Best of the Left Podcast

05/02/2025

"Do not underestimate the historical significance of this lawlessness or the damage that will be done if it is not immediately and resoundingly stopped."

January 6 was nothing compared to the current mob of thugs intent on tearing apart our country’s very system of government.

03/02/2025

#1686: Temperatures Rising, Tempers Flaring: LA Fires, Climate Emergencies, Conspiracies, and Water Wars
(Air Date: 1/28/25)

The existence of out-of-control wildfires in Los Angeles amid the rising climate crisis is not confusing or strange. How to deal with such an emergency during our ongoing political and information crisis is a completely different story.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1686

🎙 EDITOR’S NOTE: On why progressive visions are interconnected

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Image Description: Photo of downtown Los Angeles at night with the Pacific Palisades fire burning on the mountains in the background. Credit: “PalisadesFire fromDowntown” by Toastt21, Wikimedia Commons | License: CC-SA 4.0

02/02/2025

SOLVED! (aka The Bonus Show) #333 - This is What Democracy (Actually) Looks Like

The team discusses:
- Our new show name!
- Getting over hurdles to find and form local community as a form of resistance and preparation
- The study groups teachers are forming to teach and learn real history
- How Citizen Assemblies could transform American politics for the better

💙 Want the entire show? Support our work! Become a member: bestoftheleft.com/support

02/02/2025

#1685: Faux Populism and Neoliberalism: Working People Are Stuck Between Oligarchy and Disregard
(Air Date: 1/21/25)

Decades ago, the conscious decision was made to exacerbate inequality for the sake of economic growth that would supposedly lift all boats. What probably wasn't understood at the time is that the logical conclusion of that choice would be to break democracy and usher in oligarchy. Now working people are left with only bad choices and empty promises.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1685

🎙 EDITOR’S NOTE: On the path Democrats have charted

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Image Description: Composite image of multi-colored people outlines crossing over each other with arrows in the background pointing two different directions.

01/02/2025

#1684: The Last Honest President: The imperfect life and legacy of Jimmy Carter
(Air Date: 1/18/25)

We are looking back on Jimmy Carter's life and legacy as a lens through which to more clearly see and understand the current state of our politics, our incoming president, the Middle East, the climate, and more.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1684

🎙 EDITOR’S NOTE: On the supposed desire for truth

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Image Description: Black and white photo of President Jimmy Carter in front of the White House in 1977. Credit: by Marion S. Trikosko, Library of Congress | License: Public Domain

01/02/2025

THE BONUS SHOW #332: Transgressive Thoughts in a Villain Era

🎙 The crew discusses:
- Why people love villains
- How plutocracy kills
- Why the path forward is through membership organizations

💙 Want the whole show? Support our work by becoming a member! bestoftheleft.com/support

01/02/2025

#1683: Oligarchy Unmasked: President Musk, the crackup of capitalism, and the MAGA meltdown
(Air Date: 1/15/25)

Elon Musk is leading the way for his class of tech broligarchs anxious to take over the MAGA movement and shape it to their own ends of deregulation, tax cuts, and lucrative government contracts. The disappointment that is inevitable for the MAGA populists is coming even faster than expected.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1683

🎙 EDITOR’S NOTE: On the rehashing of the anti-democratic argument for extreme wealth for the benefit of humanity

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Image Description: The head of Elon Musk popping out of a hole in Trump's cracked MAGA hat.

01/02/2025

#1681: Trump's American Imperialism: Threatening Friends and Annoying Neighbors
(Air Date: 1/8/25)

Trump's first term was marked by all of the friendships he built with some of the world's worst, most oppressive leaders. His second term is getting an early start as he has begun making threats toward traditional allies and friends, including Canada, Mexico, Greenland, and Panama.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1681

🎙 EDITOR’S NOTE: On the baby-brained ideas of the far right

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Image Description: Composite animated image of Trump looking confused behind a podium with a globe and rolling dice on the podium. A threat meter on the front reads moderate.

01/02/2025

#1682: Looking Back to Trump 1.0 (REMIX)
(Air Date: 1/11/25)

A look back to the warnings we gave ourselves at the beginning of the first Trump administration. In 2017 there was concern about corruption and his business dealings, ethics around his nominees, and the inability of the media to cover him properly.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1682

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31/01/2025

#1680: The US puts the Hell in Health Care: For-profit insurance, Pharma, and the hatred and conspiracies they breed
(Air Date: 1/4/25)

The murder of a health insurance CEO being met with widespread approval and the risk of going backward on life-saving vaccines pretty much sums up the current state of our approach to health care in this country.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1680

🎙 EDITOR’S NOTE: On the racist history of opposing universal health care

💙 Support the show! bestoftheleft.com/support


Image Description: A cropped photo of two people holding a handmade sign that says “Healthcare for people NOT for profit!”
Credit: “Demand SINGLE PAYER Expanded & Improved Medicare for All HR 676 Now Protest” by Elvert Barnes, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0

31/01/2025

THE BONUS SHOW #331 - The Realignment Will Make You Seasick

The crew discusses:
- The Realignment of the right wing toward economic populism and government programs
- The need for a different kind of government efficiency than DOGE is offering
- The future of the left working to fix government

Want the entire show? Support our work by becoming a member: https://www.bestoftheleft.com/support

31/01/2025

#1679: The Middle East War Process: Syria's Transition, Israel's Expansion, and Beyond
(Air Date: 12/28/24)

Decades of dictatorial rule in Syria have come to an end, leading to something else to be determined. Israel sprang into action taking control of Syrian land on their border. And no one seems to care what the US thinks of all this, which is telling.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1679

🎙 EDITOR’S NOTE: On closing out the year

💙 Support the show! bestoftheleft.com/support


Image Description: A flying Syrian flag illuminated against the sun.

19/01/2025

👋 Reminder that we're on Bluesky:bsky.social (and our Best of the Left starter pack is pinned)

19/01/2025

As Trump prepares to "save" TikTok, let's not forget all of this started because Trump wanted to ban TikTok during his first term.

He breaks it. Then he takes credit for fixing it.

Trump's entire life can be summarized in this manner.

31/12/2024

Independent progressive media needs your support to survive what comes next. If you have the means, please consider supporting (and the other indie shows you depend on) to ensure our future. Last chance to GET 20% OFF MEMBERSHIPS: https://www.bestoftheleft.com/support 💙

24/12/2024

#1678: Trump's Total Dominance Over the Republican Party and the Resistance Efforts Already Underway

There's no denying that things are about to get bad. Trump and company have had years to prepare for their next turn in office. But those preparing to resist also have the benefit of past experience, resulting in a response to Trumpism that looks very different this time around.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1678

🎙 EDITOR’S NOTE: On the importance of scheduled maintenance for democracy

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Image Description: Composite image of Trump with his arm out admiring a lit match in his hand in front of a burning U.S. Constitution.

24/12/2024

#1677: Dems Can't Have Their Billionaires and Beat Them Too: The politics of anti-elitism
(Air Date: 12/17/24)

Changing the direction of a political party doesn't happen overnight and it usually takes a major disrupting event to shake it out of its well-wore groove. The loss of the Harris campaign to Trump and the evident desperation people have for a new economics that works for people might finally be enough to put Democrats on track to a more full-throated support of economic populism.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1677

🎙 EDITOR’S NOTE: On the Democrats' perception gap and Ben Wikler for the DNC

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Image Description: Photo of billionaire Mark Cuban speaking into a microphone at a Harris Walz campaign event. (Credit: Gage Skidmore, Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Cropped)

23/12/2024

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