In a riveting discussion, guests Elon Musk, billionaire entrepreneur, Donald Trump, former president, Kamala Harris, current Vice President, and Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, dissect the overwhelming influence of wealth in today’s politics. They explore how billionaires shape the landscape ahead of the 2024 elections, raising alarm about democracy's drift towards authoritarianism. Topics include Musk's controversial support for Trump, the manipulation of voter perceptions, and the dangerous rhetoric surrounding election legitimacy. The conversation highlights urgent calls for integrity in the electoral process.

Kristen Kobes Du Mez, author of "Jesus and John Wayne," uncovers the intertwining of evangelicalism and politics. Brad Onishi discusses the rise of Christian nationalism alongside Matt Lewis' analysis of the Trump-evangelical dynamic. Andy Kroll exposes the secretive Ziklag network’s political maneuvers. Keri Gaspert-Hogwood examines charismatic religions' influence. Ryan Walters advocates Bible education in schools, and John Malcolm highlights constitutional implications. This engaging discussion reveals how faith shapes politics in America today.

Dive into discussions about how neoliberalism is impacting renewable energy. Discover the wild world of viral marketing with the Stanley Cup and its bizarre consumer demand. Explore the unsettling surveillance of school kids by big tech and the fossil fuel industry's stealthy infiltration of higher education. The transformation of Crocs from mockery to must-have status is also examined, revealing the curious connection between social media and modern consumer behavior.

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 Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com 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 CRAPPY Gold Watches Now!!! - Jesse Dollemore - Air Date 9-27-24 KP 2: The "Dirtbag of the Internet" and Trump's Crypto Project - Bloomberg Technology - Air Date 9-13-24 KP 3: Controlling the Weather and Eating Pets: Expert Breaks Down Disinformation - Amanpour and Company - Air Date 10-18-24 KP 4: Down the Rabbit Hole w/ Naomi Klein - The Dig - Air Date 10-8-24 KP 5: Media Literacy Can't Save Us Part 1 - Dummy - Air Date 10-7-24 KP 6: How did grifters like Trump take over the GOP? - The Bunker - Air Date 9-25-24 (48:03) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the scam of political fundraising DEEPER DIVES (56:06) SECTION A - GRIFT A1: Russell Brand Has A New Grift - Novara Media - Air Date 10-16-24 A2: GRIFTER-CON Morons Did Not Disappoint - The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder - Air Date 10-1-24 A3: Russell Brand And The Conspiracy Grift - Media Matters - Air Date 1-2-24 A4: Some Grifters Who Finally Faced Consequences – SOME MORE NEWS -Air Date 9-25-24 (1:28:27) SECTION B - SCAMS (1:50:18) SECTION C - CONSPIRACY (2:19:48) SECTION D - MISINFORMATION SHOW IMAGE Description: Graphic showing a large pile of triangular warning signs with the word “SCAM” inside. Credit: “traffic-signs-attention-notice” by Gerald, Pixabay | License: Pixabay   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com  

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 Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) Join our Discord community! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Indigenous Economics with Tyson Yunkaporta (In Conversation) - Upstream - Air Date 11-10-21 Ch. 2: Transcending Capitalism Insights from Buddhism and Marxism - Revolutionary Left Radio - Air Date 1-3-23 Ch. 3: We don't understand Capitalism. Part One - UNFTR - Air Date 1-27-23 Ch. 4: Your Work Is Not Your Worth - OFF-KILTER with Rebecca Vallas - Air Date 10-21-22 Ch. 5: We don't understand Capitalism. Part Two. - UNFTR - Air Date 1-27-23 Ch. 6: Economics for a New Year - Economic Update with Richard Wolff - Air Date 1-19-23 Ch. 7: Indigenous Economics with Tyson Yunkaporta (In Conversation) Part 2 - Upstream - Air Date 11-10-21 Ch. 8: Transcending Capitalism Insights from Buddhism and Marxism Part 2 - Revolutionary Left Radio - Air Date 1-3-23   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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 Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com 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-Immigrant Policies - Democracy Now! - Air Date 10-16-24 KP 2: Escaping Otherism Why Dr. Seuss Could Never Find a Rhyme for Genocide - Crazy Town - Air Date 6-12-24 KP 3: The Real Reason Trump Is Demonizing Immigrants - The Lever - Air Date 10-11-24 KP 4: 'Villains nor victims' Why immigration is good for our economy - Velshi - Air Date 6-2-24 KP 5: Escaping Otherism Why Dr. Seuss Could Never Find a Rhyme for Genocide Part 2 - Crazy Town - Air Date 6-12-24 KP 6: Prof Richard Wolff A FUTURE WITHOUT FEAR OF IMMIGRANTS - The Zero Hour - Air Date 10-12-24 (38:04) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Giving a quick list of immigration lies DEEPER DIVES (42:07) SECTION A - MIS/DISINFORMATION A1: How is Trump winning the US immigration debate - Anywhere but Washington - Air Date 10-10-24 A2: FEMA is running low on disaster money, but not because funds went to housing undocumented migrants - Verify - Air Date 10-7-24 (50:26) SECTION B - REALITY CHECK (1:08:30) SECTION C - OTHERING (1:26:35) SECTION D - SOLUTIONS SHOW IMAGE CREDIT Description: Trump, with a serious expression, stands at a lectern and points out into the crowd. Credit: “Donald Trump” by Gage Skidmore, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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 Mess with Texas REFERENCES: New NRA Chief Once Tortured a Cat to Death MTG Implies Dems Created Hurricane Helene: ‘They Can Control the Weather’ Marjorie Taylor Greene - U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene cited patents as proof of weather control. That's Pants on Fire! The New Gods of Weather Can Make Rain on Demand—or So They Want You to Believe Extreme Weather Has Had a Surprising Impact on Voters’ Attitudes About Climate Change Kamala Harris Framed Climate Action as a Patriotic Duty. New Research Shows Why That’s Effective.   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: 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 Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) Join our Discord community! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Will America's Capitalists Pull Us Into War & Fascism? Featuring Richard Wolff - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 5-18-22 Ch. 2: You Are Being Lied to About Inflation - Robert Reich - Air Date 2-28-22 Ch. 3: Prices Soar as Corporate Profiteers & Speculators Drive Inflation; It Hurts the Developing World - Democracy Now! - Air Date 4-13-22 Ch. 4: Prof. Richard Wolff Do Workers Have It Too Good Nowadays - The Zero Hour w RJ Eskow - Air Date 5-14-22 Ch. 5: Omar Ocampo of Inequality.org on corporate billionaire greed Part 1 - The BradCast - Air Date 5-11-22 Ch. 6: David Dayen on the Baby Formula Shortage & Monopolies in the Age of Corporate Power - Democracy Now! - Air Date 5-17-22 Ch. 7: Omar Ocampo of Inequality.org on corporate billionaire greed Part 2 - The BradCast - Air Date 5-11-22 Ch. 8: How Biden’s budget proposal takes on corporate power (with Niko Lusiani) - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 5-10-22 Ch. 9: Elon Musk’s Billionaire Games - The Daily Show with Trevor Noah - Air Date 5-7-22 Ch. 10: Prof. Richard Wolff Do Workers Have It Too Good Nowadays Part 2 - The Zero Hour w RJ Eskow - Air Date 5-14-22 MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions) Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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 Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes | Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Election Denials, Asheville, Israel & Inequality. - Unf*cking The Republic - Air Date 10-25-24 KP 2: Meteorologist Guy Walton on Hurricane Milton's threat to Florida - The Bradcast - Air Date 10-8-24 KP 3: Six Factory Workers Feared Dead In Tenn. After Being Swept Away During Hurricane Helene - Democracy Now! - Air Date 10-3-24 KP 4: Derek Seidman on Insurance and Climate, Insha Rahman on Immigration Conversation - CounterSpin - Air Date 10-4-24 KP 5: Trump's politicized lies about Helene recovery calls to mind his abysmal record handling disasters - Alex Wagner Tonight - Air Date 10-4-24 KP 6: 'Enraging' Republicans ‘suddenly’ see disinformation problem amid hurricane crisis - All In w/ Chris Hayes - Air Date 10-9-24 KP 7: Hurricane Milton Menaces Florida; Fact Report after Helene with NC blogger Tom Sullivan - The BradCast - Air Date 10-7-24 (54:00) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On how to work with distrust in government DEEPER DIVES (58:58) SECTION A - NATURAL DISASTERS A1: Meteorologist Guy Walton on Hurricane Milton's threat to Florida Part 2 - The Bradcast - Air Date 10-8-24 A2: Complete Neglect Thousands Not Evacuated from Florida Jails & Prisons Ahead of Hurricane Milton - Democracy Now! - Air Date 10-10-24 (1:09:28) SECTION B - INTERSECTIONAL ISSUES (1:31:26) SECTION C - POLITICS (1:45:45) SECTION D: TRUMP AND DISINFORMATION SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Watercolor-style illustration of people of all abilities on a Main St. with houses and trees, and smaller groups of people sitting together. Credit: “ai generated inclusion community” by Franz26, Pixabay | License: Pixabay   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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 Is Getting Real About Trump's Mental...Status An Entirely Necessary Investigation Into JD Vance's Relationship With His Dog, Atlas Professional Dog Walkers Aren’t Sure JD Vance Has Ever Walked—or Even Met—His Dog Before Kamala’s Comedown Kamala Harris Is Taking a Big Risk by Playing It Safe Joe Biden Chose This Catastrophic Path Every Step of the Way Netanyahu Doesn't Care About His Friendship With Biden Biden Gives Shocking Answer on Potential Israeli Election Interference Biden May Be the President Who Kills the Two-State Solution Biden’s Gaza policy is a liability for Kamala Harris. She must break with Biden now 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!