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

Air Date 2/7/2025 Trump came in with a plan to subdue the media and large swaths of the media came in with a plan to acquiesce. But it's important to understand why because it's not a conspiracy or people wanting to do harm, it's structural to the system. 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!) 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: Revenge- Trump throws lawsuits at the media and demands compliance - The ReidOut w Joy Reid - Air Date 12-17-24 KP 2: Fox News is Back at the White House. Plus, No Joke, The Onion Buys Infowars. - On the Media - Air Date 11-15-24 KP 3: Trump SECRET Meeting with Media before Payoff EXPOSED - The MeidasTouch Podcast - Air Date 12-16-24 KP 4: Mickey Huff The Mainstream Media is [CENSORED] - The Zero Hour with RJ Eskow - Air Date 1-11-25 KP 5: Why Is Mainstream Media Still So Bad At This - The Majority Report - Air Date 2-2-25 KP 6: Public Broadcasting Is In Danger (Again) - On the Media - Air Date 1-10-25 KP 7: Attention pays (with Chris Hayes) - The Gray Area with Sean Illing - Air Date 1-27-25 KP 8: Jim Acosta's powerful last words as he leaves CNN- -It is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant - Dean Obeidallah Show - Air Date 1-28-25 KP 9: Fox News is Back at the White House. Plus, No Joke, The Onion Buys Infowars. Part 2 - On the Media - Air Date 11-15-24 (53:40) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the liberatory power of the humble RSS feed reader DEEPER DIVES (1:00:23) SECTION A: MONEY (1:20:46) SECTION B: ATTENTION (1:34:24) SECTION C: FREE PRESS SHOW IMAGE Description: Photo of a TV in a living room with a Breaking News graphic. A person can be partially seen sitting on the couch eating a bowl of popcorn in their lap. Credit: “Breaking news journalism press” by Tumisu, Pixabay  | License: Pixabay  

Air Date 2/4/2025 The era of unquestioned US hegemony is undoubtedly on the decline but the future is much more complicated and uncertain than the straightforward idea of China rising to take our place that we've been told. Though Trump is not the cause of US decline, he may send us out in a tragic blaze of glory. 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!) 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: Things Fall Apart - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 1-28-25 KP 2: The end of America's global dominance Part 1 - The New Statesman - Air Date 1-8-25 KP 3: Will France and Germany's woes affect the rest of Europe? | Counting the Cost - Al Jazeera English - Air Date 12-12-24 KP 4: Putin faces 'economic dilemma' amid Trump sanctions threats | World in 10 - Times Radio - Air Date 1-25-25 KP 5: Goodnight, Pax Americana: Neoliberalism and the decline of the US Empire w/ Radhika Desai Part 1 - The Red Nation Podcast - Air Date 9-22-23 KP 6: Yanis Varoufakis on Cloud Capital vs AI: DeepSeek, Technofeudalism, Capitalism and the New Cold War - DiEM25 - Air Date 1-26-24 (46:57) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On soft landings vs crash landings DEEPER DIVES (52:56) SECTION A: AMERICAN DECLINE (1:26:09) SECTION B: CHINA (1:49:01) SECTION C: RUSSIA (2:15:18) SECTION D: FRANCE (2:35:47) SECTION E: CORPORATE CONTROL (2:59:56) SECTION F: WHAT COMES NEXT SHOW IMAGE Description: Composite image of a crystal ball with Earth floating in its center and a white question mark on top of it. Credit: Composite design by A. Hoffman. Images from Pixabay.  | License: Pixabay   Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastadon | Threads | X

Air Date: 2-2-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: - How the resistance is transforming, not over - What actually worked when resisting Trump's first term - A curation of good advice on being effective and staying sane this time around FOLLOW US ON:  Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: Goodbye, ‘Resistance.’ The Era of Hyperpolitics Is Over. How to Take Heart From What Really Worked in the First Resistance The Authoritarian Regime Survival Guide, VerfBlog Here's What You Can Do to Keep Democracy Alive During Trump's Second Term Trump Will Overplay His Hand. Here’s How to Be Ready. A Message From the Future With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez   Join our Discord Server Reach us via Signal: Bestoftheleft.01 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!

Air Date 1/31/2025 The genocide and subsequent ceasefire in Gaza is only the latest horrifying consequence of botched military misadventures in the Middle East and if the history of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay prisons can teach us anything it's that atrocities have long shadows. 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: Gaza Ceasefire Explained Reading Between The Lines - The Socialist Program - Air Date 1-16-25 KP 2: The Ceasefire in Gaza w Mohammad Alsaafin - American Prestige - Air Date 1-19-25 KP 3: Trump's Middle East Plans w Mouin Rabbani - Behind the News - Air Date 1-23-25 KP 4: On the Situation in Syria and its Implications for the Region - Revolutionary Left Radio - Air Date 1-6-25 KP 5: Katherine Gallagher on Abu Ghraib Verdict - CounterSpin - Air Date 11-29-24 KP 6: Trump's Middle East Plans w Mouin Rabbani Part 2 - Behind the News - Air Date 1-23-25 KP 7: Egypt, Jordan Reject Trump Plan to Clean Out Gaza; Palestinians Return to N. Gaza in Historic Day - Democracy Now! - Air Date 1-27-25 KP 8: Gaza Ceasefire Explained Reading Between The Lines Part 2 - The Socialist Program - Air Date 1-16-25 (51:16) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the echos of atrocities DEEPER DIVES (1:02:15) SECTION A: THE DEAL (1:24:41) SECTION B: CEASEFIRE POLITICS (1:46:00) SECTION C: THE EMPIRE (2:28:35) SECTION D: NOW WHAT? SHOW IMAGE Description: Photo of Palestinians walking through a street of rubble and debris with collapsed buildings on either side. Credit: “Damage in Gaza Strip during the October 2023 - 27” by WAFA, Wikimedia Commons  | License: CC-SA 3.0 | Changes: Cropped   Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastadon | Threads | X

Air Date 1/28/2025 The existence of out-of-control wildfires in Los Angeles amid the rising climate crisis is not confusing or strange. How to deal with such an emergency during our ongoing political and information crisis is a completely different story. 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!) 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: Untold Stories of L.A. Fires: Incarcerated Firefighters, Black Altadena & Octavia Butler's Warning - Democracy Now! - Air Date 1-13-25 KP 2: Water Wars - Sustainable Minimalists - Air Date 12-14-23 KP 3: Climate Scientist Debunks L.A. Wildfire Myths with Dr. Daniel Swain - Factually! with Adam Conover - Air Date 1-19-25 KP 4: Wildfire Conspiracies And Reinvigorating Black Male Voters with Mondale Robinson & Trae Crowder (Ep 263) Part 1- The Bitchuation Room - Air Date 1-15-25 KP 5: The Politics of Fire - The Keith Boykins Channel - Air Date 1-12-25 KP 6: Fires, Liars, and Oligarchy Rising; Garland nixes execution drug - The Bradcast - Air Date 1-16-25 (47:06) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On why progressive visions are interconnected DEEPER DIVES (55:26) SECTION A: WATER (1:18:36) SECTION B: INSURANCE (1:38:09) SECTION C: POLITICAL FAILURE (2:21:29) SECTION D: CLIMATE SHOW IMAGE Description: Photo of downtown Los Angeles at night with the Pacific Palisades fire burning on the mountains in the background. Credit: “Palisades Fire from downtown” by Toastt21, Wikimedia Commons | License: CC-SA 4.0 | Changes: Cropped, time stamp in lower right corner removed   Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastadon | Threads | X  

Air Date: 1-26-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: - The mindset of collaborators - Why many people turn inward and drop out - at their own risk - under authoritarianism - The nature of true dissidents and what we can learn from them FOLLOW US ON:  Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: History Will Judge the Complicit The Desire to Turn Inward Is a Delusion How to Keep Your Moral Compass Join our Discord Server Reach us via Signal: Bestoftheleft.01 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!

Original Air Date: 3/7/2017 Today we look at the dangerous myths of individualism and the American Dream™, some of their origins and some of their consequences Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes ​Show Notes Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill Act 1: Cultural influences on our perspective of self w/Gish Jen - Think Again - Air Date 3-4-17 Act 2: You are not as free as you think you are w/Raoul Martinez - @thisishellradio - Air Date 2-24-17 Act 3: Individualism in the prosperity gospel brand of Christianity - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 1-8-17 Act 4: The Cold War propaganda of anti-collectivism w/Gish Jen - Think Again - Air Date 3-4-17 Act 5: The myths of the autonomous individual and free markets w/Raoul Martinez - @thisishellradio - Air Date 2-24-17 Act 6: Training is all that matters - A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain Act 7: An ignorance of history bolsters acceptance of anti-regulation individualism - You are not so smart - Air Date 2-24-17 Act 8: The Dangerous Myth of the American Dream w/Raoul Martinez - @thisishellradio - Air Date 2-24-17 Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date 1/21/2025 Decades ago, the conscious decision was made to exacerbate inequality for the sake of economic growth that would supposedly lift all boats. What probably wasn't understood at the time is that the logical conclusion of that choice would be to break democracy and usher in oligarchy. Now working people are left with only bad choices and empty promises. 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!) 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: Workers Without a Party - Confronting Capitalism - Air Date 12-11-24 KP 2: Democrats Bungled The 2024 Election WAY Worse Than We Thought - The Majority Report - Air Date 1-8-25 KP 3: The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order (with Gary Gerstle) - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 1-14-25 KP 4: How Democrats Can Win Back The Working Class - Lever Time - Air Date 11-8-24 KP 5: Why Elites Love Identity Politics - Confronting Capitalism - Air Date 1-1-25 KP 6: The failures of liberals and the Left have helped Trump's rise - The Marc Steiner Show - Air Date 10-30-24 KP 7: Democratic Dealignment w Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor - The Dig - Air Date 11-9-24 KP 8: Why Elites Love Identity Politics Part 2 - Confronting Capitalism - Air Date 1-1-25 (54:01) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the path Democrats have charted DEEPER DIVES (1:02:38) SECTION A: PARTY RECKONING (1:23:40) SECTION B: NEOLIBERAL STRANGLEHOLD (1:39:24) SECTION C: CROSSED WIRES (2:08:27) SECTION D: SOLUTIONS SHOW IMAGE Description: Composite image of multi-colored people outlines crossing over each other with arrows in the background pointing two different directions. Credit: Composite design by A. Hoffman, Images from Pixabay | License: Pixabay   Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere!

Air Date: 1-20-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: - Our new show name! - Getting over hurdles to find and form local community as a form of resistance and preparation - The study groups teachers are forming to teach and learn real history - How Citizen Assemblies could transform American politics for the better FOLLOW US ON:  Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: A New Year's resolution for an Uncertain Future (The New Republic) Teachers Turn to Study Groups for Anti-Racist Learning as History is Whitewashed (TruthOut) What Could Citizens’ Assemblies Do for American Politics? (The New Yorker) 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!

Air Date 1/18/2025 We are looking back on Jimmy Carter's life and legacy as a lens through which to more clearly see and understand the current state of our politics, our incoming president, the Middle East, the climate, and more. 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!) 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: Jimmy Carter Part 1 - Past Present - Air Date 2-28-23 KP 2: From the Archives: Former President Jimmy Carter on Women's Rights, Religion and Power - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 12-30-24 KP 3: Jimmy Carter's "Decency & Humanity" Came with Deadly U.S. Policies in Latin America_ Greg Grandin - Democracy Now! - Air Date 1-7-25 KP 4: The Faith of Jimmy Carter - Facepalm America - Air Date 4-12-23 KP 5: The Jimmy Carter Cudgel & Preparing for Mass Deportations with Gabriel Salguero - Holy Post - Air Date 1-8-25 KP 6: When Carter called out America - Today, Explained - Air Date 12-30-24 (46:27) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the supposed desire for truth DEEPER DIVES (52:22) SECTION A: HISTORICAL CONTEXT (1:33:23) SECTION B: FOREIGN POLICY (2:07:22) SECTION C: CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM (2:25:30) SECTION D: REPUBLICAN RATFUCKING SHOW IMAGE Description: Black and white photo of President Jimmy Carter in front of the White House in 1977. Credit: “President Jimmy Carter and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat at the White House, Washington, D.C.“ by Marion S. Trikosko, Library of Congress | License: Public Domain   Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastadon | Threads | X