The Professional Left Podcast with Driftglass and Blue Gal

Welcome to 'The end of the world [order] as we know it' in which we defend anti-ICE protesters who disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, after discovering the pastor moonlights as an ICE official, calling out the shocking hypocrisy of a supposed man of God working for Trump's deportation machine.Contrast this peaceful protest with ICE's actual fascist behavior—armed agents terrorizing churchgoers in Chicago and preventing clergy from providing religious services to detainees. We also tear apart Trump's deranged, lie-filled speeches at Davos and the White House, where he embarrassed America on the world stage with conspiracy theories and obvious falsehoods. Trump's Justice Department is going after peaceful protesters while ignoring police violence against immigrants, proving we're watching democracy collapse into authoritarian rule in real time.More at proleftpod.com.Recommended:  From ancient Rome to today, war-makers have talked constantly about peace. https://theconversation.com/from-ancient-rome-to-today-war-makers-have-talked-constantly-about-peace-273095Stay in Touch! Email: proleftpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: proleftpod.comSupport via Patreon: patreon.com/proleftpodor Donate in the Venmo App @proleftpodMail: The Professional Left, PO Box 9133, Springfield, Illinois, 62791Support the show

The greatest political mirage in modern American history returns as Trump's second term reveals that while the ingredients stay the same, something fundamental has shifted. Driftglass and Blue Gal dissect how corporate media like Newsweek hides its appeasement under the banner of "Courageous Centrism" while Republicans once again flee the scene of their crimes by rebranding as independents—though this time, many seem too exhausted to bother with the charade. Unlike the counterculture movement that broke and rolled back after Kent State, today's resistance to Trump's fascist overreach is growing stronger, not weaker, backed by governors, mayors, and millions with cameras in their pockets. From Hunter S. Thompson's receding tide to today's rising wave of protest, this episode traces the through-line of American political psychology and asks whether, finally, this time really is different.More at proleftpod.com.Link for this episode:  Amanda Marcotte at Salon, "Some Trump voters are sneaking away..."  https://www.salon.com/2026/01/19/some-trump-voters-are-sneaking-away/ Stay in Touch! Email: proleftpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: proleftpod.comSupport via Patreon: patreon.com/proleftpodor Donate in the Venmo App @proleftpodMail: The Professional Left, PO Box 9133, Springfield, Illinois, 62791Support the show

The hosts share personal news, including Blue Gal's loss and her career shift for health insurance. They delve into the troubling rise of violence and lies under Trump's regime. A critical look at how right-wing media promotes a liberal conspiracy narrative reveals its dangerous implications. Local GOPs face a dilemma as they navigate loyalty to a MAGA base while trying to appeal to moderates. The hosts also tackle media hypocrisy and the challenges independent journalists face in the current political landscape.

John Amato of Crooks and Liars discusses his journey from music to political blogging, including his early experiences with video content creation and sharing during the 2000s. Our convo covers the evolution of digital media in politics, with particular focus on the early days of blogging and the collaborative spirit among left-leaning bloggers who shared content through blog roundups. We conclude with reflections on media credibility and misinformation, as well as discussions about favorite TV shows and movies from 2025.Stay in Touch! Email: proleftpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: proleftpod.comSupport via Patreon: patreon.com/proleftpodor Donate in the Venmo App @proleftpodMail: The Professional Left, PO Box 9133, Springfield, Illinois, 62791Support the show

We start with the ICE murder of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis and the Trump administration's obvious lies about what happened, despite clear video evidence. Then we cover the shocking news that nine House Republicans actually broke ranks to force a vote on extending healthcare subsidies that keep insurance affordable for 22 million Americans—will the Senate kill it anyway? Plus our news roundup, including the dissolution of NPR and PBS funding, and you'll never guess who got busted with fentanyl and meth from—wait for it—NOT Venezuela.Stay in Touch! Email: proleftpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: proleftpod.comSupport via Patreon: patreon.com/proleftpodor Donate in the Venmo App @proleftpodMail: The Professional Left, PO Box 9133, Springfield, Illinois, 62791Support the show

We open on the fifth anniversary of January 6th by examining MAGA's stunning overnight flip-flop on war and foreign intervention. How did "America First" isolationists like Matt Walsh, Laura Loomer, and Cat Turd suddenly become cheerleaders for regime change in Venezuela? Why are pundits so confused by this reversal when we've seen it all before?Using clips from The Lion in Winter and Lawrence of Arabia, we explain why MAGA isn't a set of policy beliefs—it's a genre, a vibe. Republican voters are like actors reading whatever script Trump hands them, whether it's "No More Wars" on Monday or "Blood for Oil" on Wednesday. We break down the difference between affirmative covenants (like "I will release the Epstein Files") and negative covenants (like "No More Wars"), and why one promise broke MAGA's trust while the other didn't.We also revisit 2005-2006 when Bush's unified Republican government similarly unraveled—not as prediction, but as reminder that political gravity hasn't been repealed, and being shackled to a rapidly unraveling lunatic isn't where any member of Congress wants to be heading into midterms.Stay in Touch! Email: proleftpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: proleftpod.comSupport via Patreon: patreon.com/proleftpodor Donate in the Venmo App @proleftpodMail: The Professional Left, PO Box 9133, Springfield, Illinois, 62791Support the show

In their final episode of 2025, Driftglass and Blue Gal try to sum up the entire awful year in just a few key words or phrases. As they close out nearly 16 years of podcasting together, the hosts reflect on the core lies drilled into Americans' heads so long that people automatically reach for them whenever the truth becomes too uncomfortable to face.Stay in Touch! Email: proleftpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: proleftpod.comSupport via Patreon: patreon.com/proleftpodor Donate in the Venmo App @proleftpodMail: The Professional Left, PO Box 9133, Springfield, Illinois, 62791Support the show

Driftglass and Blue Gal bring their epic year-in-review series to a close, covering September through December and finally boxing up 2025 to send it to hell. The hosts examine the final months of a year that saw legacy media trapped in their own 'Both Sides Do It' prison, DOGE's promises evaporate into nothing, and the Epstein files get a (incompetent, but still) cover up.  But there's also hope in this finale—a massive Blue Wave in November's elections, governors standing up to federal overreach, and signs that Trump's floor might finally be cracking. As they close out the longest decade of their lives, Driftglass and Blue Gal thank their listeners for sticking with facts, empathy, and each other through a year when all three were under constant assault.h/t @markeymarx on Bluesky for the cover artwork More at proleftpod.com.  Stay in Touch! Email: proleftpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: proleftpod.comSupport via Patreon: patreon.com/proleftpodor Donate in the Venmo App @proleftpodMail: The Professional Left, PO Box 9133, Springfield, Illinois, 62791Support the show

Driftglass and Blue Gal continue their review of 2025, covering May through August in this second part of their series. The hosts show how the Republican Party's corruption and chaos isn't something new or unexpected—it's exactly what the party has been building toward for decades through right-wing talk radio and Fox News. They walk through major events from those months, including media companies giving in to Trump's demands, the White House deleting official transcripts, federal agents being sent into cities, and military honors given to January 6th rioters. Throughout the episode, Driftglass and Blue Gal make clear that this disaster didn't happen by accident—Republicans got exactly what they voted for three times, and now everyone is living with the results.More at proleftpod.com.  Stay in Touch! Email: proleftpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: proleftpod.comSupport via Patreon: patreon.com/proleftpodor Donate in the Venmo App @proleftpodMail: The Professional Left, PO Box 9133, Springfield, Illinois, 62791Support the show

Driftglass and Blue Gal reflect on what they call an "annus horribilis"—a genuinely awful year that fundamentally changed America as Trump's second term brought unprecedented corruption, chaos, and the erosion of democratic institutions. From Qatar's $400 million Boeing 747 bribe to Trump's crypto schemes and the $300 million White House ballroom boondoggle, they catalog the scandals that made 2025 feel like the longest decade of their lives. More at proleftpod.com.  Stay in Touch! Email: proleftpodcast@gmail.comWebsite: proleftpod.comSupport via Patreon: patreon.com/proleftpodor Donate in the Venmo App @proleftpodMail: The Professional Left, PO Box 9133, Springfield, Illinois, 62791Support the show