Robert Reich: Fighting the Bullies (Corporate and Otherwise)

Kicking off the fourth Season of All Ears, Abby gets on the line with one of her economic heroes, Robert Reich. Reich understands the issues at the heart of The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales, Abby’s new documentary, better than almost anyone, because he’s been speaking out about exploitative labor practices and corporate greed for decades. From within the halls of power, when Reich was Secretary of Labor under President Clinton, he was vocal about rising inequality, and he’s in no mood to stop now. In recent years, Reich has become one of the most powerful and effective voices explaining the inequality crisis in clear, unequivocal language. Over the course of their rousing conversation, Reich shares his vision for a bottom-up economics and provides some introspection on his own commitment to fighting inequality. He also clues Abby into the real cause of rising inflation last year (hint: it’s not labor!) and lets her know when he’ll believe corporations deserve the same rights as people (hint: something to do with Texas!)EPISODE LINKSRobert Reich on linkt.reeRobert Reich's SubstackWhat Ownership Society? (The American Prospect)Civil Right Workers Remembered 50 Years After Slaying (USA Today)It’s A Wonderful Life TrailerRepublicans block bill requiring dark money groups to reveal donors (The Hill)Meet The 24 Robber Barons Who Once Ruled America (Business Insider)When Did Corporations Become People? (NPR)