By calling 1-877-FSTV-NOW...

The FSTV journey began many many years ago with just a first donor. Free Speech TV then was a tiny station no one had heard about. Today, that small community project has grown into a national television network, available to millions of homes across the nation and to the world, via FREESPEECH.ORG.

This isn't magic, but the result of the individuals like every one of you working together to create the unthinkable...Television completely free of corporate and government influence, owned solely by the people. Here we are, close to 17 years later, airing 24/7 via DISH Network, nearly 200 US cable stations, and on DIRECTV.

Our media project, FSTV, has grown into a national social justice movement and it is confronting its most pivotal phase. I'm asking you to please help and your team at Free Speech TV is taking roll call. Are you still with us? Will you help us sustain this momentum?

Here's what you'll get:

$60, or $5 per month: Thom Hartmann Program coffee mug & a bumper sticker that says "Proud graduate of the Thom Hartmann University.

$120, or $10 per month: My new book The Crash of 2016: The Plot to Destroy America--and What We Can Do to Stop It. It will be hot off the presses in a few weeks and you will be the first to receive it - signed - with a special note of something you need to do.

$240, or $20 per month: Book: A special printed book edition of my new EBook about climate change - The Last Hours of Humanity: Warming the World to Extinction. You will not be able to get a printed copy anywhere but through the FSTV pledge - only here! & The Crash of 2016: The Plot to Destroy America--and What We Can Do to Stop It (with my special note of something you should do)

$360, or $30 per month: Book: A copy of the U.S. Constitution signed by me - yours truly. Having a copy of the US Constitution is very very important. A special printed book edition of my new EBook about climate change - The Last Hours of Humanity: Warming the World to Extinction. You will not be able to get a printed copy anywhere but through the FSTV pledge - only here! & The Crash of 2016: The Plot to Destroy America--and What We Can Do to Stop It (with my special note of something you should do)

$500: Everything listed above….

$1,000: If you can come to - or are in Washington DC - A visit to the studio so you can watch the TV show Live from the control room. It's a hoot. You will see how the show is made. Then we'll go out and grab a pizza together at one of the best pizza places in DC. They serve Gluten free pizza or regular - if you can't eat gluten like me. I've had many dinners with viewers/listeners and this is my favorite pledge point. I've met new friends that I now keep in touch with. Going to dinner with some of the smartest and interesting people on the planet is a highlight for me. I would love to meet you. Plus - I'm still going to send you my new book - The Crash of 2016: The Plot to Destroy America--and What We Can Do to Stop It - with a special message for you.

Please don't let this momentum stop as you won't find movement politics and social justice anywhere else. You'll find "my team/your team" politics but you won't find the bigger picture and depth of this program. We have changed minds together.

Thank you for your continuous support of our network and for joining our efforts to continue to project the voice and views of the people, for the people, with your support.

We/I can't do this without you. I'm here for you. FSTV is here for you. Can you be here for us? PLEASE, TAKE ACTION NOW! By calling 1-877-FSTV-NOW

-Thom

For the first time in 17 years, our government is officially shut down. Just hours before the midnight deadline, the House Republicans passed a third government funding proposal, which included another absurd attempt to undermine Obamacare. As expected, the Senate rejected that version, and called on the House to pass a clean continuing resolution. At 1 a.m., House Speaker John Boehner tried to appear reasonable, by calling for a bipartisan committee between the two chambers. Democrats have been asking for such a meeting for months, however they are unlikely to accept that proposal now, as they continue to call for a clean government funding bill.

After Republicans refused to pass a clean bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid laid into Speak Boehner, saying, “You know with a bully, you cannot let them slap you around. Because they slap you around today, they slap you around five or six times tomorrow. We are not going to be bullied.” House Republicans proved that they would rather furlough workers, slash food assistance, and cripple our economy than back down from their efforts to kill Obamacare.

As of today, 800,000 federal workers will be sent home without pay, the government will not process loans for new homes or businesses, new disability and unemployment claims will take longer to process, and the CDC will be limited in its ability to fight disease. And, these are only a few of the effects of a government shutdown.

As President Obama said before the deadline, “One faction, of one party, in one House of Congress, in one branch of government, doesn't get to shut down the entire government just to refight the results of an election.” Right now, millions of Americans are wondering how long it will take for House Republicans to realize that.

-Thom

(What do you think? Tell us here.)

Free excerpt, read book for free at Truthout, buy the book!

Monday's Daily Stack

Hour One: Will the government go dark at midnight?
- Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR, 4th District)

Article: "House to Add Measure Cutting Health Subsidy for Congress" by Jonathan Weisman.

Article: "The Back and Forth Over the Shutdown".

Video: "Reagan: Government is not the solution to our problem government IS the problem".

The Big Picture
- Andrew Campbell, The Big Picture producer

Article: "GOP Congressman Compares Republicans Trying To Take Down Obamacare To Heroes Of 9/11" by Judd Legum.

Article: "President Obama Names USW’s Gerard to Manufacturing Committee" by USW.

Article: "USW Confirms NY State Meeting on Buy America Infrastructure" by USW.

Article: "Cruz puts blame for shutdown at the feet of Reid, Democrats" by Valerie Richardson.

Article: "Obama Makes an Exceptional Phone Call" by Thom Hartmann.

Article: "Government shutdown update: Senate rejects House plan — again" by Burgess Everett and Manu Raju

Article: "Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan & Kevin McCarthy: Plot To Sabotage US Economy with Frank Luntz" by keepemhonest.

Article: "14th Amendment Section 4". "The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned."

Book: "The Crash of 2016: The Plot to Destroy America--and What We Can Do to Stop It" by Thom Hartmann.

Article: "Ted Cruz's really sweet health insurance deal" by Joan McCarter.

Video: "I've always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help'." Ronald W. Reagan.

Hour Two: Don Siegelman brings down "The Hammer"
- Brad Friedman, The Bradblog

Article: "EXCLUSIVE: Former Gov. Don Siegelman Brings the Hammer Down on Tom DeLay from Prison" by Brad Friedman.

Article: "US government near broad shutdown in budget impasse" by Jonathan Weisman and Jeremy W. Peters.

Article: "Shutdown looms over health law" by Ashley Parker.

Video: The New Sheriff Scene from Blazing Saddles.

Law: "Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002" (McCain-Feingold).

Site: Move to Amend

Site: "Campaign For America's Future".

Site: "Progressive Democrats of America".

Law: "Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002" (McCain-Feingold).

Book: "Unequal Protection: How Corporations Became "People" - And How You Can Fight Back" by Thom Hartmann - new updated version out now!

Quote: "We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately" - attributed to Ben Franklin.

Book: "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight: Revised and Updated: The Fate of the World and What We Can Do Before It's Too Late" by Thom Hartmann.

Article: "No Time for Bullies: Baboons Retool Their Culture" by Natalie Angier.

Talk Radio News Segment:
- Victoria Jones

Article: "TRNS News Notes- Monday, Sepetember 30" by Victoria Jones.

Article: "TRNS News Notes — Tuesday 10/1" by Victoria Jones.

Speech: "Full Transcript: President Obama’s Sept. 30 remarks on the looming government shutdown".

Article: "McConnell Considers One-Week Continuing Resolution, Dems Scoff At Idea" by Sam Stein.

Article: "Obama tries to reassure Netanyahu about Iran" by Aamer Madhani.

Article: "Netanyahu, in U.N. Speech, Takes Aim at Iran's New President" by Joe Lauria.

Site: "Goats for the old Goat".

Hour Three: Obamacare Q & A...get your questions ready
- Wendell Potter, Deadly Spin

Book: "Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans" by Wendell Potter.

Article: "How the Government Shutdown Will Affect the Obamacare Launch" by Arit John.

Article: "Lower Health Insurance Premiums to Come at Cost of Fewer Choices" by Robert Pear.

Site: Healthcare subsidy calculator.

Site: healthcare.gov.

Article: "How can I get an estimate of costs and savings on Marketplace health insurance?" (Kaiser calculator).

Article: "What does Marketplace health insurance cover?".

Article: "What if my state is not expanding Medicaid?" by healthcare.gov.

Article: "What key dates do I need to know?" by healthcare.gov.

Article: "Open Enrollment Period" by healthcare.gov.

Article: "Special Enrollment Period" by healthcare.gov.

Article: "Tomorrow Is D-Day for Health Insurers: The Beginning of Disintermediation" by Wendell Potter.

Article: "Looting the Pension Funds: All across America, Wall Street is grabbing money meant for public workers" by Matt Taibbi.

Article: "Eric Holder announces lawsuit against 'restrictive' North Carolina voting laws" by Meghashyam Mali.

Article: "Excerpts from NJ ruling legalizing gay marriage" by AP.

Article: "Baby animals back ‘Adorable Care Act’" by George Mathis.

Twitter: "Adorable Care Act".

Hour One: The GOP strategy for killing Obamacare
- Chairman/Congressman Steve Israel, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC)

Hour Two: Why would African Americans want to disenfranchise black voters?
- Cherylyn Harley LeBon, Project 21 National Advisory Board

Hour Three: The illusion of nuclear safety
- Eric Schlosser, Command and Control.

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