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

Air Date 9/23/2025 All that is happening in the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination was quite predictable because we've actually seen this game plan play out before. The only thing we didn't know was what would be the catalyst to really put the autocracy into high gear. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! 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: No, Charlie Kirk Was Not Practicing Politics the Right Way - Mother Jones - Air Date 9-12-25 KP 2: Who Is THEY? - We Gon Be Alright - Air Date 9-15-25 KP 3: Blackpill Aesthetics: A Crash Course in Meme Extremism - Cy Canterel - Air Date 9-15-25 KP 4: The 1933 Nazi Playbook That Explains Why ABC Cancelled Kimmel - Tad Stoermer - Air Date 9-18-25 KP 5: How You Die Does Not Redeem How You Lived Charlie Kirk - The Benjamin Dixon Show - Air Date 9-15-25 KP 6: Charlie Kirk = Horst Wessel - CounterVortex Podcast - Air Date 9-14-25 KP 7: Chris Hedges: The Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk - The Chris Hedges Report - Air Date 9-12-25 (00:48:55) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the new cancel culture and bloodlust DEEPER DIVES (00:57:52) SECTION A: KIRK (01:37:38) SECTION B: NAZI PLAYBOOK (02:31:41) SECTION C: HISTORICAL CONTEXT (03:03:36) SECTION D: IT'S NOT BOTH SIDES SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Photo of Donald Trump hugging Charlie Kirk on stage at a Turning Point USA event.  Credit: “Charlie Kirk & Donald Trump” by Gage Skidmore, Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Cropped   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date: 9–20-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Ch. 1 - The right-wing’s continued attempts at satire Ch. 2 - Manufactured outrage about male cheerleaders and sorority dances Ch. 3 - How political outsiders always adopt new tech, and how that ties to pushing back against misinformation Ch. 4 - Final thoughts on how when bad actors make gains, there is always a reaction SOLVED! BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm: The doctor exposing insurance companies’ worst behavior FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube (This episode drops on YouTube on Friday - please share!) Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: America has turned dancing into a culture war - Vox Why America Isn’t Rome (And Why That Matters) - The David Frum Show, The Atlantic A public health expert keeps going viral on Instagram for delivering this very simple message - Vox MEMBERS She Exposed the Insurance Industry’s Worst Behavior. Now They’re Coming After Her. - The Current Affairs EXTRAS Some great public health campaigns  Also, Dumb Ways to Die campaign for Melbourne, Australia Metro Trains, which went viral worldwide.   TAKE ACTION: No Kings National Day of Action - Oct. 18th Free DC Project: FOR ALLIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY - Tell Congress to stand down the federal escalation One Million Rising Trainings In a blue state? Help stop ICE overreach Use the 5 Calls app for scripts and to reach all your elected officials Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 Find your Indivisible group - or start one Write to the DNC Join our Discord Server Reach us via Signal: Bestoftheleft.01 Leave a message at 202-999-3991   Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening!

Air Date 9/20/2025 The escalations are happening so fast now that even though this episode is about Russia increasing tensions by violating NATO airspace in Poland with drones and Israel intensifying their belligerence by bombing inside Qatar, those aren't even the most recent incidents now that Russian jets have entered NATO airspace in Estonia and Israel has launched a new attack on Gaza City while Netanyahu says he wants Israel to become like the doomed city-state of Sparta, which was weird. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! 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: Israel Bombs Qatar, Nepal Protests, Russian Drones Enter Polish Airspace - American Prestige - Air Date 9-12-25 KP 2: Qatar Today, Turkey Tomorrow - HasanAbi - Air Date 9-11-25 KP 3: Israels West Bank Annex Underway Jasper Nathaniel - The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder - Air Date 9-14-25 KP 4: UK Bans Palestine Action as 'Terror Group' - Mehdi & Owen on Censorship, Silencing of Pro-Palestinian Voices - Two Outspoken - Air Date 7-3-25 KP 5: Recognizing Palestine as a State Meaningful Farce Feat. Dana El Kurd - It Could Happen Here - Air Date 9-11-25 KP 6: Israel Bombs Hamas Leaders in Qatar - Pod Save the World - Air Date 9-9-25 KP 7: 'Putin Is Mocking' Trump, Polish Foreign Minister Says After Russian Drone Incursion - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 9-10-25 (00:58:31) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On Israel as the new Sparta DEEPER DIVES (01:03:11) SECTION A: RUSSIA A1: Aftermath of Russian Drones Being Shot Down Over Poland - DW News - Air Date 9-10-25 A2: Putin Cozies Up To Modi And Xi - What A Day - Air Date 9-3-25 A3: AI and Drone Warfare in Ukraine, 'Trump Riviera' Gaza Plan, US Bombs Venezuelan Boat - American Prestige - Air Date 9-5-25 (01:27:06) SECTION B: QATAR BOMBING B1: Israel Bombs Hamas Leaders in Qatar Part 2 - Pod Save the World - Air Date 9-9-25 B2: Qatar Today, Turkey Tomorrow Part 2 - HasanAbi - Air Date 9-11-25 B3: Israels Qatar Strike We Have to Be Careful When We Attack People - MSNBC Reports - Air Date 9-15-25 B4: Israel Bombs Hamas Leaders in Qatar Part 3 - Pod Save the World - Air Date 9-9-25 B5: After Bombing Qatar, Why Did Israel Strike Yemen - The Take - Air Date 9-15-25 (02:06:29) SECTION C: OTHER GAZA UPDATES C1: Global Sumud Flotilla Vows to Keep Sailing to Gaza Israeli Drones Accused of Striking Two Boats - Democracy Now! - Air Date 9-11-25 C2: Israels Genocide Is Pure Cowardice w/ Jon Elmer - BreakThrough News - Air Date 9-15-25 C3: Recognizing Palestine as a State Meaningful Farce Feat. Dana El Kurd Part 2 - It Could Happen Here - Air Date 9-11-25 C4: AI and Drone Warfare in Ukraine, 'Trump Riviera' Gaza Plan, US Bombs Venezuelan Boat Part 2 - American Prestige - Air Date 9-5-25 C5: Israels Genocide Is Pure Cowardice W Jon Elmer Part 2 - BreakThrough News - Air Date 9-15-25 C6: Israels West Bank Annex Underway Jasper Nathaniel Part 2 - The Majority Report W Sam Seder - Air Date 9-14-25 (02:53:26) SECTION D: UK CRACKDOWN D1: Is Direct Action for Palestine 'terrorism' The UK Says It Is - The Take - Air Date 7-10-25 D2: UK Bans Palestine Action as 'Terror Group' - Mehdi & Owen on Censorship, Silencing of Pro-Palestinian Voices Part 2 - Two Outspoken - Air Date 7-3-25 D3: Is Direct Action for Palestine 'terrorism' The UK Says It Is Part 2 - The Take - Air Date 7-10-25 D4: Protesters Defy Palestine Action Ban Theres No Way They Get Through Everyone - The Guardian - Air Date 9-7-25 SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Photo of protestors holding signs that say “Ceasefire Now” and “Stop the Genocide” Credit: “Free Palestine” by Can Pac Swire, Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Cropped   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date 9/16/2025 Between recent Labor Day rallies and Republican Town Hall meetings, we're seeing that resistance to Trump's deeply unpopular policies is alive and well. Plus we're going to look at some historical legacies of resistance movements that can both inform and inspire us today. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) KEY POINTS KP 1: While We Were Out An Eye-opening Roundup of Everything We Missed or Wished We Had Over the Past Week - The Bradcast - Air Date 9-2-25 KP 2: How Labor Unions Shape Society Margaret Levi (re-release) - TED Talks Daily - Air Date 9-1-25 KP 3: This Is An Invasion - Pritzker, Trump, and the Union Coming Apart + Venezuelan Boat Attack - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 9-5-25 KP 4: What A Raucous Nebraska Town Hall Says About The Country's Mood - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 8-6-25 KP 5: Microsoft Is an Active Partner in the Genocide! Inside the Tech Worker Revolt for Palestine - Working People - Air Date 9-4-25 KP 6: Rules for Surviving Authoritarian Times - How to Fix It - Air Date 6-22-25 KP 7: We Are All D.C. Massive Protests Rock US Capital in Defiance of Trump - The Real News Network - Air Date 9-7-25 (00:53:35) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On what our history can tell us about our present political conflict A Senator Just Unapologetically Declared the U.S. a White Homeland DEEPER DIVES (01:03:18) SECTION A: LABOR DAY A1: How Chicago Labor History Teaches Us To Fight Fascism Today - Kat Abughazaleh - Air Date 9-1-25 A2: AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Other Union Leaders Speak in Los Angeles at Labor Day Event - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 9-1-25 A3: How Chicago Labor History Teaches Us To Fight Fascism Today Part 2 - Kat Abughazaleh - Air Date 9-1-25 A4: How Labor Unions Shape Society Margaret Levi (re-release) Part 2 - TED Talks Daily - Air Date 9-1-25 (01:36:45) SECTION B: PROTESTS B1: Rules for Surviving Authoritarian Times Part 2 - How to Fix It - Air Date 6-22-25 B2: 50 Jewish Activists Arrested Protesting Schumer & Gillibrand for Arming Israel - Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-1-25 B3: The Resistance Vs. Trump 2.0 - Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast - Air Date 7-31-25 B4: Microsoft Is an Active Partner in the Genocide! Inside the Tech Worker Revolt for Palestine Part 2 - Working People - Air Date 9-4-25 (02:08:57) SECTION C: STATE-LEVEL PUSHBACK C1: 'Digital Resistance' Volunteers Push Back Against Deportations Without Due Process - Morning Joe - Air Date 7-31-25 C2: Red-State Farmer Rips Republican At Town Hall - The Majority Report W Sam Seder - Air Date 8-26-25 C3: What A Raucous Nebraska Town Hall Says About The Country's Mood Part 2 - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 8-6-25 C4: Republican Rep Gets Crushed During Town Hall - The Majority Report W Sam Seder - Air Date 9-7-25 C5: Our Top Priority with Rep. Brendan Boyle - The Practivist Pod - Air Date 9-4-25 (02:39:21) SECTION D: LEGACIES OF RESISTANCE D1: Is America Becoming an Autocracy - On the Media - Air Date 8-29-25 D2: Heather Cox Richardson on Donald Trump, MAGA and How We Fight Back - Pod Save America - Air Date 9-7-25 D3: The Resistance Vs. Trump 2.0 Part 2 - Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast - Air Date 7-31-25 D4: Social Problems Require Social Movement Solutions - Economic Update with Richard Wolff - Air Date 9-2-25 D5: Jane Fonda Is Not Backing Down - Fresh Air - Air Date 9-2-25 SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Photo from the Labor Day rally in Boston depicting Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren holding a “Workers” banner with other participants. Tall, vertical rally flags are held behind them that say “Justice”, “Solidarity,” “Fairness,” “Security,” and “Freedom” Credit: Internal photo. “Boston Labor Day Rally” | Copyright 2025, Best of the Left, All rights reserved. Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date 9/11/2025 I've always learned the high-level understanding that the Nazis were partly able to come to power because the opposition at the time was too caught up with infighting to create a coherent resistance. With hindsight, it's easy to lament how badly they miscalculated the circumstances but living through the modern day and watching the Democratic Party struggle gives even more clarity to how that kind of inability to get organized in the face of existential threats to democracy can happen. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Where Is the Party?: Time for Democratic Leaders to ‘Fight with Both Hands’ or ‘Step Aside’ - Velshi - Air Date 8-30-25 KP 2: This Guy, This Line - The Rational National - Air Date 9-2-25 KP 3: How Elites Destroyed the Democratic Party in the US and Fuelled Populism | The Bottom Line - Al Jazeera English -Air Date 8-31-25 KP 4: Desperate Kyle Begs and Pleads With Democrats - The Kyle Kulinski Show - Air Date 8-28-25 KP 5: Ritchie Torres Talks Zionism, LGBT, The Bronx - The Adam Friedland Show - Air Date 8-27-25 KP 6: Journalist Exposes Dark Money on the Left - UNFTR Media - Air Date 8-30-25 (00:50:07) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the murder of Charlie Kirk DEEPER DIVES (01:04:12) SECTION A: DARK MONEY AND THE INFLUENCER WAR (02:01:36) SECTION B: AIPAC, ISRAEL, AND COMPLICITY (02:46:14) SECTION C: MOSTLY WEAK BUT SIGNS OF LIFE SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: A graphic illustration depicting a donkey colored in red and blue, with stars, looking in shock at its shadow on the ground. Credit: “Democratic Donkey Vector and Icon” by Vectorportal.com | CC BY 4.0   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date 9/7/2025 Trump has been setting a new tone both at home and abroad which is shaking up everything from the war in Ukraine to threats of force against Mexico, Venezuela, and our own American cities with the militarization of domestic policing. And we made all of this before Trump posted an Apocalypse Now meme about using the Department of War against Chicago. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes KEY POINTS KP 1: NATO Lost in Ukraine and the West Is In Denial, W Vijay Prashad Part 1 - BreakThrough News - Air Date 8-20-25 KP 2: What Ukraine Is Fighting For Denys Pilash - The Majority Report W Sam Seder - Air Date 8-24-25 KP 3: Putins Puppet Show Trump Tangled in the Strings Part 1 - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 8-19-25 KP 4: Why Are US Warships Going to Venezuela Part 1 - The Take - Air Date 8-28-25 KP 5: The Dramatic Overhaul Of The Justice Dept. Part 1 - Fresh Air - Air Date 8-20-25 KP 6: Wall Streets Big Admission on Ukraine, Trump's DC Takeover, and How a General Strike Could Happen Part 1 - The Socialist Program W Brian Becker - Air Date 8-28-25 KP 7: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Tells Trump to Stay Out; Decries Authoritarianism, War on Poor People Part 1 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-15-25 KP 8: Trumps National Guard Strategy—Plus, the Secret Behind Huck Finn - Start Making Sense - Air Date 8-27-25 (00:56:33) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On encroaching fascism and the Boston Massacre DEEPER DIVES (01:07:01) SECTION A: UKRAINE A1: Normalizing Militarization Part 1 - Main Justice - Air Date 8-27-25 A2: Putin's Puppet Show Trump Tangled in the Strings Part 2 - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 8-19-25 A3: Russia Expert Katrina Vanden Heuvel on Trump Summits with Putin, Zelensky Part 1 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-18-25 A4: Wall Streets Big Admission on Ukraine, Trump's DC Takeover, and How a General Strike Could Happen Part 2 - The Socialist Program W Brian Becker - Air Date 8-28-25 A5: NATO Lost in Ukraine and the West Is In Denial, W Vijay Prashad Part 2 - BreakThrough News - Air Date 8-20-25 A6: Russia Expert Katrina Vanden Heuvel on Trump Summits with Putin, Zelensky Part 2 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-18-25 (01:47:03) SECTION B: MEXICO & VENEZUELA B1: Trump Admin Prepares to Attack Mexico - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 8-22-25 B2: Is Trump Fading - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 8-22-25 B3: Mexico Rejects Trumps Call for US Military Intervention to Fight Drug Cartels - Al Jazeera English - Air Date 8-26-25 B4: Why Are US Warships Going to Venezuela Part 2 - The Take - Air Date 8-28-25 (02:11:53) SECTION C: THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT C1: The Dramatic Overhaul Of The Justice Dept. Part 2 - Fresh Air - Air Date 8-20-25 C2: Capehart and Ponnuru on the FBI's Raid on Trump Critic John Bolton - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 8-22-25 C3: Weekly Roundup God and the Military in DC + Nazi-Loving Economist Takes Over Jobs Data Part 1 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 8-15-25 (02:37:10) SECTION D: DC AND US CITIES D1: National Guard Troops In Washington Begin Carrying Weapons Part 1 - HasanAbi - Air Date 8-25-25 D2: Normalizing Militarization Part 2 - Main Justice - Air Date 8-27-25 D3: Weekly Roundup God and the Military in DC + Nazi-Loving Economist Takes Over Jobs Data Part 2 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 8-15-25 D4: Bonus Episode Trump Is Dying. Military Occupation Is Happening. What's Next? Part 1 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 8-28-25 D5: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Tells Trump to Stay Out; Decries Authoritarianism, War on Poor People Part 2 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-15-25 D6: National Guard Troops In Washington Begin Carrying Weapons Part 2 - HasanAbi - Air Date 8-25-25 D7: Bonus Episode Trump Is Dying. Military Occupation Is Happening. What's Next? Part 2 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 8-28-25 D8: Joy Reid Trump Is Trying to Turn the US Into Apartheid South Africa - The Dean Obeidallah Show - Air Date 8-15-25 SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: A sticker depicting a drawing of a police person in full riot gear, gas mask and visor, holding a baton in their hands with a banner underneath that says “Do you feel safe?” Credit: “06a.PeoplesPowerAssembly.BaltimoreMD.8March2017” by Elvert Barnes | CC BY 2.0 | Changes: Cropped   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date: 9–3-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Ch. 1 - The surprising origins of Gerrymandering Ch. 2 - The options we have to improve congressional representation for everyone in the country Ch. 3 - Democratic states response to Republican gerrymandering threats Ch. 4 - The argument for DC statehood and the people to blame for why it hasn’t happened yet Ch. 5 - How to end homelessness and what you can do to help those being targeted in DC SOLVED! BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm: The only correct opinion about the Cracker Barrel rebrand YouTube (This episode drops on YouTube on Friday - please share!) Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: Elbridge Gerry and the Original Gerrymander - The Gilder Lehrman Institute Drawing the Line (“Ratf**cked”: The Innfluence of Redistricting) - The New Yorker (2016) History of Single Member Districts for Congress: Seeking Fair Representation Before PR - FairVote Gavin Newsom’s Retaliatory Redistricting Plan Is Good, Actually - The New Republic How Democrats Should Actually Respond to Republicans’ Attempts to Rig Voting Maps - Slate How Moderate Senate Democrats Enabled Trump’s D.C. Takeover - The American Prospect Trump’s Homelessness Crackdown Has Been Tried Before. It Didn’t Work. - Mother Jones MEMBERS The New Cracker Barrel Logo Sucks And So Does The Mess Around It - Kotaku EXTRAS Congress literally doesn’t care what you think (aka: Corruption is Legal in America) (Represent.US, 2016) Is illegal immigration really a democratic plot to sway congressional apportionment? Americans worry democracy in danger amid gerrymandering fights, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

Air Date: 6–20-2023 Today, we take a look at the story of how neoliberalism was born, how corporations were organized to help push it into the mainstream, and how the courts were reshaped to permanently tilt the rules in favor of corporate power. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Chile, Neoliberalism and the CIA - AJ+ - Air Date 11-29-19 Ch. 2: The Powell Memo. Corporate America's Call to Arms. - Unf*cking The Republic - Air Date 2-9-23 Ch. 3: How the Corporate Takeover of American Politics Began - Robert Reich - Air Date 12-13-22 Ch. 4: Greed Is Rotting America From The Inside Out - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 7-29-22 Ch. 5: Economic False Prophets Part 1 - Ralph Nader Radio Hour - Air Date 6-10-23 Ch. 6: What has Greed Cost America - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 10-28-14 Ch. 7: Economic False Prophets Part 2 - Ralph Nader Radio Hour - Air Date 6-10-23 Ch. 8: Wall Street's ESG Scam EXPLAINED - Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar - Air Date 6-16-22 Ch. 9: Anti-Capitalist Investing Is... Absurd — Jen Pan - Jacobin - Air Date 6-11-22 Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X  

Air Date 9/1/2025 The way people consume almost every variety of media, entertainment, and art is different now than it was only 10-15 years ago. That means that the way protest music, revolutionary art, and even mass market productions and performances are going to be different, feel different, and likely find you in different ways than in the past. But the drive to create never dies and art will always be part of the resistance to oppression. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! 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 (00:49:08) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the strength of diversity that comes through in art DEEPER DIVES (00:56:08) SECTION A: CULTURE (01:29:28) SECTION B: ART (02:20:20) SECTION C: MUSIC (02:46:54) SECTION D: ANDOR SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Photo of street art depicting a stenciled version of Putin and Trump kissing a la the art on the Berlin Wall satirically depicting the “fraternal kiss” between the leaders of the Soviet Union and the German Democratic Republic. Credit: “Hamburg 2020” by Ittmust | CC BY 2.0 | Changes: Slightly cropped

Air Date: 8–28-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Ch. 1 - How scientific empires fall Ch. 2 - How fascists of the past have destroyed their country’s scientific progress in fear of inconvenient truths Ch. 3 - How other countries are taking the opportunity to poach American scientists Ch. 4 - Living in a society that is shifting away from believing in evidence based science Ch. 5 - The 1938 pro-science manifesto that defended democracy against fascism BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm - Trump’s eugenicist mindset and what we didn’t have time for from our main articles   FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube (This episode drops on YouTube on Friday - please share!) Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e   REFERENCES: AOL Dial-Up Ending Reminds Us That All Empires Collapse Eventually - Kotaku Every Scientific Empire Comes to an End - The Atlantic What’s Behind the Rejection of Science? - American Laboratory Attacks on the U.S. Innovation Ecosystem Are an Attack on a Wellspring of American Prosperity - American Progress The World Is Wooing U.S. Researchers Shunned by Trump - NY Times Science Caught in a Rip Tide: How Authoritarianism Sweeps Away Evidence-Based Policy - USC.org This 1938 pro-science manifesto defended democracy against fascism - Big Think   MEMBERS ONLY Attacks on the U.S. Innovation Ecosystem Are an Attack on a Wellspring of American Prosperity - American Progress   TAKE ACTION: One Million Rising Trainings In a blue state? Help stop ICE overreach Use the 5 Calls app for scripts and to reach all your elected officials Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 Find your Indivisible group - or start one Write to the DNC   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

Air Date 8/27/2025 RFK Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again movement aren't completely wrong about everything, they often identify the larger structural problems with the US health industrial complex even if their proposed solutions are wildly off the mark. But the problem they failed to see coming when partnering with Trump and the Republicans is that they're only going to be allowed to misguidedly defund and dismantle parts of the government that support health which is in line with the broader burn-it-all-down vibes of the MAGA movement, but under no circumstances will they be allowed to implement new regulations that might actually do the public some good at the expense of corporate interests because that would go against the pro-corporate/deregulation obsession of the Republican Party. So, MAHA might be a mixed bag but what the country is getting is a lose/lose. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! 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: RFK Jr. Is Putting American Lives At Risk Part 1 - What A Day - Air Date 8-8-25 KP 2: What the Wellness Industry Doesn't Want You to Know Part 1 - More Perfect Union - Air Date 8-4-25 KP 3: Aryn Melton Backus of 'Fired But Fighting' on RFK's War on Public Health Part 1 - The BradCast - Air Date 8-11-25 KP 4: Despite 'MAHA' Fuss, Truth of Trump Admin's Health Priorities Seen in Drastic Cuts - The Briefing - Air Date 5-23-25 KP 5: The Nutrition Lies We All Fell For Part 1 - Rich Roll - Air Date 8-11-25 KP 6: Dr. Mikes Fight to Save Medicine From RFK Jr. Part 1 - Bulwark Takes - Air Date 8-4-24 KP 7: You're on Your Own MAHA Dismantles Public Health Rob Wallace & Rita Valenti Part 1 - This Is Hell! - Air Date 8-7-25 (00:53:06) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On why regulations are written in blood DEEPER DIVES (01:01:33) SECTION A: MAHA AGENDA A1: Kennedy's MAHA Report Targets Vaccines, Food Supply and Prescription Drugs - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 5-22-25 A2: Raul Ruiz Absolutely Hammers RFK Jr. Over MAHA Report 'That's Lying And Dishonest' - Forbes Breaking News - Air Date 6-24-25 A3: 270 Kennedy's Bloodbath Part 1 - Conspirituality - Air Date 8-14-25 A4: RFK Jr.'s New Vaccine Advisors Signal Big Changes to Come - Short Wave - Air Date 6-30-25 A5: RFK Jr. Is Putting American Lives At Risk Part 2 - What A Day - Air Date 8-8-25 A6: 270 Kennedy's Bloodbath Part 2 - Conspirituality - Air Date 8-14-25 A7: You're on Your Own MAHA Dismantles Public Health Rob Wallace & Rita Valenti Part 2 - This Is Hell! - Air Date 8-7-25 (01:53:49) SECTION B: THE GRIFTERS B1: What the Wellness Industry Doesn't Want You to Know Part 2 - More Perfect Union - Air Date 8-4-25 B2: Make America Healthy Again Part 1 - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Air Date 8-18-25 B3: The Nutrition Lies We All Fell For Part 2 - Rich Roll - Air Date 8-11-25 B4: Dr. Mikes Fight to Save Medicine From RFK Jr. Part 2 - Bulwark Takes - Air Date 8-4-24 B5: Make America Healthy Again Part 2 - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Air Date 8-18-25 (02:36:28) SECTION C: CON-TRADICTORY POLICIES C1: The Nutrition Lies We All Fell For Part 3 - Rich Roll - Air Date 8-11-25 C2: 4 Ways SNAP Benefits Will Change After Trump's Big Policy Act - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 8-9-25 C3: Aryn Melton Backus of 'Fired But Fighting' on RFK's War on Public Health Part 2 - The BradCast - Air Date 8-11-25 C4: Ending Corporate Harm Undue Influence Within Corporate Product Health and Safety with Dr. Tracey Woodruff, PhD, MPH - Cult Conversations The Influence Continuum - Air Date 7-28-25 SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Composite image showing a circular screen grab showing from HHS Secretary RFK Jr. wearing the MAHA hat and pulling down the brim to show the “Make America Healthy Again” text, on a green background. Credit: Composite design by A. Hoffman. Image Source: HHS “Netzpolitik Demonstration for press freedom in Berlin” by Sebaso, Wikimedia Commons | License: CC BY-SA 4.0 | Changes: Cropped   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date 8/24/2025 The nature of politics and public policy is that there's always a need to balance opposing interests. Almost nowhere is there a more intractable set of opposing interests than in the attempt to protect children from harmful content on the internet while maintaining free access to adults, particularly because people wildly disagree about what qualifies as harmful and what degree of privacy invasion is an acceptable tradeoff. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Age Verification Will Kill Free Speech Online - Taylor Lorenz - Air Date 6-6-25 KP 2: Can the UK Child-proof the Internet? - Front Burner - Air Date 7-31-25 KP 3: Social Media Is Making Us Self-Censor - The Bitchuation Room (with Francesca Fiorentini) - Air Date 8-14-25 KP 4: Republicans Want to Redefine 'Obscenity' - Here's Why That Should TERRIFY You - What A Day - Air Day 5-17-25 KP 5: Meet the Creepy Pro-Trump Billionaire Profiting Off of Internet Censorship - The Humanist Report - Air Date 8-7-25 KP 6: Freedom to Connect: Aaron Swartz (1986-2013) on Victory To Save Open Internet, Fight Online Censors - Democracy Now! - Air Date 1-14-13 (00:46:37) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the need to demand serious arguments about serious issues DEEPER DIVES (00:52:04) SECTION A: AGE VERIFICATION (01:19:18) SECTION B: SAVE THE CHILDREN (01:45:50) SECTION C: CENSORSHIP (02:20:34) SECTION D: ANTI-PORN AGENDA   SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Photo of a stack of protest signs that say “Fight for your digital rights!” Credit: “Netzpolitik Demonstration for press freedom in Berlin” by Sebaso, Wikimedia Commons | License: CC BY-SA 4.0 | Changes: Cropped   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date 8/20/2025 There's been a faction of conservatives who have been trying to instill king-like powers into the presidency for a long time, so it shouldn't be surprising that Trump is getting so much help from the packed court and the apparatchiks in the states who are more than happy to turn their precious federalism on its head as long as their king is in charge. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes   Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! 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: Justifying Democracy w/ Osita Nwanevu - The Majority Report - Air Date 8-11-25 KP 2: Texas Hold Dems - Today, Explained - Air Date 8-7-25 KP 3: Fighting Fire with Fire with Texas Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez - The Practivist Pod - Air Date 8-7-25 KP 4: Bruce Bueno De Mesquita The Five Rules of Power Politics - Big Think - Air Date 5-13-12 KP 5: When Unaccountable People Come for Your Vote - Amicus with Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 7-26-25 KP 6: Executive Lawlessness w/ Leah Litman on the Supreme Court Enabling Presidential Overreach Part 1 - The Intercept Briefing - Air Date 7-18-25 KP 7: Leah Litman on the Grievance and Conspiracy Theories That Run SCOTUS Part 1 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 8-11-25 (00:50:56) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On how fascists run interference DEEPER DIVES (01:03:07) SECTION A: GRIFT AND FORCE A1: Trump's Presidential Library Grift. Plus, the Hacker Behind the NYTs Mamdani Story. - On the Media - Air Date 7-25-25 A2: Trump Threatens National Guard Deployment to DC - DSR Daily - Air Date 8-11-25 A3: Loyalty Over Competence At Trump's Justice Department - What A Day - Air Date 7-31-25 A4: Trump Deploys National Guard - HasanAbi - Air Date 8-14-25 A5: Trump Press Secs Weird Fawning Rant Goes Awry as Poll Slide Worsens - THE DAILY BLAST - Air Date 8-1-25 A6: U.S. Profoundly Changed by Authoritarian Leader; 'We're Beyond Waiting and Seeing Now' - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 8-4-25 A7: How Today's Tensions Mirror Pre-Civil War America - Why, America? with Leeja Miller - Air Date 8-8-25 (02:00:53) SECTION B: GERRYMANDERING B1: Republicans Ramp Redistricting Fight up to a 10 - No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen - Air Date 8-10-25 B2: Fighting Fire with Fire with Texas Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez Part 2 - The Practivist Pod - Air Date 8-7-25 B3: TEXAS HOLD DEMS Part 2 - Today, Explained - Air Date 8-7-25 B4: Republicans Ramp Redistricting Fight up to a 10 Part 2 - No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen - Air Date 8-10-25 B5: U.S. Profoundly Changed by Authoritarian Leader; 'We're Beyond Waiting and Seeing Now' Part 2 - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 8-4-25 B6: Justifying Democracy w/ Osita Nwanevu Part 2 - The Majority Report - Air Date 8-11-25 B7: How Today's Tensions Mirror Pre-Civil War America Part 2 - Why, America? with Leeja Miller - Air Date 8-8-25 (02:52:39) SECTION C: COURTS C1: Stacking the Bench with Creeps and Kooks - Strict Scrutiny - Air Date 8-4-25 C2: Leah Litman on the Grievance and Conspiracy Theories That Run SCOTUS Part 2 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 8-11-25 C3: When Unaccountable People Come for Your Vote Part 2 - Amicus with Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 7-26-25 C4: Stacking the Bench with Creeps and Kooks Part 2 - Strict Scrutiny - Air Date 8-4-25 C5: Executive Lawlessness w/ Leah Litman on the Supreme Court Enabling Presidential Overreach Part 2 - The Intercept Briefing - Air Date 7-18-25 SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Image of a king of diamonds playing card with a king with orange skin and blonde hair, and a nervous expression on his face, against a dark American flag. Credit: “king-card-casino-diamond” via Pixabay | Pixabay License   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date: 8–19-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Ch.1 - The Trump administration’s unprecedented attempts to get your data from the states Ch. 2 - Why Trump’s new private health tracking system is a wolf in sheep’s clothing Ch. 3 - How HIV patients suffering in the 80s, 90s and early 00s from constant health data breaches is a hint of what could come Ch. 4 - Why a new UK law trying to protect children from seeing terrible things online is doing more harm than good Ch. 5 - Tips on keeping your digital privacy intact as best as you can in this data hungry world BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm (Members Only): How an activist organization used debanking to make video game companies censor their content, where that tactic might lead, and more. A funny thing happened on the way to recording… (blooper)   FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube (This episode drops on YouTube on Friday - please share!) Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e   REFERENCES: States Have More Data About You Than the Feds Do. Trump Wants to See It. - NY Times Trump Announces Plan to Launch Private Health Tracking System With Big Tech Firms - Time HIV & Civil Rights: A Report from the Frontlines of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic - ACLU Blocking Access to Harmful Content Will Not Protect Children Online, No Matter How Many Times UK Politicians Say So - EFF 'A disaster waiting to happen' — Cybersecurity experts react to UK age verification law - Toms Guide UK Age Verification Laws: How to Comply & Stay Safe in 2025 - WizCase MEMBERS ONLY Steam and Itch.io Are Pulling ‘Porn’ Games. Critics Say It’s a Slippery Slope to More Censorship - Wired     EXTRAS SOLVED! #7 - The Deficiency of Efficiency: Why govt is inefficient BY DESIGN, & more - SOLVED! (Recorded April 2025) All 2025 Health Information Data Breaches (Source: HHS.gov) 2025 Data Breach (Account info for Apple, Facebook, Google, GitHub, Telegram, and government platforms)     TAKE ACTION: One Million Rising Trainings In a blue state? Help stop ICE overreach Use the 5 Calls app for scripts and to reach all your elected officials Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

Air Date 8/16/2025 There's the old Douglas Adams quote stating that, "Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job" which is a good general rule to live by. But then there are the real baddies, those would-be leaders who possess one or more of the dark triad of traits that spells real doom for the societies that elevate them to power: narcissism, psychopathy, and machiavellianism. Today we compare and contrast Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Benjamin Netanyahu. Xi Jinping also fits nicely on this list as an honorable mention but happens to not be part of the focus today. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! 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: The World War II Lessons Trump, Putin, & Netanyahu Actually Learned - Tad Stoermer - Air Date 8-8-25 KP 2: 'Not About Crime': Maddow CRACKS OPEN Trump's Real Motives in Deploying the National Guard to D.C. - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 8-11-25 KP 3: Totally Unexpected - HasanAbi - Air Date 8-7-25 KP 4: 'No International Community Is Capable of Stopping Netanyahu' - James O'Brien on LBC - Air Date 7-22-25 KP 5: Kyiv-based Analyst: 'Ukraine Is Being Sidelined From Talks' - LBC - Air Date 8-10-25 KP 6: How Putin's Lies Are Driving the War in Ukraine The Foreign Affairs Interview - The Foreign Affairs Interview - Air Date 1-12-23 KP 7: Donald Trump Wants to Seize Your Reality - Mother Jones - Air Date 8-8-25 (00:49:39) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On why humanity is better than we seem and how we can save ourselves ‘Self-termination is most likely’: the history and future of societal collapse DEEPER DIVES (00:57:15) SECTION A: TRUMP THE LIAR A1: Trump Rejects Reality - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 8-5-25 A2: Trump Pushes Forward with Revenge Presidency - All In with Chris Hayes - Air Date 8-8-25 A3: Ed Elson Slams Trump Firing Labor Statistics Boss: 'This Is What Cartoon Dictators Do' - Katy Tur - Air Date 8-1-25 A4: Trump Vs. the Bureau of Labor Statistics - The Journal. - Air Date 8-4-25 A5: Trump Thinks You're Very Stupid - The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder - Air Date 8-9-25 (01:32:17) SECTION B: NETANYAHU THE MANIPULATOR B1: Gaza Takeover: Israel Launches New Stage of 'Indefinite, Genocidal Military Campaign' -Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-8-25 B2: Why Bibi Netanyahu Is on Trial - ABC News In-depth - Air Date 4-26-24 B3: DEBUNKED: 14 Israeli LIES About Gaza Famine - Owen Jones - Air Date 8-8-25 B4: Mehdi Hasan Explains Why the War in Gaza Wont End Soon - LBC -Air Date 8-5-25 B5: Trump's Intervention in Netanyahu's Corruption Trial 'Unprecedented': Gideon Levy - Al Jazeera English - Air Date 6-30-25 (02:09:13) SECTION C: PUTIN THE STRATEGIST C1: Does Putin Have Dark Triad Traits? | Vladimir Putin Case Analysis - Dr. Todd Grande - Air Date 2-23-22 C2: What Happens When You Confront Putin in Public - Penguin History - Air Date 8-7-25 C3: Why Putin Is so Hard to Overthrow - Search Party - Air Date 8-18-23 (02:27:11) SECTION D: MYTHS COLLAPSE D1: Shocking Study Proves Trumps Biggest Supporters Are Psychopaths - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 8-11-25 D2: America's Authoritarian Turn - Harvard Radcliffe Institute - Air Date 3-3-25 D3: Huge Economic Problems Coming for Republicans and the U.S. - Heather Cox Richardson - Air Date 8-7-25 D4: How Gaza Exposes The Myths Of The System - Andrewism - Air Date 8-5-25 (03:07:29) SECTION E: THE MEN BEHIND THE THRONE E1: Who's the Man Who Has Putin's Ear? - NewsNation - Air Date 4-8-22 E2: From Terrorist Backer to Kingmaker: Itamar Ben-Gvir Israeli Far Right Help Netanyahu Regain Power - Democracy Now! - Air Date 11-4-22 E3: Bezalel Smotrich: Far-right Israeli Minister Calls for Resettlement of Gaza After War - Al Jazeera English - Air Date 12-31-23 E4: Aleksandr Dugin: The Far-right Theorist Behind Putins Plan - 60 Minutes - Air Date 4-12-22 E5: Why Did Israel Restart the War? One Answer: Bezalel Smotrich. - Consider This From NPR - Air Date 3-28-25 E6: Project 2025 Co-Author Lays Out 'Radical Agenda' for Next Trump Term in Undercover Video - Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-16-24 SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: A composite image of a pleased-looking Trump holding up a triangle that says “The Dark Triad” in the center, and “Narcissism”, “Machiavellianism”, and “Psychopathy” along each side. Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Benjamin Netanyahu are pictured underneath. Credit: “The Dark Triad” by Manitee71, Wikimedia Commons, License: CC-By-SA 4.0 | “Putin-politics-kremlin-russia” by DimitroSevastopol, Pixabay, License: Pixabay | “Xi Jinping 2019” by Palácio do Planalto, Wikimedia Commons, License: CC-BY-SA 4.0 | “31/03/2019 Jantar na Residência do Primeiro-Ministro de Israel” by Palácio do Planalto, Flickr, License: CC-BY-2.0   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date 8/12/2025 The Monthly-ish Mix™ is here to get you caught up on recent news without being overwhelming! This month, we're covering the full spectrum of authoritarian threats—military in the streets, surveillance in our phones, conspiracies in our feeds, and corruption at the top—before turning to the grassroots organizers and Democratic Socialists who are building the resistance and winning. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! 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! PART 1: DIRECT STATE VIOLENCE (00:01:34) #1719 - The Fascist Playbook: Immigrants, Brown Shirts, and the Backlash 1: Tanks on DC's Streets and a Us Senator in Handcuffs - Amicus with Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 6-14-25 2: Papers, Please Hayes Flags New Police Tactic Trend in Trumps America - All in w/ Chris Hayes - Air Date 6-19-25 3: Palantir Peter Thiel's Data-mining Firm Helps Doge Build Master Database to Surveil Immigrants - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-3-25 (00:22:14) #1722 - Imbalance of Powers: The Supreme Court and Executive Branch Collude for Unchecked Power Grab 4: SCOTUS May End Birth Right Citizenship Soon - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 6-30-25 5: The Injunction Ban, Explained - Leeja Miller - Air Date 6-30-25 6: ‘Lawlessness Will Flourish’: Scotus Justice Issues Chilling Warning After Major Ruling - The Beat - Air Date 6-27-25 PART 2: SYSTEMIC DESTRUCTION (00:39:30) #1723 - Scam Nation: Trumpism is the Art of Screwing You Over in Every Way Possible 7:  Is AI Productivity Worth Our Humanity w/ Prof. Michael Sandel - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-26-25 8:  Empire of AI: Karen Hao & Roger Mcnamee Expose Sam Altman, Musk, & Big Tech - The Nerd Reich - Air Date 6-16-25 8: The Real Reason Investors Are Going All in on Palantir - More Perfect Union - Air Date 6-24-25 (01:02:26) #1721 - The Evolution of the Military Industrial Complex: Now with AI! 10: Is AI Productivity Worth Our Humanity w/ Prof. Michael Sandel - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-26-25 11: Empire of AI: Karen Hao & Roger McNamee Expose Sam Altman, Musk & Big Tech - The Nerd Reich - Air Date 6-16-25 12: The REAL Reason Investors Are Going All In on Palantir - More Perfect Union - Air Date 6-24-25 PART 3: REALITY MANIPULATION (01:23:14) #1725 - A Flood of Disinformation: A World of Climate Change and Conspiracies 13:  Flooding Is Common in Texas Hill Country. This Was Different - Consider This - Air Date 7-7-25 14: Why Kristi Noems Incompetence Matters - Bulwark Takes - Air Date 7-10-25 15: The Real Conspiracy Behind the Texas Floods - More to the Story - Air Date 7-16-25 (01:42:48) #1726 - Epstein Forever: Trump flails as criticism finally comes from inside the MAGA house 16: Epstein Files Firestorm Shows the Power of Online Conspiracy - There Are No Girls on the Internet - Air Date 7-8-25 17: Epstein Conspiracy, or Epstein Conspiracy Theory? - Radio Atlantic - Air Date 7-7-25 18: Epstein Survivor Calls for Accountability: Release the Files, End Impunity for Rich, & Powerful Abusers - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-18-25 19: We Tracked Every Visitor to Epstein Island - Wired - Air Date 11-22-24 Part 4: Global Chaos (02:12:24) #1718 - On the Path to Destruction: Israel Attacks Iran as Support for War on Gaza Drops 20: Jon Stewart on Israel’s "Urgent" Iran Strike, Minnesota Murders & Maga’s Blame Game - The Daily Show - Air Date 6-16-25 21:  “A Show of Human Solidarity”: Ex-U.S. Diplomat to Join Global March to Gaza to Break Israel’s Siege - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-10-25 (02:32:30) #1727 - Super-Powered Men For Good and Ill: Fascism, Media, and the Manoshpere 22: Tired of Putin's 'Bullshit': Trump Reverses, Says Us Should Send Weapons to Ukraine - Erin Burnett Outfront - Air Date 7-8-25 23: The Next Generation of Maga Influencers - Some More News - Air Date 5-28-25 24:  Brief Mehdi Hasan vs Jordan Peterson - Conspirituality - Air Date 7-26-25 PART 5: BUILDING RESISTANCE (02:54:25) #1720 - Building an Organized Left, the Eternal Oxymoron 25: Ralph Nader’s Message to Doomers: "Stop Making Excuses!" - Current Affairs - Air Date 6-22-25 26: “We Fight for Working People with No Apology”: Zohran Mamdani Beats Cuomo in Nyc Mayoral Primary - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-25-25 27: Is Protesting Ineffective? | Penny for Your Thoughts - Dasia Sade - Air Date 6-23-25 (03:21:46) #1724 - How to Socialism: Einstein liked socialism, you think you know better? 28:  Mamdani’s Spectacular Victory w/ Alan Minsk - Jacobin Radio - Air Date 7-2-25 29: 'The Economy Is Rigged": Robert Reich on Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party, Inequality, and Trump - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-26-25 30: Old Democrats Must Go or Trump Never Will - UNFTR Media - Air Date 7-15-25     Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date: 8–10-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, and Deon (Erin was on vacation!) discuss: How modern fascism does not look like the jarring and brutal images people think of, and the “rituals of conformity” in Nazi Germany that remind us of another era we’ve lived through How despotism affects the citizen psyche and how to counter those effects The importance of countering Orwellian language under fascism Advice on living under authoritarianism, with a big focus on community for sanity and resistance BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm (Members Only): A look at the way societies have collapsed throughout history and where the U.S. falls in the pattern   FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube (This episode drops on YouTube on Friday - please share!) Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e   REFERENCES: Life in authoritarian states is mostly boring and tolerable - Vox Rituals of Conformity in Nazi Germany - The Montreal Review The Psychological Impact of Despotism on Citizens: Development Implications - GaradeSud The Language of Surrender - Notes from the Circus How to Live Under Authoritarianism (And Protect the People You Love) - Dispatch Revolution   BACKSTAGE: History shows that societies collapse when leaders undermine social contracts - Phys.org   TAKE ACTION: One Million Rising Trainings In a blue state? Help stop ICE overreach Use the 5 Calls app for scripts and to reach all your elected officials Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 Find your Indivisible group - or start one Write to the DNC   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 Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts!

Air Date 8/10/2025 Trump has been condemning the media for all of his professional life and is pretty open about doing it so that people won't believe the negative press he so richly deserves. Now, with the power of the presidency, he's turned his battle with the press into a protection racket complete with payoffs and side deals in an attempt to turn the media into pro-Trump propaganda. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! 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! PART 1: DIRECT STATE VIOLENCE (00:01:34) #1719 - The Fascist Playbook: Immigrants, Brown Shirts, and the Backlash 1: Tanks on Dc's Streets and a Us Senator in Handcuffs - Amicus with Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 6-14-25 2: Papers, Please Hayes Flags New Police Tactic Trend in Trumps America - All in W/ Chris Hayes - Air Date 6-19-25 3: Palantir Peter Thiel's Data-mining Firm Helps Doge Build Master Database to Surveil Immigrants - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-3-25 (00:22:14) #1722 - Imbalance of Powers: The Supreme Court and Executive Branch Collude for Unchecked Power Grab 4: SCOTUS May End Birth Right Citizenship Soon - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 6-30-25 5: The Injunction Ban, Explained - Leeja Miller - Air Date 6-30-25 6: ‘Lawlessness Will Flourish’: Scotus Justice Issues Chilling Warning After Major Ruling - The Beat - Air Date 6-27-25 PART 2: SYSTEMIC DESTRUCTION (00:39:30) #1723 - Scam Nation: Trumpism is the Art of Screwing You Over in Every Way Possible 7: Is Ai Productivity Worth Our Humanity W/ Prof. Michael Sandel - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-26-25 8: Empire of Ai: Karen Hao & Roger Mcnamee Expose Sam Altman, Musk & Big Tech - The Nerd Reich - Air Date 6-16-25 8: The Real Reason Investors Are Going All in on Palantir - More Perfect Union - Air Date 6-24-25 (01:02:26) #1721 - The Evolution of the Military Industrial Complex: Now with AI! 10: Is AI Productivity Worth Our Humanity w/ Prof. Michael Sandel - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-26-25 11: Empire of AI: Karen Hao & Roger McNamee Expose Sam Altman, Musk & Big Tech - The Nerd Reich - Air Date 6-16-25 12: The REAL Reason Investors Are Going All In on Palantir - More Perfect Union - Air Date 6-24-25 PART 3: REALITY MANIPULATION (01:23:14) #1725 - A Flood of Disinformation: A World of Climate Change and Conspiracies 13: Flooding Is Common in Texas Hill Country. This Was Different Part 2- Consider This - Air Date 7-7-25 14: Why Kristi Noems Incompetence Matters - Bulwark Takes - Air Date 7-10-25 15: The Real Conspiracy Behind the Texas Floods - More to the Story - Air Date 7-16-25 (01:42:48) #1726 - Epstein Forever: Trump flails as criticism finally comes from inside the MAGA house 16: Epstein Files Firestorm Shows the Power of Online Conspiracy - There Are No Girls on the Internet - Air Date 7-8-25 17: Epstein Conspiracy, or Epstein Conspiracy Theory? - Radio Atlantic - Air Date 7-7-25 18: Epstein Survivor Calls for Accountability: Release the Files, End Impunity for Rich & Powerful Abusers - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-18-25 19: We Tracked Every Visitor to Epstein Island - Wired - Air Date 11-22-24 Part 4: Global Chaos (02:12:24) #1718 - On the Path to Destruction: Israel Attacks Iran as Support for War on Gaza Drops 20: Jon Stewart on Israel’s "urgent" Iran Strike, Minnesota Murders & Maga’s Blame Game - The Daily Show - Air Date 6-16-25 21: “A Show of Human Solidarity”: Ex-u.s. Diplomat to Join Global March to Gaza to Break Israel’s Siege - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-10-25 (02:32:30) #1727 - Super-Powered Men For Good and Ill: Fascism, Media, and the Manoshpere 22: Tired of Putin's 'bullshit': Trump Reverses, Says Us Should Send Weapons to Ukraine - Erin Burnett Outfront - Air Date 7-8-25 23: The Next Generation of Maga Influencers - Some More News - Air Date 5-28-25 24: Brief Mehdi Hasan Vs Jordan Peterson - Conspirituality - Air Date 7-26-25 PART 5: BUILDING RESISTANCE (02:54:25) #1720 - Building an Organized Left, the Eternal Oxymoron 25: Ralph Nader’s Message to Doomers: "stop Making Excuses!" - Current Affairs - Air Date 6-22-25 26: “We Fight for Working People with No Apology”: Zohran Mamdani Beats Cuomo in Nyc Mayoral Primary - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-25-25 27: Is Protesting Ineffective? | Penny for Your Thoughts - Dasia Sade - Air Date 6-23-25 (03:21:46) #1724 - How to Socialism: Einstein liked socialism, you think you know better? 28: Mamdani’s Spectacular Victory W/ Alan Minsk - Jacobin Radio - Air Date 7-2-25 29: 'The Economy Is Rigged": Robert Reich on Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party, Inequality, and Trump - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-26-25 30: Old Democrats Must Go or Trump Never Will - Unftr Media - Air Date 7-15-25   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date 8/6/2025 Today's slate of topics may feel disjointed at first until you realize that they're not. We set out to produce an episode in which we explored powerful men and those who look up to them from various angles and so that ended up including both real and fictional men from supervillains to superheroes. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Tired of Putin's 'Bullshit': Trump Reverses, Says Us Should Send Weapons to Ukraine - Erin Burnett Outfront - Air Date 7-8-25 KP 2: What Does Trump See in Putin? Part 1 - The Foreign Affairs Interview - Air Date 3-14-25 KP 3: Russia's Indoctrination Machine Ft. Ian Garner Part 1 - The New Liberal Podcast - Air Date 5-31-25 KP 4: The Next Generation of Maga Influencers Part 1 - Some More News - Air Date 5-28-25 KP 5: Why the Right Hates James Gunn's Superman and Loves the Snyderverse Part 1 - Cinema Survivors - Air Date 7-16-25 KP 6: Super Mad About Superman Part 1 - Today, Explained - Air Date 7-18-25 KP 7: Brief Mehdi Hasan Vs Jordan Peterson Part 1 - Conspirituality - Air Date 7-26-25 KP 8: Mehdi Hasan Jubilee Debate Left Me Speechless Part 1 - Bulwark Takes - Air Date 7-22-25 (01:02:25) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On why supporting the rich and powerful is pathetic DEEPER DIVES (01:10:31) SECTION A: RUSSIA (01:46:10) SECTION B: MANOSPHERE (02:21:33) SECTION C: DEBATE CULTURE (03:39:51) SECTION D: SUPERMAN/MEDIA

Original Air Date: 7–22-2023 Today, we take a look at the action needed to curb and adapt to the extreme weather that climate change is already delivering Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Climate and Energy Journalist Andrew Freedman on the Spate of Record-Shattering Extreme Weather - The BradCast - Air Date 7-10-23 Ch. 2: Bill McKibben Climate Crisis Needs Urgent Action as Earth Records Hottest Temps Ever - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-7-23 Ch. 3: Climate and Energy Journalist Andrew Freedman on the Spate of Record-Shattering Extreme Weather Part 2 - The BradCast - Air Date 7-10-23 Ch. 4: Emily Sanders on How Not to Interview an Oil CEO, Kaufman & Bozuwa on Fighting Climate Disrupters - CounterSpin - Air date 7-7-23 Ch. 5: Climate Precipice & Israel’s Palestinian Expulsion w Bill McKibben, Basel Adra - The Majority Report - Air Date 7-12-23 Ch. 6: To Be Forewarned The Historical Record on Climate Change - WhoWhatWhy - Air date 7-14-23 Ch. 7: Disaster Unpreparedness - Today, Explained - Air Date 7-13-23 Ch. 8: How Will the Next Generation of Cities Address the Challenges of Climate Change? - VOX - Air Date 6-15-23 Ch. 9: Emily Sanders on How Not to Interview an Oil CEO, Kaufman & Bozuwa on Fighting Climate Disrupters Part 2 - CounterSpin - Air date 7-7-23 Ch. 10: Rep. AOC Reintroduces the Green New Deal on its 4th Anniversary - RepAOC - Air Date 4-20-23 Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com