This week on The Breakdown, Richard airs a panel discussion on the financial reform that he participated in at the Take Back the American Dream Conference along side New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and leading homeowner rights activist, Tracy Van Slyke.

Next, Richard speaks with Medea Benjamin, founder of CodePink, about her efforts to stop the United States predator drone bombing campaigns in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Then, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) talks to Richard about why progressives should line up behind Democrats in November--and push them to make the right decisions in the struggle over fiscal policy in December.

Finally, Richard hears from Ethan Rome, Executive Director of Health Care for America Now, a national group that helped pass the Affordabel Care Act and is now helping defend it. Rome affirms that regardless of the Supreme Court's decision about the constitutionality of the individual mandate, Health Care for America Now will continue to fight with grassroots pressure across the country to preserve and strengthen health care reform. 

First, Richard breaks down the week's news - and a lot of them were not that good. Republican incumbent Scott Walker won the gubernatorial recall election in Wisconsin, and delivered a typically misleading victory speech about taking on "special interests," which seems to be his euphemism for unionbusting. Republicans defeated a law mandating equal pay for women in Congress. Mika Brzezinski of Morning Joe had the good sense to ridicule them for it. And former President Bill Clinton undermines Democratic messaging again with an interview on CNBC where it sounds an awful lot like he thinks the Bush tax cuts for the top 2% should be extended. 

Next, Richard talks with David Shuster, Emmy Award-winning journalist and host of Take Action News, about a scoop he made just days before the Wisconsin recall election revealing that Scott Walker is being targeted by the federal "John Doe" investigation for misuse of public funds. Up until Shuster's scoop, only Walker's aides have been indicted. Shuster received word from former federal prosecutors involved in the case that Walker was the subject of the investigation as well -- and may soon be indicted.

Richard also got the chance to chat with legendary Texan country music artist, activist and commentator, Richard "Kinky" Friedman. Kinky speaks colorfully about the problems facing the country and offers is own brand of no-nonsense, Texan-style solutions.

Finally, Richard analyzes the post-presidential career of Bill Clinton. Richard thinks that in recent years Clinton has all-too-often used his perch in recent years to do the bidding of ConservaDems and the rich. His recommendation: Clinton should hang up his cleats and retire from politics.