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

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

BestOfTheLeft.comwww.bestoftheleft.com
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!

Episodes

Bonus Edition #330 - Rebuilding the Village

Give the gift of membership! ( Standard or Patreon ) Air Date: 12-15-24 Today, Jay!, Amanda, and Deon (Erin was missed) discuss: - Why many people want a village, but most don't act like they do - Some proposed solutions to loneliness and building community - How politicians on both sides lack vision on how to improve peoples lives FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: I’m Starting t...

Dec 15, 202424 minEp. 330

#1676 The Incompetence of Authoritarians: Trump's cabinet picks are all loyalty, no ability

Air Date 12/13/2024 The most important thing to understand about authoritarian and dictatorial governance is that it is neither efficient nor competent, contrary to the myth. The problem lies with the need to hire people based on their unquestioning loyalty rather than any kind of demonstrated ability to do the jobs they're tasked with. The results are, unsurprisingly, chaos. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email [email protected] Full Show Notes | Transcri...

Dec 13, 20242 hr 31 minEp. 1676

Bonus Edition #329 - This Is Really Happening

Air Date: 12-12-24 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon and Erin discuss: - What the orcas are up to - Confronting the truth about eating meat - How to not let grief destroy leftist movements - Living a better life by accepting our own mortality FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: Confessions of a Former Carnivore For Our Movements to Win, We Must Learn How Not to Let Our Grief Destroy Us You...

Dec 12, 202420 minEp. 329

#1675 Fighting Nihilism to Organize For Freedom Against Fascism

Air Date 12/10/2024 In a moment of darkness, it's important to not only look for light but also understand how to create your own. Today we're exploring the philosophy of Tragic Optimism, the differing frameworks of freedom-from and freedom-to, and the slow progress of democracy but also the organizing strategies that are themselves the best coping mechanisms and path to progress. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email [email protected] Full Show Notes | Tra...

Dec 10, 20241 hr 37 minEp. 1675

#1595 Pushing for Medicare For All in the Laboratories of Democracy (Throwback)

Original Air Date: 11/29/2023 The movement for universal health care is still underway, though it rarely gets recognized in mainstream discourse. The murder of United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson is an occasion worth using to look at the progress being made to improve our system of promoting the health of all people in the United States as well as efforts to rein in the power of big Pharma that's used to gouge the American people with exorbitant prices. So, that's what we're doing. Be part of ...

Dec 08, 20241 hr 3 minEp. 1595

Bonus Edition #328 The Truth Shall Set Us Free

Sign Up or Manage Your Membership Air Date: 12-6-24 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon and Erin discuss: - The political origins of SimCity and how capitalism warps our choices - A new video game offering a very different vision of societal management - Naomi Klein's insights on the Left's missteps responding to the Mirror World - Applying cynicism and skepticism in moderation FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bestoftheleft.bsky.social Mastadon: https://mastodon.social/@bestoftheleft@mstdn....

Dec 06, 202423 minEp. 328

#1674 #MenToo: The Make America Male Again Election and the Media Driving the Message

Air Date 12/3/2024 At a time when there are very legitimate concerns about men's place in society, the Manosphere has stepped in to fill the gap in the cultural discussion to give an answer, not a good answer but an answer, to young men about modern masculinity which included a strong push to vote Trump. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email [email protected] Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our...

Dec 03, 20242 hr 8 minEp. 1674

#1673 Beyond Thanksgiving: Telling Native Stories (Remix)

Air Date 11/29/2024 Today’s episode is a remix of a 5-part series of episodes we did several years ago about telling native stories beyond what the US tends to share about its history. The series stretched all the way from Columbus to modern day and today we’re sharing the highlights reel of what stuck out to us looking back. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email [email protected] Full Show Notes BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)...

Nov 29, 20242 hr 41 minEp. 1673

#1672 Keep an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out

Air Date 11/26/2024 In a world of infinite information but a finite amount of time to check your facts, we're living the logical conclusion of an online environment that favors false information over truth and the most popular online media reflects that reality perfectly. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email [email protected] Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community ! KEY POINTS K...

Nov 26, 20242 hr 55 minEp. 1672

Bonus Sample #327 You Say You Want a Revolution

Air Date: 11-24-24 Today, Jay!, Amanda, and Erin discuss: - A few sort of fun-ish news things because it's very necessary right now - A clear-eyed but concise take on why people voted the way they did - Why the hard right political philosophy and their lies are catching on, and what the left can do to stop the appeal FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: Here’s Why I Decided To Buy ‘...

Nov 24, 202417 minEp. 327

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

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 [email protected] Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community ! KE...

Nov 20, 20242 hr 23 minEp. 1671

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

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...

Nov 15, 20241 hr 19 minEp. 1670

#1669 Private Equity: The worst of capitalism, amplified

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 [email protected] Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community ! KEY P...

Nov 12, 20242 hr 32 minEp. 1669

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

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 [email protected] 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...

Nov 08, 20241 hr 25 minEp. 1668

#1667 Billionaires and Ballots: The Best Democracy Money Can Buy

Air Date 11/5/2024 There's big money in politics, and then there's 2024. The role and influence of billionaires have taken on new shapes and patterns as the threat of fascism has made itself undeniably known. From the candidate and campaigners to those acquiescing to the mere threat of power, billionaires are everywhere you look at this election season. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email [email protected] Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Su...

Nov 05, 20242 hr 38 minEp. 1667

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

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 [email protected] Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord communi...

Nov 02, 20242 hr 14 minEp. 1666

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

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 Fi...

Oct 31, 202420 minEp. 326

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

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 [email protected] 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 CRAPP...

Oct 29, 20242 hr 58 minEp. 1665

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

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 [email protected] Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Cont...

Oct 25, 20241 hrEp. 1543

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

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 [email protected] 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-Imm...

Oct 22, 20241 hr 41 minEp. 1664

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

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...

Oct 20, 202421 minEp. 325

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

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 [email protected] BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) Join our Discord community ! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Will America's Capitalists Pull Us ...

Oct 18, 20241 hr 13 minEp. 1491

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

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 [email protected] Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community ! KEY POINTS KP 1: El...

Oct 15, 20242 hr 22 minEp. 1663

Bonus Edition #324 The Mess Joe Made

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 ...

Oct 14, 202419 minEp. 324

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

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 [email protected] Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community ! KEY ...

Oct 12, 20242 hr 33 minEp. 1662

To See Each Other: A Beloved Nursing Home

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 eve...

Oct 10, 202431 min

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

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 [email protected] Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.co...

Oct 08, 20242 hr 1 minEp. 1661

Bonus Sample #323 Solving Antisemitism

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 stor...

Oct 07, 202421 minEp. 323

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

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 [email protected] Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community ! KEY POINTS KP 1: ‘A...

Oct 04, 20243 hr 21 minEp. 1660

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

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 [email protected] Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + N...

Oct 01, 20242 hr 34 minEp. 1659
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