Air Date 10/15/2025

It's said that money can't buy a variety of things like peace, happiness, loyalty, and, relevant for today; integrity and trust. But in a world in which impressions (a very multilayered word, in this case) can be bought and sold on the open market and an audience's loyalty to influencers, entertainers, and athletes can be leveraged in an attempt to transfer the credibility from the talented to the tyrannical... you better believe places like Saudi Arabia and Israel are going to try.

Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Full Show Notes

Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube!

BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)

Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience!

Join our Discord community!

KEY POINTS

KP 1: How We Stopped Caring About "Selling Out" - Current Affairs - Air Date 8-18-25

KP 2: Comedians Hold NOTHING Back While RIPPING Fellow Comics to Shreds - TYT Sports - Air Date 10-1-25

KP 3: A New Form of Capitalism: The Influencer Culture | Al Jazeera Untangles - Al Jazeera English - Air Date 8-21-25

KP 4: Why I Became a Crypto Shill - Adam Conover - Air Date 5-23-25

KP 5: The Secret Role Of Influencers In Global Propaganda - Taylor Lorenz's Power User - Air Date 9-24-25

KP 6: US and Saudi Arabia Sign 'biggest Arms Deal in History' - DW News - Air Date 5-13-25

(00:48:45) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Explaining that influencers are just infomercial hosts

DEEPER DIVES

(00:55:11) SECTION A: SELL OUTS & SHILLS

(01:35:50) SECTION B: INFLUENCERS

(01:58:52) SECTION C: SAUDI ARABIA BUYING SOFT & HARD POWER

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Composite image of a microphone in a spotlight against a red curtain with burlap sacks overflowing with money at the base with the Israeli and Saudi Arabian flags on them.

Credit: Internal composite design. Multiple images from Pixabay | Pixabay License

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere!

Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

TFM57: Your #1 Priority Before A Big Mountaineering Expedition

The Training For Mountaineering Podcast

Travel-specific precautions for staying healthy

The AI-powered Podcast Player