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

Air Date: 8-19-24 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon and Erin discuss: - How we likely all have COVID and can't believe we did a Bonus Show - The bizarre ways AI is already part of our political systems - Strong feelings on AI-generated art in a hyper-capitalist world - The ups, downs and side effects of so-called AI friends - AI in our love lives (P.S. Audiophiles Beware: We had some technical difficulties, so this show may sound a little strange in spots.) REFERENCES: RFK Jr. Doubles Down on Dead Bear Cub With Bonkers Brag The A.I. Influencer Ads Are Coming Zoom founder Eric Yuan wants ‘digital twins’ to attend meetings for you so you can ‘go to the beach’ instead There’s an AI Candidate Running for Parliament in the UK An AI Bot Is (Sort of) Running for Mayor in Wyoming OpenAI Imprisons AI That Was Running for Mayor in Wyoming Harvard Scholars Suggest Pollsters Ask Questions to AI Simulations of Voters Because Real People Won't Answer The Phone Political Candidate Accused of Being AI Insists He Is a Living Human With a Very Smooth, AI-Looking Face ‘We have to adapt or die’: Daniel Bedingfield says AI is music’s future Wear This AI Friend Around Your Neck Can an AI friend make you less lonely? What If Your AI Girlfriend Hated You? Computer says yes: how AI is changing our romantic lives In the Age of A.I., What Makes People Unique? The Big AI Risk Not Enough People Are Seeing   Bonus: Opinion: The problem with calling Trump and Vance weird   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 8/17/2024 James Baldwin's 100th birthday passed by recently and we're using the occasion to draw on his moral clarity and eloquence while we assess the state of race in America 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: Celebrating James Baldwin's 100th Birthday - 1A - Air Date 7-30-24 KP 2: James Baldwin's Fire - Throughline - Air Date 9-17-20 KP 3: “Justice for My Brother”: Sister of Samuel Sharpe Speaks Out After Police Killing During RNC - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-19-24 KP 4: Why JD Vance and the MAGA GOP Do Not Represent the True Idea of America & Our Core Values - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 8-2-24 KP 5: Truth, Privilege, and James Baldwin - Woke AF Daily - Air Date 10-3-23 KP 6: Celebrating James Baldwin's 100th Birthday Part 2 - 1A - Air Date 7-30-24 KP 7: US' Unconditional Support For Israel Making The World More Dangerous - The Majority Report - Air Date 8-2-24 KP 8: Raw video- Rep. Cori Bush concedes 1st Congressional District primary race to Wesley Bell - KSDK News - Air Date 8-7-24 (49:08) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the need for national self-reflection DEEPER DIVES (56:50) SECTION A - BALDWIN THE WRITER A1: 100 Years of James Baldwin; Election Integrity and National Security; New York City Etiquette - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 8-3-24 A2: Celebrating James Baldwin's 100th Birthday Part 3 - 1A - Air Date 7-30-24 (1:08:50) SECTION B - RACE IN AMERICA (1:35:59) SECTION C - THE WHITE LIE (2:00:40) SECTION D - GLOBAL CONNECTIONS SHOW IMAGE:  Description: Portrait of author and civil rights activist James Baldwin, an African American man, leaning against a tree with arms folded in a park and smiling, looking away from the camera. Credit: “James Baldwin taken in Hyde Park London” by Allan Warren, Wikimedia Commons | License: CC BY-SA 3.0 | Changes: Cropped

Air Date 8/13/2024 Spirits among Kamala Harris supporters, Democrats, and anyone opposing Trumpism are at an all-time high right now. That's both fortuitous and crucial to the upcoming election. By the very nature of Trumpism, this election will be the most flagrantly contested in history with far more Trump loyalists in place ready to throw wrenches in the works wherever they can. Nothing short of overwhelming victory for the Harris/Waltz ticket is necessary to stave off constitutional crisis. 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: Maddow points out frightening truth about Trump's lack of concern about votes - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 7-29-24 KP 2: How Trump (Allegedly) Tried to Steal the Election - LegalEagle - Air Date 8-12-23 KP 3: As Tension over Venezuelan Election Escalates, the Left Debates Who Won the Contested Vote - Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-5-24 KP 4: Why Millions Won't Be Able To Vote In 2024? - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 8-8-24 KP 5: In The Hands Of The Voters with Marc Elias - Justice by Design - Air Date 8-2-24 KP 6: Resisting Minority Rule - Brennan Center for Justice - Air Date 5-30-24 (52:11) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the importance of happy warriors DEEPER DIVES (54:53) SECTION A - THE MECHANICS OF MINORITY RULE (1:22:28) SECTION B - THE PROPONENTS OF MINORITY RULE (1:44:21) SECTION C - THE HISTORY OF MINORITY RULE (2:01:34) SECTION D - A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE (2:38:53) SECTION E - ACTIVISM SHOW IMAGE: Description: A cardboard sign taped to a street poll shows an American flag image and a short arrow pointing toward it. Underneath is the word "VOTE". Credit: "Vote!" by Kristin Ausk, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Slightly cropped   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Hear the Full Show, Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Air Date: 8-11-24 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: - Understanding the New Right - JD Vance's mangled metaphor - The best headline about RFK Jr. - Where the anti-trans movement has taken us - What Star War controversies through the years can teach us REFERENCES: Watch: J.D. Vance Makes an Unfortunate Couch Joke at Nevada Rally This Is Why J.D. Vance Hates “Childless Cat Ladies” How JD Vance Thinks About Power JD Vance Just Blurbed a Book Arguing That Progressives Are Subhuman Read J.D. Vance’s Violent Foreword to Project 2025 Leader’s New Book Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says He Staged an Elaborate Bear-Cub Murder Scene in Central Park, but Only Because He’d Planned to Eat It Later RFK Jr is an always sunny in Philadelphia character The Insidious Scrutiny of Female Athletes’ Bodies The misleading controversy over an Olympic women’s boxing match, briefly explained The Right-Wing Campaign to Purge Women From Women’s Sports This Olympics Moment Shows Where Anti-Trans Calls to “Protect Women” Have Brought Us Every Star Wars Backlash I've Ever Seen Has Really Been About The Same Thing Once the most hated man in Star Wars, the actor behind Jar Jar Binks reflects on his reputation in that galaxy far, far away. 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!

Original Air Date: 2/8/2019 Amid the ongoing fallout of a contested presidential election, we take a look back, briefly, at the last 100 years of Venezuelan history to understand how they went from oil riches and inequality to revolution and social progress only to run afoul of American imperialism Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Attempted Coup in Venezuela with Abby Martin, Greg Wilpert, Paul Jay - @TheRealNews - Air Date 1-26-19 Ch. 2: How Did Venezuela Go From So Rich To So Poor - The Inquiry - Air Date 5-10-17 Ch. 3: Venezuela in Crisis- Defending the Bolivarian Revolution - Revolutionary Left Radio - Air Date 7-29-17 Ch. 4: Is Donald Trump waging a coup in Venezuela? - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date 1-25-19 Ch. 5: Maduro’s Corruption Pushed Venezuela Further Into Economic DISASTER - @RingOfFireRadio - Air Date 2-2-19 Ch. 6: Jorge Martin on what’s next for Venezuela’s Bolivarian revolution? - @ThisIsHellRadio - Air Date 5-25-18 Ch. 7: The Yankee Plot to Overthrow Nicolás Maduro and Steal Venezuela’s Oil - The Intercept - Air Date 2-2-19 Ch. 8: As U.S. Moves to Oust Maduro, Is Invading Venezuela Next? Allan Nairn on Trump’s Attempted Coup - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 1-30-19 Ch. 9: Many Countries at UN Oppose Trump Interference in Venezuela - @TheRealNews - Air Date 1-29-19 Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date 8/6/2024 After the recent Supreme Court ruling that allowed governments to constitutionally purge unhoused people from public spaces, we are getting an immediate lesson in the difference between addressing systemic problems with solutions and using the police to clean up after governments that failed to act. 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: Criminalizing homelessness - Today, Explained - Air Date 7-2-24 KP 2: Sotomayor TORCHES Oregon Town Trying To Ban Homeless People - The Majority Report - Air Date 4-23-24 KP 3: Biden Proposes Major SCOTUS Reforms, Including Ending Lifetime Appointments & Enforcing Ethics Code - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-30-24 KP 4: Billionaires' Attacks on Homeless People May Pay Off Big at Supreme Court - Citations Needed - Air Date 3-6-24 KP 5: Myths about Homeless People with Dr. Margot Kushel - Factually! - Air Date 5-8-24 KP 6: White House takes new action to lower housing costs - Morning Joe - Air Date 7-16-24 KP 7: Can Homelessness Be Eliminated- One Oregon County Found a Surprising Solution - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 4-1-24 (45:37) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the layers of problems and solutions for addressing homelessness Article:  With Sacramento’s robust water infrastructure, why are homeless residents still dying of thirst? DEEPER DIVES (51:59) SECTION A - THE SUPREME COURT (1:02:06) SECTION B - DEMONIZATION (1:19:15) SECTION C - DIGITALIZATION OF RENTING (1:33:27) SECTION D - SOLUTIONS SHOW IMAGE:  Description: A photograph of a group of multicolored camping tents on a plaza outside City Hall in Los Angeles. Credit: "Unhoused in Los Angeles" by Ron Reiring, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Cropped

Join Jay, Amanda, Deon, and Erin as they dive into the eccentricities of modern Republican politics. They unpack the absurdity of strategic ambiguity, discussing how it allows people to misconstrue intent. The conversation takes a humorous turn as they consider JD Vance's bizarre quirks and the deep-seated bigotry within right-wing circles. With a nod to the surreal nature of the Trump era, they question the normalization of political extremes and advocate for a richer, more curious political discourse.

Air Date 8/2/2024 The Kamala Harris presidential campaign has been on a wild ride since it unexpectedly began less than two weeks ago. Record fund raising, organic enthusiasm not seen since Obama, and the ugly pushback to match. 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: This Is What DEI Means (And Why Conservatives Get Super Racist With It) - Kate Abu - Air Date 7-29-24 KP 2: Political Plot Twists - Bad Queers - Air Date 7-29-24 KP 3: Israel Furious With Harris Over This Speech - The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder - Air Date 7-28-24 KP 4: Share & Rizz & Tell with Mina Kimes and Dan Le Batard - PABLO TORRE FINDS OUT - Air Date 7-26-24 KP 5: Black Women Lead - Woke AF Daily - Air Date 7-24-24 KP 6: "It is a train that is never late"- Trump, GOP escalate racist and predictable attacks on VP Harris - Deadline White House - Air Date 7-24-24 (48:51) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the power of excitement DEEPER DIVES (56:51) SECTION A: MISOGYNOIR DEFINED A1: Misogynoir by Dr. Moya Bailey #Jubilee21 - Black Feminist Future - Air Date 12-11-21 A2: Digital Misogynoir - The Anti-Dystopians - Air Date 9-8-23 (1:10:32) SECTION B: MISOGYNOIR IN ACTION (1:41:14) SECTION C: TALK OF THE TOWN SHOW IMAGE:  Description: Vice President Kamala Harris stands on stage holding a microphone with one hand on her hip in front of the stars of the U.S. flag.  Credit: “Kamala Harris” by Gage Skidmore, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Slight crop

Air Date 7/30/2024 The Republican Party is making it sound like they're trying to transform themselves into the party of working people. There's a mountain of evidence suggesting that you shouldn't believe them but there's also plenty of reason to sit up and take notice of the situation. 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: “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 KP 2: Trump, Vance, and the New Right at the RNC - Deconstructed - Air Date 7-19-24 KP 3: 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 KP 4: Teamster President’s RNC Both-Sides Pandering Fails Miserably - The Majority Report - Air Date 7-17-24 KP 5: Why Hiking Tariffs Actually Protects Americans - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 5-14-24 KP 6: Sean O'Brien faces criticism from Teamsters Vice President for RNC appearance - The Real News Network - Air Date 7-19-24 (43:44) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the shifting political epoch toward pro-worker policies we're witnessing Clip: Let's adopt the GOP's national platform - Jim Hightower - Air Date- 3-6-13 Article: Biden’s labor report card: Historian gives ‘Union Joe’ a higher grade than any president since FDR DEEPER DIVES (54:05) SECTION A: TEAMSTER SPEECH AND FALSE POPULISM (1:17:09) SECTION B: PRO-WORKER LEGISLATION (1:28:24) SECTION C: JD VANCE AND THE "CENTER" RIGHT MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions) SHOW IMAGE: Description: J.D. Vance scowls with his face in partial shadow while standing at a podium. Credit: "J.D. Vance" by Gage Skidmore, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Cropped Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Hear the Full Show, Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Air Date: 7-29-24 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon and Erin discuss: - All of our hope-y, fearful feelings about this political moment - The sexist, racist insults already being hurled at Harris - The perceived threat of a woman's laugh - Men's deep-seeded struggle with masculinity REFERENCES: Trump campaign finally reveals why ex president continues to profess love for Hannibal Lecter in speeches What people mean when they call Kamala Harris a ‘DEI candidate’ Kamala Harris and the Threat of a Woman’s Laugh ‘It is a train that is never late’: Trump, GOP escalate racist and predictable attacks on VP Harris Are We Not Men? 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!