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(2014/02/26) Resistance is the only hope (Capitalism)

Edition #803

Resistance is the only hope

 

You remember that movie "The Neverending Story"? I grew up with that movie but didn't realize until much later how "The Nothing", the apocalyptic, all-consuming, evil force threatening to destroy the universe, was such a nice allegory for capitalism. I'll say one thing for "The Nothing" though, it's very efficient at what it does.

 

Ch. 1: Intro - Theme: A Fond Farewell, Elliott Smith 

Ch. 2: Act 1: Here's a Capitalist That Doesn't Understand Capitalism - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 09-18-13

Ch. 3: Song 1: Doing business - The Rorschach Garden

Ch. 4: Act 2: Return To Liberation Theology Scares Right - @jimmy_dore Show - Air Date 12-13-13

Ch. 5: Song 2: Capitalism - Yellow Umbrella

Ch. 6: Act 3: Peter Buffett: Big Philanthropy and Philanthro-Feudalism - @grittv - Air Date_ 11-26-13

Ch. 7: Song 3: Nothing is good enough - Amiee Mann

Ch. 8: Act 4: Scientific Models Now Showing Revolt Is Our Only Chance? - @LeeCamp - Air Date: 10-30-13

Ch. 9: Song 4: Revolt - CHANT

Ch. 10: Act 5: Henry Giroux on Zombie Politics Part 1 - Democracy In Crisis - @BillMoyers And Company - Air Date 11-22-13

Ch. 11: Song 5: Generation - Emerson Hart

Ch. 12: Act 6: The New Economy Coalition - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Activism - Shihan

Ch. 14: Act 7: Henry Giroux on Zombie Politics Part 2 - Still Room In The Oppression For Resistance - @BillMoyers And Company - Air Date 11-22-13

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 15: We need to be honest about the effects of drugs - Justin from Los Angeles

Ch. 16: How to get to the real issues - Natasha from LA

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 17: Final comments on shifting the paradigm of talking about gender confirmation surgeries

 

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

 

ACTIVISM:

New Economy Coalition h/t Keith Harrington

CommonBound, Northeastern University

 

Sources/further reading:

Watch: Zombie Politics and Culture in the Age of Casino Capitalism, Henry Giroux on Bill Moyers

"End the 1 percent’s free ride: Taxing land would solve America’s biggest problems” by Jesse Myerson

"Noam Chomsky: Will Capitalism Destroy Civilization?”

Chris Hedges speech on Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt via Lee Camp’s Moment of Clarity Podcast

 

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

 

Produced by:

Jay! Tomlinson

 

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores!

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

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Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes!

Direct download: Resistance_is_the_only_hope.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

(2014/02/23) The seamy underbelly (Conservatives)

Edition #802

The seamy underbelly

 

Today we look behind the curtain of conservatives, libertarians and the Republican party. What we find isn't pretty.

 

Ch. 1: Intro - Theme: A Fond Farewell, Elliott Smith 

Ch. 2: Act 1: How to Debunk a Libertarian: Let Them Talk - @majorityfm - Air Date: 11-4-11

Ch. 3: Song 1: Capitalism - Eastenders

Ch. 4: Act 2: Does Studying Economics Make you Greedy? - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 10-23-13

Ch. 5: Song 2: Profit - The Mammals

Ch. 6: Act 3: 9 of 10 Poorest States Are Republican - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 01-19-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: North to Alaska - Johnny Horton

Ch. 8: Act 4: GOP Civil War - The Numbers Tell A Bigger Story & It Ain't Pretty - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 02-15-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Fight back - Garnett Silk

Ch. 10: Act 5: GOP Super Strategist Frank Luntz: Sad and Alone, Blames Obama / America - @majorityfm - Air Date: 01-24-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Get up Stand up - Bob Marley

Ch. 12: Act 6: Republican Identification Lowest in 25 Years - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 01-19-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Hey Ya - Obadiah Parker

Ch. 14: Act 7: Strong Words From The Latest Sane Person Run Out Of The Republican Party - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 02-16-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: You're wrong - NOFX

Ch. 16: Act 8: Libertarian Upset The Daily Show Made Fun of Him - @majorityfm - Air Date: 02-13-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Do it for free - The Constellations

Ch. 18: Act 9: Is Libertarianism the Velvet Glove Over the Iron Fist of Racism? - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 07-12-13

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 19: Societal changes and tipping points - Eyal from San Diego, CA

Ch. 20: Trans* rights and fairness in sports - Marty from Los Angeles

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 21: Final comments on empathy and the momentary insanity brought on by having one's priviilige challenged

 

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

 

Produced by:

Jay! Tomlinson

 

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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

Review the show on iTunes!

Direct download: The_seamy_underbelly.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

(2014/02/20) If you're talking about genitals then you've missed the point (Trans* Rights)

Edition #801

If you're talking about genitals then you've missed the point

Today I take my second crack at discussing trans* rights. Last time I tried it didn't go over too well so today we find out if I've learned from my mistakes and if others will learn a thing or two about trans* issues.

Ch. 1: Intro - Theme: A Fond Farewell, Elliott Smith 

Ch. 2: Act 1: When Is That Appropriate Conversation, Katie - Radio Dispatch - Air Date 1-9-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Lesson Learned (feat. John Mayer) - Alicia Keys

Ch. 4: Act 2: Katie Couric has her bad questions explained to her - Laverne Cox - Air Date: 1-7-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Discrimination - Ancel

Ch. 6: Act 3: Cultural Consequences Of Trans Population - Trans Advocate - Air Date 2-20-13

Ch. 7: Song 3: I can't - Ben Sollee

Ch. 8: Act 4: Twisted And Unethical Journalism And Resultant Suicide - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date 1-21-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Look again - Jim Ford

Ch. 10: Act 5: The case of CeCe McDonald - Melissa Harris-Perry - Air Date: 1-19-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: ***Flawless (feat. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) - Beyoncé

Ch. 12: Act 6: Social Anxiety of Trans Population vs. Military PTSD - Trans Advocate - Air Date 2-20-13

Ch. 13: Song 6: Transgender Dysphoria Blues - Against Me!

Ch. 14: Act 7: Piers Morgan's Uninformed Interview With Janet Mock - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date 2-6-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Strong animals - Dan Romer & Benh Zeitlin

Ch. 16: Act 8: After 20 Years Prisoner Michelle Kosilek Granted Right To Sex Change - @WEEKinBLACKNESS - Air Date: 1-21-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Slipping away - Donnie Darko

Ch. 18: Act 9: The Jim Collins Foundation - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 19: Song 9: Activism - Shihan

Ch. 20: Act 10: Janet Mock on 'Passing' & Redefining Realness - Janet Mock - Air Date: 1-30-14

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 21: Where the women-problems in the south come from - Wes from Alabama

Ch. 22: Thoughts on the arguments of sovereignty against corporate takeover - Dave from Olympia, WA

Ch. 23: Suggesting "The Authoritarians" book - John In Stamford, CT

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 24: Final comments on making progress addressing trans* rights

 

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

 

ACTIVISM:

Jim Collins Foundation

 

Additional Activism

Free CeCe, a documentary on CeCe McDonald

 

Sources/further reading:

Savage Lovecast, episode 369 (11/19/13); Dan Savage interviews M. Dru Levasseur, co-founder and vice president of the Jim Collins Foundation

"Professional Organization Statements Supporting Transgender People In Health Care” via Lambda Legal

"Piers Morgan, It Shouldn’t Be So Hard For You To Interview Janet Mock” by Avital Norman Nathman

"Janet Mock: Piers Morgan 'Sensationalized’ Me” by John Becker

"Because of You: My Letter to CeCe McDonald on Her Release

 

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

 

Produced by:

Jay! Tomlinson

 

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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

Review the show on iTunes!

Direct download: If_youre_talking_about_genitals_then_youve_missed_the_point.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

(2014/02/17) A parody of itself (Media)

Edition #800

A parody of itself

 

I'm eternally grateful for how ridiculously terrible the mainstream media is. If not for their utter and nearly constant failures I'm quite sure I never would have been inspired to start this show in the first place. 

 

Ch. 1: Intro - Theme: A Fond Farewell, Elliott Smith 

Ch. 2: Act 1: New Boss's Past Reflects Future Of CBS News - @greennewsreport - Air Date 1-9-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Failing - The Laryngospasms

Ch. 4: Act 2: CBSs 60 Minutes Loosing Creditability - @CitizenRadio - Air Date 1-8-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Truth - Amos Lee

Ch. 6: Act 3: When the Media Does It's Job, It Looks Something Like This … - Rachel @maddow - Air Date: 01-03-2014

Ch. 7: Song 3: Talk to me - Stevie Nicks

Ch. 8: Act 4: There's reason to fight total monopolization - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date: 2-14-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Do the right thing - Beres Hammond

Ch. 10: Act 5: The War On Fox Is Over - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 12-22-13

Ch. 11: Song 5: Bookends - Simon & Garfunkel

Ch. 12: Act 6: Brave New Films: The antidote to corporate media - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Activism - Shihan

Ch. 14: Act 7: Least Credible Historian Is Expert on Glenn Beck Show - @jimmy_dore Show - Air Date 12-27-13

Ch. 15: Song 7: Unsee - Dearly Beloved

Ch. 16: Act 8: MSNBC Interrupts Congresswoman on NSA for Report on Justin Bieber - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 01-27-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: What's up? - 4 Non Blondes

Ch. 18: Act 9: Which media outlets stand up to those in power? - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date: 2-14-14

Ch. 19: Song 9: Hide the truth - Chronicle

Ch. 20: Act 10: The media shrugs, again - @onthemedia - Air Date: 2-14-14

Ch. 21: Song 10: In my arms - Jon Foreman

Ch. 22: Act 11: Wow, Fox News Is SCREWED - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 01-28-14

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 23: Life is scientific, personhood is a purely moral distinction - Mara from Pittsburgh

Ch. 24: Drug addicts can't boycott drugs - Jamie in Cincinnati

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 25: Final comments on the realities of the arguments needed to win political and issue campaigns

 

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

 

ACTIVISM:

Brave New Films from Robert Greenwald

 

Sources/further reading:

"Unmanned: America's Drone Wars” Trailer

”OutFoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism” Trailer

Follow Brave New Films on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube for announcements and new video shorts.

"Robert Greenwald Takes on Obama's Out-of-Control Drone Warfare in New Documentary: ‘Unmanned’” from Alternet

 

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

 

Produced by:

Jay! Tomlinson

 

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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

Review the show on iTunes!

Direct download: A_parody_of_itself.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

(2014/02/14) Rise of the gatekeepers (Net Neutrality)

Edition #799

Rise of the gatekeepers

 

Ch. 1: Intro - Theme: A Fond Farewell, Elliott Smith 

Ch. 2: Act 1: Why This Ruling On Net Neutrality Is A Disaster - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 01-15-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Bad news - Kanye West

Ch. 4: Act 2: Net Neutrality and you - @onthemedia - Air Date: 1-17-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Made to suffer - Speedsters and Dopers

Ch. 6: Act 3: What Does Net Neutrality Ruling Mean for You? - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 01-27-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: The perfect space - The Avett Brothers

Ch. 8: Act 4: Is Net Neutrality Dead? Can Netflix Save it? Can We? - @amazingatheist - Air Date: 2-6-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: The secret agent - Cello Octet Conjunto Ibérico & Elias Arizcuren

Ch. 10: Act 5: Net Neutrality: Why Should You be Concerned? - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 01-15-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Coming to terms - Carolina Liar

Ch. 12: Act 6: FreePress.net fights against media monopolies - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Activism - Shihan

Ch. 14: Act 7: The Digital Gatekeepers Don't Need No Stinkin' Net Neutrality - @dccommonsense - Air Date 1-20-14

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 15: Anti-abortion politics rooted in discipline and punishment - Emma from Texas

Ch. 16: Anti-abortion stance is authoritarian stance - Nathan from Vancouver, WA

Ch. 17: We need to look at political and social policy perspective of decriminalization - Elka from Fort Wayne, IN

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 18: Final comments on why liberals need to create shame around the ethics of doing illegal drugs - an email from listen Javier

 

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

 

ACTIVISM:

Petition to Stop the Time Warner/Comcast Merger

 

Additional Activism

Save The Internet Action Page

Sources/further reading:

"Comcast takeover of Time Warner Cable to reshape U.S. pay TV” via Reuters by Liana B. Baker

What Needs To Be Done To Save Net Neutrality, Tim Karr of Free Press on The Matthew Filipowicz Show

"How Netflix and Google Could Lead the Fight For Net Neutrality”

”Federal Court Guts Net Neutrality Rules"

”Merging Cable Giants is ‘an Affront to the Public Interest’" from John Nichols at The Nation Magazine

 

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

 

Produced by:

Jay! Tomlinson

 

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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

Review the show on iTunes!

Direct download: Rise_of_the_gatekeepers.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 6:01pm EDT

(2014/02/11) Learning to play nice with human nature (War on Drugs)

Edition #798

Learning to play nice with human nature

 

Today we look at the evolution of bullshit reasons there have been to prohibit consumption of marijuana: from the bullshit reasons scared white people came up with to ban it originally to the bullshit reasons scared white people use in the present to keep it illegal, all while steadfastly ignoring the evidence which points toward the war on drugs leaving an expensive path of unmitigated destruction behind it wherever it goes.

 

Ch. 1: Intro - Theme: A Fond Farewell, Elliott Smith 

Ch. 2: Act 1: 3 Absurd Reasons for Banning Drugs - LearnLiberty - Air Date: 09-20-11

Ch. 3: Act 2: Smoke Weed? You're Fat & Dangerous According To These Pundits - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 01-08-14

Ch. 4: Song 2: I can't explain - The Who

Ch. 5: Act 3: Gourmet Pot Editor Freaks Out O'Reilly - @jimmy_dore Show - Air Date 12-13-13

Ch. 6: Song 3: Where is my mind? - The Pixies

Ch. 7: Act 4: Government To Sell Pot For $1 A Gram (In Uruguay) - Why? - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 10-23-13

Ch. 8: Song 4: Represent - Weezer

Ch. 9: Act 5: Is the End of Marijuana Prohibition the End of the War On Drugs? Probably Not. - @brucedixon - Air Date: 1-8-14

Ch. 10: Song 5: Inevitable - Scissor Sisters

Ch. 11: Act 6: Thom Hartmann on Decriminalizing Pot - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 01-17-14

Ch. 12: Song 6: Legalize it - Peter Tosh

Ch. 13: Act 7: Obama on Marijuana Legalization: Important For It to Go Forward - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 01-22-14

Ch. 14: Song 7: Open your eyes - Snow Patrol

Ch. 15: Act 8: Why Right Wing Addicts Like Rob Ford, Rush Limbaugh Don't Ask For Help - @majorityfm - Air Date: 11-06-13

Ch. 16: Song 8: Everything falls apart - Dog's Eye View

Ch. 17: Act 9: Families Against Mandatory Minimums - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 18: Song 9: Activism - Shihan

Ch. 19: Act 10: Philip Seymour Hoffman Didn't Have to Die... - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 02-03-14

Ch. 20: Song 10: South Side - Moby

Ch. 21: Act 11: We need drug rules that recognizes human nature - @dccommonsense - Air Date: 2-5-14

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 22: On the TPP and national sovereignty - Erin from Philadelphia

Ch. 23: Support for Avera on sex education in the south - Mark from New Mexico

Ch. 24: Prior consent still doesn't impart obligation - Jake from New Hampshire

Ch. 25: Weighing quality of life in the discussion of reproductive rights - Anonymous

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 26: Final comments on the ease of being misunderstood, especially when discussing the abuse of children in the context of the reproductive rights debate

 

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

 

ACTIVISM:

Tell the Commission: Cut These Drug Sentences!” from Families Against Mandatory Minimums

 

Sources/further reading:

AG Holder speaks out on federal sentencing, C-Span broadcast

”A New Development in Prison Reform” from Colorlines

The story of Stephanie George (FAMM)

and ”For Lesser Crimes, Rethinking Life Behind Bars”, The New York Times

Follow Families Against Mandatory Minimums on Twitter and Facebook

 

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

 

Produced by:

Jay! Tomlinson

 

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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

Review the show on iTunes!

Direct download: Learning_to_play_nice_with_human_nature.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

Edition #797

Trouble at the old pharm

Today we take a look at the seedy underbelly of the industry that creates all of those wonderful, life-saving drugs that sit at the crossroads of western medicine and western capitalism.

Ch. 1: Intro - Theme: A Fond Farewell, Elliott Smith 

Ch. 2: Act 1: Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare - EscapeFireMovie - Air Date: 07-12-12

Ch. 3: Song 1: Mother of the night - Moby

Ch. 4: Act 2: Who are the REAL Obamacare Hypocrites? - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 01-07-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Margaret on the Guillotine - Morrissey

Ch. 6: Act 3: This Is Why Healthcare Costs So Much - @majorityfm - Air Date: 12-11-13

Ch. 7: Song 3: Snake oil - Entrain

Ch. 8: Act 4: Major Pharm Company To End Payments To Doctors - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 12-21-13

Ch. 9: Song 4: First patient - Philip Glass

Ch. 10: Act 5: Map Shows Damage Caused by Anti-Vaccine Movement - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 01-29-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Bad idea - Goose

Ch. 12: Act 6: Stand Up For Mental Health - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Activism - Shihan

Ch. 14: Act 7: Big Pharma CEO: Our Medicine is for Rich People, Not Inians - @majorityfm - Air Date: 01-29-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Two points for honesty - Guster

Ch. 16: Act 8: New Once-A-Month Vitamin Presents Choking Hazard - @TheOnion

Ch. 17: Song 8: Choke - The Black Cadillacs

Ch. 18: Act 9: Hepatitis C Cure Discovered - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 01-06-14

Ch. 19: Introduction to today's voicemail on reproductive rights

Voicemails:

Ch. 20: Personhood is not the central principle in abortion debate - Mara from Pittsburgh

Ch. 21: Science as the deciding factor - Dirk from Madison, WI

Ch. 22: Rebuttal to bodily autonomy - Anonymous

Ch. 23: Comparing the ideas of obligation vs bodily autonomy - Mara from Pittsburgh

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

Ch. 24: Final comments on why bodily autonomy is the primary consideration and personhood is secondary

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

ACTIVISM:

Stand Up For Mental Health Campaign

Additional Activism/Resources:

Affordable Care Act

National Alliance of Mental Illness

h/t Feminista Jones

Sources/further reading:

"When ‘Positivity' Goes Wrong: Please Stop Shaming People For Being Sad”

by Pia Glen 

"USDA Announces Support for Mental Health Facilities in Rural Areas"

Doctors For America

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

Produced by:

Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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

Review the show on iTunes!

Direct download: Trouble_at_the_old_pharm.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

Bonus Edition #25

The fourth dimension

Today I discuss the elements of time and perspective.

References include:

Mountains in Motion: The Canadian Rockies by The Upthink Lab

99% Invisible - Episode 91: Wild Ones Live

GOING THE DISTANCE: On and off the road with Barack Obama - BY DAVID REMNICK

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Theme Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

Produced by:

Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores!

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

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Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes!

Direct download: The_fourth_dimension.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 3:10pm EDT

Edition #796

Don't eat shit and die

Turns out there's a whole lot of stuff wrong with our food supply, including cows eating shit. Like they don't already have it bad enough.

Ch. 1: Intro - Theme: A Fond Farewell, Elliott Smith 

Ch. 2: Act 1: 10,000 Sick in Salmonella Chicken Outbreak - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 10-10-13

Ch. 3: Song 1: Salmonella - Shim Schechter

Ch. 4: Act 2: Virulent Strain Of Soy Flu Traced To Single Tofurky - @TheOnion

Ch. 5: Song 2: Virus - Duran Duran

Ch. 6: Act 3: In this season of feasting, let's celebrate agriCULTURE - @jimhightower - Air Date: 11-28-13

Ch. 7: Song 3: Harvest Season - Benjamin Josif

Ch. 8: Act 4: How Waste Isn't Just Throwing Things Away - @FoodWaste_TV - Air Date: 06-04-13

Ch. 9: Song 4: Smithereen - Deep East Music

Ch. 10: Act 5: Cows Being Fed Chicken Poop, FDA Not Stopping It - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 12-28-13

Ch. 11: Song 5: Risk it - Nahko and Medicine for the People

Ch. 12: Act 6: John Robbins: Why I went vegetarian - @vegsource - Air Date: 5-21-09

Ch. 13: Song 6: Everybody ona move - Michael Franti And Spearhead

Ch. 14: Act 7: A curse, a blessing, and a good food movement - @jimhightower - Air Date: 12-5-13

Ch. 15: Song 7: Good food - Akbar

Ch. 16: Act 8: Transgenic foods have bought the population problem some time - @inquiringshow - Air Date: 9-27-13

Ch. 17: Song 8: Take it to the limit - The Eagles

Ch. 18: Act 9: National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 19: Song 9: Activism - Shihan

Ch. 20: Act 10: Listener Argues Against GMO Food Labeling - @majorityfm - Air Date: 01-24-14

Ch. 21: Song 10: Fake plastic trees - Radiohead

Ch. 22: Act 11: Only Study Linking GMOs to Cancer Gets Retracted - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 12-03-13

Ch. 23: Song 11: Good food - Legendary Wings

Ch. 24: Act 12: The Incredible Response to Our "Real Reasons to be Afraid of GMOs" Interview - @majorityfm - Air Date: 01-24-14

Voicemails:

Ch. 25: Number one source of GHG is animal agriculture - Kate from Boston

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

Ch. 26: Final comments on being contacted by a potential corporate shill

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

ACTIVISM:

NSAC “Take Action” page

Sources/further reading:

NSAC on Twitter and NSAC on Facebook

What Is Sustainable Agriculture?

"The New Farm Bill: Yet Again, Not Ready for Climate Change” and "Obama’s 5 Biggest Sellouts to the Meat Industry” by Tom Philpott

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

Produced by:

Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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

Review the show on iTunes!

Direct download: Dont_eat_shit_and_die.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

Edition #795

It's hot, it's cold, it's polluted

Who knew that incredibly complex weather patterns could be explained but something other than thoughtless gut reaction? We learn about the polar vortex, the West Virginia chemical spill and the life cycle of fracked natural gas.

Ch. 1: Intro - Theme: A Fond Farewell, Elliott Smith 

Ch. 2: Act 1: Right mocks rescued climate scientists - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 01-02-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Misery (Acoustic) - Maroon 5

Ch. 4: Act 2: Why is it so Darn Cold? - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 01-06-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get (Remastered) - Morrissey

Ch. 6: Act 3: Chilling The Debate On Global Warming - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 1-10-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: The fix is in - Ok Go

Ch. 8: Act 4: 'Freedom Industries' Poisons West Virginia - @majorityfm - Air Date: 01-13-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Freedom - Music Themes Group

Ch. 10: Act 5: What Happens in West Virginia Doesn't Stay in West Virginia - Rachel @maddow - Air Date: 1-14-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Rivers and roads - The Head and the Heart

Ch. 12: Act 6: Criminal Freedom Industries Admit to Contaminating Water More Than Previously Thought - @majorityfm - Air Date: 01-31-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Oops and move on - Henry Phillips

Ch. 14: Act 7: You Won't Believe Who's Teaching Children To LOVE Fracking! - @LeeCamp - Air Date: 01-13-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Programmed - Trapper Schoepp Band

Ch. 16: Act 8: Clean energy, not Cove Point - Mike Tidwell of Chesapeake Climate Action Network (@CCAN)

Ch. 17: Song 8: Buildin' Slow - Here's to the Long Haul

Ch. 18: Act 9: Obama Relies On Corrupt Consultants For Crucial Environmental Report - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 02-01-14

Ch. 19: Song 9: Blame Me! Blame Me! - Anberlin

Ch. 20: Act 10: The Solutions Project - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 21: Song 10: Activism - Shihan

Ch. 22: Act 11: Just 0.01% of Climate Scientists Reject Global Warming - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 01-16-14

Ch. 23: Song 11: Less is more - Laura Love

Ch. 24: Act 12: Bill Moyers Essay: When Congressmen Deny Climate Change and Evolution - @BillMoyers & Company - Air Date: 1-24-14

Voicemails:

Ch. 25: Thoughts on queerness and rights of the fetus - Jake from New Hampshire

Ch. 26: Without a clear consensus on personhood, government would be overstepping to restrict abortions - Michael from New Jersey

Ch. 27: Personhood is really not that big of an issue, body autonomy is - Max from Brooklyn, NY

Ch. 28: Reproductive rights debate is about shaming women for having sex - Avera from Alabama

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

Ch. 29: Final comments on bodily autonomy and the problem with the whole debate

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

ACTIVISM:

The Solutions Project

Other Activism:

Put Solar on It

Sources/further reading:

Empowered by Light

"Mark Ruffalo Wants You To Imagine a 100 Percent Clean Energy Future" h/t Inquiring Minds Podcast with Chris Mooney and Indre Viskontas

"How to Power the Word” via Scientific American

Gasland The Movie (I and II)

Mark Ruffalo, Josh Fox and The Solutions Project on Twitter.

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

Produced by:

Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

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Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

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Direct download: Its_hot_its_cold_it_polluted.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT