Episodes
Friday Mar 09, 2018
Friday Mar 09, 2018
West Virginia wildcat strikers take the day, winning a 5% pay raise not only for themselves but for all state workers. More importantly, their massively popular strike is waking the sleeping giant of militant labor as teachers in Oklahoma, Kentucky, and even Arizona begin discussing and planning for their own state-wide walkouts. Will this signal the beginning of a revolt against austerity and shock doctrine politics?
If the teachers of Appalachia are showing the way to a progressive future, a Florida teacher was attempting to take us backward. Raw Story reports that the Florida teacher ran a white supremacist podcast and openly bragged about indoctrinating her students. Gotta wonder of Betsy DeVos will be weighing in on this one after 2017 CPAC speech claiming teachers and faculty were telling students what to think.
The Trump Organization continues its tailspin with more resignations, criminal charges, and incoherent policy initiatives. Trump signs orders to impose tariffs, leading to some awkward pictures of Trump buddying up to Steelworkers. The GOP barely has time to register its outrage at Trump’s order before senior South Korean officials gave a presser outside the White House, announcing that Trump is ready to have a sit down with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions suing California over sanctuary laws, setting off a standoff between Federal Gov’t power and State rights. And, as if on cue, Trump supporters caught on tape threatening to burn down a progressive bookstore in Berkeley. International Women’s Day/Strike sees huge demonstrations and strikes around the world. In Spain alone, millions turn out for International Women’s Strike. And, a columnist in the Washington Post says it’s time to give socialism a try.
This coming week will see if Godly Heritage beats Nancy’s Little Lamb as Rick Saccone is neck in neck with Connor Lamb in Tuesday’s special election for the PA 18th. Does the election say anything about the so-called “Blue Wave” expected in 2018?
Greg Edwards, running for a House seat in Lehigh Valley’s new 7th district picks up a huge endorsement from SEIU’s Statewide Council. Edwards adds that to a growing list of progressive endorsements including Justice Democrats, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Make the Road PA, Women’s March Pennsylvania, Common Defense, Working Families, and The Collective. Edwards is running against a right-wing, anti-immigrant Democrat in the primary. In many ways, the Democratic Primary in the PA-7th will be as much if not more of a bellwether for the future of the Democratic Party in the state as any other race. The SEIU endorsement comes days after the DCCC tried to get Edwards, the only candidate of color, to drop out of the PA 7th race. That would have essentially handed the party’s endorsement to the anti-immigrant Democrat. And Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski finally resigns after being found guilty on 47 of 54 charges tied to 9 pay-to-play corruption schemes.
And what happened to the Bunsis Report? Check out RCPress coverage since 2011.
In today’s last call, we talk...bread? YES! Beer Bread from Bread Box and Bakery in Perkasie! It's available EVERY Wednesday. It's made with @freewillbrewing seven-course red ale for the hydration. We also use some of the spent grain for body. They also have Irish Soda Bread now through St. Patty’s day. Free Will released Cloudy with a Chance of Charcuterie in 16 oz cans this week. It's an awesome New England-style IPA coming in at 7.0% ABV. 4-Packs Available at both locations. Steven Hawking says it's time to become an interplanetary species if we want the human race to survive. And, Sean thought it was a great idea to poke the Jill Stein beehive this morning. All that, and so much more.
Friday Mar 02, 2018
Friday Mar 02, 2018
The nation got a window into what a post-Janus labor movement needs to look like. West Virginia Teachers looked like they got a win on Tuesday after for days of statewide strikes. But teachers and education workers remain on strike as the State Senate balks at the modest salary increases negotiated between the governor and the union. Graduate students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign got the message. Members of the Graduate Employee Organization enter day five of their strike after nearly a year of negotiations broke down over tuition waivers, salary, and graduate student rights. The strike is now the longest in the university’s history.
The Intercept reports that the DCCC hired a consultant to do some internal polling; the consultant report actively discourages the party and party candidates from supporting single-payer health care. The kicker? The polling didn’t ask Democrats about single-payer. Also in The Intercept this week, the Koch Brothers are winning big league under Trump. Internal documents from the Koch Brothers network show that they are celebrating the rollback of corporate regulations, the withdrawal from the Paris Accord on Climate Change, and the billionaire-loving tax reform package. At least Paul Ryan is happy. According to the Intercept, “Days after the tax bill passed, Charles Koch and his wife donated $500,000 to Speaker Paul Ryan’s joint fundraising leadership PAC.”
California passes automatic voter registration for 16 and 17 year-olds. That’s going to be huge. That’s all good given this week’s freak warming in the Arctic, today’s arrival of the second “bomb cyclone” of 2018, and rare and deadly winter storms across Europe. If that’s not enough, Putin put on a dog-and-pony show announcing Russia’s new “invincible” nuclear weapons. To thunderous applause in the Duma, we should say. Oh, almost forgot. Hey, Hope. White Lies Matter.
Pennsylvania Republicans still trying to get the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out new state Congressional maps. Justice Alito denied them last time. We await his ruling this time around. Conor Lamb and Rick Saccone now in a dead heat in PA’s 18th district special election as boatloads of right-wing money pours into the race according to the Center for Responsive Politics. That election is March 13. Madeline Dean now running in the PA 4th. Daylin Leach drops out. Boo hoo.
Delco Republican Nick Miccarelli is accused of drugging, raping and threatening women a gun in prior relationships. Miccarelli decides threatening a reporter is a good response to the charges. A dozen or two PA House and Senate members and their staffers are packing heat in the Capitol. That’s comforting.
The Philly School Reform Commission votes to spend $20 million for cyberlearning. Students from NEPA school district relocated on Wednesday due to an AR-15 blessing ceremony at the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary Church run by the cultish Hyung Jin Moon. Some participants even donned crowns of bullets.
PASSHE budget hearings in the State Senate demonstrate how deep the anti-union sentiment is on the budget committee and in PASSHE administration. Wagner threatens to shut down PASSHE universities. State Senator calls Wagner’s statements irresponsible, calling for a path toward free college tuition in the state instead. PASSHE Chancellor Karen Whitney calls collective bargaining “out of whack.”
Students from PA Student Power Network were out in force on Wednesday, holding actions to defend DACA and push for a clean DREAM act. They held actions at TWELVE locations across the state, including actions at the offices of Senator Bob Casey, Rep. Brendan Boyle in Montgomery County, Rep. Mike Kelly in Erie, Rep. Bob Brady’s office in Philly, and, of course, Rep. Lou Barletta’s office in Harrisburg, demanding justice for all 11 million undocumented immigrants!
In today’s Last Call, I’m going total political fan-boy with Sarah Kendzior and Francesca Fiorentini this week. You’ve got to check out Fiorentini’s “Why the Rich Love Destroying Unions” on her AJ+ Newsbroke on FB and YouTube. And Kendzior was on freaking fire on the Rick Smith Show on Thursday. Free Will has released Love Letter from the 90s again. If you missed it last time, don’t miss this. And tomorrow, March 3, is Saucony Creek’s 5th Anniversary/Birthday party from 11 am to 10 pm. It’s an all-ages fest and The Unicorn will be released. Bands include Hannah Violet from 12-3pm and regional fave Frog Holler from 3-6pm.
Friday Feb 23, 2018
Friday Feb 23, 2018
On today’s show, students bring the hurt on the NRA and show politicians what a spine looks like. Florida lawmakers take baby steps toward introducing mild gun bills today. And, as you might expect, NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre, goes off into fantasyland at CPAC, claiming Kamala Harris and Corey Booker are socialists looking to infiltrate the government. The worst thing is, he has no idea how funny that actually is. West Virginia teachers go on two-day, state-wide strike showing the rest of the labor movement what it's going to need to do in the coming years. Saturday, February 24th is the Working People’s Day of Action around the country. Rallies are scheduled from coast to coast ahead of Monday’s Supreme Court arguments in Janus v. AFSCME. Rick Gates, former Trump campaign official and lapdog to Paul Manafort, gets rolled. Missouri Governor Eric Greitens thinks threatening his mistress with naked bondage pictures will keep her mouth shut. Instead, she says #MeToo and exposes him. A nation of immigrants? Not anymore, as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services alters its mission.
In Pennsylvania, all hell broke loose at the State Supreme Court released new Congressional maps. PA GOP gets aid from Senator Pat Toomey (who may or may not be of this planet), in a push to impeach the justices, claiming their imposition of new Congressional maps is “unconstitutional” and “a power grab.” The new maps are VERY interesting, especially if we look at Greg Edwards’ campaign in the new Lehigh Valley district. Rick Saccone will go bye-bye. Interim PASSHE Chancellor Karen Whitney decides the best way to argue for the public higher education is to: 1) raise tuition; 2) say faculty are arrogant; and, 3) claim that students really don’t care about their educational experience, they just want a damn degree. Really? In budget hearings this week, State Senator Scott Wagner says he wants to shut down PASSHE universities. PA Student Power Network launches CollegeForAllPA.org. The statewide student group is pressuring lawmakers and candidates to sign a pledge for free college tuition. And, it’s PSSA testing time. Kevin gives a testimonial.
In today’s Last Call: Sean gets dragged into an alt-right pissing match on Twitter. Any story that begins with “A Trumper challenges a Nazi to a fight and…” has got to be good. What’s up with the patriarchal, neo-colonialist race to Mars? We talk about Marcie Bianco’s excellent piece on NBC digital about just that. Saucony Creek plans to open a taproom at Franklin Street Station in Reading. They are also taking ticket orders for their release of The Unicorn on March 3. They’re also celebrating their 5th birthday! Free Will releases a double IPA, “Orange Colored Malcontent,” and it’s freaking amazing. And, Sean is given a can of Cushwa. Yep, that’s a brewery that you should know about.
Friday Feb 16, 2018
Friday Feb 16, 2018
More tributes and sacrifices made to the gods Vulcan and Moloch this week as AR-15 armed 19-year old slaughter 17 in Parkland, Florida. More evidence that unregulated, free market capitalism produces the best products on the market. I’m with Sam Seder on this one, I’m sending thank you cards to gun manufacturers CEOs and boards of directors. Janus v. AFSCME slated to steamroll public sector unions in Supreme Court case. That will be argued on Feb 26. "Working Peoples' Day of Action," rallies are being called for Feb. 24 across the country to protest the Janus case. News flash to my brothers and sisters in the labor movement - business unionism, closed-door negotiations, and “hoping for the best” is not going to stave off the wrecking ball. Organize or go home I think are our options. Failed presidential candidate Mitt Romney throws his hat in for Utah Senate race, you know the guy who thinks half of the American people are lazy freeloaders.
PA gerrymandering case heats up as Gov. Wolf rejects redrawn GOP maps and the PA House Democratic Caucus releases its own maps. Last night at midnight was the deadline. What will the Supreme Court do? Senator Scarnati says “that he has not ruled out impeachment” of the PA Supremes. PA GOP officially hitches its wagon to alt-right candidates. PA retiring House Democratic Leadership wants their sons to take their seats. Howard Bunsis comes to Kutztown University to discuss his report on the financial condition of the university and the PASSHE system as a whole. And the first medical marijuana dispensaries open up across PA.
And in today’s last call, are your ready for the Galactic Gilded Age? Call them space barons or Captains of the space industry. Whatever we call them, billionaires are rewriting our space policy. Free Will releases Orange Colored Malcontent – Double IPA w/Cara Cara Oranges – 9.5% ABV - and this Sunday Free Will hosts as barrel aged tap take over. And if that were not enough, the Bread Box and Bakery in Perkasie has teamed up with Free Will in making Beer Bread! You’ll have to wait until Wednesday for the next release...this week’s bake is all gone. I paid a visit to Saucony Creek for lunch yesterday. I didn’t have a beer, but damn the food was awesome. Pizza Boy Berliner Weiss is canned!
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Friday Feb 09, 2018
Friday Feb 09, 2018
Another round of Government Shutdown and restart starring Rand Paul and Nancy Pelosi. Ryan Grim and Lee Fang exposing the disease infecting the Democratic Party in the Intercept. The good news is that at least six progressive movement candidates just out-raised the DCCC backed establishment candidates for House races across the country. Krystal Ball from the People’s House Project confirmed as much at this year’s Keystone Progress Summit. Amazon gets in the healthcare biz. That’s right Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett, and Jamie Dimon from JPMorgan Chase are teaming up to new healthcare company with the aim of “reducing healthcare’s burden on the economy while improving outcomes for employees and their families,” according to Bezos. Trump wants a North Korean style military parade down Pennsylvania Avenue. Watching the stock market this week was fun. Japan wants robots to care for the elderly. Coming to a nursing home near you.
Yes, we’ll talk about THE EAGLES, Sean’s appearance at the Eagles’ Parade and the Fog on Broad Street. Last weekend was also the Keystone Progress Summit...we’ll give you a round-up. Lou Barletta looks like he’s locked up the Alt-Right vote. Can’t wait to see the door knockers for that campaign. Got hoods? Sean finds out first hand why Republicans go apeshit over gerrymandering. Rep. Chris Dush wants to impeach the PA Supreme Court (Cry, Dushie, Cry). Despite GOP tears, PA will get new maps after US Supreme Court refuses to hear PA Republican’s case to overturn PA Supreme Court. Rep. Dush believes that the PA Supreme Court justices should have to visit Buchenwald to see the “inevitable ends of violating the rule of law.” Gov. Wolf wants to speed up oil and gas permitting process as he takes one more shot at a decent budget.
Fight heats up over PASSHE/Kutztown University independent budget analysis commissioned by a group of Kutztown University faculty. Howard Bunsis, the author of the report, will be on Kutztown University Campus next week to discuss his findings. Kutztown University President Kenneth Hawkinson releases “sky is falling” budget numbers to faculty in an attempt to preempt Bunsis’s talk.
In today’s last call, we talk Eagles win and Sean’s experience at the victory parade in Philly. SpaceX successfully launches its Falcon Heavy Rocket for the first time - now officially the world’s most powerful rocket. And, yes they did. SpaceX launched Elon Musk’s Tesla roadster into orbit around the sun with “Starman” in the driver’s seat. Kevin opened an amazing 2016 bottle of Oak LB Lives, an English barleywine from Woodland Farm Brewery and boy was it amazing. Free Will gets ready for a barrel aged beer tap takeover in honor of Mardi Gras. Saucony Creek plans for its own Fat Tuesday festivities. And, Pizza Boy is canning Turkey Burglar, a nice Berliner Weisse, on Monday.
Wednesday Feb 07, 2018
Wednesday Feb 07, 2018
In this Out d'Coup Xtra, Raging Chicken's own Seth Goldstein checks in with some of the organizations who came out to this year's Keystone Progress Summitt to network and organize.
Seth talks with Jarrett Smith, Youth Director of NextGen Pennsylvania; Jeff Dempsey, Program Director for CeaseFire PA; Arno Vosk, Board Member and Retired ER Doctor from Healthcare for All PA; and John Heaps, Chair of the College Committee at Fair Districts PA.
Given it a listen! And don't forget to help support homegrown movement media by becoming a member of Raging Chicken Press for as little as $5/month.
Wednesday Feb 07, 2018
Wednesday Feb 07, 2018
Kevin Mahoney had a chance to sit down with Reid Stever from March on Harrisburg at this year's Keystone Progress Summit. March on Harrisburg has brought a creative mix of lobbying, education, and direct action to the fight against corruption in our State Capitol. What's next on the agenda? Take a listen and find out!
Monday Feb 05, 2018
Monday Feb 05, 2018
Sean Kitchen sat down with Elizabeth Fiedler, Sara Innamorato, and Summer Lee at this year's Keystone Progress Summit in Harrisburg, PA. Fieldler, Innamorato, and Lee are running primary campaigns against three moderate/conservative Democrats this election season.
Given this one a listen folks. We have a new breed of movement candidates for a progressive PA.
Friday Jan 26, 2018
Friday Jan 26, 2018
Ursula Le Guin has died at the age of 88. That one hits hard. Huge marches on one year anniversary of the Women’s March. Democrats have no strategy. End shutdown and suck coverage of the Women’s March. Schumer says a bird in hand is better than...SQUIRREL!!! Davos can keep Trump. Immigration “deal” has white supremacist agenda. Pat Meehan is having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week. Meehan will not run for reelection in wake of sexual harassment scandal but still refuses to resign from Congress. The brother of Joe Gale, Montgomery County’s whackjob Republican County Commissioner, promises to run in Pat Meehan’s vacancy and he’s just as nuts. Rick Saccone, the torture candidate in PA’s 18 congressional special election.
PA’s gerrymandered congressional maps thrown out the PA’s Supreme court. A new proposal for free college tuition at Pennsylvania’s state community colleges and state universities. PA’s 170th Legislative district gets a strong progressive candidate to run against Martina White. Introducing Mike Doyle. And guess who is working on the campaign! Coming report on PASSHE finances will blow your f'ing mind.
Say hello to Trumpy Bear. Republican National Campaign Committee releases what good be the worst political ad in history: Nancy had a little lamb. Sean takes an awesome photo of a Harrisburg bridge. Trump paves the way to hand over the ISS to private interests.
Sour Sundays are back at Free Will Brewing this weekend. They are filling their tap lines with sours, saisons, spontaneous, wild ales, and all things funky. Food is brought to you by the awesome Down to Earth Cafe. Awesome beer list. Saucony Creek in Kutztown is now hosting local music artists every other Thursday in the brewery. They’re calling it. They also have lots of Check out the schedule on their Facebook page. Next Thursday, Feb. 1, January Noon will be playing beginning at 7 pm at the brewery. That and so much more!
Friday Jan 19, 2018
Friday Jan 19, 2018
It’s Shut Down Friday! As of this morning, we are on a path toward a government shutdown by midnight tonight unless the Senate agrees to pass the House’s continuing resolution for the budget. The GOP is doing its best to hold children’s health hostage and stage a conflict between children’s health v. undocumented immigrants. So far, Senate Democrats and a handful of Republicans are not willing to vote for the CR unless a DACA solution and funding for children’s health care. Will Senate Democrats be able to hold their ground, or will they flinch? In the meantime, Trump seems committed launching mass deportations. Trump’s deportations still have not reached Obama levels, but they are on their way and accompany an overt racist message. Remember, we’re just a week out from Trump’s “shithole” comments. Good thing Stormy Daniels is there to provide for some distraction. She says she can describe Trump’s junk perfectly. Fracking lobbyists plan to spend big at Trump’s DC hotel. No conflicts of interest there. Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, announces a new “Conscience and Religious Freedom Division.” Are we seeing the rise of an Appalachian Norma Rae? Paula Jean Swearengin will be taking on Joe Manchin in WV Democratic primary. Department of Justice drops charges against 129 J20 defendants. And Congressional Republicans using US Capitol Police to go after “Alt-Left,” aka constituents, who speak out against their disastrous policies.
Daryl Metcalfe says only Mommies and Daddies can be on birth certificates. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette posts Op-Ed defending racism on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Pittsburgh’s largest philanthropic organization, the Heinz Foundation, gives the Post-Gazette the Game of Thrones “shame” treatment. Note to our readers: Sean has not officially made his first Game of Thrones reference. Not sure he’s actually watched the series yet, though. The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh pens a letter to the Post-Gazette editors denouncing the racist editorial. The Post-Gazette declines to publish so the Guild published it on Facebook. Pennsylvania Democrats finally drafting a sexual harassment plan in the year and a half since a delegate was assaulted at the 2016 DNC Convention. Pennsylvania Gerrymandering case throwing out the Congressional maps makes it to the heavily Democratic State Supreme Court. PASSHE begins a search for a new chancellor. They are seeking a “Seeks ‘visionary’ leader to guide System Redesign.” And, the Keystone Progress Summit in Harrisburg is right around the corner!
On today’s Last Call: The privatization of space not off to a great start as Space X and Boeing are behind schedule to get humans to the International Space Station. Is Luxembourg positioning itself to be the Mecca for the privatization of space? You can watch the NFC Championship game between the Eagles and the Vikings this coming Sunday in the Free Will Brewing taproom in Perkasie if you’re in the area. Saucony Creek Brewery just spilled the beans on their upcoming Mardi Gras release: “Buckwheat Kingcake.” Pizza Boy releases barrel aged wild sour, Blueberry Permasmile.