For tonight's "Conversation with Great Minds" - I am joined by award-winning journalist, syndicated columnist and internationally best-selling author - Naomi Klein. Naomi Klein is a contributing editor for Harper's and reporter for Rolling Stone, and writes a regular column for The Nation and The Guardian that is also syndicated internationally. Her writing has appeared in dozens of other major newspapers - including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsweek, and The Los Angeles Times. In 2004, her reporting from Iraq for Harper's magazine earned her the James Aronson Award for Social Justice Journalism. She is a former Miliband Fellow at the London School of Economics and holds an honorary Doctor of Civil Laws from the University of King's College in Canada. In 2007, her book, "The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism" became a number one international best-seller. Her first book"No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies" was published in 1999 and was also an international bestsellerThe New York Times called it "a movement bible," Time Magazine named it as one of the Top 100 non-fiction books published since 1923, and the Literary Review of Canada has named it one of the hundred most important Canadian books ever published. Naomi talks to Thom Hartmann about Occupy Wall Street, the Keystone Pipeline and the economy.

Thom Hartmann talks to award winning journalist and host of Democracy Now, Amy Goodman about her life, work and latest book, "Breaking The Sound Barrier." Goodman discusses the "Occupy Wall Street" movement and how it compares to the Tea Party movement. She also discusses the final settlement in her federal lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis and its' police. Then don't miss the Big Picture rumble with debates on unemployment numbers, the 10 year war in Afghanistan and the grassroots movement against big corporations sweeping across the nation.

So what exactly does a Republican Jobs plan look like - and what would it do to our economy? Well - we got an answer to that question this week from Florida. There - Republican State Representative Ritch Workman introduced HB 4063 - legislation that repeals a law that bans...dwarf-tossing in Florida. Workman thinks it will help lower the Sunshine State's crippling 10.7% unemployment rate. As he said: "To me it's an archaic kind of Big Brother law that says, 'We don't like that activity.' Well, there is nothing immoral or illegal about that activity. All we really did by passing that law was take away some employment from some little people." Mind you - this is the same Florida Republican Party that refused to take federal high-speed rails money Obama offered them, which would have created tens of thousands of LEGITIMATE new jobs in Florida. Instead - they want to create dozens of new jobs for dwarf-tossers...and tossees. Watch for Eric Cantor and the Tea Party to seize on this idea and push for a tax credit for sword swallowers and federally subsidized job training for snake handlers. Under the Republican job creation plan - instead of a nation of manufacturers - we can be a nation of carnies.

Eric Burns, Bullfight Strategies & Vince Coglianese, Daily Caller & Kerry Picket, The Washington Times all join Thom Hartmann for the Big Picture Rumble. Topics include Occupy Wall Street, the job numbers, American Jobs Act and the Romney v. Buffett Rule.

Award-winning journalist and author, Amy Goodman joins Thom Hartmann for "Conversations with Great Minds." Tonight she'll discuss her work as a journalist and how she sees Democracy changing in this country. She has been on the forefront of developing truly independent grassroots political journalism that brings to light the alternative voices often excluded by the mainstream media. Amy's latest book is "Breaking the Sound Barrier" and explores the role and power of independent journalism in the struggle for a better world.

Award-winning journalist and author, Amy Goodman joins Thom Hartmann for "Conversations with Great Minds." Tonight she'll discuss her work as a journalist and how she sees Democracy changing in this country. She has been on the forefront of developing truly independent grassroots political journalism that brings to light the alternative voices often excluded by the mainstream media. Amy's latest book is "Breaking the Sound Barrier" and explores the role and power of independent journalism in the struggle for a better world.

The Occupy Wall Street movement swelled to at least 20000 people yesterday - as demonstrators peaceably marched through Manhattan alongside throngs of unionized workers. But as the sun went down - and demonstrators attempted to take their march to Wall Street - another police crackdown ensued. Ashley Sanders, writer andcommunity organizer, Ariel Zevon, local activist in VT and Kristen Gwynne, Alternet all join Thom Hartmann to discuss the story. Then Amanda Beadle, Think Progress.org joins Thom Hartmann to talk about mass exodus of Hispanic families fleeing the state of Alabama since state Republican lawmakers passed a radical anti-immigration law that went into effect last Thursday.

Your Take, My Take is the segment of the show when we give YOU the opportunity to have your questions, comments, criticisms and opinions heard on "The Big Picture"

Just when you thought that we'd discovered all there is to know about how our bodies function - scientists found a really fascinating new connection between the brain and the immune system. In two new studies, researchers show that important immune cells called T cells make the link between the brain and our immune systems

Brian Darling, Human Events vs. Thom Hartmann. So which path is better for America - President Obama's "Buffett Rule" that makes the rich pay their fair share - or the "Romney Rule" that gives the rich another tax break?

Thom Hartmann's crazy alert

Amanda Beadle, Think Progress.org joins Thom Hartmann. There's mass exodus underway of Hispanic families fleeing the state of Alabama. Since state Republican lawmakers passed a radical anti-immigration law that went into effect last Thursday - thousands of Hispanic children haven't shown up for school - as their families are afraid they may be profiled and detained - just because they don't look "American." Turns out the vast majority of these children who are afraid to go to school now - are not here illegally and have every right to be in this country. As was a Yemeni man who was one of the very first people in the state of Alabama detained as a result of this new law. Mohamed Ali Muflahi was picked up by police last Friday - and since he didn't have his papers on him - he was locked up all weekend until his lawyer showed up to prove that Muflahi was indeed legally in the United States. So is this the type of immigration reform we should be embracing in America - reform that leads to children being afraid to attend school - and people in American legally being locked up for the weekend because of the color of their skin?

Joshua Holland, AlterNet & Andy Kroll, TomDispatch joins Thom Hartmann. What's started in lower Manhattan is now spreading - and it's getting bigger and bigger and bigger. So the question is - how did we get here?

Thom Hartmann's daily take

Ashley Sanders, writer/community organizer & Ariel Zevon, local activist in VT & Kristen Gwynne, Alternet all join Thom Hartmann. The Occupy Wall Street movement swelled to at least 20000 people yesterday - as demonstrators peaceably marched through Manhattan alongside throngs of unionized workers. But as the sun went down - and demonstrators attempted to take their march to Wall Street - another police crackdown ensued. Using pepper-spray and swinging batons - police prevented protestors from accessing Wall Street - and they also closed the Wall Street subway stop. I guess that's the what the banksters bought when JP Morgan's CEO Jamie Dimon order a $4.6 million donation to the New York police department. All in all - dozens were reportedly arrested - capping off a tumultuous 18th straight day of occupation in lower pepper-spray. And the movement marches on. Today - the nation's capitol hosted the next wave of the 99% movement - as thousands gathered in DC's Freedom Plaza and marched to the Capitol Building calling for an end to the wars and an end to Wall Street's dominance of our economy.