Best of the Left Podcast

Fri, 30 January 2015

(2015/01/30) Dispelling the selective memory of Dr. Martin Luther King

Edition #894

Today we take a look at the legacy of Martin Luther King as it was taught to us and fill in the gaps that were left out. Turns out it was no accident those gaps were left in the first place.

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: An except from a lost MLK speech - @democracynow - Air Date: 1-19-15

Ch. 3: Song 1: We Shall Overcome - We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions

Ch. 4: Act 2: MLK Day Should be for Everyone - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 01-20-15

Ch. 5: Song 2: Like a King - Welcome to the Cruel World

Ch. 6: Act 3: Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes You've Probably Never Heard Before - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 01-20-15

Ch. 7: Song 3: By the Time I Get to Arizona - Power to the People & the Beats - Public Enemy's Greatest Hits

Ch. 8: Act 4: Rev. Madison Shockley on the black liberation theology of MLK - @truthdig Radio - Air Date: 1-16-15

Ch. 9: Song 4: Glory (From the Motion Picture "Selma") - Glory (From the Motion Picture "Selma") - Single

Ch. 10: Act 5: Movement Building and the Importance of Youth - Tim Wise - Air Date: 12-5-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: A Dream - Freedom Writers

Ch. 12: Act 6: Demand Congress Address Civil and Human Rights via @civilrightsorg - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: "This fickle world" - Theo Bard

Ch. 14: Act 7: Gary Younge, author of 'The Speech' with MLK - @Making_Contact - Air Date: 1-13-15

Voicemails

Ch. 16: Encouraging women to speak about their experiences with abortion - Zoe from Durham, NC

Ch. 17: This American Life did a segment on Vocal Fry - Ruben from San Jose

Ch. 18: Thoughts on the impermanence of "culture" - Nathan from Vancouver, WA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

Ch. 19: Final comments on the invention of racism by the powerful to divide the powerless

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

Activism: Demand Congress Address Civil and Human Rights via @civilrightsorg

Take Action:

Add your name: Congress Must Address Civil and Human Rights Priorities in 2015 via The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

Additional Activism/Resources:

Go. See. Selma. Find listings HERE

Sources/further reading:

"Will Justice Scalia Be the Savior of the Fair Housing Act?” at ACLU.org

"Civil and Human Rights Coalition Troubled by Deletion of “Civil Rights and Human Rights” from Senate Constitution Subcommittee” press release from The Leadership Conference

“Yes, The Oscars Are So White, And Here’s Why That Matters” at MTV.com

#OscarsSoWhite via @ReignOfApril

”Ava DuVernay: ‘Selma’ Is the ‘Vision of a Black Storyteller Undiluted’” by Mychal Denzel Smith at The Nation

"Congress Will Be in Session Longer Next Year. Will It Make a Difference?” by Kate Scanlon at The Daily Signal

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!

Direct download: 894_Dispelling_the_selective_memory_of_Dr._Martin_Luther_King.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EST

Tue, 27 January 2015

(2015/01/27) Bringing harm, one patriarchal policy at a time (Abortion Rights)

Edition #893

Today we take the actual harm caused by restrictive abortion policies and some ways to reframe the debate

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Can Abortions Save Lives? - @testtube - Air Date: 1-6-15

Ch. 3: Song 1: A Girl, A Boy, and a Graveyard - The Reluctant Graveyard

Ch. 4: Act 2: Right-Wing Policies Are Literally Killing Women - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 05-17-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Nothing Else Matters - Inquisition Symphony

Ch. 6: Act 3: @KathaPollitt: on the history of abortion rights in America - Diane Rehm Show (@drshow) - Air Date: 10-8-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Patriarchy Over & Out - Patriarchy Over & Out - EP

Ch. 8: Act 4: Safe And Legal Abortions Difficult By Design - @fakedansavage - Air Date 9-16-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Shame - Emotionalism (Bonus Track Version)

Ch. 10: Act 5: We would really like some control over your uterus - @TWiBnation - Air Date: 1-13-15

Ch. 11: Song 5: Liberty - Frontiers

Ch. 12: Act 6: States Continue Push To Ban Abortions After 20 Weeks - @JenniferLudden on @NPR - Air Date: 1-22-15

Ch. 13: Song 6: The Thing That Made You - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Music from the Motion Picture)

Ch. 14: Act 7: Republican women revolt against abortion ban - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 1-22-15

Ch. 15: Song 7: Mondo '77 (feat. Francis MacDonald) - Vanilla Sky (Music from the Motion Picture)

Ch. 16: Act 8: End Abortion Coverage Bans - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: "This fickle world" - Theo Bard

Ch. 18: Act 9: @KathaPollitt reads from her book Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights - @Politics_Prose - Air Date: 10-31-14

Voicemails

Ch. 20: No problem with teaching comparitive religion - Trey from Corvallis

Ch. 21: Privacy laws also protect the already-powerful - Dave from Canada

Ch. 22: One reason why the police shoot to kill - Neil

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

Ch. 23: Final comments on why cops are trained to shoot to kill and a reminder to nominate BotL in the Best Produced category at PodcastAwards.com

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

Activism: End Abortion Coverage Bans

Take Action:

Track H.R.7 via GovTrack.us and use Contacting the Congress to tell your Senators to vote NO when H.R.7 comes to the Senate.

SIGN All* Above All’s letter opposing the Hyde Amendment on the 2016 budget: End Abortion Coverage Bans Now!

Additional Activism/Resources:

SIGN NARAL Pro-Choice America’s petitions to the 114th Congress:

”Ask the Republican Leaders: Where Are The Women?”

”Anti-Choice Politicians Don’t Speak For Me

Sources/further reading:

See who the H.R.7 co-sponsors were: Congressional Bill Tracker — H.R.7

"New Year, Same as the Old Year? 2015 Reproductive Rights Preview” by Katie Klabusich at Truthout

"Roe Should Be a Reality for All, Not Just for a Wealthy Few” by Heidi Williamson at TalkPoverty.org

"Congress Rejected A 20-Week Abortion Ban, But These States Didn’t” by Tara Culp-Ressler at ThinkProgress

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!

Direct download: 893_Bringing_harm_one_patriarchal_policy_at_a_time_Abortion_Rights.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EST

Fri, 23 January 2015

(2015/01/23) Fearing and hating what we don’t understand (Religion)

Edition #892

Today we take a look at the propaganda we’re fed to convince us that muslims are dangerous and examine why it’s bullshit

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

Support The Good Fight's Kickstarter!

Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Violence and Muslims - @DecodeDC - Air Date: 1-9-15

Ch. 3: Song 1: Dig Down Deep - Dig Down Deep (Bonus Track Version)

Ch. 4: Act 2: Study: Religious Extremism is the Main Cause of Terrorism - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 11-20-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Tobacco Road - Tobacco Road

Ch. 6: Act 3: Islam isn't more bizarre than Christianity, it's just less familiar to us - @truthdig Radio - Air Date: 1-16-15

Ch. 7: Song 3: Perpetuum Mobile - Preludes, Airs and Yodels (A Penguin Cafe Primer)

Ch. 8: Act 4: Countering Radical Islam - @onthemedia - Air Date: 1-16-15

Ch. 9: Song 4: Gerudo Valley (From "Ocarina of Time") - Melodies of Hyrule: Music from "the Legend of Zelda"

Ch. 10: Act 5: 'American Sniper' Bashed As Pro-War Anti-Muslim Propaganda - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 01-22-15

Ch. 11: Song 5: Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac: Greatest Hits

Ch. 12: Act 6: Slain Muslim Cop’s Brother Delivers A Eulogy All Must Hear - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 01-13-15

Ch. 13: Song 6: Porcelain - Play & Play: B Sides

Ch. 14: Act 7: Add the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to the Census via @ACCESS1971 & @NNAAC - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7: "This fickle world" - Theo Bard

Ch. 16: Act 8: I am the son of a terrorist. Here's how I chose peace. - @ZakEbrahim on @TEDTalks - Air Date: 9-9-14

Voicemails

Ch. 18: Cutting through the cloud of BS - Colin from Cleveland, OH

Ch. 19: Tired of fighting racism - Xena from New York

Ch. 20: Activism segments are valuable and the government's divine right to kill - Erin from Philadelphia

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

Ch. 21: Final comments on PodcastAwards.com and the Kickstarter for The Good Fight with Ben Wikler

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

Activism: Add the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to the Census via @ACCESS1971 & @NNAAC

Take Action:

Leave a positive comment by February 1 to support adding the MENA region to the Census

Sources/further reading:

”Linda Sarsour speaks to MEMO about Islamophobia in America”

"Radio Dispatch Live with Linda Sarsour and Vince Warren” on Radio Dispatch

"For Republicans, Muslims Will Be the Gays of 2016” by Dean Obeidallah at The Daily Beast

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!

Direct download: 892_Fearing_and_hating_what_we_don_t_understand_Religion.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EST

Tue, 20 January 2015

(2015/01/20) Freedom, terrorism and where we stand (Charlie Hebdo)

Edition #891

Today we take a look at the terrorist attack on the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, including the hypocrisies, the missed points and a reassessment of the place of non-muslims in the War on Islamic Extremism™

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: Paris Shooting: At Least 11 Dead in Terror Attack - Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) - Air Date: 01-07-15

Ch. 3: Song 1: "Paris" - Dido

Ch. 4: Act 2: France Rises For Freedom & The World Rises With Them - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 01-13-15

Ch. 5: Song 2: We Stand As One - Occupy This Album

Ch. 6: Act 3: The possible motivations behind the Charlie Hebdo attacks - @truthdig Radio - Air Date: 1-9-15

Ch. 7: Song 3: From Finner - My Head Is An Animal

Ch. 8: Act 4: Calls for press freedom highlights the hypocrisy of world leaders - @democracynow - Air Date: 1-12-15

Ch. 9: Song 4: Standing - Empires

Ch. 10: Act 5: The French government is looking for more power in response to terrorist attack - Le Show (@theharryshearer) - AIr Date: 1-11-15

Ch. 11: Song 5: Cheer Up, Charlie - Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) [25th Anniversary Edition]

Ch. 12: Act 6: Don't miss the bigger picture of the conversation on free speech - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date: 1-9-15

Ch. 13: Song 6: Power of Words - Conversations With Shepherds, Sheep, Guinea Pigs and Monkeys: Nursery Rhymes for the Underfed Mind Vol I

Ch. 14: Act 7: We Believe in Free Speech, No Really! - John Mill - Air Date: 1-15-15

Ch. 15: Song 7: Say What You Mean - Change of Scenery

Ch. 16: Act 8: Understanding free speech and what drives terrorism - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date: 1-18-15

Ch. 17: Song 8: And It Spread - I and Love and You

Ch. 18: Act 9: How societies wrongly react to terrorist attacks - @democracynow - Air Date: 1-12-15

Ch. 19: Song 9: Catalog & Classify - Tiger Banana

Ch. 20: Act 10: We need to understand our place in the conflict with Islamic extremism - @dccommonsense - Air Date: 1-18-15

Ch. 21: Final comments on the nature of Satire

Ch. 21.1: Giving Charlie Hebdo a pass on racism because they're from the left - @truthdig Radio - Air Date: 1-9-15

Ch. 21.2: Examining satire at Charlie Hebdo - @Jimmy_Dore Show - Air Date: 1-16-15

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!

Direct download: 891_Freedom_terrorism_and_where_we_stand_Charlie_Hebdo_New.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EST

Fri, 16 January 2015

(2006/05/08) He May Be a Failure, but He's Our Failure (Colbert's Correspondents Dinner Speech)

A special rerun episode from 2006 when Stephen Colbert was invited to give the keynote at the White House Coorespondents Dinner. Getting sick this week gives me the perfect excuse to replay this just after The Colbert Report came to a close.

Direct download: He_May_Be_a_Failure_but_Hes_Our_Failure_Colberts_Correspondents_Dinner_Speech.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EST

Tue, 13 January 2015

(2015/01/13) Why privacy matters (NSA Spying)

Edition #890

Today we take a look at how over-policing and the threat of constant surveillance chips away at freedom in direct and indirect ways and why you should be concerned (if it weren’t already obvious)

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 Did The NSA Become Big Brother? - @TestTube - Air Date: 6-16-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: The Safety Dance (Video Version) - Rhythm of Youth

Ch. 4: Act 2: NSA releasing documents about broken laws on Christmas Eve - Le Show (@theharryshearer) - Air Date: 12-28-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Abuse of Power - As the Stars Fall

Ch. 6: Act 3: @CatherineNCrump: The small and surprisingly dangerous detail the police track about you - @TEDTalks - Air Date: 12-11-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Don’t Worry, We'll Be Watching You - Making Mirrors

Ch. 8: Act 4: FBI, CIA Terrified They Won't Be Able to Spy on Your New Phone - @RedactedTonight - Air Date: 11-13-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Let My Love Open the Door - Hit & Run (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Ch. 10: Act 5: The NSA Has an Advice Columnist - @onthemedia - Air Date: 9-26-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Hate Me - Foiled

Ch. 12: Act 6: @ggreenwald: Why privacy matters - @TEDTalks - Air Date: 10-10-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Burn It Down - Dancing In The Streets

Ch. 14: Act 7: If you're not worried about spying then your privilege is showing - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date: 10-15-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: Rockin' the Suburbs - Rockin' the Suburbs

Ch. 16: Act 8: Prohibit Mass Surveillance via @EFF - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: "This fickle world" - Theo Bard

Ch. 18: Act 9: From Drones to Chokeholds, We're Over-Policed! - @GRITlaura Flanders of @grittv - Air Date: 12-15-14

Voicemails

Ch. 20: Watch what the local police are saying - Chrisanne from New Jersey

Ch. 21: There should be a movement to divest from the prison industrial complex - Ian from Chattanooga, TN

Ch. 22: Capitalism and people of color - Vloral from Atlanta, GA

Ch. 23: Thoughts on aparthied America - Fisher from Buffalo, NY

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

Ch. 24: Final comments on the Surveillance Self-Defence info pack from the Electronic Frontier Foundation

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

Bonus Episode I mentioned: (2013/11/18) Another terrible pipeline (School-to-prison)

Activism: Prohibit Mass Surveillance via @EFF

Take Action:

SIGN the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) petition: "Tell Obama: Stop Mass Surveillance Under Executive Order 12333”

Additional Activism/Resources:

Leave a comment for the Federal Elections Commission via EFF: "No New Regulation for Online Political Speech”

SIGN the ACLU pledge: "Invasion of the Data Snatchers”

Sources/further reading:

"PEN America: "'The Harm Caused by Surveillance...is Unmistakable’” via EFF

"Global Chilling: The Impact of Mass Surveillance on International Writers” from PEN American Center

"The Fight in Congress to End the NSA’s Mass Spying: 2014 in Review” at EFF

"ACLU accuses NSA of using holiday lull to ‘minimise impact’ of documents” by Nicky Woolf at The Guardian

"US tries to strike deal with EU for immunity over online security breaches” by Phillip Inman at The Guardian

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!

Direct download: 890_Why_privacy_matters_NSA_Spying.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EST

Fri, 9 January 2015

(2015/01/09) The system is built to fail (Injustice System)

Edition #889

Today we look at the interplay between a system of structural racism and our (in)justice system and beg the question: is the system broken or is it working just as intended?

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