[ ♪ theme ♪ ] >> bill: hey what do you say fellow americans. good morning, good morning, good morning, on a tuesday tuesday july 23rd, how about it. great to see you today. welcome to the "full court press" right here on current tv. and you know the big news, it's a boy! oh, my god! he's third in line for the throne but he's going to have to wait a little while. first, he's going to have to wait for his great grandma to get off the throne then wait for his grandfather and his father to have their turn, maybe he

ought to go out and sell real estate instead. baby cambridge. back down to earth president obama getting is set to get the focus back on the economy with three big speeches this week. starting in illinois and missouri yesterday and moving down to jacksonville, florida -- i'm sorry, illinois tomorrow and then down to jacksonville, florida, on thursday. and oh by the way did you know that terrorists stormed the infamous abu ghraib prison yesterday in iraq and freed 500 members of al-qaeda. i wonder where they're going to end up. all of that, we'll talk about right here on the "full court press." you can join us by phone at 1-866-55-press. join us on twitter at bpshow and we want you to become our friend of course on facebook at facebook.com/billpressshow.

we'll start out with something you probably don't know is on your new automobile on current tv. (vo) current tv gets the conversation started weekdays at 9 eastern. >> i'm a slutty bob hope. the troops love me. tv and radio talk show host stephanie miller rounds out current's morning news block. you're welcome current tv audience for the visual candy. (vo) sharp tongue. >>excuse me? (vo) quick wit. >> and yes, president obama does smell like cookies and freedom. (vo) and above all, opinion and attitude. >> really?! this is the kind of stuff they say about something they just pulled freshly from their [bleep]. >> you know what those people are like. >> what could possibly go wrong in eight years of george bush? >> my producer just coughed up a hairball. >>sorry. >>just be grateful current tv doesn't come in "smell-o-vision" >> oh come on!

the sweatshirt is nice and all but i could use a golden lasso. (vo)only on current tv.

cenk off air alright in 15 minutes we're going to do the young turks! i think the number 1 thing than viewers like about the young turks is that were honest. they know that i'm not bsing them for some hidden agenda, actually supporting one party or the other. when the democrats are wrong, they know i'm going to be the first one to call them out. cenk on air>> what's unacceptable is how washington continues to screw the middle class over. cenk off air i don't want the middle class taking the brunt of the spending cuts and all the different programs that wind up hurting the middle class. cenk on air you got to go to the local level, the state level and we have to fight hard to make sure they can't buy our politics anymore. cenk off air and they can question if i'm right about that. but i think the audience gets that, i actually mean it. cenk on air 3 trillion dollars in spending cuts! narrator uniquely progressive and always topical the worlds largest online news show is on current tv. cenk off air and i think the audience

gets, "this guys to best of his abilities is trying to look out for us." only on current tv! >> announcer: broadcasting across the nation on your radio and on current tv. this is the "bill press show." >> bill: damn it, it's a boy. >> screw the fanfare. >> bill: we got that out of the way. good morning everybody. what do you say? it is tuesday july 23rd, the day after the birth of baby cambridge. every day is going to be a --

going to be the birth. we are still at it. still covering what's going on. the important stuff here in our nation's capital. in our country. on the planet. and letting you know what's going on early on this tuesday morning. you can get a good start to the day. and have a lot to talk about. a lot to think about and a lot you're going to want to comment on. you know how to do it. join the conversation here on the "full court press," our morning town hall coming to you live all the way across this country on your local progressive talk radio station and on current tv. so you listeners and watchers can join us by phone at 1-866-55-press. on twitter, we'll be there to seize and capture your -- repeat your comments at bpshow and the same for all of our friends on facebook. facebook.com/billpressshow.

here they are. peter ogborn and dan henning. >> hey hey. >> good morning. >> bill: team. we should have a team chant like a rah rah rah, "full court press." >> let me know how to works out for you. how about buzz off! >> bill: exercises every morning like a japanese work crew. alichia cruz here on the phones. >> calisthenics. cyprian bowlding could lead it. on the video cam. making us look good. on current tv. they did it up with all of the pomp last night. it looked like michael bloomberg dressed up as the town cryer. i wasn't sure who that was but i know this was supposed to be the way you get the announcement. fortunately, they also put out a press release because i couldn't understand a bloody word this guy was saying.

[ indiscernible ] the duke and duchess of cambridge. the next in line to the throne. to her majesty the queen. >> bill: there he is. bfd. to show you how overboard they go, here is a woman that cnn had hired, right as their commentator, one of their legion of commentators because they had a lot of time to fill. her name is victoria ar biter and her point is we told you kate was smart. the duchess of cambridge. she is so smart that she popped out a little boy the first time around. >> your reaction, victoria? >> i was just thrilled.

i can't believe that we finally after all this waiting know that we have a boy. so my first thought, i have to say was this is how brilliant a royal kate is. there are women throughout british royal family history that have panicked over not being able to deliver a boy and here we are kate did it the first time. >> bill: she knew which way to dial. >> she knew which way to dial. >> bill: you want to know what the pomp is all about? "new york times," article about op-ed about it this morning. the brits, okay, are expected to spend $95 million on sparkling wine to toast the birth. $38 million on party food, $86 million on memorabilia from booties to cookies $117 million on dvds and books including a history of diapers that have clad the royal baby bottoms and

$37 million on royal baby-themed toys. >> it's embarrassing. so embarrassing. >> bill: you know what's even more embarrassing is that americans are so into this. americans are so excited about it. somebody else made the point yesterday which i thought was a good one the only royals that we're expected about are the british royals. why? we fought a war to get away from that. the netherlands has a king and a queen and royals. spain does. i don't know who else does. i lose track of them. there are a few other royal baby bottoms around right? >> it is 2014. >> bill: freakin' brits. >> we shut down yesterday -- a lot of the news media shut down. this is the only story they would cover. >> bill: led all three newscasts last night. i'm telling you john adams rolling in his grave. >> there were 370,000 babies born yesterday just to put it in

perspective. this was just one of them. >> bill: i think the truth of it is that this baby will always have to share the birthday with oscar de la renta. >> good luck filling those shoes. >> bill: no baby watchers this morning. jamal simmons will be here as a "friend of bill." igor volsky here as he is every tuesday and then president lee saunders from afscme will be joining us and do you know what little gadget is on your brand new car? i'll bet you don't. but first... >> announcer: this is the "full court press." >> on this tuesday other headlines making news, major league baseball has suspended milwaukee brewers player ryan braun for the rest of the season for violating the anti-doping policy. the outfielder will miss 65 games without pay. he'll lose about $3.75 million. he apologized in a statement yesterday saying he's not perfect and has made mistakes. >> bill: i thought the doping

thing was behind us in major league baseball. >> yeah, right. cbs took a stand against the frenzy surrounding the royal baby birth yesterday. "the huffington post" reports it is the only major tv network that did not break into its regular programming of talk shows and soap operas yesterday afternoon to announce the birth of will and kate's baby boy. they waited until their evening newscast. nbc, abc and fox all broke in with special reports around 3:30 eastern time as well as, of course, the cable network. >> bill: scott pelley did start the news with that last night. i was watching. and he also asked a question, now what if we could say that this baby by that was born today in the hospital in salsbury, maryland is the future president of the united states of america. fortunately we can't say that. >> that shows the silliness of all of this. >> the man who played detective joe fontana on nbc's law & order

passed away yesterday. dennis farino was known for starring in get shorty and "saving private ryan." the actor was actually a real cop before he went to hollywood. he spent 18 years as a chicago police officer. >> bill: i know. he really fit into that role. he was good in "get shorty," i thought. >> he was really good in a movie called "snatch." really really good role for him in that movie. i like him a lot. >> bill: now this little article yesterday in "the new york times" really captured my attention. and the headline is a black fox caused four car crashes. this is interesting because i must admit i didn't know anything about this. i wonder if you did. and when we came in this morning, were kicking around ideas to start off the show this

morning, not one of our team knew about this either. peter didn't and you bought -- >> i just bought a car three weeks ago. i bought another car -- the family car. but i bought another car two years ago. >> bill: all right. dan didn't know. alicia didn't know. cyprian didn't know. now we know about the black box for car crashes is the headline. you know about the black box on the airplanes. thank god they're there. an airplane crash like the one in san francisco, whatever happened yesterday at la guardia with the southwest plane. the ntsb gets the black box and records everything that's happening, the voices in the cockpit. everything that's happening with the mechanical part of the plane, the electrical part of the plane. they can find out what went wrong and fix it, hopefully does does -- so it doesn't happen again. did you know there are little black boxes in every new -- just

about -- every new car that rolls off the assembly line these days. "the new york times" reports 96% of new cars have these little black boxes in them. they're hidden down -- they don't tell you this when you buy it. apparently peter you didn't read your auto owners manual but who does? all of the new cars i bought, i never did. it is about that thick. i'll go to it if there is a problem and look it up and see what the little light on the dash means. anyhow apparently, hidden deep inside the owner's manual is some reference of this but they do not tell you when you buy the car, right? >> no. >> bill: hidden down in the center consul between the two seats is this black box which records all kinds of information on you and your driving. how fast you're going. whether or not you're using your brakes or your brakes are on or your brakes are off.

if it's -- stick car if there are any left, if you're using the clutch. whether or not you're wearing the seatbelt. this could be very interesting. very troubling too maybe. tells the story of the lieutenant-governor of massachusetts is in a little car crash. driving by himself. and he told police officers, you know, i don't know what happened. i was going just about the speed limit, a couple of miles over maybe and i had my seatbelt on. so gosh, what happened? well, they looked at the black box and they found out he was going over 100 miles per hour and he was not wearing his seatbelt and he ended up having to pay a $550 fine. he's lucky he got off with that and wasn't injured. so these black boxes are in there. now they originally were put in by car manufacturers for a very good reason. to test and to sort of to

monitor the performance of their new cars. they think they're fine. they think everything works. they think all systems are as good as they could be but they put this little box in there so when the cars are out there actually on the road and after a few years, and they come into a dealer, they can take a look and see, right. so it was to monitor the performance of the vehicle. well then people realized there may be some information in them that could be helpful to law enforcement. so now they're used more and more by police to determine what really caused that crash and then the question is what happens to this information? right? in some states, you need a search warrant for the police to get into that little black box. in other states, uh-huh. they can get it right out of the car. they can read it.

and here's the big thing. they can give it to your insurance company. >> see! now you lost me. >> bill: so what this article in the times is all about is that more and more consumer agencies or consumer organizations representing us, you and me, drivers, who number one, didn't know these things are in the car. number two didn't have a choice or weren't given a choice, right? as to whether we want to activate it or not. and then have no control over where this information goes. you know what? this is just like nsa tapping our phones. or monitoring every phone call we make. this black box is in there. big brother is in your new car and big brother is reporting on what you're doing and reporting it right to the insurance agency now not quite but the information is in there and the

insurance companies can get to it unless we raise hell. what do you think about this? now, i could -- look, if i were on a debate team, i could make the argument that we should not be exceeding the speed limit. we should be wearing our seatbelt. here we go again. if you're doing nothing wrong you have nothing to worry about. right? at the same time this is -- this is big brother riding shotgun as peter says in your car. did you know about it? and what do you think about it? let's talk about it. 1-866-55-press on the "full court press" this tuesday morning. july 23rd. i swear i was wearing my seatbelt. no, you weren't, you lying sack of you know what. we've got the black box to prove it. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show."

on current tv. for true stories. with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines. real, gripping, current. documentaries... on current tv.

>> did anyone tell the pilgrims they should self-deport? >> no, they said "make us a

turkey and make it fast". >> (laughter). >> she gets the comedians laughing. >> that's the best! >> that's hilarious. >> ... and the thinkers thinking. >> okay, so there is wiggle room in the ten commandments is what you're telling me. >> she's joy behar. >> ya, i consider you jew-talian. >> okay, whatever you want. >> who plays kafka? >> who saw kafka? >> who ever saw kafka? >> (laughter). >> asking the tough questions. >> chris brown, i mean you wouldn't let one of your daughters go out with him. >> absolutely not. >> you would rather deal with ahmadinejad then me? >> absolutely! >> (singing) >> i take lipitor, thats it. >> are you improving your lips? >> (laughter). >> when she's talking, you never know where the conversation is going to go. >> it looks like anthony wiener is throwing his hat in the ring. >> his what in the ring? >> his hat. >> always outspoken, joy behar. >> and the best part is that current will let me say anything. what the hell were they thinking?

>> announcer: heard around the country and seen on current tv, this is the "bill press show." >> bill: you got it. it is 25 minutes after the hour here. we're getting started off with a bank on the "full court press" here. talking about something that really got my attention. i had no idea about these black boxes on cars. neither did anybody else here, around the team. "full court press" team. but apparently a lot of you did. peter? >> we're taking your comments on twitter at bpshow where maria says i have mixed feelings about this. is the cost of that box included in the price and not shown on the sticker? >> bill: yes, i think the answer to that is yes. >> karen says if your car has a

black box then our car insurance should go down. another good point. >> bill: excellent point but you know it won't. >> absolutely not. john erickson says no black box in my van but i do have a crappy transmission. >> bill: tell you what, i'll trade you my black box for a better transmission. 96% of new cars, according to "the new york times," have this black box already built in so chances are you got one if you got a car in the last few years. john's out in ferndale, washington. hey, john. >> caller: good morning, bill. call me crazy but i think it is a fantastic idea. not only that i wish every new car had a camera facing forward left, right and rear to catch the other drivers who make my life miserable because people drive like maniacs sometimes. >> bill: right. >> caller: and you know, i've lost a family member -- several

to just people driving negligently. i think if you're driving on a public road, i'm all in favor of it. >> bill: so you mean a camera -- not that you could watch the video but that would capture video of passing cars or cars in front of you or alongside of you right? >> i would even put one on the driver to make sure he or she is awake and alert and not texting. i'm all in favor of it. >> by the way a lot of other countries have that because their insurance laws are so screwy that they sort of have to prove that they were in the right so when you see these weird accidents of a car hitting a cow or weird things like that. most drivers have cash dams. >> bill: i could see that it could really be helpful and it could make sure that somebody else is not able to charge you right, with being in the wrong

when they're the ones who were. jessica up in caribou maine. i love it. >> caller: i got two things. one is if you own it, they should have -- it is an electronic thing, they should get a fisa warrant for it on one hand. on the other i can assure you in the land of four-wheel drive and mudding, we can all be kind of glad that the black box doesn't record the voice message because up there in the woods the last thing you would probably hear is hold my beer and watch this. >> love it. [ laughter ] >> bill: i don't think the black box -- it's not like the one that's in the cockpit that records the conversation of the pilot and the copilot. it doesn't record the conversation of the driver or passengers. thank god is right. i hadn't thought about four wheel vehicles. black boxes.

check out your car. you've got one. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." conversation started weekdays at 9 eastern. >> i'm a slutty bob hope. the troops love me. tv and radio talk show host stephanie miller rounds out current's morning news block. you're welcome current tv audience for the visual candy. (vo) sharp tongue. >>excuse me? (vo) quick wit. >> and yes, president obama does smell like cookies and freedom. (vo) and above all, opinion and attitude. >> really?! this is the kind of stuff they say about something they just pulled freshly from their [bleep]. >> you know what those people are like. >> what could possibly go wrong in eight years of george bush? >> my producer just coughed up a hairball. >>sorry. >>just be grateful current tv doesn't come in "smell-o-vision" >> oh come on!

the sweatshirt is nice and all but i could use a golden lasso. (vo)only on current tv.

>> announcer: like us at facebook.com/billpressshow. this is the "bill press show." >> bill: what do you say? 33 minutes after the hour here. it's tuesday. so that's igor day. igor volsky day here on the "full court press." good to have him back. the managing editor of think progress. great research communications arm, i guess of the center for american progress. good morning, igor. >> i really thank you.

good to see you. i see this as the glory days here on tuesday. what? what? >> i like that. >> bill: where are you going after the show? you have never worn a tie the whole time you've been on the show. >> are you going to court? >> i have worn a tie a couple of times. >> bl: no you haven't! >> travis was on yesterday. he had a wonderful tie and i felt a little inadequate with just my shirt so i thought i would step it up a little bit. >> i like that. >> excited about the royal baby, you had to dress up. >> there is a campaign i heard to name the baby igor. i don't know if that's after me or another igor. >> igor the great. >> bill: that family does have -- they were related to the last russian king and queen. >> maybe get a white house petition started bill. some movement. >> bill: i think that would be hard. i hate to pop your bubble. >> people love my name.

>> bill: well, i'll tell you what, john boehner loves getting recognition for doing good stuff. here he is with bob schieffer on friday saying here's how we want to be remembered. you have reported on this. let's listen to boehner. >> you presided over what is perhaps the least productive and certainly one of the least popular congresses in history. how do you feel about that? >> well, bob, we should not be judged on how many new laws we create. we ought to be judged on how many laws we repeal. we've got more laws than the administration could ever enforce. >> bill: all right. so how are they doing if you -- let's take him at his word, igor. >> taking him at his word is not a pretty picture and there's still the most counterproductive -- they're still the most counterproductive congress in history. we have the healthcare law. >> bill: which, by the way they have not repealed.

>> let's be clear. none of the things we're going to talk about here, they've actually successfully repealed. >> bill: all they've done is vote in their caucus. >> the bills go to the caucus. they go nowhere. it is a huge waste of time. there is an article in politico today about how they have 12 spending bills to do before like october. they've done maybe four because they've been wasting their time trying to repeal all of this stuff. healthcare. we have environmental regulations, making sure the e.p.a. can't regulate greenhouse gases. the public financing of elections. we have the home affordable modification program. consumer banking regulations and in fact, all government regulation they tried to put on hold until the economy is at a certain point. so judging him by his own word, not only did these things go nowhere but they're programs that help most americans, middle class americans get back on their feet. they want to do all of those.

we put out a memo at center for american progress broadly if he really wants to repeal things that are useless well, maybe we could start with some of the loopholes in the tax system that benefit the rich and go from there. there are things to get rid of. it is just the things he's targeting, really affect a lot of americans. >> bill: bottom line, they are -- in terms of getting things done -- >> undone. >> bill: start there. getting things passed, they are -- the worst do nothing congress in history and by his test, in terms of getting things undone -- >> they still fail. >> bill: they're still the most do nothing congress in history. >> no matter how you slice it or cut it, they had what? four laws signed into law so far. when you look at why do americans think congress is in single digits is because of these standards and because of this agenda. >> bill: i love it.

you got him at his own game. george zimmerman is back in the news today. you have written about the fact that the poor guy originally was going to get his gun back, right? >> yes. >> bill: and then i guess the judge of the court -- >> the federal government stepped in. >> bill: no, no, no, no, he's a felon but he can't get his gun back. so there are americans who have come to his aid says think progress. >> there is this group in ohio, gun group that says we've got to replace his firearm. >> bill: because what's george zimmerman without a gun. >> it's interesting. if you talk to supporters, if you talk to him. he's really viewed himself as a hero through all of this entire ordeal. >> bill: there are some people who have painted him as a hero. you want to read my e-mails? >> yeah.

so as a hero, certainly for gun rights in this country for standing your ground, for not backing down, and he talks a lot about how he's really the victim. how he's had to wear the bulletproof vest. how he is in hiding because of all of the death threats. how the parents told barbara walters they're receiving death threats, so hard to live. so on and so forth. so this really fits into that entire mindset this entire kind of image that he's cultivating as the one who. >> truly been wronged. >> bill: so this group in ohio bought him a gun. he will he be able to carry it? >> i think they're in the process of purchasing the gun. i believe he will have all of his rights eventually. it will take time. because he was found not guilty, i think he'll -- >> bill: probably. now, he came out of hiding though on his own apparently.

late last week, i think. after the verdict. sometime last week. but the news came out yesterday. that he's in the car with somebody. they come upon an accident, an suv had flipped over and george zimmerman and this other guy got out and they helped pull some people out of this car. george zimmerman's brother robert yesterday says of course he would help somebody in trouble. >> no one in our family is surprised. that sounds a lot like something george would do. >> bill: because bottom line, he's just a nice guy. >> he's been protecting his neighborhood for years. this is just -- >> bill: i would hope if he came across -- even a murderer would get out and help them out. not get out and kick them in the teeth or something. but so two questions i have about this. to both of you. number one what does it matter that he helps somebody out of a

car? doesn't erase the fact he shot and killed trayvon martin. >> no. >> bill: unjustifiably in my opinion. i think the facts show that. but secondly, all right, i know i'm going to get in trouble for this. do you really think this happened? >> no! >> bill: all right, you're the one in trouble. >> i don't think so. it stinks to high heaven. >> where are the pictures? or video? you know, one of the things i think that's been most frustrating after the verdict is this effort to rehabilitate his image. his brothers on tv, emt will give a big -- tmz will give a big interview. it is this rehabilitation of george zimmerman. i'm sure he's hired a firm if he hasn't yet. we'll see this guy for some time to come. and this story i think was placed purposely to move in that

direction. >> bill: his attorneys were out yesterday talking about see this proves that -- i told you so. i told you he was a good guy and yeah, he's just out to help other people. >> let's say i'm wrong. let's say this actually really happens, it is still a little tacky to be running around and saying look, look, look, look what he did! >> me? i did that! oh yeah! >> it is a little tacky. >> bill: so we're so excited about baby cambridge the prince and as you point out though, there is an advantage that prince william has that other parents, new parents in england get, correct? >> two weeks of paternity leave. before i say that, i should say peter, i actually say -- i didn't want to mention it that it's coming on the blog later. but no. >> bill: pictures to prove it?

>> on my phone. two weeks of paternity leave paid. we also have that at the center for american progress. i just want to say generally we do have that. but nationally, we don't have paternity leave. some companies offer it. it is not a federal law. it's really kind of a mixed bag. you compare the benefits in england to here. in america we have -- we kind of have more equal laws than they have there. but the fact that he is in the royal air force i believe he's a pilot yeah, maybe? >> bill: helicopter pilot. >> he's going to have that time off to spend with his newborn child who i hear they're naming igor. >> bill: good for him. you're right. american parents -- all american parents had the same. he gets this paid paternity leave. the whole family gets a lot of paid time by the taxpayers of the u.k. it is about -- as big as i saw

yesterday, about $65 million a year to support the family, not counting security. you know, the security costs have to be double that easy. >> oh, wow. >> bill: that's what they're paying just to keep the circus going. >> we love the royals. >> i'm going to make another baby, get a sweet two week vaca. >> bill: that doesn't apply here. news of the day with igor volsky from think progress. we'll be right back. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show."

>> if you believe in state's rights but still support the drug war you must be high. >> "viewpoint" digs deep into the issues of the day. >> do you think that there is

any chance we'll see this president even say the words "carbon tax"? >> with an open mind... >> has the time finally come for real immigration reform? >> ...and a distinctly satirical point of view. >> but you mentioned "great leadership" so i want to talk about donald rumsfeld. >> (laughter). >> watch the show. >> only on current tv. current tv is the place with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines. real, gripping, current. documentaries... on current tv.

>> announcer: this is the "bill press show." >> bill: 13 minutes before the top of the hour. in the next hour, we'll bounce up to boston to find out the latest in the whitey bulger trial and then joined by the president of afscme. lee saunders. back with igor volsky here on the news of the day but first how about this, we've been talking about identity theft. here is a man up in connecticut. he was caught red handed if you will arrested on a drunk driving charge, landed in a lot more trouble when police found on his person identification and personal documents belonging to a connecticut man another connecticut man who was a victim of identity theft. they got this guy red-handed but that proves how important it is to be protected against identity theft as i am with lifelock

ultimate the most comprehensive i.d. theft protection available. even protects your bank accounts but lifelock services can't protect you or your bank account if you're not a member. here's what you do about it. go to lifelock.com or call and mention press 10. you'll get 10% off your lifelock ultimate membership. the number to call 1-800-356-5967 for lifelock ultimate. protect yourself today. >> bill: igor, heather is calling from chicago with a comment about george zimmerman. good morning. >> caller: hey, good morning. i just wanted to see the black box in that truck that flipped over that zimmerman reportedly pulled the people out of. >> bill: good point heather! good point. there is a faithful listener in

that long commute. started with the black box in new cars. i don't know whether you know about this or not. >> yeah. >> bill: that would tell the story whether or not this was for real. >> we know about the scream and who did it. >> bill: do you think we can get our hands on that? >> we're going to try. >> exclusive bill press. >> bill: before we leave zimmerman, the president in his remarks last friday, remarkable set of remarks from the briefing room the white house one of the things he said was we can't let this rest. we ought to move on and the positive way to move on is to examine the stand-your-ground laws and the self-defense laws to see whether or not they have become something to hide behind and an excuse to commit murder and get away with it. >> 22 states. >> bill: what do you think -- do you see any movement in this direction? what are the chances? how do you read it at think

progress? >> bill: 22 states have such laws. >> 22 states have such laws. there are varying degrees in terms of how far you can go to stand your ground rather than back away in a contentious situation. i think the problem for building momentum is the argument on the other side which i think is somewhat inaccurate but technically is right. that while zimmerman used stand your ground initially he never used that defense in the case. even though stand your ground was weaved into the -- in florida. because it was never on trial i think there's -- you know, some talk here and there of maybe changing some of the laws but there is a big push by alec, that corporate front group that writes state legislation that wrote a lot of these. so that's a tough adversary to go up against i think. and all of the anger and frustration about zimmerman verdict, i think is about the

race component and what it means to be african-american in america. i don't think it focuses on stand your ground. >> bill: if i may i keep hearing that. stand your ground was not really given as the principal defense but the prosecution and the defense both used it and referred to it in and out number one. for example, the famous statement by the prosecution this is not a case of stand your ground. this is a case of stay in your car. boom. there it is. number two even if it wasn't, these laws need re-examination because people -- i think do use them. before the laws were passed, if you were in a situation and somebody threatened you if you could get away, you got away, you know. you ran like hell or you called for help or you did whatever you could. under the stand-your-ground law you might be able to get away but you don't. instead, you pull out your gun

and you plug them. that's the problem with the law. >> absolutely. you have some movement in the right direction with john mccain saying on sunday -- to be re-examined including in his home state in arizona but the argument you're going to hear from the right from people like ted cruz is this the first step to taking away your guns. you get the nra into this game and it's a tough uphill battle. >> bill: it is a tough uphill battle but it is the right battle to fight. i think. i was pleased to hear john mccain say that and i hope -- yeah. >> he should talk to his colleagues some more. >> bill: exactly. i hope some other republicans join him but the chances of that are not great. we only get started it seems on a tuesday morning so the way to keep up with all of the rest is go to thinkprogress.org and make it your home page. keep up with igor volsky and his great team over there and all of the great things they're writing and talking about every day and igor we thank you again for your time. >> thank you. >> bill: you're look good.

back to the plaid shirt next week. you make us look bad. >> all right. >> bill: we'll take a look at your e-mails. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." >> who saw kafka? >> who ever saw kafka? >> (laughter). >> asking the tough questions. >> chris brown, i mean you wouldn't let one of your daughters go out with him. >> absolutely not. >> you would rather deal with ahmadinejad then me? >> absolutely! >> (singing) >> i take lipitor, thats it. >> are you improving your lips? >> (laughter). >> when she's talking, you never know where the conversation is going to go. >> it looks like anthony wiener is throwing his hat in the ring. >> his what in the ring? >> his hat. >> always outspoken, joy behar. >> and the best part is that current will let me say anything. what the hell were they thinking? >> only on current tv.

john fugelsang: if you believe in states rights but still support the drug war you must be high. cenk uygur: i think the number one thing viewers like about the young turks is that we're honest. i think the audience gets that i actually mean it. michael shure: this show is about being up to date so a lot of my work happens by doing the things that i am given to doing anyway. joy behar: you can say anything here. jerry springer: i spent a couple of hours with a hooker joy behar: your mistake was writing a check jerry springer: she never cashed it (vo) the day's events. four very unique points of view. tonight starting at 6 eastern. current tv is the place for true stories.

with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines. real, gripping, current. documentaries... on current tv. nounce this is the "bill press show," live on your radio and current tv. >> bill: we're off and running here on a tuesday morning july 23rd. good to have you with us today. nice to hear from you on the issues we've been talking about. in the next hour, we'll be

joined by milton valencia from "the boston globe" who has been covering the whitey bulger trial up in -- the colorful trial -- >> that's a wild trial. >> bill: by lee saunders, the president of afscme. on the mandatory black boxes jesse says they are a surveillance device. we need to remove them. they are a surveillance device. no doubt about it. on george zimmerman the hero, paul says think about the realities of that story about the crash. how many times have you been the first person on the scene of an accident and it was a bad accident, you don't drag the people out of it. you call 911 first. if anything happened, it was someone with a flat tire and maybe he helped. but i doubt even that. good point. stand-your-ground laws says your law gives every crazy neighbor the right to shoot you instead of making your life miserable by yelling at you all the time.

>> announcer: this is the "bill press show."

[ ♪ theme ♪ ] >> bill: hey here we go. it is tuesday. tuesday, july 23rd. this is the "full court press." good morning, good morning great to see you this morning. welcome to the program here on current tv. we're coming to you live all the way across this great land of ours. wherever you happen to be, we're there with you bringing you the news of the day. wherever it's happening we're there in our nation's capital around the country around the globe, we've got our eye on it. we'll bring you up to date on

the big news. of course, give you a chance to comment at 1-866-55-press. that's our toll free number. 1-866-55-press. we're standing by to take your comments also on twitter at bpshow. that's our twitter handle. at bpshow and on facebook. facebook.com/billpressshow. you know, it is a boy. it's a boy. he is third in line for the throne but he's going to have to wait a little while, first of all for his great grandmother to get off the throne then for his grandfather and father to take their turns before he gets to wear the crown. maybe he should think about selling real estate instead. back down to earth here, president obama set to get the focus back on the economy with three big speeches this week starting tomorrow. in illinois. and missouri and moving on to

jacksonville, florida, on thursday. we'll tell you all of that and a whole lot more. bring you up to date on what's happening here this morning on current tv. compelling true stories. (kaj) jack, how old are you? >> nine. (adam) this is what 27 tons of marijuana looks like. (vo) with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines. way inside. (christoff) we're patrolling the area looking for guns, drugs bodies ... (adam) we're going to places where few others are going. [lady] you have to get out now. >> lots of terrible things happen to people growing marijuana. >> this crop to me is my livelihood. >> i'm being violated by the health care system. (christoff) we go and spend a considerable amount of time getting to know the people and the characters that are actually living these stories. (vo) from the underworld to the world of privilege. >> everyone in michael jackson's life was out to use him. (vo) no one brings you more documentaries that are real, gripping, current.

>> occupy! >> we will have class warfare. (vo) true stories, current perspective. documentaries. on current tv.

cenk off air alright in 15 minutes we're going to do the young turks! i think the number 1 thing than viewers like about the young turks is that were honest. they know that i'm not bsing them for some hidden agenda, actually supporting one party or the other. when the democrats are wrong, they know i'm going to be the first one to call them out. cenk on air>> what's unacceptable is how washington continues to screw the middle class over. cenk off air i don't want the middle class taking the brunt of the spending cuts and all the different programs that wind up hurting the middle class. cenk on air you got to go to the local level, the state level and we have to fight hard to make sure they can't buy our politics anymore. cenk off air and they can question if i'm right about that. but i think the audience gets that, i actually mean it. cenk on air 3 trillion dollars in spending cuts! narrator uniquely progressive and always topical the worlds largest online news show is on current tv. cenk off air

and i think the audience gets, "this guys to best of his abilities is trying to look out for us." only on current tv! >> announcer: broadcasting across the nation on your radio and on current tv, this is the "bill press show." >> bill: president obama say let's get the focus back on jobs. good point. if he can do it. hello, everybody. what do you say? it is tuesday july 23rd. great to see you today here on the "full court press." thanks for being part of the program. thanks for joining us. as we do a little quick round about of the news of the day. wherever it's happening we'll

bring you up to date on the latest here in our nation's capital. not a lot going on here in washington. around the country around the globe and take your calls and your comments. you've got as much to say about the issues as we do. and your opinion is worth every bit as much as ours. let's hear from you on the phone at 1-866-55-press. on twitter at bpshow and on facebook at facebook.com/billpressshow. again, good morning, good morning, good morning to you and to our team. you're part of the team. part of the other part of the team that's here in the studio with us. peter ogborn and dan henning. >> hey hey hey. >> bill: good morning. then we have alichia cruz with the phones covered and cyprian bowlding has the video cam covered keeping us looking good. again, on your local progressive talk radio station we're there with you and on current tv. as long as there is a current

tv be the news announced yesterday that we have a new leader, by the way of al jazeera america which will be taking over -- >> it is the new royal baby? >> bill: no. >> how exciting! >> bill: already has a job. kate o'brien who has been long time at abc news. i worked with here years and years ago when i was starting out in tv at abc. she has a great reputation in the business. i think that's a great start for al jazeera america with kate o'brien at the helm. meanwhile, another buddy of ours from current tv, eliot spitzer has been getting a lot of media attention, making the rounds. he was on jay leno last friday before last. and last night, he was on with jimmy fallon on -- i forget

what -- nbc. after leno. they did a funny little thing. he's running for city comptroller of new york city. so they asked the audience -- most new yorkers do not know the answer to this question. what the hell does a comptroller do? eliot spitzer read some of the answers from the audience. >> i think a comptroller decides which way the airplanes should land. there you go. >> is that closer? >> the elected official who has comptrol of the state of new york. >> bill: he was there once. and indeed again most people don't know but they know who eliot spitzer is which is why i think they'll win. i couldn't agree more. >> bill: hey, a lot coming up. we'll start out here at the top

of the hour on the update on the whitey bulger trial up in boston. and then we'll be joined at the half hour by lee saunders who is the president of afscme with his thoughts about immigration reform and about what's happening in detroit and the city workers at risk of losing their pensions particularly the retired workers but first -- >> announcer: this is the "full court press." >> other headlines making news on this tuesday duchess kate gave birth to the highly anticipated royal baby in london. buckingham palace announcing it's a boy came into the world at 4:25 p.m. local time. eight pounds, six ounces. they will likely not release the name for at least a week. but he and mom are said to be doing great. we might get a first photograph of it today as they leave the hospital. the third in line now to the british throne behind queen elizabeth, prince charles and the baby's daddy prince william.

>> bill: i'm so excited i just can't sit still. >> an embarrassing day for american media yesterday. >> bill: cbs abc and nbc network news, all three of them led with baby cambridge. shame on them. >> ron paul is headed to the small screen. the former texas congressman presidential candidate is launching his own media channel to spread the message of liberty. the ron paul channel will be available on smart phones and he hopes to be on tv as well. launching later this summer, no details on where yet but the slogan is not exactly tv friendly. it's turn off your tv. turn on the truth. ron paul. >> bill: good luck, ron paul. >> the obama family is headed back to martha's vineyard for vacation this summer after skipping last year during the re-election campaign. they'll be gone august 10th for a week staying at a new place as the estate they were in years past has sold. the martha's vineyard times reports they'll stay at a $7

million four bedroom house in chill mark on the southwestern part of the massachusetts island. >> bill: they like it up there. >> they do. >> bill: good for them. indeed the headlines -- peter you were reading earlier, some of the headlines from the whitey bulger trial. >> yeah. i just did a search on the latest on the whitey bulger trial. there's so much crazy stuff that's out there. bulger -- recalls strangulation of girlfriend's daughter. next headline. bulger's ex-partner grilled during trial on sex acts with victim. another in line down here. moment of weakness, bulger testifies about liaison with murderer. >> bill: it goes on and on. we're only sorry that we're not in boston so we could cover it. but our good friend, milton valencia for "the boston globe" is there on the scene. joins us again on our news line this morning. hey, milton, how are you? >> good, how are you?

>> bill: by the way, how long is this trial going to go on? >> we'll see. prosecutors think they can rest their case this week but who knows what the defense has planned is. bulger going to testify? is he not? we know they have some general fbi witnesses they plan to call but a lot of it is -- it will be in whitey bulger's hands. prosecutors could wrap up this week with that bigness with we're hearing about. >> bill: it seems to be going on for a long time. what will whitey's defense be? >> we don't know if whitey bulger has a defense. it depends what your definition of defense is as well. defend himself in the trial. doesn't seem so because he's admitting to drug dealing and racketeering. he's just stopping short at saying wait a minute, i was not an informant and i did not kill

those two women. that's just him trying to define his legacy. he's thrown his hands up. defense witnesses drug dealers extortion victims. he's not even cross-examinationing them. his defense is he was not an informant. he did not kill. >> bill: i may be a murderer but i'm not a rat. a friend of mine i ran into him last night at dinner. he made a point it is too bad when you think about this trial and the zimmerman trial, it is too bad this trial were not televised because were it televised -- >> i would be watching. >> bill: you would have to bleep it out but it would be a television sensation. wouldn't it? you know from having been in the courtroom. >> it absolutely would be. i want to make a point. the difference between the two

is this is a federal court and zimmerman trial was state court. federal court, the u.s. supreme court has banned, you know, video in criminal proceedings. a lot of the logistics -- a lot of the thinking is they don't want it to turn into a zoo. this is a federal court. this is a court chamber. justice system. they don't want it to turn into a zoo. you know what? this is a zoo and there are no cameras there anyway. >> bill: it is a zoo and we don't get to see the animals. we get to read about them thanks to you. so the current witness steven flemmi. >> yes. >> bill: tell us about him. he seems to be all over the place and hardly somebody who has a lot of credibility right? go ahead. >> this is bulger's partner for years, for two and a half decades, they carried out crimes together. they were both informants.

steve flemmi was the one providing the info because the fbi at the time was interested in the mafia. that's why they were using james bulger but he didn't have the connection to the mafia. it was steve flemmi so really they were partners in their crime. flemmi is talking about the -- he's admitting to ten murderers. bulger committed another nine on top of that according to prosecutors. he was right there by his side the whole time. i want to backtrack. i was calling it a zoo. we're calling it a zoo with the back and forth with flemmi and the witnesses we're hearing about. but what's key, there are 19 victims, 10 by flemmi. we're hearing that from flemmi. bulger is denying killing these two women. flemmi is saying i watched him. really gruesome testimony. his old girlfriend, bulger kills her because he was scared she would talk. his girlfriend's daughter,

bulger killed her because she had been having a drug problem. so he's just laying it all out. everything we've heard about whitey bulger, steve flemmi is saying on the stand. >> bill: flemmi himself is accused of having -- sexually abusing this girlfriend's daughter before she was killed. right? >> right. exactly. >> bill: good lord. >> the only reason he's cooperating is because he escaped the death sentence for his cooperation. this is an evil man who's admitted to all of these things. he's testifying right now about debra, the daughter of his long-time girlfriend, marion hussy. they want a wrongful death because of his cooperation with the fbi. but he's admitted to killing -- he says bulger -- in a dispute between the two. but he is admitting to pretty much -- he's saying but it was consensual.

again, sexual intercourse -- it was oral sex. again, this is a woman who -- the defense attorney pointed out that you know, as a toddler, she used to call him daddy and he bounced her on the lap. oh, yeah, we had consensual sex later. it is just really horrible. we're going to hear more of it today. he's still on the stand. and bulger's lawyers if anything, they're trying to bring out the truth here. they're just getting started. >> it is amazing because it is such an interesting story just on its face and it is like oh they got this old man that's been on the run but god! he's a monster! >> bill: they're all monsters. >> exactly. >> bill: as milton points out 19 victims here you can't lose sight of. milton valencia is our guest "boston globe" reporter. you want to follow the trial "boston globe."com. reporting here has been sensational. what is the story on this steven rakes who was a witness and then is found dead just outside of boston i guess.

have they determined yet the cause of his death and does anybody really think it was natural causes? >> they're calling it suspicious. they're calling it suspicious mainly because it seems the body was moved from where it was found. steve rakes was an extortion victim listed in the indictment. both flemmi and weeks they extorted from the liquor store. they took over it. that's where they based their operations. he was an extortion victim. prosecutors decided they weren't going to bring him in as a witness. a day later he's found dead by a jogger in lincoln, like a well-to-do suburb west of boston. a kind of place he didn't frequent. it is a little strange it seems his body was brought there and the question is why. the autopsy results were inconclusive. we've gone to toxicology which can take a few weeks. but it is suspicious. no reason to think -- have no connection to the bulger trial but it makes it all the more

strange. >> bill: to me it looks like the long arm of whitey bulger is still out there and active even while the guy is on trial for the other 19 murders. it is just bizarre. milton, it will make a great book. i hope you're keeping good notes here. >> we are. >> bill: we appreciate your taking time out to bring us up to date here on the "full court press" this morning. thanks, milton. milton valencia with "the boston globe." great reporter. "boston globe."com. this case is unbelievable! what a -- >> crazy. >> bill: what a bunch of monsters. one more evil than the other. >> announcer: go mobile with bill press. download podcast at billpressshow.com and listen any time anywhere. this is the "bill press show."

with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines. real, gripping, current. documentaries... on current tv.

>> did anyone tell the pilgrims they should self-deport? >> no, they said "make us a turkey and make it fast". >> (laughter). >> she gets the comedians laughing. >> that's the best! >> that's hilarious. thinking. >> okay, so there is wiggle room in the ten commandments is what you're telling me. >> she's joy behar. >> ya, i consider you

jew-talian. >> okay, whatever you want. >> who plays kafka? >> who saw kafka? >> who ever saw kafka? >> (laughter). >> asking the tough questions. >> chris brown, i mean you wouldn't let one of your daughters go out with him. >> absolutely not. >> you would rather deal with ahmadinejad then me? >> absolutely! >> (singing) >> i take lipitor, thats it. >> are you improving your lips? >> (laughter). >> when she's talking, you never know where the conversation is going to go. >> it looks like anthony wiener is throwing his hat in the ring. >> his what in the ring? >> his hat. >> always outspoken, joy behar. >> and the best part is that current will let me say anything. what the hell were they thinking? >> only on current tv.

>> announcer: radio meets television. the "bill press show" now on current tv. >> bill: 25 minutes after the hour. it is "full court press" coming to you live from our nation's capital. in the next segment lee saunders, the president of afscme will be joining us here on the "full court press." want to talk to him about the latest from detroit. and what's going to happen to the city employees there and their pension funds as well as the retired employees and also talk to lee about the importance of this new immigration reform legislation. there is a story out of iraq which i have heard nobody else talk about. was not on the news last night and i didn't see it in "the washington post" or "the new york times" this morning. but this is an important story. we want to be sure you knew

about it. that's what happened at abu ghraib prison in iraq on sunday night. you remember -- >> you remember abu ghraib, right? became notorious, of course, because that's where the u.s. military was in fact, torturing iraqi prisoners early on in the war in iraq. and the photographs and the videos proved that point. well, since then, of course, the prison has been turned over to the iraqis and it has been used to house the most dangerous and the most senior members of al-qaeda. that's where we're at. sunday night. suicide bombers in a very organized attack drove up to the prison, like waves of them. they kept assaulting the prison until they basically took over the prison and freed the prisoners up to reported -- up

to 500 senior members of al-qaeda were -- are on the loose. were freed from abu ghraib prison and they are out there and you know what? they're not going back to running a mom and pop grocery store, right? or teaching school or whatever. they're going to go back to planning attacks against the united states, against americans in iraq and against the iraqi government. >> what's really -- >> bill: unbelievable it could happen. >> what's really sort of frightening is that al-qaeda knew that their numbers were waning. there weren't a lot of al-qaeda neb numbers left in the big nict. so they consciously started waging this new campaign. they called it breaking the walls. their goal was to break al-qaeda members out of jail because they needed those members and it worked. here. it worked. >> bill: one of our security officials told reuters news

"this is obviously a terrorist attack, carried out by al-qaeda to free convicted terrorists, members of al-qaeda." al-qaeda freeing al-qaeda. you know, it raises the question and the same question is going to be true in afghanistan is once we leave what are we leaving behind? how strong is the government that's taken over? i'm not saying we ought to stay but still you've got a weak beleaguered government in iraq and we'll have a worse one with afghanistan. what were both of these wars worth? what did we get out of both of them? >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." (vo) current tv gets the

conversation started weekdays at 9 eastern. >> i'm a slutty bob hope. the troops love me. tv and radio talk show host stephanie miller rounds out current's morning news block. you're welcome current tv audience for the visual candy. (vo) sharp tongue. >>excuse me? (vo) quick wit. >> and yes, president obama does smell like cookies and freedom. (vo) and above all, opinion and attitude. >> really?! this is the kind of stuff they say about something they just pulled freshly from their [bleep]. >> you know what those people are like. >> what could possibly go wrong in eight years of george bush? >> my producer just coughed up a hairball. >>sorry. >>just be grateful current tv doesn't come in "smell-o-vision" >> oh come on! the sweatshirt is nice and all but i could use a golden lasso. (vo)only on current tv.

>> bill: we're coming to you live from our nation's capital. our studio here on capitol hill brought to you today by afscme. you know the good men and women of afscme under president lee saunders, the largest public employee and healthcare worker's union in the entire country. making america happen and you can find out more about their good work at their web site, afscme.org. that's afscme.org. and speaking of president lee saunders, he joins us on our news line this morning. brother lee, good morning. >> good morning, bill. how are you? >> bill: good.

thank you for your support. good to have you on the program. i want to start because when i heard the news about detroit, the filing for bankruptcy, the first statement that i saw bemoaning that fact was from you, lee saunders. out how this come about and were city employees and public employees part of this decision or what can you tell us? >> unfortunately we weren't part of the decision. really, it is a tragic situation, bill. nobody is denying that detroit is experiencing some severe financial difficulty. nobody is denying that. i was there a couple of weeks ago and you see the devastation in that city. but you've got to ask why. why is that devastation occurring there? what people are trying to do is to blame once again public service workers who have tried to play by the rules every single day. now, they're going after their pension saying that they're going to have to cut their

pensions because of the filing of the bankruptcy. and that's just completely unfair. we've got to get to -- instead of pointing fingers, we've got to get to the core of the problem. we've got 5,000 members who work in that city. over 20,000 retirees in that city. and now they're being threatened with their pensions being reduced substantially because of this bankruptcy filing. you know, we believe that's just completely unfair. once again public sector workers are being used as a scapegoat. and we've got to say wait a minute, there's got to be a better way. we need to be a part of the solution. you know, the governor, who i think has planned this for many -- since he began his term in office working with the emergency manager. they have not sat down and talked with the unions at all in detroit. they've refused to do so to talk about how the issues can be

resolved. thy said they've attempted to have these kind of discussions those a bold-faced lie. we were told by the administration, by the emergency managers office, that we had months to deal with this issue. then all of a sudden last week, they decided to file for bankruptcy. it is an attack on public services. we believe it is an attack on the citizens of detroit. it is an attack on public sector workers who have dedicated their lives to public service and now are going to be harmed by these actions. >> bill: there have been several stories you mention you have 20,000 in afscme alone. 20,000 retireees in detroit. these are people who made a deal with the city, right? they put in their time. they served the city. served the employees there. they're entitled to their pension. they depend on that pension and now they risk losing it. >> you're exactly right. this is a contract with the employee.

the pensions are in the state constitution. it is a contract. our average retiree pension in the city of detroit for our bargaining unit, for afscme members is a little bit less than $18,000 a year. >> bill: whoa. >> $18,000 a year. can you imagine if that's cut? it is just unbelievable to me. we've got -- we're smarter than this. and we just can't continue to attack these dedicated workers. we can't continue to decimate public services. we can't continue to decimate communities. there's got to be another plan of action. i'm calling on straighter heads to prevail here. and i think there's got to be a role with the federal government. now, i'm not suggesting there be a huge bailout although the federal government did bail out wall street. they're one of the reasons we're in this problem. i'm not suggesting that we pour

a lot of federal dollars into rescue the city of detroit although i do believe it is going to take some money to do so and neighbor is low-interest loans, maybe some grants, things of that nature but you cannot afford to have this city go under. if this city goes under there is going to be activity in every major urban city across this country to do the same kinds of things they're proposing to do in detroit. cut public services. >> bill: absolutely. >> cut benefits. we cannot -- we're a better country than that. we can't let it happen. >> bill: there are reports this morning that some of the unions, the teacher's unions are suing to block this bankruptcy. is afscme part of that? is that part of your strategy? >> we filed suit last week. and on july 19, michigan state judge ordered that it would draw the chapter 9 petition. so they're challenging that. they're appealing that but no, we were in court immediately after the bankruptcy was filed.

we'll continue to take court action. we'll continue to try to mobilize and organize our communities and our members in the city of detroit. but again you know, we cannot run away from the fact that there is a problem there. the question is how do you deal with this issue? how do you deal with the problem? and i think that we've got to sit down and talk about this. something that the governor, something that the emergency manager had refused to do. i also believe very strongly that the federal government cannot advocate its responsibility. they've got to come in and sit down and talk about how we cannot only deal with the problem in detroit but how we deal with problems in urban centers across this country when, in fact, they're experiencing financial difficulty, public services are being cut. public workers are being attacked, contracts are being abrogated. the federal government has a responsibility to enter into these discussions and come up with some solutions to these serious problems. >> bill: amen. detroit is not alone. we're speaking with the

president of afscme, president lee saunders here on the "full court press" this tuesday morning. lee, a couple of other issues i want to touch -- i notice on your web site, front and center, an article about immigration reform. you know it has passed the senate. we don't know what the prospects in the house but what is your thinking about the importance of comprehensive immigration reform? is it a plus or a minus for organized labor in this country? >> it's not only a plus for organized labor but it's a plus for this country. i mean, you know, we've got 11 million undocumented workers here in this country who are living in shadows and it's incumbent upon us and important upon us to treat them as individuals and human beings, to treat their families as human beings and bring them out of the shadows. so this is a major priority for afscme. it is a major priority for organized labor. you know, the senate was able to pass comprehensive immigration

reform out of that house. you know, we had some disagreements there. we were able to work the disagreements out. we believe it is a good starting point. now you have complete chaos. in the house of representatives. with folks who don't want to see any kind of comprehensive immigration reform and we're continuing to put as much pressure on those -- on the house as possible. we believe that the time has come. it's the right thing to do. we're going to continue to push it. >> bill: and tomorrow, president obama is going out to illinois then to missouri on thursday, down to jacksonville, florida, with the same message which is we've got to get the focus in this country back on the economy back on jobs. doing the right thing, on the right track, do you believe? >> there's no question about it. i would just hope that he concentrate on those issues. i would hope that he mentions the fact that we cannot have detroit go under.

we can't have other urban centers go under in this country. we've got to have a comprehensive plan to deal with creating jobs, moving manufacturing back into those cities in some kind of way. it's got to be a very fine-tuned approach to dealing with these kinds of issues. i would hope that the president moves forward on this aggressively. we're going to need his help. public services are in danger in cities like detroit and new york and lag you name it. chicago. and i think that it's going to take a lot of heads people putting their heads together resolve this issue. that's what i believe must take place rather than a complete attack on workers and attack on public services and using workers as a scapegoat. >> bill: what impact do you see on the sequester around -- we never hear about the sequester anymore right? but it's out there and it's got

to be having an impact in cities and counties across the state. >> it is. it is having an impact on head start. it is having an impact on education. it is only going to grow, bill. that impact is only going to grow. >> bill: and on jobs. >> more people will be suffering. more communities will be hurting. again, i mean, we are at a stage now where we've got to really sit down and talk about these issues and come up with some realistic answers to these concerns. we just can't ignore, we can't kick the bucket down the road. we can't bury our heads in the sand. that's not who we are. that's not what this country is about. i'm calling on saner heads to come together and try to deal with the issues, not ignore them but deal with them in a responsible fashion and bring the stakeholders to the table so we can talk about the concerns that exist across. >> bill: i hope that's the outcome of the president's attempts and starting tomorrow. i know you'll be very much a part of that, lee saunders,

president of afscme. we thank you again for your support. thank you for your time. brother lee, thank you for joining us. >> thanks for having me. >> bill: indeed, he's on the job. lee saunders, terrific, very effective. very articulate president of afscme here on the "full court press" this tuesday morning. >> announcer: connect with the "bill press show" on twitter. follow us at bpshow and tweet using the hash be tag watching bp. this is the "bill press show."

this show is about analyzing criticizing, and holding policy to the fire. are you encouraged by what you heard the president say the other night? is this personal or is it political? a lot of my work happens by doing the things that i am given to doing anyway. staying in tough with everything that is going on politically and putting my own nuance on it. not only does senator rubio just care about rich people but somehow he thinks raising the

minimum wage is a bad idea for the middle class. but we do care about them, right? vo: the war room tonight at 6 eastern current tv is the place for true stories. with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines. real, gripping, current. documentaries... on current tv.

>> bill: all right. 12 minutes before the top of the hour. jamal simmons here as a "friend of bill" in the next hour. democratic strategist, good friend of the program also be joined by dave jameson from "the huffington post." talk about labor issues. he's their labor reporters. back to the news of the day here in just a second. and just not -- not sure which of these -- got it. okay. thank you, dan. yes, i made my -- where's my teleprompter, damn it. used to have a teleprompter. before we get back to the news of the day here's something very important that you ought to consider. imagine if you were in an accident knocked unconscious and paramedics arrive and they can't get any information out of

you because you can't communicate. you can solve that problem with something called emergency link i.d. it is a small tag that you attach to your key ring or you put in your wallet or your purse that will have all of the information emergency responders need to know. your medical history your meds, allergies, doctor's contact info and most importantly whom to notify. that could make the difference between life and death. literally. sign up now for emergency link's emergency response service for only $10 a year and you'll receive your i.d. kit free. emergencylink.com and enter press. well he is back in the news today. believe it or not. george zimmerman.

yeah, we thought he went away. a free man to start up his new life somewhere else. but his brother his attorneys his friends are all ute. they want us to know that he was driving along with a friend two days ago allegedly, there was a car accident in front of him. allegedly he got out of the car. his car. and allegedly pulled somebody out of this overturned car. proving therefore that he is what they tried to say during the trial, he is a hero and will go out of his way to do anything to help other people. he's just a glorified boy scout george zimmerman. >> weird you say allegedly bill do you not believe him? >> bill: did i sort of give that away by saying allegedly? i don't believe him for a

second. i don't believe him for a second. here is his brother saying we told you he was such a nice job. >> no one in our family is surprised. it sounds like something like george would do. >> bill: first of all, i would hope anybody would do that, right? you see somebody in trouble you go help them. i would hope even a murderer would do that. apparently he did. here's what's phony about this. his brother is out there praising him and now so is his attorney the defense attorney, mark o'mara. >> i think someone going through what he's gone through and with the reaction to this verdict to still maintain his principle of being a guy who can help out people in need, i think that's awesome. >> bill: awesome. awesome. george he's awesome. baloney. i don't know. i don't mean tube too much of a

skeptic. if, in fact, he did it, i'm glad he did it but like so what. that does not erase the fact that he did all of the things wrong with trayvon martin. getting out of his car. carrying a gun. confronting an unarmed teenager. shooting him and killing him when there was no need to do so. and then getting off. he is still a murderer. number one. and number two, i just don't buy that it happened. i would like to see photos of the car. one of our callers said maybe somebody had a flat tire and he said he would help but the fact that they're announcing this -- >> even if it did happen. >> bill: and promoting this whole thing. >> have the lawyer come out. his brother gives a statement.

>> bill: pretty disgusting, the same people -- at the same time they're still trying to besmirch the reputation of trayvon martin even though trayvon martin was shot and killed that night. anyhow, no sympathy here for george zimmerman. he's no hero of mine. i don't think he's awesome in any way. hey, we'll be back to tell you what our president is up to today. >> announcer: go mobile with bill press. download podcasts at billpressshow.com and listen any time anywhere. this is the "bill press show." >> did anyone tell the pilgrims they should self-deport? >> no, they said "make us a turkey and make it fast". >> (laughter). >> she gets the comedians laughing. >> that's the best! >> that's hilarious. >> ... and the thinkers thinking. >> okay, so there is wiggle room in the ten commandments is what you're telling me. >> she's joy behar. >> ya, i consider you jew-talian. >> okay, whatever you want.

>> who plays kafka? >> who saw kafka? >> who ever saw kafka? >> (laughter). >> asking the tough questions. >> chris brown, i mean you wouldn't let one of your daughters go out with him. >> absolutely not. >> you would rather deal with ahmadinejad then me? >> absolutely! >> (singing) >> i take lipitor, thats it. >> are you improving your lips? >> (laughter). >> when she's talking, you never know where the conversation is going to go. >> it looks like anthony wiener is throwing his hat in the ring. >> his what in the ring? >> his hat. >> always outspoken, joy behar. >> and the best part is that current will let me say anything. what the hell were they >> only on current tv.

>> if you believe in state's rights but still support the drug war you must be high. >> "viewpoint" digs deep into the issues of the day.

>> do you think that there is any chance we'll see this president even say the words "carbon tax"? >> with an open mind... >> has the time finally come for real immigration reform? >> ...and a distinctly satirical point of view. >> but you mentioned "great leadership" so i want to talk about donald rumsfeld. >> (laughter). >> watch the show. >> only on current tv. current tv is the place for true stories. with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines. real, gripping, current. documentaries... on current tv.

>> announcer: heard around the country and seen on current tv this is the "bill press show." >> bill: all right. what's up, peter. jamal simmons at the top of the next hour. >> bit announcement! >> bill: a baby was born? >> a baby was born yesterday and it wasn't the one you're thinking of. >> a rhinoceros? >> mitt romney just tweeted that his son josh, and his wife, jen, welcomed a baby boy yesterday. it is their 22nd grandchild. >> bill: oh, my god. >> mitt says he feels royally blessed. >> bill: oh. >> like jim bob duggar. >> do they have a name? >> i don't see a name. >> bill: they can't have 22 grandchildren. they have five sons. >> crank them out. the romney family.

>> bill: president obama has the daily briefing at 9:45. at 10:45 he will be meeting -- he met with the congressional black caucus with the hispanic caucus. today he's meeting with the congressional asian pacific american caucus. and then this afternoon, he's going to do one of the things he loves, welcoming a sports team to the white house this afternoon. it is the ncaa men's basketball champions from march madness louisville. the louisville cardinals at 2:10 in the east room of the white house which should be a great event. jay carney has his daily press briefing today in the briefing room at 11:45. we'll be there and tell you all about it tomorrow. back with jamal simmons here on the "full court press."

>> bill: welcome to the "full court press" on this tuesday morning, july 23rd. so good to see you today. you're look good. you look better than geraldo did. this early in the morning. and thanks for joining us on the "full court press." we're coming to you live coast-to-coast from our studio right here on capil hill in washington, d.c. bringing you the news of the day. all the latest and, of course, looking forward part me, to hearing from you. about what you think about what's going on here. give us a call at 1-866-55-press. whatever we're talking about want to hear your comments. join us on twitter at bpshow. that may be the fastest way to

get your word out. or go to our web site, billpressshow.com. i'm sorry. facebook at facebook.com/billpressshow. you can always go to the web site too at billpressshow.com and sign up for a podcast. we know now it is a boy. yes, but he is -- he may be third in line for the throne but he's going to have to wait a little while. he's got to wait for his great grandmother first to get off the throne and then wait for his grandfather and his father to take their turns before he gets to wear the crown. maybe that little kid ought to think about getting his real estate license first. back down to earth, president obama is set to try to get the focus back on jobs tomorrow with big speeches in illinois and missouri. we'll tell you all about that and a lot more right here on current tv. (vo) current tv is the place for compelling true stories. (kaj) jack, how old are you?

>> nine. (adam) this is what 27 tons of marijuana looks like. (vo) with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines. way inside. (christoff) we're patrolling the area looking for guns, drugs bodies ... (adam) we're going to places where few others are going. [lady] you have to get out now. >> lots of terrible things happen to people growing marijuana. >> this crop to me is my livelihood. >> i'm being violated by the health care system. (christoff) we go and spend a considerable amount of time getting to know the people and the characters that are actually living these stories. (vo) from the underworld to the world of privilege. >> everyone in michael jackson's life was out to use him. (vo) no one brings you more documentaries that are real, gripping, current. >> occupy! >> we will have class warfare. (vo) true stories, current perspective. documentaries. on current tv.

cenk off air alright in 15 minutes we're going to do the young turks! i think the number

1 thing than viewers like about the young turks is that were honest. they know that i'm not bsing them for some hidden agenda, actually supporting one party or the other. when the democrats are wrong, they know i'm going to be the first one to call them out. cenk on air>> what's unacceptable is how washington continues to screw the middle class over. cenk off air i don't want the middle class taking the brunt of the spending cuts and all the different programs that wind up hurting the middle class. cenk on air you got to go to the local level, the state level and we have to fight hard to make sure they can't buy our politics anymore. cenk off air and they can question if i'm right about that. but i think the audience gets that, i actually mean it. cenk on air 3 trillion dollars in spending cuts! narrator uniquely progressive and always topical the worlds largest online news show is on current tv. cenk off air and i think the audience gets, "this guys to best of his abilities is trying to look out for us." only on current tv!

>> announcer: broadcasting across the nation on your radio and on current tv. this is the "bill press show." >> bill: president obama this week with a message saying it's time to get the focus back on jobs and the economy. and he's right. if he can do it. good morning everybody. what do you say? it is tuesday. tuesday, july 23rd. we are very excited to see you today and happy to have you with us here as we boom out to you live coast-to-coast from our studio on capitol hill and in washington d.c. coming out to you live on your local progressive talk radio station. how lucky you are if you've got one. i hope you give them full support for their programming and sponsors, very important wherever you happen to be. listening to progressive talk

radio. of course, we're coming to you live on current tv and we'll be with you on current tv until al jazeera kicks us out sometime around the end of august. good to have you with us. it is the "full court press" on a -- peter is telling me my hair is a little -- >> i would never mr. press. >> bill: makeup artist is not on the job this morning. where's patty when we need her? what was i saying? you can join us by phone at 1-866-55-press. no distractions, please. you can join us on twitter at bpshow and on facebook at facebook.com/billpressshow. hey, i don't have to worry about this hour because i'm not in charge anyway. we're turning it over to jamal simmons. democratic strategist, good friend of the program and here as a "friend of bill." jamal, how are you? >> i'm good. good morning. the wheels are a little loose on the rig this morning. >> oh, yeah, we're a little punchy. >> bill: it's tuesday.

>> it's tuesday. gin day for mr. press. >> what's in these cups? >> you don't want to know. >> my sister says hello this morning. already tweeted me it is going to make her day that you're on this morning. >> man's gotta have his audience. >> bill: your fan club. >> bill: jamal you'll be pleased to know -- introduce them. they get really pissed. >> i know where my bread's buttered. >> bill: alichia cruz has the phones covered. cyprian bowlding has the video cam covered. you will be glad to know last night that he is back. our good friend bill de blasio has been be on the show many times, one of the leading candidates for mayor of new york. he had a fund-raiser last night and his guest of honor was howard dean and howard dean, it

was a back to the future moment here for howard dean. here he is. >> but i realize getting up here, i take off my coat that this shirt kind of wrinkled and all of that, hot day and all of that, the reason it is wrinkled is it is ten years old. this is what i was wearing when i did the speech in iowa. we're going to go all the way. [ cheering ] [ applause ] >> bill: that's howard dean. >> that's great. >> bill: you know, it is classic howard dean. when we see him he does look like he's dressed in the same clothes from ten years ago. >> governor from vermont. >> let's not forget that. he's from the home of maple and skiing and -- >> bill: ben & jerry's. he's probably wearing the same clothes he was wearing when he

was governor of vermont. bet he hasn't bought a suit since. this is what it sounded like ten years ago. >> we're going to south carolina and oklahoma and arizona and north dakota and new mexico. texas and new york and south dakota and oregon and michigan and then we go to washington, d.c. >> i remember that night vividly. >> he had lost. >> came in third, as a matter of fact. >> still doing crossfire. what drove me crazy is everybody was saying see he did that thing and that's what caused him to lose. i kept trying to tell people no, no, no, he had already lost. this was his concession speech. didn't cause him to lose that primary. >> rallying cry or warbling or

speech. >> wesley clark came in third in new hampshire, ahead of dean after iowa. >> bragging rights. >> but you know, it's funny -- i think some of the mythology around that campaign gets ahead of that. >> bill: i love howard dean. a lot to cover with jamal simmons on the news of the day and we will but first -- >> this is the "full court press." >> other headlines making news on this tuesday. major league baseball has suspended ryan braun, player for the milwaukee brewers for the rest of the season for violating the antidoping policy. he will miss 65 games without pay. that's a $3.75 million pay cut for him. he apologized in a statement

yesterday saying he knows he's not perfect and has made mistakes. >> this is a big deal because he's not going to appeal it. which means that he made some sort of a deal with major league baseball. >> bill: he may be naming names? >> he could be naming names. they could have harder evidence. a-rod is up next. he might be giving them some information on the a-rod because it is clear he made some sort of an agreement with major league baseball. >> what's the resolution to all of this? >> you're the one that kind the phrase about doping in sports on this show. if you're not cheating, you're not trying. >> bill: you said that, jamal. >> years ago. >> i think i'm getting mixed up with someone else. >> i don't know what the resolution -- i really don't because there's always a way to beat the system. i think now they're to the point where it is accepted. people are going to do it. if you get caught, you have to

pay the piper. it sucks. but that's how it is. >> steroid era. >> seems some folks at the new york times are not upset that nate silver is heading to espn. public editor margaret sullivan writing a blog post yesterday that the statistician and blogger didn't fit into "the new york times" culture and is calling the punditry coverage that the times did fundamentally useless and did not go over well with his colleagues. she did compliment his work and was sad to see him go as disruptive as he was in the workplace. >> bill: i thought that was unnecessary. nate silver is a star at the "new york times." >> she trashed him. talked about how bad he was. but he was a great guy. >> bill: no reason to trash him. just because he's leaving "the new york times." people never read the new york times were reading it to see what nate silver had to say. >> i interviewed nate silver on

the show when you were out on vacation. i don't know what you were doing. you were somewhere hanging out on the beach. i was in here workin'. >> bill: i'm very jealous of the fact i know he was on our show but i never met him. [ laughter ] >> cbs took a stand against the frenzy surrounding the royal baby birth yesterday. "the huffington post" reports it is the only major tv network that did not break into its regular programming of talk shows and soap operas yesterday afternoon to announce the birth of will and kate's baby. they waited until the evening newscast. abc, nbc and fox broke in with special reports around 3:30 eastern time and of course, the cable networks were all over it as well. >> didn't we plot a revolution against these people? >> bill: baby mania continues. ♪[royal music] >> bill: what is it about americans and the british royal

family? why aren't we excited about the netherlands royal family? we didn't make a big deal of that. >> i agree with a friend of mine who thinks these people should work for the money. queen should have office hours. she should be waving at people from 3:00 to 6:00 daily. >> bill: they ought to earn some of the money. i was saying earlier, it is about $63.5 million a year that the royal family gets from taxpayers which doesn't count the cost of security. just the cost to keep them in silk undies and lamb chops. >> i'm sure this baby will grow up to be well-adjusted well-mannered. >> the best part is they get to show lots of pictures of princess diana who was probably one of the fantastic women of the last 30 years in public life

so more images of diana the better. >> jay leno said last night this little baby not the first bare ass prince that's prince harry. >> the only one of these guys i want to keep around. >> i'm with you. >> get rid of the royal family. should be an exemption of prince harry. let's give him a budget and a video camera and see what happens. >> bill: we've done that. we did that in las vegas. >> bottles of scotch and video camera. >> bill: jamal we can't ask you about the royal baby because you're not british but we can ask you about detroit because you are a proud son of detroit. >> absolutely. >> bill: what the hell happened? a lot of people suffering because of this and how do we get out of it? >> it is a tough situation for the people who are living there. >> bill: and the city workers. pensions on the line. retired workers.

>> got a pension came to me about seven years ago he said okay, the city is offering buyouts for people, should i take the buyout for my pension or leave it? i said i'm no financial expert but let me just say do you want to have your retirement in the hands of these people for the next 30 years, i don't think so. take the money. luckily, he got bought out of the system. there are a lot of folks who didn't make the choice. they stayed in. they're now being cut down badly. they may lose as much as 55% of their pensions. you had a long time. you had auto industry that really depressed. jennifer granholm said yesterday or sunday, 300,000 auto industry jobs in detroit in 1950. 27,000 auto industry jobs in detroit in 2011. >> bill: whoa. so replacing 270,000 jobs is a lot. to make up for. so you had that going on.

you had started out as people were able to move to the suburbs. it accelerated after the riots in the late 1960s then black middle class flight that followed that in the mid '90s. what was left was this core of mostly poor working class citizens 700,000 of them versus the 2 million roughly 700,000 of them, 18% unemployment rate not including the people not looking for work. that's the official unemployment rate. it is a pretty tough -- the math is just hard. the math is hard. you have to make a city work with less than half the number of people who make less money and when they re-did the auto jobs, remember when we had the 2009 bailout with the government, auto jobs used to pay $28 an hour starting at -- with the uaw. they now pay $16 an hour. so they cut in. that was part of the dheel to get the auto companies back in shape.

there are more jobs but they pay almost half less. so the math is just tough. >> bill: yeah. so you know, we, the federal government bailed out wall street. should we bail out the city of detroit? >> you know, i think so. i don't expect it to happen. it does seem like that would be the fair thing to do to bail out a city like detroit. >> bill: we got our money back. >> absolutely. >> especially when it comes to the pensioners and what's tough is if this goes the way they normally go, which is that the bond holders get the first take at whatever money is left, you end up having people in their '60s and '70s subsidizing wall street bankers. you understand for municipal finance reasons, you don't want to throw the market into disarray because people are borough the money from all over the country to do things but it doesn't seem fair to have a bunch of people who chose not to take a raise at some point so they could get a pension benefit

later in their life or healthcare benefit to have them subsidizing a bunch of bankruptcies on wall street. >> that's what i keep coming back to it. doesn't seem fair. it doesn't seem fair that we would do what we did for big banks and let them skate and take care of that situation the way that we did and when it comes down to saving one of the greatest american cities that has given so much to this country, that it's just -- well, you know, this is how it goes. >> bill: we talked to lee saunders. >> pete seeger eminem. i mean bob seager. >> bill: afscme filed a lawsuit on behalf of the city employees, their 5,000 city employees, 20,000 retirees in detroit. they have filed a lawsuit to block the bankruptcy.

your comments on detroit other news of the day welcome at 1-866-55-press. jamal simmons here as a "friend of bill." we'll be right back. want to get your take on the president's comments on trayvon martin last friday, too. >> announcer: heard around the country and seen on current tv, this is the "bill press show." for true stories. with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines. real, gripping, current. documentaries... on current tv.

>> did anyone tell the pilgrims they should self-deport? >> no, they said "make us a turkey and make it fast". >> (laughter). >> she gets the comedians laughing. >> that's the best! >> that's hilarious. >> ... and the thinkers thinking. >> okay, so there is wiggle room in the ten commandments is what you're telling me. >> she's joy behar. >> ya, i consider you jew-talian. >> okay, whatever you want. >> who plays kafka? >> who saw kafka? >> who ever saw kafka? >> (laughter). >> asking the tough questions. >> chris brown, i mean you wouldn't let one of your daughters go out with him. >> absolutely not. >> you would rather deal with ahmadinejad then me? >> absolutely! >> (singing) >> i take lipitor, thats it. >> are you improving your lips? >> (laughter). >> when she's talking, you never know where the conversation is

going to go. >> it looks like anthony wiener is throwing his hat in the ring. >> his what in the ring? >> his hat. >> always outspoken, joy behar. >> and the best part is that current will let me say what the hell were they thinking? >> only on current tv. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." >> bill: here we are. 25 minutes after the hour here on the null court press this tuesday -- on the "full court press" on this tuesday morning.

jamal simmons here this hour as a "friend of bill." a lot of continuing talk about the president's comments on friday. did he hit the right tone with the trayvon martin case? >> it was fantastic. the president, he spoke from a place of personal pain. he spoke from personal experience. he talked about kind of where we need to go as a country and how we can try to bring people together. i thought it was educational for people who don't think about this. i think one of the things that's always been interesting to me, i grew up in detroit and i went to black schools my entire life. so i didn't really live in a majority white environment until i was in my 20s when i started doing campaigns. the shocking thing to me is how white people thought openly about race because as an african-american, it is always present. it is mart of how you interact. i think the president to try to shine this light, say to the broader society here's a way of

looking at the world. that may seem different from you and so you can understand why african-americans are having that. >> bill: and that we have never experienced. he talked about his own experience with racial profiling. you talked about with us before. everybody, he said has had this -- these things happen to him, right? >> it happens all the time. it is hard to know. especially for an adult black man who has not had experience whether it was with a store or official police officer who has profiled them. the reality is you can have the spectacular life. i had a -- i remember one night i was at the white house for an event. my aunt had come into town. i took her to the white house for an event and we walk out of the white house. in a nice suit. got this great dress. we're standing on the corner of 15th street and we can't catch a cab. first one goes by. now it's 20 minutes later and

you're standing outside. you can't catch a cab. you just walked out of the white house. so it doesn't happen just to 19-year-old kids. that's a small example, catching a cab but it can happen to anybody at any moment. >> bill: i have to give you advice i gave everybody yesterday. i saw this great movie "fruitvale station." >> i saw it. >> bill: i talk about the message of the -- the president's message and the whole message for me of the trayvon martin case. the story of oscar grant at the fruitvale station. go see it. >> fantastic 26-year-old director. produced by forrest whitaker who found him. >> bill: "fruitvale station," you must see it. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." compelling true stories.

(kaj) jack, how old are you? >> nine. (adam) this is what 27 tons of marijuana looks like. (vo) with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines. way inside. (christoff) we're patrolling the area looking for guns, drugs bodies ... (adam) we're going to places where few others are going. [lady] you have to get out now. >> lots of terrible things happen to people growing marijuana. >> this crop to me is my livelihood. >> i'm being violated by the health care system. (christoff) we go and spend a considerable amount of time getting to know the people and the characters that are actually living these stories. (vo) from the underworld to the world of privilege. >> everyone in michael jackson's life was out to use him. (vo) no one brings you more documentaries that are real, gripping, current. >> occupy! >> we will have class warfare. (vo) true stories, current perspective. documentaries. on current tv.

>> announcer: like politics, then like the "bill press show" on facebook. this is the "bill press show." >> bill: you got it. let's make it 33 minutes after the hour now here on the "full court press." we're coming to you live from our nation's capital and our studio right here on capitol hill. brought to you today by the international association of sheet metal air rail and transportation workers recently merged all together. good men and women of the smart union, they call themselves now giving a fair day's work for a fair day's pay under president joseph nigro. for more information, go to their web site at smart smart-union.org. speaking of labor speaking of jobs president obama going on the road this week starting with

the speeches tomorrow in illinois. and missouri to try to get the focus back on the economy. back on jobs. which we've kind of forgotten about the last few weeks. jamal simmons is in studio with us as a "friend of bill" this entire hour and we're joined by dave jameson who covers labor issues for "huffington post." dave, good to see you this morning. >> good to be here. >> bill: this is not the first time the president has tried to say let's get the focus back on jobs. let's get some focus back on the economy. this time going to work? >> yeah, this is the endless pit of it. this is like pivot number 14 on jobs. i was laughing yesterday. this is a story you could write every six months, the president trying to put the spotlight back on jobs. the administration has put forth a lot of kind of piecemeal approaches on jobs. a lot of bills that -- with the house the way it is, a lot of

them haven't gone too far. so it's hard to know what we're going to learn more in the coming days, kind of what they have planned it is hard to see how this is going to be much different from the state of the union when he talked about a lot of this stuff a half a year ago. >> you know how it could be different? it could be different if they choose to not just talk about it for a week or ten days but they talk about it for the next six months, right? you know, i always remember when george bush was president and he decided after september 11th, that he was -- the administration was going to be about terror. every time he gave a speech, whether he was talking about little kids, at a day care center, he would start off talking about terrorism. the war on terrorism. so, over time, with the american people came to know about him was that terrorism is what he was sort of focused on and they -- until it all fell apart they all sort of agreed with him. the president has never had a consistent message and frame around what his approach was to jobs. if they're successful, they will

be successful if they start it now and they keep it going at some level for the rest of the term. >> yeah, i think when you think about the big legislative things whether it is the healthcare overhaul or immigration, i think you're lithe right in a lot of ways depending on how things play out in the next two three years. this tenure could really be remembered as basically a horrible economic jobs period. and there are still lots and lots of people hurting. unemployment rate around 7.5% doesn't do it justice. there are people who are way underemployed right now. not getting the hours they need and long-term unemployment is still a huge, huge problem. people have been out of the work force six months, a year, two years, it is very sad. >> bill: what's interesting about what you just said is that if mentioned correctly the healthcare bill is a jobs bill. the immigration reform bill is a jobs bill. but they don't talk about it

that way. now i agree with you. being part of the white house press corps i've seen this time and time again you know, that jobs, i think is still the most important issue facing this country. and we get on it. for a week or so and then don't hear about it again. then suddenly oh, we're going to focus. and the president -- the white house has already admitted that we should not look for any new proposals to come out of the speeches. it is just repeating some of the things that's been trying to get through. now, you mention republicans in congress he hasn't been able to get through. as you pointed out they haven't kept the pressure on. >> bill, there are lots of reasons why pipe are against presidenty , why people are against president obama politically. i think one place where they have not done well is we talk about -- middle-aged white guys. they're under such economic

stress. 30 years of -- the only reason they have household incomes that have gone up is because women have gone to work. you've got guys who used to be in construction or manufacturing and now they're sending their sons into nursing. which was historically like a woman's job quote-unquote. the psychological pressure for these guys with their whole economic life is changing around them and they don't feel like anybody, whether it is big business, focus on profits and for bankers whereas the government or any other institution is really helping them out. so i think the president has got to sort of communicate to americans that he cares about them and he's trying to have a strategy that's going to help them do better in the economy. >> bill: jamal simmons here, "friend of bill." dave, before you got here, if you talk about jobs and the economy, one place that's really hurting today, we were talking before you got here about detroit. so got a lot of jobs on the line in detroit particularly public sector jobs.

pensions, you know, they've got their contract with the city. existing employees and retired employees. here's a city that files for bankruptcy and as jamal pointed out, workers could lose up to 55% of their pensions. does that have to happen is a possible federal bailout in the cards? >> i think a federal bailout is very unlikely. >> bill: but why not. we bailed out goldman sachs. >> regardless of the merits, i don't think this administration is up for that and the political battle that would be. in terms of the pensions, i think this is going to have huge political impacts. well beyond detroit obviously. >> bill: sure. >> the pension issue you're going to hear about this coming from the right relentlessly. this-- another government to reign in public sector unions and pensions. but it is important to keep in mind when we talk about detroit's debt, the pensions are something like 1/6 of the problem right now.

the workers who are going to probably take a beating on this, the average pension in detroit is about $19,000. so it's hard to say that we're talking about you know, the trash collector who is fleecing the city. that's not a lot of money. $19,000. the cost of firefighters, it is more like $30,000. that's because they don't have social security. this is not a whole lot of money. but we're going see this -- pop up in cities all over. >> bill: jamal, this started in wisconsin. they always seem successful in blaming, you know, the public employees and their pensions for breaking the backs of these cities and counties, it is just not true. >> absolutely. i remember economics 101. it is not that hard. if you go in and you have to then -- it seems to me the bond prices are too low. they're being subsidized. municipalities get to take their bonds for a lower interest rate. if this blows up, the interest rates will spike in the short

term. et et they'll settle out. it means senior citizens and citizens and voters aren't subsidizing voters. it will be fair for the economy and we might have to go through pain to get there but it will be better off for everybody once it happens. >> and we'll see how badly the workers take it. there have been other cases in rhode island where the bondholders got treated a lot better than the workers did when it came to sorting out bankruptcy. they're saying that everyone's going to have to sacrifice a bit. we'll see. we'll see how that balance works out. >> bill: all right. some good news on the labor front this week. last week. tom perez finally confirmed as labor secretary. from what i've seen of him i think he's a good guy. what was the flap about? >> the flap was mostly about a deal he cut -- helped cut, i should say in st. paul, i think

it was in minnesota. this was an arrangement when he was a justice where basically they worked out a deal with the city where justice wouldn't pursue a whistle-blower case involving the city if the city didn't pursue a certain housing case. the whole idea was to avoid an unfavorable supreme court decision that in the administration's mind really hurt housing laws. that became the main congressel and it became cast as quid pro quo. basic clip administration said everything you said in their eyes was in the center of the american people. that's what it was about. of all of the nominees who have gotten bottled up, i think perez makes a little sense for republicans because i think he's kind of a true progressive. >> bill: yeah. >> people really like the guy. in maryland, that i've talked to labor people there who really liked what he did in terms of wage an hour laws. just enforcing hey you gotta

pay this quite minimum wage or overtime or you're going to get sued over it. very good on that. from what i understand, set records in terms of recouping money. >> bill: he's a real champion of a living wage. when he was secretary of labor. ultimately the president gets to pick members of his team. didn't we always believe that? >> he does. you know, obviously we get over to the filibuster fight. i do want to be careful because one day we will not be in the majority in the senate. i want the democrats to be able to have a filibuster ride themselves. you ought to be able to have the president's nominees come to the floor for a vote. more than not. >> bill: it is tuesday july 23rd here on the "full court press." and we've got a situation here in washington. let's talk about with dave jameson and jamal simmons when we come back where the city of washington wants workers at walmart to get a living wage and

walmart says if you do that, we're out of here. we're out of town. 1-866-55-press is our toll free number. we'll be right back. >> announcer: on your radio and on current tv, this is the "bill press show."

john fugelsang: if you believe in states rights but still support the drug war you must be high. cenk uygur: i think the number one thing viewers like about the young turks is that we're honest. i think the audience gets that i actually mean it. michael shure: this show is about being up to date so a lot of my work happens by doing the things that i am given to doing joy behar: you can say anything here. jerry springer: i spent a couple of hours with a hooker joy behar: your mistake was writing a check jerry springer: she never cashed it (vo) the day's events. four very unique points of view. tonight starting at 6 eastern. current tv is the place for true stories.

with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines. real, gripping, current. documentaries... on current tv. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." >> bill: here we go. 13 minutes before the top of the hour here. conversation continues off camera. now we're back in. with jamal simmons and dave jameson here on this tuesday

edition of the "full court press." join the conversation any time. we'll be right back to our conversation particularly about job related economy related issues here. but first quick story from -- told you about identity theft popping up everywhere. this one out of mississippi. one of the oldest tricks in the book. a telephone scam and a man arrested for impersonating a sheriff's deputy calling people up saying i'm from the sheriff's office and i need to know your social security number and date of birth. using that, of course, open credit card accounts in their name. one more reason why you should be protected against identity theft as i am with lifelock ultimate, the most comprehensive theft protection ever available. and even protects your bank accounts. but lifelock services can't protect you or your bank account if you're not a member. visit lifelock.com. that's one way to do it or give them a call and mention press 10

and you get 10% off your lifelock ultimate membership. that number to call, 1-800-356-5967 for lifelock ultimate. gentlemen, before we move on, guy has been very patient here from chicago. hello, guy, good morning. >> good morning. i appreciate listening to you. i listen to you more so than the conservatives in the city because they're so boring even though i'm against most of what you're talking about. >> bill: there you go. at least we're entertaining if nothing else. what's going on? what do you think? >> i want to make sure you mention the fact that the biggest bailout ever occurring up in that neighborhood was the bailout of g.m. >> bill: i thought it was chrysler. >> caller: well, chrysler and g.m. the bondholders got nothing. so here's the wall street people getting absolutely nothing on a bailout from the u.s. government whereas the unions were able to get tremendous amounts of money by ownership in these companies.

percentage of, et cetera. it did save the company and it worked out well but you can't have it both ways. >> bill: what do you mean wall street got nothing? they got $780 billion i forget what t.a.r.p. was worth. >> the bailout of general motors is all i'm talking about here. the bondholders got screwed no money whatsoever for being a legitimate bondholder, buying bonds for the company. now, you're making the point the bondholders are getting everything or getting more than the pensioners in detroit during the bailout. well it's tit for tat from the standpoint of this time around, unfortunately, the pensioners have to take the hit. >> bill: all right. i got your point. did the bond holders get nothing? >> well, in detroit at least nobody is saying that the bondholders are being forced to sacrifice. none of that has been determined

yet. all they're talking about is making sure that bond holders are kind of in the -- sacrifice the same as workers will have to. >> bill: the point you were making. >> when you buy a bond, you're taking a risk. you are voluntarily taking a risk that you may not get paid. when you go get a job people tell you i'm going to pay you this amount of money for you to do this amount of work. part of that pay was a pension that you would get later so you're not taking -- you didn't volunteer to take a risk so the people who volunteered to take a risk should be the ones who face the most -- >> bill: that's the whole thing with privatizing social security. you take a risk but if you lose, then we'll bail you out. you know. that's the philosophy, isn't it? >> union members gave up plenty, too. >> bill: as you pointed out in terms of wages. the average wage has gone down because in the auto industry, the sacrifice that the unions were willing to make to help keep the company afloat. >> $28 and $16.

>> a lot of the workers are still bitter about it. you know they sacrificed. >> bill: let's talk a little bit about walmart here in town. we all live in washington, d.c. washington, d.c. which is minimum wage of $8.25 an hour. a dollar over the federal level. we want it to be $12.50 for the big box stores. walmart says you do that, we're pulling out of here. who's going to win this battle? vincent gray did not decide whether or not he's going to sign this piece of legislation. >> who wins is entirely up to vince gray. >> this has been a blast to watch. mainly because there have been battles like this in other cities with walmart. nothing has quite come to a head like it has right here. i had people argue with me that walmart is bluffing. i completely disagree. i take them at their word when they say they'll walk away because this could have repercussions in lots of other cities. >> bill: oh, yeah.

>> urban america along with overseas is the last frontier for walmart. it is where they aren't and it is why they're dying to get into brooklyn and chicago and d.c. >> bill: what do you think jamal? >> maybe i'll come off as the conservative here today but i do think putting them on a wage different than other people in the city is probably not fair. i also think that you know, they're bringing jobs into the city. you've got a big unemployment rate. let's get people back to work and then when the market is done, let's see if the prices can go. >> bill: tommy wells representing ward six was in studio with us last week. he will run for mayor against vincent gray. gray runs for re-election. he's got legislation which would lift all votes -- lift minimum wage for everybody. and voted against the walmart thing, too. guys, great conversation. thank you. jamal, always great to see you as a "friend of bill." come back. >> i don't just want to like the

"bill press show" on facebook. i want to love the "bill press show" on facebook. where's that button? >> bill: thank you dave for being here. i'll be back with a parting shot. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." the sweatshirt is nice and all but i could use a golden lasso. (vo)only on current tv.

this show is about analyzing criticizing, and holding policy to the fire. are you encouraged by what you heard the president say the other night? is this personal or is it political? a lot of my work happens by doing the things that i am given to doing anyway. staying in tough with everything that is going on politically and putting my own nuance on it. not only does senator rubio just care about rich people but somehow he thinks raising the minimum wage is a bad idea for the middle class. but we do care about them, right? vo: the war room tonight at 6 eastern current tv is the place for true stories. with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines. real, gripping, current. documentaries... on current tv.

>> announcer: the parting shot with bill press. this is the "bill press show." >> bill: hey yeah, i hate to be a grouch but am i the only one not excited about the new royal baby? sure, i'm happy for the parents and i'm happy to learn that the little prince shares a birthday with bob dole, danny glover, alex trebek, selena gomez and oscar de la renta. but seriously is this really such a big deal? i wouldn't be excited about the dirt of another royal even if i were a brit. all it means is that the buckingham palace circus will continue another a hundred years and brits will continue to pay the queen's dysfunctional family to wear funny hats and cut

ribbons at supermarket openings. what i really can't understand is why are americans so excited about it? didn't we fight a war to get away from the silly monarchy business? 237 years later are we still so insecure that we need another daddy figure? hear ye, hear ye, a prince is born but i say bahumbug. all right folks. have a great tuesday. we'll see you back here, baby or not, tomorrow morning.

[♪ theme music ♪]

>> stephanie: okay. current tv land hour number one, john fugelsang on the big show today. charlie pierce of esquire.com, and thank god it is a boy. [ censor bleep ] [ applause ] >> i'm with bill press i don't care. i think the cable networks created this. >> stephanie: yeah, everybody says it is a girl story.