The Leslie Marshall Show

March Midterms Madness; Recapping 'No Kings Day' Protest #3

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:41:37 -0300

Ellison Family to Turn CNN Right-Wing Like CBS?, 'No Kings Day' Protest 3.0

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 17:51:48 -0300

War Without Cause? Trump’s Iran Strikes and Cuba Threats Under Fire

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 20:03:25 -0300

Leslie is joined by Colonel Cedric Leighton (Ret.), CNN Military Analyst, to examine growing concerns over President Trump’s foreign policy decisions. From a top counterterrorism official resigning over what he says was a war with Iran lacking any imminent threat, to Trump openly talking about “taking” Cuba, the conversation raises urgent questions about judgment, intelligence, and accountability.

Colonel Leighton breaks down whether these moves reflect strategy—or dangerous escalation—and what they could mean for global stability, U.S. credibility, and the risk of wider conflict.

The Colonel's handle on Blue Sky is @cedricleighton.bsky.social and on X it's @CedricLeighton. His website is CedricLeighton.com.

2-Day Shipping, Zero Accountability?

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:54:36 -0300

Leslie takes a closer look at New York City’s proposed Delivery Protection Act and the growing scrutiny around Amazon’s last-mile delivery system. The conversation explores the hidden costs behind rapid delivery and who ultimately bears the burden.

Leslie is joined by Christian Trimboli, a member of Teamsters Local 804 and an Amazon Delivery Service Provider (DSP) driver in New York City, who offers a firsthand account of the realities on the job. He describes the intense pressure drivers face—from demanding delivery quotas and constant surveillance to physically exhausting work with little job security or benefits. Christian explains how these conditions pushed him and his coworkers to organize with the Teamsters in pursuit of safer workplaces and fair treatment.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents over 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit teamster.org for more information. Follow them on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at facebook.com/teamsters.

GOP Divisions on Iran War; Sanders and Khanna Propose Billionaire Tax

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:55:25 -0300

Trump’s War of Choice with Iran: Veterans Sound the Alarm

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 01:10:29 -0400

Leslie speaks with Naveed Shah, Political Director at Common Defense and a U.S. Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, about the constitutional and human consequences of the Trump administration’s new military action against Iran. Shah discusses the lack of congressional authorization, the risks of entering another prolonged Middle East conflict, and the impact such decisions have on troops and their families. The conversation also examines Trump’s past promises to end “forever wars,” his comments about potential U.S. casualties, and concerns about cuts to veterans’ benefits while committing the nation to a new war.

Their website is CommonDefense.us and their handle on Blue Sky is @commondefense.bsky.social. Naveed's handle there is @armyofnaveed.bsky.social.

Civil Rights, Worker Power, and the Fight to Protect Democracy

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:15:54 -0400

Leslie speaks with Alex Rias, Director of Civil, Women’s, and Human Rights at the AFL-CIO, about growing threats to civil rights protections and what they mean for working people. From the weakening of labor enforcement agencies and voting rights challenges to the criminalization of protest and attacks on workplace protections, Rias explains how civil rights and labor rights have always been interconnected. He also discusses how unions are responding—organizing more workers, defending workplace rights in the courts, and building diverse worker power to protect democracy and economic opportunity.

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.

Trump and Israel Start Middle East War with Unprovoked Airstrikes on Iran

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 20:30:04 -0400

Weakest Pre-SOTU Polling Ever for Trump, Will He Weigh Down GOP in Midterms?

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 23:54:50 -0400

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 White House Correspondent for the Washington Examiner, Mabinty Quarshie, who previews tomorrow's 'State Of The Union' address.

Mabinty says she expects Trump to say that he doesn't need authority from the Supreme Court or from Congress in order to levy tariffs, and that he'll cherry pick any positive economic stats his staff can find.
She and Brad also discuss why voters have soured on Trump's approach to immigration, and how electricity prices have doubled under his watch.
On the subject of tariffs, Congress will have to authorize Trump's 15% tariffs across the board after 150 days, which doesn't look like it'll have the votes in the House or Senate.
Mabinty also highlights how Trump's go to economic policy was tariffs, (and he was using it as a weapons for any world leader that angered him), but now those are likely to be gone soon.

Then, leading progressive strategist and Outreach Director of the Battleground Alliance, Heather Booth, discusses November's upcoming midterm elections in the House and Senate.

Heather highlights the damage that President Trump and congressional Republicans have done by taking away health insurance for millions of Americans, failing to address increases in the cost of living, and killing Americans like Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Next, despite acknowledging positive polling for Democrats heading into the midterm elections, she says that the results will all depend on Democrats organizing and turning out voters beginning now.

Brad and Heather then discuss how the Battleground Alliance brings together Unions, environmental groups and civic groups and are supporting local organizations that are doing the work on the ground to win the midterms for Democratic candidates in over 40 congressional races.
Heather also speaks about her organizing work with the late Rev. Jessie Jackson, and how his work lives on.

She and Brad recap redistricting thus far for the upcoming election cycle, how Democrats have fought back against the Republican efforts to rig the upcoming midterms, the threat the Supreme Court still presents to the Voting Rights Act, and how Americans can fight back if it's struck down.
Finally, Heather highlights how we can turn our anger into action and the 'hurt and hate into hope and heart.'

The website for the Battleground Alliance is www.BattlegroundAlliance.org.

Brad is on the National Journal's panel of political insiders, is an American political analyst for The Times of India TV, and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. Brad also writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.'
You can read his columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon.
His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.

DHS Faces Shutdown Unless GOP Agrees to ICE Reforms; How Trump Has Made Living Less Affordable

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 21:01:03 -0400

How Teamsters Won Big at Sysco — And Why Workers Nationwide Are Watching

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 23:31:07 -0400

Leslie is joined by Josh Graves, who serves as both an International Brotherhood of Teamsters Warehouse Division Representative and Vice-President of Teamsters Local 104.
As a second-generation Teamster from Atlas Warehouse, a third-party logistics company that services Kroger, Josh has been a Teamster for over 22 years and is currently based in Arizona. He has played a key role in securing some of the union’s strongest contracts at Sysco, most notably the recent agreement at Local 690 in Washington, which provided Teamsters members with a wage increase of over 30 percent.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Leslie and Josh dug into what has quietly become one of the most consequential labor stories in the country: the growing power of the Teamsters at Sysco, one of the nation’s most profitable food service giants.
The discussion began with a recent win in Spokane, where drivers represented by Teamsters Local 690 ratified a four-year contract delivering major gains, including significant wage increases, lower health care costs, stronger pensions, and more vacation time. Graves emphasized that those gains were driven by workers’ willingness to authorize a strike, a show of unity that forced Sysco back to the table.

That local victory, he explained, is part of a much larger strategy. Marshall and Graves pointed to the first-ever regional Sysco contract covering more than 1,000 Teamsters across Northern California and Nevada, where coordinated bargaining and a credible strike threat produced similarly strong results. The agreement not only boosted pay and benefits but also included important protections around safety and automation, setting standards that extend beyond a single facility or city.
Graves noted that these wins are happening even in right-to-work states like Arizona, underscoring how union density and member engagement have reshaped negotiations nationwide. Over the past five years, Teamsters representation at Sysco has grown dramatically, strengthening the union’s leverage and changing the tone of labor relations with the company.

Looking ahead, the conversation turned to upcoming contract expirations in Montana and Chicago. Graves made clear that, after a string of major victories, Sysco Teamsters are prepared to take action to secure contracts that match the gains workers have already fought for elsewhere.
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.

Time for Kristi Noem to Go; Recapping Trump's Disastrous 1st Year of His 2nd Term

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 23:28:19 -0400

Five Factory Trends to Watch in 2026

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 23:39:06 -0400

Leslie welcomes back Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, to explore why the coming year could be a turning point for U.S. manufacturing.

He breaks down how easing interest rates, clearer trade policy, and a steadier economy may finally give manufacturers the confidence to invest, expand, and hire after several uneven years.
Scott and Leslie also look at the growing wave of factory openings and why the real impact often shows up after construction—when workers are hired and local supplier networks take shape.

The conversation digs into tariffs and trade policy, including what “tariff predictability” means for businesses and how the U.S.–China manufacturing relationship is shifting toward supply-chain security.
Leslie and Scott close by examining workforce challenges, new short-term training pathways, and the growing competition between manufacturing and AI data centers for workers, energy, and materials.

Overall, the episode offers a clear-eyed but optimistic look at what’s ahead for American manufacturing.

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.

Trump Spent 2025 Attacking Workers, But the Labor Movement is Fighting Back!

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:42:59 -0400

Leslie is joined by Jody Calemine, Director of Advocacy for the 63 Unions and 15 million members of the AFL-CIO.

The two review President Trump's first year of his second term, and how it's been filled with relentless attacks on workers during his pursuit of 'Project 2025.'
However, they also discuss how the labor movement is fighting back, and winning!

The administration:

President Trump promised to “make America affordable again,” but instead, he spent a year driving up costs, holding down wages and letting jobs disappear—including jobs that would keep energy bills from skyrocketing.
But in the face of relentless attacks on our livelihoods and freedoms, workers are turning to unions to fight back. And we’re winning.

In December we saw the first sprouts of victory when a bipartisan group of lawmakers canceled votes on the SCORE Act, succumbing to pressure after months of organizing from the labor movement. Then before the year ended, a group of bipartisan lawmakers passed a discharge petition advancing one of labor's top priorities: restoring federal workers collective bargaining rights.
At the beginning of 2026, we saw lawmakers in the house rally around an extension of the ACA tax credits and a band of Republicans come together to sink a series of anti-worker labor bills.

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. Jody's handle on Blue Sky is @guerino.bsky.social.

GOP Coming Around on Extending ACA Subsidies?; Trump and ICE Try to Gaslight America After Killing Civilian

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 23:07:41 -0400

New Mexico A.G. Talks Lawsuits vs Meta and Snap Inc. for Enabling Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:13:39 -0400

Leslie is joined by Raul Torrez, Attorney General of New Mexico.
Torrez is a career state and federal prosecutor who has served at every level of the justice system. Since taking office as New Mexico’s 32nd Attorney General in 2023, he has made protecting children a central priority—holding major tech companies accountable for enabling online abuse and investigating systemic failures in the child welfare system.

The two discuss Torrez's lawsuits against Meta and Snap Inc.
In December 2023, A.G. Torrez filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms, Inc., alleging that Facebook and Instagram enabled child sexual abuse and human trafficking. The complaint details how Meta's platforms allowed predators to exploit minors and how the company's algorithms contributed to the spread of harmful content.

In September 2024, A.G. Torrez filed a lawsuit against Snap Inc., alleging that Snapchat's design features and algorithms facilitated child sexual exploitation and sextortion. The lawsuit claims that Snapchat misled users about the safety of its platform, particularly regarding disappearing messages, and failed to implement adequate safeguards for minors.

Lastly, the pair shares information and resources on how parents can help protect their children online, and how to detect if their child may have experienced sexual abuse or exploitation online.

There's some great information and resources on the New Mexico government's website specifically for parents to help navigate these issues.
Visit NMDOJ.gov to view their internet safety page and their Sextortion guide.

U.S. Coup of Venezuela; Jack Smith says Jan. 6th Doesn't Happen Without Trump

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:27:35 -0400

Teamster Dairy Workers Push Back Against Cuts to Healthcare and Pensions

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 20:05:33 -0400

Leslie is joined by Scott Kroona and Brad Lusk, members of Teamsters Local 120, which represents over 15,000 workers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

They discuss why their Union has authorized a strike at Actus Nutrition and Foremost Farms.
They explain what has led to the strike, and how they and other dairy workers are pushing back against cuts to their health care, pensions, and other protections.

The website for Teamsters Local 120 is www.TeamstersLocal120.org.

SCOTUS to Hear Trump's Bid to End Birthright Citizenship; Healthcare Premiums Set to Skyrocket if GOP Refuses ACA Tax Credit Extension

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 23:22:02 -0400

Trump's 36% Approval Rating in Gallup Poll; Hegseth May Have Committed War Crime in 2nd Strike Order

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 02:13:22 -0400

Working Families Take Major Hits in 2025

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 15:33:13 -0400

Leslie is joined by Roxanne Brown, President-Elect of the United Steelworkers. Currently serving as the Union's international Vice President, Brown will be sworn in to her new position on March 1, 2026. Following the USW's regular four-year nomination and election process that recently took place, Brown was elected to be the Union's new President!

During today's interview, Leslie and Roxanne discuss how working families have taken major hits to their rights and their pocketbooks in 2025, thanks to the Trump administration.

Before President Trump was elected, his advisors laid out a terrifying vision for the nation called, 'Project 2025.' And over the past year, working families have unfortunately borne the brunt of the administration rapidly enacting these policies. On top of this, the administration has failed to rein in – and in many ways added to – costs for necessities like groceries, energy and health care.
Roxanne details how these attacks have hit bargaining rights for workers, veterans' benefits, workplace safety, healthcare and more.
Taken together, we’re seeing an economy in which the rich get a whole lot richer, while everyone else is lucky to scrape by, just as Trump planned.

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.
Roxanne's handle on X is @BrownRox.

Changes to Student Loan Repayment Plans and Forgiveness Programs

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 23:51:51 -0400

The Student Debt Crisis Center takes over the airwaves of 'the Leslie Marshall Show,' where they cover the newest student loan updates, actions folks may need to take, potential changes to repayment plan options and forgiveness programs, and how you can make sure that you have the lowest monthly payment.

This episode's SDCC hosts are President and Founder, Natalia Abrams, Executive Director, Sabrina Calazans, 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.

2025 AAM 'Made in America Holiday Gift Guide'

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:00:19 -0400

Leslie welcomes back Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, for a preview of the newly released 2025 'Made in America Holiday Gift Guide.' (link: https://www.americanmanufacturing.org/blog/the-2025-made-in-america-holiday-gift-guide/)

This year's guide makes it easier than ever for shoppers to find U.S.-made products and support American workers this holiday season.

New polling released with the Gift Guide shows overwhelming demand for locally made goods, with 81% of Americans saying they’re as likely or more likely to buy American-made products this year. The vast majority (83%) of shoppers say they would buy more Made in USA goods if these products were more widely available. The Gift Guide bridges that gap, connecting consumers with the craftsmanship, quality and well-paid jobs that come from buying Made in America.

In its 12th year, the 2025 Guide features 148 manufacturers and makers from across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. There’s an American-made gift for everyone, with finds ranging from model airplane kits and stocking stuffers to jewelry and grills.

Shoppers can browse the guide by state or product category, and a new segment this year highlights brick-and-mortar stores specializing in state-made goods for in-person shopping. Additionally, AAM’s Made in America Directory spotlights 873 companies and their products that are not featured in this year’s Guide.

Leslie and Scott highlight five of the companies and their gift offerings for just a taste of the guide. Here they are:

1 - WicR
Have you always wanted to be a plant parent but were too scared you’d forget to water them every day? Fear no more: WicR is a self-watering product that makes it a lot easier. All you have to do is place the WicR at the bottom of your pot, cover it with soil, and place your plant in. Then, after an initial watering, the WicR will self-water your plant for seven to ten days. A game-changer for plant care!

2 - Alaska Glacial Essentials Skincare

Alaska Glacial Essentials Skincare draws from its surrounding beauty in Cordova, Alaska, to enhance the quality of the products they make there. This company sources glacial minerals and botanicals for gentle but effective formulas, and all its products are vegan and cruelty-free. Its energy-efficient facility operates on 60-80% community hydropower, and the Certified B Corps company prides itself on a commitment to sustainability. Alaska Glacial Essentials Skincare donates 2% of its revenues to organizations that protect the Alaskan environment, such as the Copper River Watershed Project.

3 - Made-Plus Footwear

The vast majority of footwear today is imported. But Alan Guyan, an alum of Under Armour’s shoe division, saw an opportunity to do things differently. That’s why he started Made+, a luxury athletic shoe brand based in Annapolis. All the shoes are made with 100% recycled yarn — and that yarn is made from repurposed plastic water bottles. These shoes come in all sorts of designs; they even sell shoes specially designed for pickleball. If you’re looking to replace those athletic shoes, Made+ is an incredible choice. (And check out their in-person storefront if you’re near Annapolis!) Lastly, be sure to check out AAM's blog post featuring Made+ from last month, where you can find on their website at AmericanManufacturing.org/blog

4 - High Strung Studios

For the music lover on your list, High Strung Studios hits all the right notes. This woman-owned business transforms real guitar strings into beautiful, handcrafted jewelry made right here in the USA. Each bracelet, necklace, and pair of earrings carries a touch of rhythm and a whole lot of heart, making them perfect for anyone who finds joy in a good song. Thoughtful, unique, and full of holiday cheer, these gifts truly strike a chord.

5 - Cycle Dog

Bring some wag-worthy joy to the holidays with Cycle Dog, a woman-owned company in Portland, making eco-friendly gear for dogs who love to play. Every collar, leash, toy and bed is crafted in the USA using recycled materials, keeping millions of inner tubes and bottles out of landfills. Durable, sustainable and made by a team of passionate makers (and their pups), these gifts are perfect for anyone who wants to spoil their dog, spread a little holiday cheer, and do good for the planet all at once.

Lastly, Leslie and Scott talk about Project MFG. What's Project MFG? Think Top Chef — but for welders, machinists and engineers. Ray Dick, founder of Project MFG and creator of the YouTube reality show 'Clash of Trades,' is inspiring the next generation of manufacturers through hands-on competition and community engagement.

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.

New Epstein Emails Say Trump Spent Hours with Victim; October Monthly Job Cuts Surge to 22-Year High

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 23:26:53 -0400

Eight Senate Democrats Cave to GOP; Youth Vote Powered 2025 Democratic Wins

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 01:31:49 -0400

Trump Orders U.S. Nuke Testing; Washington Insiders on Payrolls of Corrupt Foreign Interests

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 23:43:46 -0400

Workers Held Hostage: AFL-CIO’s Jody Calemine on the Shutdown Crisis

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:15:31 -0300

Leslie is joined by Jody Calemine, Director of Advocacy for the 63 unions and 15 million members of the AFL-CIO, where he serves as chief lobbyist and director of government affairs.

They discuss the severe toll of the ongoing government shutdown on workers and families—from unpaid federal employees turning to food banks to the ripple effects hitting local economies.

Calemine warns that Congress’s failure to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits could sharply raise health costs for small-business owners and workers. He urges lawmakers to pass relief measures like the True Shutdown Fairness Act and Military and Federal Employee Protection Act, and to end political brinkmanship that’s using American workers as pawns.

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. Jody's handle on Blue Sky is @guerino.bsky.social.

Government Shutdown Is the First Skirmish in the Battle Over Trump’s 2026 Budget

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:04:32 -0300

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 discuss his latest blog, "The Government Shutdown Is the First Skirmish in the Battle Over Trump’s 2026 Budget."
(Link: https://www.sonecon.com/the-government-shutdown-is-the-first-skirmish-in-the-battle-over-trumps-2026-budget/)

In it, Dr. Shapiro argues that the current federal government shutdown marks the opening move in a much larger struggle over the fiscal direction of the federal government under Donald Trump’s 2026 budget proposal. It contends that what appears to be a short-term fight over spending bills is in fact a strategic effort to reshape federal priorities—cutting large swaths of domestic programs while boosting defense, border security and deregulation. The shutdown is portrayed as both a bargaining tactic to force concessions from Congress and a signalling device to markets and stakeholders about how aggressively the administration intends to pursue its agenda. The blog warns that the deeper economic and institutional damage will come once the shutdown ends and the budget battle truly begins, with Congress and the administration locked in a clash over the size, scope and role of the federal government.

Dr. Shapiro's website is Sonecon.com and his handle on X is @RobShapiro.

ICE Invasion of Chicago; 'No Kings' Protest Attracted 7 Million Americans

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 17:44:41 -0300

2026 Midterm Playing Field; Trump's Government Shutdown

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 17:07:00 -0300

Trump's Attacks on Free Speech; Hispanic Heritage Month

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 22:59:15 -0300

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 Director of Strategy and Communications at 'Free Press,' a nonpartisan organization fighting for your rights to connect and communicate.

The pair examines how Trump and his FCC pressured media organizations to remove Jimmy Kimmel from the airwaves, but also discusses how Americans banded together to make their voices heard in opposition to the authoritarian style actions.

Then, Brad is joined by Ana Valdez, President & CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative (LDC), which produces the annual U.S. Latino GDP Report.

The two examine the contributions made by Hispanic Americans, as well as their population and economic trends, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Brad and Ana also talk about the repercussions from the Supreme Court decision that allows ICE to resume arrests in Los Angeles based on appearance, language, or type of work.
Drawing on the LDC's data showing Latinos as one of America's fastest-growing economic engines, Ana also released a statement emphasizing that the Court's decision carries consequences far beyond immigration enforcement:
"This is not law enforcement; it is racial profiling.
That is not how the Fourth Amendment is supposed to work. The Constitution requires specific facts, not a checklist of skin color, language, and job site.

It also ignores economic reality. Latinos are not on the margins of this country; we are a major growth driver. Our GDP reached $4 trillion in 2023, making us the fifth-largest economy in the world if measured independently. Latino incomes and purchasing power are growing about twice as fast as the rest of the country, and Latino consumer spending topped $2.5 trillion last year. Targeting people who look or sound Latino undercuts the workforce and the businesses that keep the U.S. economy strong for everyone. Profiling this workforce is economic self-harm.

And it ignores the community reality. Most Latinos are fully part of the American fabric. Ninety-four percent of Latinos under 18 are U.S.-born, and nine out of ten Latinos overall are citizens or lawful residents. Treating Spanish speakers or brown people as presumptive suspects means punishing citizens on their way to work and parents on school runs, not just the undocumented.

Enforcement of immigration law cannot come at the cost of civil liberties and human dignity.
America's economic future depends on treating Latinos as full and equal participants in our society, not targets of suspicion."

The website for Free Press is www.FreePress.net and their handle on BlueSky is @freepress.bsky.social. Tim Karr's handle is @timkarr.bsky.social.

The website for the Latino Donor Collaborative is www.LatinoDonorCollaborative.org and their handle on X is @LDCLatino and Ana's handle is @LDCAna1.

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.

Gerrymandering's Threat to Working Families

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 17:29:45 -0300

Leslie is joined by Amber Miller, Director of the USW’s Rapid Response Department, a roughly 30-year tradition of member-driven, issue-based, nonpartisan legislative activism.
Amber has been a proud second-generation Steelworker since 1997 where she began her career at Chase Brass and Copper in northwest Ohio.

The two discuss how gerrymandering is a clear and present danger to working families, and what can be done to fight back.

Gerrymandering allows politicians to redraw district maps in ways that protect their own power instead of reflecting the will of the people, silencing working families and communities of color.
From Texas to Missouri, these power grabs undermine democracy, suppress votes, and weaken the voices of everyday citizens.

Yet history shows that when working people organize—whether through ballot initiatives or grassroots campaigns—they can push back against partisan manipulation.
States like Michigan prove that fair districting is possible, ensuring representatives are accountable to voters rather than corporate or political interests.

Follow the USW on Facebook, Instagram and X, using the handle @steelworkers, and visit their website at www.USW.org. Also, check them out on Blue Sky where their handle is @steelworkers.bsky.social.
Amber's handle on X is @AmberUSWRR.

Impending Government Shutdown; Dangers of RFK Jr.'s New Vaccine Policies

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:38:41 -0300

AFT President Discusses New Book, "Why Fascists Fear Teachers;" Trump Sending Troops to Memphis Next

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 18:17:37 -0300

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 is @shaghdoosti.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.

Trump Using Military in New, Dangerous Ways While His Tariffs Weigh Down Consumers

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 22:44:28 -0300

AFL-CIO's 'It’s Better in a Union’ Nationwide Bus Tour

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 23:34:54 -0300

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.

Trump Gets Abysmal Job Numbers in First Report After Firing BLS Chief

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 22:36:11 -0300

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.

No Peace Deal as Putin Steamrolls Trump; Hypocritical GOP Sends National Guard to D.C. for 'Violent Crime'

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 23:41:13 -0300

Economic Shocks, Tariff Talks, and Dorm Room Blocks - Manufacturing a Stronger America

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 18:58:38 -0300

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.

Media Capitulation to Trump; Palestinian Children Dying of Starvation in Gaza

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 23:27:15 -0300

Trump Struggles to Distance Himself from Epstein; Trump's Family Separation 2.0 Policies

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 23:49:57 -0300

United Steelworkers are Fighting to Protect Veterans

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 18:03:40 -0300

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.

Trump's Epstein Ties Under Scrutiny; Inflation and CPI Rise as Trump Tariffs Take Hold

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 00:47:32 -0300

Made in America - Manufacturing, Trade, and the Fight for the Middle Class

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 23:08:59 -0300

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

How Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Affects Student Loans Now and In the Future

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 23:37:57 -0300

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.

Bipartisan Advocacy Organization for Children says BBB Puts Kids Last

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:05:02 -0300

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.

Teamsters Talk State of Sanitation Industry and Ongoing Strikes at Republic Services

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 17:51:51 -0300

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.

Implications Now that 'Big, Ugly Bill' Has Passed; Trump Cuts to NWS Exacerbates Texas Flood Danger

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 23:42:31 -0300

Iran Still Able to Develop Nuclear Weapon?; Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Historically Unpopular

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 18:17:33 -0300

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.

China Surpassing U.S. Military-Industrial Might? 'Made In USA' Marketing Surges; American Infrastructure Crisis

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 17:38:57 -0300

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

10 Years of Trump in Politics; NYC, Virginia and New Jersey Election Previews

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:04:10 -0300

Latest on Gaza & Ukraine, Trump's B-Day Military Parade, National Guard Sicced on ICE Protesters, Trump-Musk Meltdown

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 17:54:41 -0300

Lobbying Industry Thriving Under Trump; Donald, Elon and RFK Jr. (Oh my!)

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 22:34:54 -0300

AFL-CIO President on SCOTUS NRLB Ruling, House Budget Bill and DOGE

Fri, 30 May 2025 23:42:22 -0300

Leslie is joined by Liz Shuler, President of the 63 unions and over 15 million members of the AFL-CIO, and the first woman leader of America’s labor movement.

The pair discusses the Supreme Court ruling upholding Trump's firings of the National Labor Relations Board and Merit Systems Protection Board members, the draconian House budget bill, and the field hearings the Union conducted through the 'Department of People Who Work for a Living,' which they released a report on last week.

The website for the AFL-CIO is www.AFLCIO.org and their BlueSky handle is @aflcio.org. Liz's handle is @lizshuler.bsky.social‬.

GOP's Disastrous Approach to Food Stamps (SNAP) in House Budget Bill

Fri, 30 May 2025 23:01:12 -0300

Leslie is joined by Lily Roberts, Managing Director for Inclusive Growth at the Center for American Progress.

The two first react to Senator Joni Ernst, after an audience member yells, “People will die,” during her discussion on Medicaid cuts at a town hall this morning, replying, “Well, we all are going to die.”

Leslie and Lily then discuss the disastrous approach to food stamps (SNAP) in the House Republican passed 'Big Beautiful Bill.'

The House-passed version:

A. Would cut off some or all food assistance for 11 million people (4 million of those are kids) due to subjecting new groups of people (parents of young kids, older people, people who live in parts of the country where jobs are scarce) to additional paperwork requirements.

B. Eliminates the national guarantee that whether you live in New York or Mississippi, you won’t go hungry. This has been the bottom line of food support and anti-poverty in the US for 60 years. Now, states will be required to foot part of the bill for SNAP, which many of them can’t afford.

C. Guts SNAP as one of our best anti-recession tools – it keeps recessions from becoming depressions. SNAP immediately gets small dollars to the people who need money most, and it’s spent nearly instantly in local communities. Funding changes and cuts will doubly punish states during recessions. That’s important now, as we deal with economic uncertainty and a food safety net (food pantries, free school lunch, farmer grant programs) that have already been gutted by DOGE so can’t step in to help.

The website for the Center for American Progress is www.AmericanProgress.org and their handle on BlueSky is @americanprogress.bsky.social‬. Lily's BlueSky handle is @lilyroberts.bsky.social.

A Non-Partisan View on U.S. Tariffs with AAM President Scott Paul

Fri, 16 May 2025 22:40:08 -0300

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. Scott's op-ed in 'The Detroit News' explaining why he believes that U.S. trade negotiators must toe a tough line with China.

2. America's favorite vehicle as a tariff case study

3. #ChineseManufacturing going viral on TikTok

4. Momentum for U.S. shipbuilding revitalization continuing to grow

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

Why Workers Need a Pro-Labor NLRB

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 23:37:25 -0300

Leslie is joined by Megan Salrin and Jimmy O'Donnell of the United Steelworkers (USW).

The trio analyzes why workers need a Pro-Labor National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

In one of his early acts as president, Donald Trump not only fired National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo but also removed NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox.
Firing Wilcox upended nearly 90 years of Supreme Court caselaw and left the NLRB unable to perform its vital mission of upholding workers’ rights.

So what is the NLRB, and why do workers depend on it to ensure they have a voice on the job?

The NLRB is an independent federal agency tasked with safeguarding workers rights in a number of ways.
- It oversees union elections – and ensures that employers abide by the law when workers seek to organize.
- It also prevents and remedies unfair labor practices, again ensuring that workers are free to engage in concerted activity and access their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.

The NLRB is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 26 different Regional Offices.
- There are five seats on the Board, which are filled through presidential nomination and then Senate confirmation.
- The members serve five-year terms, and the terms are staggered so that one seat is supposed to be open each year – though delays can cause vacancies to occur.

The NLRB shapes labor law in several ways including by issuing decisions on cases, which sets national precedent, and by issuing rule making.
- Because the president nominates members to the board, they have the ability to influence how it operates based on their priorities.
- Pro-worker presidents traditionally appoint members who take the job to enforce workers rights’ seriously while pro-corporate leadership effectively limits workers’ ability to form unions and collectively bargain.
- Under the previous administration, for example, the NLRB made key advances when it came to leveling the playing field for workers, such as banning the captive audience meetings employers too often used to try to thwart union elections.

Currently, the board is down to just two members, which means it does not have a quorum and cannot make decisions or enforce labor laws. That means:
- Workers facing unfair treatment—like illegal firings, intimidation, or bad-faith bargaining—could be left waiting months or even years for justice.
- Striking and organizing workers will have fewer protections.
- Employers who break the law may get away with it if cases can’t be heard.
- Furthermore, this upheaval has emboldened greedy corporations looking to block workers from exercising their rights.
- For example, Whole Foods (which is owned by Amazon) is arguing that they will not recognize a union formed in January because of the lack of quorum at the Board.

An NLRB member can only be fired for serious misconduct—like neglecting their job or breaking the rules. No President has ever fired a Board member like this before, and there does not appear to be any valid reason to remove Wilcox.
- Wilcox filed a lawsuit in response to her firing. While a DC District Court judge ruled in her favor and reinstated her, her case has gone through a number of appeals and is now headed to the Supreme Court, which recently once again removed her from her position until it can rule on the merits of the lawsuit.
- Oral arguments are due to begin on May 16, which means between now and then the board is again hobbled.

As more and more workers signal that they want the protections of a union contract it’s essential that we have a labor board that takes its job seriously.
- This means allowing members like Wilcox to finish their terms.
- And pushing our elected leaders to nominate and confirm qualified members who will take the job of protecting workers seriously.

Megan Salrin is the National Coordinator for the United Steelworkers’ Rapid Response program, the union’s nonpartisan initiative for education, communication, and action on legislative and policy issues affecting USW members. Before this role, she served in USW’s Legislative and Policy Department and worked for several Members of Congress from the Midwest.

Jimmy O'Donnell is a Legislative Representative for the USW, where he advocates for pro-worker policies related to labor rights, workplace health and safety, clean energy manufacturing, and workforce development. Previously, Jimmy spent several years working at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.

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.

Authors of, "Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House"

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 20:23:00 -0300

Why Are So Many Cannabis Workers Joining the Teamsters Union?

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 23:17:41 -0300

Leslie is joined by Jesse Case, Director for the Food Processing Division for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

The two examine why so many cannabis workers are joining the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

To add some perspective, the Teamsters represent over 1,000 cannabis workers in six different states. They've also bargained the strongest contracts in the industry for workers at a number of multi-state operators, which are the largest players in the US cannabis industry.

Tens of thousands of Teamsters across the continent are members of the union’s growing Food Processing Division. The division represents many classifications of worker, including production line workers, mechanics, forklift drivers, machine operators and more. They help prepare, process and move just about every kind of food you find at the grocery store, including meats, dairy vegetables, fruits and grains.

Visit www.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.
Find the Teamsters Cannabis workers online by visiting linktr.ee/teamsters_420.

Trump Executive Order Stripping Collective Bargaining Rights is Biggest Attack on Labor in Decades

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 22:52:36 -0300

Leslie is joined by Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the 60 unions and 12.5 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.

The two discuss President Trump's union busting executive order from last week. It strips the fundamental right to unionize and collectively bargain from workers across the federal government at more than 30 agencies. The workers who make sure our food is safe to eat, care for our veterans, protect us from public health emergencies and much more will no longer have a voice on the job or the ability to organize with their coworkers for better conditions at work so they can efficiently provide the services the public relies upon. It’s clear that this order is punishment for unions who are leading the fight against the administration’s illegal actions in court—and a blatant attempt to silence them.

But if the Trump administration gets away with robbing federal workers of their right to collective bargaining with the stroke of a pen, it won’t stop there. This illegal executive order is a threat to every union, every contract, and the freedom for every single person to organize on the job and speak up for themselves and their co-workers.

Thankfully, representatives in Congress have introduced the bipartisan Protect America’s Workforce Act, which would overturn Trump’s executive order.
We are asking every single American who cares about the fundamental freedom of all workers to join a union to call their member of Congress right now. Call them at 844-896-5059.

Additionally, workers are joining with our allies and community members across the country tomorrow, April 5th, to tell President Trump and Elon Musk: Hands Off Our Unions!

America’s unions will be coming together with allies of labor at hundreds of events all across the country to send a message: Hands off our Social Security. Hands off our public schools. Hands off our Medicare. Hands off our jobs. And hands off our unions and our contracts!

Visit www.Mobilize.us/HandsOff to find an event near you!

The website for the AFL-CIO is www.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.

Navigating the Incresingly Difficult College Application Process

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 20:07:43 -0300

Leslie is joined by Connie Livingston, Senior Lead Counselor at Empowerly, which empowers students to become the most successful version of themselves with personalized college and career guidance. Their tailored guidance helps students triumph over the college admissions process and spark the future of their dreams.
Connie has worked in the field of college counseling since 2008. She began her career as an Assistant Director of Admissions at Brown University and has since moved on to Empowerly, where she has worked for the past three years.

The pair examines the increasingly difficult college application process in the United States.
More and more students are applying to college. More and more applications means a lower percentage of acceptance. So the bar has been raised.
4.0's are now 5.0's, competition is international, there are no more DEI policies or 'boxes' for affirmative action/diversity.
So kids are taking SAT prep classes, doing a lot of outside work/volunteerism, etc. and additionally, parents are hiring college counselors.

Here are the questions answered during the interview:

1. What does an outside college counselor do?
2. Is there a range of fees? (Some people think it's unattainable for them because of the price)
3. Do they help the students write their essays? (editing them, etc)
4. Is there any assistance with SAT's?
5. Does it increase a student's chances of admission if they utilize a college counselor that is separate from their high school's college counselor?
6. Why is Empowerly better than a student trying to solely use AI, like ChatGPT, to help them with the admissions process?

The website for Empowerly is Empowerly.org. Their handle on Instagram is @empowerlyinc and you can find them on Facebook.com/empowerly as well.

GOP Medicaid/CHIP Cuts Threaten One-Third of All School Age Children

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 19:26:02 -0300

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. With policy experts in the many areas that affect our nation’s more than 70 million children, First Focus on Children offers thorough, bipartisan, achievable solutions to ensure the well-being of children in the U.S. and around the world.

The two discuss how the budget resolution recently passed by House Republicans would force hundreds of billions of dollars in funding cuts to Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program), which would decimate their ability to deliver health care to the more than 37 million children they currently serve.

Medicaid and CHIP currently cover:

- 80% of children living in poverty
- 42% of all children under 6
- Over 40% of births in the U.S.
- Nearly half of the 13 million U.S. children with special health care needs
- 99% of children in foster care
- More than 40% of children in rural and underserved communities
- One-third of all school-age children (5-18 years old)

Taking support away from children’s health through Medicaid/CHIP cuts is a prescription for disaster that will:

- Force states to cut services, eligibility, or provider payments that directly affect children
- Create significant financial pressure on children’s hospitals and pediatric specialty providers that depend heavily on Medicaid/CHIP
- Threaten school-based health services that rely on support from Medicaid/CHIP
- Jeopardize mental health and developmental services for children
- Hit hardest in rural and underserved areas, exacerbating existing health disparities

You can read more about why the cuts would be so disastrous here: https://firstfocus.org/update/prescription-for-disaster-the-impact-of-proposed-medicaid-and-chip-cuts-on-childrens-health/

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.

Trump's 'Tariff Tuesday' and GOP Attacks on Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 17:38:45 -0300

Should U.S. or China Build Our Ships?! Tariffs, and Made In American Spotlight

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 23:56:25 -0300

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 why labor and business groups are urging the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to fight back against China's decades-long global shipbuilding dominance.

Next, Scott explains why anti-tariff absolutism is a mistake, and one the Democratic party would be foolish to make.

Lastly, they explore AAM's spotlighting of three great U.S. products, including Steele Canvas, BLKSWN Footwear and the 'Crafted with Pride' Made in America directory.
For over 18 years, Mr. Paul and AAM have worked to make American manufacturing a top-of-mind issue for voters and our national leaders through effective advocacy, innovative research, and a savvy public relations strategy.

Their website is www.AmericanManufacturing.org.
AAM's YouTube channel is www.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 www.AmericanManufacturing.org/Podcast.
X: 1. AAM - @KeepItMadeInUSA 2. Scott Paul - @ScottPaulAAM
BlueSky: @keepitmadeinusa.bsky.social

Trump's Executive Orders Are Exacerbating the Country's Mental Health Crisis

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 15:53:08 -0300

Leslie is joined by Dr. Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C, CEO of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).The NASW is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards for social workers, and to advance sound social policies.

The pair discusses Dr. Estreet's op-ed for Salon, titled, "Trump's Executive Orders Are Exacerbating the Country's Mental Health Crisis." (link here: https://www.salon.com/2025/03/12/executive-orders-are-exacerbating-the-countrys-mental-health/)

Dr. Estreet earned a bachelor’s in science in psychology from Bowie State University, an MSW at Virginia Commonwealth University, a doctorate in social work at Morgan State University, and an MBA at the University Maryland-College Park.
He has been a professor and chair of the Master of Social Work Program at Morgan State University since 2013. Estreet is also founder and chief executive officer of Next Step Treatment Center in Baltimore, which provides substance use treatment and mental health services.
The website for the NASW is SocialWorkers.org and you can follow them on BlueSky, where their handle is @naswsocialworkers.bsky.social.

Teamsters President Talks United Airlines Contract Campaign and First UNFI Agreement

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 15:00:40 -0300

Leslie is joined by Sean O'Brien, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

They begin the interview by acknowledging the accomplishments that President O'Brien and General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman have helped their Union to achieve during their three years heading the organization.
With 80,000 new members organized, great successes at the negotiating table including many of their best contracts ever like at UPS and Anheuser-Busch, an empowered rank-and-file membership that has waged over 250 strikes and led bargaining themselves against some of the world’s largest employers, the O’Brien-Zuckerman administration has charted one of the most defining and positive chapters in Teamsters history.

Next, Sean shares with the audience the Union's contract campaign with their 10,000 Teamsters aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs). They're fighting for a fair contract with United, who raked in over $4 billion dollars in profits last year, but is lowballing the Teamsters at the bargaining table.
At the same time, the airline wants to outsource maintenance to communist China and South America.
Sean explains how United Airlines Teamsters are ensuring safety in the skies, and that Teamster members will not accept anything less than a strong new contract with the industry-leading wages and job protections they have earned.

Lastly, Leslie and Sean discuss how, following a credible strike threat, more than 1,000 newly organized drivers and warehouse workers at United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) in Florida, Georgia, and Illinois have ratified their first Teamsters contracts.
Represented by Teamsters Locals 26, 79, 728, and 769, UNFI workers have secured agreements that deliver significant wage increases, improved benefits, and a defined benefit pension plan.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit www.Teamster.org for more information. Follow them on X and Instagram, where their handle is @Teamsters, and “like” them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Teamsters.
Sean's handle on X is @TeamsterSOB.

Trump Defense Secretary Accidentally Texted a Journalist War Plans on Group Chat with Other Cabinet Members

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 23:34:58 -0300

Is Trump Tanking the Economy? What should Democrats' Strategy Be Going Forward?

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 02:21:02 -0300

Latest on U.S.-Ukraine Relations; AFT President Talks Trump's Plan to Eliminate Dept. of Ed.

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 18:15:21 -0300

Trump and Musk's Abuse of Power; Trump vs the Free Press

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 22:05:42 -0400

Untangling the Headlines: What's Happening with Student Loans and the Department of Education

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 23:27:02 -0400

The Student Debt Crisis Center takes over the airwaves of 'the Leslie Marshall Show,' where they detail the latest threats to the Department of Education, what could happen to your student loans, and what's circulating on social media about student debt cancellation regarding data breaches.
They're also joined by a special guest who helps to untangle all of the confusion.

This episode's SDCC hosts are Executive Director, Sabrina Calazans, and Special Projects & 'Free the Degree' Director, Sabrina Ashley Cereceres.
Today's special guest is Abby Shafroth, Co-Director of Advocacy at the National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) and the Director of NCLC’s Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project.
Abby is an expert on the federal student loan program, as well as on the intersection of criminal and consumer law.

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 Blue Sky is @debtcrisisorg.bsky.social.

NCLC uses the tools of advocacy, education, and litigation to fight for economic justice for low-income and other vulnerable people who have been abused, deceived, discriminated against, or left behind in our economy.
The NCLC website is www.NCLC.org.
Their handle on Blue Sky is @nclc4consumers.bsky.social.

Trump & Musk's Threats to America's Social Safety Net; Democratic Response to Trump 2.0

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 15:39:01 -0400

Effects of Trump Pulling Out of Paris Climate Accord; Trump Tariffs Unpopular

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 23:18:03 -0400

Low Lights of Trump's First Week, Attacks on DEI Programs

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 14:34:22 -0400

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer on How Organized Labor is Prepping for a Second Trump Term

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 20:16:40 -0400

Leslie is joined by Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the 60 unions and 12.5 million members of the AFL-CIO.

The two discuss:

- Why there is no source that Union workers trust more for information about politics than their fellow Union workers

- How, despite the massive headwinds Democrats faced in this year's elections, Union voters turned out for Harris by a margin of 57%-41%, a slight advantage over 2020, after months of person-to-person contact focused heavily on pocketbook issues

- How, the Union vote, almost single handedly, kept the presidential race close across the Blue Wall and other battlegrounds. It also propelled Democratic Senate candidates to victory in closely contested races

- S.T. Redmond's take on the nomination of Lori Chavez-DeRemer for Labor Secretary

- His reaction to the selection of Gwynne Wilcox to succeed Lauren McFerran as the new chair of the NLRB

- His concern and frustration at House Republicans, President-Elect Trump and Elon Musk forcing the federal government to the brink of a shutdown, and how it would leave so many hard working Americans without a paycheck right before the Holidays

In 2022, S.T. Redmond he was unanimously elected to the position as the highest ranking African American officer in the history of America’s labor movement.His path to the federation’s second-highest office began in 1973, when he went to work at Reynolds Metals Company in Chicago and became a member of the United Steelworkers (USW). He was active in his local union almost immediately, serving as shop steward and eventually vice president. He served three terms as local president.
In 2021, Redmond was elected president of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas, a prestigious international post.

The website for the AFL-CIO is www.AFLCIO.org and their handle on Facebook, Instagram and X is @AFLCIO. Fred's handle on X is @STRedmond.

2024 AAM 'Made in America Holiday Gift Guide'

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 23:00:36 -0400

Leslie is joined by Elizabeth Brotherton-Bunch, Beth oversees communications for the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), helping to spread the word about smart public policies that guide the creation of family-supporting factory jobs.

The two discuss this year's AAM 'Made in American Holiday Gift Guide.'
They cover a mix of some of this year's incredible companies and gifts.

Here's more on it directly from AAM:

"The Alliance for American Manufacturing is thrilled to unveil the 11th edition of the Made in America Holiday Gift Guide, our annual collection of American-made gift ideas from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
We worked especially hard this year to find Made in USA companies that have not been included in the guide before, so we can shine a spotlight on even more great American makers and manufacturers. We also purposely selected an eclectic mix of items at a variety of price points, so there’s something Made in America for everyone on your list! If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, scroll to the bottom of this page for previous editions of the guide, or check out the Made in America Directory. We’ve grouped gift ideas by category on this page, but you can also navigate it by state. Happy shopping!"

Check out the gift guide at http://www.TinyURL.com/2024AAMGiftGuide.

AAM's website is www.AmericanManufacturing.org and their handle on X is @KeepItMadeInUSA. Beth's handle is @ebrotherton.

The Power of International Solidarity

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 23:39:06 -0400

Leslie is joined by Kevin Mapp, the USW’s International Vice President of Human Affairs. Kevin coordinates bargaining in the union’s health care, containers, public sector and ship building sectors.

The pair discuss the power of international solidarity in four parts.

Part 1: Global Solidarity and Corporate Greed

Multinational corporations operate globally, oftentimes attempting to pit workers in different countries against each other in a race to the bottom on wages and working conditions.
Unionized workers, however, understand that the only answer to large-scale corporate greed is global solidarity.

- The USW works with global labor federations like IndustriALL and UNI so that they can share information about operations in different countries.

- The USW maintains formal strategic alliances with at least six other unions in Australia, Mexico, Germany, Brazil, and the United Kingdom.

- The USW also maintains relationships with unions in a number of other countries as they work to ensure that workers have a place to succeed in the global economy.

All of these relationships are premised on the simple truth that workers the world over confront many of the same challenges, and their greatest strength is solidarity.

Part 2: Urgency in Liberia and Bridgestone’s Operations

Nowhere has this been more urgent than in Liberia, where workers on Bridgestone’s massive rubber plantation have been struggling for decades to improve their working conditions.

Japanese-owned Bridgestone is one of the world’s largest tire and rubber manufacturers. It employs more than 125,000 workers worldwide, including approximately 4,000 members of the USW. Unions in Japan, South Africa, Europe, and Brazil also represent Bridgestone workers.

In Harbel, Liberia, Bridgestone operates the world’s largest contiguous rubber plantation, covering some 185 square miles. It’s owned by Bridgestone subsidiary, Firestone Liberia, and approximately 7,000 workers reside there with their families.

- These workers both live and work on the plantation, buying food from the company store and sending their children to schools run by the company.

- The work is difficult, slashing bush, tapping trees, draining latex into metal buckets that weigh 65 pounds each when full, and carrying them long distances to weigh stations.

- This latex then goes straight into the North American supply chain, serving as the starting point for American-made tires.

Part 3: Unionization and Challenges at Firestone Liberia

In 1990, Terry Renninger, then president of Bridgestone’s Liberia operations, said, “The best way to think of it is as an old Southern plantation.”

Indeed, in the years leading up to the formation of their union, the Firestone Agricultural Workers Union of Liberia (FAWUL), workers endured what a 2005 human rights lawsuit called “forced labor, the modern equivalent of slavery.”

In 2007, workers successfully organized, and since then they’ve been making incremental progress in improving working conditions on the plantation, though serious problems remain regarding wages, health care, housing, workplace safety, and more.

On top of this, in 2019, Bridgestone fired more than 2,000 workers, forcing them instead to work for contractors, doing the same work but earning significantly lower wages without benefits or other protections provided by FAWUL’s contract.

According to the U.S.-based Solidarity Center:

- One of the big benefits they lost was the education promised to their children, who now must walk long distances through difficult terrain to attend classes in open-air classrooms without desks or other supplies.

- Workers struggle to afford protective glasses, boots, or gloves.

- Living conditions are cramped, and payment for food comes out of workers’ paychecks, which can sometimes leave them with zero or negative balances on their pay slips.

Part 4: Current Efforts and Hope for the Future

Since then, these workers have pushed back, with the support of unions like the USW, as well as the Solidarity Center and others.

- On Aug. 31, 2024, contractors voted overwhelmingly to unionize and are attempting to rejoin FAWUL.

- FAWUL is currently in negotiations with Bridgestone, and one of the key issues is the fate of contractors.

The USW has been proud to provide strategic and bargaining support, but the true strength comes from workers themselves who have shown they’re willing to take action.

The outcome of these negotiations is still not certain, but it’s clear that workers – across the world – are strongest when they’re united.

Kevin Mapp also serves as a trustee on the USW Health and Welfare Fund, is an advisory board member to the Institute for Career Development, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Michigan AFL-CIO Labor Foundation. He is a graduate of the Harvard Trade Union Program and the Cornell National Labor Leadership Initiative.A committed activist, Kevin also serves on the boards of both the metro-Detroit and national A. Philip Randolph Institutes (APRI), where he works to promote social and economic justice, voting rights and community education.

Follow the USW on Facebook, Instagram and X, using the handle @steelworkers, and visit their website at www.USW.org.

Trump's Lies About Immigrants & Social Security, Harris’ Plan to Raise the Minimum Wage and Eliminate Taxes on Tips

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 23:33:04 -0300

Leslie is joined by Brendan Duke, Senior Director for Economic Policy at the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

The pair discuss two of his most recent pieces for CAP. (both listed below)

1. "Donald Trump Is Lying About Immigrants and Social Security/Medicare" (https://www.americanprogressaction.org/article/donald-trump-is-lying-about-immigrants-and-social-security-medicare/)

2. "Harris’ Plan To Raise the Minimum Wage and Eliminate Tax on Tips Would Benefit Service and Hospitality Workers" (www.americanprogressaction.org/article/harris-plan-to-raise-the-minimum-wage-and-eliminate-tax-on-tips-would-benefit-service-and-hospitality-workers/)

Previously, Brendan was a senior policy adviser at the White House National Economic Council for the Biden-Harris administration, and a member of their presidential transition team. Duke estimated the cost of various provisions of the 'American Rescue Plan' and of the administration’s 'Build Back Better' plan, as well as helped develop its overall budgetary frameworks. He also worked on the administration’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, where he served as the National Economic Council’s point person on supply chain data during the port congestion crisis of 2021, and the infant formula crisis of 2022.
His handle on X is @Brendan_Duke.

Breast Cancer Awareness; Social Media Linked to Eating Disorders in Kids

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 23:05:19 -0300

Leslie is joined by Dr. Nicole Saphier, who has served as a FOX News Channel contributor since 2018, breaking down the latest medical news across all platforms.
Dr. Saphier is a board-certified radiologist with advanced fellowship training in breast imaging.

The two ladies discuss Breast Cancer Awareness month, which is right around the corner in October, and what folks can do to protect themselves and their families from the dangerous disease.

Then, the pair comments on a new study linking social media to eating disorders in kids and young teens.

Dr. Saphier is author of FOX News Books' best-seller "Love, Mom," which shines a light on maternal love with powerful first person stories from the FOX News family and beyond.
In addition to her clinical, research and media responsibilities, Dr. Saphier holds leadership and advisory positions at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, New Jersey Department of Health, and Radiological Society of New Jersey.
Her website is www.NicoleSaphierMD.com and her handle on X is @NBSaphierMD.

Interest Rates Stunting Manufacturing Growth, NAFTA's Lingering Damage, Biden's Industrial Policies Bearing Fruit

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 18:48:27 -0300

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 how high interest rates are crushing U.S. manufacturing's potential growth, NAFTA's lingering damage in the rust belt, and how the Biden administration's industrial policies are actually turning the tide on U.S. competitiveness.

For over 17 years, Mr. Paul and AAM have worked to make American manufacturing a top-of-mind issue for voters and our national leaders through effective advocacy, innovative research, and a savvy public relations strategy.

The website for AAM is www.AmericanManufacturing.org and their handle on X is @KeepItMadeInUSA.
Scott's handle is @ScottPaulAAM.

Renowned Economist Proposes Free Retraining for Higher Paying Jobs; Harris-Trump Debate Preview

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 19:57:43 -0300

Leslie is first 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 discuss his latest piece for 'Washington Monthly' titled, "Kamala Harris Still Has Time for a Big New Idea in Economic Policy."

Dr. Shapiro explains how the fading prospect of upward mobility for Americans without college degrees is a major issue that concerns millions of voters.

He proposes that one way to help people raise their incomes is by offering free retraining for higher-paying jobs.

He also details how the plan would work, and how much it would cost (which may surprise you!).

The full article is available at www.sonecon.com/blog, along with all of Dr. Shapiro's other writing.

Then, Leslie is joined by Brad Bannon, who 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.

The two preview tonight's presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

This includes discussions about whether V.P. Harris will deliver the policy message voters say they want to hear, which version of Trump shows up onstage, abortion, the Economy, and more.

Dr. Shapiro brings broad knowledge and experience in economics and politics based on his government service and decades of conducting analysis and providing advice to U.S. presidents, senators, representatives and governors, as well as foreign leaders and senior executives at numerous Fortune 100 companies. His views are respected in the United States and around the world, and he has helped develop numerous policies that affect investment, taxation, regulation, trade and government spending here and abroad.

His website is www.Sonecon.comm and his handle on X is @RobShapiro.

You can hear Brad guest host for Leslie each Monday from 3-4pm ET with his own program, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon.'
Brad also writes a political column each week for 'The Hill.'
You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on X is @BradBannon and on Facebook is at @DeadlineDCWithBradBannon.

Challenges to SAVE Student Loan Plan, Latest on Student Debt Cancellation

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 16:27:59 -0300

The Student Debt Crisis Center takes over the airwaves of 'the Leslie Marshall Show,' where they detail the latest challenges to the SAVE plan, why millions of folks don't have to make monthly payments right now, and what's going on with the latest student debt cancellation plan.
They also alert folks of upcoming deadlines and who benefits from taking action.

This episode's SDCC hosts are President and Founder, Natalia Abrams, Managing Director, Sabrina Calazans, and Special Projects & 'Free the Degree' Director, Sabrina Ashley Cereceres.

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 StudentDebtCrisis.org and their handle on X, Instagram and Facebook is @DebtCrisisOrg.

Children on the Front Lines of Justice: Report Sexual Abuse and Survive the Criminal Trial

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 22:22:29 -0300

Leslie is joined by Author Eliza Sultan and District Attorney of New Mexico's 13th Judicial District, Barbara Romo.
The pair are here to talk about Eliza's book, "Children on the Front Lines of Justice: Report Sexual Abuse and Survive the Criminal Trial," which D.A. Romo wrote the foreword in.

"Children On the Front Lines of Justice” is the story of a brave brother and sister, May and Charlie, who testify against a family member at his criminal trial. They must be brave and tell the truth about sexual abuse. The story is narrated from the children’s perspective. The objective of the book is to help children, parents, caregivers, guardians and anyone working with these survivors to have an idea of what to expect- when faced with having to testify. Any child from age 2-18 faced with having to testify at a criminal trial could benefit from this story of valiance and justice.
The book is also a resource that prosecutors, advocates, and anyone who is touched by the justice system could share with families facing this experience. Eliza and her kids hope that the book will help children and their families know that they are not alone in their experience.
The book is available on Amazon at this link:https://a.co/d/0eCnTSW

Eliza Sultan is an author, writer of op-eds, legislative advocate, self-described pain-in-the-activist, and mother of two children. She became active on issues of child testimony reform and child welfare after her family experienced first-hand the toll that participating in the criminal justice process takes on a family, particularly the issue of children testifying in open-court in front of someone who harmed them.
Inspired by the courage of her children, Eliza began advocating to bring awareness to these issues and push for legislative and policy change that reflects the reality of the trauma that the judicial process itself exacts on families.
In addition to her book, Eliza continues her advocacy through speaking engagements and consultation with policy leaders across the country, and she anticipates expanding her advocacy into other areas of the justice system that impact children.
You can follow her on Instagram where her handle is @ESultanAdvocacy.

Barbara Romo is District Attorney of New Mexico's 13th Judicial District. She’s been practicing law in New Mexico for over 24 years, having worked for eight years in the 1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office prosecuting a variety of felonies and heading up the Felony Crimes Against Children Unit, exclusively prosecuting felony crimes against children and homicides.
As a prosecutor, Barbara has prosecuted every type of felony and has tried over 100 cases before juries specializing in crimes against children, sexual assault and homicides. She has worked for the New Mexico Victim's Rights Project as a victims' rights attorney, providing legal representation to crime victims as well as providing training and assistance to prosecutors, law enforcement, and other agencies who assist victims of crime.
Barbara has been much lauded receiving the Community Service Prosecutor of the year award in 2018, Prosecutor of the Year in 2016, Rookie Prosecutor of the Year in 1997 all from the New Mexico District Attorney Association.

Teamsters President Talks Unionizing Workers at Amazon, United Airlines and Costco

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 20:24:57 -0300

Leslie is joined by Sean O'Brien, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

The two discuss the Teamsters winning a groundbreaking joint employer decision against Amazon, United Airlines Teamsters rallying nationwide for a strong new contract, and Costco fleet drivers overwhelmingly authorizing a strike.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit www.Teamster.org for more information. Follow them on X and Instagram, where their handle is @Teamsters, and “like” them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Teamsters.
Sean's handle on X is @TeamsterSOB.

Project 2025: The Plan To Seize Power by Gutting America’s System of Checks and Balances

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 18:29:58 -0300

Leslie is joined by Joe Radosevich. He is the Vice President for Campaigns and Outreach in the Advocacy and Outreach Department at the Center for American Progress. He works across teams to advance the organization’s priorities with external partners and elected leaders.

Leslie and Joe discuss the extensive piece he co-wrote with Will Ragland, titled, "Project 2025: The Plan To Seize Power by Gutting America’s System of Checks and Balances."

Here is the beginning of the eye-opening guide:

"The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 is a road map for how a new far-right presidential administration can take over the country. The project contains four components: a 920-page book with far-right policy proposals, a personnel database of loyalists ready to replace tens of thousands of civil servants, a private online training center, and an unpublished plan for the first 180 days of a new administration.

Many of the proposals in Project 2025 are sweeping and would eliminate fundamental personal freedoms while cutting the take-home pay of millions of Americans. Unsurprisingly, Project 2025’s policies to increase taxes on the middle class, allow corporations to stop paying workers overtime, implement a national abortion ban, and raise the retirement age for Social Security are wildly unpopular.

That is why the most striking aspect of Project 2025 is a new strategy to gut the system of checks and balances that has long protected Americans’ personal freedoms. This strategy would concentrate power in the hands of the president—and set in motion a plan to flood the civil service with far-right loyalists to seize control of independent agencies. It is a playbook written for an authoritarian administration. This new vision would make it even harder for the American people to have a say in their government or oppose policies they disagree with.

The scope of Project 2025 is extensive. An ongoing series from the Center for American Progress unpacks specific proposals in Project 2025, from raising the cost of prescription drugs and restricting access to contraception, to slashing funding for early childhood and K-12 education. There are proposals to end civil rights protections, exploit the most vulnerable Americans, stop safeguards that protect clean drinking water, halt action to combat the climate crisis, and open the door to an unprecedented level of corruption at the expense of the public. Taken together, Project 2025 is a plan for a presidency focused on consolidating and holding on to power.

Many of the policies listed in the public 920-page agenda can be grouped into three core areas:
- Gut the U.S. system of checks and balances to consolidate power.
- Take away Americans’ fundamental personal freedoms.
- Raise costs on the middle class to give the wealthy billions."

Read the rest at this link: https://www.americanprogress.org/article/project-2025-the-plan-to-seize-power-by-gutting-americas-system-of-checks-and-balances/

Before joining American Progress, Joe served in a variety of senior roles for U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. As Governor Shapiro’s Chief of Staff, Joe led the combined legal and communications strategy that successfully defended Pennsylvania’s election results in 2020, and expanded the role of the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office into labor and environmental crimes.
The website for The Center for American Progress Action Fund is www.AmericanProgressAction.org.

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Talks Presidential Election

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 18:27:47 -0300

Leslie is joined by Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the 60 unions and 12.5 million members of the AFL-CIO. On June 13, 2022, he was unanimously elected to the position as the highest ranking African American officer in the history of America’s labor movement.

He first discusses with Leslie why, as President, Donald Trump was a disaster for workers and their unions.
Then, Fred details that the AFL-CIO supports Kamala Harris and Tim Walz because they are fighting every day to lift up working people.
Next, he explains how the 'Blue Wall' has been built by organized labor.
Finally, Fred recaps how he and his fellow Union leaders championed Vice President Kamala Harris as the choice for working class folks in a series of speeches on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention last week.

The website for the AFL-CIO is www.AFLCIO.org and their handle on Facebook, Instagram and X is @AFLCIO. Fred's handle on X is @STRedmond.

Expert Analysis of Harris' Plan to Make Housing More Affordable

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 23:39:29 -0300

Leslie is joined by Jim Parrott, a nonresident fellow at the Urban Institute, where he is part of their Housing Finance Policy Center. Jim is also owner of Parrott Ryan Advisors, which provides strategic advice on housing finance issues to financial institutions active in the primary and secondary mortgage market.

The two discuss the Opinion piece he co-wrote for the Washington Post with Moody Analytics' Chief Economist Mark Zandi. It's titled, "Harris Plan Could Solve the Longtime Affordable Housing Crisis."
(Link here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/21/harris-affordable-housing/)

Before joining Urban in 2013, Jim Parrott spent several years in the Obama White House as a senior adviser at the National Economic Council, where he led the team of advisers charged with counseling the cabinet and president on housing issues. Before his time in the White House, Parrott was counsel to Secretary Donovan at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The website for the Urban Institute is www.Urban.org.

Harris and Walz Deliver Wins for Workers

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 17:39:24 -0300

Leslie is joined by Roxanne Brown, the USW’s International Vice President at Large, who oversees the union’s public policy and legislative agenda as well as its political work. She has spent more than two decades advancing policies on Capitol Hill and with regulatory agencies on behalf of USW members. She has extensive experience in manufacturing, environmental and energy policy.

The two discuss how Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running mate Tim Walz, have been delivering wins for workers throughout their public service lives. It comes down to values:

Working people need a candidate who will fight for them.
USW members told their leadership that they most value retirement security, affordable health care, labor laws that support their ability to form Unions and negotiate strong contracts, alongside safe, healthy workplaces, worker-centered trade, and a strong industrial policy that supports American manufacturing.
Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, have a strong record delivering on all these issues.

Vice President Kamala Harris serves as a crucial part of the most pro-labor administration of our lifetimes, which breathed new life into domestic manufacturing and established the nation’s first industrial policy in decades.

This includes infrastructure and other investments rooted in strong 'Buy America' provisions.
Policies to build stronger, more resilient supply chains.
She took charge of the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, breaking down barriers for workers forming Unions.
She also walked the picket line with striking UAW workers.

Harris was also the tie breaker on a number of key votes that advanced the interests of working families.

The USW worked for years to pass the Butch-Lewis Act and protect the pensions of more than a million workers whose retirements hung in the balance through no fault of their own. Not a single Republican voted for the American Rescue Plan, which included Butch-Lewis, but thanks to VP Harris, it passed.
Her work as a tie-breaker also enabled the administration’s efforts to return the National Labor Relations Board to its mission of empowering working people, rather than serving the interests of wealthy corporations.

Even before she was the Vice President, Harris fought for workers.

As a Senator, Harris fought for legislation to address workplace violence in health care and social service settings.
As California's Attorney General, she cracked down on corporate creed, took on the big banks, and defended vulnerable workers against wage theft.
She fought for labor protections and fair wages for agricultural and domestic workers.

Harris’ choice of running mate also shows that she prioritizes workers and shares their values. Tim Walz was himself a Union educator, who over his career:

Paved the way for more workers to have access to paid sick and family leave;
Made major strides in protecting workers’ health and safety on the job;
Improved standards for patients and workers at Minnesota’s nursing homes;
Strengthened Union organizing and collective bargaining rights;
Expanded unemployment benefits and took steps to protect workers from wage theft and other abuses.

The choice is clear. Workers need elected officials who will fight on their side, and both Harris and Walz have clear, pro-worker records.

You can follow Roxanne on X, where her handle is @BrownRox. Follow the USW on X, Facebook and Instagram, using the handle @steelworkers, and visit their website at USW.org.

'Made in USA' Shines at the Olympics with Team USA's Opening and Closing Ceremony Uniforms!

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 15:46:42 -0300

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 how Team USA athletes at this year's Olympic Games in Paris came to wear opening and closing ceremony uniforms that have been 100% exclusively made in America, with 100% domestically sourced materials.

During this conversation, the pair also talked about a recent episode of AAM's "The Manufacturing Report" podcast, hosted by Scott, where he interviewed family-run shoe manufacturer Rancourt & Co.Co-owner and President Mike Rancourt. Mike shared the process of creating these iconic, American-made shoes, how they came to work with Ralph Lauren for the designer's Team USA Olympic uniform, and the pride Rancourt & Co. shoes bring to the Lewiston, Maine community.You can listen to the episode, and all of the other episodes of "The Manufacturing Report," at SoundCloud.com/Keep-It-Made-In-America.

Scott also shared his first hand experience attending a recent event with Congressman Ro Khanna. Rep. Khanna laid out new legislation called the Modern Steel Act, which would see a robust steel industry that’s environmentally friendly, union-represented, and state-of-the-art. And Khanna wants to do it in America’s old steel towns, bringing new life to the communities who built our nation. So Khanna came to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, kicking off his new initiative inside the long-shuttered Bethlehem Steel railcar wheel plant.

For over 17 years, Mr. Paul and AAM have worked to make American manufacturing a top-of-mind issue for voters and our national leaders through effective advocacy, innovative research, and a savvy public relations strategy.

Their website is www.AmericanManufacturing.org and their handle on X is @KeepItMadeInUSA.
Scott's handle is @ScottPaulAAM.

Kamala Harris Quickly Unites Democratic Party, Leaving Trump-Vance Campaign Reeling

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:09:31 -0300

Biden Bows Out of Presidential Race, Endorses Vice President Harris

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 17:52:30 -0300

Why Enforcement of the 'Made in USA' Label is SO Important; Biden Admin Awards Grants for EV Manufacturing

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 01:11:13 -0300

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.

Here are the topics that they discuss:

1. Polling shows that American shoppers prize the "Made in USA" label and are willing to pay more for it—something that counterfeiters are all too happy to capitalize. So how can the Federal Trade Commission protect the integrity of "Made in USA"? AAM is out with a new explainer video that is shared with the audience.

***Call your Representatives today in support of the COOL Online Act at 202-224-3121.
Use AAM's 'Made in America' online directory at AmericanManufacturing.org/made-in-america***

2. The U.S. is "frighteningly behind China" in global shipping, AAM President testified before the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party at the end of June.
How can the U.S. correct course?

3. The Biden administration announced the investment of $1.7 billion dollars in grants for auto plant retooling projects across eight states as it works to transition the U.S. auto industry to electric vehicle technology.

4. U.S. brands like McDonald's, Apple, Starbucks, and Nike flocked to China to gain access to the world's second-largest consumer market, but Chinese companies are studying the West's formulas for success and pushing the competition out. Is the Chinese market fool's gold?

For over 17 years, Scott Paul and AAM have worked to make American manufacturing a top-of-mind issue for voters and our national leaders through effective advocacy, innovative research, and a savvy public relations strategy.
Their website is www.AmericanManufacturing.org and their handle on X is @KeepItMadeInUSA.
Scott's handle is @ScottPaulAAM. show less

Workers Need the PRO Act

Sat, 22 Jun 2024 01:08:45 -0300

Leslie is joined by Maria Somma, Organizing Director for the United Steelworkers (USW).

The pair explores why workers still need the PRO Act.

This includes white collar workers, which Maria shares multiple examples of with the audience.
Workers in the South are also eager to exercise their rights, though this is drawing backlash from anti-worker politicians in states like Georgia and Alabama.

The Biden administration has done important work to correct course at the NLRB, and there are pro-worker provisions in recent investments, which are helping smooth the way for workers to have a voice on the job. This includes extensive new requirements for infrastructure projects to be “made in America” as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Known as the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA), this section of the law promises to stimulate American manufacturing and create jobs for American workers by ensuring that a substantial portion of BIL funding is used to purchase U.S.-made products and materials.

However, workers still face an uphill battle when it comes to forming unions. The solution is to finally pass comprehensive legislation that shores up loopholes in our laws and attaches real, immediate penalties to corporations that violate workers’ rights.
Leslie and Maria share the legislative solution to these issues, which is the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act).

They detail what the law would do, which is:
- Establish stronger and swifter remedies to stop employers from breaking the law
- Make companies recognize contractors as part of the collective bargaining process so they can no longer continue to whittle down Union membership by subcontracting
- Force an employer to reach a first contract in a timely manner with a newly organized group of workers. (No more dragging out first contracts)
- Reverse so-called 'Right to Work,' regardless of state laws
- Prohibit employers from forcing employees to attend anti-union meetings
Recent polls show that support for unions is at a fifty-year high, and having Joe Biden, the only sitting President to walk a picket line, in office has helped workers a great deal. But, it’s time for the law to catch up.

Maria Somma has been an organizer for her entire career, first as a community organizer, and then as a labor organizer.
She started with the Steelworkers in 2001 as a healthcare workers organizer, and became Organizing Director in 2015.
The website for the USW is www.USW.org.
Their handle on X and Instagram is @steelworkers. Like them on Facebook by visiting www.Facebook.com/Steelworkers.

Why Trump's Conviction is an Important Victory for the Rule of Law: Author of "Is MAGA a Terrorist Movement?"

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 23:40:27 -0300

Leslie is joined by Mike Sozan, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress Action Fund.
The two analyze the significance of former President Donald Trump being found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his New York election interference case.
They also chat about Mike's new piece for the DC Journal, titled, "COUNTERPOINT: Trump’s Conviction Is an Important Victory for the Rule of Law."

Then, Leslie is joined by whose new book, "Is MAGA a Terrorist Movement?", has reached #1 best-seller status on Amazon in seven categories, including Campaigns and Elections.

In addition to previewing the book, the pair discusses:

Top reasons that MAGA, by definition, is a domestic terrorist movement
Textbook reasons that the January 6th insurrection was a terrorist attack on home soil
Here's what pseudo-Christians and MAGA mean when they use the word, "Woke"
What will America become if Trump is reelected in November?
What peaceful actions can be taken to counteract MAGA?

Mike Sozan is a top expert on American democracy, and served as former Senator Mark Udall’s Chief of Staff, worked for former Senators Jim Webb and Bill Nelson, and also served as an Attorney for the Department of Justice and the FCC.
The website for the Center for American Progress Action Fund is www.AmericanProgressAction.org.
Their handle on X is @CAPAction, on Facebook is @AmericanProgressAction, and on Instagram is @FightForProgress.

Russell Jack is a former US Federal Air Marshal, spent years inside the government, working alongside MAGA supporters. He has decades of experience in detecting, deterring, and defeating terrorism and criminal activity.
He is passionate in his defense of Democracy, currently under attack by the terrorist group known as MAGA (Make America Great Again). He hopes his book and his website will promote critical thinking about protecting our Democracy, and just how precariously close we are to losing it forever.
His website, where you can purchase the book, is www.MAGATerrorism.com, and you can follow him on Facebook, where his handle is @MAGATerrorism.

President Biden Announces New Tariffs on Chinese EVs, Semiconductors, Solar Cells and More

Wed, 15 May 2024 01:46:04 -0300

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.

First, Scott breaks down today's move by President Biden to levy new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, semiconductors, batteries, solar cells, steel and aluminum. The tariffs on Chinese EVs will rise to 100%, quadrupling the current tariff of 25%.
It's the latest bid by the Biden administration to keep China from undercutting U.S. companies and threatening U.S. manufacturing jobs, many of which are union jobs.

Second, Leslie and Scott discuss yesterday's Substack piece by Elizabeth Pancotti at Roosevelt Forward, titled, "Why It’s Good, Actually, That You Can’t Buy the World’s Cheapest Electric Vehicle." (Link--> https://rooseveltforward.substack.com/p/why-its-good-actually-that-you-cant)

Next, Scott explains why what’s happening at ports in Belgium should worry both American automakers and policymakers.

Finally, Leslie and Scott explore how America is at a crossroads when it comes to trade policy.

For over 16 years, Scott Paul and AAM have worked to make American manufacturing a top-of-mind issue for voters and our national leaders through effective advocacy, innovative research, and a savvy public relations strategy.
Their website is www.AmericanManufacturing.org and their handle on X is @KeepItMadeInUSA.
Scott's handle is @ScottPaulAAM.

Biden Administration Takes Major Step Toward Closing 'Gun Show Loophole,' Requires Thousands More Dealers to Run Background Checks

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 00:16:12 -0300

Leslie is joined by Nick Wilson, Senior Director for Gun Violence Prevention at American Progress, where he leads the organization’s efforts to reduce gun violence and shrink the footprint of the criminal justice system while improving public health and safety.

The pair discusses the Biden Administration taking a major step towards closing the 'gun show loophole,' requring thousands more gun dealers to run background checks.
The administration first proposed the rule in August, after the passage of the most sweeping gun violence bill in decades, a bipartisan compromise in response to the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at a Uvalde, Texas elementary school.

That law expanded the definition of those who are “engaged in the business” of selling firearms, and are required to become licensed by the ATF and therefore run background checks. The rule, which implements the change in the law, will take effect 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register.

There are already roughly 80,000 federally licensed firearms dealers. Administration officials believe the new rule will impact more than 20,000 dealers who have gotten away with selling firearms without a license and performing background checks at places like gun shows and over the internet by claiming they aren’t “engaged in the business” of firearm sales.

The website for the Center for American Progress is www.AmericanProgress.org. Nick's handle on X is @NickWilsonB.

AFL-CIO President Talks Worker Safety, Unions Expanding into the South, and Climate Change Policy Solutions

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 19:42:22 -0300

Leslie is joined by Liz Shuler, president of the 60 unions and 12.5 million members of the AFL-CIO, and the first woman leader of America’s labor movement.

The two discuss the Union's 2024 'Death on the Job Report,' the recent UAW win in Tennessee and what it means for the broader Union movement in the South, as well as the Inaugural 'Climate, Equity and Jobs Launch' held by the AFL-CIO on Earth Day this year.

The 2024 'Death on the Job Report' can be read here: https://aflcio.org/press/releases/afl-cio-releases-2024-death-job-report-ahead-workers-memorial-day

A visionary leader and longtime trade unionist, Liz Shuler believes the labor movement is the single most powerful vehicle for progress and that unions are a central force in leading lasting societal transformations. She is committed to busting myths about labor, leveraging the labor movement’s diversity for innovative approaches to social justice and making the benefits of a union voice on the job available to working people everywhere.

The website for the AFL-CIO is http://www.AFLCIO.org and their handle on X is @AFLCIO. Liz's handle is @LizShuler.

Restoring Our Nation's Lost Shipbuilding Capacity

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 17:22:13 -0300

Leslie is joined by the International President of the United Steelworkers (USW), David McCall.

The two explore the topic of restoring the United States' lost shipbuilding capacity.

President McCall first details how the USW, alongside four other labor organizations, filed a petition last month requesting the United States Trade Representative (USTR) open an investigation into China’s non-market practices as it seeks to dominate the commercial shipping market.

Next, Leslie and President McCall discuss how the loss of shipbuilding capacity poses a grave threat to America's national security.

The pair also explores how the U.S. loss of commercial shipbuilding capacity has directly resulted in the loss of high-paying manufacturing jobs in the sector and across the supply chain.

Finally, President McCall breaks down how the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the danger of relying on foreign manufacturers to supply America's needs.

President McCall previously served four years as International Vice President, leading negotiations that delivered wage increases, stronger job security and other gains for tens of thousands of workers in steel, tire and other key industries.
McCall, a fourth-generation Steelworker, was born and raised in Gary, Indiana. His great-grandfather, grandfather, great-uncles, uncles and mother all worked at U.S. Steel’s Gary Works, and he walked his first picket line at age 7 during the USW’s 116-day, industry-wide strike in 1959.

The website for the United Steelworkers is www.USW.org and their handle on X, Facebook and Instagram is @steelworkers.

Will China Flood the Globe with EVs, Green Tech? What’s Behind Latest US-China Trade Fight?

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 23:25:33 -0300

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.

First, Scott explains how high interest rates and trade deficits are stifling U.S. factory jobs growth.

Second, Leslie and Scott move across the globe to discuss China, where U.S. Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, is wrapping up a five day trip.
Scott begins this discussion by highlighting how Beijing's economic success remains tied to U.S. market access, and how that offers America leverage.

Next, Leslie and Scott discuss the increasingly high risk that China will flood the globe with EVs and green tech thanks to their government subsidized overcapacity in both industries.
During her current trip to the Communist nation, Secretary Yellen says that the concern about excess capacity is shared by many other countries in addition to the U.S., both developing as well as rich ones.
“This is not anti-China policy,” she said. “It’s an effort for us to mitigate the risks from the inevitable global economic dislocation that will result if China doesn’t adjust its policies.”

Finally, Scott shares the advice he provided to a panel convened last week by the Washington International Trade Association (WITA) about Chinese auto imports.
To summarize, he encourages the U.S. not to wait for China’s heavily subsidized car to arrive here. But instead, to be PROACTIVE!

For over 16 years, Scott Paul and AAM have worked to make American manufacturing a top-of-mind issue for voters and our national leaders through effective advocacy, innovative research, and a savvy public relations strategy.

Their website is www.AmericanManufacturing.org and their handle on X is @KeepItMadeInUSA.
Scott's handle is @ScottPaulAAM.

Teamsters President Talks Anheuser-Busch Contract, Molson-Coors Strike, UPS & DHL Organzing and Presidential Roundtables

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 23:51:03 -0300

Leslie is joined by Sean O'Brien, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

The two discuss the Teamsters' recently ratified contract with Anheuser-Busch, their striking brothers and sisters at Molson-Coors, organizing at UPS and DHL, as well as their Presidential roundtables.

Sean is a 4th-generation Teamster from Boston, and is committed to winning and defending strong national contracts, organizing new members, and aggressively taking on employers. He is focused on mobilizing rank-and-file Teamsters through education and increased engagement—traveling extensively to visit with members at worksites throughout the country.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. 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.
Sean's handle on X is @TeamsterSOB.