Best of the Left Podcast

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(2014/05/31) The scales are systemically tipped (Media)

Edition #831

The scales are systemically tipped

 

Today we look at just a few of the things that are fundamentally broken about the way our corporate media system works

 

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: MSNBC Silent On Cable Merger - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 4-18-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Show me something new - Shout Out Louds

Ch. 4: Act 2: Study: Fox News Climate Change Coverage 72% Misleading - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 04-10-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: I'm a pilot - Fanfarlo

Ch. 6: Act 3: The White House Correspondents Dinner: Why It's Weird - @majorityfm - Air Date: 05-08-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Washington, D.C. - The Magnetic Fields

Ch. 8: Act 4: Watchdogs in Tuxedos - @onthemedia - Air Date: 5-9-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Little Embarrassing - Rosemary's Sons

Ch. 10: Act 5: You Don't Even Know You're Being Manipulated - Lee Camp - Air Date: 04-02-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Opinions - Llewellyn

Ch. 12: Act 6: White male privilege in the new media - @radio_dispatch - Air Date 3-18-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: You're the storm - The Cardigans

Ch. 14: Act 7: Blurred lines - @onthemedia - Air Date: 5-9-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: I'm the slime - Frank Zappa

Ch. 16: Act 8: The Media Has FAILED The American People. Sen. Harry Reid MSNBC Interview - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-09-14

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 17: Thoughts on education reform - Ben from Jersey

Ch. 18: A new way of looking at laws regarding relationships - Tayna in California

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 19: Final comments on why you should go check out the music of The Haymarket Squares

 

Closing Music:

Opinions - The Haymarket Squares

 

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: 831_The_scales_are_systemically_tipped_Media.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

(2014/05/28) Misguided and hypocritical (War on Drugs)

Edition #830

Misguided and hypocritical

 

Today we look at some of the benefits of marijuana legalization and the hypocritical asininity of those who oppose it

 

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Report: Marijuana Overdoses Have Killed Dozens...says Police Chief - @majorityfm - Air Date: 03-03-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Messages - Xavier Rudd

Ch. 4: Act 2: Marijuana Legalization in CO: Crime Down, Revenues Up - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 05-16-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: That's all - Clare and the Reasons

Ch. 6: Act 3: Governor Apparently Wants Heroin Users To Overdose - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 02-13-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Overdose - Little Daylight

Ch. 8: Act 4: The importance of harm reduction - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date: 5-20-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Heroin - The Velvet Underground & Nico

Ch. 10: Act 5: Online DEA Manuals Show How Feds Use NSA Spy Data, Train Local Cops to Construct False Chains of Evidence - @blkagendareport - Air Date: 2-5-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Nobody does it better - Carly Simon

Ch. 12: Act 6: Time to Fire the DEA Head! - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 04-09-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Time to go home - Michael Franti And Spearhead

Ch. 14: Act 7: The Smarter Sentencing Act via @PopResistance - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7: Activism - Shihan

Ch. 16: Act 8: Millions Dead From Dangerous Drug - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-14-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Discrimination - Ancel

Ch. 18: Act 9: The Wisdom Of The MSNBC's Morning Narcissist - @jimmy_dore Show - Air Date 1-11-14

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 19: Thoughts on VA hospitals - Jay from New York

Ch. 20: The limits for violence the state should be allowed to use - Nathan from Vancouver, WA

Ch. 21: Cruelty is OK as long as it's not unusual - Rosa from Denver, CO

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 22: Final comments thanking those who've been spreading the word about the show

 

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

 

ACTIVISM:

Support ‘Smarter Sentencing Act’

 

Sources/further reading:

Drug War Cost Clock

"Economists Slam the War on Drugs in a New London School of Economics Report” by Abby Haglage

"Global drugs war a 'billion-dollar failure’” via

"End The War On Drugs, Say Nobel Prize-Winning Economists” by Matt Ferner

“Ending the Drug Wars: Report of the LSE Expert Group on the Economics of Drug Policy”

 

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: 830_Misguided_and_hypocritical_War_on_Drugs_1.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

(2014/05/25) The evil that we deplore (Foreign Policy)

Edition #829

The evil that we deplore

 

Today we look ahead to the forthcoming report on America's torture program and back at the process by which we keep getting ourselves into these situations

 

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: 1 Is America ready for honesty about Iraq? - Rachel @Maddow - Air Date: 04-03-2014

Ch. 3: Song 1: Won't let go - Downplay

Ch. 4: Act 2: 2 CIA Lied About Torture To Justify Using It (Senate Report) - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 04-02-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Don't look back in anger - Oasis

Ch. 6: Act 3: 3 Shocker! CIA Lied About Torture - @majorityfm - Air Date: 04-16-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Going home - Niklas Aman

Ch. 8: Act 4: The Stop Torture Campaign via: @amnestyonline - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 9: Song 4: Activism - Shihan

Ch. 10: Act 5: Introduction to the AUMF and it's control over our foreign policy - RadioLab - Air Date: 4-28-24

Ch. 11: Song 5: Say goodbye - Ian Rhett

Ch. 12: Act 6: Rewriting History - @onthemedia - Air Date: 2-21-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Re-write history - George Dobbs

Ch. 14: Act 7: How Barbara Lee became an American hero - RadioLab - Air Date: 4-28-24

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Ch. 15: Final comments: Thanking an American hero

 

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

 

ACTIVISM:

Stop Torture: Act Now from Amnesty International

Follow/participate: #StopTorture

 

Sources/further reading:

United Nations Convention Against Torture

"Report Shows Widespread Torture, Despite UN Convention” by Katie Rucke

#CloseGitmo — National Day of Action to Close Guantanamo Bay

 

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: 829_The_evil_that_we_deplore_Foreign_Policy.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

(2014/01/30) Scientific literacy and how to get there (Education) (Repost)

Edition #794

Scientific literacy and how to get there

 

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: TN Student Speaks Out About Common Core, Teacher Evaluations, and Educational Data - Ethan Young - Air Date: 11-7-13

Ch. 3: Song 1: Mr. Roboto - Styx

Ch. 4: Act 2: Standardized Annual Testing Isn't Working - Schooled (from @slate) - Air Date 11-1-13

Ch. 5: Song 2: Let's stick together - Wilbert Harrison

Ch. 6: Act 3: Crazy Stuff Kids Learn in Louisiana Schools - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 01-10-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Galileo - G.G. Allin

Ch. 8: Act 4: Neil deGrasse Tyson on Science, Religion and the Universe - @BillMoyers - Air Date 1-17-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Come undone - Duran Duran

Ch. 10: Act 5: National Science Foundation: Science Hard - @TheOnion

Ch. 11: Song 5: Too hard - J Mascis

Ch. 12: Act 6: Producing The Smartest Kids In The World - Schooled (from @slate) - Air Date 11-1-13

Ch. 13: Song 6: Training montage from Rocky - Vince DiCola

Ch. 14: Act 7: Is Higher Education Even Worth It? | Defaults Skyrocket - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 10-06-13

Ch. 15: Song 7: Opportunity - Pete Murray

Ch. 16: Act 8: Finding the money to fund higher education for all - @jimhightower - Air Date: 8-8-13

Ch. 17: Song 8: Free Education (feat. Treez & Young DJ) - Jawaan Larue

Ch. 18: Act 9: Neil deGrasse Tyson on Science Literacy - @BillMoyers - Air Adate 1-24-14

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 19: Thoughts on 'queer' - David in Austin, TX

Ch. 20: Reproductive rights discussion needs more focus on personhood - Colin from Nebraska

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 21: Final comments on why 'reproductive rights' is about more than just abortion

 

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: 2014_01_30_Scientific_literacy_and_how_to_get_there_Education.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

(2014/05/19) Bad in principle and in practice (Death Penalty)

Edition #828

Bad in principle and in practice

 

Today we look at what benefits there are in having a death penalty (none) and which elements of it are fundamentally unjust (all)

 

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: If The Victim Is White, Death Penalty MUCH More Likely - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 03-23-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Death penalty - Surrogate

Ch. 4: Act 2: If You Support the Death Penalty, You're Probably White - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 04-01-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Fight to Win (feat. Cee Lo Green) - Goodie Mob

Ch. 6: Act 3: Execution In Oklahoma - @MumiaAbuJamal - Air Date: 5-5-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: American way - Little River Band

Ch. 8: Act 4: Texas to try secret lethal drug in execution - Rachel @Maddow - Air Date: 5-12-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Close these curtains - Yoko Duo

Ch. 10: Act 5: Judgement On The Secret Cocktail - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 5-9-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: What are we doing here? - Tom Schreck

Ch. 12: Act 6: Court blocks Texas from killing prisoner - Rachel @maddow - Air Date 5-13-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Death penalty - Eight Dayz

Ch. 14: Act 7: Shocking Percentage Of Death Row Inmates Are Innocent - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-03-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Can't hide from the truth - The Hot 8 Brass Band

Ch. 16: Act 8: Fixing the death row system via @innocence - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Activism - Shihan

Ch. 18: Act 9: Support for Death Penalty Lowest in 40 Years - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 10-31-13

Ch. 19: Song 9: A change is gonna come - Ben Sollee

Ch. 20: Act 10: Rick Perry Killed an Innocent Man - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 03-12-14

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 21: Historical context of respectability politics - ? from Pittsburgh, PA

Ch. 22: Respectability politics = victim blaming - Sonya from Minnesota

Ch. 23: Jeff from theliberalcurmudgeon.com on how and why to support Best of the Left - Jeff from New York

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 24: Final comments on the next bonus episode on the concepts of self and free will

 

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

 

ACTIVISM:

What Can I Do? from The Innocence Project

 

Sources/further reading:

"How Oklahoma's GOP Governor Turned a Heinous Killer Into a Death-Penalty Martyr” by Stephanie Mencimer at Mother Jones

VIDEO: "Execution Chaos: Witness Recounts Botched Killing That Caused Oklahoma Prisoner's Fatal Heart Attack” via Democracy Now!

"Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin defends controversial execution” by Meredith Clark via MSNBC

 

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: 828_Bad_in_principle_and_in_practice_Death_Penalty_1.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

(2014/05/16) Perspective Taking (Racism)

Edition #827

Perspective Taking

 

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: A Brief History of White Privilege, Racism and Oppression in America - Acronym TV (@dennistrainorjr) - Air Date: 04-29-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Know your history - Ignite

Ch. 4: Act 2: Jim Demint's Delusional Slave History - @twibnation - Air Date 4-9-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Can't keep up - Silhouette

Ch. 6: Act 3: How Whites Have Benefited From Affirmative Action Throughout American History - @majorityfm - Air Date: 04-23-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: North by North - Faded Paper Figures

Ch. 8: Act 4: Three Things About the Donald Sterling Tape - illdoc1more (@jsmooth995) - Air Date: 4-28-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Tobacco Road - Common Market

Ch. 10: Act 5: Race in the Obama era - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 04-10-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: No guarantee - !Akimbo

Ch. 12: Act 6: The 'My Brother's Keeper' Initiative Part 1 - @historicalTWiB - Air Date 3-5-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Truth - Amos Lee

Ch. 14: Act 7: NBC Illustrates Its Concept Of Diversity - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 5-2-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Sometime around midnight - The Airborne Toxic Event

Ch. 16: Act 8: The 'My Brother's Keeper' Initiative Part 2 - @historicalTWiB - Air Date 3-5-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Meaningless - The Nighty Nite

Ch. 18: Act 9: Conservatives The ONLY Group Opposing Racial Equality [POLL] - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 01-05-14

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 19: Banning polygmany is not discrimination - Raul from Hawaii

Ch. 20: Polygamy vs polyamory and questioning monogomy as natural - Matt from Michigan

Ch. 21: A poly perspective - Katie Klabusich from New York

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 22: Final comments on the American paradigm of restrictions on freedom

 

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: 827_Perspective_Taking_Racism.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

(2014/05/13) Work is work is work (Wage and Respect Gap)

Edition #826

Work is work is work

 

Today we take a delightfully nuanced look at the causes of the gender pay gap and then likely make a lot of people uncomfortable with the idea that sex work isn't inherently evil

 

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Equal Pay Day: How Obama Is Helping Close the Pay Gap - @majorityfm - Air Date: 04-09-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: New slang - The Shins

Ch. 4: Act 2: Differentials In Pay Between Women And Men (Part 1) - @WEEKinBLACKNESS - Air Date 4-8-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Ode to my family - The Cranberries

Ch. 6: Act 3: Politician: Women Don't Deserve Equal Pay Because WHAT?! - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 05-02-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Coal miner's daughter - Loretta Lynn

Ch. 8: Act 4: Differentials In Pay Between Women And Men (Part 2) - @WEEKinBLACKNESS - Air Date 4-8-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: The upturned nose of Count Buffon - Black Prairie

Ch. 10: Act 5: Fox Is Just Asking: "Are Female Breadwinners A Problem?" - Media Matters Minute (@mmfa) - Air Date: 05-05-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: The upturned nose of Count Buffon - Black Prairie

Ch. 12: Act 6: Playing The Whore, The Work Of Sex Work - @radio_dispatch - Air Date: 3-5-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: There she goes - Sixpence None The Richer

Ch. 14: Act 7: Prostitution Restrictions Removed by Canada Supreme Court - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 12-28-13

Ch. 15: Song 7: Today has been okay - Emiliana Torrini

Ch. 16: Act 8: The Sex Workers Project via @UJCSexWorkers - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Activism - Shihan

Ch. 18: Act 9: Influence Of Internet On Sex Workers - @fakedansavage - Air Date 7-30-13

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 19: Surprised at lack of animal agriculture in climate episode - Jim from Washington State

Ch. 20: Government should get out of the marriage business - Nathan from Boca Raton, FL

Ch. 21: Thanks for campaign finance reform episode - Paula from California

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 22: Final comments on how to share the show and it's segments

 

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

 

ACTIVISM:

No Condoms as Evidence

emPOWER - a Celebration of the Sex Workers Project, June 5th, NYC

 

Additional Activism

Follow #NotYourRescueProject

The Best Practices Police Project (BPPP): Take Action and Volunteer

 

Sources/further reading:

”Playing the Whore” by Melissa Gira Grant

"Fighting sex trafficking with Jesus: How the religious right’s 'healing' hurts” by Melissa Gira Grant

"Sex worker activist convicted for crime of 'walking while trans’” via Feministing

”Sex Workers: We’re not a rescue project, not trafficking victims” by Andrea Garcia-Vargas

Listen: Red Umbrella Diaries podcast from Red Umbrella Project

"How a controversial Ariz. program tries to keep sex workers out of jail” by Sarah Hoye

"NYPD to Stop Seizing Sex Work Suspects’ Condoms”

 

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: 826_Work_is_work_is_work_Wage_and_Respect_Gap.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

(2014/05/10) This might be the solution (Money in politics)

Edition #825

This might be the solution

 

Today we look at the classic issue of how money in politics has totally fucked us all and at one way to possibly turn the tables. Details at MayOne.us

 

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: The Political 1% of the 1% - @SunFoundation - Air Date: 06-24-13

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

Ch. 4: Act 2: American Democracy no Longer Works - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 04-15-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Live like you're dying - Lenka

Ch. 6: Act 3: SCOTUS Defines Corruption - @dccommonsense - Air Date 4-5-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Any way you want it - Journey

Ch. 8: Act 4: Lawrence Lessig’s March to End Corruption - @billmoyersHQ - Air Date: 2-14-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Walk beside me - Darrell Scott & Tim O'Brien

Ch. 10: Act 5: Lawrence @Lessig: The unstoppable walk to political reform - TED - Air Date: March 2014

Ch. 11: Song 5: Ask - The Smiths

Ch. 12: Act 6: Mayday PAC Launch - MayOne.US (@lessig) - Air Date: 4-29-14

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 13: Ethical Electric available in Delaware - ? From Delaware

Ch. 14: Examining polyamory - Melissa from New York

Ch. 15: Religion is a choice - Sonya from Minnesota

Ch. 16: Continuing the discussion on polygamy - Amanda from San Diego

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 17: Final comments on MayOne.us and the need for progressive media marketing

 

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: 825_This_might_be_the_solution_Money_in_politics.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

Edition #824

Investing in a green future

 

Today we lament the fact that conservatives used to be less-wildly wrong on climate change than they are now and look at some ways the rest of us can start investing in a green future without their help

 

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: What is your investment dollar doing? - Australians for coal - Air Date: 02-28-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Fuck you - Bad Religion

Ch. 4: Act 2: When Republicans believed in climate change - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 04-22-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Ignorance is bliss - Ramones

Ch. 6: Act 3: Science Deniers Reject Facts From Big Bang to Climate - @majorityfm - Air Date: 03-18-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: My conversation - The Uniques

Ch. 8: Act 4: Keep Your Heads in the Sand - Rachel @Maddow - Air Date: 03-31-2014

Ch. 9: Song 4: Head in the sand - Rothbard

Ch. 10: Act 5: Report confirms the effect of climate change happening today, spurs action - @greennewsreport - Air Date: 5-6-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Making progress - Freedom's Progress

Ch. 12: Act 6: How to attack solar energy - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 04-18-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Sunshine goodtime - Minnutes

Ch. 14: Act 7: Putting the Freeze on Global Warming (Part 1) - @BillMoyersHQ  And Company - Air Date 4-25-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Keep on moving forward - Emma's Revolution

Ch. 16: Act 8: Buying Green Power via @ENERGY - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Activism - Shihan

Ch. 18: Act 9: Putting the Freeze on Global Warming (Part 2) - @BillMoyersHQ  And Company - Air Date 4-25-14

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 21: Why progressives shouldn't be in favor of polygamy - Raul from Hawaii

Ch. 22: Real-world consequences of state-sanctioned polyamorous relationships - Nathan from Vancouver, WA

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 23: Final comments on legal sanctioning of polyamorous relationships ft: David Pakman Show

 

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

 

ACTIVISM:

Buying Green Power, The Green Power Network

 

Sources/further reading:

"Green Mountain Power Vermont Utility Extends ‘Cow Power’ Option To All Customers”

"Opponents trying to shut US solar down ‘state-by-state’”

"Hoping to lower costs, Worcester signs pact with new energy supplier”

"Inside New York’s Historic Move to Remake the Utility Business Model” Greentech Media Inc.

"IKEA Makes First Wind Farm Investment in the United States”

"Study Finds Utility Decoupling is Gaining Traction” via DeSmogBlog

"The Guardian Exposes Fossil Funded Groups Coordinating Renewable Energy Attacks” by Steve Horn

”Tesla wants to free you from your electric utility” via Green News Report

 

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: 824_Investing_in_a_green_future_Climate.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

(2014/05/04) It makes moral and economic sense (Minimum Wage)

Edition #823

It makes moral and economic sense

 

Today we look at the reasons why it's both moral and economically sound to raise the minimum wage to a reasonable level and why those who oppose this change are stupid, wrong and ugly doodyheads.

 

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: The dignity of labor - Martin Luther King Jr.

Ch. 3: Song 1: A fair day's wage - Ronan Macmanus

Ch. 4: Act 2: David Card and Alan Kruegar 'New Economics Of Minimum Wage' - @teamgoodfight - Air Date 4-24-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Minimum wage - The expendables

Ch. 6: Act 3: Should We Raise the Minimum Wage? - vlogbrothers - Air Date: 03-17-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Minimum wage - The busboys

Ch. 8: Act 4: Paying More And Getting More For Your Money - @teamgoodfight - Air Date 4-24-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Minimum wage - Fenix TX

Ch. 10: Act 5: All Work and No Pay Part 1 - @BillMoyersHQ  And Company - Air Date 4-4-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Minimum wage - Ramain Virgo

Ch. 12: Act 6: The Holes in the CBO Minimum Wage Report - Majority Report - Air Date: 02-24-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Minimum wage - The closet  monsters

Ch. 14: Act 7: All Work and No Pay Part 2 - @BillMoyersHQ  And Company - Air Date 4-4-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Minimum wage - Keven Sandbloom

Ch. 16: Act 8: Raise the Minimum Wage to 10.10 via @NelpNews - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Activism - Shihan

Ch. 18: Act 9: Intro to: Sen. Elizabeth Warren talks income inequality - All In with Chris Hayes - Air Date: 5-1-14

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 19: On the underfunding of public schools and mishandling of special needs students - Sally from San Francisco

Ch. 20: Respectability politics and Donald Sterling - Daniel from Houston

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 21: Final comments on the good problem I'm having and what's coming up on the bonus show for members

 

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

 

ACTIVISM:

Raise the Minimum Wage via NELP

Raise the Wage via The White House

 

Sources/further reading:

"Senate Republicans Block Minimum Wage Bill”

"Hawaii Passes A $10.10 Minimum Wage Without Waiting For Congress”

"Seattle Mayor Plans to Raise Minimum Wage to $15”

"Opinion Poll: New York Small Businesses Support Higher Minimum Wages for Cities and Counties”

"Five Economic Reforms Millennials Should Be Fighting For: Guaranteed jobs, universal basic incomes, public finance and more”Jesse Myerson

 

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: 823_It_makes_moral_and_economic_sense_Minimum_Wage.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

(2014/05/01) It might have something to do with race (Immigration)

Edition #822

It might have something to do with race

 

Today we look at the immigration debate and ponder how conservatives may feel about the issue if those immigrants were a slightly lighter shade

 

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: The Pledge: a symbol of unity for immigration fairness - @DefineAmerican - Air Date: 12-13-13

Ch. 3: Song 1: American Land - Bruce Springsteen

Ch. 4: Act 2: Michele Bachmann: No Immigration Reform Because Mexicans Aren't Republican! - @majorityfm - Air Date: 02-13-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: The maelstrom - Jim Guthrie

Ch. 6: Act 3: Fox Pushes Baseless Fear That Having IDs Will Allow Undocumented Immigrants To Vote - Media Matters Minute - Air Date: 02-13-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: The maelstrom - Jim Guthrie

Ch. 8: Act 4: Republicans Find Every Reason to Avoid Immigration Reform - Rachel @maddow - Air Date: 02-11-2014

Ch. 9: Song 4: The District sleeps alone tonight - The Postal Service

Ch. 10: Act 5: Black Americans support immigrant rights so why is this group so opposed? - @bravenewfilms - Air Date: 10-23-13

Ch. 11: Song 5: Hip hop eugenics - Catastrophic

Ch. 12: Act 6: An Immigration Lawyer Confirms What We All Knew About Immigration Reform in This Country - @majorityfm - Air Date: 02-20-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Old fashioned - Niki Haris

Ch. 14: Act 7: Here comes the Border-Industrial Complex - Jim Hightower - Air Date: 8-9-13

Ch. 15: Song 7: Fenced in - The Mercury Project

Ch. 16: Act 8: Immigration Reform News: Bodies on the Border - Op-Docs - The New York Times - Air Date: 08-19-13

Ch. 17: Song 8: Once there was a hushpuppy - Dan Romer & Benh Zeitlin

Ch. 18: Act 9: A Local Anchorwoman Destroys Conservative Misinformation About Multilingual Super Bowl Ad - Media Matters Minute - Air Date: 02-04-14

Ch. 19: Song 9: Once there was a hushpuppy - Dan Romer & Benh Zeitlin

Ch. 20: Act 10: Republicans Won't Like Jeb Bush Pushing Amnesty for 2016 - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 04-24-14

Ch. 21: Song 10: Hollywood Meets Bollywood (Immigration) [feat. Chamillionaire] - Wyclef Jean

Ch. 22: Act 11: Obama To The Deported: I'll Think About It - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 04-13-14

Ch. 23: Song 11: Change your mind - The Killers

Ch. 24: Act 12: Stop Deportations Now via @AFLCIO - @BestoftheLeft Activism

Ch. 25: Song 12: Activism - Shihan

Ch. 26: Act 13: Top 5 ways anti-immigrant hate makes its way into media and policy - @bravenewfilms - Air Date: 4-12-13

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 27: Donald Sterling's racism and respectability politics - Dejavante from Notre Dame, IN

Ch. 28: Dissecting respectability politics - Uhuru from Sweden

Ch. 29: Following up on respectability politics - Prof. Rambo from Georgia

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 30: Final comments on respectability politics, rape culture and missing the bigger picture

 

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

 

ACTIVISM:

AFL-CIO: Stop Deportations Now, YouTube

Tweet your legislators via ContactingTheCongress.Org

 

Additional Activism

Sign the “Tell Cecilia to Tell the Truth petition from Presente.Org

Send Messages of Solidarity to Hunger Strikers via AFL-CIO on Twitter and Jessica Morales, AFL-CIO New MEdia Strategist

 

Sources/further reading:

"Unions’ Giant Video Near White House Urges Halt to Deportations" via The New York Times

AFL-CIO Recommendations on Administrative Action on Immigration

"Immigration Reform News 2014: House Speaker John Boehner Addresses Immigration Comments to GOP Lawmakers" via Latin Post

"Sen. Mike Lee: Most House Republicans want ‘step-by-step’ immigration reform” via The Washington Times

 

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: 822_It_might_have_something_to_do_with_race_Immigration.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT