This discussion dives into Trump's legal troubles amid California's raging wildfires and the broader climate crisis. The speakers highlight the Democratic Party's failure to present a viable opposition, contrasting their response to the Republicans' aggressive stance. They also explore the Supreme Court's role in political accountability and emphasize the importance of revitalizing democracy through unions. The mix of serious political analysis with playful banter keeps the conversation engaging, touching on how workplace democracy can influence wider political engagement.

Sandeep Vaheesan, legal director at the Open Markets Institute and author of "Democracy in Power," discusses the history of electrification and the push for public ownership in energy. Hayden Clarkin, known as "the transit guy," dives into the newly implemented congestion pricing in NYC, highlighting its environmental benefits and community challenges. Together, they explore the urgency of decommodifying resources, the political dynamics of urban transit, and the legacy of public power in addressing climate change.

It's Hump Day! Sam and Emma speak with Lee Hepner, senior legal counsel for the American Economic Liberties Project, to discuss the recent overturning of net neutrality. Then they speak with Joshua Kaplan, reporter at ProPublica, to discuss his recent piece entitled "The Militia and the Mole." First, Sam and Emma run through updates on the DoJ’s release of details related to Trump’s Jan 6th- and Stolen Documents-related cases, mass evacuations amid wildfires in LA, Dem’s retaining of the Virginia legislature, the North Carolina Supreme Court’s anti-democratic move, the House’s massive anti-immigration bill, DoJ action over the RealPage rent-fixing scheme and the prior weaponization of the department under Trump, Israel’s ongoing slaughter of Gazans in supposed safe zones, and ACA expansion, before unpacking a recent report on the unsurprising misinformation around gender-affirming care for adolescents. Lee Hepner then joins, jumping right into an extensive history of Net Neutrality, stemming from the establishment of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under FDR’s New Deal to preserve open networks and fair communication, with the 1996 Communications Act expanding its coverage to the internet and contributing to the arguments to expand to full Net Neutrality building under Bush before coming to fruition under Obama, only to be killed and restored by Trump and Biden respectively, all leading to the recent 6th Circuit decision to, once again, kill it. After tackling what Net Neutrality exactly is (the mandate for providers to serve websites equally) and expanding on the particular role the overturning of the Chevron Deference Doctrine played in this decision, Hepner wraps up with tactics to push back against this decision, and whether federalism will help keep these corporations in line. Joshua Kaplan then walks Sam and Emma through his extensive reporting on the far-right militia American Patriots 3% (AP3), tackling their role within the wider extremist militia ecosystem and how they used that to distance the organization from the January 6th insurrection attempt before having a wider discussion on the initial backlash (even internally) to these organizations in the wake of 1/6 before a steady rhetorical pivot from Trump and the GOP reversed the tides completely, and why that should concern us heading into a second Trump Administration with threats of mass pardoning for violent participators and organizers of 1/6. After expanding on AP3’s odd “big tent” identity amid right-wing militias, Kaplan touches on his extensive conversations with a mole from AP3 and the role Facebook played in the militia’s outreach, before wrapping up with the genuine threat posed by the extensive military training of these groups, both offered by the groups themselves and aided by their extensive connections to police, military, and veteran organizations. And in the Fun Half: Sam and Emma unpack the response from Mexico’s President Scheinbaum to Trump’s absurd statements on the US’ territorial rights, the passage of the GOP’s Lincoln Riley Bill with support from myriad Congressional Dems – including John “Manchin 2.0” Fetterman – to hand over immigration enforcement to the states (alongside the right to deport without criminal conviction). Chris Hayes reflects on the short history of Facebook’s moderation team, John from Montreal on Trump’s antagonization of US allies, and Kowalski from Nebraska parses through the future of farming amid threats to land ownership and more. Comrade Oz from the International Party of Antarctica provides some insight into Trump and Musk, plus, your calls and IMs! Follow Lee on Twitter here: https://x.com/leehepner Check out the American Economic Liberties Project here: https://www.economicliberties.us/ Follow Josh on Twitter here: https://x.com/js_kaplan Check out Josh's piece here: https://www.propublica.org/article/ap3-oath-keepers-militia-mole Check out Josh's previous piece "Armed And Underground" here: https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-secret-ap3-militia-american-patriots-three-percent Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Follow us on TikTok here!: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here!: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here!: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here!: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the ESVN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/esvnshow Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase! 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That’s 50% off at https://shopremi.com/majority with code MAJORITY. Give your teeth a break without breaking the bank with Remi. Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech @BradKAlsop Check out Matt’s show, Left Reckoning, on Youtube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon’s show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/ The Majority Report with Sam Seder - https://majorityreportradio.com/

Alex Lawson, the Executive Director of Social Security Works, sheds light on the recent Social Security Fairness Act signed by Biden. He discusses the insidious push from Trump and Musk to cut benefits through the Department of Government Efficiency. Lawson traces back to Reagan's reforms, detailing how they eroded benefits and exacerbated wealth inequality. The conversation also delves into the threats to public pensions and the deception employed by lawmakers against essential social programs, stressing the importance of grassroots movements to protect these vital resources.

Nathan J. Robinson, editor-in-chief of Current Affairs and co-author of "The Myth of American Idealism," explores the troubling narratives surrounding U.S. foreign policy. He dives into Noam Chomsky's concept of the "Mafia Doctrine," revealing how American idealism often masks self-serving motives behind foreign actions. Robinson sheds light on historical missteps from WWII onwards, illustrating the tension between claims of moral justification and geopolitical interests. He argues that this disconnect fosters public complacency about harmful interventions.

Jeet Heer, a national affairs correspondent for The Nation, joins to dissect the GOP's internal struggles, especially regarding the Speakership and the contentious debate on H-1B visas. He explores the pro and anti-arguments surrounding immigration work visas, while highlighting their implications for both immigrant rights and worker conditions. The discussion also critiques the faltering strategies of progressive Democrats trying to navigate the DNC landscape and emphasizes the need for a transformative leftist figure to rally support beyond traditional party lines.

The hosts dive into their expectations for 2025, analyzing congressional gridlock and provocative Supreme Court decisions. They tackle the right's misguided narrative linking a New Orleans attack to immigration, debunking it as a case involving a U.S. citizen. The discussion shifts to the contentious debate over H-1B visas, revealing a surprising pivot in Trump's stance influenced by Elon Musk's funding. The Fun Half brings lighthearted banter about Chuck Schumer's surprising endorsement and the quirks of online discourse, all while blending personal anecdotes into the political discussion.

Dylan Penningroth, a Professor of Law and History at UC Berkeley and author of "Before the Movement," dives into the hidden history of Black civil rights. He explores the complex legal and societal landscape from the Civil War through the 1960s, emphasizing the economic agency of enslaved individuals and the dual nature of progress amidst racial violence. The discussion also critiques the evolving rhetoric of civil rights, highlighting the critical intersections of property, contract rights, and the ongoing fight for true equality.

Dr. Peter J. Hotez, Dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, discusses pressing health issues. He highlights the alarming rise of anti-science sentiment and vaccine hesitancy, debunking the vaccine-autism myth and addressing vaccine skepticism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hotez advocates for equitable vaccine distribution and effective communication strategies to combat misinformation, emphasizing the need for trust in science amid political agendas and public health crises.

Brad Onishi, writer and co-host of the Straight White American Jesus podcast, delves into his book, Preparing for War, discussing the roots and evolution of white Christian nationalism in America. He highlights how civil rights impacts shaped conservative Christian ideologies and explores the complex interplay of religion and politics. The conversation also touches on minority influences in upcoming elections, the rise of radical Catholicism, and the challenges of maintaining judicial integrity in a polarized society. Humor and insight blend as they examine personal identity against societal pressures.