Now and In the Future
7/9/2025
The Student Debt Crisis Center takes over the airwaves of 'the Leslie Marshall Show,' where they explain how President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" will affect anyone who has or plans to take out a student loan in the future. They also discuss what these changes could mean for the economy as a whole, and what folks can do right now if they have defaulted student loans. This episode's SDCC hosts are President and Founder, Natalia Abrams, Executive Director, Sabrina Calazans, Special Projects & 'Free the Degree' Director, Sabrina Ashley Cereceres, and Communications Associate Ángel Rentería. The Student Debt Crisis Center (SDCC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that centers the needs and voices of borrowers, and partners with allies, to impact public policy and end the student debt crisis. The SDCC website is www.StudentDebtCrisis.org and their handle on X, Instagram and Facebook is @DebtCrisisOrg. Their handle on BlueSky is @debtcrisisorg.bsky.social.
Duration:00:41:26
Bipartisan Advocacy Organization for Children says BBB Puts Kids Last
7/8/2025
Leslie is joined by Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus on Children, a bipartisan advocacy organization working to make children the priority in federal policy and budget decisions. Bruce explains how the newly passed 'Big Beautiful Bill' "chooses billionaires over babies, and puts the nation’s children in unprecedented peril." Here are just a few ways that the new law will hurt the nation’s children: Cuts $1 trillion from Medicaid and CHIP: Medicaid and CHIP provide health insurance to over 37 million children in the United States and Medicaid covers nearly 40% of births. H.R.1 includes the largest funding cuts to these programs in their history and creates administrative burdens, such as lock-out periods and work requirements. Defunds the largest child anti-hunger program: One-in-five children experience food insecurity. This bill cuts food assistance by cutting more than $200 billion from SNAP and places a larger cost share burden on states. This cost shift could cause states to end their programs or limit enrollment. Advocates argue that losing SNAP benefits could also impact free school meals, further risking a rise in child hunger. Leaves children behind in tax policy: This legislation offers an inadequate Child Tax Credit. While some will see an increased credit amount, the increase still fails to keep pace with inflation. Even worse, the new structure keeps more than 20 million children from receiving the full credit and blocks 2.6 million kids from receiving any credit at all. Undermines public schools: H.R.1 creates a new tax benefit for wealthy donors that jeopardizes the future of our public schools. This education voucher tax credit will offer 2-3x the benefit of other non-profit donations, incentivizing donations over other organizations. It is important to note research shows vouchers do not improve academic outcomes and disproportionately benefit families who already send their children to private schools. Threatens the child care workforce: There is already a child care shortage in the country. H.R.1 will make it harder to recruit and train new child care professionals by prohibiting the use of federal student loans for sectors that do not earn over the median high school graduate salary. We must further invest in this profession and work to increase pay for providers, not create additional barriers to building a strong child care workforce. Increases funding for family separation: H.R. 1 dramatically raises funding for immigration enforcement. This funding will lead to increased family separation and detention. These immigration practices disrupt entire communities and are known to create childhood trauma, adversely affecting child health and development. Cancels efforts to address the climate crisis: H.R. 1 eliminates investments in solar and renewable energy leaving our children to deal with greater effects of climate change in the future. This measure comes as kids are experiencing adverse environmental health effects and natural disasters. Forces kids to shoulder our ballooned national debt: H.R. 1 drives up the national debt by $3 trillion in order to give tax breaks to billionaires and industries like gun manufacturers. This bill expects our children to shoulder the cost of these tax breaks when they become adults while stripping them of essential services today. The website for First Focus on Children is FirstFocus.org and their handle on BlueSky is @FirstFocus.bsky.social. Bruce's handle there is @BruceLesley.bsky.social.
Duration:00:22:00
Teamsters Talk State of Sanitation Industry and Ongoing Strikes at Republic Services
7/8/2025
Leslie is joined by Victor Mineros, Proud Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 396, Western Region International Vice President, and Director of the Teamsters Solid Waste and Recycling Division, which represents tens of thousands of sanitation workers across the country. The two discuss what’s happening in the U.S. sanitation industry, the ongoing strikes at Republic Services, and why this moment matters for working families across the country. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow them on X and Instagram, where their handle is @Teamsters, and “like” them on Facebook at Facebook.com/Teamsters.
Duration:00:20:29
Implications Now that 'Big, Ugly Bill' Has Passed; Trump Cuts to NWS Exacerbates Texas Flood Danger
7/7/2025
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by Mabinty Quarshie, White House Reporter for 'the Washington Examiner.' The pair examines what's in the Republicans' newly passed 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' how Trump managed to convince wayward GOP congressional members to support such an unpopular bill, the implications the bill has on next year's congressional midterms, Virginia's statewide elections this year, and an update on Trump's tariffs. Then, Bob Deans, Senior Advisor for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), talks about Trump and DOGE's cuts to the U.S. National Weather Service, and whether they contributed to the poor forecast and deaths in the Texas floods. Then, they discuss how the cuts to clean energy manufacturing incentives will hurt the planet, as well as the United States' economy and manufacturing base. Finally, they talk about Trump's executive orders, which have been devastating for our environment. You can follow Mabinty Quarshie on X at @MabintyQ. The website for NRDC is www.NRDC.org and their handle on BlueSky is @NRDC.org. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
Duration:00:41:02
Iran Still Able to Develop Nuclear Weapon?; Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Historically Unpopular
6/30/2025
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.
Brad is first joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton. Col. Leighton (USAF-Ret.) gives the latest updates on Iran's nuclear program following missile strikes on their nuclear enrichment facilities by the Trump administration. He and Brad also discuss the U.N. nuclear agency disagreeing with the administration that the strikes have fully disabled Iran from enriching uranium for a nuclear weapon in the near future. Then, Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works, joins Brad to break down Congressional Republicans' 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' and why it's so intensely unpopular with Americans.
Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton. bsky.social.
The 'Social Security Works' website is www.socialsecurityworks.org and their handle on BlueSky is @socialsecurityworks.org. Alex's handle there is @alaw202.bsky.social.
Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
Duration:00:41:13
China Surpassing U.S. Military-Industrial Might? 'Made In USA' Marketing Surges; American Infrastructure Crisis
6/20/2025
Leslie is joined by Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a partnership established by some of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union. The two discuss: 1. The Wall Street Journal recently documented the stark disparity between China and America’s military-industrial strength in a series of graphs. The results are downright alarming, especially as geopolitical tensions flare. The data illustrate the urgent need for the United States to take action to revitalize our domestic shipbuilding industry. 2. With tariffs coming into force, Made in the USA marketing is surging. U.S. consumers are rejiggering their purchasing habits, as evidenced by a boom in “Made in USA” searches on e-commerce sites, and companies are more than happy to tout their “Made in USA” commitments. (From Modern Retail: “Amazon searches for the phrase shot up to 126,000 from 26,000 in the past 30 days — nearly five times the previous period.”) 3. The state of our infrastructure and energy grid is dire. It’s a crisis that creates another obstacle to U.S. manufacturing’s renaissance and America’s competitiveness. 4. This time, the China Shock is global in nature. Beijing is flooding the world’s markets with its industrial overcapacity across all categories, and job losses and bankruptcies are trailing the imports. WEBSITE: AmericanManufacturing.org YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@AmericanMfg (where you can watch episode's of AAM's podcast, "The Manufacturing Report") (If you want to listen to episodes of "The Manufacturing Report," visit AmericanManufacturing.org/Podcast) X: 1. AAM - @KeepItMadeInUSA 2. Scott Paul - @ScottPaulAAM BlueSky: @keepitmadeinusa.bsky.social
Duration:00:41:56
10 Years of Trump in Politics; NYC, Virginia and New Jersey Election Previews
6/16/2025
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by Charlie Cook, Founder of 'the Cook Political Report,' to talk about ten years of Trump in politics. This includes how he completely changed the Republican party's identity, and what might happen to the GOP once Trump is no longer President. Then, Kim Scott, Publisher of 'Dem List,' previews the NYC Mayoral primary election. She also details the upcoming Governors' races in Virginia and New Jersey, which tend to be a bellwether for the following year's midterm elections in Congress. Kim Scott's 'Demlist' is a free national daily political column, calendar and resource site for Democrats and allies - a unique, central source that connects people to the who, what and where of Democratic events, issues and activism. You can find out more about them at DemList.com and follow them on BlueSky at the handle @demlist.bsky.social. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
Duration:00:41:42
Latest on Gaza & Ukraine, Trump's B-Day Military Parade, National Guard Sicced on ICE Protesters, Trump-Musk Meltdown
6/9/2025
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton. Col. Leighton (USAF-Ret.) gives the latest updates on the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. He also discusses President Trump having tanks roll into Washington D.C. for the 250th Birthday of the U.S. Army (but also for his own birthday, which is the same day as the parade). Finally, the two discuss the Trump administration siccing 2,000 National Guard troops on protesters who were demonstrating against the administration's deportation tactics. Then, Brad is joined by Tara Devlin, the host of the podcast, 'TARABUSTER.' The two discuss the meltdown between President Trump and Elon Musk, as well as how the mainstream media now seems to cover Billionaires like the third branch of Government. They also discuss the Trump administration siccing 2,000 National Guard troops on protesters who were demonstrating against the administration's deportation tactics. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton. bsky.social. Tara Devlin is a New York City based comedian, writer, and host of the unapologetically-liberal podcast "TARABUSTER.” Tarabuster is 5-star viewer-reviewed and 100% viewer-supported. Help keep the REAL liberal media going – and growing – by becoming a Patron of Tarabuster at Patreon.com/TaraDevlin. You can follow Tara on BlueSky at @tarabuster.bsky.social and on Instagram at @Taradackty. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
Duration:00:42:00