Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Ben Burgis and Jillian Michaels got into some... interesting and wild discussions about unions. From her shocking claim that forming a union is "easy" to a heavily skewed mid-video fact check on Venezuela, Ben joins us to talk about the interview and expose the common talking points used to undermine workplace democracy and explain how real workers can reclaim their collective power.
00:00 Introduction & Viral Comment Section Reaction
02:01 The Purpose of Reaching Beyond Left-Wing Echo Chambers
05:05 Why Do Conservatives Claim No One Will Debate Them?
07:40 Clip 1: Jillian Claims Organizing a Union is "Easy"
09:17 The General Ignorance Surrounding Taft-Hartley & Labor Laws
12:50 The British Disease Myth: Stagflation in the 1970s
17:03 Collective Power vs. Corporate Hostage-Taking
20:49 Debunking Anti-Union Myths About Teacher Seniority
25:11 Rebutting Corporate Outsourcing and Covid School Closures
30:29 Clip 2: The Philosophical Battle Over Workers' Rights
33:36 How Unions Forged the American Middle Class
43:43 Reacting to Jillian Michaels' Venezuela "Fact Check"
47:58 Defining Socialism in Degrees: Venezuela vs. The Nordics
54:13 Sneak Peek: The Blueprint for Real Workplace Democracy
✦ ABOUT ✦
Our single largest source of revenue *is our listeners* so your support really matters and helps us stay on the air!
Make a one time donation or become a monthly donor on our website or patreon:
https://www.tvlr.fm
patreon.com/thevalleylaborreport
Visit our official website for more info on the show, membership, our sponsors, merch, and more: https://www.tvlr.fm
Follow TVLR on Facebook: facebook.com/TheValleyLaborReport
Follow TVLR on Twitter: @LaborReporters
Follow Jacob on Twitter: @JacobM_AL
Follow TVLR Co-Creator David Story on Twitter: @RadiclUnionist
✦ CONTACT US ✦
Our phone number is 844-899-TVLR (8857), call or text us live on air, or leave us a voicemail and we might play it during the show!
✦ OUR ADVERTISERS KEEP US ON THE AIR! ✦
Support them if you can.
The attorneys at MAPLES, TUCKER, AND JACOB fight for working people. Let them represent you in your workplace injury claim.
Website: mtandj.com
Phone: (855) 617-9333
The MACHINISTS UNION represents workers in several industries including healthcare, the defense industry, woodworking, and more.
Website: iamaw44.org
Phone: (256) 286-3704
Email: organize@iamaw44.org
Do you need good union laborers on your construction site, or do you want a union construction job? Reach out to the IRONWORKERS LOCAL 477.
Website: ironworkers477.org
Phone: (256) 383-3334 (Jeb Miles)
Email: local477@bellsouth.net
The NORTH ALABAMA DSA is looking for folks to work for a better North Alabama, fighting for liberty and justice for all.
Email: dsanorthalabama@gmail.com
IBEW LOCAL 136 is a group of over 900 electricians and electrical workers providing our area with the finest workforce in the construction industry. You belong here.
Website: ibew136.org
Phone: (205) 833-0909
IFPTE - We are engineers, scientists, nonprofit employees, technicians, lawyers, and many other professions who have joined together to have a greater voice in our careers. With over 80,000 members spread across the U.S. and Canada, we invite you and your colleagues to consider the benefits of engaging in collective bargaining.
Website: ifpte.org
Phone: (202) 239-4880
THE HUNTSVILLE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD is a union open to any and all working people. Call or email them today to begin organizing your workplace - wherever it is.
Website: hsviww.org
Phone: (256) 651-6707
Email: organize@hsviww.org
ENERGY ALABAMA is accelerating Alabama’s transition to sustainable energy. We are a nonprofit membership-based organization that has advocated for clean energy in Alabama since 2014. Our work is based on three pillars: education, advocacy, and technical assistance.
Website: alcse.org
Phone: (256) 812-1431
Email: dtait@energyalabama.org
The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union represents in a wide range of industries, including but not limited to retail, grocery stores, poultry processing, dairy processing, cereal processing, soda bottlers, bakeries, health care, hotels, manufacturing, public sector workers like crossing guards, sanitation, and highway workers, warehouses, building services, and distribution.
Website: rwdsu.info
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union proudly representing 700,000 federal and D.C. government workers nationwide and overseas.
Website: afge.org
Website: iupat.org
Website: unionly.io
Website: hometownaction.org
Members of IBEW have some of the best wages and benefits in North Alabama. Find out more and join their team today!
Website: ibew558.org
Ben Burgis and Jillian Michaels got into some... interesting and wild discussions about unions. From her shocking claim that forming a union is "easy" to a heavily skewed mid-video fact check on Venezuela, Ben joins us to talk about the interview and expose the common talking points used to undermine workplace democracy and explain how real workers can reclaim their collective power.
00:00 Introduction & Viral Comment Section Reaction
02:01 The Purpose of Reaching Beyond Left-Wing Echo Chambers
05:05 Why Do Conservatives Claim No One Will Debate Them?
07:40 Clip 1: Jillian Claims Organizing a Union is "Easy"
09:17 The General Ignorance Surrounding Taft-Hartley & Labor Laws
12:50 The British Disease Myth: Stagflation in the 1970s
17:03 Collective Power vs. Corporate Hostage-Taking
20:49 Debunking Anti-Union Myths About Teacher Seniority
25:11 Rebutting Corporate Outsourcing and Covid School Closures
30:29 Clip 2: The Philosophical Battle Over Workers' Rights
33:36 How Unions Forged the American Middle Class
43:43 Reacting to Jillian Michaels' Venezuela "Fact Check"
47:58 Defining Socialism in Degrees: Venezuela vs. The Nordics
54:13 Sneak Peek: The Blueprint for Real Workplace Democracy
✦ ABOUT ✦
Our single largest source of revenue *is our listeners* so your support really matters and helps us stay on the air!
Make a one time donation or become a monthly donor on our website or patreon:
https://www.tvlr.fm
patreon.com/thevalleylaborreport
Visit our official website for more info on the show, membership, our sponsors, merch, and more: https://www.tvlr.fm
Follow TVLR on Facebook: facebook.com/TheValleyLaborReport
Follow TVLR on Twitter: @LaborReporters
Follow Jacob on Twitter: @JacobM_AL
Follow TVLR Co-Creator David Story on Twitter: @RadiclUnionist
✦ CONTACT US ✦
Our phone number is 844-899-TVLR (8857), call or text us live on air, or leave us a voicemail and we might play it during the show!
✦ OUR ADVERTISERS KEEP US ON THE AIR! ✦
Support them if you can.
The attorneys at MAPLES, TUCKER, AND JACOB fight for working people. Let them represent you in your workplace injury claim.
Website: mtandj.com
Phone: (855) 617-9333
The MACHINISTS UNION represents workers in several industries including healthcare, the defense industry, woodworking, and more.
Website: iamaw44.org
Phone: (256) 286-3704
Email: organize@iamaw44.org
Do you need good union laborers on your construction site, or do you want a union construction job? Reach out to the IRONWORKERS LOCAL 477.
Website: ironworkers477.org
Phone: (256) 383-3334 (Jeb Miles)
Email: local477@bellsouth.net
The NORTH ALABAMA DSA is looking for folks to work for a better North Alabama, fighting for liberty and justice for all.
Email: dsanorthalabama@gmail.com
IBEW LOCAL 136 is a group of over 900 electricians and electrical workers providing our area with the finest workforce in the construction industry. You belong here.
Website: ibew136.org
Phone: (205) 833-0909
IFPTE - We are engineers, scientists, nonprofit employees, technicians, lawyers, and many other professions who have joined together to have a greater voice in our careers. With over 80,000 members spread across the U.S. and Canada, we invite you and your colleagues to consider the benefits of engaging in collective bargaining.
Website: ifpte.org
Phone: (202) 239-4880
THE HUNTSVILLE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD is a union open to any and all working people. Call or email them today to begin organizing your workplace - wherever it is.
Website: hsviww.org
Phone: (256) 651-6707
Email: organize@hsviww.org
ENERGY ALABAMA is accelerating Alabama’s transition to sustainable energy. We are a nonprofit membership-based organization that has advocated for clean energy in Alabama since 2014. Our work is based on three pillars: education, advocacy, and technical assistance.
Website: alcse.org
Phone: (256) 812-1431
Email: dtait@energyalabama.org
The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union represents in a wide range of industries, including but not limited to retail, grocery stores, poultry processing, dairy processing, cereal processing, soda bottlers, bakeries, health care, hotels, manufacturing, public sector workers like crossing guards, sanitation, and highway workers, warehouses, building services, and distribution.
Website: rwdsu.info
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union proudly representing 700,000 federal and D.C. government workers nationwide and overseas.
Website: afge.org
Website: iupat.org
Website: unionly.io
Website: hometownaction.org
Members of IBEW have some of the best wages and benefits in North Alabama. Find out more and join their team today!
Website: ibew558.org
