Edition #811

Today we look at some of the reasons why rich people have a tendency to be some of the worst people on the planet and how their actions make things worse for everyone, including themselves.

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: The persecuted rich - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 01-30-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Perfect Balance (Population Ballroom Mix) - Perfect Balance - EP

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Why Do Crazy Rich People Keep Talking About Nazism? - @majorityfm - Air Date: 03-20-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Friends and Neighbors - Ain't She Sweet

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Former Wolf Of Wall Street Comes Clean In Op-Ed - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 02-03-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Philosophy - Ben Folds Five

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Affluenza vs Impoverbetes - Disorderly Conduct (@Dis_Con) - Air Date 12-16-13

Ch. 9: Song 4: My Wealth Comes to Me - Dear Companion

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Ch. 10: Act 5: They're Bigger Assholes Than You Ever Thought | Wall Street Secret Society Infiltrated - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 02-19-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: The Game Is Rigged - Badly Stuffed Animals

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Citizen’s United Take Two via @CommonCause - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Activism - The Poet

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Paul Piff: Does money make you mean? - TEDx - Air Date: 12-2013

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Voicemails

Ch. 15: Coverage of Ukraine dropped the ball - Issac from DC

Ch. 16: Thoughts on Joss Whedon's speech - Rosa from Denver, CO

Ch. 17: The cold war then and now - Maureen from Mass

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 18: Final comments on my bad mood leading to today's fuck-the-rick episode

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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ACTIVISM:

Take Action on McCutcheon v FEC from Common Cause

Sources/further reading:

McCutcheon v Federal Election Commission from SCOTUS Blog

"Scalia’s looming fiasco: Obscure new SCOTUS case may be worse than Citizens United" by Josh Eidelson

"Six Supreme Court Cases to Watch This Term” by Jessica Mason Pieklo

"How Much Did Sheldon Adelson Really Spend on Campaign 2012?” from ProPublica

”Who Is Foster Friess? Seven Facts You Need to Know” from

 

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

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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 [at] BestOfTheLeft [dot] com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Edition #828

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

Edition #886

Today, after weeks of discussing the wrongful deaths of unarmed citizens at the hands of brutal policing policies, the illegal and immoral systematic torture of prisoners carried out in our names and the inescapable reach of rape culture infused in our society, we’re finally able to dedicate our last new episode of the year to one of the nations most pressing issues

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: War On Christmas Update From Bill O'Reilly On Fox News - @TheYoungTurks - Air Date: 12-04-13

Ch. 3: Song 1: War On Christmas - Enabling Peace On Earth

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Bill O'Reilly: The War on Christmas Avenger - @majorityfm - Air Date: 12-05-13

Ch. 5: Song 2: Christians and Pagans - Mortal City

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Wouldn't Jesus Hate Christmas? - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 12-23-13

Ch. 7: Song 3: The War On the War On Christmas - The War On the War On Christmas - Single

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Ch. 8: Act 4: @chrisrock Monologue: We commercialize everything - Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) - Air Date: 12-03-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: War On Christmas Day - Hallways: the Songs of Carol Hall

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Bill O'Reilly's Latest Manufactured 'War On Christmas' Crisis - @TheYoungTurks - Air Date: 12-07-13

Ch. 11: Song 5: War Medley: Onward Christian Soldiers / I'm On the Battlefield / Keep On the Firing Line - Sanders Family Christmas - Smoke On the Mountain, Pt. 2

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Christmas Belongs To Everyone - @fakedansavage - Air Date 12-24-13

Ch. 13: Song 6: White Wine in the Sun - White Wine in the Sun - Single

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Bill O'Reilly: War on Christmas 2014, Revenge of the Muslims! - @majorityfm - Air Date: 11-20-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: (It's Good to Be) A Jew At Christmas - Unorthodox

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Ch. 16: Act 8: The True Origin Of Christmas - @jimmy_dore Show - Air Date 12-20-13

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Ch. 18: Final comments on a year I'm happy to see gone

Bonus - Song 8: (There's No War On Christmas) When Christmas Is in Your Heart - (There's No War On Christmas) When Christmas Is in Your Heart - Single

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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 and Stitcher!

Edition #885

Today we take a look at the fallout from a badly reported case of rape at a UVA frat house. Rolling Stone seemed to be trying to help but with a completely upside-down approach of how to expose the problems of rape culture, compounded by one journalistic blunder after another, they only succeeded in making the problem worse.

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Introduction to the UVA rape case badly reported by Rolling Stone - @onthemedia - AIr Date: 12-6-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: The Party Is Over - Adam Levy - All Four One: Vol. 1 - Americana Compilation

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Ch. 4: Act 2: UVA rape story questioned -@MHPshow - Air Date: 12-7-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Trust in Me - At Last! (Remastered)

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Laura Dunn (@SurvJustice) on the Fallout from the Rolling Stone article “A Rape on Campus” - @RadioTimes with @MartyMossCoane - Air Date: 12-9-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Common Reaction - Un Huh Her

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Ch. 8: Act 4: The nightmare the bad reporting on the UVA rape case has created - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date: 12-9-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Good Ol' Fashion Nightmare - Grand

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Why demanding perfect victims is a recipe for disaster - @MattFilipowicz Show - Air Date: 12-16-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Beautiful Disaster - Greatest Hits '93-'03

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Is There A 'Right' Way To Report On Rape? - @helenbenedict on @HuffPostLive with @RickyCam - Air Date: 12-10-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Le mystère de contre jour - Contre jour (Original Soundtrack)

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Ch. 14: Act 7: A very few people lie but we should believe them anyways - @fakedansavage - Air Date: 12-16-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Deep In the SweetWater (Remix by Joseph Bishara) - My Fever Broke

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Support Survivors With @KnowYourIX - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Activism - The Poet

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Ch. 18: Act 9: Talking about sexual assault prevention - @MHPshow - Air Date: 12-14-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 20:  More thoughts on striking healthcare workers - Steve from Alaska

Ch. 21: Minimum income is more dignified than social programs - Nathan from Vancouver, WA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 22: Final comments sharing some good news and also some good news

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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Activism: Support Survivors With @KnowYourIX

Take Action:

Follow, support, and utilize the resources at Know Your IX

Additional Activism/Resources:

Read and signal boost the #BelieveSurvivors hashtag

Sources/further reading:

"On Rolling Stone, lessons from fact-checking, and the limits of journalism” by Maya Dusenbery at Feministing

”Jackie Update” — and why media only covers “interesting” rape stories by Melissa McEwan at Shakesville

"How Rolling Stone Gave A Gift To Rape Apologists” by Katie Klabusich at Buzzfeed

"Why I Don't Want To Hear Both Sides Of Rape Cases” by Wagatwe Wanjuki at Buzzfeed

"Victims’ Memories Are Imperfect, But Still Perfectly Believable” by Ali Safran at Buzzfeed

"The Wrestler and the Rape Victim” by Jessica Luther at Vice Sports

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #884

Today we take a look at the recently released Senate torture report and attempt to give guidance on how it should and should NOT be received

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Senate releases report on CIA torture - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date 12-9-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Human Rights - One Thing

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Ch. 4: Act 2: "We Are Awesome"... - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 12-10-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Look At How Awesome We Are! - Look At How Awesome We Are!

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Juan Cole on the lack of response to US torture from the Middle East - @truthdig Radio - Air Date: 12-12-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Machine - Contre jour (Original Soundtrack)

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Suggesting alternatives to torture - The Bugle (@hellobuglers) - Air Date: 12-12-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Seduce Me - Joyride

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Don't change the subject on torture - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date 12-12-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: The Idiots Are Taking Over - The War On Errorism

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Pardons would label torturers as criminals - Rachel @Maddow Show - Air Date: 12-9-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: We Know Better - Small Fame

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Our culture of impunity - Le Show (@theharryshearer) - Air Date: 12-14-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Accountability - I've Never Been to Heaven

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Prosecute #Torture via @ACLU - Best of the Left Activism

Act 8.5:  They Said No To Torture - @aclu videos - Air Date: 12-12-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Time for Action - Time for Action - the Very Best Of

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Ch. 18: Act 9: Hayes Are really we a nation of laws? - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date 12-9-14

Ch. 19: Song 9: Law and Order - The Ultimate TV Themes Collection: Thrillers

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Ch. 20: Act 10: What happens when you betray your ideals - @dccommonsense with Dan Carlin - Air Date: 12-14-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 21: What's needed to understand the discussion on race - Vphriamer Adis from New York

Ch. 22: The heartland is in media darkness - Vicki from Oregon

Ch. 23: American exceptionalism is bullshit - Chris from Colorado Springs

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 24: Final comments on the underserved oppressed group featured in the most recent bonus episode

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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Activism: Prosecute #Torture via @ACLU

Take Action:

Write, email, and call (202-353-1555) the Department of Justice to demand the prosecution of those who ordered and orchestrated torture.

SIGN the ACLU petition: No Free Pass For Torture

Additional Activism:

SIGN the ACLU petition demanding the president Honor Those Who Said No To Torture

Sources/further reading:

"Why a Criminal Investigation is Necessary” — The ACLU statement on the Senate Torture Report

"Civil Rights Groups Call for Prosecution of Torture Architects” by Murtaza Hussain at The Intercept

"SSCI Torture Report Key: They Knew It was Torture, Knew It Was Illegal” via empty wheel

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #883

Today we take a look at the economics of energy and the implications for the climate. Turns out the pressure to create a clean energy future is making that future a good bet for investors

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Climate Change - fentoncomonline - Air Date: 9-22-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: One Love - Songs Around the World (Audio/Video Version)

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Ch. 4: Act 2: The financial realities of the energy industry are shifting - @greennewsreport - Air Date: 12-04-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Sunshine Goodtime - Pretty Baby

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Yo, Conservatives! Turns Out Program that Funded Solyndra Made Money and That's Not Even the Point... - @majorityfm - Air Date: 11-24-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Don't Hold Me Back - Call Back

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Climate Change: The Cost of Inaction - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (@EPA) - Air Date: 9-19-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Mothers of the Night - Last Night

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Major corporation spending millions to build a symbol? - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date: 11-28-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Waltz of Honesty - Adventure the Great EP

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Keystone XL Pipeline Job Numbers Even WORSE Than We Thought - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 11-22-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Reinventing Kevin Bacon - Causes and Cures

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Progress at the climate negotiations - @greennewsreport - Air Date: 12-11-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Australia - Wincing the Night Away

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Ch. 16: Act 8: The Changing Climates Of Global Warming Propaganda [Fascinating Study] - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 11-29-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Hide and Seek - Speak for Yourself

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Ch. 18: Act 9:  Shoulders - Shane @Koyczan and The Short Story Long - Air Date: 10-8-14

Ch. 19: Song 9: One Day - Light (Bonus Track Version)

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Ch. 20: Act 10: Get Local on #ClimateChange via @NRDC - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 21: Song 10: Time for Action - Time for Action - the Very Best Of

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Ch. 22: Act 11: These Republicans use China as an excuse for climate inaction. What will they say now? - @theclimatedesk - Air Date: 11-11-14

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Ch. 23: Act 12: Secret negotiations lead to US/China GHG emmissions agreement - @greennewsreport - Air Date: 11-13-14

Ch. 24: Song 12: Liquid Sun - The Beginning (A New Hope) (club mix) - DJ Keoki

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Ch. 25: Act 13: HUGE: U.S. and China Announce Big New Climate Deal - @majorityfm - Air Date: 11-13-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 26: Black and brown people aren't seen as human - Daemon from Bath, NC

Ch. 27: Need to work from within and without on racism - Gia from Philadelphia, PA

Ch. 28: Fuck the police - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Ch. 29: Questioning white supremacy - Marcus from Wichita Falls, TX

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 30: Final comments on the ocean of white supremacy that we all swim in

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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Activism: Get Local on #ClimateChange via @NRDC

Take Action:

SIGN to Tell Your Governor to Help Curb Climate Change h/t The National Resources Defense Council

Sources/further reading:

"5 Awful Things Congress Snuck Into the Omnibus Budget Deal” via The Bulletin

"Congress narrowly averts government shutdown” via CNN.com

"What’s in That Huge, Lobbyist-Driven Spending Bill?” by Joshua Holland at BillMoyers.com

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #882

Today we take a look at the systemic failures, both institutional and psychological, that continue to make injustice the norm throughout our justice system

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: How "Protect & Serve" Became "Search & Destroy" - @bravenewfilms - Air Date: 09-08-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Unknown Song

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Ch. 4: Act 2: And now to have secret trials - Le Show (@theharryshearer) - Air Date: 11-30-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: What Is Your Secret - The Weight Is a Gift

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Botched grand jury instructions call Ferguson ruling into question - Rachel @Maddow Show - Air Date: 12-02-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Just asking - Triangle Shirt Factory

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Justice Scalia’s Grand Jury Rant Highlights Everything Wrong With Ferguson - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 11-30-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Soon It Will Be Cold Enough to Build Fires - Soon It Will Be Cold Enough

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Police body cameras are about more than the film they produce - @teamgoodfight - Air Date 9-15-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Gobbledigook - Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Officer's testimony cast Michael Brown as outsized threat - Rachel @Maddow Show - Air Date: 11-25-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Fear is a villain - Theo Bard

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Ch. 14: Act 7: The differing assumptions made about black children - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date: 12-2-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Mad World (feat. Gary Jules) - Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets

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Ch. 16: Act 8: #ThisStopsToday - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Right to Complain - Backatown (Bonus Track Version)

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Ch. 18: Act 9: Why police shoot black men - @TWiBnation - Air Date: 12-2-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 19: Responding to Mark from Texas - Calling from Seattle

Ch. 20: Respectability politics has been tried and it doesn't work - Jadelle from NYC

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 21: Final comments on respectability politics and a call for diversity in the voicemails

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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Activism: #ThisStopsToday

SIGN ACLU petition: "Our communities are not war zones”

SIGN Change.org petition: Require Ferguson and St. Louis County and City police officers to wear body cameras

Demand the Department of Justice Secure Justice For Mike Brown through federal Civil Rights action

Demand the Department of Justice investigate and indict Officer Pantaleo on federal criminal charges for violating Eric Garner’s Civil Rights

Additional Activism/Resources:

#ThisStopsToday events are ongoing. Find/organize one in your city.

Contact the Dept of Justice

Follow Jamilah Lemieux’s #AliveWhileBlack thread.

Bookmark the Justice 4 Mike Brown Tumblr which is aggregating video/pics/posts from around the world in solidarity

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

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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 and Stitcher!

Edition #881

Today listen and learn from those most deeply effected by the pattern of deaths of black men and women as they talk through their grief and anger

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Ferguson - @MumiaAbuJamal - Air Date: 11-25-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: The Survivors - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Music from the Motion Picture)

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Ferguson is Selma - @mychalsmith on @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date: 11-26-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Basique - Mickey Mouse Operation

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Ch. 6: Act 3: New rules and time for action - @blackastronaut1 - Air Date: 11-26-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Song Link here

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Ch. 8: Act 4: This is what hopelessness looks like - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date: 11-26-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Rivers and Roads - The Head and the Heart

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Ch. 10: Act 5: The Illipsis- on Ferguson, riots and human limits - @jsmooth995 - Air Date: 11-26-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Tobacco Road - Tobacco Road

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Ferguson's Fall Out - @MumiaAbuJamal - Air Date: 11-29-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Struggle - Ringside

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Ch. 14: Act 7: When the System Provides No Remedies to Torture, You Must Overthrow It - @blkagendareport - Air Date: 12-3-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Take a Look Around (In the Style of Limp Bizkit) [Karaoke Instrumental Version] - Karaoke in the Style of Limp Bizkit - Single

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Ch. 16: Act 8: New York City takes to streets in wake of Garner ruling - Rachel @Maddow Show - Air Date: 12-3-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: 

Everyday (Single Version) - Carly Comando

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Ch. 18: Act 9: Death for a Cigarette - @MumiaAbuJamal - Air Date: 12-4-14

Ch. 19: Song 9: 

If Not Now, When - Anchor & Braille

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Ch. 20: Act 10: Prepare yourselves for the long haul - @TWiBnation - Air Date: 12-3-14

Ch. 21: Song 10: 

Protest song - Anti-Flag

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Ch. 22: Act 11: Killer Mike's pre-show Ferguson Grand Jury speech

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Voicemails

Ch. 23: Focus on the gasoline, not the match - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Ch. 24: Thoughts on the big picture of race relations in America - Marcus from Wichita Falls, TX

Ch. 25: Another blow to the psyche - Prof. Rambo from Georgia

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 26: Final comments directing protesters to fergusonresponse.tumblr.com and #thisstopstoday

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #880

Today we take a look at the fact that the divisions in our media consumption are creating perspectives of the world which are utterly unrecognizable to one another

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Who Controls The News - @jimmy_dore  Show - Air Date 8-22-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: This Is an Advertisement - This Is an Advertisement - Single

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Ch. 4: Act 2: It depends on how you define news - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date: 10-31-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Pompeii - Bad Blood

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Ch. 6: Act 3: No, "Liberal" Pundits. Midterm Elections Do Not Show Dems Need to Stop Being "Hard Left" - @majorityfm - Air Date: 11-06-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Praise You - The Greatest Hits - Why Try Harder

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Ch. 8: Act 4: What has Happened to News in America? - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 10-15-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: The Walls Are Coming Down - Reservoir

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Bengazi scandal debunked by GOP-lead investigation - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date: 11-28-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Bad News - 808s & Heartbreak (Exclusive Edition)

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Ch. 12: Act 6: A Nation in Fear - @MumiaAbuJamal - Air Date: 10-20-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Fear - Fearless

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Ch. 14: Act 7: NBC's balanced coverage of voter fraud - @jimmy_dore Show - Air Date: 10-25-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Clementine - Suburban Nature

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Media is the big winner in elections - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date: 11-07-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Doing Business - Transfer

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Ch. 18: Act 9: Conservatives Trust News Like This, Liberals Trust News Like That - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 10-25-14

Ch. 19: Song 9: Hide the Truth - Coming Up, Vol. 1

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Ch. 20: Act 10: Conservative media creates parallel universe - Rachel @Maddow Show - Air Date: 11-10-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 21: Thoughts on medical personnel strikes - Colin from Cleveland, OH

Ch. 22: Responding to street harassment episode - Aaron from Pennsylvania

Ch. 23: Switching to 100% renewable energy was cheaper - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 24: Final comments on Ethical Electric and National Day of Mourning

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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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 and Stitcher!

#796

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.

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

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

Ch. 3: Song 1: Salmonella - Shul days

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

Ch. 5: Song 2: Virus - Astronaut

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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 - The Sun Shone Through the Trees

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

Ch. 9: Song 4: Smithereen - Epic Indie New Wave

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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 - Dark As Night

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

Ch. 13: Song 6: Everybody Ona Move - Yell Fire!

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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 - Planet X

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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 - Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975

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

Ch. 19: Song 9: Activism - The Poet

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

Ch. 21: Song 10: Fake Plastic Trees - The Bends

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

Ch. 23: Song 11: Good Food - Making Paper Roses

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

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Voicemails

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

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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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 [at] BestOfTheLeft [dot] com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Edition #879

Today we take a look at some of the underlying problems with capitalism and their repercussions

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Can Money Buy Happiness? - AsapSCIENCE - Air Date: 12-20-12

Ch. 3: Song 1: Spend - Try to Be Here

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Unregulated Capitalism and the Persuit of Happiness... - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 11-12-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Mo Money Mo Problems (feat. Mase & Puff Daddy) - Life After Death (Deluxe Version)

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Capitalism is fundamentally undemocratic - Economic Update with @profwolff - Air Date: 11-10-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Capitalism - Capitalism (feat. Bajka) - EP

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Thoughts on a basic guaranteed income - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date: 10-20-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: American Way - Essential Masters

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Triangle Returns - Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights - Air Date: 03-22-11

Ch. 11: Song 5: Going Home - The Talks

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Dr. King's "Bill of Economic and Social Rights" - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 01-21-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: America First - Chicago Wind

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Protest Black Friday - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7: Right to Complain - Backatown (Bonus Track Version)

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Ch. 16: Act 8: When Your Workers Want Rights Just Pay Off A Politician - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 09-18-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 18: Asking for thoughts on medical personnel strikes - Peter from Little Rock, AK

Ch. 19: The importance of turnout - Ben from New Jersey

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 20: Final comments on the evolution of political and economic systems

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

Activism: Protest Black Friday, #BND/#WalmartStrikers

Take Action:

Participate by not participating: Buy Nothing Day #BND via Adbusters

Follow and support Walmart Strikers via #WalmartStrikers on Twitter and Black Friday Protests

Sources/further reading:

"Sit-Down Strike at Walmart and Win? It's Been Done” via Huffington Post

"Letter: Working and middle class should support fast food workers” via Fight For $15

"Poll: Should retailers remain open on Thanksgiving?” with Steven Greenhouse on PBS Newshour

Watch: "This Black Friday, Workers to Challenge the Waltons” via OUR Walmart

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #878

Today we take a look at how the fight against money in politics is going in the wake of the 2014 election and where it’s going looking forward

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: The Bare Knuckle Fight Against Money in Politics Part 1 - @billmoyersHQ - Air Date: 11-14-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Fearless (Acoustic Version) - For today

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Corrupt Congressman Threatens Critics With More Corruption - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 10-22-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Don't Believe a Word - Realistic

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Ch. 6: Act 3: The Bare Knuckle Fight Against Money in Politics Part 2 - @billmoyersHQ - Air Date: 11-14-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Gimme Hope Jo'anna - The Very Best of Eddy Grant - Road to Reparation

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Princeton Study: US is No Longer an Actual Democracy - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 11-16-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Oligarchy - Punkgrass for the People

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Ch. 10: Act 5: What $10 Million buys you in politics Part 1 - @teamgoodfight - Air Date: 11-17-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: The Confrontation - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Music from the Motion Picture)

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Our democracy has been hijacked by the billionaires? - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 11-03-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Buy My Vote - Righteous Ruckus

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Ch. 14: Act 7: What $10 Million buys you in politics Part 2 - @teamgoodfight - Air Date: 11-17-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Nothing Else Matters - Inquisition Symphony

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Ch. 16: Act 8: The Bare Knuckle Fight Against Money in Politics Part 3 - @billmoyersHQ - Air Date: 11-14-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Fighting Song (feat. Tom Morello) - Eyes On Fire - EP

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Ch. 18: Act 9: The Quiet Movement That’s Saving Democracy Is About To Explode - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 11-13-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 20: Comparing hyper-strict charter schools with boot camp - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Ch. 21: Keeping minorities in school alive and employable - Ryan from Phoenix

Ch. 22: GOP is getting paid well to not understand climate change - Erin from Philadelphia

Ch. 23: Response to harassment video and William J Jackson - David From Albuquerque, NM

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 24: Final comments with a call to send a thank-you note to the staff at Mayday PAC at info@mayday.us

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #877

To day we take a look at the election to see what went right, what went wrong and why. Plus, how to fix the problems for the future.

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Small victories, silver linings seen in lopsided election - Rachel @Maddow Show - Air Date: 11-5-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Silver Lining - Under the Blacklight

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Turnout in the United States is always awful - Al Jazeera America (@ajam) - Air Date: 11-04-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Free to Decide - Stars - The Best of 1992-2002

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Ch. 6: Act 3: No motivation to vote in a system that doesn't solve people's problems - Economic Update with @profwolff - Air Date: 11-10-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Changes - 2Pac: Greatest Hits

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Republicans Now Dominate State Governments - Here’s Why - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 11-08-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Forbidden Love - Righteous Ruckus

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Democrats lost because people can't trust them - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date: 11-8-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: My Conversation - The Best of the Uniques 1967-1969

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Real Representative Democracy via @FairVote - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Time for Action - Time for Action - the Very Best Of

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Ch. 14: Act 7: This Is What Happens When Wolf Pac (@WolfPAChq) Attacks - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 11-06-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 15: We need a new voting system to support democracy - Nathan from Vancouver, WA

Ch. 16: Voter ID is a solution to a different problem - Ronald in Baltimore

Ch. 17: Apology For Imitation - Mike From Nova Scotia

Ch. 18: Wake up call on street harassment - Adam from Tennessee

Ch. 19: Response to the street harassment video - William J Jackson from Washington State calling out of Florida

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 20: Final comments on all the great voicemails that have been coming in

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

Activism: Real Representative Democracy via @FairVote

Take Action:

Get involved with Fair Vote

Follow FairVote on Twitter and on Facebook

Additional Activism/Resources:

Reform 2020

Representation 2020

Sources/further reading:

"Voter turnout in 2014 was the lowest since WWII” via The Washington Post

"The Gender Gap: Percentage of Women in Government Worldwide. We're Number One, Right? Not So Much…” via Daily Kos

”Jim Crow Returns: millions of minority voters threatened by electoral purge by Greg Palast at Al Jazeera America

Watch: Brad Friedman (@TheBradBlog) on Thom Hartmann’s The Big Picture discussing #Election2014 result reliability.

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #876

Today we take a look at why street harassment, from the most vile to the most seemingly innocuous, is holding back the fight for equality and making half the population feel like targets for abuse

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Street Harassment And Fake Phone Numbers - @TWiBnation - Air Date 6-4-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Call me back - Mike Flowers Pops

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Walking Home - Inkwell MV - @MTMFilmFest

Ch. 5: Song 2: Walk a Mile - My First Holly Golightly Album

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Ch. 6: Act 3: The race and class problem with the street harrassment viral video - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date: 10-30-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: How Loud Your Heart Gets - Wildewoman

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Reasons to not engage - @TWiBnation - Air Date: 10-29-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Wait Til You See My Smile - The Element of Freedom (Deluxe Version)

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Ch. 10: Act 5: How to Run Like a Girl - Stuff Mom Never Told You - @MomStuffPodcast - Air Date: 09-29-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Marathon - Cape Dory

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Ch. 12: Act 6: NYC Women Talk Cat Calling - Totally Biased with @wkamaubell - Air Date: 10-26-12

Ch. 13: Song 6: Creep (Glee Cast Version) - Creep (Glee Cast Version) - Single

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Dudes greeting dudes - @TWiBnation - Air Date: 11-4-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Julie-O - Kevin "KO" Olusola

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Stop Street Harassment via @StopStHarassmnt - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Time for Action - Time for Action - the Very Best Of

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Ch. 18: Act 9: Trying To Justify Sexual Street Harrassment - @radio_dispatch - Air Date 4-10-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 22: Sam Harris was being mischaracterized - Brad from Tennessee

Ch. 21: Islam isn't a race but it's treated like one - Dirk from Alameda, California

Ch. 23: Dogmatic thinking is the major problem in the world - Daniel from Albany, NY

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 24: Final comments solving the debate on religious extremism once and for all

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

Activism: Stop Street Harassment via @StopStHarassmnt

Take Action:

Get involved with Stop Street Harassment

Mark your calendar for Meet Us On The Street, an international anti-street harassment campaign April 12-18, 2005.

Follow Stop Street Harassment on Twitter and on Facebook

Additional Activism/Resources:

Bookmark Meet Us On The Street Week resources on Twitter and on Facebook

Follow the #EndStreetHarassment thread and share your own experiences.

Sources/further reading:

"Street harassment of women: It's a bigger problem than you think” by Holly Kearl at Christian Science Monitor

"Feeling harassed? Do something about it. — Friday is Women's Equality Day in the US, yet routine street harassment blocks that goal for many women. But we can act.” by Holly Kearl at The Guardian

"6 Things You Might Not Think Are Harassment But Definitely Are (because apparently we need to clear a few things up)” by Kat George at Bustle

"Street Harassment Is a Problem—No Doubt—but Here’s Why That Video Didn’t Help the Debate” by Dio Rabouin at The Root

"Hollaback and Why Everyone Needs Better Research Methods And Why All Data Needs Theory” by Zeynep Tufekci at Medium

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #875

Today we take a look at some of the potential environmental fallout of the recent US elections

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Climate Change: Our greatest health threat, or our greatest opportunity for better health? - Global Climate and Health Alliance (@GCHAlliance) - Air Date: 04-03-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Dreamtime - Faith In the Future

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Ch. 4: Act 2: US Could Quadruple Renewable Electricity by 2030 for 18 CENTS PER MONTH - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 10-26-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Future Is Now - Dune

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Politico & BP Blatantly Conspire To Hide BP's Devastating Oil Spill - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 10-23-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Journalist - The System

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Ch. 8: Act 4: First the Arctic, now Greenland's Ice is Melting... - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 10-07-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Strong Animals - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Music from the Motion Picture)

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Climate Change — Faith and Fact - @BillMoyersHQ And Company - Air Date 9-12-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Genesis - Futureperfect

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Cable News Features Unhinged Climate Denier - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 11-09-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Nothing to See Here - Can't Remember the Last Time

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Ch. 14: Act 7: This is not the middle of the climate debate - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date: 10-31-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Stuck In the Middle With You - Stuck In the Middle With You (Remastered) - EP

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Will Climate Change Force Florida to Split Into Two? - @majorityfm - Air Date: 10-27-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Sink, Florida, Sink - As the Eternal Cowboy

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Ch. 18: Act 9: The climate desaster of the midterm elections - @greennewsreport - Air Date: 11-6-14

Ch. 19: Song 9: A Change Is Gonna Come - Ain't That Good News

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Ch. 20: Act 10: #KeystoneXL Under Congressional #Climate Deniers - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 21: Song 10: Time for Action - Time for Action - the Very Best Of

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Ch. 22: Act 11: When fracking and oil compete, consumers & the economy win - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 11-07-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 23: Thoughts on religion episode from a non-athiest - Tim from Hyattsville, MD

Ch. 24: What Maher and Harris was saying isn't that bad - Nick from Kansas

Ch. 25: Important to recognize our own biases - Bassey from NYC

Ch. 26: Frustrated by the left's response to Sam Harris - Greg from Baldwin Park, California

Ch. 27: The pity(?) Pithy(?) stance - Mike From Nova Scotia

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 28: Final comments on the diversity of the listeners and one example of the minority

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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Activism Update: KeystoneXL Under Congressional Climate Deniers

Follow-up/New Action!

Stop the Tar Sands Pipeline! via NRDC BioGems

Tell President Obama to reject Keystone XL

Use ContactingTheCongress.org to find your possibly new representatives and let them know you oppose Keystone.

Additional activism:

Watch/host a screening for ”Above All Else”: a documentary about the battle over the KXL pipeline in East Texas. h/t Tom Philpott at Mother Jones

Follow "Above All Else” on Twitter and on Facebook

Follow Idle No More’s work protecting the land and water in Canada as well as the rights of the Indigenous population there.

Sources:

"Senate Now Has Enough Votes To Pass Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Bill” by Katie Sheppard at HuffPo Politics

"Meet the Senate’s New Climate Denial Caucus: Their views range from tepid acceptance of the science to flat-out rejection” by Tim McDonnell at Climate Desk

"OMG. They Tell Her That Her Words Are BS Right To Her Face. So Satisfying.” — an amazing short film by AJ+ on the Unist'ot'en Camp founded by members of the Wet'suwet'en Nation to resist the Tar Sands Gigaproject in Western Canada. via Upworthy

”Candidate Profile: Joni Ernst via Iowa Public Radio

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #874

Today we examine the fallout of the discussion between Bill Maher, Sam Harris and Ben Affleck on the subject of Islamic extremism. Turns out it’s complicated.

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: .@BenAffleck, @SamHarrisOrg and Bill Maher Debate Radical Islam - Real Time with @billmaher - Air Date: 10-6-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Hello Bonjour - Yell Fire!

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Ch. 4: Act 2: .@BillMaher Finds Friends In Big Bigotry Following Ben Affleck Blow Up - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 10-08-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Your Racist Friend - Flood

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Ch. 6: Act 3: There Is No Such Thing As "True Islam" - @majorityfm - Air Date: 10-07-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Everloving - Play & Play: B Sides

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Caller: Thom is Wrong About Peace-Loving Muslims... - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 10-07-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: I Can Help (Single Version) - The Very Best of Billy Swan

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Power structures influence behaviors regardless of religion - Old School TYT (@theyoungturks) - Air Date: 10-10-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Powerless - The Big Picture

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Ch. 12: Act 6: .@RezaAslan's Religion Apologetics Are Dangerous - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 10-27-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Riptide - Dream Your Life Away

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Atheists: @RezaAslan is Wrong About Islam. – Not So Fast! - @majorityfm - Air Date: 10-09-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 16: We're too complicated to be put into boxes - Colin from Cleveland, OH

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 17: Bonus Clip - Sam Harris And Cenk Uygur Clear The Air On Religious Violence And Islam

Ch. 17: Final comments on explaining vs excusing and one of the reasons why Bill Maher is and asshole

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #873

 

Today we take a look at the ways the Republican Party has been working to suppress voter turnout to benefit their electoral chances while claiming to be stopping voter fraud which basically doesn't exist

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Voting Laws Keeping Americans From The Polls - @ajplus - Air Date: 10-27-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: You're The Best (Theme From The Karate Kid) [Originally Performed by Joe Esposito] - You're The Best

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Ch. 4: Act 2: 'Free' Voter IDs Cost $8 to $25. Freedom! - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 10-31-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Repeal the Poll Tax - A Thousand Miles Away

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Ch. 6: Act 3: In Person Voter Fraud Very Rare And Still Is - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date: 9-19-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Mess Is Mine - Dream Your Life Away

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Voting suppression through the courts - BradCast (@TheBradBlog) - Air Date: 10-29-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: 1901 - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

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Ch. 10: Act 5: They're not even trying to hide their true motives anymore - @jimmy_dore Show - Air Date: 10-25-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Cheat - The Clash

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Republican Voter Suppression Since 1980 - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 03-22-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: There You Go Again - Sunshine to Rain

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Please Don't Vote - A Message From The Republican Party - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 10-27-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Battle Hymn of the Republic - Turkey In the Straw and Other Country Fiddle Hits

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Ch. 16: Act 8: The Fight — and the Right — to Vote - @billmoyersHQ - Air Date: 10-24-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: I'm Free - 20 Golden Greats

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Ch. 18: Act 9: Voting Rights Amendment Act via @civilrightsorg - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 19: Song 9: Time for Action - Time for Action - the Very Best Of

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Ch. 20: Act 10: Excerpt: LBJ's Voting Rights Speech "The American Promise" - @LBJLibrary - Air Date: 03-15-1965

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Voicemails

Ch. 21: Going third party - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Ch. 22: Strategic voting backlash - Dave from Canada

Ch. 23: Be brave with your votes - Daniel from Albany, NY

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 24: Final comments on Instant Runoff Voting and, finally, what's wrong with my voice

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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Activism: Voting Rights Amendment Act via @civilrightsorg

Take Action: Join with the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights: VRA 4 Today

Sources/further reading:

"Fasting for Democracy: Why I've Given Up Food to Fight Corruption” by Kai NewKirk at Truthout

”The GOP Is Winning The War On Voting: Voters in fourteen states—many with tight races—will face new restrictions at the polling booth for the first time in November” by Ari Berman at The Nation

"New Voting Restrictions Could Swing the 2014 Election” by Ari Berman at The Nation

"KPFK 'BradCast': SCOTUS Voter Suppression and the Touch-Screen Vote-Flipping Time Warp” via The Brad Blog

"Déjà Vu All Over Again. Again. - Touch-Screen Votes Flipping and My Appearance on Thom Hartmann TV This Week [VIDEO]” via The Brad Blog

”SCOTUS Overturns Appeals Court, Allows NC To End Same-Day Registration, Couting ‘Out-Of-Precint’ Ballots This November: 'Nation's worst voter suppression law' disenfranchised hundreds in state primary; Will have full trial on merits next summer…” via The Brad Blog

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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#839

Today we look at the biggest fundamental problem with American politics and a couple of the biggest plans to fix it

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: There is a Rot at the Core of American Democracy! - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 04-16-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Screwed - One Man Riot

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Nobody Wants You to Be An Activist - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 03-22-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Power to the People - Power to the People: The Hits (Deluxe Version)

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Ch. 6: Act 3: 3 Who’s Buying our Midterm Elections? with Kim Barker and Andy Kroll (Part 1) - @BillMoyersHQ  And Company - Air Date 3-21-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Buy My Vote - Righteous Ruckus

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Americans Agree Get Money OUT Of Politics - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 06-14-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Truth - Somebody Besides Yourself

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Ch. 10: Act 5: 3 Who’s Buying our Midterm Elections? with Kim Barker and Andy Kroll (Part 2) - @BillMoyersHQ  And Company - Air Date 3-21-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: No Limit - O.N.I.F.C. (Deluxe Version)

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Ch. 12: Act 6: MayDay PAC - @MayOneUS - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Activism - The Poet

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Ch. 14: Act 7: VT Calls Constitutional Convention Over Citizens United - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 05-08-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: The Constitution - Happy Hour

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Dear Corrupt Politicians: That Sound You Hear Is Us Winning - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 06-04-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 17: I got the metaphor right! - Peter from Chicago, IL

Ch. 18: Responding to Wade's comments on reparations - Steve from Stockton, CA

Ch. 19: A Marine's perspective on the current chaos in Iraq - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 20: Final comments on summer hours and the progress of the fundraiser

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

ACTIVISM:

Support MayDay Pac

Follow MayDayUS its founder Lawrence Lessig

Sources/further reading:

"The Launch Of The MayDay Citizens’ SuperPAC” via LessigBlog

"Anti-Dark Money Activist Lawrence Lessig Launches A Super PAC To End Super PACs” by Mason Atkins at ThinkProgress

"Mayday PAC: The SuperPAC Built to Destroy SuperPACs” via Newsweek

"Lawrence Lessig Starts a Super PAC” by Derek Willis at The New York Times

"Cronies, corruption and cash: Lawrence Lessig on why we need a super PAC to end all super PACs”by Elias Isquith at Salon

 

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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Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Edition #872

 

Today we take a look at the conscience-shocking ways that conservatives are politicizing the news of very few cases of Ebola in the US

 

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Ebola in the U.S. - Time for Healthcare for All! - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 10-01-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Kill the poor - Dead Kennedys

Ch. 4: Act 2: Hey, Libertarians! Your Policy Helped Spread Ebola - @majorityfm - Air Date: 10-15-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Is it for Freedom? - NewAmericaNow on YouTube

Ch. 6: Act 3: Ebola-Obama Link Might Be The Craziest Right Wing Theory Ever - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 10-11-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Comptine D'un Autre Été: L'après Midi - Yann Tiersen

Ch. 8: Act 4: Deranged Right-Wing Conspiracy Theory: Obama Intentionally Wants "To Infect The Nation With Ebola" - Media Matters Minute (@mmfa) - Air Date: 10-15-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Comptine D'un Autre Été: L'après Midi - Yann Tiersen

Ch. 10: Act 5: Liberals Believe Americans Should Die from Ebola - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 10-22-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Mountain Sound - Of Monsters and Men

Ch. 12: Act 6: GOP forgets anti-czar nonsense, calls for Ebola czar - Rachel @maddow Show - Air Date 10-17-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: 007 (From "From Russia With Love") - The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra

Ch. 14: Act 7: There aren't two sides on how to manage Ebola - @jimmy_dore Show - Air Date: 10-18-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Call it even - Scott Simons

Ch. 16: Act 8: Washington is broken or functional depending on your perspective - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date: 10-24-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Go do - Jónsi

Ch. 18: Act 9: Breaking News Consumer’s Handbook Infectious Disease Edition - @onthemedia - Air Date: 10-24-14

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 19: Reviewing health care systems - Mike in Michigan

Ch. 20: 5 points toward progress - Daniel from Albany, NY

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 21: Final comments on the unbreakability of the conservative fever

 

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

 

Produced by:

Jay! Tomlinson

 

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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Review the show on iTunes!

Edition #871

 

Today we take a look at some of the larger forces at play that change the way we think about and structure our education system

 

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Anat Shenker Osorio (@anatosaurus) | IGNITE at @Netroots_Nation #NN14 - Air Date: 09-12-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Electrified (Live) - Live At The Grocery On Home

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Ch. 4: Act 2: How Corporations Are Taking Over Education - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 10-04-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: What's Going On - Number 1's: Marvin Gaye

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Karen Ho's Markets, Efficiency and Choice Pt. 2 - @Dis_Con - Air Date 6-25-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Blame Me! Blame Me! - New Surrender

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Educating the next generation of docile worker drones - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date: 9-30-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: All Over Now - Paracosm (Bonus Track Version)

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Ch. 10: Act 5: TX Textbooks: Taxes Are Bad, Segregation Was Good, Moses Inspired Democracy - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 09-19-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Sickening - Stand

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Teaching The Memorized Points Or Teaching Critical Thinking - @jimmy_dore Show - Air Date 10-3-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Ignore the Ignorant - Ignore the Ignorant

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Assessment Reform via @FairTestOffice - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7: Time for Action - Time for Action - the Very Best Of

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Ch. 16: Act 8: The American Dream - @GeorgeCarlinWay

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Voicemails

Ch. 17: Inspired by Maureen from Mass - Coming out of Los Angeles

Ch. 18: Responding to episode on Democrats - Gavin from Richmond, VA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 19: Final comments complicating the issue of charter school disciplinary structures and suggesting episode #538 of This American Life

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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Activism: Assessment Reform via @FairTestOffice

Take Action:

Get involved with FairTest: Assessment Reform Network Project to resist unnecessary standardized testing

Additional Activism/Resources:

Sign AFT’s petition: "TIME: Apologize to teachers”

Sign the "Don't Delete History” petition from Texas Freedom Network

Sources/further reading:

The awful Time article for those who want to read it: "War on Teacher Tenure: How Silicon Valley Wants to Fire Bad Teachers”

"Florida schools rail against explosion of new tests” via Orlando Sentinel

"Scrap the MAP! | Solidarity with Seattle teachers boycotting the MAP test”

"Test Opposition Surges Across the Nation” via FairTest

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #870

 

Today we take a look at a variety of ways that (mostly) men attempt to police the actions and choices of (mostly) women, causing nothing but damage as a result

 

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: The List of Rules for Women - @jsmooth995 - Air Date: 9-2-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Follow the Rule - Johnny Ace - The Complete Duke Recordings

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Victimhood Provides Privleges - @jimmy_dore Show - Air Date 6-13-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Bad Behavior - Bad Behavior

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Ch. 6: Act 3: SHE ASKED FOR IT - @lacigreen - Air Date: 09-06-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Deserve Better - Swings and Roundabouts

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Shut Your Mouth And Take It, 'Fox & Friends' Advises Women - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 07-08-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Good Old Days - Even Worse

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Radical Religion and Male Privilege - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 08-22-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Second Class Citizen - Out of the Ordinary Songs, Vol. 2

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Study Explains Why Hobby Lobby Supporters Are Opposed to Birth Control - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 07-25-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Me and God and Jesus - Crooked Roads Band

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Ch. 14: Act 7: The Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act via @healthyteen & @nwlc - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7: Time for Action - Time for Action - the Very Best Of

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Pondering Gender In 1620 - @radio_dispatch - Air Date: 3-20-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: N/A

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Ch. 18: Act 9: Get Your Creak On - @lexiconvalley - Air Date: 12-31-12

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Ch. 23: Final comments on my discovery of the oppression of policing

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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Activism: The Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act

Take Action:

Sign to support the The Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act legislation backed by the National Women’s Law Center and Healthy Teen Network

Additional Activism/Resources:

Follow #NoTeenShameon Twitter and on Tumblr

Submit your story to #NoTeenShame

Sources/further reading:

"New Mexico Parental-Leave Law Helps Teen Moms Stay in School” via NBC News

"Where’s the ’16, Parenting, and OK’ Reality Show?” by Gloria Malone at RH Reality Check

"#NoTeenShame: A Social Media Movement Pushes Us To Respect Young Mothers & We’re All For It” via Hello Beautiful

Graphic by Repeal Hyde Art Project and available for purchase at RHAP’s Zazzle StoreWritten 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 and Stitcher!

Edition #869

Democrats will not save you until the system is fixed

 

Today we take a look at why no faith should be put in the Democratic Party to fight for progressive goals and how we can go about reforming the system to make all politicians responsive to their constituents

 

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Why Dems Are Not Doing Better Running Up To 2014 - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date 9-20-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: The Masochism Tango - More of Tom Lehrer

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Ch. 4: Act 2: .@jeremyscahill on our painfully consistent foreign policy through the administrations - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date: 9-29-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: The Game Is Rigged - Badly Stuffed Animals

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Ch. 6: Act 3: President Obama Plays Three Dimensional Appeasement - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 07-01-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Sad But True - Change In the Weather

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Ch. 8: Act 4: No Such Thing as a Political Savior - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 05-29-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Save Ourselves - Bright Stars and Battle Scars

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Ch. 8: Act 5: Progressives won't frame the debate - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date: 10-11-14

Ch. 9: Song 5: In the Beginning - The Dusty Foot Philosopher

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Ch. 10: Act 6: Frustration in the White House press corps - @onthemedia - Air Date: 5-9-14

Ch. 11: Song 6: Tiny Wings Theme - Tiny Wings Theme - Single

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Ch. 12: Act 7: Kickstarting the revolution - @dccommonsense with Dan Carlin - Air Date: 10-13-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 13: Oil is the source of our middle-east troubles - Andon from Charlottesville, VA

Ch. 14: Republican hypocrisy on health care - Shawn from Portland, OR

Ch. 15: Political donation demands keep increasing - Maureen from Mass

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: .@MAYDAYUS is Underway - Best of the Left Activism

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Ch. 17: Final comments on why we need to be bold and try something new

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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Activism Update: MayDay is Underway!

MayDay PAC closes initial fundraising!

Follow-up/new Action!

Support the MayDayPac candidates: ”Candidate Fact Sheet

Sources/additional glimmers of hope:

MayDay in the News round-up

"SCOTUS 'McCutcheon' Ruling to Help Super Rich Purchase Even MORE of American ‘Democracy' (And a reminder why elections still matter.)” via The Brad Blog

"Florida Governor Almost Calls Off Debate Over Fan” h/t Satiristas

"In Wisconsin, Dark Money Got a Mining Company What It Wanted: An accidentally released court filing reveals how one company secretly gave money to a nonprofit that helped get favorable mining legislation passed.” by Theodoric Meyer at ProPublica

Find out more about Dark Money: Money in Politics -- See Who's Giving & Who's Getting at OpenSecrets.org

Listen to the original activism segment: "MayDay PAC - via @MayOneUS - Best of the Left Activism” from BotL episode 839 (06/24/14): "Disinfecting the rot on American democracy (Money in Politics)”

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #868

Questioning capitalism

 

Today we take a look at the big picture of the paradigm we live in and the priorities we take for granted, then question them all

 

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: We Stopped Dreaming - @neiltyson - Air Date: 03-09-12

Ch. 3: Song 1: N/A

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Sacred Economics with @ceisenstein - Fierce Love Films - Air Date: 12-15-13

Ch. 5: Song 2: N/A

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Who Killed Economic Growth? - @postcarbon Institute - Air Date: 02-21-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: All Caps - Madvillainy

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Ch. 8: Act 4: How to buy happiness - Michael Norton - @TEDTalks  - Air Date: 04-24-12

Ch. 9: Song 4: Who Benefits? - In Black and White

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Prosecution Of Working Poor Vs. Entitlement Of Gun Culture - @fakedansavage - Air Date 9-2-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Let's Eat the Poor - Let's Eat the Poor

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Economics of climate change - Economic Update with @profwolff - Air Date: 9-28-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Join Forces - Stand Up

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Ch. 14: Act 7: New Economy Week - @NewEconomics - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7: Time for Action - Time for Action - the Very Best Of

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Is This The Main Obstacle In The Way Of Change? - @LeeCamp - Air Date: 10-28-13

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Voicemails

Ch. 17: The motivations of the DA to get convictions - Jake(?) from Sierra Nevada foothills

Ch. 18: Not having government health care takes over your life - Kat from Berlin, Germany

Ch. 19: Germany fights to insure every last citizen - Kat from Berlin, Germany

Ch. 20: Suggesting Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA.com) - Eric from Greenville, SC

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 21: Final comments about the kickstarter campaign for Hooke: Wireless 3D Audio Headphones

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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Activism: New Economy Week via @NewEconomics 

TAKE ACTION:

Participate one/many of the New Economy Week events in person or online and/or plan your own!

Additional Activism/Resources:

Follow the New Economy Coalition on Twitter and Facebook

Sources/further reading:

Listen to the Best of the Left Activism segment from February on The New Economy Coalition as featured in episode 803: "Resistance is the only hope (Capitalism)”

"New Economy Week: Topics of Conversation” at Yes! Magazine

"#MapJam 2.0 to Put the New Economy on the Map!” at Resilience.org

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #867

Mind the coverage gap

Today we take a look at the progress of the states adopting the medicaid expansion option created by the Affordable Care Act, what’s happening to those who continue to reject it and, as always, we get a reminder of what we really need to do to fix the system

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: AZ Expands Medicaid, Hospitals Increase Margins - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 07-16-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Messages - Food In the Belly

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Gov Says No To Obamacare, Then Blames Obama - @theyoungturks  - Air Date: 08-02-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Master Plan - It Still Moves

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Docs: Kentucky learns to love Obamacare - @BBC Documentaries - Air Date: 7-17-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Success - Lust for Life

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Why Super-Conservative States Now Bending on Obamacare - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 09-06-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Where You Don't Belong - From the Beats to the Bible

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Republican Mike Kennedy's Insane Reason to Repeal ObamaCare... - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 09-05-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Fixing My Brain - I Don't Know What I'm Doing

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Anti-Obamacare ads (REALLY) didn't work - @OnTheMedia - Air Date: 7-18-14"

Ch. 13: Song 6: Shades of Grey - River of Dreams

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Even Red State Voters Want to Keep Obamacare - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 09-21-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want) - Joe Jackson: Greatest Hits

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Ch. 16: Act 8: The Health Center Funding Cliff via @CFAHC - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Time for Action - Time for Action - the Very Best Of

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Ch. 18: Act 9: Universal Health Care, A Scary Choice - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 8-1-14

Ch. 19: Song 9: You Don't Scare Me - Chimney's Afire

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Ch. 20: Act 10: There's Only One Way To Solve Health Care - @RalphNader - Air Date 8-30-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 21: Arming people has a long track record of not working - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Ch. 22: Declaring what's real is exclusionary - Dan from New York

Ch. 23: Calling some people real is dehumanizing - Dave from Canada

Ch. 24: Conservative humor is sophomoric - Larry in Fort Worth, TX

Ch. 25: Right-wing comedy - Colin from Cleveland, OH

Ch. 26: Bigotry and hate in conservative comedy - Quy Franklin

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 27: Final comments on my feast of good voicemails

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

Activism: Health Center Funding Cliff via @CFAHC

TAKE ACTION:

Get involved with Campaign for America’s Health Centers Save America’s Heath Centers Project

Follow Campaign for America's Health Centers on Twitter and Facebook

Additional Activism/Resources:

Access For All America via National Association of Community Health Centers

Sources/further reading:

"Health advocates decry lack of Miss. Medicaid expansion” via AP

"Community Health Centers To Receive $295M in ACA Grants” via California Healthline

"Federally funded health centers brace for financial loss”</> via USA Today

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #866

The People’s Climate March

 

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Peoples Climate March - @350.org

Ch. 3: Song 1: N/A

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Ch. 4: Act 2: The People's Climate March - @greennewsreport - Air Date: 9-23-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Revolution (Human Need Over Profit) - Tha People's Music

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Ch. 6: Act 3: The People's Climate Stand - The Bugle (@hellobuglers) - Air Date: 9-25-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Doing Business - Transfer

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Climate march didn't make the cut for the Sunday chat shows - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date: 9-26-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: The Time Is Now - Redbird

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Ch. 10: Act 5: .@SenSanders at People’s Climate March: To Stop Global Warming, Get Dirty Money Out of Politics - @democracynow - Air Date 9-22-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Divest! 350Org - Surreal

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Ch. 12: Act 6: The Value of the People's Climate March - @majorityfm - Air Date: 09-22-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: A Beautiful World - Hotel for Dogs

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Solar Power Growing Too Fast, Energy Companies Trying to Stop It - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 10-05-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Making Progress - Wicked Lies

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Ch. 16: Act 8: .@NaomiAKlein on capitalism vs. climate change - @OnPointRadio - Air Date: 9-22-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Capitalism - Little Planet

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Ch. 18: Act 9: Chris Hedges on the institutions that are failing us on climate change - @truthdig Radio - Air Date: 9-26-14

Ch. 19: Song 9: Do What You Want - Oh No

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Ch. 20: Act 10: If Terrorists Were As Dangerous As Climate Change - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 09-10-14

Ch. 21: Song 10: Damage - Damage

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Ch. 22: Act 11: Burn Noticed - @TheDailyShow - Air Date 9-22-14

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Voicemails

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

Ch. 23: Abusers Seek Out Victims - Anonymous

Ch. 24: What Service Providers Can Do For Victims And Survivors - Elka From Fort Wayne, IN

Ch. 25: The Cycle Of Repeated Domestic Violence - Anonymous

 

Final comments on my announcement with international implications

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #865

Today we look on in horror as the media once again leads us to war and we examine the underlying reasons why the media will continue to fail us

 

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: The Chris Matthews, John MccCain March To War - @jimmy-dore Show - Air Date: 9-6-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: John Mccain In Hell - Halloween

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Ch. 4: Act 2: How the Media Bankrolls Pro-war Pundits - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 09-16-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Masters of War - Dylan

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Media Practically BEGGING For War - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 09-11-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Wonder No More - No Sign of Regret

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Ch. 8: Act 4: The way we war - @TheDailyShow - Air Date: 9-25-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Good People - In Between Dreams

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Making Sure The News Is Selling - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date: 8-22-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: All Natural - All Natural

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Native Advertising - @LastWeekTonight with John Oliver - Air Date: 8-3-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Diet Coke - Emotions of Steel

---

Ch. 14: Act 7: @BeaconReader - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7: Time for Action - Time for Action - the Very Best Of

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: The danger of hot sexy news - @NoahBlumenthal at @TEDxUNLV - Air Date: 05-05-14

---

Ch. 17: Final comments on why conservatism and comedy are incompatible

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

Activism: Independent Journalism Innovation -- @BeaconReader

Take Action:

Subscribe or sign up to write at: Beacon Reader

Follow Beacon on Twitter and Facebook

Sources/further reading:

This is what old media stalwarts suggested a couple years ago (seriously): "Save The New York Times” via HuffPo

"How to Survive the Death of Print Media” via Forbes

"Why The Death Of Print Publications Should Have Us All A Bit Worried” via Business Insider

"Who says print is dead?” via The Guardian (Spoiler alert: everyone)

"Lazy Journalists Aren't to Blame for Death of Print” via Bloomgberg

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #864

The definition of insanity

 

Today we take a look at the problem we’ve made worse in the Middle East and why we can’t fix it

 

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Bombing ISIS Has Unintended Consequences & They’re Horrifying - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 09-10-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Problems - The Everly Brothers' Best

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Vicar Of Baghdad Working For Reconciliation - @DecodeDC - Air Date 9-19-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: N/A

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Bombing ISIS is the worst thing we could do - @LeeCamp - Air Date: 09-23-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: United States of Eurasia / Collateral Damage (Excerpt from Nocturne in E-Flat, Op. 9 No. 2) - The Resistance

---

Ch. 8: Act 4: Misleading tropes of US foreign policy - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date: 9-26-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Off the Record - Z

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Ch. 10: Act 5: The Great Debate 2014: Kerry vs. Kerry - Le Show (@theharryshearer) - Air Date: 9-28-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Suite for Solo Cello No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012: I. Prélude - Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1, 5 & 6

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Chris Hedges Explains Why Bombing and Shooting Everyone Isn’t Working - @truthdig - Air Date: 9-26-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Bullet Catcher - Dancing In The Streets

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Global Action Day Against the Use of Drones w/@KnowDrones and @VFPNational - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7: Time for Action - Time for Action - the Very Best Of

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Manipulative propaganda is ISIS strong suit - Rachel @maddow Show - Air Date 9-17-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 21: Domestic abuse 201 - Tanya in California

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 23: Final comments on the need for nuance

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

Activism: Global Action Day Against the Use of Drones via @KnowDrones and @VFPNational 

Take Action:

Find the event near you: Global Action Day Calendar

Submit your event to Anastasia of CODEPINK via anastasia@codepink.org.

Sources/further reading:

"Veterans Group in Response to President Obama’s Plan to Confront ISIL Says They are Disappointed But Not Surprised” via Veterans For Peace

”Veterans For Peace: Six Steps Short of War to Confront ISIL”

""Ban Weaponized Drones!": Anti-Drone Movement Spreads in Europe” via Truthout

"Confessions of a Drone Warrior” by Matthew Power at GQ

"Race is on to perfect solar-powered drones” by Hiawatha Bray at The Boston Globe

"Domestic Drones” via ACLU National

"Warrant for Drones Veto Was the Wrong Decision” via ACLU of Northern California

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #863

Fighting the tide of lost freedoms

 

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Memories Of Freedom - @dccommonsense - Air Date 5-8-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Run, Freedom, Run! - Urinetown the Musical (The Original Cast Recording)

---

Ch. 4: Act 2: Major Ruling Protects Your Cellphone From The Police... Sort Of - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 06-26-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: We Set Ourselves Free - Spring Came, Rain Fell

---

Ch. 6: Act 3: Google is the new Sheriff in Town - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 08-06-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Letterbox - Flood

---

Ch. 8: Act 4: Men Blaming Jennifer Lawrence & Kate Upton for Nude Pics Leak Hate NSA Spying - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 09-02-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Secret - Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge

---

Ch. 10: Act 5: No Escaping Dragnet Nation (Part 2) - @BillMoyersHQ - Air Date 3-14-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Don’t Worry, We'll Be Watching You - Making Mirrors

---

Ch. 12: Act 6: @1Password to rule them all - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Time for Action - Time for Action - the Very Best Of

---

Ch. 14: Act 7: Encouraging Encription - @radio_dispatch - Air Date 3-12-14

---

Voicemails

Ch. 15: Examining our foreign policy options - Chris from Colorado Springs

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 16: Final comments on the folly of acting from a position of fear

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

TAKE ACTION:

Download: 1Password and Follow: on Twitter

Additional Activism/Resources:

"Internet security: 10 ways to keep your personal data safe from online snoopers” via The Guardian

Sources/further reading:

"Half of American adults hacked this year” by Jose Pagliery at CNN Money

"Viator travel website hacked: 1.4 million users' information stolen, including payment card data” by Dan Raywood at International Business Times

"Congress Heads Home After Exhausting Eight Days of Work” by Russell Berman at The Wire

 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 and Stitcher!

Edition #862

Today we take a look at violence against women, both physical and political

 

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Disturbing Footage Of Ray Rice Knocking Then-Fiancé Unconscious Released - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 09-09-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Confronting the Wolf (Bonus Track) - Sword & Sworcery LP - The Ballad of the Space Babies

---

Ch. 4: Act 2: Fox News: Anti-Testicular Police Are Ripping Off Poor Ray Rice's Balls - @majorityfm - Air Date: 09-12-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: The Great Castration - Sisters of the Red Death

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Fox responds to Ray Rice violence with jokes - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date: 9-12-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: You're a Joke - Planet Obscure

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Obama's unnecessary, badly-worded official statement on Ray Rice - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date: 9-10-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Good People - Safe Upon the Shore (Bonus Track Version)

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Ch. 10: Act 5: How women get trapped in violent relationships - @truthdig Radio - Air Date: 9-12-14

Ch. 9: Song 5: Trapped (Live) - The Essential Bruce Springsteen

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Ray Rice and Why the Abused Stay - @majorityfm - Air Date: 09-10-14

Ch. 11: Song 6: The Smallest Piece - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Music from the Motion Picture)

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Male Dominance is Societal Disease - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 09-09-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Wake Up - Funeral

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Janay Rice's side: taking her side seriously - Melissa Harris Perry @MHPshow - Air Date: 9-13-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 17: Being questioned on one's race - First Nations person from Canada

Ch. 18: Standing up for choice - Al from Seattle, WA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 19: Final comments on what's wrong with the phrase 'real men'

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

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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Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Edition #829

The evil that we deplore

Today we check out a rerun episode with particular relevance to today.

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: History Does Not Let Go - Rachel Maddow - Air Date: 04-03-2014

Ch. 3: Song 1: Won't Let Go - Radiocalypse

---

Ch. 4: Act 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 - (What's the Story) Morning Glory

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

Ch. 7: Song 3: Going Home - The Talks

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

Ch. 9: Song 4: Activism - The Poet

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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

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

Ch. 13: Song 6: Re-Write History - Unreliable Narrator

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

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Ch. 15: Final comments: Thanking an American hero

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

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 [at] BestOfTheLeft [dot] com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Edition #861

There are more reasons than you should need to oppose it

 

Today we see that literally no matter what angle you look from, the death penalty is impossible to be in favor of

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Death Penalty - @LastWeekTonight with John Oliver - Air Date: 5-4-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Concerning Hobbits - Music from The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Americans Back Death Penalty, Whether It's Lethal Injection or Not - @majorityfm - Air Date: 05-29-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Forgotten - Punkgrass for the People

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Death Penalty Ruled Cruel And Unusual Punishment In California - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 07-18-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Gimme Sympathy - Fantasies

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Botched Lethal Injection Takes TWO HOURS to Kill Man - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 07-24-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Guillotine - On the Heart

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Two Hours To Cease Existence - @theharryshearer (le Show) - Air Date 7-27-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: By the Time I Get to Arizona - Power to the People & the Beats - Public Enemy's Greatest Hits

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Why Is No One Talking About The Innocent Man Texas Executed? - @RedactedTonight - Air Date 8-8-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Never Wrong - On the Wing Now

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Study: More Than Half of People Executed Have Severe Mental Illness - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 07-25-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Death Penalty - What's So Strange About Me

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Bill Blum on the death penalty, both beheadings and lethal injections - @truthdig - Air Date: 9-12-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Stop the Madness - Versatile Roots

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Ch. 18: Act 9: Fixing the death row system via @innocence - Best of the Left Activism - Air Date: 5-19-14

Ch. 19: Song 9: Right to Complain - Backatown (Bonus Track Version)

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Ch. 20: Act 10: The Truth, Finally, After 30 Years In Prison & The Truth Is Ugly - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 03-13-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 21: In Response To Prof. Rambo - Jeff From Cleveland, OH

Ch. 22: Trying To Be There For People - Wade From Ft. Worth, TX

Ch. 23: Expert Opinion On Intimate Partner Violence - Elka From Fort Wayne, IN

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 24: Final comments on the fact that there's no need for additional comments

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

Take Action:

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #860

Understanding how we got here

 

Today we take a look at some of the historical contexts of racism and how those structures are still functioning today

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Kinda Racist? Try Diet Racism! - @_CollegeHumor_ - Air Date: 08-28-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Racism - Barack de Magnificent

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Putting Native American Degradation Into Perspective - @RalphNader - Air Date 7-28-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Giving a S**t - Righteous Ruckus

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Tea Party Textbook Shocks But Wait Till You See The Racism - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 07-19-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Ignorance Is Strength - 1984

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Ch. 8: Act 4: The Long Struggle for Fair Housing in 1960s Chicago - @TheAtlantic - Air Date: 5-28-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Unknown song

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Are We Passing the “Tipping Point” for Black Habitation in the Cities? - @blkagendareport - Air Date: 6-11-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Heart of the City - Jackson Square

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Hispanic Man Pretends to be White, Job Offers Skyrocket - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 09-03-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: What's In a Name? - Such Hot Blood

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Racism: It's in your brain! - @twibnation - Air Date: 5-13-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Illness As a Metaphor - Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Original Cast Recording)

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Shades of Black - Colorism, Skin Color Discrimination - @Rasheed_Shabazz - Air Date: 12-10-10

Ch. 17: Song 8: Black or White - Dangerous

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Ch. 18: Act 9: It's Time for White America to Understand White Privilege... - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 08-22-14

Ch. 19: Song 9: get real - a Rough Guide to Feeling Rough

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Ch. 20: Act 10: Pledge your actions to create a more just society - @ProfTriciaRose

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Voicemails

Ch. 21: The fundamental restructuring we need - Vphriameradis from New York

Ch. 22: Three types of cops - Jack out of Chicago

Ch. 23: The audacity of calling feminists bullies - Colin from Cleveland, OH

Ch. 24: Please address domestic violence - Al from Seattle, WA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 25: Final comments on seeking out experts and the new BotL schedule

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

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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Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Edition #859

Momentum on our biggest problem

Today we bask in the rare glow of hope, cautious optimism and barely-perceptible progress on the problem of money in politics. Hooray!

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: DISGUSTING: Average Americans Have No Impact on Making Policy - The David Pakman Show - Air Date: 08-13-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Oligarchy - Punkgrass for the People

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Crony Capitalism Enabled by the Supreme Court - Thom Hartmann - Air Date: 07-17-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Follow The Money - The Redemption Of Zounds

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Mayday PAC Scores HUGE Win In Fight For Democracy - The Young Turks - Air Date: 07-08-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Battle Hymn of the Republic - 34 Fiddle Favorites, Ragtime Annie, Arkansas Traveler, Cotton Eyed Joe, and More

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Ch. 8: Act 4: The super PAC to end super PACs - On the Media - Air Date: 7-11-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Mayday!!! - Fight With Tools

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Ch. 10: Act 5: MAYDAY.US: Together, we have the power - Mayday.us - Air Date: 8-29-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Everyday (Single Version) - Everyday - Single

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Ch. 12: Act 6: David Simon on Our Rigged Political System - Moyers and Company - Air Date: 2-14-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Fight to Win (feat. Cee Lo Green) - Fight to Win (feat. Cee Lo Green) - Single

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Ch. 14: Act 7: 3 Ways to Reverse a Supreme Court Decision - Thom Hartmann - Air Date: 08-25-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Undone (The Sweater Song) - Weezer

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Momentum on Overturning Citizens United - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Song Link Here

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Ch. 18: Act 9: The Whole IRS 'Scandal' Was About ONE Thing & It Totally Worked - The Young Turks - Air Date: 07-15-14

---

Ch. 19: Final comments on Prof. Rambo and the anatomy of victim blaming

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

Update!

"Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Clears First Vote in U.S. Senate!” via Americans Against The Tea Party

The bill to overturn Citizens United introduced by Senator Tom Udall, D-NM

Follow-up/new Action!

Use ContactingTheCongress.org to let your representatives know that overturning Citizens United is an issue you are voting on this November.

Roll Call for the 79-18 vote

Sources/additional glimmers of hope:

"Senate Advances Constitutional Fix To Overturn Citizens United” by Sahil Kapur at Talking Points Memo

"Senate moves forward with amendment to the Constitution on elections” by Ramsey Cox at The Hill

"Overturn Citizens United” — a Statement in Support of a Constitutional Amendment from Senator Bernie Sanders

Graphic via USA Action

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #859: "Momentum on our biggest problem (Money in politics)"

 

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #858

The fight for fundamental equality

 

Today we take a look at some of the fights being waged, setbacks and successes of the abortion rights movement

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: The first US abortion clinic/birthing center - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air date: 05-02-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Wash Away (Reprise) - Julie Blue

---

Ch. 4: Act 2: The Crusade Against Reproductive Rights Part 1 - @BillMoyersHQ - Air Date: 7-18-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Wax & Wire - Night Bats - EP

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Criminalizing women for miscarriages - @TWiBnation - Air Date: 3-26-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Serre-moi - Grain de sable

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Ch. 8: Act 4: The Crusade Against Reproductive Rights Part 2 - @BillMoyersHQ - Air Date: 7-18-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Second Class Citizen - Out of the Ordinary Songs, Vol. 2

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Turning Around The Declining Reproductive Rights Of Texans - @NetrootsRadio  @AndreaGrimes - Air Date 9-3-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: 500 Miles - The Very Best of Peter, Paul and Mary

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Taco Or Beer Challenge - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Right to Complain - Backatown (Bonus Track Version)

---

Ch. 14: Act 7: Amy Hagstrom-Miller, Whole Woman's Health -Texas Clinics To Reopen - @democracynow - Air Date 9-2-11

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Voicemails

Ch. 15: Suggesting Cowspiracy documentary - Jim from near Seattle, WA

Ch. 16: Bike analogy good as an introductory explainer - Dave from Olympia, WA

Ch. 17: New ways of talking about privilege important to civil conversations - Xena from New York

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 18: Final comments on why it's the concept, not the words, people actually have a problem with

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

TAKE ACTION:

Take the Taco Or Beer Challenge via Andrea Grimes

Additional Activism/Resources:

Find your local abortion fund through The National Network of Abortion Funds and follow NNAF on Twitter

Follow #TacoOrBeerChallenge and use it to challenge your friends/followers!

Sources/further reading:

#TacoOrBeerChallenge, Two Weeks In

NNAF Spotlight: New Orleans Abortion Fund h/t @nolaAbortionFnd

"Meet The Woman Who Refuses To Stop Fighting Against Texas’ Abortion Restrictions” by Tara Culp-Ressler at Think Progress

"Whole Woman’s Health Opens its Doors in New Mexico, Starts Advocacy Initiative” via Whole Woman’s Health

"Abortion Provider Expands to New Mexico in Response to Texas Anti-Abortion Law” by Andrea Grimes at RH Reality Check

"Federal Court Blocks Part of Texas Abortion Law Preceding Immediate State Appeal” by Andrea Grimes at RH Reality Check

WATCH: "What It’s Like Inside One of Texas’ Last Abortion Clinics”

 

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #857

People standing as one

 

Today we take a look at some of the reasons we need action on climate change as well as some of the ways people are getting together to fight back

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Duke Energy Calls Cleanup Complete; 92% of Coal Ash Still in River - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 07-25-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Trust in Me - At Last! (Remastered)

---

Ch. 4: Act 2: Tens Of Thousands Poisoned & The Fine Is So Small It Insults Human Decency - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 07-10-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Protect & Serve - Guitar & Drum

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Fracking Waste Taints Groundwater in Pennsylvania - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 08-07-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Preventable (Demo Version #2) - Low Flying Planes

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Dryden: The Small Town that Changed the Fracking Game - @Earthjustice - Air Date: 5-2-14

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Ch. 9: Act 5: Extreme weather explained - @greennewsreport - Air Date: 8-14-14

Ch. 10: Song 5: I Go To Extremes - The Essential Billy Joel

---

Ch. 11: Act 6: Marchers Attempting To Emphasize Climate Change - @RedactedTonight with @LeeCamp - Air Date 7-11-14

Ch. 12: Song 6: March In the Street! - Songs You Might Not Like

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Ch. 13: Act 7: Climate Change and Wildfires Explained in Less Than Three Minutes - The White House Science Advisor - Air Date: 8-5-14

Ch. 14: Song 7: Hey There Delilah (Karaoke Instrumental Track) [In the Style of Plain White T's] - Sing Popular Download Songs (Karaoke Performance Tracks)

---

Ch. 15: Act 8: Wash Po. complains about and contributes to devolution of climate discussion - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date: 8-29-14

Ch. 16: Song 8: Santus II - Libera

---

Ch. 17: Act 9: President Obama’s Ambitious New Global Climate Push - @majorityfm - Air Date: 08-27-14

Ch. 18: Song 9: Doing the Best That We Can - Doing the Best That We Can - Single

---

Ch. 19: Act 10: Sea Levels Rising Faster than Thought! - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 07-31-14

Ch. 20: Song 10: The Sea Is Rising - Flying Colours

---

Ch. 21: Act 11: The biggest challenge of our time - @oxfamnz - Air Date: 08-20-14

Ch. 22: Song 11: Giant of the Sea - Giant of the Sea - Single

---

Ch. 23: Act 12: Why Almost No Scientists Are Republican - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 08-10-14

Ch. 24: Song 12: Bouncing Around the Room - Lawn Boy

---

Ch. 25: Act 13: Tea Party prevents GOP from saying what they believe on global warming - @greennewsreport - Air Date: 8-19-14

Ch. 26: Song 13: Silenced - The Rpwl Experience

---

Ch. 27: Act 14: Disruption - Official Trailer

Ch. 28: Song 14: We Stand As One - Occupy This Album

---

Ch. 29: Act 15: People’s Climate March - Best of the Left Activism

---

Voicemails

Ch. 30: Rethinking privilege - Lorne from Ontario, CA

Ch. 31: Thoughts on the bike/privilege analogy - Calling from Seattle

Ch. 32: Thoughts on imperfect bike analogy - James from Canada

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 33: Final comments on the continuing discussion of the bike commuter/white privilege analogy

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

TAKE ACTION:

Join the People’s Climate March via @Peoples_Climate

People’s Climate March on Facebook

Additional Activism/Resources:

People’s Climate Resources — in 12 languages

Watch the trailer for: ”Disruption: Climate Change”

Sources/further reading:

United Nation’s Climate Summit

"A Call to Arms: An Invitation to Demand Action on Climate Change” by Bill McKibben at Rolling Stone

"Mobilization for People’s Climate March Kicks into High Gear” via Raging Chicken Press

"People’s Climate March—Largest Climate March in World History—Launched in Times Square” via EcoWatch

 

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #856

Racism as a paradigm

 

Today we take a look at how the media reinforces all of the existing, societal assumptions about race and we use a new analogy to describe the paradigm of racial privilege

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Racist Pattern In Press Coverage Of Shootings? - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 08-15-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Headlines - Headlines

---

Ch. 4: Act 2: The Noble Act Of Humanizing The Victim - @radio_dispatch - Air Date 8-27-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: A Dose of White Supremacy - "The Weekend Is Here"

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Cringe-worthy analysis of Ferguson - @MHarrisPerry - Air Date 8-23-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Modern Day Slavery - Exploring All Avenues

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Ch. 8: Act 4: How Media Were Presenting Ferguson Police Tactics - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 8-15-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: How Do You See Me - Montibello Memories

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Ch. 10: Act 5: The Anatomy of Six Shootings - @onthemedia - Air Date: 8-22-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Dawn Departure, Jefferson County - Wild Ones

---

Ch. 12: Act 6: It takes a white person to be a witness - @radio_dispatch - Air Date 8-19-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Can I Get a Witness - Gold: Marvin Gaye

---

Ch. 14: Act 7: Disproportionate Reporting Of Black Crime - @TWiBnation - Air Date 8-28-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: The Ballad of the Space Babies - Sword & Sworcery LP - The Ballad of the Space Babies

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: Bill O'Reilly's "Moral Instruction For Black People": Michael Brown Edition - Media Matters Minute (@mmfa) - Air Date: 08-14-14

---

Ch. 18: Act 9: Race/Off - The Daily Show - Air Date: 8-26-14

---

Voicemails

Ch. 21: Bill O'Reilly's white privilege - Colin from Cleveland, OH

Ch. 22: Mistrusting the police - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 23: Final comments on how a cyclist can teach us about white privilege

Link to article: What my bike has taught me about white privilege

Link to 99% Invisible Episode 79: The Modern Moloch

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #730

Positive ideas and protests for change

 

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: It's Not Your Fault - Lee Camp - Air Date: 04-16-13

Ch. 3: Song 1: Don't blame yourself - Sixpence None the Richer

Ch. 4: Act 2: Why Wireless Is a Utility, Not a Luxury (with Susan Crawford) - Majority Report - Air Date: 03-28-13

Ch. 5: Song 2: The internet is for porn - Rick Lyon & Stephanie D'Abruzzo

Ch. 6: Act 3: Time to Break Up the Telecom Industry - Thom Hartmann - Air Date: 03-13-13

Ch. 7: Song 3: In the beginning - K'naan

Ch. 8: Act 4: Democracy In The Workplace - Moyers And Company - Air Date 3-22-13

Ch. 9: Song 4: Take 'Em Down - Dropkick Murphys

Ch. 10: Act 5: OUR Walmart - UnFuck it Up Project

Ch. 11: Song 5: I didn't fuck it up - Katie Goodman

Ch. 12: Act 6: FDR's 2nd Bill of Rights p1 - Thom Hartmann - Air Date: 06-07-13

Ch. 14: Act 7: FDR's 2nd Bill of Rights p2 - Thom Hartmann - Air Date: 06-07-13

Ch. 15: Song 7: Talented tailor - Laura Hocking

Ch. 16: Act 8: Federal Judge Rules Against Unpaid Internships - Citizen Radio - Air Date: 6-13-13

Ch. 17: Song 8: Self-fulfilling prophecy - Scala & Kolacny Brothers

Ch. 18: Act 9: Wow! MD Goes Holistic: Replaces GDP w/ GDI - Thom Hartmann - Air Date: 06-20-13

Ch. 19: Song 9: My wealth comes to me - Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore

Ch. 20: Act 10: Protestors Put the Pressure on the Brazilian Government - Young Turks - Air Date: 06-19-13

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 20: Racial inequity is a fact, not a belief - Colin from Cleveland, OH

Ch. 20: The merits of the lack of nuance in constitutional arguments - Nathan from Vancouver, WA

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 20: Final comments on the value of stripping away peripheral ideas to get to the foundation of your beliefs

 

Activism:

Join the fight to raise the American standard of living! 

OURWalmart: 

https://www.facebook.com/OURWMT 

Making Change at Wal-Mart: 

http://makingchangeatwalmart.org & 

https://www.facebook.com/MakingChangeWMT 

 

Information for this segment can be found at:

http://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-employees-pay  http://robertreich.tumblr.com/post/36219730368

http://jobs.stateuniversity.com/pages/16/American-Workplace-SHIFT-SERVICE-ECONOMY.html

 

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!

Edition #855

Just the most recent spotlight on militarized racism

 

Today we take a look at the short and long-term effects of the combined forces of decades of systemic racism and the military-industrial complex as seem through the lens of the murder of Mike Brown in Ferguson, MO and the resulting anti-police protests

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Initial First-Hand Reporting From Ferguson - @democracynow - Air Date 8-12-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: 212° - Jasiri X (Produced by Soy Sos)

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Ch. 4: Act 2: The police move from killing Mike Brown to assassinating his character - @TWiBnation - Air Date: 8-15-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: The Secret Agent: The Secret Agent Ending - Philip Glass: Glass Reflections

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Anger in Ferguson follows record of racial disparity - Rachel @maddow Show - Air Date 8-12-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: To Serve And Protect - Penthouse Flashback Series (Queen Ifrica)

---

Ch. 8: Act 4: The View from Fergustan - @onthemedia - Air Date: 8-15-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Fade to Black - Inquisition Symphony

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Rage Is The Right Response To Cops Executing Citizens - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 08-14-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Everyday (Single Version) - Everyday - Single

---

Ch. 12: Act 6: It takes more and more to shock people to action - @radio_dispatch - Air Date 8-19-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Old News - One Wrong Turn

---

Ch. 14: Act 7: The military-industrial complex comes for community policing - @jimmy_dore  Show - Air Date 8-15-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Mic (Military Industrial Complex) - Everthing Included

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: Ferguson, MO and Police Militarization - @LastWeekTonight with John Oliver - Air Date: 8-17-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Toy jackpot - Blackalicious

---

Ch. 18: Act 9: War and False Peace - @MumiaAbuJamal - Air Date: 8-18-14

Ch. 19: Song 9: Fear is a villain - Theo Bard

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Ch. 20: Act 10: Ferguson Unmasks the War on Black America - @blkagendareport - Air Date: 8-20-14

Ch. 21: Song 10: Strong Animals - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Music from the Motion Picture)

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Ch. 22: Act 11: Speaking with @prisonculture: problem with police doesn't begin or end with militarization - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date: 8-21-14

Ch. 23: Song 11: The Unforgiven (Instrumental Version) - Plays Metallica By Four Cellos

---

Ch. 24: Act 12: Early Warnings Of Militarization Abuse Widely Ignored - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 8-22-14

Ch. 25: Song 12: Don't Listen - Solo

---

Ch. 26: Act 13: The rise of police militarization - @dccommonsense - Air Date: 8-20-14

Ch. 27: Song 13: Window - In a Safe Place

---

Ch. 28: Act 14: Ferguson Themes cast long shadows over US - Rachel @maddow Show - Air Date 8-21-14

---

Ch. 29: Final comments - Campaigns for #MikeBrown and #Ferguson via @LeBreed7910 - Best of the Left Activism

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

TAKE ACTION:

Support the Campaigns for #MikeBrown and #Ferguson via B. Reed (@LeBreed7910)

---

Sources/further reading:

"America’s new racial low point: More crying black mothers, and tear gas on our dreams” by Brittney Cooper at Salon

"The Murder of Black Youth Is a Reproductive Justice Issue” by Dani McClain at The Nation

"What Matters in Ferguson” by Mychal Denzel Smith at The Nation

"A Former Marine Explains All the Weapons of War Being Used by Police in Ferguson” by Lyle Jeremy Rubin via Truthout

"St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch’s perception problem” by Alex Seitz-Wald at MSNBC.com

"Crowdfunders Raise $225,000 for Cop Who Shot Michael Brown”

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #855 Just the most recent spotlight on militarized racism (#Ferguson)

 

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #854

Would-be oppressors with a victim mentality

 

Today we take a look at the actual right to be treated equally and the fictional right some claim they have to discriminate against others

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Anti-Gay Christian Struggles to Defend Anti-Gay Discrimination - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 06-12-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Makes No Sense - The Rainmakers

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Church Uses First Amendment Protections To Perform Same Sex Marriages - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-03-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Fundamentalists - The Supervillains

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Ch. 6: Act 3: If only most churches had inner beauty as well - Throwing Shade (@gibblertron @bryansafi) - Air Date: 8-21-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Beautiful - Christina Aguilera

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Right Wing Hero Ben Carson SHOCKED Gays Offended When You Compare Equality to Beastiality - @majorityfm - Air Date: 05-22-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Animal - Neon Trees

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Anti-Gay Law Ruled Unconstitutional In Uganda - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 08-02-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: I Want You to Want Me - Cheap Trick

---

Ch. 12: Act 6: We are All Out - @alloutorg - Air Date: 06-11-13

Ch. 13: Song 6: Dreamtime - Uberzone

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Obama Signs LGBT Non-Discrim Order, Religious Right FLIPS OUT - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 07-23-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Opinions - The Haymarket Squares

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: Exemption-Free Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Ch. 17: Song 8: Right to Complain - Backatown (Bonus Track Version)

---

Ch. 18: Act 9: It's not time to compromise on marriage equality - @fakedansavage - Air Date: 3-11-14

---

Voicemails

Ch. 19: The culture of zero accountability - Nathan from Vancouver, WA

Ch. 20: You inspired me - Rich in Kansas

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 21: Final comments on the thing that fell behind my stove

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

TAKE ACTION:

Join with Americans For Workplace Opportunity

Follow/support the Americans For Workplace Opportunity coalition members listed HERE

Contact your representatives via email, phone, social media

Sources/further reading:

"Billionaires push Republicans on gay rights bill” via Politico

"ACLU, Lambda Legal Drop Support for ENDA" via John Becker at The Bilerico Project

"Obama signs edict banning discrimination against federal LGBT employees” via AlJazeera 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 and Stitcher!

Edition #853

What we have done to some folks

 

Today we're going to hear about the shifting of the winds regarding how we talk about the torture we committed over the past decade. We'll also hear from an Irish victim of British torture tactics for further insights into the self-inflicted wounds the practice of torture inflicts.

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Torture and Senate-spying by the CIA - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 8-1-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Waterboarding USA - Harry Shearer

---

Ch. 4: Act 2: Being A Little Late On The Moral Issues - @jimmy_dore Show - Air Date 8-8-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Don't Look Back In Anger - (What's the Story) Morning Glory

---

Ch. 6: Act 3: Torture In Other Words - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 4-4-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Say What You Mean - Change of Scenery

---

Ch. 8: Act 4: Torture report redactions under fire from senators - Rachel @maddow Show - Air Date: 8-6-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: The Waiting - Greatest Hits

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Ch. 10: Act 5: New York Times Now Using Torture, Finally - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 08-09-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Cynical - Waiting for the Punchline

---

Ch. 12: Act 6: Flashback: Antonin Scalia Says Waterboarding Not Torture - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 05-12-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Tell Me What I Want To Hear - Let It Go

---

Ch. 14: Act 7: The U.S. Has a History of Treating POW's Humainly - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 06-02-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: John Adams theme song

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: Torture And Its Uncontrollable Consequences - @CBCideas - Air Date 6-10-14

---

Voicemails

Ch. 21: On forming trust between groups with power imbalances - Sally from San Francisco

Ch. 22: On the militarized, out-of-control police - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 23: Final comments on the intersectionality of militarized police

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #852

Trickle up, up and overseas economics

 

Today we take a look at the ways in which the game is rigged to keep executive pay high, worker pay low and corporate welfare flowing

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Why Do CEOs Make So Much Money? - The Atlantic - Air Date: 01-22-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Cantaloupe Island - Cantaloupe Island

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Ch. 4: Act 2: CEO Pay Is A Massive Scam, This Chart Proves It - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 08-03-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two - Oliver! (The Original Broadway Cast Recording)

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Our Enemy Is The Same - @LeeCamp - Air Date: 03-31-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Common Enemies - Badlands

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Ch. 8: Act 4: How income inequality happens - @jimhightower - Air Date: 5-13-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: A Fair Day's Wage - War on Peace - EP

---

Ch. 10: Act 5: Comcast-TimeWarner Merger Update via @freepress - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 11: Song 5: Right to Complain - Backatown (Bonus Track Version)

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Corporate Welfare And Taxes Of The One Percent - @BillMoyersHQ - Air Date 5-30-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Trickle Down - No Covers

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Shocking! Fox News Hosts Get Corporate Tax Dodging All Wrong While Defending Them - @majorityfm - Air Date: 08-01-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Capitalism - Capitalism (feat. Bajka) - EP

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: Chris Michael: Creating Democracy in the Workplace - @grittv - Air Date: 3-14-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Tonight the Streets Are Ours - Tonight the Streets Are Ours - EP

---

Ch. 18: Act 9: John Finimore on capitalism - The Now Show

---

Voicemails

Ch. 19: The health effects of too much politics - David in Indiana

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 20: Final comments on the ways different people experience media and politics differently

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

Follow-up/new Action!

Join the Fight to Stop the Comcast-Time Warner Cable Merger via FreePress.net

Sources/additional glimmers of hope:

"Comcast defends $45B Time Warner merger” via Kate Tummarello at The Hill

"Comcast and Time Warner fund event for FCC regulator while seeking merger approval” via Josh Hicks at The Washington Post

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #852 "Trickle up, up and overseas economics (Corporations)"

Revisit the original action/segment: BOTL Activism: "FreePress.net fights against media monopolies” from Episode #799 Rise of the gatekeepers (Net Neutrality)

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #851

To selectively protect and serve

 

Today we look at a variety of ways in which the justice system utterly fails to deliver anything resembling justice

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: The Sick, Twisted Reason This Man Lost 24 Years Of His Life - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 04-11-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: No Justice,No Peace - No Justice,No Peace

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Ch. 4: Act 2: How to Become Your Own Supreme Court - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 07-10-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Not Guilty - Waking Up the Neighbours

---

Ch. 6: Act 3: Invasive Cavity Search at the Border - @onthemedia - Air Date: 2-28-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Abuse of Power - Humongously Yours

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Ch. 8: Act 4: EVERY Car In Los Angeles Under Investigation - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 03-31-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Stop Spying - Making Perfect Sense

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Ch. 10: Act 5: CA Supermax Prisoners Win Right To Challenge Solitary Confinement As A Class - @blkagendareport - Air Date: 6-11-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Solitary Confinement - Solitary Confinement

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Time to Abolish the Prison Industrial Complex - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 07-18-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Crime to Be Broke in America - Home

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Homicide: Autopsy Says NY Man Died from Police Chokehold - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 08-05-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: I Think I Broke Something - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Music from the Motion Picture)

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Eric Garner NYPD Chokehold Death Ruled a Homicide as Police Arrest Key Witness - @majorityfm - Air Date: 08-05-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Things a Get from Bad to Worse - Everything Crash: The Best of the Ethiopians

---

Ch. 18: Act 9: #JusticeforEricGarner via @ColorOfChange - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 19: Song 9: Right to Complain - Backatown (Bonus Track Version)

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Ch. 20: Act 10: How To End Police Brutality AND Homelessness [Redacted Tonight] - @LeeCamp - Air Date: 08-04-14

Ch. 21: Song 10: Good Ideas - Good Ideas

---

Ch. 22: Act 11: States That Slashed Prison Population Saw Huge Drops in Crime - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 07-26-14

---

Voicemails

Ch. 23: Black men are treated both older and younger than they are - Slim from San Deigo

Ch. 24: Thank you for what you do - Karen from Charlotte NC

Ch. 25: The details of Levittown, Long Island - Scott from Long Island

Ch. 26: Turn's out Wade is liberal - Colin from Cleveland, OH

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 27: Final comments on the two-step advice on how to survive the stress of paying attention to politics

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

UPDATE:

Since the production of this episode, a nationwide moment of silence and accompanying vigils in 50 cities has been planned for THURSDAY Aug 14 at 7pmEST. #NMOS14 is being coordinated by Feminista Jones who's Twitter you can follow for information.

TAKE ACTION:

Sign the ColorOfChange.org letter to Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton: #JusticeforEricGarner

Additional Activism/Resources:

Sign: White House petition demanding a statement (at the very least) on the killing of young, black men

Read and join in these Twitter conversations:

”Black Women Matter: #RememberRenisha”

"#IfTheyGunnedMeDown Shows How Black People Are Portrayed in Mainstream Media” by Yesha Callahan at The Root

Sources/further reading:

"News coverage of the Michael Brown shooting: headlines matter” via The People’s View

"When Parenting Feels Like a Fool’s Errand: On the Death of Michael Brown.” by Stacia L. Brown

"Surprise! NYPD Commissioner Bratton Doesn’t Think Race Had Anything to Do With Eric Garner’s Death” by Mychal Denzel Smith at The Nation

"Eric Garner’s Death and the Exasperation With Police Violence” by Mychal Denzel Smith at The Nation

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #851 "To selectively protect and serve (Injustice System)"

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #850

The P Word

 

Today we hammer home the details about white privilege once and for all so that there will never be any further confusion about ever

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Fox News Reporter: Obama and Holder Being Black is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Them - @majorityfm - Air Date: 04-15-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Song Link Here

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Bill O'Reilly Denies Having White Privilege - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 05-16-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Song Link Here

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Danielle Lee (@DNLee5): Working twice as hard - @story_collider - Air Date: 12-9-13

Ch. 7: Song 3: Song Link Here

---

Ch. 8: Act 4: Same Behavior, Different Treatment - @radio_dispatch - Air Date 4-2-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Song Link Here

---

Ch. 10: Act 5: Why Are Black Preschoolers Being Suspended Far More Than Their White Classmates? - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 07-26-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Song Link Here

---

Ch. 12: Act 6: White Supremacy and the Central Park 5 - @blkagendareport - Air Date: 6-25-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Song Link Here

---

Ch. 14: Act 7: Caller: White People Don't Understand White Privilege - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 06-26-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Song Link Here

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: Denice Frohman - 1-800-White Man Privilege Hotline - Button Poetry - Air Date: 04-28-14

---

Voicemails

Ch. 21: The conservative reaction to the refugee crisis - Colin from Cleveland, OH

Ch. 22: No excuse for watching mainstream news - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 23: Final comments updating on the new old-school marketing campaign

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #849

The planners and the deniers

 

Today we look at some of the people and the plans they have to help save the climate as well as some of the deniers and how to deal with them

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Elon Musk talks Tesla, climate change and his reasons for pessimism - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 6-17-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Damage (Bonus Track) - Impeach My Bush (Bonus Track Version) [Expanded Edition]

---

Ch. 4: Act 2: Tesla Does Something No Other Car Company Would Ever Do - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 06-21-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Electric Car - Here Comes Science (Audio + Video Version)

---

Ch. 6: Act 3: Caller: Is the Electric in Electric Cars Really Clean? - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 10-09-13

Ch. 7: Song 3: One Million Miles Away - The Illusionary Movements of Geraldine and Nazu

---

Ch. 8: Act 4: Racing Toward Renewables: Solutions Project Update

Ch. 9: Song 4: Right to Complain - Backatown (Bonus Track Version)

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Hamburg Plans to Eliminate Need for Cars Within 20 Years - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 06-30-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Driving Sideways - Magnolia (Music from the Motion Picture)

---

Ch. 12: Act 6: Supporting Climate Action Despite The Denyers - @greennewsreport - Air Date 6-10-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Money (That's What I Want) [Single] - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Barrett Strong

---

Ch. 14: Act 7: Politics Of Climate Change And The Press - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 5-16-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: A Waltz for George and Tex - Wild Ones

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: Senators Seek to Bypass President Obama, Construct Keystone Pipeline - @majorityfm - Air Date: 06-27-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Modern Way - Employment

---

Ch. 18: Act 9: Republican: Climate Change a Hoax Because Earth and Mars Have Same Temperature - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 07-14-14

Ch. 19: Song 9: You're a Joke - Planet Obscure

---

Ch. 20: Act 10: Tony Abbot's Big Present For Polluters - @greennewsreport - Air Date 7-17-14

Ch. 21: Song 10: That's all - Claire and the Reasons

---

Ch. 22: Act 11: Climate Change and Emperor Penguins - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 07-02-14

Ch. 23: Song 11: Defying Gravity (Glee Cast Version) - Glee: The Music, Vol. 1

---

Ch. 24: Act 12: 10 words no other US President has said on climate - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 7-7-14

Ch. 25: Song 12: Do The Right Thing - Beres Hammond - Collectors Series

---

Ch. 26: Act 13: Finally, Climate Deniers Purged - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 07-12-14

---

Voicemails

Ch. 27: On sovereignty and the refugee crisis - Erin from Philadelphia

Ch. 28: On non-violent resistence, morality and violence  - Nathan from Vancouver, WA

Ch. 29: Can't remain silent on Israel's actions anymore - Oren Ashkenazi from Seattle, WA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 30: Final comments on our newly launched marketing campaign. Review us in iTunes and Stitcher!

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

Activism Update!

Solutions Project Newsletter/Round-up

 

Keep your eye on...

”New Yorkers Push for Solar Access”

Governor Cuomo’s “Reforming The Energy Vision”

Connecticut Shared Solar – Looking Ahead to 2015

 

Sources/additional glimmers of hope:

"In Some States, Emissions Cuts Defy Skeptics” via The New York Times

Hear the segment in context:

Episode #797 "Trouble at the old pharm (Health Care)"

Revisit the original action/segment: BOTL Activism: The Solutions Project (02/02/14)

 

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #848

Wars and words

 

Today we take a look at ways the media loves to spin the facts of war, start new wars and generally support the people with the power to start wars

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Journalist Confused About What Journalism Is - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-24-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Crazy - St. Elsewhere

---

Ch. 4: Act 2: The Media's Stories Are About U.S. Sacrifice - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 6-20-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Everybody's gone to war - Nerina Pallot

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Rewriting The Orwellian Headlines - @Citizen_Radio - Air Date 7-18-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Forgotten - Punkgrass for the People

---

Ch. 8: Act 4: Loaded Language - @onthemedia - Air Date: 7-25-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Perspective - Respect the Architect

---

Ch. 10: Act 5: Certain Lives Are Worth Much More Than Others - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 7-18-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Casualties of War - Don't Sweat the Technique

---

Ch. 12: Act 6: Americans Agree: The Media Sucks [DEVASTATING POLL] - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 06-22-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: The Whole World Is a Stage - Best of the Fantastic Four

---

Ch. 14: Act 7: The Lies That Lead to War - @BillMoyersHQ And Company - Air Date 6-27-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac: Greatest Hits

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: Reporter Who Lied About WMDs Now Calls For Media Accountability on Iraq - @majorityfm - Air Date: 06-16-14

---

Voicemails

Ch. 17: Advocating a one-state solution - Adam from Oxford, England

Ch. 18: What right does Israel have to exist and when did Americans stop hating Jews? - Prof. Rambo from Georgia

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 19: Final comments on avoiding playing the fool

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #847

Refugees at the border

 

Today we take a look at how our arguments over immigration policy is causing emotional flare ups around what should be an uncomplicated issue of a rich, developed nation offering help to refugees fleeing violence in their countries of origin.

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Top 6 Ways Corporations Are Bringing The Battlefield Home...And Making A Killing - @BraveNewFound - Air Date: 01-06-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Comes and Goes (In Waves) - Three Flights from Alto Nido

---

Ch. 4: Act 2: Obama Tackles Immigration Reform, Republicans Disagree - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 07-07-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Off a Cliff - Gestalt

---

Ch. 6: Act 3: Behind the border crisis - @onthemedia - Air Date: 7-11-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Rescue Jah Children - Police & Thieves (Remastered)

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Ch. 8: Act 4: This Is Humane?: Lawmakers Push for "HUMANE" Act to Potentially Send Kids to Die - @majorityfm - Air Date: 07-15-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Shame - Emotionalism (Bonus Track Version)

---

Ch. 10: Act 5: Sarah Palin: Impeach Obama for Following George W. Bush's Law - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 07-10-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: The Smallest Piece - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Music from the Motion Picture)

---

Ch. 12: Act 6: Brit Hume Bursts The Fox News Bubble Over The National Guard At The Border - Media Matters Minute (@mmfa) - Air Date: 07-14-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: The Smallest Piece - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Music from the Motion Picture)

---

Ch. 14: Act 7: They're Not "Illegal" Immigrants, They're Refugees - @majorityfm - Air Date: 07-15-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Escape - Light (Bonus Track Version)

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: Don't Mention Why The Kids Are On Our Borders - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 7-11-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Keepsake - Peace Between Nations

---

Ch. 18: Act 9: When Children Are the Enemy - Mumia Abu-Jamal - Air Date: 7-15-14

Ch. 19: Song 9: Cruel World - African Elephants

---

Ch. 20: Act 10: This Is What Refugee Immigrants Crossing the U.S. Border Are Fleeing - @majorityfm - Air Date: 07-17-14

Ch. 21: Song 10: Heartless - The Best of Aldo Nova

---

Ch. 22: Act 11: Support @SavetheChildren’s Border Crisis Effort - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 23: Song 11: Right to Complain - Backatown (Bonus Track Version)

---

Ch. 24: Act 12: Jose Antonio Vargas, Proud American - @Truthdig - Air Date 7-18-14

Ch. 25: Song 12: Proud to Be an American - Side Street Ramblers - Masterworks Series Volume 2

---

Ch. 26: Act 13: Fox News Scoffs At Heart-Wrenching 911 Calls Of Immigrants Dying - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 07-24-14

---

Voicemails

Ch. 21: Torn apart by looking at both sides - Nathan from Boca Raton, FL

Ch. 22: Why I support Palestine - Sarah from Boston

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 23: Final comments on David Pakman's response to the last episode's final comments

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

Take Action:

TEXT “AID” to Save the Children at 20222 to donate $10

Read and watch stories from those crossing the boarder at: Save the Children’s “U.S. Border Crisis” page.

Learn exactly where your support is going at: U.S. Border Crisis: 'Save the Children’ Meeting Immediate Needs of Children

---

Sources/further reading:

Read and watch stories from those crossing the boarder at: Save the Children’s “U.S. Border Crisis” page.

"Border children need immediate cooperation" via Save the Children at USA Today

"To Address Honduran Refugee Crisis at the Border, US Should Stop Financing Repression in Honduras” by Laura Raymond at Truthout

"This Is What an Overcrowded Holding Center for Migrant Children Looks Like” by Steven Hsieh at The Nation

 

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #846

The Israeli incursion into Gaza

 

Today we take an overview of the current conflict between Israel and Gaza. There are war crimes on both sides but a large asymmetry of power

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: If You Care About Israel, End the Occupation NOW - @majorityfm - Air Date: 07-08-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Machine - Contre jour (Original Soundtrack)

---

Ch. 4: Act 2: Netanyahu Accidentally Poses A Devastating Thought Experiment, Death Toll Rises - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 07-15-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Welcome to the Black Parade - Strung Out - The String Quartet Tribute to Alternative Rock Hits, Vol. 3

---

Ch. 6: Act 3: Israel & Palestine Not Close to Peace - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 07-16-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Turtle (Bonobo Mix) - One Offs... Remixes & B Sides

---

Ch. 8: Act 4: Let Me Take a Selfie?: Israelis Call for Ethnic Cleansing via Selfie - @majorityfm - Air Date: 07-16-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Legions (War) - One Cello x 16: Natoma

---

Ch. 10: Act 5: A Caged Population Treated Like Animals - @Truthdig - Air Date 7-18-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Fade to Black - Inquisition Symphony

---

Ch. 12: Act 6: Lifting The Media Curtain, The Real Israeli Story - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date 7-19-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Dreamtime - Faith In the Future

---

Ch. 14: Act 7: A Progressive Israeli On The Israel/Gaza Crisis - @democracynow - Air Date 7-22-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: PTF2012 (Instrumental) - VNV Nation

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: What Should Palestine Do? An MLK Quote Says It All - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 07-17-14

---

Ch. 17: Final comments on why Israel gets more focus than other humanitarian crises

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

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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Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Edition #845

Another reason why we need single payer

 

Today we take a look at the Hobby Lobby ruling from the Supreme Court. Just as with money in politics, I'm pretty sure they're just trying to make the status quo so outrageously bad that we have no choice but to fundamentally change the system

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: 8 Women Explain Why The Hobby Lobby Ruling Is Dead Wrong - Media Matters 4 America (@mmfa) - Air Date: 07-19-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Mothers of the Night - Last Night

---

Ch. 4: Act 2: Doing Away With Science - @TWiBnation - Air Date 6-30-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Me & God & Jesus - Put Your Faith In Me

---

Ch. 6: Act 3: Is the Supreme Court Out of Order? Part 1 - @BillMoyersHQ  And Company - Air Date 7-11-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: You Don't Scare Me - Chimney's Afire

---

Ch. 8: Act 4: Religious Freedom a Farce in Hobby Lobby Case - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 07-02-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Here's to Your Health - Here's to Your Health-Single

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Hobby Lobby's Corporate Commandments - @markfiore Animation - Air Date: 07-07-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: All This and Heaven Too - Ceremonials

---

Ch. 12: Act 6: Is the Supreme Court Out of Order? Part 2 - @BillMoyersHQ  And Company - Air Date 7-11-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Strange But True - Moth-Balls The Best Of The First 25 Years

---

Ch. 14: Act 7: Hobby Lobby Against Abortion, Invests in 'Abortion Pill' Manufacturers - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 04-03-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Ignore the Ignorant - Ignore the Ignorant

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: Laura Ingraham's Dark Ages Diagnosis Of Birth Control Users - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 07-02-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Communist Friends - Junior

---

Ch. 18: Act 9: The Campaign to #StoppBoggs via @NARAL - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 19: Song 9: Activism - The Poet

---

Ch. 20: Act 10: The Hobby Lobby Decision Already Getting Worse - @majorityfm - Air Date: 07-09-14

Ch. 21: Song 10: Breathe Me - Breathe Me - Single

---

Ch. 22: Act 11: They Covered It Until Told They Had To - @TWiBnation - Air Date 7-7-14

---

Ch. 23: Final comments on the quiet before the storm

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

Activism Update!

Judiciary Committee Postpones Boggs Vote

Original segment: "Stop The Michael Boggs Confirmation, BOTL activism”

But wait! Take action:

Say THANK YOU via NARAL’s Speaking Out Against Michael Boggs

SIGN to oppose the nomination

CALL & report how it went

Sources/additional glimmers of hope:

10 Reasons to #StopBoggs as told by Star Wars

"Sen. Richard Blumenthal Will Oppose Controversial Obama Nominee Michael Boggs”

”NARAL Pro-Choice America on Senator Chuck Schumer’s Statement To Oppose Michael Boggs”

 

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #844

Fools and money

 

Today we take a look at a few ways how and why conservatives are being systematically fooled to the benefit of the elite

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: The conservative con game - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 04-04-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: A Fool and His Money - Mosaic

---

Ch. 4: Act 2: The conservatives deep bench - @fakedansavage - Air Date 5-13-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: I ain't afraid - Robin Roberts

---

Ch. 6: Act 3: David Brooks, 'Democracy Is A Problem' - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 5-23-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: The Rabble and the Ruled - Patience and Perseverance

---

Ch. 8: Act 4: America's Poorest County Sadly Believe Republicans Fight For Them - @majorityfm - Air Date: 05-23-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who: Greatest Hits

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Warning: Boehner at work! - Jim Hightower - Air Date: 7-21-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: While Rome Burns - Giggle (1995)

---

Ch. 12: Act 6: Can Scientists Be Trusted? Not According To The Tea Party - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-25-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Misinformation - Talk to Jah

---

Ch. 14: Act 7: Neil deGrasse Tyson's 'Cosmos' is Really Freaking Out Conservatives - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 05-28-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Resurrection (Space Club Mix) - Phonosynthesis (Includes Continuous Mix By DJ Irene)

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: The Right's Climate Change Intellectuals - @jimmy_dore Show - Air Date 5-23-14

---

Voicemails

Ch. 17: A student debt story - Jamie from Philadelphia, PA

Ch. 18: How education dollars are spent - John From Davis, CA

Ch. 19: Everybody read history and have your kids read history - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Ch. 20: The government can do when they prioritize - Marcus from Austin, TX

Ch. 21: The importance of personal LGBTQ stories - Zach from San Francisco

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 22: Final comments on the pile of work I found waiting for me when I got home

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #737 

How we treat those we are responsible for

 

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: The Aryan Brotherhood's 'Jihadist' Murder Streak in the U.S. - The Young Turks - Air Date: 04-03-13

Ch. 3: Song 1: Sail - AWOL Nation

Ch. 4: Act 2: What to Think of Whenever You Hear "The Worst of the Worst" - Black Agenda Report - Air Date: 6-12-13

Ch. 5: Song 2: Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash

Ch. 6: Act 3: Caller: Prisons Should Not be Privatized! - Thom Hartmann - Air Date: 06-13-13

Ch. 7: Song 3: Clint Eastwood - The Gorillaz

Ch. 8: Act 4: Judge Sentenced for Selling Kids to Prisons - David Pakman Show - Air Date: 05-25-13

Ch. 9: Song 4: Life in prison - Mitchell

Ch. 10: Act 5: Philadelphia 'Can't Afford' Schools, Buys $400 Million Prison - Young Turks - Air Date: 06-15-13

Ch. 11: Song 5: Opportunity - Pete Murray

Ch. 12: Act 6: Private Prisons: The Evil Side of Reaganomics - Thom Hartmann - Air Date: 06-22-13

Ch. 13: Song 6: Evil is alive and well - Jakob Dylan

Ch. 14: Act 7: Barbaric Sterilizations in California - The Progressive Magazine - Air Date: 7-9-13

Ch. 15: Song 7: 21st Century - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Ch. 16: Act 8: Forced Sterilization Of Women In American Prisons - Young Turks - Air Date: 07-13-13

Ch. 17: Song 8: The Undesirables - Lawrence Arabia

Ch. 18: Act 9: Texas County Sued for Running 'Rape Camp' at Jail - David Pakman Show - Air Date: 06-23-13

Ch. 19: Song 9: Nothing else matters - Scala & Kolacny Brothers

Ch. 20: Act 10: Solitary Watch - UnFuck it Up Project

Ch. 21: Song 10: I didn't fuck it up - Katie Goodman

Ch. 22: Act 11: Pelican Bay prisoners' hunger strike - Citizen Radio - Air Date: 07-11-13

Ch. 23: Song 11: Chain gang - Sam Cooke

Ch. 24: Act 12: Tens of Thousands of California Inmates Join Pelican Bay Hunger Strikers - Black Agenda Report - Air Date: 7-10-13

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 25: Rape jokes are not off limits - Peter from Chicago, IL

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 26: Final comments on rape jokes

 

Lindy West's articles:

How to Make a Rape Joke - http://jezebel.com/5925186/how-to-make-a-rape-joke

If Comedy Has No Lady Problem, Why Am I Getting So Many Rape Threats? - http://jezebel.com/if-comedy-has-no-lady-problem-why-am-i-getting-so-many-511214385

 

Activism:

http://solitarywatch.com/action/ 

 

Information for this segment can be found at:

READ:

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/10/solitary-confinement-shane-bauer 

WATCH: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/10/video-shane-bauer-solitary 

STATE MAPS: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/10/map-solitary-confinement-states 

In depth critique of US prison system: http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2012/01/30/120130crat_atlarge_gopnik 

 

Sponsored by the UnFuck it Up Project: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Unfuck-It-Up/196389490396988

Katie Goodman, creator: http://katiegoodman.com 

Katie Klabusich, director: http://katiespeak.com 

 

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!

Edition #843

All but the rich agree we need change

 

Today we take a look at the facts and the folly of the vast and growing wealth gap in the US. The good news is that everyone agrees we should take action to fix the problem, we just need to teach everyone it's a problem first. Weird, eh?

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: FDR Second Bill of Rights Speech

Ch. 3: Song 1: Window - In a Safe Place

---

Ch. 4: Act 2: Fighting for the Four Freedoms with Harvey J. Kaye - @BillMoyersHQ  And Company - Air Date 4-11-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Monday - I Heart Huckabees (Original Soundtrack) [Soundtrack from the Motion Picture]

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Media Twisting And Ignoring Polls That Show Popularity Of 'Inequality' Theme - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 2-7-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: We Want a Rock - Flood

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Republicans & Democrats Completely Agree on This ONE Issue - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 02-23-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: What Are Their Names - If I Could Only Remember My Name

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Ch. 10: Act 5: JP Morgan and the income inequality problem - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 01-24-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: RazorWire - Chris Priest

---

Ch. 12: Act 6: American? You Might Move To Canada After Watching This - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 04-23-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Oligarchy - Punkgrass for the People

---

Ch. 14: Act 7: USA: Bad Jobs Country - @blkagendareport - Air Date: 4-30-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Revolution (Human Need Over Profit) - Tha People's Music

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: Comfortably Stating The Dangers Of Populism - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 5-2-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Populism, Yea Yea - Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Original Cast Recording)

---

Ch. 18: Act 9: Retirement Security For All via @SEIU - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 19: Song 9: Activism - The Poet

---

Ch. 20: Act 10: Bill Moyers Essay: America’s Mad Dash Toward Oligarchy - @BillMoyersHQ  And Company - Air Date 4-18-14

---

Ch. 21: Bonus clip: This day in history - Bastille Day - John Mill

Ch. 22: Final comments on where to catch me at Netroots Nation

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

ACTIVISM:

Retirement Security For All via Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

Expand Social Security petition

Tell your story

Sources/further reading:

State Report on Social Security via Social Security Works

Follow SEIU Retirement Security and Social Security Works

Social Security Basic Facts

 

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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Edition #739

Cause and effect

 

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: The New Iraq and Rumsfeld's Rules - le Show - Air Date 5-19-13

Ch. 3: Act 2: Honor And Duty According To Dick Cheney - Jimmy  Dore Show - Air Date 5-17-13

Ch. 4: Song 2: The world I know - Collective Soul

Ch. 5: Act 3: Withdrawing From War Without Lessons Learned - Common Sense - Air Date 5-29-13

Ch. 6: Song 3: Vultures of culture - Nahko and Medicine for the People

Ch. 7: Act 4: JFK Peace Speech: The Anti-George Bush - Thom Hartmann - Air Date: 07-04-13

Ch. 8: Song 4: Let's begin - Margaret Whiting

Ch. 9: Act 5: Obama's 'Hidden Hand' Approach Debunked - CounterSpin - Air Date 7-19-13

Ch. 10: Song 5: This war - Ophelia of the Spirits

Ch. 11: Act 6: Pathology of privilege in foreign policy - Tim Wise

 

Voicemails:

Ch. 12: Clarifications on rape culture and rape jokes - Chris from Colorado Springs

Ch. 13: Thoughts on the Zimmerman trial - Aaron from Kansas

 

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

 

Voicemail Music: 

Loud Pipes - Ratatat

 

Ch. 14: Final comments reading a perspective from a 'white hispanic' listener

 

Closing Music:

Here We Are - Patrick Park

 

Produced by:

Jay! Tomlinson

 

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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Review the show on iTunes!

Edition #842

The education industry

 

Today we take a look at couple of ways smart job-creators have come up with to make people pay for portions of our education system that should either not exist or be free, thereby creating wealth for themselves and a few jobs to boot. They must have gone to college to be smart enough to come up with that plan.

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: The war on common core - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 05-08-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: The Secret Agent: The Secret Agent Ending - Philip Glass: Glass Reflections

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Republican: Common Core is a Plot to Turn Kids Gay! - @majorityfm - Air Date: 05-20-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Shame - Emotionalism (Bonus Track Version)

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Ch. 6: Act 3: This Test Is Not For Non-English Speakers - @radio_dispatch - Air Date 5-2-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Classroom - East Coast Teen Party - Volume 7

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Students Now Indentured to the Banksters - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 05-24-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Free College - Pie in the Sky

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Senator Warren Fights For Students, Knowing She'll Fail - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-10-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: We Are the Champions - Queen: Greatest Hits

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Student Debt PayBack Cap via @WhiteHouse - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Activism - The Poet

---

Ch. 14: Act 7: Time for a Student Loan Debt Jubilee! - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 06-04-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Free Education (feat. Treez & Young DJ) - Unconditional

---

Ch. 16: Act 8: Graduating? The Class of 2014 is Screwed - @majorityfm - Air Date: 05-24-14

---

Voicemails

Ch. 21: Summer hours should be summer weeks - Dan in Sheffield Lake

Ch. 22: Don't read history, work on the future - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 23: Final comment on the importance of synthesizing historical information to help create the future

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

Activism Update!

”Obama Announces New Executive Orders to Reduce Student Debt” via In the Capital

ACTIVISM:

"How to Contact All the Senators Who Voted Against Student Debt Relief Legislation” via In the Capital

Find out how much the Congress cost you — then tweet it at them.

Track legislative efforts at Higher Ed Not Debt.

Sources/additional glimmers of hope:

"The 37 Senators Who Voted for Millionaires Over Students” via Campaign For America’s Future at Truthout

 

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!

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Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Edition #841

Hope dies last

 

Today we hear about climate progress from Obama and climate denial from bought-off Republicans, we clarify how to talk about it and what we're actually trying to save and maintain hope in the face of daunting odds

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Obama Administration Sets New EPA Rules - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 06-03-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Take It or Leave It - Is This It

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Fighting New EPA Standards - @greennewsreport - Air Date 6-5-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Change Your Mind - Fortress

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Climate Change vs. Global Warming - @onthemedia - Air Date: 6-6-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Death to Everyone (Bonus Track) - Sword & Sworcery LP - The Ballad of the Space Babies

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Clever Pipeline XL Equations - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 5-9-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: The Cave - Mumford & Sons Piano Tribute

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Ch. 10: Act 5: David Suzuki: The War on Climate Scientists - @BillMoyersHQ  And Company - Air Date 5-16-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: I Saved the World Today - Eurythmics: Ultimate Collection (Remastered)

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Ch. 12: Act 6: The Kill-Clean-Energy Industry - @greennewsreport - Air Date 6-17-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Sweet Little Lies - Yell Fire!

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Clean energy, not Cove Point - Mike Tidwell of Chesapeake Climate Action Network (@CCAN)

Ch. 15: Song 7: Solid Ground - Real Estate

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Stop Fracked Gas Exports via @CCAN - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Activism - The Poet

---

Ch. 18: Act 9: Hope Dies Last - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 03-27-14

---

Voicemails

Ch. 19: Thoughts on Wade's comments regarding Iraq - Colin from Cleveland, OH

Ch. 20: In defense of Wade - David From North Carolina

Ch. 21: Thoughts on Wade's comments on Iraq - Daniel from Albany, NY

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 22: Final comments on the final fundraising tally

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

ACTIVISM:

Stop Fracked Gas Exports: Cove Point and Beyond via Chesapeake Climate Action Network

#StopGasExports

Sources/further reading:

Chesapeake Climate Action Network on Twitter

"Concerned About Climate Change? Take Action to Stop Cove Point” via NationAction

"Is The Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal The Next Keystone XL?” by Caroline Selle at HuffPost Green

"The Other Keystone It’s just as important to stop Cove Point” by Mark Hersgaard at The Nation

"Fisherman Fighting Dominion Cove Point LNG Export Terminal Worried About Explosions, Long-Term Impacts” via DeSmog Blog

 

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!

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Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Edition #840

Trials and tribulations

 

Today we hear some personal and some political stories that give insight into the trans experience in America

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Laverne Cox: I'm from Mobile, AL - True Transgender Stories - @Lavernecox - Air Date: 2-7-12

Ch. 3: Song 1: Proud - This Business of Art

---

Ch. 4: Act 2: Know your rights: Transgender In The Workplace - @PRUradio - Air Date: 6-30-13

Ch. 5: Song 2: I Fought the Law - Hits Back (Deluxe Edition)

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Financial Options Available For Gender Confirmation Surgery - @fakedansavage - Air Date 11-19-13

Ch. 7: Song 3: Get With The Times - Get With The Times

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Provider Ignorance In Health Care And Therapy For LGBTQ Community - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date 2-3-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Yeah Sapphire - Stay Positive

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Texas Trans Law That Effects All Trans - @transadvocate - Air Date 2-6-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - James Taylor: Greatest Hits, Vol. 1

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Justice for Jane via @Justice4JaneCT - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Activism - The Poet

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Joy Ladin: Life as a transgender woman at an Orthodox Jewish University - @TheCurrentCBC - Air Date:  4-28-14

---

Ch. 23: Final comments on what ever happened to Our Blue Media

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

ACTIVISM:

Change.org petition: "Free the 16-year-old Transgender Girl Currently Incarcerated in an Adult Prison Without Criminal Charges”

Ways to Take Action, “Justice for Jane Doe and the urgency of survival” via Reina Gossett

Justice 4 Jane Tumblr/Updates

Sources/further reading:

#JusticeForJane

"Jailed Conn. Trans Teen to Be Released”, "Conn. Trans Teen Jailed, Housed With Adults”, "Rally Planned for Jailed 16-Year-Old Trans Girl”, and "Detained Trans Girl Speaks Out, Details Abusive Past” by Parker Marie Malloy at Advocate.com

"Jane Doe, Trans Women, and the Myth of the Perfect Victim” by Katherine Cross at RH Reality Check

Follow/stay updated: Justice For Jane 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!

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Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Edition #839

Disinfecting the rot on American democracy

 

Today we look at the biggest fundamental problem with American politics and a couple of the biggest plans to fix it

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: There is a Rot at the Core of American Democracy! - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 04-16-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Screwed - One Man Riot

---

Ch. 4: Act 2: Nobody Wants You to Be An Activist - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 03-22-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Power to the People - Power to the People: The Hits (Deluxe Version)

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Ch. 6: Act 3: 3 Who’s Buying our Midterm Elections? with Kim Barker and Andy Kroll (Part 1) - @BillMoyersHQ  And Company - Air Date 3-21-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Buy My Vote - Righteous Ruckus

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Americans Agree Get Money OUT Of Politics - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 06-14-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Truth - Somebody Besides Yourself

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Ch. 10: Act 5: 3 Who’s Buying our Midterm Elections? with Kim Barker and Andy Kroll (Part 2) - @BillMoyersHQ  And Company - Air Date 3-21-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: No Limit - O.N.I.F.C. (Deluxe Version)

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Ch. 12: Act 6: MayDay PAC - @MayOneUS - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Activism - The Poet

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Ch. 14: Act 7: VT Calls Constitutional Convention Over Citizens United - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 05-08-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: The Constitution - Happy Hour

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Dear Corrupt Politicians: That Sound You Hear Is Us Winning - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 06-04-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 17: I got the metaphor right! - Peter from Chicago, IL

Ch. 18: Responding to Wade's comments on reparations - Steve from Stockton, CA

Ch. 19: A Marine's perspective on the current chaos in Iraq - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 20: Final comments on summer hours and the progress of the fundraiser

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

ACTIVISM:

Support MayDay Pac

Follow MayDayUS its founder Lawrence Lessig

Sources/further reading:

"The Launch Of The MayDay Citizens’ SuperPAC” via LessigBlog

"Anti-Dark Money Activist Lawrence Lessig Launches A Super PAC To End Super PACs” by Mason Atkins at ThinkProgress

"Mayday PAC: The SuperPAC Built to Destroy SuperPACs” via Newsweek

"Lawrence Lessig Starts a Super PAC” by Derek Willis at The New York Times

"Cronies, corruption and cash: Lawrence Lessig on why we need a super PAC to end all super PACs” by Elias Isquith at Salon

 

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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Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Edition #838

Double dose of duplicity

Today we look at the absurdly politicized reactions to the prisoner swap to retrieve Bowe Bergdahl and the PTSD-inducing media blitz of Bush-era neocons spouting their discredited opinions about the current chaos in Iraq

Support our fundraiser!

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: A prisoner dilemma - @onthemedia - Air Date: 6-13-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Long-Ge - Early Music

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Ch. 4: Act 2: A Trial By News Debate - @jimmy_dore  Show - Air Date 6-6-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: The Price You Pay - The River

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Ch. 6: Act 3: No Actual Evidence Sgt Bergdahl Caused Any Deaths - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 06-04-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Unbelievable - Cool '90s Hits

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Militants Capture Huge Swaths Of Iraq, Including Weapons YOU Paid For - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 06-13-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Beginning - Punkgrass for the People

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Andrew Bacevich on the chaos in Iraq - @billmoyersHQ - Air Date: 6-20-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Forgotten - Punkgrass for the People

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Ch. 12: Act 6: No New War via @AlanGrayson - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Activism - The Poet

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Ch. 14: Act 7: Time to Rethink American Exceptionalism? - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 05-31-14

---

Voicemails

Ch. 15: Responding to Vicki from Oregon on animal agriculture - Scott from Brooklyn

Ch. 16: Comparing marijuana with alcohol and tobacco - Nathan from Boca Raton, FL

Ch. 17: Possible effects of reparations - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 18: Final comments on the purpose of keeping the conversation on racism alive

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

ACTIVISM:

No New War via Alan Grayson

Contact Your Representatives

Sources/further reading:

"Stop Calling the Iraq War a ‘Mistake’” by Dennis Kucinich

"U.S. considers air strikes on Iraq, holds talks with Iran”

"Sunday Shows Turn To Discredited Iraq War Architects For Iraq Analysis” via Media Matters For America

"Hawks Push for Iraq War, the Rule of Law Prevents It” by Kevin Zeese via Popular Resistance and Truthout

"A Third Iraq War?” by Robin Wright at The New Yorker

VIDEO: Crisis In Iraq Michael Brooks on Arise News

"The sectarian myth of Iraq exploited by the West is a recipe for endless war” via Stop The War Coalition

via Greenpeace

 

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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Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Edition #837

One year after Snowden

 

Today we look at where we are, in the wake of the Snowden revelations from one year ago, and where we may be heading with our relationship to the concept of privacy

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: What was Snowden's crime? - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date: 6-6-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: The Traitor - White Water, White Bloom

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Brian Williams interviews Edward Snowden - @jimmy_dore Show - Air Date: 5-30-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: T-Shirt Weather - Banter - A Candle Records Collection

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Glenn Greenwald on the Surveillance State - @CBCRadioQ - Air Date: 5-2-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Burn It Down - Dancing In The Streets

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Ch. 8: Act 4: How The Government Can Destroy Your Reputation (Report) - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 03-04-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Big Brother (1999 Remaster) - Diamond Dogs

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Intelligence community directive 119 - @onthemedia - Air Date: 6-13-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Secret - Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Reject Secret FBI Backdoors in Your Communications via @EFF

Ch. 13: Song 6: Activism - The Poet

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Ch. 14: Act 7: The declining treatment of the fourth amendment - @dccommonsense - Air Date: 5-8-14

---

Voicemails

Ch. 15: In response to animal agriculture and climate change - Vicki from Oregon

Ch. 16: Melding the good guy with the nice guy - Chrissie from Kansas

Ch. 17: It's a weak argument to say that marijuana is harmless - Nathan from Vancouver, WA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 18: Final comments on arguing marijuana legalization

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

ACTIVISM:

Tell The White House You Oppose The FBI’s Secret New Internet Surveillance Law via The Electronic Frontier Foundation

Sources/further reading:

"Should U.S. Hackers Fix Cybersecurity Holes or Exploit Them?” by Bruce Schneier at The Atlantic

"Don’t Listen to Google and Facebook: The Public-Private Surveillance Partnership Is Still Going Strong” by Bruce Schneier at The Atlantic

 

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #836

The case for reparations

 

Today we explain once again what white privilege is and isn't and then take a look at the case for reparations for slavery

 

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Bill O'Reilly Exempts Himself From White Privilege - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-16-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: inequality - What'z Next

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Ch. 4: Act 2: White Privilege is Real - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 05-30-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Turtle (Bonobo Mix) - One Offs... Remixes & B Sides

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Examining the case for reparations - @Dis_Con - Air Date 2-18-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Who Benefits? - In Black and White

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Facing the Truth: The Case for Reparations Part 1 - @BillMoyersHQ  And Company - Air Date 5-21-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: The Confrontation - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Music from the Motion Picture)

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Slavery Reparations Study (H.R. 40) via @repjohnconyers and @NAACP - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 11: Song 5: Activism - The Poet

---

Ch. 12: Act 6: Facing the Truth: The Case for Reparations Part 2 - @BillMoyersHQ  And Company - Air Date 5-21-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 13: No one espouses misandry more than MRAs - Nathan from Boca Raton, FL

Ch. 14: Offended by Sonya's analogy - Peter from Chicago, IL

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

---

Ch. 15: Final comments on women's lose-lose predicament analogy

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

ACTIVISM:

NAACP Supports Slavery Reparations Study Legislation, H.R. 40, Now Pending In The 113th Congress” introduced by Rep John Conyers

Sample letters/emails to send to your representatives via the NAACP

Sources/further reading:

"The Case for Reparations” by Ta-Nehisi Coates

"STUDY: Economic Hardship Makes People More Racially Biased” by Chris Mooney at Mother Jones

"Surprise! Study Finds People Don’t Understand How Racism Works” by Mychal Denzel Smith at The Nation

"We’re Going to Be Talking About Reparations This Year” by Mychal Denzel Smith at The Nation

"Donald Sterling: Slumlord Billionaire” by Dave Zirin at The Nation

 

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #835

Speak up on the future of the Internet

 

Today we look at how the Internet could look if we let the cable baron's lobbyists, including the one appointed to the FCC by Barack Obama, get their way and what we can do to stop them.

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: The "gig" is up in Chatanooga - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 02-05-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Finest Worksong - Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage (1982-2011)

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Cable Barons - @onthemedia - Air Date: 2-21-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Look To The Future - If It 'Ay Bost, Dow Fix It!

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Net Neutrality R.I.P. (1969 - 2014) - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-02-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Things a Get from Bad to Worse - Everything Crash: The Best of the Ethiopians

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Net Neutrality Then And Now - @theharryshearer Le Show - Air Date 4-27-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: It All Adds Up Now (1990 Remaster) - The Best of Cher (The Imperial Recordings, 1965-1968)

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Mozilla's Plan to Save the Internet - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 05-08-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Fox In the Henhouse - Leap of Faith: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Net Neutrality - @LastWeekTonight with John Oliver - Air Date: 6-1-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Gonna Fly Now - The Rocky Story

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Ch. 14: Act 7: What Happened to Obama’s Promised Net Neutrality? - @BillMoyerHQ And Company - Air Date 5-2-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 15: Misogyny episode made me feel better - Paula from California

Ch. 16: Medical incentives only apply to medicare patients - Kim from Illinois

Ch. 17: Misandry and the power structure - Zach from San Francisco

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 18: Final comments on racism, misandry, the FCC comment period and the BotL fundraiser

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

---

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 and Stitcher!

Edition #834

Somewhere between anarchy and tyranny

Support our fundraiser!

Today we take a look at the unnecessarily-slow, yet undeniable progress being made in the push to insure all Americans

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: 9.5 Million Previously Uninsured Now Have Health Insurance - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 04-04-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: A Girl, A Boy, and a Graveyard - The Reluctant Graveyard

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Obamacare Equals Freedom? - @majorityfm - Air Date: 02-05-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: I Quit - 'Merican - EP

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Ch. 6: Act 3: A Closer Look At Bipartisan Cooperation - @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 5-23-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Underwhelmed - Not Your Property - Single

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Can Hospitals Save Money By Making Doctors Squirm? - @planetmoney - Air Date: 12-19-13

Ch. 9: Song 4: Hospital Beds - Robbers & Cowards

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Ch. 10: Act 5: You Can't Make Me Believe It - @jimmy_dore  Show - Air Date 4-26-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: In Denial - Somewhere to Jump From

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Obamacare Hater Now Loves Obamacare After It Saves His Life - Majority Report - Air Date: 04-30-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Room For Improvement - The Ali Of Rock

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Ch. 14: Act 7: The GOP Death Panels... - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 05-22-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Deathly - Magnolia (Music from the Motion Picture)

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Medicaid’s (slow) Expansion via @FamiliesUSA - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Activism - The Poet

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Ch. 18: Act 9: Obamacare In Red States Vs Blue States - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 04-17-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 19: The importance of reintegration of ex-prisoners - Nathan from Vancouver, WA

Ch. 20: Some MnMs are poisoned - Sonya from Minnesota

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 21: Final comments on some exciting updates to the June fundraiser

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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Activism Update!

50 State Look At Medicaid Expansion via Families USA

 

Sources/additional glimmers of hope:

"Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signs Medicaid expansion” via Reuters

HealthCare.gov’s Medicaid Expansion Info

”[Maine] House speaker makes final push for Medicaid expansion with plan based on New Hampshire”

"GOP hatches dramatic scheme in Virginia” via Rachel Maddow Show Blog

It couldn’t all be good news:

"In Texarkana, Uninsured and on the Wrong Side of a State Line” by Annie Lowrey, New York Times

"Millions of Poor Are Left Uncovered by Health Law” via The New York Times

 

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

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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 and Stitcher!

Edition #833

Objectified, harassed, abused, killed

Support our fundraiser!

Today we look at some of the effects, large and small, of living in a systemically misogynist culture. Turns out they're not good.

Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: UCSB Shooter Elliot Rodgers Was Most Definitely a Misogynist - @majorityfm - Air Date: 05-28-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Misogyny - Smash It (feat. Zoe Devlin)

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Ch. 4: Act 2: Some men hate women, all women feel the effects - @Citizen_Radio - Air Date 5-26-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Institutionalized Misogyny - Yesterday Rules

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Ch. 6: Act 3: The media misses the point on the motivation of the UCSB shootings - @TWiBnation - Air Date 5-27-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: The Mother of Misogyny - Paper Scissors Stone

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Ch. 8: Act 4: Not All Men - Yes, All Women - @radio_dispatch - Air Date 5-28-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Harassment - Reggae Fever (Caught You)

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Objectified (Short film) - Tiye Rose Hood

Ch. 11: Song 5: Icky Thump - Icky Thump

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Safety And Rejection - @TWiBnation - Air Date 5-27-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: One - The Complete Hit Singles

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Ch. 14: Act 7: The NO MORE campaign via @NOMOREorg - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7: Activism - The Poet

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Reflecting on Nerd Culture - @onthemedia - Air Date: 5-30-14

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Voicemails

Ch. 17: Livestock and the climate - Patrick from Dallas

Ch. 18: Followup on Stonewall Uprising and LGBTQ movement - Chrissie from Kansas

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

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Ch. 23: Final comments on Nazis, misogynists and baby diarrhea

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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HOTLINES:

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline:

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ACTIVISM:

NO MORE: website and Twitter

 

Sources/further reading:

”Not Alone” — the White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault

"White House Action on Campus Sexual Violence: For Me, It's Personal” by Wagatwe Wanjuki

"Pure Poison: The UCSB Shooting, Ray Rice and a Culture of Violence Against Women” by Dave Zirin

"The insane (and hopeless) logic of #YesAllWomen critics” by Zerlina Maxwell

"It’s Time for Men to Stand Up and Fight Domestic Violence” by Dean Obeidallah

"How to Support a Trans* Survivor of Domestic Violence” via Everyday Feminism

CDC’s "Intimate Partner Violence” page

U.S. Dept of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women

U.S. Dept of Justice, Office For Victims of Crime: Sexual Assault in the Transgender Community

 

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

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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 and Stitcher!

Edition #832

It costs money to either save or destroy the world

 

Support our fundraiser!

https://bestoftheleft.nationbuilder.com/fundraiser

 

Today we look at the financial realities of both action and inaction on climate change. Turns out the right, selfless thing to do is also the right, selfish thing to do

 

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: The shocking truth about oil - and our planet - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 04-22-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: The fiddler's ballad - Jen Osha w/Wolf Creek Session

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Ch. 4: Act 2: You'll Never Guess Who is Leading the Fight on Climate Change (Hint: It's Your Insurance Company) - @majorityfm - Air Date: 05-21-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Land of Confusion - Invisible Touch

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Ch. 6: Act 3: Climate Deniers Using Same Tactics as Tobacco Industry - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 04-09-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Robber Barons - Robber Barons - Single

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Ch. 8: Act 4: John Fullerton: Carbon Crisis, Fossil Fuels, & Finance - The @GRITlaura Flanders Show - Air Date: 12-3-13

Ch. 9: Song 4: Leader - Burning Spear

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Ch. 10: Act 5: Stanford makes progress on divestment campaign - @greennewsreport - Air Date: 5-8-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Peril - Heresy and the Hotel Choir

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Ch. 12: Act 6: Fossil Fuel Divestment Wins via @350 - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Activism - The Poet

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Ch. 14: Act 7: The antarctic ice sheet is disintegrating - @greennewsreport - Air Date: 5-13-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Water Keeps Rising - Kristin Diable and the City

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Ch. 16: Act 8: Climate denial a prerequisite for GOP in 2016 - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 05-12-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: What Have We Done - Dancing In The Streets

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Ch. 18: Act 9: Politician: I'm Not Qualified To Debate Science So I Reject It! - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-30-14

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Ch. 19: Final comments on the launch of our first major BotL fundraiser

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

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Activism Update!

"Big win for divestment campaign: Stanford to divest from coal companies”

Sources/additional glimmers of hope:

"Why the Petro-Divestment Movement Is Unstoppable” via The Tyee

"Why Divestment is Changing the Climate Movement” by Chloe Maxmin at The Nation

"Fighting Climate Change by Divesting from Fossil Fuel Companies” via On The Commons

 

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 and Stitcher!

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!