Fri, 30 March 2018
Air Date: 5/23/2017 Today we look at the current state of voting rights and the full press efforts being made to expand voter suppression far and wide across the country Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Become a member and enjoy ad-free episodes and bonus content! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft Show NotesCh. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill Ch. 2: Act 1: Where we stand on voting rights right now - Start Making Sense from @TheNation - Air Date 4-12-17 Ch. 3: Song 1: What's Going On - Marvin Gaye Ch. 4: Act 2: Voter ID Suppressed 200,000 Wisconsin Votes; Trump Won by 22,748 - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 05-11-17 Ch. 5: Song 2: Who Benefits? - Mustard Plug Ch. 6: Act 3: The benefits of vote-by-mail - The Other Washington from @civicskunkworks - Air Date 5-18-17 Ch. 7: Song 3: Tusk - Errors Ch. 8: Act 4: The origins of Trump's new voter fraud commission - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 5-12-17 Ch. 9: Song 4: I Told You So - Karmin Ch. 10: Act 5: Call Out Voter Suppression with Let America Vote via @Let_AmericaVote - Best of the Left Activism Ch. 11: Song 5: Activism - Shihan Ch. 12: Act 6: Donald Trump Orders "Election Integrity" Commission Headed by Architects of Voter Suppression - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 05-12-17
Direct download: 1106_Voting_Rights_Air_Date_5-23-17_Ad_Free_Encore_-_3-30-18_21.19.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:50pm EDT |
Tue, 27 March 2018
Air Date: 3/27/2018 Today we take a look at the blossoming of the renewed efforts of the conservative drug warriors Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Become a member and enjoy ad-free episodes and bonus content! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft Show NotesCh. 1: Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr Ch. 2: Act 1: Michelle Alexander We Must Respond Forcefully & Challenge Jeff Sessions's New War on Drugs - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 05-19-17 Ch. 3: Song 1: Waterbourne - Algea Fields Ch. 4: Act 2: Race, drugs and prisons - Progressive Faith Sermons w @RevDrRay - Air Date 9-10-17 Ch. 5: Song 2: Gullwing Sailor - Migration Ch. 6: Act 3: Art Way on Pot Recriminalization - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 1-12-18 Ch. 7: Song 3: Inessential - Bayou Birds Ch. 8: Act 4: Understanding the repeal of the Cole memo - Off Kilter - Air Date 1-26-18 Ch. 9: Song 4: Astrisx - Bodytonic Ch. 10: Act 5: Tell Congress: Punitive Drug Policies Don’t Work. Harm-Reduction Does. via @DrugPolicyOrg - Best of the Left Activism Ch. 11: Song 5: Streamer - Arc and Crecent Ch. 12: Act 6: Death to Drug Dealers Trump Threatens to Ramp Up Drug War, Praising Efforts in Philippines & China - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 03-12-18 Voicemails Ch. 13: The barbary wars were justified - Anonymous Ch. 14: Breaking free from the car - Joe from Chicago Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent Ch. 15: Final comments on the benefits of electric-assist bikes and the militaristic history of the US Help fight climate change! Donate to Jay's Climate Ride fundraiser! Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent (Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions) Activism: TAKE ACTION Tell Congress: Stand Against Harsh Drug Penalties via Drug Policy Alliance Tip: Use the sample email as guidance for a call script. EDUCATE YOURSELF An Overdose Death Is Not Murder: Why Drug-Induced Homicide Laws Are Counterproductive and Inhumane (Drug Policy Alliance) Experts React to Trump’s Plan to Escalate Drug War and Impose Death Penalty for Drug Offenses (Drug Policy Alliance) Read: Jeff Sessions’s memo asking federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty for drug traffickers (Vox) Eleven countries studied, one inescapable conclusion – the drug laws don’t work (The Guardian, 2014) Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1174_Drug_War_Air_Date_3-27-18_-_3-27-18_19.56.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT |
Fri, 23 March 2018
Air Date: 3/23/2018 Today we take a look at the structures, barriers and incentives standing between us and simpler, more fulfilling, happier and more environmentally sustainable lives Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Become a member and enjoy ad-free episodes and bonus content! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft Show NotesCh. 1: Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr Ch. 2: Act 1: You Can't Have Infinite Growth On A Finite Planet - Sustainable Human - Air Date 1-11-18 Ch. 3: Song 1: N/A Ch. 4: Act 2: Pleasure, happiness and the marketing that leads us to depression - Who. What. Why. - Air Date 9-29-2017 Ch. 5: Song 2: Open Flames - Aeronaut Ch. 7: Song 3: Molly Molly - Barstool Ch. 8: Act 4: Minimalism: class, fetishes and the fate of the planet - @TheMinimalists - Air Date 2-14-17 Ch. 9: Song 4: Homegrown - The Pine Barrens Ch. 10: Act 5: The Story of Solutions - storyofstuffproject - Air Date 10-1-13 Ch. 11: Song 5: Yarrow and Root - The Bulwark Ch. 12: Act 6: Ari Wallach: 3 ways to plan for the very long term - @TEDTalks - Air Date 4-10-17 Voicemails Ch. 13: Suggesting Hardcore History: Death Throes of the Republic - V from Central New York Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent Ch. 15: Final comments on understanding the systematic nature of oppression so as to know what spandex to wear in opposing it Help fight climate change! Donate to Jay's Climate Ride fundraiser! Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent (Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions) Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1173_Consumerism_Air_Date_3-23-18_-_3-23-18_22.04.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT |
Tue, 20 March 2018
Air Date: 3/20/2018 Today we take a look at the culture behind the gun culture in the US in an attempt to better understand it and to glean new ideas on how to fix it Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Become a member and enjoy ad-free episodes and bonus content! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft Show NotesCh. 1: Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr Ch. 2: Act 1: The origins of gun culture and violence - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 10-1-17 Ch. 3: Song 1: Lesser Gods of Metal - Ray Catcher Ch. 4: Act 2: White Supremacy and the Church of the Second Amendment - @Intercepted w @JeremyScahill - Air Date 2-28-18 Ch. 5: Song 2: Inessential - Bayou Birds Ch. 6: Act 3: Close the Boyfriend Loophole - @FullFrontalSamB - Air Date: 11-02-17 Ch. 7: Song 3: Yarrow and Root - The Bulwark Ch. 8: Act 4: The BIGGEST Problem is American Gun Culture - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 02-22-18 Ch. 9: Song 4: Lakal - Speakeasy Ch. 10: Act 5: Help Students March for Their Lives on March 24th via @AMarch4OurLives #NeverAgain Ch. 11: Song 5: Planting Flags - K4 Ch. 12: Act 6: America has a different, toxic relationship to guns - Speak Out With Tim Wise - Air Date 2-20-18 Voicemails Ch. 13: Thoughts on the lesser-known victims of the opioid crisis - Ani from Alabama Ch. 14: False equivalency between US and Israel - Zach from Atlanta Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent Ch. 15: Final comments incorporating the legacy of colonialism in its various forms BONUS CLIP 1: Juan Gonzalez on the hidden forces behind global immigration - @Intercepted w @JeremyScahill - Air Date 1-31-18 BONUS CLIP 2: Blood, Sweat and Tears (City of the Future, Part 2) - 99% Invisible - Air Date 2-21-18, 2-28-18 Help fight climate change! Donate to Jay's Climate Ride fundraiser! Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent (Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions) Activism: TAKE ACTION Find a March for Our Lives event near you Support the March for Our Lives - Donate Purchase the song “Shine” written and performed by members of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Drama to support Shine MSD - a nonprofit founded to encourage survivors of violence to express themselves through art. EDUCATE YOURSELF National School Walkout: Thousands Protest Against Gun Violence Across the U.S. (NY Times) Students from Parkland and Chicago unite to expand the gun control conversation (Vox) Florida passes gun control bill but fails to ban assault-style weapons used in Parkland school shooting (Independent) College and University Update on Disciplinary Actions (NACAC) Drive them to a march. Buy their gas. Whatever it takes, support all kids marching today (The Guardian) The Students of Stoneman Douglas (60 Minutes) Universities Tell Applicants That Protesting Gun Violence Won’t Affect Admissions (Huffington Post) Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1172_Gun_Culture_Air_Date_3-20-18_-_3-20-18_19.33.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT |
Fri, 16 March 2018
Air Date: 3/16/2018 Today we take a look at the catastrophic point where cutting taxes, racism, capitalism, immigration policy and our punitive-rather-than-rehabilitative criminal justice system all meet Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Become a member and enjoy ad-free episodes and bonus content! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft Show NotesCh. 1: Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr Ch. 2: Act 1: Targeting minority communities as sources of revenue through law enforcement - Leid Stories - Air Date 8-25-15 Ch. 3: Song 1: Lord Weasel - Molerider Ch. 4: Act 2: The costs of incarceration for those least able to pay - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 9-30-16 Ch. 5: Song 2: One Little Triumph - Piano Mover Ch. 6: Act 3: Lauren Brooke, author of Inside Private Prisons - Off Kilter - Air Date 11-9-17 Ch. 7: Song 3: Dirtbike Lovers - Desert Orchard Ch. 8: Act 4: Revenge or Reform: The Penal Challenge - Progressive Faith Sermons w @RevDrRay - Air Date 6-11-17 Ch. 9: Song 4: Neil Takes Two - Studio J Ch. 10: Act 5: What They Won't Tell You About The Fires In California - @RedactedTonight with @LeeCamp - Air Date 10-18-17 Ch. 11: Song 5: Donder - Darby Ch. 12: Act 6: LA Sheriff Whines Because 'Good' Prison Laborers Are Getting Released - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 10-14-17 Ch. 13: Song 6: Heather - Migration Ch. 14: Act 7: Slave labor in our prisons - Off Kilter - Air Date 10-20-17 Ch. 15: Song 7: A Burst of Light - Delray Ch. 16: Act 8: Support #OperationPUSH & Join Juneteenth 2018 Call to End Prison Slavery via @IWW_IWOC - Best of the Left Activism Voicemails Ch. 17: Disputing the horseshoe fallacy - Eduardo Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent Ch. 18: Final comments on DACA, immigration policy, Japanese internment, prison labor and agribusiness Sarah Taber's Twitter thread on Dreamers & the Agricultural History of Japanese Internment Camps BONUS CLIP: Hard times (still) in the fields - Jim @HightowerNews - Air Date 3-14-18 Help fight climate change! Donate to Jay's Climate Ride fundraiser! Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent (Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions) Activism: TAKE ACTION Support Operation PUSH - Incarcerated Worker’s Organizing Committee Support Juneteenth 2018 Call to End Prison Slavery - Fight Toxic Prisons Other Resources: Check out Free Alabama Movement’s “ALABAMA'S EDUCATION, REHABILITATION, AND RE-ENTRY PREPAREDNESS BILL" Check out ACLU New Jersey’s “A Vision to End Mass Incarceration in New Jersey” EDUCATE YOURSELF Prisoner Rights Advocates Rally Against Visitation Cutbacks In Florida Prisons (WUFT) Both Red and Blue States Rely on Prison Labor (via The American Prospect) Prison labour is a billion-dollar industry, with uncertain returns for inmates (The Economist) The NCAA Says Student-Athletes Shouldn’t Be Paid Because the 13th Amendment Allows Unpaid Prison Labor (The Intercept) Florida is afraid of its prison system. Here’s what lawmakers want to do about it. (Tampa Bay Times) Florida Prisoners Prepare To Strike, Demanding an End to Unpaid Labor and Brutal Conditions (The Intercept) Enlisting Prison Labor to Close Budget Gaps (via The New York Times, 2011) 4 Reasons to End Prison Labor Immediately (Care2) Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1171_Prison_Profit_War_Air_Date_3-16-18_-_3-16-18_22.31.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT |
Tue, 13 March 2018
Air Date: 6/6/2017 Today we look at where the Democratic party went wrong that led them to their current disempowered state and some of the arguments for why moving in a progressive direction is both morally correct and electorally smart Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Become a member and enjoy ad-free episodes and bonus content! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft
Show NotesCh. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill Ch. 2: Act 1: Thomas Frank on how Democrats lost their Democratic values - The Zero Hour w: @RJEskow - Air Date 4-22-17 Ch. 3: Song 1: How's That Workin' for You? - Karen Taylor-Good Ch. 5: Song 2: State Your Case - Tibursky Ch. 6: Act 3: Parker Malloy discusses the place for identity politics in the progressive movement - Trumpcast from @Slate - Air Date 4-20-17 Ch. 7: Song 3: Join Forces - Caribbean Pulse Ch. 8: Act 4: The Assault on Bernie Continues: Identity Politics - The @BenjaminPDixon Show - Air Date 4-26-17 Ch. 9: Song 4: Tonight The Streets Are Ours - Richard Hawley Ch. 10: Act 5: FDR provides a guide for how the Democratic Party can win - @Jimmy_Dore Show - Air Date 3-31-17
Direct download: 1109_Progressives_Air_Date_6-2-17_Ad_Free_Rerun_-_3-13-18_23.19.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:52pm EDT |
Fri, 9 March 2018
Air Date: 3/9/2018 Today we take a look at Trump's half-hearted and misguided attempt to address the opioid crisis as well as give some understanding to the history of opioids in the US, the multifaceted reasons why they're being abused at record levels and some ideas as to how to address the problem both humanely and effectively Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Show NotesCh. 1: Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr Ch. 2: Act 1: Trump's Opioid Response Ignores Real Solutions - @TheRealNews - Air Date 10-26-17 Ch. 3: Song 1: These Times - The Pine Barrens Ch. 4: Act 2: Opioid addiction in America - BackStory - Air Date 5-12-17 Ch. 5: Song 2: Our Fingers Cold - K2 Ch. 7: Song 3: Vibrant Canopy - Origami Ch. 8: Act 4: The missing context of the escalating potency of opioid drugs - The Dig - Air Date 10-23-17 Ch. 9: Song 4: Waterbourne - Algea Fields Ch. 10: Act 5: How Trump's opioid emergency measures come up short - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 11-3-17 Ch. 11: Song 5: Moon Bicycle Theme - American Moon Bicycle Ch. 12: Act 6: The psychology and ideology of addiction and treatment - Economic Update - Air Date 1-12-18 Voicemails Ch. 13: Understanding multi-layered fears - Steve from Tampa, FL Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent Ch. 14: Final comments on Steve’s homework and a tease for a bonus clip on the other opioid crisis BONUS CLIP: Are We Missing a Bigger Opioid Crisis? - The Inquiry - Air Date 12-7-17 Help fight climate change! Donate to my Climate Ride fundraiser! Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent (Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions) Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1170_Opioids_War_Air_Date_3-9-18_-_3-9-18_18.36.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT |
Tue, 6 March 2018
Air Date: 3/6/2018 Today we use Trump's threats to commit genocide in North Korea as the jumping off point to take a look at the process of launching and the probable result of using nuclear weapons Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Become a member and enjoy ad-free episodes and bonus content! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft Show NotesCh. 1: Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr Ch. 2: Act 1: Trump calls for genocide - @CounterSpin - Air Date 9-22-17 Ch. 3: Song 1: Quaver - Codebreaker Ch. 4: Act 2: Explaining the process for launching a nuclear attack - Intercepted (@theintercept) - Air Date 9-27-17 Ch. 5: Song 2: Lochley Fells - Barstool Ch. 6: Act 3: Mutually assured destruction in the age of Trump - Thinking Cap - Air Date 2-1-18 Ch. 7: Song 3: That Horse Ithica - Sketchbook Ch. 8: Act 4: Daniel Ellsberg on nuclear war - Who What Why - Air Date 12-20-17 Ch. 9: Song 4: Shift of Currents - Aeronaut Ch. 10: Act 5: Don't Bank on The Bomb Ch. 11: Song 5: N/A Ch. 12: Act 6: Divest from Nuclear Weapons Producers via @DontBankonBomb - Best of the Left Activism Ch. 13: Song 6: The Rampart - Castle Danger Ch. 14: Act 7: Evan Osnos on the North Korea crisis - The Ezra Klein Show - Air Date 11-6-17 Ch. 15: Final comments on some of the lessons we could or should learn from recent developments with North Korea Help fight climate change! Donate to Jay's Climate Ride fundraiser! Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent (Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions) Activism: TAKE ACTION Divest from financial institutions funding nuclear weapons production with DontBankontheBomb.com Get guidance on divesting, download the campaigner guide, and more, on the Action page Easily tweet at and tag financial institutions on Facebook to tell them to stop investing in nuclear weapons EDUCATE YOURSELF Who Invests? (Don't Bank on the Bomb) Who Divests? (Don't Bank on the Bomb) Nuclear Weapons Producers (Don't Bank on the Bomb) Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1169_Nuclear_War_Air_Date_3-6-18_-_3-6-18_19.17.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT |
Fri, 2 March 2018
Air Date: 3/2/2018 Today we take a look at the rise of the right from Trumpism in the US to the far-right parties gaining steam in Europe and beyond Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Become a member and enjoy ad-free episodes and bonus content! Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft Show NotesCh. 1: Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr Ch. 2: Act 1: Brian Klass on understanding what it takes to make Trumpism enticing - The Good Fight - Air Date 6-7-17 Ch. 3: Song 1: Eventual Victory - Codebreaker Ch. 4: Act 2: Christian Picciolini explaining what draws people into hate - Speak Out with Tim Wise - Air Date 9-30-17 Ch. 5: Song 2: The Trestle - Lillehammer Ch. 6: Act 3: Timothy Snyder on the anatomy of tyranny - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 2-23-18 Ch. 7: Song 3: Tyrano Theme - Tyrano Ch. 8: Act 4: Understanding the recent elections in Germany - Trumpcast - Air Date 10-4-17 Ch. 9: Song 4: Delicious - Towboat Ch. 10: Act 5: Understanding the Golden Dawn party in Greece - @Making_Contact - Air Date 12-13-17 Ch. 11: Song 5: Vengeful - Warmbody Ch. 12: Act 6: How we are encouraging the enemies of democracy - The Good Fight - Air Date 4-12-17 Ch. 13: Song 6: Thannoid - Bodytonic Ch. 14: Act 7: Liz Fekete economic push for the rise of the right in Europe - This is Hell - Air Date 1-20-18 Voicemails Ch. 15: The challenge to redefine our society - V from Central New York Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent Ch. 16: Final comments on the importance of finding the intersections of political issues Help fight climate change! Donate to Jay's Climate Ride fundraiser! Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent (Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions) Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1168_Right_Wing_International_Air_Date_3-2-18_-_3-2-18_19.17.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT |