The Big Picture With Thom Hartmann

Tonight's final 2012 "Big Picture Rumble" panel discusses the ups and downs of the year for progressives, focusing on four areas: taxes, the economy, the labor movement and our country's social safety net programs. The panel also discusses what issues and policies will likely make up 2013.

Thom asks former Lieutenant General Robert Gard why defense cuts aren't being discussed in the "fiscal cliff" negotiations. Also discussed: a potential dockworkers strike on the east coast, Japan's reversal on ending their nuclear power program and Thom takes viewer phone calls in "Your Take, My Take Live." In tonight's "Daily Take" Thom details why even Republicans are fed up with their party of billionaires.

Guest host Sam Sacks fills in for Thom Hartmann and discusses how the FBI is once again on the wrong side of history with new documents revealing their paranoid surveillance of peaceful Occupy Protests. Also discussed: if a "fiscal cliff" deal is possible without weakening social security, another mass shooting with a Bushmaster assault rifle and in tonight's "Daily Take" Thom reveals the extreme measures we've taken against terrorism while doing nothing about gun violence.

Tonight's "Big Picture Rumble" panel discusses the NRA's absurd plan to protect our students in America from gun violence, the failure of Boehner's "Plan B" and what it means for the fiscal cliff negotiations and a new report showing how tough single parents have it in the U.S. compared with other nations. And Thom brings you "The Big Picture Christmas Carol," a look at where this nation has been, where it is now and what it might look like in the future.

Thom discusses how Obama may become the only Democratic President in history to cut Social Security. Also discussed: how raising the federal minimum wage will boost the economy, why only men are involved in shooting massacres and Thom talks with musician Sean Lennon on fracking, Newtown and the 32nd anniversary of his father's death. In tonight's "Daily Take" Thom warns of a new law being discussed in Congress that would give Netflix the power to stop the revolution.

Thom talks with Attorney Howard Nations about why we can’t handle the gun industry like we did the tobacco industry. Tonight’s “Lone Liberal Rumble” panel discusses gun control, fiscal cliff negotiations, creationism and NDAA. In tonight's “Daily Take” Thom discusses how Obama is failing progressives during the “fiscal cliff” negotiations.

Thom discusses how the Newtown School Shooting has done nothing to deter the crazies of the GOP to continue their pro-gun talk. Also discussed: a debate on the latest “fiscal cliff” negotiations, a new movie detailing stories of employee owned businesses and Thom talks with Don Siegelman’s daughter on the effort to free her father. In tonight’s “Daily Take” Thom compares the NRA with Al-Qaeda and explains which organization has more blood on its hands.

Thom discusses the Sandy Hook school shooting with Radio Host and Attorney Mike Papantonio and with a panel of gun control advocates. In tonight’s “Daily Take” Thom discusses how Obama’s legacy is now linked to the Sandy Hook massacre.

Tonight’s “Big Picture Rumble” panel discusses the tragic Connecticut School Shooting and Michigan’s right-to-work (for less) law. In tonight's “Conversations with Great Minds" Thom talks with physician Dr. Neal Barnard, author of the book “The 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart.” In tonight’s “Daily Take” Thom warns Obama about raising the age for Medicare.

Thom talks with journalist and author Mark Ames on the history of our country’s union-busting laws. Also discussed: the new way our government plans to spy on us, tomorrow’s global Walmart strike and how will we be able to infinitely preserve our electronic information. In tonight’s “Daily Take” Thom details the downfall of the Republican party since Eisenhower.

In tonight's “Conversations with Great Minds" Thom talks with veteran journalist Chrystia Freeland, author of the new book “Plutocrats.” Tonight’s “Big Picture Rumble” panel discusses Michigan becoming a right-to-work (for less) state, November’s positive job numbers and Senator Demint leaving the Senate for The Heritage Foundation. In tonight’s “Daily Take” Thom looks at how corporate America’s cost-benefit analysis is killing us.

Thom discusses how Republicans in Congress don't want to protect the rights of the disabled throughout the world. Tonight's "Lone Liberal Rumble" panel discusses filibuster reform, why Republican voters think Obama won because of an organization that no longer exists (ACORN) and what the successful port strike in Los Angeles means for workers. Also discussed: why we never talk about gun control and how we should stop looking at GDP as an indicator of anything. In tonight's "Daily Take" Thom explains why we need a right to vote law.

Thom talks with Lori Wallach (Director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch) who's in Auckland, New Zealand attending TPP negotiations. Also discussed: whether police will be able to look at people's text messages, whether corporations will be able to patent human genes and whether Republicans in Congress will work with the president to prevent the "fiscal cliff." In tonight's "Daily Take" Thom details how Americans are dying a slow, painful death thanks to our nation's toxic and unhealthy food.

Thom discusses whether the Republican Party will continue its current path of destruction or whether they will go back to the center-left positions of Eisenhower. Thom talks "fiscal cliff" negotiations with Mediaite's Tommy Christopher, climate change with denier Marc Morano of ClimateDepot.com and how the Saudi government influenced the presidential election with "The Nation's" Lee Fang. In tonight's "Daily Take" Thom reveals Reagan's Welfare Queen.

In tonight's "Bigger Picture" discussion Thom talks with a panel of experts about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Tonight's "Big Picture Rumble" panel discusses Obama's "Fiscal Cliff" plan, the Saudi's influence on the presidential election and the fast food strike in New York. In tonight's "Daily Take" Thom discusses Obama's Drone War.