"Two Sets of Rules: The New Jim Crow and Our Disturbing “Prison Problem” (with video)

MSNBC-Dylan Ratigan, with video (08:03):

Here at the Dylan Ratigan Show, we’ve been thinking a lot about the wide-ranging issue of “two sets of rules” in America — rules that are inherently beneficial to one part of the populace over another, picking “winners” and “losers” before the rest of us even get a chance to get on the field.

You already know how preferential treatment works in our tax system, our banking system, and our healthcare system. But perhaps the most troubling example of “two sets of rules” exists in the U.S. prison system with our systemic incarceration of young, black males — not to mention the devastating effects these statistics have on real lives and families in black communities around the country. MORE...

Howie P.S.: Also at the link above, scroll down: "Toure discussed “The New Jim Crow” in his Daily Rant," video,(03:50).

Ari Melber on The Dylan Ratigan Show on "Ryan's Budget Comes Up Short" (video)

MSNBC-The Dylan Ratigan Show (03:24).

Dylan Ratigan: "For college grads, work is hard to come by" (video)

MSNBC-Dylan Ratigan, video (06:57).

Howie P.S.: The panel answers Ratigan's bonus question: "What is your favorite college memory and why?"

"David Stockman on Mitt, Newt and Crony Capitalism" (with video)

Dylan Ratigan with video (10:13):

Former Ronald Reagan OMB director David Stockman joined us on The Dylan Ratigan Show today to explain explicitly why both Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are incredible offenders and beneficiaries of corporate communism or, as he likes to call it, “crony capitalism.” MORE...

"Weed Wars" on Dylan Ratigan (video)

MSNBC-Dylan Ratigan, video (09:31).

"Touré, Rush Limbaugh & How We Talk About Racism" (with video)

MSNBC-Dylan Ratigan, with video (03:57):

TOURÉ: This week I’m proud to say, Rush Limbaugh called me a racist.

RUSH CLIP: Touré on MSNBC, where the motto is “resist we much.” That’s right, Touré. For 23 years I’ve been hearing it. Maybe not from you, but people all over your side of the aisle. For 23 years, I’m racist, and I’m not. Never have been. You guys are.

Well, if that’s not a badge of honor, I don’t know what is. When I heard that, I said, “mama, I made it!” But whatever small comical victory that moment represents for me, it’s part of a loss for the country. It shows you the American conversation about race is devolving, because some people want to destroy that conversation.

The absurd idea that we are post-racial has emboldened many to reject the legitimacy of talking about race. To them, discussing race in and of itself is racist, because you’re playing the race card and injecting race into the world, as if it’s not already there.

For some people, racism is a word to fling around in an attempt to distort the meaning of the word and contort the necessary race conversation into meaninglessness. And whenever the conversation is pulled into the gutter of meaninglessness, we all lose.

Because we still have a significant racial problem in this country. We still have much to work on. Racism nowadays is more subtle and nuanced than ever, and that means un-nuanced thinkers like Rush can play easily dumb. “What do you mean I’m racist? I don’t have slaves, I’m not in the klan! What do you mean you experienced racism? You don’t have segregated fountains, you have a black president. Why are you still complaining?”

Well, white privilege is something while people need do nothing to access. White people who aren’t racist still accrue the benefits of being white. This in a world with institutional racism and glass ceilings and white men with felony convictions being more likely to get jobs than black men with clean records — that makes it too much to accept quietly. MORE...

Dylan Ratigan: "International Friday Megapanel with Rapper Ari Melber" (with video)

DylanRatigan.com with video (01:28):

The Friday (International) Megapanel — Ari Melber, Krystal Ball and Matt Miller — discuss the big stories of the week, including White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley dropping an “f-bomb” in an interview with Politico.
Then, perhaps the clip of the week: Megapanelist Ari Melber utilizes his deep knowledge of 50 Cent lyrics in a political analysis of voter loyalty to the President in tough economic times, much to the delight of the panel and the Twitterverse. MORE...

"Mad As Hell: Dylan Ratigan Goes On Epic Rant Over ‘Trillions Extracted From U.S.’ (with video)

Colby Hall---MEDIAite, with video from MSNBC (05:20):

Dylan Ratigan is mad as hell and he isn’t going to take it anymore. While hosting a discussion on the seemingly endemic problems that the U.S. political process is enduring — specifically how it relates to responsibly fiscal policy — the MSNBC host blew a gasket over what he sees as the real mathematical problem at play. The impassioned diatribe was delivered in the context of the recent credit downgrade and market volatility, and Ratigan placed equal blame on both Republicans and Democrats, but mostly argued about the entire integrated system, which included banking, trade and taxation. MORE...

Howie P.S.: The commercial for the oil company that precedes the video is more than ironic.

Nucor Seattle: "News Or Promotion? MSNBC’s Dylan Ratigan Cheers On His Sponsor While On The Road" (with video)

MEDIAite, with video from MSNBC (05:27)

Given that Ratigan frequently mentions Nucor is a partner on the series, at least viewers are made aware of the rationale for why such flattering coverage is lavished on the company. However, the fact remains that watching Ratigan’s segment, which easily could have been confused for a human resources video to boost Nucor employee morale, was a bit off-putting. MORE...

Dylan Ratigan Tweets: "SteelonWheels kicks off again from Seattle today at 4pm ET (1pm Pacific)" (with video)

UPDATE: Dylan Ratigan reports: "Melting pot at Nucor Steel’s Seattle Plant":

In one minute, Nucor’s metal melting machine generates enough energy to power 20 American homes for an entire week.

MSNBC-Today Show, video (02:02).

Howie P,S.: Nucor Steel, one of the sponsors of the tour, has over 200 locations in the U.S. Their Seattle location is at the West Seattle side of the West Seattle bridge and is a short walk from my domicile. I might wander over there and see what's happening later today.

Dylan Ratigan Drops Into Seattle

Dylan Tweets:

"Meanwhile, coffee in Seattle, next to the record store. En route to local STEM high school."

Howie P.S.: Here's what the Google tells us about that. And yes, that is the cafe @ Easy Street in West Seattle.

"Glenn Greenwald on Radio Free Dylan" (with audio/text)

dylanratigan.com. with audio (39:06):

In summary, a number of these security firms pitched Bank of America and the Chamber of Commerce a proposition in which they would smear the reputations and try to threaten the well-being of targeted private individuals, including journalists, activists and political groups. As Glenn puts it, “what made it such an important story is that the firms that were involved are serious legitimate players. These are not fly-by-night operations. These are big companies that do a lot of high level work for the government and for big corporations.” MORE...

"Is America a 'Kabuki Democracy'" (video)

MSNBC-Dylan Ratigan, video (08:05).

Howie P.S.: Eric Alterman visits Ratigan.

"Progressives, Obama and the Democratic Party" (with video)

Glenn Greenwald, with video (13:41):

Earlier today I posted video of a Civil Liberties and Terrorism speech I gave last night at the University of Wisconsin, along with some notices of events and media appearances tomorrow, but I wanted to separately post this 13-minute discussion I had on MSNBC this afternoon with Dylan Ratigan and Cenk Uygur about the Obama presidency, progressives and the Democratic Party, because I thought the discussion was quite good and touched on some important issues.

Dylan Ratigan on the Financial Mess (video)

MSNBC-Dylan Ratigan, video (12:48).

Ratigan talks with a panel of financial experts about the banker/financial crisis and what can be done to clean up the whole fraudulent mess.

"Dylan Ratigan: White House Shake Up" (video)

MSNBC-Dylan Ratigan, video (08:59).

Howie P.S.: Steve Rattner and Barry Ritholt visit Ratigan.