

Left Reckoning
Left Reckoning
Fmr. The Michael Brooks Show crew Matt Lech & David Griscom work to cover & build a strong, popular, working-class rooted, no BS Socialist Left. With a special focus on the international struggle and Texas, the South, & the West. The weekly show is live on Youtube @ 7 Central with Griscom streams on Tuesday afternoon.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 23, 2025 • 1h 43min
230 - AOC, Gaza, And Fumbling the New Ellis Island ft Alex Sammon
Matt & Dave are at it again, talking about Gaza and AOC. Plus we're joined by Slate journalist Alexander Sammon to talk about the Roosevelt Hotel, that housed thousands of migrants and was also the subject of many RW conspiracy theories. What lessons can we take from its closing?https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/07/donald-trump-immigrants-new-york-city-conspiracy.htmlSupport the show and get access to the postgame:🌹 https://patreon.com/leftreckoning

Jul 16, 2025 • 1h 8min
229 - Who Profits From Homelessness? + Corbyn's Return? ft. Brian Goldstone
We’re live talking about the return of Jeremy Corbyn, and whether we’re entering a 2018 reboot. In Texas, things are getting messier than ever, with SpaceX exploding, Paxton's "biblical divorce," and new details about Musk and Abbott’s cozy relationship coming to light.Plus, we're joined by journalist and author Brian Goldstone (@brian_goldstone) to talk about his new book There Is No Place for Us, which dives deep into the crisis of working homelessness, how landlords, private equity, and even gig apps profit off housing precarity — and what real solutions could look like.Link to the book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/645871/there-is-no-place-for-us-by-brian-goldstone/Support the show and get access to the postgame:🌹 https://patreon.com/leftreckoning

Jul 9, 2025 • 1h 12min
Who's To Blame For Texas Flood & Trump Threatens Zohran (And All Of Us) - EP 228
We are joined by Branko Marcetic @BMarchetich writer at Jacobin to talk about Zohran's win and Trump's threats against Democracy. David talks about the flooding in Texas and the human consequence of GOP failure. Immediately after catch Ben Burgis in the POSTGAME for PATRONS ONLY patreon.com/leftreckoning➡️ Support independent left media: patreon.com/leftreckoning📺 Subscribe and like for weekly interviews, analysis, and socialist commentary.-------------------------------Show Notes: 00:00 Start 1:40 Intro5:06 Who Is To Blame For The Texas Floods?31:41 Trump's Authoritarianism 40:59 Morning Joe Centrist Freakout w/ Branko Marcetic 59:00 Who Is James Talarico w/ Ben Burgis

Jul 2, 2025 • 2h 38min
227 - Why Zohran Won — and Why Democrats Keep Blowing It + The Big Beautiful Bill Passes + POSTGAME
➡️ Support independent left media: patreon.com/leftreckoning📺 Subscribe and like for weekly interviews, analysis, and socialist commentary.In this episode of Left Reckoning, Matt and David are joined by Ashik Siddique, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, to break down the latest in American politics — and why the Democratic establishment is still failing to meet the moment.We dig into Colin Allred’s announcement that he’s running for Senate in Texas and what it reveals about the party’s refusal to back bold, working-class candidates. Then we examine the Democrats’ newly unveiled “2029 Project”, their soft response to the GOP’s Project 2025, and ask whether they’ve actually learned anything from their repeated losses and near-disasters.Ashik joins us to analyze what a real alternative looks like — one rooted in DSA’s growing electoral strategy and grassroots organizing that just helped deliver a major victory for Zohran Mamdani in NYC.Later, we break down the so-called Big Beautiful Bill that recently passed in the Senate — a dangerous right-wing wish list that would slash Medicaid, ramp up immigration enforcement, and undermine protections for working people across the board. It’s a clear preview of Donald Trump’s 2025 agenda and a direct attack on the multiracial working class. We explain what’s in the bill, why it matters, and how the left must respond.------------------------------------------00:00 Start 01:33 Intro 00:05:12 Democrats Keep Blowing It 2029 Edition00:27:40 Colin Allred Wants Your Money To Lose Another Election 00:44:03 DSA Co-Chair On Why Zohran Won 01:15:02 Responding to Attacks On Zohran 01:31:17 Zohran Responds to Trump Threat 01:42:00 Big Beautiful Bill (Betrayal) 2:00:43 OPEN POSTGAME 2:01:22 Responding To The Nonsense Attacks On Zohran By "Socialists" 2:07:55 Matt Taibbi Comes Out As Total Hack

Jun 25, 2025 • 1h 58min
226 - Trump's War Machine + Dan Patrick Full ON 'PANICAN + POSTGAME
Hey friends, thank you for joining us in this difficult time. We have two conversations coming up on Israel, Iran, and Trump's decision to use US military power. First up we are joined by Dr. Eskandar Sadeghi-Boroujerdi to talk about the fallout from Trump's decision to attack Iran, what that means for Iran's nuclear program, and the Reza Pahlavi's opportunism in trying to claim rulership of Iran. Read Culmination: https://newleftreview.org/sidecar/posts/culminationThe Failson & The Flag: https://jacobin.com/2025/06/reza-pahlavi-iran-israel-interventionThen we are joined by Derek Davison (@dwdavison) one half of the beloved American Prestige Pod. Derek will help us break down the recent events, what the political scene will mean in the US following Trump and Israel's attacks, and more. Subscribe to American Prestige: https://americanprestige.supportingcast.fm/Subscribe to Derek's FX Newsletter:https://www.foreignexchanges.news/Check out the Crusades series:https://americanprestige.supportingcast.fm/welcome-to-the-crusades-the-first-crusadeLastly, David and Matt take a look at Texas Lt. Gov Dan Patrick, who has officially joined the Panican Party after Greg Abbott vetoed his THC ban. Keep up with Left Reckoning, support the show and get our Sunday bonus episodes by signing up at patreon.com/leftreckoning

Jun 18, 2025 • 1h 3min
225 - REVEALED Cost of Trump's Medicaid Cuts & Tigray ft. Adam Gaffney & Hannah Habtu
Hey folks! Two great interviews for y'all this week. First, doctor and researcher Adam Gaffney on a study that shows how devastating Trump's bill will be for health in this country. Then, Hannah Habtu on genocide in Tigray where up to 800 thousand people have been killed, and an overview of Ethiopian and Eritrean history surrounding the conflict."Genocide in Tigray: Serious breaches of international law in the Tigray conflict, Ethiopia, and paths to accountability":https://newlinesinstitute.org/rules-based-international-order/genocide-in-tigray-serious-breaches-of-international-law-in-the-tigray-conflict-ethiopia-and-paths-to-accountability-2/Support:https://omnatigray.org/

Jun 11, 2025 • 2h 24min
224 - Stephen Miller Invades LA + "These DisUnited States" feat. Stephen Semler & The Nation
👉 Join us on Patreon for full access to bonus episodes and behind-the-scenes debriefs: https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoningOur good friend Stephen Semler (@stephensemler) is back on the program to talk about Trump's war on the working class, and Stephen Miller's Assault on Los Angeles. Keep up with Stephen's work over at Polygraph: https://www.stephensemler.com/Then, David is joined by the editor of The Nation, D.D. Guttenplan (@ddguttenplan) & contributing writer and guest editor Richard Kreitner to talk about "These Dis-United States Of America," The Nation's 160th anniversary issue. Subscribe to The Nation - https://www.thenation.com/issue/july-august-2025-issue/Richard Kreitner's book - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374608453/fearnopharaoh/And his U.S. history podcast - https://www.thinkbackpod.com/D.D. Guttenplan's book The Next Republic -https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/579718/the-next-republic-by-dd-guttenplan/

Jun 4, 2025 • 1h 31min
223 - Who Makes The Millions From US WAR? + In Defense Of Socialist Groceries
support us and get the Sunday Shows and Postgames at patreon.com/leftreckoningWe are just getting started. David is back with Matt this week talking about why Zohran's plan in NYC for city-run grocery stores makes plenty of sense. Then we are joined by Courtney Rawlings (@ckayerawlings) & Alex Jordan (@alexjordanATL) to talk about their new show for the Quincy Institute "Always At War"- sign up to watch now - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLP3oFXQU9footIdJdsRRRBawqoexE4qW

May 28, 2025 • 1h 8min
222 - Ro Khanna on DOGE, China & Gaza & Dodgin' Dave Rubin ft. Straighterade
Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17) joins Matt to talk political economy and Gaza.Then, Erin aka Straighterade joins to talk about confronting Dave Rubin about Sam Seder and more Follow Straighterade on twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/straighterade_

May 21, 2025 • 52min
221 - New Setback In Trump's ICE Crackdown ft Chip Gibbons
become a member and get the sunday shows at https://patreon.com/leftreckoninghey folks, Chip Gibbons of Rightsanddissent.org joins us to talk about his new piece, 'Trump’s War on Palestine and Free Speech Hits a New Setback'read here: https://jacobin.com/2025/05/suri-detention-free-speech-palestineand check the gaza/free speech newsletter here: https://www.rightsanddissent.org/gaza-first-amendment-watch/