Editing The Majority Report with Sam Seder

{{Short description|Left-wing podcast}}
{{Redirect|The Majority Report|the British Parliamentary report published after the 1905 Royal Commission of the Poor Laws|Majority report (Poor Law)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox podcast
| title = The Majority Report with Sam Seder (2010–present)<br><small>The Sam Seder Show (2006–2007)<br>The Majority Report with Janeane Garofalo (2004–2006)</small>
| image = The Majority Report with Sam Seder logo.svg
| alt = Logo of The Majority Report with Sam Seder
| host = [[Sam Seder]] <small>(2006–2007, 2010–present)</small><br />''[[Janeane Garofalo]] <small>(2004–2006)</small>''

<br /><br />'''Co-hosted by'''<br />Russ Finkelstein <small>(2025-present)</small><br />Brandon Sutton <small>(2021–present)</small><br />Emma Vigeland <small>(2020–present)</small><br />Matt Lech <small>(2015–present)</small><br />Matt Binder <small>(2011–2015, 2020–present)</small><br /> ''Bradley Alsop <small>(2021–2025)</small> ''<br />''[[Jamie Peck (podcaster)|Jamie Peck]] <small>(2017–2021)</small> ''<br />''Brendan Finn <small>(2017–2023)</small> ''<br /> ''Kelly Carey <small>(2015–2017)</small> ''<br />''[[Michael Brooks (political commentator)|Michael Brooks]] <small>(2012–2020)</small> ''<br />''Sam Seder <small>(2004-2006)</small> ''
| genre = {{hlist|Politics|news|humor|debate|interview|live call-in}}
| format = {{hlist|Audio|video}}
| language = English
| updates = Every weekday
| length = 120–180 minutes
| opentheme = "[[Pressure Drop (song)|Pressure Drop]]" by [[The Clash]]
| endtheme = "Pilot Light" by [[Dave Derby]]
| began = March 31, 2004 – April 13, 2007<br>November 2010–present
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}

'''''The Majority Report with Sam Seder''''' is an [[United States|American]] [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]] [[internet]] [[talk radio]] program and [[podcast]] hosted by [[Sam Seder]]. The program focuses on the discussion of current events and political affairs; to this end, [[comedy]] and [[satire]] are used from time to time to make key points. Originally airing on the [[Air America (radio network)|Air America]] radio network, from March 2004 until July 2006 the show was hosted by [[Janeane Garofalo]]; Garofalo was reportedly originally asked by Air America to host the program and suggested Seder as a co-host.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://majority.fm/about/|title=About - The Majority Report with Sam Seder}}</ref>

''The Majority Report'' was associated with the [[The Young Turks|TYT Network]], with which the show partnered, from the 2010 relaunch until 2020, which generally followed its original format but was rebooted as a viewer-funded production. Following those structural affiliation and funding-production changes, the show has won a string of international [[Podcast Awards|People's Choice Podcast Awards]],<ref name="PodcastAwards">{{cite web |title=Past Winners, 2005–2017 |url=https://www.podcastawards.com/past-winners |website=Podcast Awards }}</ref> in five of the next seven annual competitions (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2017), for the "News and Politics" award.

== History ==
[[File:Sam Seder.jpg|thumb|[[Sam Seder]] hosts ''The Majority Report''.]]
The inspiration for ''The Majority Report'' radio program occurred on [[2000 United States presidential election|election night 2000]], when Sam Seder witnessed via the television media what he perceived to be the theft of the presidency by [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bond|first1=Mindy|last2=Frank|first2=Raphie|title=Sam Seder, Director, Writer, Comedian, Co-Host, "The Majority Report"|url=http://gothamist.com/2004/08/27/sam_seder_director_writer_comedian_cohost_the_majority_report.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415101828/http://gothamist.com/2004/08/27/sam_seder_director_writer_comedian_cohost_the_majority_report.php|archive-date=April 15, 2012}}</ref> The name "The Majority Report" refers to [[Al Gore]] being "[[first past the post]]", a [[Plurality (voting)|plurality]], on the popular vote (beating President Bush) in the election as well as a play on the popular 1956 story ''[[The Minority Report]]'' by Philip K. Dick. In February 2003, Janeane Garofalo (a longtime friend and fellow comedian of Seder) appeared as a guest with Seder on ''[[The Best Show with Tom Scharpling|The Best Show on WFMU with Tom Scharpling]]'', a comedy/talk radio program on the [[New Jersey]] station [[WFMU]]. In the summer of 2003, Garofalo was approached by representatives of Air America Radio to be a radio personality for their programming. She insisted that they hire Seder and that he share the hosting responsibilities. Less than one year later, on March 31, 2004, '''''The Majority Report with Janeane Garofalo''''' was born, and aired from 8 - 11 PM [[Eastern Time Zone|ET]] initially, and later in the year the time slot moved up 1 hour to 7 - 10 PM ET. Regular guests included [[blog]]gers [[Atrios]] of ''[[Atrios#Eschaton|Eschaton]]'' and [[Bill Scher]] of ''LiberalOasis''. Journalist Bill Crowley read the hourly news and engaged in a brief discussion at the beginning of each program's third hour, introduced by [[Ozzy Osbourne]]'s "[[Mr. Crowley]]."

Garofalo once said getting on the radio was an early career goal of hers. One early program advertisement read: "The battle to reclaim America from the forces of darkness continues with hosts Janeane Garofalo and Sam Seder." The early days of Air America Radio are chronicled in the [[documentary film|documentary]] ''[[Left of the Dial (film)|Left of the Dial]]'', which includes a debate between Janeane and her conservative father Carmine, who was initially a regular guest on ''The Majority Report.''
Garofalo came under fire from her listeners for her comments on her April 28, 2006 show supporting the [[Scientology]]-linked "[[New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project]]", a questioned treatment for workers now suffering ailments from [[September 11 attacks|9/11]] clean-up efforts in New York City.<ref name="cultnews2043">{{cite web|title=Is Janeane Garofalo making a joke out of "Majority Report"?|url=http://www.cultnews.com/?p=2043 |website=Cult News|date=June 7, 2006|access-date=January 17, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project|url=http://nydetox.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226094431/http://www.nydetox.org/|archive-date=February 26, 2011|url-status=usurped|access-date=January 17, 2017}}</ref>

=== July 2006: Departure of Janeane Garofalo ===
After months of speculation, Garofalo announced during a broadcast on July 14, 2006, that she would be leaving her co-host position on ''The Majority Report''. On July 19, Garofalo stated that her decision was precipitated by several "unrecoverable" on-air arguments with Seder; she also said that she regards Seder as a better radio broadcaster than she, and therefore a better choice to continue ''The Majority Report''.

Although several reasons for her departure were cited (including her outside acting responsibilities, which made her largely absent from ''The Majority Report'' for several weeks prior), the relationship between Garofalo and co-host Sam Seder had become increasingly strained, owing largely to Garofalo's promotion of the above-mentioned [[Scientology]]-linked treatment program for firefighters and rescue workers in New York City. On June 2, Garofalo responded to Seder's opposition, suggesting that he would not have a problem with the program if it were linked to Jews rather than Scientologists.<ref name="cultnews2043"/> Seder, who is Jewish, and his producer walked off the set in angry protest.<ref>{{cite web |title=Seder v. Garofalo: Scientology Smackdown |url=https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2006/6/2/215407/- |access-date=January 17, 2017 |website=Daily Kos}}</ref>

Garofalo's long stint on [[The West Wing (season 7)|the final season]] of the [[NBC]] drama ''[[The West Wing]]'' (as Louise Thornton, media strategist for [[Jimmy Smits]]' character, presidential candidate Matt Santos) did not allow her to be in New York to co-host ''The Majority Report'' for several weeks; this allowed Sam to make the program his own, and she acknowledged that this had a part to play in her decision to leave. She mentioned that Seder was her favorite available choice for co-host when she was approached by Air America for the radio show; her first choice (as she said in obvious jest) was her favorite actor, [[Steve McQueen]], who has been deceased for many years. Her last broadcast as co-host of ''The Majority Report'' aired on July 21, 2006.

Garofalo returned to the show occasionally, performing as Senator Katherine Harris, a comedic/satirical [[Impressionist (entertainment)|impersonation]] of [[Katherine Harris]], former ([[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]) Florida Secretary of State and Representative for FL-13.

=== September 2006: ''The Sam Seder Show'' ===
In September 2006, the original radio show ended its run. Seder, hosting by himself, then began a new mid-morning program on Air America Radio, '''''The Sam Seder Show''''', in the time slot previously occupied by [[Jerry Springer]] (which was also the lead-in to ''The Al Franken Show''). The show retained many of the elements of the original ''Majority Report''. Seder aired ''The Sam Seder Show'''s final broadcast on Friday, April 13, 2007.

=== November 2010: Reboot and distribution model ===
In November 2010, Seder re-launched the show as '''''The Majority Report with Sam Seder''''', a self-produced independent online [[podcast]]. The format closely matches the previous Air America program (even using some of the same recorded intro announcements and bumper music), with politically oriented commentary by Seder and interviews with various guests; Garofalo participates occasionally as a guest, and Cliff Schecter, co-author of ''The Real McCain'' with Marcia Mitchell, is often a guest as well, usually on Fridays. ''The Majority Report'' also streams live, Monday - Friday at 12 PM ET on their website and various other platforms. Seder offers premium subscriptions to listeners (via the show's re-launched website) to help with production expenses (following the business model of [[Mike Malloy]] when his program became self-syndicated, and that of [[Cenk Uygur]] of ''[[The Young Turks]]''); this allows subscribers access to expanded commentary not on the basic podcast. On the re-launched website, Seder also offers DVDs of the 2004 TV series ''[[Pilot Season (TV series)|Pilot Season]]'', produced and directed by Seder, starring [[Sarah Silverman]] and originally broadcast on the now-defunct [[Trio (TV network)|Trio]] cable channel. Producer/Contributors [[Michael Brooks (political commentator)|Michael Brooks]] and Matt Binder began co-hosting M&M Mondays in 2013. Producer Matt Binder left the show in October 2015 to work for the new Internet startup, [[CAFE (media company)|CAFE]].<ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://majorityreportradio.com/2015/10/13/1013-the-last-mm-monday|title=10/13 The Last M&M Monday|website=The Majority Report|publisher=MajorityReportRadio.com|host=Michael Brooks|date=October 13, 2013|access-date=December 2, 2019}}</ref> Later that month, Matt Lech and Kelly Carey were added as producers.<ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://majorityreportradio.com/2015/10/23/1023-casual-friday-cliff-schecter-meet-the-new-producers|title=10/23 Casual Friday: Cliff Schecter & Meet the New Producers|website=The Majority Report|publisher=MajorityReportRadio.com|host=Sam Seder|date=October 23, 2015|access-date=December 2, 2019}}</ref> In September 2017, Kelly Carey departed to work for TYT Politics,<ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://majorityreportradio.com/2017/09/08/98-irma-republican-climate-lies-w-cliff-schecter-andy-kindler-on-dennis-millers-depression|title=9/8 Irma & Republican Climate Lies w/ Cliff Schecter & Andy Kindler On Dennis Miller's Depression|website=The Majority Report|publisher=MajorityReportRadio.com|host=Sam Seder|date=September 8, 2017|time=0:56:35|access-date=December 2, 2019}}</ref> and [[Jamie Peck (podcaster)|Jamie Peck]] along with Brendan Finn were hired as producers later in October.<ref>{{cite news|last=Steinberg|first=Jacques|date=March 31, 2004|title=Liberal Voices Get New Home on Radio Dial|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/31/arts/31AIR.html?ex=1396069200&en=b7e26277dd2af7fc&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080724183332/http://www.theyoungturks.com/story/2008/5/1/203038/6961 Bill Scher on The Young Turks.]</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Interview with Sam Seder about The Majority Report|date=August 27, 2004|url=http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2004/08/27/sam_seder_director_writer_comedian_cohost_the_majority_report.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820172752/http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2004/08/27/sam_seder_director_writer_comedian_cohost_the_majority_report.php|archive-date=August 20, 2006}}</ref>

=== July 2020: Death of Michael Brooks ===
On July 20, 2020, co-host [[Michael Brooks (political commentator)|Michael Brooks]] died at the age of 36 due to a "sudden medical condition,"<ref>{{Cite tweet|author=Majority Report|user=majorityfm|date=July 20, 2020|title=Rest in power, @_michaelbrooks|number=1285342049039003648|website=Twitter|language=en|access-date=July 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sunkara|first=Bhaskar|author-link=Bhaskar Sunkara |date=July 20, 2020 |title=Remembering Our Friend and Comrade Michael Brooks|url=https://jacobinmag.com/2020/07/remembering-our-friend-and-comrade-michael-brooks|website=[[Jacobin (magazine)|Jacobin]]|access-date=July 20, 2020}}</ref> later revealed to be an undetected [[thrombosis]] in his neck.<ref>{{Cite web|author=The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder|date=July 21, 2020|title=Remembering Michael Brooks (1983 - 2020) - MR Live - 7/21/20|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP4FCxWnxSw|website=YouTube|access-date=July 22, 2020}}</ref> Following Brooks' death, an extended ''Majority Report'' episode was held allowing for previous guests, ''Majority Report'' contributors, and callers to mourn and remember Brooks. Seder announced that ''The Majority Report'' would be off the air for one week following Brooks' passing.

=== Fall 2020–2022: Personnel changes and other developments ===
In October 2020, it was announced that Emma Vigeland, formerly a contributor for ''[[The Young Turks]]'', would assume Brooks' position as co-host and producer. Her first appearance took place on November 3, 2020, the date of the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]].

In November 2020, a one-hour version of the show began airing on the [[NBCUniversal]] streaming service [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]], however, the show's contract with Peacock ended in November 2021 and it was not renewed.

In March 2021, Jamie Peck announced that she would be leaving the show.<ref>{{cite tweet|author=Grace Lee PAWGs|user=jamie_elizabeth|date=March 8, 2021|title=So tomorrow is my last day at @majorityfm...call in during the fun half to say nice things to me, wish me a happy birthday, and learn about what I'm doing next|number=1368758693014147073|website=Twitter|access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref>

In June 2021, Brandon Sutton announced that he would be co-hosting the Majority Report on Thursdays going forward.<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1410240902430433281|user=PrettyBadLefty|title=I will be on The Majority Report Thursday this week and moving forward|author=Lil Gyromancy|retweet=Majority Report (@majorityfm)}}</ref>

In July 2021, it was announced that producer Brendan Finn would be leaving the show to return to school to study health policy.<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1416086843192320001|user=majorityfm|title=The long goodbye|author=Majority Report}}</ref> Following Finn's departure, Bradley Alsop joined The Majority Report as a producer.

In September 2022, Emma Vigeland and Bradley Alsop launched the ESVN (Emma Sports Vigeland Network) Show, a podcast covering sociopolitical issues in the sports world through a progressive lens.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iOsd5X37fM |title=WELCOME to ESVN - The Emma Sports Vigeland Network! |date=2022-09-02 |last=ESVN - The Emma Sports Vigeland Network |access-date=2025-05-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref> The ESVN Show is currently on hiatus as of February 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESVN - The Emma Sports Vigeland Network |url=https://www.youtube.com/@ESVNShow |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=YouTube |language=en}}</ref>

In March 2025, Bradley Alsop announced he would be leaving the show. Producer Russ Finkelstein made his on-air debut in April 2025.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website}}
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