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Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

Progressive Talk

Expertly-curated progressive politics, news, and culture produced by leftist humans, not algorithms or AI. This is an award-winning podcast that dives deeply into a wide range of national and international issues facing society and governments. We draw from hundreds of sources of progressive news and commentary. Est. 2006. Save time by listening to a range of perspectives on a focused topic in each episode and be introduced to new sources you will not have come across on your own!

Location:

Washington, DC

Description:

Expertly-curated progressive politics, news, and culture produced by leftist humans, not algorithms or AI. This is an award-winning podcast that dives deeply into a wide range of national and international issues facing society and governments. We draw from hundreds of sources of progressive news and commentary. Est. 2006. Save time by listening to a range of perspectives on a focused topic in each episode and be introduced to new sources you will not have come across on your own!

Language:

English


Episodes
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#1671 The Non-Exclusive Impact of White Supremacy and Misogyny on the Election

11/20/2024
Air Date 11/20/2024 We're in the phase where prejudice still exists but it has become socially unacceptable to openly express it - but to deny the impact on our politics just because people don't admit to their prejudice would be to completely misunderstand the nature of the issue. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: The Racism of MAGA Is as American as Apple Pie Nina Turner on Trump & 2024 Election - Democracy Now! - Air Date 10-31-24 KP 2: Some Americans Are Already Living in Trump’s Purge - The New Abnormal - Air Date 10-1-24 KP 3: Why You Shouldn't Buy the Election Narrative About Black Men - Reveal - Air Date 10-23-24 KP 4: Trumps Nazi Rally at MSG Perfectly Reflected Republican Values - The New Abnormal - Air Date 10-29-24 KP 5: “The Confederacy Won” Why Donald Trump’s Reelection Is a Win for White Supremacy, Xenophobia & Hate - Democracy Now! - Air Date 11-6-24 KP 6: Trump campaign was built on 'hate' which has contributed to 'racial terror' NAACP exec - MSNBC - Air Date 11-8-24 KP 7: The Hard Truth About Why Harris Was the Wrong Choice for America Part 1 - The New Abnormal - Air Date 11-6-24 (51:52) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the shifting landscape of social media Follow BotL: Bluesky, Mastadon, Threads Our Bluesky Starter Pack Sky Follower Bridge: Find accounts that have migrated from Twitter to Bluesky The OpenVibe app for cross-network access to new social sites DEEPER DIVES (56:28) SECTION A - A MIRROR FOR AMERICA (1:25:17) SECTION B - WHITE SUPREMACY FOR THE WIN (1:49:19) SECTION C - REVERBERATION (2:09:22) SECTION D - WHAT NOW Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Duration:02:22:33

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#1670 A Refresher on the Sham of Conservative Economic Populism and the Left Alternatives (Remix)

11/15/2024
Air Date 11/15/2024 Today’s episode is a remix of multiple past episodes but was inspired by one in particular from just back in July of this year, #1645, when we were making a point of demonstrating what a sham the idea of conservative economic populism is. Well, now that Trump has been reelected - seemingly because regular folks were hoping he’d fix the economy for them - we thought we’d take this moment to highlight the difference between right wing and left wing economic populism. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! CHAPTERS 1: How progressives need to frame their economic message - @theLFshow w: @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date 12-29-14 2: It’s time to stop relying on crisis legislation (with Lindsay Owens) - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 8-4-20 3: “He’s a Fake” Robert Kuttner on How J.D. Vance Disguises His Anti-Worker Views as Economic Populism - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-16-24 4: JD Vance, Phony Populism on the Right, the Republican National Convention, and Democratic Party Messaging w Ben Burgis - Parallax Views - Air Date 7-22-24 5: Europe's Circular Economy Action Plan - euronews - Air Date 11-24-20 6: What is Economic Democracy? - The Next System Project - Air Date: 3-1-16 7: Responding to Tim Scott & J.D. Vance on Poverty - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 7-16-24 8: The Tragic Cost of American Child Poverty w: Jeff Madrick - The Majority Report w: Sam Seder - Air Date 10-7-20 9: Dispelling some myths about worker coops - Economic Update w: @profwolff - Air Date 6-12-16 10: Sean O'Brien faces criticism from Teamsters Vice President for RNC appearance - The Real News Network - Air Date 7-19-24 11: Amsterdam's "doughnut economy" puts climate ahead of GDP - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 4-24-21 MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions) Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Duration:01:19:12

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#1669 Private Equity: The worst of capitalism, amplified

11/12/2024
Air Date 11/12/2024 It's easy enough to look into one industry at a time to see what's going wrong, but today we're looking at what is so often lurking in the background of higher prices, lower quality goods and services, and, ultimately, many failing businesses: Private Equity. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Why Does Everyone Hate Private Equity? - The Plain Bagel - Air Date 9-20-24 KP 2: How Private Equity Consumed America - Wendover Productions - Air Date 5-7-24 KP 3: How private equity conquered America - The Chris Hedges Report - Air Date 3-1-24 KP 4: Warren Calls for Ownership Transparency for Private Equity in Health Care - Senator Elizabeth Warren - Air Date 7-12-24 KP 5: BlackRock: The Conspiracies You Don’t Know - More Perfect Union - Air Date 9-15-24 (48:16) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On getting through this together DEEPER DIVES (53:11) SECTION A - HOW IT WORKS (1:30:42) SECTION B - POWER (2:03:28) SECTION C - SOLUTIONS SHOW IMAGE Description: The words “Private Equity” are typed out on paper on a clipboard, surrounded by $20 and $100 bills and a pair of glasses. Credit: “Private Equity” by Nick Youngson, Pix4free.org | License: CC BY-SA 3.0 | Changes: Slightly cropped Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Duration:02:32:17

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#1668 We Are Going Back: Team post-election analysis

11/8/2024
Air Date 11/8/2024 The Best of the Left team holds a special post-election discussion available to all listeners to present the initial takes on the election as well as our own reactions and suggestions for how to move forward. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com To hear all of our team discussion episodes, become a member! A few worthwhile reads that gave inspiration for some of our discussion: Democrats Blow Their Chance to Block Trump’s Resurgence - The Intercept (Discussing the Genocide in Gaza) Harris and the Democrats Committed to a Rightward Lurch — and Lost Big Time - Truthout (Courting moderate Republicans) Donald Trump’s Second Term Is Joe Biden’s Real Legacy - The New Yorker I’m a Gen Z man. Here’s why so many of my peers supported Donald Trump - Fast Company (Revenge of the Bros) This Time We Have to Hold the Democratic Party Elite Responsible for This Catastrophe - The Nation 10 Ways We Can Prepare for Another Trump Presidency - Truthout

Duration:01:25:14

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#1666 The Holy War Against America: The New Apostolic Reformation, Opus Dei, Evangelicals, Christian Nationalists, and the Worship of Donald Trump

11/2/2024
Air Date 11/2/2024 The cult of Trump isn't just about Trump, it's religion and patriarchy reacting to a moment of global economic and climactic instability. But those organizing the religious right aren't just reacting to their environment, they've also been planning for a very long time. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Extremist White Christian Nationalists Prepping For War w Brad Onishi - The Majority Report - Air Date 7-16-24 KP 2: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation - Ideas - Air Date 10-18-24 KP 3: MAGA's 'Young Male Voter' Plan Hits Bottom Of The Barrel - The Majority Report - Air Date 10-22-24 KP 4: JD Vance Joins Lance Wallnau in Spiritual Warfare - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 10-14-24 KP 5: Ziklag Exposed Secretive Christian Nationalist Network Tries to Purge Voters in Battleground States - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-30-24 KP 6: Spirit & Power Episode 4 Take Back that Which Was Stolen from Us The Charismatic Rituals of the Religious Right - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 10-17-24 KP 7: Unfcking Flashback The American Propaganda Machine. - UNFTR - Air Date 10-12-24 (54:31) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On susceptibility to manipulation DEEPER DIVES (59:43) SECTION A - THE MOVEMENT (1:18:09) SECTION B - TRUMP AND ELECTION (1:36:04) SECTION C - PATRIARCHY AND RACE (1:55:36) SECTION D - AMERICAN CHRISTIAN SHOW IMAGE Description: A woman with blonde hair wears a Trump campaign flag as a cape while praying on her knees with both arms in the air. Credit: “Fascism Worship”, 2016, by Johnny Silvercloud, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Increased brightness and contrast Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Duration:02:14:11

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Bonus Edition #326 Marketing: The Dirty Public Restroom of the Internet

10/31/2024
Air Date: 10-31-24 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon and Erin discuss: - How neoliberalism is fucking up renewable energy transitions - Marketing and why the viral Stanley Cup never should have gone viral - How big tech is heavily surveilling school kids without any oversight - How the fossil fuel industry has infiltrated higher education BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Hear the Full Show, Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) REFERENCES: Germany’s Green Transition Is Faltering This $23 Stanley Cup Accessory Fixes Your Biggest Complaint About the Tumbler How the ex-marketing whiz behind Crocs helped turn Stanley into the "it" cup How the Stanley Cup Went Viral School Surveillance Earns Tech Companies Billions. Students Pay the Price. Here’s How the Fossil Fuel Industry Infiltrates and Influences Higher Education Join our Discord Server Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts!

Duration:00:20:07

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#1665 The GOP Is A Grift And Was Long Before Trump

10/29/2024
Air Date 10/29/2024 Trump has only come close to perfecting the grift of the American conservative, he certainly didn't invent the strategy. Today we look at some current and past grifts and explore why they work. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: GRIFT-GOBLIN Donald Trump is Selling HILARIOUSLY CRAPPY Gold Watches Now!!! - Jesse Dollemore - Air Date 9-27-24 KP 2: The "Dirtbag of the Internet" and Trump's Crypto Project - Bloomberg Technology - Air Date 9-13-24 KP 3: Controlling the Weather and Eating Pets: Expert Breaks Down Disinformation - Amanpour and Company - Air Date 10-18-24 KP 4: Down the Rabbit Hole w/ Naomi Klein - The Dig - Air Date 10-8-24 KP 5: Media Literacy Can't Save Us Part 1 - Dummy - Air Date 10-7-24 KP 6: How did grifters like Trump take over the GOP? - The Bunker - Air Date 9-25-24 (48:03) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the scam of political fundraising DEEPER DIVES (56:06) SECTION A - GRIFT A1: Russell Brand Has A New Grift - Novara Media - Air Date 10-16-24 A2: GRIFTER-CON Morons Did Not Disappoint - The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder - Air Date 10-1-24 A3: Russell Brand And The Conspiracy Grift - Media Matters - Air Date 1-2-24 A4: Some Grifters Who Finally Faced Consequences – SOME MORE NEWS -Air Date 9-25-24 (1:28:27) SECTION B - SCAMS (1:50:18) SECTION C - CONSPIRACY (2:19:48) SECTION D - MISINFORMATION SHOW IMAGE Description: Graphic showing a large pile of triangular warning signs with the word “SCAM” inside. Credit: “traffic-signs-attention-notice” by Gerald, Pixabay | License: Pixabay Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Duration:02:58:09

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#1543 Capitalism doesn't live up to the hype (Throwback)

10/25/2024
Original Air Date: 2/14/20223 Today, we take a look at some origins, alternatives and misunderstandings of capitalism from the Dutch East India Company, to Adam Smith and up through the planned obsolescence and marketing that have tricked us all into working far harder than necessary while failing to make us happy. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) Join our Discord community! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Indigenous Economics with Tyson Yunkaporta (In Conversation) - Upstream - Air Date 11-10-21 Ch. 2: Transcending Capitalism Insights from Buddhism and Marxism - Revolutionary Left Radio - Air Date 1-3-23 Ch. 3: We don't understand Capitalism. Part One - UNFTR - Air Date 1-27-23 Ch. 4: Your Work Is Not Your Worth - OFF-KILTER with Rebecca Vallas - Air Date 10-21-22 Ch. 5: We don't understand Capitalism. Part Two. - UNFTR - Air Date 1-27-23 Ch. 6: Economics for a New Year - Economic Update with Richard Wolff - Air Date 1-19-23 Ch. 7: Indigenous Economics with Tyson Yunkaporta (In Conversation) Part 2 - Upstream - Air Date 11-10-21 Ch. 8: Transcending Capitalism Insights from Buddhism and Marxism Part 2 - Revolutionary Left Radio - Air Date 1-3-23 Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Duration:00:59:58

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#1664 All That Gets Wrongly Blamed on Immigrants: Lies about the economy, crime, election integrity, Social Security, and more!

10/22/2024
Air Date 10/22/2024 This is your one-stop reference guide to every issue that is being wrongly blamed on immigrants as the Trump campaign rhetoric turns evermore fascist and xenophobic. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Deportation First Trump and Harris Compete for Latinx Votes While Pushing Anti-Immigrant Policies - Democracy Now! - Air Date 10-16-24 KP 2: Escaping Otherism Why Dr. Seuss Could Never Find a Rhyme for Genocide - Crazy Town - Air Date 6-12-24 KP 3: The Real Reason Trump Is Demonizing Immigrants - The Lever - Air Date 10-11-24 KP 4: 'Villains nor victims' Why immigration is good for our economy - Velshi - Air Date 6-2-24 KP 5: Escaping Otherism Why Dr. Seuss Could Never Find a Rhyme for Genocide Part 2 - Crazy Town - Air Date 6-12-24 KP 6: Prof Richard Wolff A FUTURE WITHOUT FEAR OF IMMIGRANTS - The Zero Hour - Air Date 10-12-24 (38:04) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Giving a quick list of immigration lies DEEPER DIVES (42:07) SECTION A - MIS/DISINFORMATION A1: How is Trump winning the US immigration debate - Anywhere but Washington - Air Date 10-10-24 A2: FEMA is running low on disaster money, but not because funds went to housing undocumented migrants - Verify - Air Date 10-7-24 (50:26) SECTION B - REALITY CHECK (1:08:30) SECTION C - OTHERING (1:26:35) SECTION D - SOLUTIONS SHOW IMAGE CREDIT Description: Trump, with a serious expression, stands at a lectern and points out into the crowd. Credit: “Donald Trump” by Gage Skidmore, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Duration:01:40:50

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Bonus Edition #325 A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing

10/20/2024
BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Hear the Full Show, Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Air Date: 10-20-24 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon and Erin discuss: - Yet another GOP animal abuse horror - Why weather machine conspiracy theories took off so easily - The questionable UAE organization trying to control rain with cloud seeding - Why more extreme weather isn't swaying certain voters on climate change - Talking about climate change through a patriotic lens - Bonus Segment: The surprising origins of Don't Mess with Texas REFERENCES: New NRA Chief Once Tortured a Cat to Death MTG Implies Dems Created Hurricane Helene: ‘They Can Control the Weather’ Marjorie Taylor Greene - U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene cited patents as proof of weather control. That's Pants on Fire! The New Gods of Weather Can Make Rain on Demand—or So They Want You to Believe Extreme Weather Has Had a Surprising Impact on Voters’ Attitudes About Climate Change Kamala Harris Framed Climate Action as a Patriotic Duty. New Research Shows Why That’s Effective. Join our Discord Server Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts!

Duration:00:21:10

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#1491 Mismanaging Capitalism Can Lead to Fascism (Inflation and the Working Class)(Throwback)

10/18/2024
Original Air Date: 5/27/2022 Today we take a look at the disruptions to society that can unfold in times of economic distress such as high inflation, price gouging, wage stagnation and income inequality as well as some policy ideas for turning things around. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) Join our Discord community! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Will America's Capitalists Pull Us Into War & Fascism? Featuring Richard Wolff - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 5-18-22 Ch. 2: You Are Being Lied to About Inflation - Robert Reich - Air Date 2-28-22 Ch. 3: Prices Soar as Corporate Profiteers & Speculators Drive Inflation; It Hurts the Developing World - Democracy Now! - Air Date 4-13-22 Ch. 4: Prof. Richard Wolff Do Workers Have It Too Good Nowadays - The Zero Hour w RJ Eskow - Air Date 5-14-22 Ch. 5: Omar Ocampo of Inequality.org on corporate billionaire greed Part 1 - The BradCast - Air Date 5-11-22 Ch. 6: David Dayen on the Baby Formula Shortage & Monopolies in the Age of Corporate Power - Democracy Now! - Air Date 5-17-22 Ch. 7: Omar Ocampo of Inequality.org on corporate billionaire greed Part 2 - The BradCast - Air Date 5-11-22 Ch. 8: How Biden’s budget proposal takes on corporate power (with Niko Lusiani) - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 5-10-22 Ch. 9: Elon Musk’s Billionaire Games - The Daily Show with Trevor Noah - Air Date 5-7-22 Ch. 10: Prof. Richard Wolff Do Workers Have It Too Good Nowadays Part 2 - The Zero Hour w RJ Eskow - Air Date 5-14-22 MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions) Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Duration:01:13:22

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#1663 Recovering from Disaster(ous) Policy Amid Disinformation: Hurricanes and Wild Fires at the forefront of our climate emergency

10/15/2024
Air Date 10/15/2024 Just as COVID tended to expose the preexisting fractures and inequalities in our society causing undue harm, supercharged by disinformation, so do natural disasters. And the impact of disinformation and conspiracy has only grown in recent years. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Election Denials, Asheville, Israel & Inequality. - Unf*cking The Republic - Air Date 10-25-24 KP 2: Meteorologist Guy Walton on Hurricane Milton's threat to Florida - The Bradcast - Air Date 10-8-24 KP 3: Six Factory Workers Feared Dead In Tenn. After Being Swept Away During Hurricane Helene - Democracy Now! - Air Date 10-3-24 KP 4: Derek Seidman on Insurance and Climate, Insha Rahman on Immigration Conversation - CounterSpin - Air Date 10-4-24 KP 5: Trump's politicized lies about Helene recovery calls to mind his abysmal record handling disasters - Alex Wagner Tonight - Air Date 10-4-24 KP 6: 'Enraging' Republicans ‘suddenly’ see disinformation problem amid hurricane crisis - All In w/ Chris Hayes - Air Date 10-9-24 KP 7: Hurricane Milton Menaces Florida; Fact Report after Helene with NC blogger Tom Sullivan - The BradCast - Air Date 10-7-24 (54:00) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On how to work with distrust in government DEEPER DIVES (58:58) SECTION A - NATURAL DISASTERS A1: Meteorologist Guy Walton on Hurricane Milton's threat to Florida Part 2 - The Bradcast - Air Date 10-8-24 A2: Complete Neglect Thousands Not Evacuated from Florida Jails & Prisons Ahead of Hurricane Milton - Democracy Now! - Air Date 10-10-24 (1:09:28) SECTION B - INTERSECTIONAL ISSUES (1:31:26) SECTION C - POLITICS (1:45:45) SECTION D: TRUMP AND DISINFORMATION SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Watercolor-style illustration of people of all abilities on a Main St. with houses and trees, and smaller groups of people sitting together. Credit: “ai generated inclusion community” by Franz26, Pixabay | License: Pixabay Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Duration:02:21:45

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Bonus Edition #324 The Mess Joe Made

10/14/2024
BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Hear the Full Show, Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Air Date: 10-14-24 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon and Erin discuss: - A member voicemail about autopilot cars - Some call backs, including JD Vance being unsurprisingly weird with his dog - The frustrating shift in the Kamala Harris campaign - Biden's continuous blundering of Israel's war on Gaza - The historical precedent for Harris to depart from Biden on Israel war policy ASAP REFERENCES: Finally, The New York Times Is Getting Real About Trump's Mental...Status An Entirely Necessary Investigation Into JD Vance's Relationship With His Dog, Atlas Professional Dog Walkers Aren’t Sure JD Vance Has Ever Walked—or Even Met—His Dog Before Kamala’s Comedown Kamala Harris Is Taking a Big Risk by Playing It Safe Joe Biden Chose This Catastrophic Path Every Step of the Way Netanyahu Doesn't Care About His Friendship With Biden Biden Gives Shocking Answer on Potential Israeli Election Interference Biden May Be the President Who Kills the Two-State Solution Biden’s Gaza policy is a liability for Kamala Harris. She must break with Biden now Join our Discord Server Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts!

Duration:00:19:27

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#1662 Renewing the Nuclear Age: Weapons, Energy, Climate Mitigation, and Risk

10/12/2024
Air Date 10/11/2024 Humans insatiable need for increasing amounts of energy and our tendency to want to at least have the option to wipe entire populations off the map has led to a renewed age of risks related to nuclear power, nuclear weapons, nuclear waste, and nuclear fallout. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Can clean energy handle the AI boom? - Vox - Air Date 10-1-24 KP 2: Why Nuclear Energy Is On The Verge Of A Renaissance - CNBC - Air Date 6-7-22 KP 3: Is Nuclear Energy the solution? - Our Changing Climate - Air Date 5-10-19 KP 4: Three Mile Island Is Reopening. Some Climate Scientists are Thrilled. - CNN One Thing - Air Date 9-25-24 KP 5: Warnings of Nuclear Catastrophe as Power Plants in Russia and Ukraine at Risk Amid Escalating War - Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-29-24 KP 6: Are we facing a new nuclear arms race? - This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler - Air Date 9-17-24 (47:23) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the nature of humans and energy use DEEPER DIVES (54:59) SECTION A - ENERGY (1:31:22) SECTION B - CLIMATE (1:56:40) SECTION C - RISK SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: A photo of two, active nuclear power plant towers on the bank of a river at sunset. Credit: “nuclear power plant, Rhine, flow” by distelAPPArath, Pixabay | License: Pixabay Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Duration:02:32:45

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To See Each Other: A Beloved Nursing Home

10/10/2024
Presenting an episode of 'To See Each Other,' a show that complicates the narrative about small town Americans in our most misunderstood, and often abandoned, communities. This season, host George Goehl travels to Lincoln County, Wisconsin to follow a small town battle for the last remaining public nursing home in the community. It’s a heart-pounding roller coaster of a fight - in a swing state that could determine the election. Over the course of the show, a universal truth emerges: That in every complicated set of politics, when we refuse to give up on each other, we can build a better future. You can listen to more episodes of To See Each Other at https://link.chtbl.com/toseeeachother?sid=bestoftheleft

Duration:00:31:26

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#1661 Immigration is Actively Good for the Country Unless You're Racist

10/8/2024
Air Date 10/8/2024 Immigration dominates our politics in the worst way because one side benefits from lying about it and the other can't get their messaging together to create an effective rebuttal. Opposing immigration and stoking blatantly racist arguments doesn't just make the right bad or unsavory, it also makes them wrong on literally all of the facts. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Trump & Vance are Reviving Dangerous Racist Myths To Win 2024 Election - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 9-16-24 KP 2: Fascism Expert Jason Stanley on Project 2025, Great Replacement Theory, Attacks on Immigrants & Gaza - Democracy Now! - Air Date 9-15-24 KP 3: The Daily Blast Trumps Angry, Unhinged New Rant About Fox News Offers Hidden Warning Part 1 - Deep State Radio - Air Date 9-30-24 KP 4: Did Donald TRUMP Make Germany RACIST Again - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 9-27-24 KP 5: The Daily Blast Trumps Angry, Unhinged New Rant About Fox News Offers Hidden Warning Part 2 - Deep State Radio - Air Date 9-30-24 KP 6: Trump's rhetoric on immigrants gets even darker - The ReidOut - Air Date 9-27-24 KP 7: Paola Ramos Explains the Rise of the Latino Far Right and Growing Anti-Immigrant Sentiments - LeBatardShow - Air Date 9-26-24 (55:21) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On what Democrats need to do on immigration messaging Articles: The Democrats’ Shameful, Foolish Surrender on Immigration Kamala Harris Needs to Meet the Moment and Reframe Our Poisonous Immigration Debate DEEPER DIVES (1:01:12) SECTION A - DISINFORMATION (1:14:11) SECTION B - WHITE SUPREMACY (1:37:38) SECTION C - LATINO ANTI-IMMIGRATION VIEWS SHOW IMAGE CREDIT Description: A stenciled image on a metal trailer structure shows the words “I stand with immigrants” in the shape of a rectangle. Credit: “Stand with immigrants” by Quinn Dombrowski, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Added lower metal space and increased contrast.

Duration:02:00:45

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Bonus Sample #323 Solving Antisemitism

10/7/2024
BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Hear the Full Show, Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Air Date: 10-7-24 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon and Erin discuss: - The Today Show's take on viral phenom Moo Deng - The GOP's obsession with killing animals - How the media made a mess of Rashida Tlaib's comments and missed the key point - How some Nazi language is infiltrating left wing spaces & what to do about it - How to solve antisemitism REFERENCES: Meet Moo Deng, the baby pygmy hippo taking the internet by storm How the GOP Became the Party of Pet Slaughter Anatomy of a Smear Campaign Against Rashida Tlaib Fact-check: Tlaib did not say Nessel charged pro-Palestinian protesters because she’s Jewish Normalizing Nazi Rhetoric Won’t Further the Goal of Palestinian Liberation A Leftist Analysis of Antisemitism Join our Discord Server Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts!

Duration:00:21:24

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#1660 Criminalizing Pregnancy: The high cost in health, freedom, and even lives of the campaign to keep people pregnant.

10/4/2024
Air Date 10/4/2024 When women's value is seen only in relation to their ability to bear and raise children, you get policies that strip them of the right to choose whether that is something they actually want for themselves - the lived consequences are devastating. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: ‘Authoritarian’: Vance’s weird war on women echoes history's biggest fascists - The ReidOut - Air Date 8-15-24 KP 2: Where Did MAGA's 'Post-Birth' Abortion Claim Come From? - NowThis Impact - Air Date 9-12-24 KP 3: Woman Shares 'Trauma' of Abortion Bans During Senate Hearing - NowThis Impact - Air Date 9-24-24 KP 4: Donald wants to CONTROL WOMEN not PROTECT them. The truth behind his FALSE PROMISE. - Danielle Moodie - Air Date 9-25-24 KP 5: Georgia's Deadly Abortion Ban: The Tragic Deaths of Two Black Women, Candi Miller & Amber Thurman - Democracy Now! - Air Date 9-18-24 KP 6: Texas Republicans ARE KILLING WOMEN!!! - Brittany Page - Air Date 9-26-24 KP 7: Everyone Loves Someone Who's Had an Abortion - The Defenders - Air Date 12-30-23 (48:52) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the further demands for reproductive justice Articles: We Need Better Than a Return to the Roe Status Quo National Abortion Rights Groups Have the Wrong Priorities for Our Movement Abortion Access Right Now Fund DEEPER DIVES (56:49) SECTION A: THE CASUALTIES (1:32:58) SECTION B: RELIGION (2:00:00) SECTION C: THE PUNISHMENT IS THE POINT (2:26:03) SECTION D: BLACK WOMEN (2:42:41) SECTION E: THE PUSHBACK SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: A protestor holds a hand-painted sign that says “Justices Lie. Women Die!” with a drawing of a coat hanger. Credit: “220503_RoeVWade_Rally_Pittsburgh-100103” by Mark Dixon, Flickr | License: CC BY 2.0

Duration:03:20:43

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#1659 Conflagration Through Escalation: Israel expands the war to Lebanon to defend their ongoing genocide in Gaza

10/1/2024
Air Date 10/1/2024 There's still no end in sight to Israel's war on its neighbors and the US continues its toothless efforts to de-escalate while maintaining seemingly unconditional support in spite of standing laws that should prevent our sale of weapons to any country committing war crimes - which Israel certainly it. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Israel Terrorizes Hezbollah With Exploding Pagers - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 9-20-24 KP 2: Hell Is Breaking Loose in Lebanon Israel Rejects Ceasefire Proposal as U.N. Chief Calls for Peace Part 2 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 9-26-24 KP 3: U.S. Gov't Agencies Found Israel Was Blocking Gaza Aid. Blinken Ignored Them to Keep Weapons Flowing - Democracy Now! - Air Date 9-26-24 KP 4: 'Whitewashing genocide' How Democrats & the media kept Gaza out of the DNC - The Real News Network - Air Date 8-31-24 KP 5: Palestine In Israeli School Books w Author Nurit Peled-Elhanan - Book Cafe Podcast - Air Date 2-22-24 KP 6: How U.S. College Administrators Are Dreaming Up Ways to Squash Gaza Protests - Democracy Now! - Air Date 9-5-24 KP 7: Arrest Netanyahu: NYC activists call for mass march during Netanyahu's UN address - The Real News Network (55:08) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the ease of misunderstanding when discussing Israel Article: A Leftist Analysis of Antisemitism - Jacobin DEEPER DIVES (1:01:15) SECTION A: STATE TERRORISM (1:27:44) SECTION B: GLOBAL COMPLICITY (2:00:10) SECTION C: PROTESTS AND INDOCTRINATION (2:14:13) SECTION D: RESISTANCE SHOW IMAGE CREDIT Description: A black and white photo of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu making a speech with the flags of Israel and the United States behind him. Credit: “Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III participates in a joint press briefing with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, April 12, 2021” by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders / U.S. Secretary of Defense, Wikimedia Commons | License: Public Domain

Duration:02:34:29

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Bonus Sample #322 Things That Go Vroom

9/29/2024
BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Hear the Full Show, Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Air Date: 9-29-24 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon and Erin discuss: - Why Cards Against Humanity is fighting Elon Musk - How car-related deaths have soared in the US - How partial automation tech in cars is making driving more dangerous - Why truck bloat(or C.O.U.S.s, if you prefer)is deadly - Surveillance CARpitalism that will blow your mind - The electric school bus fleets sweeping the nation - The fratzonic sound of the electric Dodge Charger REFERENCES: "Cards Against Humanity Sues Elon Musk’s SpaceX “With Great Vengeance and Furious Anger” For Trespassing" "Cards Against Humanity Sues Elon Musk for 15 million dollars" The Stubborn Problem of Cars Killing People Tesla and Volvo drivers using partial automation tech were studied. Here are the results The US finally takes aim at truck bloat It’s Official: Cars Are the Worst Product Category We Have Ever Reviewed for Privacy Electric school buses are the future we deserve Here’s what the new Dodge Charger Daytona’s fake engine sounds like Join our Discord Server Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts!

Duration:00:18:41