Episodes
Friday Mar 24, 2017
Friday Mar 24, 2017
It’s Friday, March 24, 2017. Back out East...this is Kevin Mahoney, editor and founder of Raging Chicken Press. Each week I talk to our Capitol muckraker-in-chief, Sean Kitchen, about the good, the bad, and the ugly in state and national politics.
This week in Trumplandia: To Repeal or Not to Repeal...that was the question. Democrats thrown down a Supreme challenge. Do they have the discipline and spine to carry through? Bernie Sanders puts faith in organized resistance in the face of an inept Democratic Party. Pelosi still wedded to losing script. Closing in on Trumpkovsky and his Bratva. Devin Nunes slips out back door of House Intelligence Committee to run and tell Daddy Donald that G-Men are busting the party. Rex Tillerson blows off NATO in favor golf getaway at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort with Chinese president. And, of course, Ivanka gets West Wing office as first “adult child” of a president.
Pennsylvania still a great place to be if you love the crazy. Representative Scott Perry claims EPA is infringing upon God’s right to pollute. A Perry spokesperson took to Facebook to clarify that Perry didn’t mean God creates ALL pollution...just most of it in the Chesapeake Bay. PA State Public Utility Commissioner Robert Powelson says anti-pipeline protesters are engaged in a jihad against natural gas. Will that be enough to get him his sought after Trump appointment? And, still freaked out by fake news and protesting grandma’s, good old boy Daryl Metcalf bans media from press conference on right to work in State Capitol. It was a press conference. Questions still remain if PA GOP used dark magic to open a sinkhole in front of Capitol in an attempt to swallow a bus of citizens prepared to rally against repeal of ACA. Critics say it just might have been years of GOP imposed austerity and neglect of key infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Senator Casey seems to be growing into his spine. Just in time, too as it looks like conservative rebranded moderate Representative Charlie Dent may be throwing in his hat to challenge Casey in 2018. Tomorrow, Philadelphia hosts a Labor Notes Troublemakers School. I’ll be there and will be part of a panel talking APSCUF strike.
Tune in to the Rick Smith Show this and every Saturday at 7pm EST. Yours truly will be there giving the weekly #Resistance Report. You can stream the show live online at Freespeech.org. You can also tune in on the Dish Network, Direct TV, and with the FSTV app on Roku.
Remember folks, we need you to help keep pull-no-punches, progressive media going strong. Become a member of Raging Chicken for as little at $2/month! Simply go to RagingChickenPress.org and look for the Support and Membership tab. Click “Become a member” and you’re on your way. Or, click “Be a Patron” to become a member on Patreon. Not ready to become a member? No problem. You can make a one-time donation by clicking “Donate.” Look for new t-shirt release this coming week.
We are digging in for 2017 and Trumplandia. We need you - the progressive community - to help us deepen pull-no-punches, progressive media that will hold power accountable.
- Become a member: https://goo.gl/OgYRW0
- Be a Patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rcpress
- Make a donation: https://www.paypal.me/rcpress
Music in second break: “The Resistance,” by Invisible World. Play and download their song HERE. Donations support Planned Parenthood and the Midwest Music Foundation.
Friday Mar 17, 2017
Friday Mar 17, 2017
It’s Friday, March 17, 2017. Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I am Kevin Mahoney, editor and founder of Raging Chicken Press. Each week I talk to our Capitol muckraker-in-chief, Sean Kitchen, about the good, the bad, and the ugly in state and national politics.
This week in Trumplandia: Last week the Trump organization telegraphed coming cuts to the EPA, NOAA, the State Dept. and other government agencies. This week we got to see Trump drop the GOP’s radical wish list like a bomb. Casualties will include seniors looking for a meal, poor young folks looking for work, scientists looking to cure diseases, and children looking for Sesame Street. White House Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney explains how taking meals away from home bound seniors is a secret plan to help coal miners and single-parents in Detroit. Details of how said plan will work are still being stewed in a White House cauldron awaiting their Amazon Prime delivery of eye of newt.
Sebastian Gorka, President Trump’s top counter-terrorism adviser, swore lifetime allegiance to Hungarian pro-nazi party. Not making that up.
New DNC head makes leadership debut in response to Trump budget. Still working off failed political strategy. We’ll draw from experience in PA to layout what Trump’s budget is designed to do. Why Democratic leadership can’t see this is astounding. We’re happy to help hold your hands; you can send your donations to Raging Chicken Press.
Sean Kitchen earns his fake news street cred from right-wing nut job legislator Daryl Metcalf. Trump’s budget promises devastating impacts on Pennsylvania’s water and environment. We’ll take you through the details. Governor Tom Wolf goes on the attack on the national level - seems to figure out what a political strategy with a spine looks like. And PA Senator Bob Casey also seems to find a political voice gearing up for his 2018 campaign. And, finally, a huge congratulations to Seth Kahn, Amy Lynch-Biniek, and Bill Lalicker on the release of their book, Contingency, Exploitation, and Solidarity: Labor and Action in English Composition. Kevin was with them in Portland, Oregon for the celebration. We talk Portland, craft beer, and more in our last segment.
Tune in to the Rick Smith Show this and every Saturday at 7pm EST. Yours truly will be there giving the weekly #Resistance Report. This week David Yankovich will be on hand to talk about GOP insane health care proposal. You can stream the show live online at Freespeech.org. You can also tune in on the Dish Network, Direct TV, and with the FSTV app on Roku.
Remember folks, we need you to help keep pull-no-punches, progressive media going strong. Become a member of Raging Chicken for as little at $2/month! Simply go to RagingChickenPress.org and look for the Support and Membership tab. Click “Become a member” and you’re on your way. Or, if you are on Patreon, click “Be a Patron” under the same tab. Not ready to become a member? No problem. You can make a one-time donation by clicking “Donate.” Look for new t-shirt release this coming week.
We are digging in for 2017 and Trumplandia. We need you - the progressive community - to help us deepen pull-no-punches, progressive media that will hold power accountable.
- Become a member: https://goo.gl/OgYRW0
- Be a Patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rcpress
- Make a donation: https://www.paypal.me/rcpress
Friday Mar 10, 2017
Friday Mar 10, 2017
It’s Friday, March 10, 2017. I am Kevin Mahoney, editor and founder of Raging Chicken Press and Raging Chicken Media. Each week I talk to our Capitol muckraker-in-chief, Sean Kitchen, about the good, the bad, and the ugly in state and national politics.
This week in Trumplandia: Time to cut the government. Trump organization drops the ax on EPA, NOAA, State Department, and possibly HUD. The word “science” is purged from mission statement of the EPA’s Office of Science and Technology Policy. Founding member of EPA’s environmental justice office quits. Looks like we’re dropping black hoods on climate scientists. And, you could see this one coming, deep cuts proposed for climate research. GOP will replace Obamacare with....Obamacare? Or, what exactly? And then there’s Russia...
Bernie Sanders joins workers on the line at a Nissan plant in Mississippi. CWA gets contract with AT&T Southwest that includes bringing 3000 jobs back to the US. Day Without Women/International Women’s Strike was a day of protest, celebration, and intersectionality. At least three schools districts close for the day due to the number of women who requested leave.
Nurses and technicians at Delaware County Memorial Hospital go on a two day strike and then are locked out by their new for-profit, hedge fund owners for an additional three days. Raging Chicken was there for the first day of the strike. God confirms his preferred Senatorial candidate. Congressman Mike Kelly blows the lid of the Shadow gov’t.
Tune in to the Rick Smith Show this and every Saturday at 7pm EST. Yours truly will be there giving the weekly #Resistance Report. This week David Yankovich will be on hand to talk about GOP insane health care proposal. You can stream the show live online at Freespeech.org. You can also tune in on the Dish Network, Direct TV, and with the FSTV app on Roku.
Remember folks, we need you to help keep pull-no-punches, progressive media going strong. Become a member of Raging Chicken for as little at $2/month! Simply go to RagingChickenPress.org and look for the Support and Membership tab. Click “Become a member” and you’re on your way. Or, if you are on Patreon, click “Be a Patron” under the same tab. Not ready to become a member? No problem. You can make a one-time donation by clicking “Donate.”
We are digging in for 2017 and Trumplandia. We need you - the progressive community - to help us deepen pull-no-punches, progressive media that will hold power accountable.
- Become a member: https://goo.gl/OgYRW0
- Be a Patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rcpress
- Make a donation: https://www.paypal.me/rcpress
Sunday Mar 05, 2017
Solidarity with PASNAP on Strike - A Father/Daughter message
Sunday Mar 05, 2017
Sunday Mar 05, 2017
I spent part of today on the line with PASNAP nurses and techs on strike against Delaware County Memorial Hospital. Check out all the videos of today's action HERE. You'll find even more coverage on our Facebook page.
When got home, my daughter wanted to see the video I took. She was happy to hear the song "We Are the Union!" - it's one of her favorites. She started singing the song - with her own ad libs - and I was lucky enough to record it.
This goes out to the nurses and techs on strike. We stand with you.
Bread and Roses,
Kevin Mahoney
Friday Mar 03, 2017
Friday Mar 03, 2017
This week in Trumplandia: It was Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress. The ability to read a speech on a teleprompter leads some pretty gushing reviews by the media and several high profile Democrats. Knowing the Democrats have to steel themselves for a long fight, Democrats chose former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear to give the response to Trump. Beshear’s address helps insomniacs; but, leads most progressives to yell at their TVs. We’ll talk more #DemFail. Meanwhile, progressives in the states aren’t waiting for the national party to get it’s head out of the sand. More and more progressives looking to run for office and protests have not subsided.
Jeff Sessions first did not and then did have conversations with Russian operatives during the presidential campaign while serving as a surrogate for Trump. Session plays the nice old Klan - I mean man - card, emphasizing his “oh, golly gee...come to think of it” defense. He’s now recused himself from ongoing investigation of Trumps Russia ties.
Earlier this week Rep. Rick Saccone announced he was challenging Se. Bob Casey for Senate in 2018. Saccone helped protesters understand our #GodlyHeritage. Tuesday with Toomey activists arrested in Philadelphia for trying to meet with Toomey. This morning Sean got up bright and early to join activists from Lancaster Stands Up at a Chamber of Commerce meeting with Republican State Rep. Lloyd Smucker who has refused to hold town halls for his constituents. Sean was inside that meeting. And yours truly makes a debut on FSTV, doing the #ResistanceReport on the Rick Smith Show. Tune in to Rick’s show this and every Saturday at 7pm EST. You can tune in online at Freespeech.org. You can also tune in on the Dish Network, Direct TV, and with the FSTV app on Roku.
Remember folks, we need you to help keep progressive, activist media going strong. Become a member of Raging Chicken for as little at $2/month! Simply go to RagingChickenPress.org and look for the Support and Membership tab. Click “Become a member.” We are also on Patreon. If you want to be a member through Patreon just click, click “Be a Patron” under the same tab. Or, if you are not ready to become a member, you can make a one-time donation by clicking “Donate.”
For a limited time, you can pick up one of our exclusive “UNPAID PROTESTER” t-shirts over at Teespring. But hurry up, it will available for just three more days. We also rereleased our ALTERNATIVE FACTS ARE LIES tshirt for a limited time. Check out the full store on Teespring. Proceeds from t-shirt sales go directly to support our awesome team of writers. And next week we’ll be launching a new exclusive design! Stay tuned.
We are digging in for 2017 and Trumplandia. We need you - the progressive community - to help us deepen pull-no-punches, progressive media that will hold power accountable.
- Become a member: https://goo.gl/OgYRW0
- Be a Patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rcpress
- Make a donation: https://www.paypal.me/rcpress
Monday Feb 27, 2017
Monday Feb 27, 2017
On Monday, February 27, 2017, right-wing Republican Representative Rick Saccone announced his campaign to challenge PA’s Democratic Senator Bob Casey in the 2018 midterm elections. Saccone represents the 39th district in Western PA, which includes parts of Allegheny and Washington Counties. Saccone is perhaps best known for introducing and passing a bill declaring 2012 the “Year of the Bible.” Saccone was elected to the PA house as part of the Tea Party sweep of the 2010 midterm elections.
Saccone is introduced by Tim Barton, the President and COO of WallBuilders - a right-wing Christian organization founded by his father, David Barton. Here’s how Americans United for the Separation of Church and State describes WallBuilders:
“WallBuilders was founded by David Barton, a former Christian school teacher in Texas who has carved out a lucrative niche for himself by promoting the idea that the United States was founded to be a “Christian nation.”
Named by Time magazine as one of the most 25 influential evangelicals, Barton uses WallBuilders, which has both for-profit and non-profit arms, to attack mainstream history, insisting that church-state separation was not the intention of our Founders.”
Saccone’s announcement was held in the PA Capitol rotunda. This audio was recorded by Sean Kitchen of Raging Chicken Press.
We are digging in for 2017 and Trumplandia. We need you - the progressive community - to help us deepen pull-no-punches, progressive media that will hold power accountable.
- Become a member: https://goo.gl/OgYRW0
- Be a Patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rcpress
- Make a donation: https://www.paypal.me/rcpress
Friday Feb 24, 2017
Thomas Frank Keynote Address at 2017 Keystone Progress Summit
Friday Feb 24, 2017
Friday Feb 24, 2017
The 2017 Keystone Progress Summit was held at the Hilton in Harrisburg, PA February 17-19. Thomas Frank, author of Listen Liberal: Or, Whatever Happened to the Party of the People? - as well as numerous other books - gave the keynote address on Saturday, February 18. Thomas Frank is introduced by Pat Clark, the Board Chair of the Keystone Progress Education Fund.
This audio was recorded by Sean Kitchen of Raging Chicken Press.
Friday Feb 24, 2017
PA State Rep. Chris Rabb Speaks at 2017 Keystone Progress Summit
Friday Feb 24, 2017
Friday Feb 24, 2017
The 2017 Keystone Progress Summit was held at the Hilton in Harrisburg, PA February 17-19. Democrat Chris Rabb, newly elected state representative from district 200 in Philadelphia, spoke as part of the Keynote luncheon on Saturday, February 18th. Chris Rabb is introduced by Pat Clark, the Board Chair of the Keystone Progress Education Fund.
This audio was recorded by Sean Kitchen of Raging Chicken Press.
Friday Feb 24, 2017
Friday Feb 24, 2017
We’re officially one month into Trumplandia, folks. The Trump Organization kicked off Deportation Nation this week. Jeff Sessions will finally get a chance to squash Reefer Madness. Bannon reaffirms strategy to attack media as the “opposition party.” Standing Rock evicted as Dakota Access Pipeline green lighted again.
Closer to home, PA Dept of Env Protection gives green light to Mariner East 2 pipeline as protests and legal battles continue. Activists are taking a Stand against Williams Transco Central Penn Line South. Senator Eichelberger steps in it, because he cares about education. PASSHE Chancellor ramps up the Shock Doctrine even the system “self-study” is delayed. Oh, and our friend Eichelberger is all for shutting down a couple universities...because, you know, he cares about education. And thanks to a court ruling, a Republican may take over in a district that is 95% registered Democrat. And Democratic Senator Bob Casey gets his first official challenger - Rick Saccone. Looks like Saccone is getting ready to bring the crazy. And we’ll reflect back on our weekend at Keystone Progressive Summit! All that and more on today’s show.
Check out Women's Political Bootcamp in Kutztown on Saturday 2/24.
Remember folks, we need you to help keep progressive, activist media going strong. Become a member of Raging Chicken for as little at $2/month! Simply go to RagingChickenPress.org and look for the Support and Membership tab. Click “Become a member.” We are also on Patreon. If you want to be a member through Patreon just click, click “Be a Patron” under the same tab. Or, if you are not ready to become a member, you can make a one-time donation by clicking “Donate.”
For a limited time, you can pick up one of our exclusive “UNPAID PROTESTER” t-shirts over at Teespring. The will be available for the next 10 days or so. Proceeds from t-shirt sales go directly to support our awesome team of writers. And next week we’ll be launching a new exclusive design! Stay tuned.
We are digging in for 2017 and Trumplandia. We need you - the progressive community - to help us deepen pull-no-punches, progressive media that will hold power accountable.
- Become a member: https://goo.gl/OgYRW0
- Be a Patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rcpress
- Make a donation: https://www.paypal.me/rcpress
Friday Feb 17, 2017
Friday Feb 17, 2017
Welcome to the first 2017 edition of The Sit Down. In 2017 we are going to be focused on organizing and building power.
When I started teaching at Kutztown, some of my courses focused on rhetorics of globalization. It wasn’t long before students began showing up at my office hours saying they wanted to get involved with more activism, but that Kutztown was “too conservative” or “most students are apathetic” or “nothing is going on here.” Well, after a few weeks of a constant stream of students coming to me to say a version of that same narrative, it became pretty clear that the problems students were having was not about “apathy” it was about a lack of a network and the lack of experience building political networks. So, I began putting students in touch with each other - and helping them build their networks. In less than a year we had an active and successful United Students Against Sweatshops chapter, a student labor group, and we had build a network with student activists in the region.
The fact is that that one of the most important challenges we face on the left is that of isolation. And I see this again and again across Pennsylvania. That was one of the reasons, in fact, that I started Raging Chicken Press in 2011. That is why I was thrilled when Matt Breidenstein contacted me over a month ago about a project he and a group of other progressives were working on in the Philadelphia region: PhillyProgressives.com.
Today on the Sit Down I am pleased to welcome Matt Breidenstein and Ajay Joshi, two of the co-founders of PhillyProgressives.com to talk about the launch of their project to connect progressives and activists across the region.
Welcome Matt and Ajay!
Remember folks, we need you to help keep progressive, activist media going strong. Become a member of Raging Chicken for as little at $2/month! Simply go to RagingChickenPress.org and look for the Support and Membership tab. We are digging in for 2017 and Trumplandia. We need you - the progressive community - to help us deepen pull-no-punches, progressive media that will hold power accountable.
- Become a member: https://goo.gl/OgYRW0
- Be a Patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rcpress
- Make a donation: https://www.paypal.me/rcpress