Best of the Left Podcast

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Air Date: 12/29/2017

Today we take a look back to 2008 in our third annual 10-years-hence retrospective spectacular!

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Iowa caucus on Jan 3: We might have seen the beginning of our first black president - The Young Turks - BotL Air Date 1-5-08

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Weathervane - CloudCover


Ch. 4: Act 2: Hillary Clinton and her Super Delegates on Super Tuesday - Countdown - BotL Air Date 2-16-08

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Front Runner - Union Hall


Ch. 6: Act 3: There is an opening for populist politicians in both parties - Rachel Maddow - BotL Air Date 1-15-08

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Shift of Currents - Aeronaut


Ch. 8: Act 4: A Cure For Real Estate Amnesia - NPR - BotL Air Date 9-24-2008

Ch. 9: Song 4:  The Cast and Favor - Bayou Birds


Ch. 10: Act 5: Palin is not a maverick choice - CounterSpin - BotL Air Date 9-26-2008

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Blue Jay - Feathers


Ch. 12: Act 6: Hope in The Dream Act - N/A - BotL Air Date 6-8-08

Ch. 13: Song 6:  periculum - Kai Engel


Ch. 14: Act 7: Our torture methods came from the 50's-era Chinese - The Young Turks - BotL Air Date 8-31-08

Ch. 15: Song 7:  Homegrown - The Pine Barrens


Ch. 16: Act 8: Economic generic-off - The Daily Show - BotL Air Date 9-24-2008

Ch. 17: Song 8:  PolyCoat - The Cabinetmaker


Ch. 18: Act 9: Warrantless wiretapped phone sex - The Young Turks - BotL Air Date 10-26-08

Ch. 19: Song 9: Lacrima D'esperide - Damiano Baldoni


Ch. 20: Act 10: Block the vote with RFK - Rachel Maddow - BotL Air Date 10-26-2008

Ch. 21: Song 9: Hundred Mile - K2


Ch. 22: Act 9: Conservative writer: Obama a worse speaker than Bush - The Young Turks - BotL Air Date 11-25-08


Ch. 23: Final comments to close out this years look back

Support the future of this show! Become a member during our Winter Fundraiser

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions & Free Music Archive


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon & check out our Winter Fundraiser

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: 1154_2008_Recap_Air_Date_12-29-17_-_12-30-17_00.09.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 02/05/2016

Today we look at the intersection of the climate crisis with our current economic system including how monopolies, trade deals, market failures and the concept of “externalities” all work together to make climate change worse

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Externalities - by @DavidSuzuki - Resource Based Economy - Air Date: 7-26-13

Ch. 3: Song 1: N/A


Ch. 4: Act 2: The True Cost Of Fossil Fuels - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 10-28-15

Ch. 5: Song 2: The Price You Pay - Bruce Springsteen


Ch. 6: Act 3: TransCanada Uses NAFTA to sue The US Over Keystone Pipeline! - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 01-08-16

Ch. 7: Song 3: Smoke And Mirrors - Giraffe


Ch. 8: Act 4: Nevada guts their net metering program, killing the solar industry - @greennewsreport - Air Date 1-12-16

Ch. 9: Song 4: Sunshine to Burn (The Long Grass) - The Sand Pebbles


Ch. 10: Act 5: Ronald Wright on Progress Traps - The Green Interview - Air Date: 8-1-11

Ch. 11: Song 5: Farmscrapers - Dad Rocks!


Ch. 12: Act 6: Is the Military the Future of Renewable Energy? - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 12-04-15

Ch. 13: Song 6: Hands To Myself - Selena Gomez


Ch. 14: Act 7: Porter Ranch Massive CA Gas Leak & What It Means - Majority Report (@majorityfm) - Air Date 01-12-16

Ch. 15: Song 7: Payne's Bay - Beirut


Ch. 16: Act 8: Is Aliso Canyon California's BP Blowout? - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 01-08-16

Ch. 17: Song 8: Devil Town - Tony Lucca


Ch. 18: Act 9: #LeapYear Manifesto: For New Economic & Energy Systems via @NaomiAKlein — Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 19: Act 9A: The Leap Manifesto As Explained By @NaomiAKlein - Huffington Post Canada - Air Date: 9-15-15

Ch. 20: Song 9: This Fickle World - Theo Bard


Ch. 21: Act 10: Surviving Progress Film (condensed version)

Direct download: Rerun_988_Climate_Science_Air_Date_2-5-16_-_12-26-17_22.20.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:45pm EDT

Air Date: 08/30/2016

Today we look in detail at the overdue concept of worker-owned and operated enterprises and what they can do to help improve the lives of people who work for a living

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Own The Change: Building Workplace Democracy One Worker Cooperative At A Time - The F Word w/ @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date: 2-9-15

Ch. 3: Song 1: We Demand Change - Tristan James


Ch. 4: Act 2: Dispelling some myths about worker coops - Economic Update w: @profwolff - Air Date 6-12-16

Ch. 5: Song 2: Banking on a Myth - Andrew Bird


Ch. 6: Act 3: Defying the Crisis - The Spanish Collective Mondragan - Air Date 1-25-12

Ch. 7: Song 3: Look To The Future - Birthrite


Ch. 8: Act 4: Julia Hutchins: How cooperative businesses can answer tough business challenges - TEDxMileHigh - Air Date 12-16-13

Ch. 9: Song 4: Cooperation - Jim Valley


Ch. 10: Act 5: The Promise and Limitations of Worker Co-ops -- Gar Alperovitz - Workplace Democracy - Air Date 9-15-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Interesting Times - Akira the Don


Ch. 12: Act 6: The UK Labor party taking the lead on worker coops - Economic Update w: @profwolff - Air Date 5-9-16

Ch. 13: Song 6: Capitalism Is Tearing Us Apart - sole


Ch. 14: Act 7: Join a Local Democracy @ Work Action Group via @Democracyatwrk - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7: Time for Action - Secret Affair


Ch. 16: Act 8: Some barriers that prevent the creation of worker coops - @theLFshow w: @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date 2-23-16

Direct download: Coops_Air_Date_08-30-16_Ad_Free_-_12-22-17_19.32.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:04pm EDT

Air Date: 12/19/2017

Today we look at the current state of the War on Christmas™. Has it already been won by the forces of Trumpism? Do we need a "Surge"? Are we getting unexpected reinforcements from anti-Santa Christians? Turn in to find out!

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Why Is Santa's Helper Wearing Blackface? - Intersection - Air Date 12-28-15

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Let's Just Get Through Christmas - Doctor Turtle


Ch. 4: Act 2: How To Trigger A War On Christmas... - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 12-22-16

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Losers on a Christmas Eve - Greg Atkinson


Ch. 6: Act 3: Trump Declares War On 'The War On Christmas' - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 10-17-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  (He Came in Like a) Santa Claus - The Gregory Brothers


Ch. 8: Act 4: Sarah's Monologue on the War on Christmas - I Love You, America on Hulu - Air Date 12-14-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  If you sleep on Christmas


Ch. 10: Act 5: Santa-Hating Pastor Ruins Christmas - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 12-10-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Losing Over Christmas - Greg Atkinson


Ch. 12: Act 6: The 'War on Christmas' comes to Washington - CNNMoney - Air Date 12-19-17

Ch. 13: Song 6:  There's No War On Christmas When Christmas Is In Your Heart - The Mockers


Ch. 14: Act 7: Jesus Is a Liberal Democrat - Colbert Report - Air Date: 2010


Ch. 15: Final comments on our end-of-year schedule and ongoing fundraising campaign

Support the future of this show! Become a member during our Winter Fundraiser

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

(Additional music from Free Music Archive ) 


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon & check out our Winter Fundraiser

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: 1153_WoC_Air_Date_12-19-17_-_12-19-17_20.14.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 12/15/2017

Today we look at the history and current state of rich people seeking to undermine democratic rule by the people in favor of oligarchy for the rich

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how Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Why The Koch Brothers Despise The Constitution - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 07-26-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Chilvat - Lillehammer


Ch. 4: Act 2: Jane Mayer on the Rise of Conservative Orthodoxy - On The Media - Air Date 5-5-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Stale Case - Darby


Ch. 6: Act 3: The complicated reality of corruption rules. @BackStory - Air Date: 11-24-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Cloud Line - K4


Ch. 8: Act 4: Millionaire Donor Threatens Democrats - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 11-14-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Streamer - Arc and Crecent


Ch. 10: Act 5: #GetMoneyOut of Politics with @WolfPAChq @AllofUs @JusticeDems @RepresentdotUS - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Celestial Navigation - Aeronaut


Ch. 12: Act 6: Why our democracy in is danger - Belabored (@DissentMag) - Air Date 5-13-16


Voicemails

Ch. 13: Thoughts on Patreon - Anonymous

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 14: Final comments on the win for small-dollar donors with Patreon

Support the future of this show! Become a member during our Winter Fundraiser

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions & Free Music Archive


Activism:

Get money OUT of politics by getting involved with... 

Wolf PAC

All of Us and Justice Democrats

Represent.Us (check out their Unrig the System Summit)

EDUCATE YOURSELF

House Republican: my donors told me to pass the tax bill “or don’t ever call me again” (Vox)

8 Things You Can Do to Help Get Money Out of Politics (Bill Moyers & Co; 2014)

4 Solutions to Fight the Corruptive Influence of Money in Politics (League of Women Voters; 2015)

Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon & check out our Winter Fundraiser!

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: 1152_Corruption_Air_Date_12-15-17_-_12-14-17_14.33.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 4/11/2017

Today we look at a variety of ways to bring the disability rights movement into the mainstream of media, advocacy and the world

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Media coverage of disabilities and the ADA getting better but still lacking - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 7-31-15

Ch. 3: Song 1: Nothing Is Good Enough (Instrumental) - Aimee Mann


Ch. 4: Act 2: Bringing disability into the mainstream of diversity - Off Kilter (@TalkPoverty) - Air Date: 7-2-15

Ch. 5: Song 2: Going Home - Niklas Aman


Ch. 6: Act 3: Discrimination in immigration then and now - Backstory - Air Date 2-10-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: The Cave - Piano Tribute Players


Ch. 8: Act 4: On Disability and Representation - Black Girls Talking - Air Date 7-20-16

Ch. 9: Song 4: Julie-O - Kevin "KO" Olusola


Ch. 10: Act 5: Stop HR 620: Tell Congress to #ProtectADA via @NDRNAdvocates - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 11: Song 5: La Valse d'Amélie (Version Orchestre) - Yann Tiersen


Ch. 12: Act 6: Elise Roy: When we design for disability, we all benefit - @TEDTalks - Air Date 11-12-16


Ch. 23: Final comments

Bonus Clip 1: Nick Dupree's Story: A Medicaid Victory - All Things Considered - Air Date 2-12-03

Bonus Clip 2: Nick Dupree Fought To Live 'Like Anyone Else' - All Things Considered - Air Date 2-22-17

Bonus Clip 3: Tribute to Nick Dupree - @dccommonsense w/ Dan Carlin - Air Date 3-15-17

 
Direct download: 1094_Disability_Air_Date_4-11-17_Ad_Free_Rerun_-_12-12-17_20.05.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 12/8/2017

Today we look at the rebirth of the anti-trust movement in a struggle to save democracy in the face of a new era of worldwide corporate tech monopolies

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: The Fight for Antitrust - On The Media - Air Date 9-21-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  The Rampart - Castle Danger


Ch. 4: Act 2: Changing how we understand the purpose of anti-monopoly laws - We the Podcast with Rep. @keithellison - Air Date 10-1-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Sunday Lights - Onesuch Village


Ch. 6: Act 3: Breaking Down The American Monopoly. Part 2 - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 11-02-16

Ch. 7: Song 3:  PolyCoat - The Cabinetmaker


Ch. 8: Act 4: The need to dismantle monopoly and reclaim our property Part 3 - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date 9-16-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Cloud Line - K4


Ch. 10: Act 5: Platform capitalism and the birth of global monopolies - Ideas - Air Date 9-19-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Begrudge - Darby


Ch. 12: Act 6: It's time for a third American Revolution to beat back the monopolies Part 4 - We the Podcast with Rep. @keithellison - Air Date 10-1-17


Voicemails

Ch. 13: Sexual harassment of power and control - Corey from the Beltway

Ch. 14: Dystopian Gold Mine - Alan from Connecticut

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 15: Final comments on the trifecta of media consolidation, big data and corporate monopolies in general plus a few thoughts on the recent announcement from Patreon

Support the future of this show! Become a member during our Winter Fundraiser

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions & Free Music Archive


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon & check out our Winter Fundraiser!

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: 1151_Monopolies_Air_Date_12-8-17_-_12-9-17_10.40.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 12/5/2017

Today we look at some of the hidden ways that big tech is influencing our lives personally and societally

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: The intersection of big data, targeted advertising and elections - Le Show - Air Date 11-26-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Shhhame (Instrumental Acoustic) - PC-ONE


Ch. 4: Act 2: Throwing rocks at the Google bus: Rethinking how we design technologies and business - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date 9-23-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  There Is Something Wrong - Mystery Mammal


Ch. 6: Act 3: The lifecycle of an economy built on monopolies - We the Podcast with Rep. @keithellison - Air Date 10-1-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Lacrima D'esperide - Damiano Baldoni


Ch. 8: Act 4: Zeynep Tufekci: We're building a dystopia just to make people click on ads - @TEDTalks - Air Date 11-17-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Like Music (cdk Mix) (ft. Phasenwandler) - cdk


Ch. 10: Act 5: Baratunde Thurston: We can choose how we design our built and digital environments - Thinking Cap - Air Date 9-14-17


Voicemails

Ch. 11: Me Too - Alan from Connecticut

Ch. 12: Equality actually lifts all boats - Zach from Atlanta

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 13: Final comments on the need for both an individual and social push against the coming tech monopolies dystopia

Support the future of this show! Become a member during our Winter Fundraiser

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions & Free Music Archive


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon & check out our Winter Fundraiser!

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: 1150_Big_Data_Big_Tech_Air_Date_12-5-17_-_12-5-17_19.36.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 12/1/2017

Today we look at the inevitable results of a lax approach to anti-trust legislation: the consolidation of corporate power and money used to buy influence over the writing of regulations which allow for further consolidation of corporate power. Plus, throw in the suppression of anti-corporate opinions through monopolistic media empires and the dismantling of Net Neutrality principles. Welcome to The Gilded Age 2.0

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Monopolistic concentration of power results in a loss of liberty - We the Podcast with Rep. @keithellison - Air Date 10-1-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Santre - K2


Ch. 4: Act 2: Paving the way for far more media consolidation - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 11-20-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Moon Bicycle Theme - American Moon Bicycle


Ch. 6: Act 3: Media consolidation as a threat to democracy - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date 10-28-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Chapel Bottom - Darby


Ch. 8: Act 4: Time Magazine bought with the help of the Koch Brothers - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 11-27-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Slow Lane - Siobhan Dakay


Ch. 10: Act 5: F-word: Wanted, This Christmas, A Media-Monopoly Bust Up - @theLFshow w: @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date 11-30-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  INTERNET IS THE BEST THING EVER - Monplaisir


Ch. 12: Act 6: An FCC commissioner explains why we need to save net neutrality - Thinking Cap - Air Date 11-30-17

Ch. 13: Song 6:  Snake in my Net - Echolex


Ch. 14: Act 7: The FCC had Enough with Net Neutrality and We've Had Enough Of Them (w/Guest Evan Greer) - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 11-22-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: Dear John To The Democratic Party - Alan from Connecticut

Ch. 16: Majority Report under attack - Zach from Atlanta

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 17: Final comments on how to fund a functional progressive media sphere that’s under constant attack

Support the future of this show! Become a member during our Winter Fundraiser

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions


ACTION & INFO

WRITE & CALL Congress at BattlefortheNet.com 

Attend a Verizon Protest near you 

The FCC is about to repeal net neutrality. Here’s why Congress should stop them. (Stanford Law Prof. - Medium)

The FCC Should Not Give Broadband Providers the Keys to Your Internet Freedom (FCC Commissioner - Medium)

Net Neutrality: AT&T Court Case Could Let Telecoms Slow Internet Speeds At Will (International Business Times)

If you want to see what America would be like if it ditched net neutrality, just look at Portugal (Business Insider)

Curated by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon & check out our Winter Fundraiser!

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: 1149_Media_Net_Neutrality_Air_Date_12-1-17_-_12-1-17_21.57.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 11/28/2017

Today we look at recent revelations about the conduct of the DNC during the 2016 campaign, a new Democratic Autopsy report that strives to shine light the failures and opportunities for the party and the recent election wins and what they can tell us about a path forward

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Elizabeth Warren NAILS What's Wrong With The Democratic Party 'Hold This Party Accountable' - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date 11-04-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Vengeful - Warmbody


Ch. 4: Act 2: BOMBSHELL: Donna Brazile Admits DNC Rigged Primary Against Bernie - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 11-03-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Steamer - Arc and Crescent


Ch. 6: Act 3: Voters Reject Republican Candidates as New “Autopsy” Report Finds the Democratic Party in Crisis - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 11-08-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Rotisserie Graveyard - Doctor Turtle


Ch. 8: Act 4: Autopsy: An Analysis of What Went Wrong with the Democratic Party in 2016 - @TheRealNews - Air Date 11-17-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Passionate Ending - Soft and Furious


Ch. 10: Act 5: How to Fix the Democratic Party - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 11-17-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Homegrown - The Pine Barrens


Ch. 12: Act 6: You Can Transform the Democratic Party via @JusticeDems @DemSocialists & @TheDemocrats - Best of the Left Activism


Ch. 13: Final comments on Corruption 101 and what we’re actually protecting when we make rules against it

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions & Free Music Archive


TAKE ACTION!

Read the report: Autopsy: The Democratic Party in Crisis

Get involved with Justice Democrats (or become a candidate!)

Get involved with Democratic Socialists of America (or become a candidate!)

Get involved in your local Democratic National Committee chapter (or become a candidate!)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon & check out our WINTER FUNDRAISER

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: 1148_DNC.Autopsy_Air_Date_11-28-17_-_11-28-17_20.45.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Support our Winter Fundraiser!

Air Date: 11/21/2017

Today we take a look at the history of how Christianity was, in large part, coopted by the Republican party on behalf of business interests and how anyone started getting the idea that we were founded as a religious, much less Christian, nation

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: How 'One Nation' Didn't Become 'Under God' Until The '50s Religious Revival Part 1 - Fresh Air - Air Date 3-30-15

Ch. 3: Song 1: Timber Timbre - Timber Timbre


Ch. 4: Act 2: The Origin of Religious Freedom Laws... - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 04-27-15

Ch. 5: Song 2: Coaster - NOFX


Ch. 6: Act 3: Why Can't They Understand the First Amendment? - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 04-11-15

Ch. 7: Song 3: Very Soon ft Funsho Ogundipe - Wanlov the Kubolor


Ch. 8: Act 4: How 'One Nation' Didn't Become 'Under God' Until The '50s Religious Revival Part 2 - Fresh Air - Air Date 3-30-15

Ch. 9: Song 4: Kalamazoo - Jason Roseboom


Ch. 10: Act 5: What Would the Founders say about Religious Freedom Laws? - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 04-27-15

Ch. 11: Song 5: The Very Best of Peter, Paul and Mary - Peter, Paul & Mary


Ch. 12: Act 6: Republicans Fire Woman For Not Going To Church - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 08-21-15

Ch. 13: Song 6: Dancing In The Streets - The Haymarket Squares


Ch. 14: Act 7: Fascism on the American horizon, wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross - @truthdig - Air Date: 10-11-13

 

Air Date: 11/21/2017

Today we look at gender-based harassment and assault, the revolution in thinking on the subject we are currently in the midst of and some ideas to institutionalize positive change

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Donate or become a Member to support the show! 

Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Sexual Harassment, Revisited - On The Media - Air Date 10-26-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Open Flames - Aeronaut


Ch. 4: Act 2: #MeToo is a movement just to be believed - Backtalk from @BitchMedia - Air Date 10-19-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Streamer - Arc and Crescent


Ch. 6: Act 3: Understanding the Clinton legacy in the debate over sexual harassment - The Ezra Klein Show - Air Date 11-20-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Marble Chase - Dorica


Ch. 8: Act 4: Alyssa Peterson on Campus Sexual Assault - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 11-3-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Lakal - Speakeasy


Ch. 10: Act 5: Hollywood Actors: Sexual Abuse Of Boys Is "Rampant" - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 11-01-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  The Envelope - Aeronaut


Ch. 12: Act 6: How to facilitate reporting of harassment in the workplace - @offkiltershow - Air Date 11-17-17

Ch. 13: Song 6:  Chilvat - Lillehammer


Ch. 14: Act 7: Rebecca Traister on the ‘Harvey Weinstein Effect’ - The Breach - Air Date 11-21-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: A few thoughts on guns, race and gender - Margareet from Northern California

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 16: Final comments on working for gender equality while avoiding the unavoidable backlash (Reminder: Check out our Winter Fundraiser!)

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions


ACTION & INFORMATION 

Need help? Call the 24-hour National Sexual Assault Hotline toll-free: 1-800-656-HOPE

RAINN Action Center 

1 in 6 (Organization supporting men who have been sexually assaulted)

Know Your IX (Defending Title IX - Empowering students to stop sexual violence)

Your Reckoning. And Mine. by Rebecca Traister (The Cut)

Ellen Page on Brett Ratner Abuse & Reckoning (Ellen Page via Facebook)

There’s a little-known fund that goes to victims of sexual harassment on the Hill. You pay for it. (Vox)

Study: Hotel Housekeepers Are at Great Risk for Sexual Assault From Guests (New Republic)

700,000 Female Farmworkers Say They Stand With Hollywood Actors Against Sexual Assault (TIME)


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon & check out our Winter Fundraiser!

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: 1147_Sexual_Harassment_Air_Date_11-21-17_-_11-21-17_19.41.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 11/17/2017

Today we look at just a few of the many ways that the GOP tax plan is intended to help the well-off, harm the needy and defile a pristine wilderness just to top things off

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Bowing to the paymasters - Start Making Sense from @TheNation - Air Date 11-8-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Villager - Blue Dot Sessions


Ch. 4: Act 2: ANALYSIS: Trump-Republican Tax Plan an Unmitigated Disaster - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 11-07-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Stale Case - Darby


Ch. 6: Act 3: Taking aim at Obamacare (again) - @offkiltershow - Air Date 11-17-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Wingspan - Bayou Birds


Ch. 8: Act 4: The effect of changing the standard deduction on charitable giving - @DecodeDC - Air Date 11-2-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Weathervane - CloudCover


Ch. 10: Act 5: Scare tactics to push the tax cuts through - @Intercepted w @JeremyScahill - Air Date 11-8-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Hickory Shed - Onesuch Village


Ch. 12: Act 6: Going after the Alaskan wilderness in the tax plan - @GreenNewsReport - Air Date 11-16-17

Ch. 13: Song 6:  A Palace of Cedar - The Pine Barrens


Ch. 14: Act 7: Everyone from corporations to the Democrats is out of ideas - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date 11-11-17

Ch. 15: Song 7:  The Wooden Platform - The Bulwark


Ch. 16: Act 8: What the Paradise Papers Reveal - The Bernie Sanders Show - Air Date 11-14-17


Voicemails

Ch. 17: Looking critically at party structures - Anthony from Illinois

Ch. 18: Clarifying thoughts on guns and Democrats - Zach from Atlanta

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 19: Final comments: Check out our WINTER FUNDRAISER! 

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon & check out our Winter Fundraiser!

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: 1146_Taxes_Air_Date_11-17-17_-_11-17-17_19.21.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 12/16/2016

Today we look at the problems with the media, so many problems, and what lessons we should learn in the wake of the election

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: The real kinds of bias that still exist in the media - @InDeepRadio w @AngieCoiro - Air Date 6-11-16

Ch. 3: Song 1: The System - Abscondo


Ch. 4: Act 2: Money isn't the only bad influence on the media - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date 10-1-16

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


Ch. 6: Act 3: The media and President-Elect Trump - @LastWeekTonight w: @iamjohnoliver - Air Date 11-13-16

Ch. 7: Song 3: Sunrise - Norah Jones


Ch. 8: Act 4: Media lessons to learn from the election - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 11-11-16

Ch. 9: Song 4: Having a Good Time - Theo Bard


Ch. 10: Act 5: Mainstream Media Fighting Trump...Don't Count On It - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 11-16-16

Ch. 11: Song 5: Old News - Rick Estrin & The Nightcats


Ch. 12: Act 6: Reporting on the editor of "The platform for the alt-right" - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 11-18-16

Ch. 13: Song 6: Let's Call the Whole Thing Off - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong


Ch. 14: Act 7: Stopping fake news - Popaganda from @BitchMedia - Air Date 11-24-16

Ch. 15: Song 7: Happy Song Is A Happy Song  - Nick Rivera


Ch. 16: Act 8: Christiane Amanpour on the state of the media in a post fact-world - The Investigators with Diana Swain, CBC - Air Date 11-25-16

Direct download: 1065_Media_Air_Date_12-16-16_Rerun_-_11-14-17_18.03.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 11/11/2017

Today we look at the many ways conservatives across the country are systematically chipping away at the rights of all people who require access to any kind of reproductive health services

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: The State Legislator Will See You Now - On The Media - Air Date 8-4-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Farmscrapers - Dad Rocks!


Ch. 4: Act 2: Texas fails to address skyrocketing rate of pregnancy-related deaths - Savage Love w: @FakeDanSavage - Air Date 6-6-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Long and Low Cloud - The Bulwark


Ch. 6: Act 3: 20-Week Abortion Ban Bill Treats Abortion as an Issue of Criminality, not Health Care - @TheRealNews - Air Date 10-6-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Shift of Currents - Aeronaut


Ch. 8: Act 4: Taking aim at reproductive rights in all forms - @offkiltershow - Air Date 10-13-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  The Summit - K2


Ch. 10: Act 5: Keep Birth Control Copay Free #HandsOffMyBC via @Women_EqualityC - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Homegrown - The Pine Barrens


Ch. 12: Act 6: Why you can't have economic justice without reproductive justice - The Breach - Air Date 8-8-17


Voicemails

Ch. 13: Bringing a gun into the home makes the owner less safe - Nick from California

Ch. 14: The party structures are a fundamental problem - Erica from Massachusetts

Ch. 15: What Sanders supporters are really emotional about - Greg from Baldwin Park, California

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 16: Final comments on the show’s new sunshine policy and a clarification on the Democrats celebrity crushes

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions & and Free Music Archive


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Take multiple actions with the Keep Birth Control Copay Free campaign: 

via Women's Equality Center 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Trump Administration Rolls Back Birth Control Mandate (New York Times)

The Economy Can’t Grow Without Birth Control (New York Times Op-Ed)

Notre Dame Will No Longer Provide Free Birth Control (The Cut)

Trump Be Damned: States Are Fighting to Make Birth Control Over-the-Counter (Finally) (Mother Jones)

California Suing Trump Administration Over Rollback Of Birth Control Rule (Huffington Post)

A.G. Schneiderman Sues To Protect New Yorkers' Access To Birth Control (NY.gov)

Not religious freedom, but the freedom to hate women (The Griffin)

Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

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

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1145_Abortion_Air_Date_11-11-17_-_11-11-17_20.27.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 11/07/2017

Today we look at the systematic deconstruction of the environmental regulatory infrastructure at the hands of anti-environment radicals, otherwise known as the "Climate Denying Dream Team"

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Trump’s ‘Dream Team’ of Climate Change Deniers Threatens the Planet - The Breach - Air Date 8-1-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Long and Low Cloud - The Bulwark


Ch. 4: Act 2: War on the EPA - Frontline - Air Date 10-17-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Passionate Ending - Soft and Furious


Ch. 6: Act 3: Trump Picks DAPL Lobbyist to Oversee EPA Water Safety in Same Week He Rolls Back Water Safeguards - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 06-29-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Rotisserie Graveyard - Doctor Turtle


Ch. 8: Act 4: Science under attack from Trump administration - Got Science? - Air Date: 8-15-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Turning to You - Landsman Duets


Ch. 10: Act 5: How Will We Be Remembered? Demand Climate Action in Your Community Nov. 18th via Climate Legacy Time Capsule Project - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 11: Song 5: This Fickle World - Theo Bard


Ch. 12: Act 6: Trump's PC Police Purging The Term 'Climate Change' - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 08-08-17


Voicemails

Ch. 13: Banning guns wouldn't work - Zach from Atlanta, GA

Ch. 14: An unarmed proletariat will always be dominated - Anthony from Salt Lake City, UT

Ch. 15: Dems were unfair to Bernie who wasn't a Democrat - Erica from Massachusetts

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 16: Final comments defending my personal friend, Martin O’Malley

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions and Free Music Archive


Activism:

TAKE ACTION!

Demand Climate Action in Your Community on NOVEMBER 18th with the Climate Legacy Time Capsule Dedication demonstrations at State Houses and City Halls across the U.S. 

Find a Dedication Day event near you 

No event near you? Create one and get support! 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Robert Redford: Scott Pruitt Is 'Hell-Bent' On Dismantling EPA Rules (Time)

Scott Pruitt Declares War on Air Pollution Science (The New Republic)

Here’s the Expertise Scott Pruitt Is Removing From the EPA’s Advisory Boards (Slate)

EPA chief set to meet privately with chemical industry execs (ABC News)

GAO to review whether EPA violated anti-propaganda law (The Hill)

Another Trump aide seems to be caught up in the Russia probe (Vox)

Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

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

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1144_Climate_Air_Date_11-7-17_-_11-7-17_19.15.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 11/03/2017

Today we look at the battle at the heart of the rift in the progressive movement over strategies on the proper direction to go from here. As is so often the case, the answer is not one or the other but both

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Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: "Billion-Dollar Mistake" Democrats Neglect People of Color While Failing to Woo White Trump Voters - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 07-31-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Vibrant Canopy - Art Of Escapism


Ch. 4: Act 2: Taking race and gender as seriously as class - Jacobin Radio (@jacobinmag) - Air Date 8-28-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Rotisserie Graveyard - Doctor Turtle


Ch. 6: Act 3: Joan Williams on understanding the divide in how different groups are framed - Cape Up - Air Date 10-24-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Vibrant Canopy - Origami


Ch. 8: Act 4: Alicia Garza on understanding that you can't support only some identity politics - #PoliticallyReactive with @wkamaubell and @harikondabolu - Air Date 10-5-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Celestial Navigation - Aeronaut


Ch. 10: Act 5: Joan Williams with an economic-focused message that doesn't lose sight of cultural identity - The Zero Hour w: @RJEskow - Air Date 7-29-17


Voicemails

Ch. 11: Guns, protection and the age of reason - David from Columbus, OH

Ch. 12: Calling a business a job-creator is like calling a car an exhaust-creator - Chris from Fairfax

Ch. 13: To boycott or not to boycott - Zach from Virginia Beach

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 14: Final comments on what the Clinton/DNC financial ties revelations may mean for how the party works to regain it’s legitimacy

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions and Free Music Archive


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

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

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1143_Identity_vs_class_Air_Date_11-3-17_-_11-3-17_19.24.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 4/18/2017

Today we look at some of the lesser-known characters in the right-wing oligarchy who now own the White House and Supreme Court

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Inside How the Federalist Society & Koch Brothers Are Pushing for Trump to Reshape Federal Judiciary - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 03-21-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Follow the Money - Vova Zen


Ch. 4: Act 2: Robert Mercers bizarre opinions and influences - Start Making Sense from @TheNation - Air Date 3-22-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: The Oligarch - Ephemerals


Ch. 6: Act 3: Dark Data Trump Backers Bankroll Firm Developing Psychological Profiles of Every U.S. Voter - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 03-23-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Take A Look Around {Instrumental) - Limp Bizkit


Ch. 8: Act 4: How to protect yourself in the face of diminishing online privacy - @HumorlessQueers - Air Date 3-25-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Mind Control - Stephen Marley


Ch. 10: Act 5: The Secret Family Behind The Rise Of Brietbart News - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date 03-28-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Follow the Money - Zounds


Ch. 12: Act 6: Who Bankrolls Breitbart News? - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 03-31-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: Oligarchy - The Haymarket Squares


Ch. 14: Act 7: Erik Prince rises again - @Intercepted w/ @JeremyScahill - Air Date 4-5-17

Direct download: 1096_Oligarchy_Air_Date_4-18-17_Ad_Free_Rerun_-_10-31-17_17.44.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 10/27/2017

Today we look at some of the recent and no-so-recent political problems plaguing the NFL including the protests against police abuse, institutional racism, sexism, homophobia and their coverup of the traumatic brain injuries suffered by countless players. And we discuss why it all matters

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Take the Knee Athletes Unite in Historic Protest Against Racism & Police Brutality, Defying Trump - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 09-25-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  The Summit - K2


Ch. 4: Act 2: Shaun King explaining Kaepernick's intention from the beginning - @Intercepted w @JeremyScahill - Air Date 9-13-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Open Flames - Aeronaut


Ch. 6: Act 3: How The Pentagon Paid For NFL's Patriotism - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 09-26-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Rotisserie Graveyard - Doctor Turtle


Ch. 8: Act 4: These protests are just the tip of the iceberg - #PoliticallyReactive with @wkamaubell and @harikondabolu - Air Date 9-28-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  The Envelope - Aeronaut


Ch. 10: Act 5: Is It Time to Stop Watching Football? - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date 10-09-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Moon Bicycle Theme - American Moon Bicycle


Ch. 12: Act 6: Civil Rights revisionism as a weapon against current justice movements - Intercepted - Air Date 10-4-2016

Ch. 13: Song 6: Forgotten Land (ft. Gurdonark, Joanne Gabriel) - Doxent Zsigmond


Ch. 14: Act 7: Lawsuit Time Kaepernick Going To War With NFL Owners - @theyoungturks - Air Date 10-17-17

Ch. 15: Song 7:  Floating Whist - Aeronaut


Ch. 16: Act 8: The NFL protests are not a spectator sport - @EdgeofSports w Dave Zirin - Air Date 10-17-17

Ch. 17: Song 8:  daedalus - Kai Engel


Ch. 18: Act 9: When Is the Right Time for Black People to Protest? - The Daily Show - Air Date 9-25-17


Voicemails

Ch. 19: A liberal pro-gun perspective - Ani from Alabama

Ch. 20: Better to not speak of "the other side" - Keith from New Hampshire

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 21: Final comments on why you should understand sports and guns

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot SessionsCC Mixter and Free Music Archive


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

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

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1142_NFL_Protests_Air_Date_10-27-17_-_10-27-17_19.26.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 5/15/2015

Today we take a hard look at modern-day civilization and culture and ponder what we could do to make things better

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Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

Show Notes

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

00:00:30 Ch. 2: Act 1: The Death of Culture at the Hands of the Profit Motive - @majorityfm - Air Date: 01-20-15

Ch. 3: Song 1: My Conversation - The Uniques


00:13:04 Ch. 4: Act 2: Visionary Sci Fi for an Age of Acquiescence - The F Word with @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date: 4-20-15

Ch. 5: Song 2: Design - Fiction Company


00:15:58 Ch. 6: Act 3: .@ShawnAchor - The happy secret to better work - @TEDTalks - Air Date: 2-1-12

Ch. 7: Song 3: Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (iTunes Originals Version) - Tears for Fears


00:29:08 Ch. 8: Act 4: A Brief History of Humankind - @DecodeDC - Air Date: 4-30-15

Ch. 9: Song 4: "Going Sane" - Two Cheers


00:40:39 Ch. 10: Act 5: Lacking liberty from slavery to feudalism to capitalism - Economic Update with @profwolff - Air Date: 2-1-15

Direct download: Rerun_Capitalism_Air_Date_10-23-17_Ad_Free_-_10-23-17_17.35.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 10/20/2017

Today we look at the dangers that (primarily) white men face on multiple points along the power spectrum and how dangerous forms of masculinity lead to the dehumanizing of these men and those they encounter

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Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Understanding the effect of our culture on gun culture Part 1 - Economic Update w @profwolff - Air Date 10-5-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Inessential - Bayou Birds


Ch. 4: Act 2: Listen Up, Creeps: Weinstein Edition  - @FullFrontalSamB - Air Date: 10-12-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Streamer - Arc and Crecent


Ch. 6: Act 3: Understanding how masculinity and white supremacy lead to a nutty gun culture - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 10-1-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  periculum - Kai Engel


Ch. 8: Act 4: Louise Godbold “My Encounter with Harvey Weinstein and What It Tells Us About Trauma” - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 10-12-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Le gris, le bleu, d'une profonde humilité - Monplaisir


Ch. 10: Act 5: Understanding the effect of our culture on gun culture Part 2 - Economic Update w @profwolff - Air Date 10-5-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Paper Planes - Durden ft. Airtone (ft. Airtone)


Ch. 12: Act 6: Margaret Hoover Calls Out Fellow Conservatives On Sex Crime Hypocrisy - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 10-12-17

Ch. 13: Song 6:  Hundred Mile-No Guitar - K2


Ch. 14: Act 7: White males feeling under attack and seeking power - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 10-1-17


Ch. 15: Final comments on the perils of power and powerlessness

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions, CC Mixter and Free Music Archive


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

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

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1141_Toxic_Masculinity_Air_Date_10-20-17_-_10-20-17_19.29.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 10/17/2017

Today we look at the philosophy, tricks of the trade and long-term strategy behind the GOP's never-ending quest to grant more tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy while cutting popular programs aimed at aiding the poor

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Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Idiotic Economist Pushes HORRIBLE Tax Plan That Left Kansas Crippled - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 09-26-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  world of ruin - Damiano Baldoni


Ch. 4: Act 2: How Republicans Created Tax Cut Myths - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 10-04-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  peaceOut (ft. KungFu) - airtone


Ch. 6: Act 3: Understanding what we can about the proposed tax plan - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 10-6-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Like Music (cdk Mix) (ft. Phasenwandler) - cdk


Ch. 8: Act 4: Fox News Calls Out Trump Tax Cut Lies - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 10-03-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Headlights/Mountain Road - The Contessa


Ch. 10: Act 5: Understanding the reality of corporate taxes - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date 10-7-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Forgotten Land (ft. Gurdonark, Joanne Gabriel) - Doxent Zsigmond


Ch. 12: Act 6: How corporations rigged our tax system against us - Economic Update w/ @profwolff - Air Date 4-24-16

Ch. 13: Song 6:  Celestial Navigation - Aeronaut


Ch. 14: Act 7: They plan to raise and then panic about the deficit - @offkiltershow - Air Date 10-6-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: Seeking a fundamentally just justice system - Jesse from Seattle

Ch. 16: How people get help after emergencies - FEMA employee

Ch. 17: Patreon Feedback - Alan from Connecticut

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 18: Final comments on what you’ll find on the Best of the Left social network

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions


Activism:

Fighting tax cuts for the rich and budget cuts needs the same momentum as the healthcare fight! Dive in and fight back with these campaigns: 

TrumpTaxToolkit.org (Use the Senator-specific toolkits to fight back against tax cuts for the 1%, and more)

NotOnePenny.org (Mobilize to demand not one penny in tax cuts for the rich, and more)

HandsOff.org (Share how budget cuts impact you personally, and more)

Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

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

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

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Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1140_Budget_Air_Date_10-17-17_-_10-17-17_15.14.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 10/13/2017

Today we look at the usual pattern of political and media theatre that occur after every major shooting incident and some of the facts that explain why we shouldn't continue in this pattern any longer

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: The usual pattern of how mass shootings are covered - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 10-6-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Transmutation (ft. Spinningmerkaba) - Kara Square


Ch. 4: Act 2: Mass shootings continue but what can we do about it? - @RingOfFireRadio - Air Date 10-6-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Who We Are (ft. MissJudged and Fireproof Babies) - Hans Atom


Ch. 6: Act 3: Gun nuts are aggressively childish - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 10-1-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Planting Flags - K4


Ch. 8: Act 4: The evidence is in, gun control laws reduce gun deaths - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 10-2-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Shift of Currents - Aeronaut


Ch. 10: Act 5: "Mental Health Gun Databases" Are Very Racial - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 08-27-16

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Paper Planes - Durden ft. Airtone (ft. Airtone) - DURDEN


Ch. 12: Act 6: Beware carceral gun control laws - The Dig - Air Date 10-6-17

Ch. 13: Song 6:  Blind Love Dub (ft. Kara Square (mindmapthat)) - Jeris


Ch. 14: Act 7: Tell Congress: DON’T GUT OUR GUN LAWS via @Everytown - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7:  These Times - The Pine Barrens


Ch. 16: Act 8: Prayers Cannot Stop Guns - Intercepted - 10-4-2017


Ch. 17: Final comments on why I rarely tackle gun control on this show

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Tell Congress you oppose lifting restrictions on gun silencers and want the measure removed from the SHARE Act.

Tell Congress that you oppose the concealed carry reciprocity bill.

Take part in the Everytown postcards to Congress campaign and use the letter as a call script

Find an Everytown for Gun Safety action or meeting near you  

Sing up for Everytown action alerts via text

EDUCATE YOURSELF

S.446 - Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 (Congress.gov) 

H.R.38 - Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 (Congress.gov) 

H.R.3668 - SHARE Act of 2017 (see Sections 1502-1507) (Congress.gov)

Everytown for Gun Safety - Concealed Carry Reciprocity (S. 446) Overriding State Public Safety Laws (Everytown.org) 

Mass Shooting Since Sandy Hook, in One Map (Vox)

Gun violence in America, explained in 17 maps and charts (Vox)

Republicans want to pass a gun bill that critics say will make mass shootings more deadly (Vox)

Why a Congressional Ban on Bump Stocks Is Unlikely (The Atlantic)

‘No Way To Prevent This,’ Says Only Nation Where This Regularly Happens (The Onion)

NRA says 'nothing could have been done' to prevent Las Vegas shooting (Yahoo)

Struggling Gun Industry Looks To Congress To Make Silencers The Next Big Thing (Huffington Post)

How I Got Licensed to Carry a Concealed Gun in 32 States by Barely Trying (Mother Jones, 2013)

Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

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

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1139_Gun_Control_Air_Date_10-13-17_-_10-13-17_17.23.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 11/04/2014

For information on the current effort to reform the electoral college that I discuss at the top of the show, visit: EqualVotes.us 

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

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Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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


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


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


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

Direct download: Rerun_Voting_Rights_Air_Date_10-10-17_-_10-10-17_16.31.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 10/06/2017

Today we look at the inadequacy, the potential, structures and the humanity of the corporate media

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Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Media Needs to Do Better Covering Trump Now Than During the Campaign (w/Guest Katrina vanden Huevel) - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 03-16-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Poenia - Damiano Baldoni


Ch. 4: Act 2: Lara Setrakian: 3 ways to fix a broken news industry - @TEDTalks - Air Date 3-9-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Hundred Mile - K2


Ch. 6: Act 3: Why Trump's Media Vendetta Is Scarier Than Nixon's - The Breach - Air Date 7-11-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Passionate Ending - Soft and Furious


Ch. 8: Act 4: The Media Only Treats Politics Two Ways, and They're Both Bad - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 08-08-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  concatenate - Damiano Baldoni


Ch. 10: Act 5: Filmmaker of "All Governments Lie" discussing the failure of corporate media - We Are Here - Air Date 2-18-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Llegare - Dom La Nena


Ch. 12: Act 6: Masha Gessen on the "Impulse to Normalize" - On The Media - Air Date 12-2-16

Ch. 13: Song 6:  Great is the Contessa - The Contessa


Ch. 14: Act 7: Chris Hayes on his and the media's tendency to normalize our circumstances - The Ezra Klein Show - Air Date 8-15-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: It's time to stand up against gun violence - Dallas from Jacksonville, FL

Ch. 16: Medicare 4 All Preempted. - Alan from Connecticut

Ch. 17: Include Your Kids! - Alan from Connecticut

Ch. 18: A unique perspective on the Jones Act - Jonathan from Louisville, KY

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 19: Final comments on how why you should be willing to pay for the world you want to see

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

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

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1138_Media_Air_Date_10-6-17_-_10-6-17_16.17.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 10/03/2017

Today we look at the current and ongoing disaster befalling the US territory of Puerto Rico that all began long, long before the most recent hurricanes laid all of the injustice bare

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Puerto Ricans Call for Aid Amid Catastrophe "We're American Citizens. We Can't Be Left to Die" - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 09-26-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Streamer - Arc and Crecent


Ch. 4: Act 2: The devastation is being underestimated and the slowness of the response is inexcusable - @GreenNewsReport - Air Date 9-28-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Shift of Currents - Aeronaut


Ch. 6: Act 3: Understanding what was devastating Puerto Rico long before this year's hurricanes - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 9-29-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  The Cast and Favor - Bayou Birds


Ch. 8: Act 4: There is not the same level of concern for the lives of people who are not white - @RingOfFireRadio - Air Date 9-29-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  The Summit - K2


Ch. 10: Act 5: What You AREN'T Being Told About Puerto Rico & The Disaster Unfolding There - @RedactedTonight with @LeeCamp - Air Date: 09-27-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Another Promise Kept - Art Of Escapism


Ch. 12: Act 6: Delusion vs reality in Puerto Rico - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 9-29-17

Ch. 13: Song 6:  Midday - Pecan Grove


Ch. 14: Act 7: Tell President Trump and Congress to Provide Hurricane Relief and Recovery Assistance to Puerto Rico via @pricanagenda #UnitedforPuertoRico #UnidosPorPuertoRico - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7:  periculum - Kai Engel


Ch. 16: Act 8: Nelson Denis On The Exploitation and Colonization of Puerto Rico by U.S. - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 09-29-17


Ch. 17: Final comments on colonialism and how it never really changes

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Demand Federal relief for Puerto Rico via National Puerto Rican Agenda's letter campaign 

Learn more about National Puerto Rican Agenda  

EDUCATE YOURSELF

National Puerto Rican Agenda: New Group Forms to Address Island's Unprecedented Economic Crisis (DemocracyNOW!)

Why Is María’s Death Toll in Puerto Rico Being Underreported? (Latino Rebels)

Trump to Puerto Rico: your hurricane isn’t a “real catastrophe” like Katrina (Vox)

Obama Signs PROMESA Bill, Imposing Control Board on Puerto Rico (DemocracyNOW!)

Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

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

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1137_Puerto_Rico_Air_Date_10-3-17_-_10-3-17_16.28.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 09/29/2017

Today we look at the Bernie-Sanders-lead movement to implement the most comprehensive universal health insurance system in the world

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Join the Best of the Left Social Network!

Donate or become a Member to support the show! 

Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

how Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: America Is Ready For Universal Healthcare - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 09-20-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Turning on the Lights - Speakeasy


Ch. 4: Act 2: ANALYSIS: Bernie's Single Payer Healthcare Proposal - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 09-14-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  On Our Own Again - The Pine Barrens


Ch. 6: Act 3: Understanding the extraordinary costs of our health care system - Who What Why - Air Date 7-14-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Flattered - Delray


Ch. 8: Act 4: Understanding the Canadian health insurance system - The @BernieSanders Show - Air Date 9-17-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Dirtbike Lovers - Desert Orchard


Ch. 10: Act 5: No Is Not Enough Naomi Klein on Bernie's Medicare-for-All Bill & Future of Democratic Party - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 09-18-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Flagger - Cloud Harbor


Ch. 12: Act 6: What Can YOU Do To Support the #Medicare4All Movement? - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6:  Chilvat - Lillehammer


Ch. 14: Act 7: Challenging the private health insurance orthodoxy - The Zero Hour w @RJEskow - Air Date 9-16-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: Amazon App doesn't help BotL - Alan from Connecticut

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 16: Final comments on Amazon, brainstorming ways to join the medicare-for-all movement and teasing our latest members-only show

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

What are the top 3 things you can personally do to contribute to the movement to support #Medicare4All?

Call the voicemail line at 202-999-3991 and tell us your ideas to inspire others

Read the details of Sen. Sanders’ Medicare for All bill

Some other ways to get involved:

Our Revolution groups (Sen. Sanders’ action organization)

Health Over Profit (nonprofit grassroots org fighting for Medicare for All)

Fight4Medicare.com (grassroots #Medicare4All action campaign) 

Social Security Works (nonprofit defending our social programs) 

Truth Out “Medicare for All” Series (independent media outlet looking to focus on Medicare for All coverage)

MoveOn.org Petition (do NOT let signing this be all you do!) 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Bernie Sanders's new Medicare-for-all plan, explained (Vox)

The Political Genius of Bernie’s ‘Medicare for All’ Bill (The Nation)

Bernie’s “Medicare for All” actually is the pragmatic health care solution (Salon)

The Loss of Morality in America’s Healthcare Debate (Washington Post)

Sanders's Bill Electrifies Growing Single-Payer Movement (truth-out)

"Medicare for All": A Uniting Call to Action in the Age of Trump (truth-out)

Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

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

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1136_Health_Care_Air_Date_9-29-17_-_9-29-17_20.48.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 09/26/2017

Today we look at the economic and criminal implications of immigration policy

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Donate or become a Member to support the show! 

Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: The economic benefit of immigrants - Economic Update w: @profwolff - Air Date 2-28-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  modum - Kai Engel


Ch. 4: Act 2: The labor rights that come with more open borders - @theLFshow w: @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date 7-4-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Streamer - Arc and Crecent 


Ch. 6: Act 3: Breaking News Consumer's Handbook Migration Edition (At Home) - On The Media - Air Date 7-28-16

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Kawruwath Na - Amarasiri Peiris


Ch. 8: Act 4: Misinformation used to stoke fear of crime and terrorism - The Breech - Air Date 9-12-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Thread Caramb - Textile Caramb 


Ch. 10: Act 5: Sanctuary cities and the myth of criminal immigrants - @offkiltershow - Air Date 4-28-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  daemones - Kai Engel


Ch. 12: Act 6: Why a border wall wouldn't even put a dent in drug trafficking - The Breach - Air Date 4-25-17

Ch. 13: Song 6:  The Wall Song - Pinkerton and the Brinks


Ch. 14: Act 7: The role of US immigration policy on creating the problems it claims to work against - Trumpcast from @Slate - Air Date 8-1-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: We avoid talking about the climate connection to animal agriculture - Almera from Berkley, CA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 16: Final comments on why progressives don’t talk about the link between climate change and animal agriculture

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

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

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1135_Immigration_Air_Date_9-22-17_-_9-25-17_16.37.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 03/07/2017

Today we look at the dangerous myths of individualism and the American Dream™, some of their origins and some of their consequences

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Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Cultural influences on our perspective of self w/Gish Jen - Think Again - Air Date 3-4-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Different People - No Doubt


Ch. 4: Act 2: You are not as free as you think you are w/Raoul Martinez - @thisishellradio - Air Date 2-24-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  The system - Abscondo


Ch. 6: Act 3: Individualism in the prosperity gospel brand of Christianity - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 1-8-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Southern Baptism - Richard Gilks


Ch. 8: Act 4: The cold war propaganda of anti-collectivism w/Gish Jen - Think Again - Air Date 3-4-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Knock Yourself Out - Jon Brion


Ch. 10: Act 5: The myths of the autonomous individual and free markets w/Raoul Martinez - @thisishellradio - Air Date 2-24-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Drums of Freedom - Theo Bard


Ch. 12: Act 6: Training is all that matters - A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

Ch. 13: Song 6:  Perpetuum Mobile - Penguin Cafe Orchestra


Ch. 14: Act 7: An ignorance of history bolsters acceptance of anti-regulation individualism - You are not so smart - Air Date 2-24-17

Ch. 15: Song 7:  Making Progress - Freedom's Progress


Ch. 16: Act 8: The dangerous myth of the American Dream w/Raoul Martinez - @thisishellradio - Air Date 2-24-17

Direct download: 1085_Individualism_Air_Date_3-7-17_Ad_Free_Rerun_-_9-22-17_20.54.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 09/19/2017

Today we look not so much at hurricanes and the climate science behind them (though we touch on that as well) but focus more on what we can see more clearly when it’s illuminated by so-called “natural” disasters, the structural inequality and legacies of decision-making that make these disasters worse than they need to be

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

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Donate or become a Member to support the show! 

Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Mark Hertsgaard: It's not politics, it's science - Start Making Sense from @TheNation - Air Date 9-13-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Celestial Navigation - Aeronaut


Ch. 4: Act 2: What is environmental racism and environmental justice? - #PoliticallyReactive with @wkamaubell and @harikondabolu - Air Date 9-7-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Vibrant Canopy - Origami


Ch. 6: Act 3: Breaking News Consumer's Handbook: U.S. Storm Edition - On The Media - Air Date 9-1-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Shift of Currents - Aeronaut


Ch. 8: Act 4: Disasters call attention to inequalities if we care to notice - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 9-1-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Le gris, le bleu, d'une profonde humilité - Monplaisir


Ch. 10: Act 5: Preventing future floods with data and regulation - @DecodeDC - Air Date: 09-14-2017

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Moon Bicycle Theme - American Moon Bicycle


Ch. 12: Act 6: The Human Causes of Natural Disasters - Popaganda from @BitchMedia - Air Date 12-8-16

Ch. 13: Song 6:  Waltz of the Renegade - Art Of Escapism


Ch. 14: Act 7: #ProtectNEPA to #ProtectOurVoice on the Environment via @ProtectNEPA - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7:  Inessential - Bayou Birds


Ch. 16: Act 8: Dr. Michael E. Mann on attribution science and the tactics of inaction and delay - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 9-13-17


Voicemails

Ch. 17: How selfishness helps people excuse authoritarian leaders - Annie from Alabama

Ch. 18: RT is not Pro-Trump propaganda - Keith from New Hampshire

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 19: Final comments on the start of the conversation about The Vietnam War on the BotL Network

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions


Activism:

TAKE ACTION:

Get involved with the NEPA Works campaign to protect your voice!

Read about pending legislation that chips away at NEPA, share it, and call Congress (try Stance) to stop it

Read and share NEPA success stories from every state

Follow NEPA Works on Twitter @ProtectNEPA

Use the #ProtectNEPA and #ProtectOurVoice on social media 

EDUCATE YOURSELF:

We will not be silenced. Stand up for a strong NEPA! (Earth Justice)

Trump CEQ rolls out plans for swift NEPA reviews (Governors' Wind & Solar Energy Coalition)

US people of color still more likely to be exposed to pollution than white people (The Guardian)

Christine Todd Whitman: How Not to Run the E.P.A. (New York Times)

Boston Communities Unite to Democratize Their Economy (Next City)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

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

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1134_Climate_Air_Date_9-19-17_-_9-19-17_19.26.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 09/15/2017

Today we look at the history and structures of authoritarianism and explore how they relate to at Trump campaign and administration

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Join the Best of the Left Social Network!

Donate or become a Member to support the show! 

Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: It can't happen here Part 1 - Ideas from the CBC - Air Date 1-17-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Another Promise Kept - Art Of Escapism


Ch. 4: Act 2: Conservative Evan McMullin on spotting the dangers of authoritarianism - Primary Concerns from @NewRepublic - Air Date 1-4-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Hundred Mile - K2


Ch. 6: Act 3: Opposing conservative policies and authoritarianism - Who. What. Why. - Air Date 2-11-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  On Our Own Again - The Pine Barrens


Ch. 8: Act 4: It can't happen here Part 2 - Ideas from the CBC - Air Date 1-17-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Zombie With A Heartbeat - Midnight Maps


Ch. 10: Act 5: Historian Timothy Snyder on the prospect of tyranny in America - This is Hell - Air Date 4-29-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Homegrown - The Pine Barrens


Ch. 12: Act 6: Why Arpaio's Pardon Could Trigger Constitutional Crisis - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 08-29-17

Ch. 13: Song 6:  The Summit - K2


Ch. 14: Act 7: Full Frontal Is Scared: Masha Gessen Edition - Full Frontal with Samantha Bee - Air Date 1-18-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: Weighing the balance of harms regarding free speech - Anthony from Illinois

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 16: Final comments clarifying and then muddling the issue of free speech, hate speech and the argument for reducing harm

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

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

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1133_Fascism_Air_Date_9-15-17_-_9-15-17_19.57.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 09/12/2017

Today we look at the combination of racism and cold political calculations that went into the decision to hold 800,000 DACA recipients hostage in order to placate the GOP’s scared white base and create leverage to force through funding for the southern board wall (also to placate the GOP’s scared white base)

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Shining City - Emerson Collective

Ch. 3: Song 1: N/A


Ch. 4: Act 2: These Are The Faces Of DACA Recipients In Danger Of Deportation - @nowthisnews - Air Date 9-2-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Headlights/Mountain Road - The Contessa 


Ch. 6: Act 3: The Misleading Rhetoric Around DACA - On The Media - Air Date 9-8-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Great is the Contessa - The Contessa


Ch. 8: Act 4: Understanding what DACA does—and doesn’t—mean for recipients - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 9-8-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Horizon Liner - The Pine Barrons


Ch. 10: Act 5: Clarifying immigrant access to social programs - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 8-7-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Vengeful - Warmbody


Ch. 12: Act 6: Tell Congress: Dreamers are #HeretoStay. Pass the #DreamAct NOW via @UNITEDWEDREAM - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6:  This Fickle World - Theo Bard


Ch. 14: Act 7: The story of Sheriff Joe Arpaio - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 9-1-17

Ch. 15: Song 7:  Planting Flags - K4


Ch. 16: Act 8: Trump Defends Pardoning GROTESQUE Racist Joe Arpaio As Hurricane Harvey Made Landfall - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 09-06-17

Ch. 17: Song 8:  Midday - Pecan Grove


Ch. 18: Act 9: The DEPLORABLE Reason Trump Ended DACA - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 09-06-17


Voicemails

Ch. 19: Drug Episode Response - Alan from Connecticut

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 20: Final comments on the inability for some conservatives to see beyond bad laws

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

(Additional music from Blue Dot Sessions


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Take action right now & sign up for updates at WeAreHereToStay.org

You can also call and tweet Congress with DreamActToolkit.org

EDUCATE YOURSELF

The Dream Act of 2017 (National Immigration Law Center)

Black, Undocumented And Fighting To Survive (Huffington Post)

How Higher-Education Leaders Are Fighting for DACA (The Atlantic)

Relatives of Undocumented Children Caught Up in ICE Dragnet (Mother Jones)

The White House Isn’t Sharing Dreamers’ Info With ICE, But Another Threat Looms (Mother Jones)

DACA Pits Trump Against His Own Administration (The Atlantic)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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!

Direct download: 1132_Immigration_Air_Date_9-12-17_-_9-12-17_21.45.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 09/08/2017

Today we look at our vapid media landscape and see how it lead, some would say inevitably, to the election of someone like Donald Trump

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: The destruction of facts - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 3-14-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Damage - Jimmy Eat World


Ch. 4: Act 2: The Weaponization of 'Fake News' - The Breach - Air Date 8-29-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Le mystère de contre jour - David Ari Leon


Ch. 6: Act 3: The search for truth-commited journalism falls down at both ends - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 3-31-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Honesty - Billy Joel


Ch. 8: Act 4: Koch Donor Network Funds Propaganda Like Breitbart, Films & Pretty Much Everything You Can Think Of - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 06-30-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Laugh So You Don't Cry - Andy Davis


Ch. 10: Act 5: The Trouble With Reality Part 2 - On the Media - Air Date 5-17-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Zissou Society Blue Star Cadets / Ned's Theme (Take 1) - Mark Mothersbaugh


Ch. 12: Act 6: Joshua Green on how Bannon has changed politics for the worse - Primary Concerns from @NewRepublic - Air Date 7-25-17

Ch. 13: Song 6:  You're Not In On the Joke (iTunes Session) - Cobra Starship


Ch. 14: Act 7: How "The Apprentice" Helped Make Trump President - Popaganda from @BitchMedia - Air Date 4-13-17

Ch. 15: Song 7:  Million Dollar Loan - Death Cab For Cutie


Ch. 16: Act 8: The Trouble With Reality Part 1 - On the Media - Air Date 5-17-17


Voicemails

Ch. 17: The first and second amendments - Issac from Valencia, CA

Ch. 18: Oppression never dies, it always transforms itself and resurrects itself - V from Central New York

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 19: Final comments on the evolution of systems of oppression

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: 1131_Propaganda_Air_Date_9-8-17_-_9-8-17_19.16.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 09/05/2017

Today we look at just a couple of the major international conflicts Donald Trump is severely under-qualified to navigate

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​Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Andrew Bacevich on the neoconservative-laid groundwork for President Trump - The Dig - Air Date: 08-23-2017

Ch. 3: Song 1: Directions - Josh Rouse


Ch. 4: Act 2: Trump About To Surpass Obama's EIGHT YEAR Civilian Death Toll - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 07-18-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Suffering of the Innocents - Squire Tuck


Ch. 6: Act 3: Andrew Bacevich: Trump's Handling of N. Korea, His First National Security Crisis, is Very Troubling - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 08-10-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: One - Apocalyptica


Ch. 8: Act 4: Bruce Cumings with a historical perspective on the most irresponsible thing Trump has said - Jacobin Radio (@jacobinmag) - Air Date 8-28-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Fire and Fury - Ian Rivers


Ch. 10: Act 5: Middle East expert Juan Cole on why the US is stuck in Afghanistan - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 8-22-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Silent Colonialism - Valentina


Ch. 12: Act 6: Phyllis Bennis on the questions we don't ask about what we should do in Afghanistan - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 8-25-17


Voicemails

Ch. 13: Hard to believe that Charlottesville is the ACLU's fault - Nick from California

Ch. 14: The sexist angle on fighting words and media personalities inciting violence - Katherine from Bloomington, IL

Ch. 15: Thoughts on needed restrictions of 2nd amendment - Craig from Ohio

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 16: Final comments introducing a bonus clip from Politically Re-Active

Bonus Clip: The problem is the 2nd amendment - Politically Reactive - Air Date 8-24-17

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

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Direct download: 1130_Foreign_Policy_Air_Date_9-5-17_-_9-5-17_16.40.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 02/27/2015

Today we take a look at not only the destructive forces at work within the drug war but also look deeper at the causes of addiction and drug abuse that could change all of your preconceived notions on the topic and maybe even our society as a whole

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Drug War Alternatives That Work Overcriminalized #2- Substance Abuse - @bravenewfilms - Air Date: 10-9-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Once There Was a Hushpuppy - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Music from the Motion Picture)


Ch. 4: Act 2: Tracking cars movements in real time as part of the DEA drug war - Le Show (@theharryshearer) - Air Date: 2-1-15

Ch. 5: Song 2: Don’t Worry, We'll Be Watching You - Making Mirrors


Ch. 6: Act 3: DC mayor stands up for voters on legal pot, defies congressional GOP - Rachel @Maddow Show - Air Date: 2-26-15

Ch. 7: Song 3: Gateway Drug - Dancing In The Streets


Ch. 8: Act 4: Challenge everything you know about drugs - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 03-05-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Big Mistake - Fair Ain't Fair


Ch. 10: Act 5: Johann Hari (@johannhari101): Everything We Know About the Drug War & Addiction is Wrong Part 1 - @democracynow - Air Date: 2-4-15

Ch. 11: Song 5: Strange Fruit (1939 Single Version) - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Billie Holiday


Ch. 12: Act 6: Poverty drives the demand for opiates - Economic Update with @profwolff - Air Date: 11-17-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: Poverty (Single Stereo) - That Did It! - The Duke Recordings, Vol. 3


Ch. 14: Act 7: Johann Hari (@johannhari101): Everything We Know About the Drug War & Addiction is Wrong Part 2 - @democracynow - Air Date: 2-4-15

Direct download: Rerun_Drugs_Air_Date_9-1-17_-_9-1-17_20.16.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 08/29/2017

Today we look at the systemic problem with advertiser-driven, for-profit media and how billionaires have begun exploiting the system to their own benefit even more

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Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Corporate corruption of news and the Access of Evil - We Are Here - Air Date 2-18-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Machine - David Ari Leon


Ch. 4: Act 2: Sinclair & the Growing Reach of Conservative Media - On the Media - Air Date 5-11-17

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


Ch. 6: Act 3: Sponsors underwriting their own puff pieces - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 2-24-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Hallelujah - Vitamin String Quartet


Ch. 8: Act 4: Pro-Trump Network Sinclair Set to Become Nation's Biggest Broadcaster as FCC Weakens Ownership Rules - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 05-09-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Pas Si Simple - Yann Tiersen


Ch. 10: Act 5: Media Consolidation is a Huge Problem and Even FDR Foresaw it as One - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 07-11-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Nothing Else Matters - Apocalyptica


Ch. 12: Act 6: Craig Aaron on Sinclair Takeover - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 8-11-17

Ch. 13: Song 6:  End of the World - Dan Romer & Benh Zeitlin


Ch. 14: Act 7: Jeremy Scahill on the greatest trick the devil ever pulled - All Governments Lie

Ch. 15: Song 7:  Dawn Departure, Jefferson County - Black Prairie


Ch. 16: Act 8: Gawker and the New Era of Media Censorship - On The Media - Air Date 8-11-17


Voicemails

Ch. 17: Just banned fascism in my house - Kevin from Louisiana

Ch. 18: Arguing against free speech fundamentalism - Dave from Olympia, WA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 19: Final comments on the absurdity of fundamentalism in all its forms

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!

Direct download: 1129_Media_Air_Date_8-29-17_-_8-29-17_21.33.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 08/25/2017

Today we look at the constant struggle between the freedom to speak and the necessary limits placed on that freedom due to the rights of others to not be substantially harmed by that speech

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: WSJ Reports: ACLU Rethinks Defending Hate Groups Protesting with Guns - Wochit News - Air Date 8-17-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: N/A


Ch. 4: Act 2: ACLU Will No Longer Defend Hate Groups Protesting With Firearms - MSNBC

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Confronting the Wolf (Bonus Track) - Jim Guthrie


Ch. 6: Act 3: Understanding the line between free speech and hate speech - BackStory - Air Date 8-23-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Freedom of Speech - John Mellencamp


Ch. 8: Act 4: I was a prominent neo-Nazi. Ignoring white extremists is a mistake. - Vox - Air Date 4-14-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: N/A


Ch. 10: Act 5: Nazis Don't Get Free Speech! - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date 08-22-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Harm - David Francey


Ch. 12: Act 6: Understanding who joins Antifa - Trumpcast from @Slate - Air Date 8-18-17

Ch. 13: Song 6:  Together we fight alone - Darlings


Ch. 14: Act 7: How Do We Define Hate Speech? - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date 8-21-17

Ch. 15: Song 7:  Nothing Is Good Enough (Instrumental) - Aimee Mann


Ch. 16: Act 8: Antifa: A Look at the Antifascist Movement Confronting White Supremacists in the Streets - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 08-16-17

Ch. 17: Song 8:  Enemy At the Gate - The Twinkle Brothers


Ch. 18: Act 9: How not to fall for fascist rhetoric - 1943 US War Department


Voicemails

Ch. 19: Free speech absolutism - Ryan in Minneapolis, MN

Ch. 20: Free speech absolutism is bullshit - Zach from Atlanta, GA

Ch. 21: Railing against free speech would be a gift to the right - Todd from Delaware, OH

Ch. 22: Recommending Chomsky video - Elizabeth from North Carolina

Ch. 23: The Constitution is not a suicide pact - Will from Mississippi

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 24: Final comments on free speech, hate speech and the ethics of responding to a violent breach of the social peace treaty

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


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via our Patreon page!

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: 1128_Free_Speech_and_Anti-Fascism_Air_Date_8-25-17_-_8-25-17_21.19.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 08/22/2017

Today we look at what may be the violent death throes of white supremacy. As Trump and the GOP embolden white supremacists to action and violence, the rest of the country is awoken to the need to deal swiftly and decisively with the relics of our racist past 

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Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Keri Leigh Merritt on the underlying purposes of white supremacy - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 8-18-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Out With the Old - Casa Di Mondo


Ch. 4: Act 2: The history of the raising of Civil War monuments - @offkiltershow - Air Date 8-18-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  RACIST MONUMENT SING-A-LONG - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-06-17


Ch. 6: Act 3: American racism during Jim Crow inspired and helped legitimize the Nazis - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date 6-24-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Nazi (Live) - Chumbawamba


Ch. 8: Act 4: The homegrown practice of honoring a history of white supremacy - Backstory - Air Date 8-18-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  A Dose of White Supremacy - Neffe Odom Kragh-Muller


Ch. 12: Act 5: Descendant of Robert E. Lee Wants to Bring Down the Statues - @RedactedTonight w: @LeeCamp - Air Date 08-19-17

Ch. 13: Song 5:  Trapped (Live) - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band


Ch. 14: Act 6: The white supremacist standard intimidation strategy  - Frangela: The Final Word - Air Date 08-15-2017

Ch. 15: Song 6:  Civil War - Guns N' Roses


Ch. 16: Act 7:  The role of the Republican Party to embolden white supremacists - Code Switch - Air Date 8-16-17

Ch. 17: Song 7:  Shame - Ophelia of the Spirits


Ch. 18: Act 8: WATCH: Trump And White Supremacist Parrot Same Talking Points - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 08-18-17

Ch. 19: Song 8:  Where Do You Stand? - Willie Nelson


Ch. 19: Act 9: A view from the local synagogue - Backstory - Air Date 8-18-17

Ch. 19: Song 9:  American Land - Bruce Springsteen


Ch. 20: Act 10: Send a Letter: It’s Time to Take Down Confederate Monuments via @splcenter- Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 19: Song 10:  Activism - Shihan


Ch. 21: Act 11: On the need to restrict harmful speech and white identity politics - #PoliticallyReactive with @wkamaubell and @harikondabolu - Air Date 8-17-17


Voicemails

Ch. 22: Do we know the motivations for the creation of white supremacy? - Kyle from Portland, WA

Ch. 23: Mighty Network feedback! - Alan from Connecticut

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 24: Final comments on continuing a conversation about freedom of speech

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Locate Confederate monuments near you with SPLC’s interactive map

Write a letter to the editor demanding the removal of Confederate statues in your community 

Get involved in the action calling for the removal of Confederate statues in the U.S. Capitol 

Read the SPLC’s “10 Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Response Guide” to prepare, strengthen and heal your community in the face of hatred.  

EDUCATE YOURSELF

I'm a black Southerner. I had to go abroad to see a statue celebrating black liberation. (Vox)

Provocative ‘Free Speech’ Rally In Boston Railroaded By Counterprotesters (Huffington Post)

ACLU Will No Longer Defend Hate Groups Protesting With Firearms (Wall Street Journal)

The Real Story Behind All Those Confederate Statues (Mother Jones)

Nazis Don’t Seem to Understand How Free Speech Works (GQ)

Imagine if these people ever faced actual oppression. (Twitter thread by @JuliusGoat)

Trump goes off script, and white supremacists cheer (Politico)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1127_Charlottesville_Air_Date_8-22-17_-_8-22-17_20.05.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 10/21/2014

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

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Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

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


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

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


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

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


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


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


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


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


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


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!

Direct download: Rerun_Feminism_Air_Date_8-18-17_-_8-18-17_10.21.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 08/15/2017

Today we look at the origins, underpinnings, and effects of neoliberal economic thinking and policies. #1, it has nothing to do with who Americans think of as “liberals”. #2, both major US political parties are on board with it to varying degrees. #3, it’s pretty much what everyone in the world is pissed off about without necessarily knowing that there’s a name for it. The alternate title for today's episode was “Invest in torches and pitchforks”

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Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft 

 

Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Neoliberalism is focusing on the wrong aspects of the economy and society - Upstream - Air Date 8-29-16

Ch. 3: Song 1: N/A


Ch. 4: Act 2: Noam Chomsky on the remaking of the economy - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date 5-20-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  inequality - Mark Shine


Ch. 6: Act 3: Robert Brenner on the state of the US economy and mainstream politics Part 1 - Jacobin Radio (@jacobinmag) - Air Date 7-31-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Class Warfare - Chris Priest


Ch. 8: Act 4: Wall Street thieves find “New Way” to steal from us - Jim @HightowerNews - Air Date 8-11-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Robber Barons - Battlefield Band


Ch. 10: Act 5: Robert Brenner on the state of the US economy and mainstream politics Part 2 - Jacobin Radio (@jacobinmag) - Air Date 7-31-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Hang Me Up to Dry - Cold War Kids


Ch. 12: Act 6: Expand Your Economic Knowledge with The CORE Project - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6:  Right to Complain - Trombone Shorty & Marc Broussard


Ch. 14: Act 7: The Outdated Origins of Neo-Liberalism.  It's Time to Move On (w:Guest Kate Raworth) - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date 05-04-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: Explaining the original argument for lowering taxes - Patrick from Dallas, TX

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 16: Final comments announcing the Best of the Left Social Network

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION!

Expand your economic knowledge for free with The CORE Project

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Making economics exciting (Bloomberg)

Does economics still work? (BBC World Service)

Has the way universities teach economics changed enough? (The Guardian)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1126_Neoliberalism_Air_Date_8-15-17_-_8-15-17_17.41.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Today we take a look at the history of race and white supremacy in America to understand the incredibly loud echoes of the past that continue to reverberate strongly in modern society

Show Notes

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

00:00:30 Ch. 2: Act 1: The Trick of Whiteness, Historically and Today - @timjacobwise - Air Date: 12-5-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Time to Go Home - Michael Franti & Spearhead


00:06:56 Ch. 4: Act 2: Black, White and Red All Over - @onthemedia - Air Date: 2-13-15

Ch. 5: Song 2: Echo's (from the Past) - Al Huskey


00:12:27 Ch. 6: Act 3: The Story Of The Tulsa Race Riots Will Disgust You - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-01-15

Ch. 7: Song 3: Black Wall Street - Touchers


00:18:03 Ch. 8: Act 4: How Some Baltimore Neighborhoods Reflect Segregation's Legacy - @MorningEdition on @NPR - Air Date: 5-6-15

Ch. 9: Song 4: Segregation - Rankin Scroo


00:23:58 Ch. 10: Act 5: LBJ and the racial divide, 50 years later - @DecodeDC - Air Date: 6-18-15

Ch. 11: Song 5: Accountability - Sammy R. Hall


00:30:40 Ch. 12: Act 6: Conservative Pundits Say Removal Of Confederate Flag Will Destroy The South - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 06-26-15

Ch. 13: Song 6: Soul Vibrations Black History / Black Culture : Afro-Nicaraguan Music - Soul Vibrations


00:40:16 Ch. 14: Act 7: Will the South Finally be Deprogrammed - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 06-24-15

Ch. 15: Song 7: Modern Day Slavery - Waun


00:50:14 Ch. 16: Act 8: Showing Up For Racial Justice @ShowUp4RJ - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Right to Complain - Trombone Shorty & Marc Broussard


00:54:06 Ch. 18: Act 9:  I'm a redneck and I love America - @TheDixonWhite - Air Date: 04-4-15

Direct download: Rerun_Racism_Air_Date_8-11-17_-_8-12-17_02.23.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 08/8/2017

Today we look at the forces causing a great deal and anger and upheaval all around the world, how that anger is being misdirected and what we can do in our own lives to face it

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Age of Anger: A History of the Present by Pankaj Mishra - @thisishellradio - Air Date 2-11-17

Ch. 3: Song 1:  When Anger Shows - Editors


Ch. 4: Act 2: Fighting at the table: Conflict as successful integration - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 6-29-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: N/A


Ch. 6: Act 3: Controversy and Outrage over Muslim Ban was Part of Bannon's Plan (w:guest Joshua Green) - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date 07-24-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Protest Song - Anti-Flag


Ch. 8: Act 4: The Underlying Philosophy of Bannon's War - PBS Frontline - Air Date 5-24-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Legions (War) - Zoe Keating


Ch. 10: Act 5: Pankaj Mishra on Globalized Anger: The Enlightenment's Unwanted Child - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 4-18-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Gerudo Valley - OST Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary (2011)


Ch. 12: Act 6: Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks: How we can face the future without fear, together - @TEDTalks - Air Date: 6-26-17


Voicemails

Ch. 13: It's not time to scale back, it's time to scale up - Laura from Alameda, CA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 14: Final comments on when the age of anger meets the age of floods

See the full video I produced almost exactly 10 years ago

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!

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Direct download: 1125_Anger_Air_Date_8-8-17_-_8-8-17_21.25.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 08/4/2017

Today we revisit the old idea that if voting mattered they wouldn’t let you do it and the fact that that is exactly what they’re trying to do. Between allowing the chaos and uncertainty caused by hackable and unverifiable voting machines and systematic voter suppression efforts it seems clear just how much they don’t want people to trust or participate in the system

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: @AriBerman: Kris Kobach Is Helping Trump Lay Groundwork for Nationwide Voter Suppression Effort - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 07-05-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Democracy - Leonard Cohen


Ch. 4: Act 2: The legal troubles of Trumps voter integrity task force - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 7-11-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  You know my name - The Beatles


Ch. 6: Act 3: The Backlash to the "Voter Fraud Panel" Isn't What You Think It Is - On the Media - Air Date 7-14-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  You Don't Scare Me - Josh Pyke


Ch. 8: Act 4: Illegal purging of voters in Ohio - @offkiltershow - Air Date 6-2-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  A Tranquilized Polar Bear Rising Through an Autumn Sky - Black Prairie


Ch. 10: Act 5: @AriBerman: How the Russians Hacked Our Voting Systems Last November - Start Making Sense from @TheNation - Air Date 7-12-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  The Game Is Rigged - The Great Malarkey


Ch. 12: Act 6: Democrats Are Introducing a Bill to Make Sure Your Vote is Counted (w:guest Mark Pocan) - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date 06-28-17

Ch. 13: Song 6:  Cheat - The Clash


Ch. 14: Act 7: Four Actions to Fight Trump’s Sham Voter Fraud Commission in Your State - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7:  This Fickle World - Theo Bard


Ch. 16: Act 8: The nexus between voting rights and economics - The Other Washington from @civicskunkworks - Air Date 5-18-17


Voicemails

Ch. 17: Donating plasma during late capitalism - David from Detroit, MI

Ch. 18: What the dollar stores say about Late Capitalism - David From Albuquerque, NM

Ch. 19: A game-changing way of thinking about inequality - Justin from Indiana

Ch. 20: Amazon on mobile - Alan from Connecticut

Ch. 21: Looking for help investigating the case of a friend killed by police - Jeremy from Spokane, WA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 22: Final comments on dealing with death at the hands of police

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

1. Find out if your state is complying with Trump’s Voter Commission and to what extent (The Brennan Center for Justice has compiled state responses here

2. Get involved/volunteer with local chapters of voting rights orgs like Let America Vote, League of Women Voters, Voto Latino, Democracy Awakening/Democracy Spring

3. Contact your state’s Board of Elections office. Quickly find it with this databaseHere's a call script that you can adapt for your state.

4. Contact your state’s governor. Quickly find them with this database.

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Trump's "Voter Fraud" Commission (Brennan Center for Justice)

The Bogus Voter-Fraud Commission (New York Times)

More than 3,000 Colorado voters have canceled their registrations since Trump election integrity commission request (Denver Post)

Trump’s voter commission is now facing at least 7 federal lawsuits (Washington Post)

The Gravest Dangers of Trump's Voter Fraud Commission (Time)

This anti-voter-fraud program gets it wrong over 99 percent of the time. The GOP wants to take it nationwide. (Washington Post)

White House Apparently No Longer Posting Public Comments On Trump’s Voter Fraud Probe (Huffington Post)

How Donald Trump has focused his energy to target non-white Americans (Mic.com)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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

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Direct download: 1124_Voting_Rights_Air_Date_8-4-17_-_8-4-17_20.20.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 08/1/2017

Today we look at the state of capitalism, the logical arguments for its inevitable demise and the evidence that the end may be more nigh than ever before

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Visit: https://www.patreon.com/BestOfTheLeft

 

Today's episode is sponsored by Blue Apron. 

Get your free meals at: www.BlueApron.com/Best

Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Caitlin Moran on the need for a revolutionary upgrade to society - Politics & Prose from @Slate Track One

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Revolution - Grandaddy


Ch. 4: Act 2: Casey Gerald: The gospel of doubt - @TEDTalks - Air Date 3-12-16 

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Capitalism Is Tearing Us Apart - sole


Ch. 6: Act 3: Wolfgang Streeck: Surviving Post-Capitalism Coping, hoping, doping & shopping Part 1 - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 2-9-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Hit the Wall - GoGoSnapRadio


Ch. 8: Act 4: Prof. Richard Wolff on the coming death of capitalism - Upstream - Air Date 12-12-16

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Break On Through - The Doors


Ch. 10: Act 5: Wolfgang Streeck: Surviving Post-Capitalism Coping, hoping, doping & shopping Part 2 - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 2-9-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Elysium - Mendum


Ch. 12: Act 6: What’s After Capitalism? Create Our Next Economy via @TheNextSystem - Best of the Left Activism


Voicemails

Ch. 13: Recommending book about Woodie Guthrie - Josh from Dallas, TX

Ch. 14: Thoughts on technology and addiction - Kyle from Portland

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 15: Final comments on Late Capitalism and “Judeo-Christian Values”

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Help find the answer to "What's Next?" with The Next System Project

Read Gar Alperovitz "Principles of a Pluralist Commonwealth

Download resources and organize a Next System Project Teach-In in your community

Follow @TheNextSystem on Twitter   

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Is Capitalism Dying? (Forbes, 2013)

’Is Capitalism Dying?’ (Marxism, 2013) 

The Pain You Feel is Capitalism Dying (Joe Brewer, Medium, 2016)

Beyond the Minimum Wage Debate: Let's Move Toward a System That Works for All (Democracy at Work)

Prof. Richard Wolff debates Fox's Stuart Varney (Democracy at Work)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via our Patreon page!

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: 1123_Capitalism_Air_Date_8-1-17_-_8-1-17_20.54.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 07/28/2017

Today we look at the cause and state of our prison system and hear some suggestions on ways to fundamentally reform it

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: @MayaSchenwar: Why Prison Doesn't Work - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date 06-08-16

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Life In Prison - Mitchell


Ch. 4: Act 2: The high cost, terrible results and an alternate solution to prison - Economic Update w: @profwolff - Air Date 7-10-16

Ch. 5: Song 2:  A Lot of Work to Do - Friendly People


Ch. 6: Act 3: What We Can Learn from German Prisons... - Thom Hartmann - Air Date 08-18-15

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Adventure, Darling - Gillicuddy


Ch. 8: Act 4: PRISON Norway vs. United States - @theyoungturks - Air Date 08-31-16

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Dawn Departure, Jefferson County - Black Prairie


Ch. 10: Act 5: @DDayen: The True Cost of the Private Prison Industry - @RingOfFireRadio - Air Date 08-23-16

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Profit - The Mammals


Ch. 12: Act 6: @Shane_Bauer: Trump administration reverses the Obama order to phase out private federal prisons - Intercepted (@theintercept) - Air Date 3-1-17

Ch. 13: Song 6:  Backwards Blues - Adia Victoria


Ch. 14: Act 7: Prisons Phasing Out Visitation For Price-Gouging Video Calls - @theyoungturks - Air Date 05-07-16

Ch. 15: Song 7:  Fight the Power - Public Enemy


Ch. 16: Act 8: Tell Senators to Support the Video Visitation and Inmate Calling in Prisons Act of 2017 via @PrisonPolicy - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8:  Activism - Shihan


Ch. 18: Act 9: The Solution Isn't Kindler, Gentler Prison - The F Word w/ @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date: 12-15-15


Voicemails

Ch. 19: Don't argue when someone agrees with you - Alan from Connecticut

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 20: Final comments on the conservative view on gender fluidity and the existence of transgender social contagion

Bonus Voicemail: Ch. 21: In response to a nuanced discussion of transitioning - Erin from Philadelphia, PA

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Call your Senators to tell them to support the Video Visitation and Inmate Calling in Prisons Act of 2017

Learn about and share facts on video visitation at PrisonPolicy.org/visitation

Follow Prison Policy Initiative on Twitter

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Massachusetts jail following nationwide trend, ending in-person inmate visits, in move critics call cruel (MassLive.com)

Video Calls Are Replacing In-Person Visits at Some Prisons (Smithsonian Magazine)

Senator Tammy Duckworth introduces the Video Visitation and Inmate Calling in Prisons Act of 2017 (PrisonPolicy.org)

Booker Urges FCC Chairman to Reconsider Decision Not to Protect Inmates Against Exorbitant Calling Charges (Booker.senate.gov)

Exploitation (PrisonPolicy.org)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1122_Prison_Air_Date_7-28-17_-_7-28-17_21.39.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 05/26/2015

Today we take a look at the US death penalty from all angles. Cultural norms? We’re an outlier. Protecting the innocent? We kill innocent people. Following the letter of the law? We’re absolutely breaking the 8th amendment to the Constitution. Fiscal responsibility? The death penalty costs about 3 times more than life imprisonment. And don’t forget about the racially biased implementation and the structurally biased trail system of death penalty cases.

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Show Notes

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

00:00:30 Ch. 2: Act 1: Who are the barbarians? - Le Show (@theharryshearer) - Air Date: 2-1-15

Ch. 3: Song 1: Of Mice and Men - End Credits


00:03:26 Ch. 4: Act 2: Shocker!: Scalia's Poster Man for Death Penalty Turns Out to Be Innocent - @majorityfm - Air Date: 09-04-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Death Penalty - Eight Dayz


00:10:50 Ch. 6: Act 3: Rick Perry Executed Innocent Dad After Prosecutor Hides Exculpatory Evidence - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 03-24-15

Ch. 7: Song 3: Death Penalty - Surrogate


00:14:42 Ch. 8: Act 4: The Penalty - How much are executions costing you? - @One_For_Ten Films - Air Date: 11-11-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: The Secret Agent: The Secret Agent Ending - Cello Octet Conjunto Ibérico & Elias Arizcuren


00:17:11 Ch. 10: Act 5: Death by firing squad - @allinwithchris Hayes - Air Date: 3-11-15

Ch. 11: Song 5: Guillotine - Wildlife


00:22:36 Ch. 12: Act 6: Is Our Execution Method Cruel and Unusual? - @testtube - Air Date: 6-18-14

Ch. 13: Song 6: La nuit - David Ari Leon


00:25:48 Ch. 14: Act 7: Exoquill: End of life cocktailing never looked so clear - Le Show (@theharryshearer) - Air Date: 3-8-15

Ch. 15: Song 7: My Girl - The Temptations


00:29:38 Ch. 16: Act 8: Oklahoma takes a guess, approves nitrogen gas for killing prisoners - Rachel @maddow - Air Date 4-21-15

Ch. 17: Song 8: First Patient - Philip Glass


00:38:34 Ch. 18: Act 9: Death Penalty for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Anti-Execution State Brings Complications, Not Closure - @democracynow - Air Date: 5-18-15

Ch. 19: Song 9: 1901 - Phoenix


00:48:29 Ch. 20: Act 10: #HaltAllExecutions with @ncadp & @90millionstrong — Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 21: Song 10: Activism - Shihan


00:51:05 Ch. 22: Act 11: George Stinney, 14, Executed In Vile Act Of Injustice, Exonerated 70s Years Late - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 12-19-14


 

Activism: #HaltAllExecutions with @ncadp & @90millionstrong

Take Action:

SIGN: ”Join the 90 Million Strong: Call for Halt to All Executions” from 90 Million Strong, a project of The National Coalition To End the Death Penalty

Find more resources on pending executions and educational content: 90MillionStrong.org

Additional Activism/Resources:

JUNE 6: DC Standing for Peace and Justice w/Mothers in Charge

Sources/further reading:

States with and without the Death Penalty via DeathPenaltyInfo.org

“Lethal Entanglements” via The New Republic

“Death penalty foes see Nebraska vote as momentum-builder”

"Boston Bomber’s Execution To Be Delayed 18 Years?” via The Inquisitor

"Few favor death for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, poll finds: Less than 20% of Mass. residents support execution” via The Boston Globe

"Boston Marathon bomber unlikely to be executed – even if jury votes for death” via The Guardian

"European boycott of death penalty drugs lowers rate of US executions” via 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: 1121_Rerun_Date_7-25-17_-_7-25-17_13.51.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 07/21/2017

Today we look at the technology that massively influences how we spend our time and hear lots of advice on how we can begin to take back control

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Today’s Episode is sponsored by: 

Away - First Class Luggage at a Coach Price

Visit: www.awaytravel.com/best and use the promo code BEST to save $20

 

Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: The Panda is Dancing - @TimeWellSpentio - Air Date 11-28-16

Ch. 3: Song 1:  N/A


Ch. 4: Act 2: Tim Wu on The Attention Merchants - The Zero Hour w: @RJEskow - Air Date 4-29-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  One-Armed Bandit - The Viscounts


Ch. 6: Act 3: What If Technology Were Conscious Of Your Time? - @TimeWellSpentio - Air Date 11-22-16

Ch. 7: Song 3: N/A


Ch. 8: Act 4: What If Technology Were Designed For Human Values? - @TimeWellSpentio - Air Date 11-22-16

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Forever On Your Team - Frida Selander


Ch. 10: Act 5: Does Technology Actually Make Life Easier, or Just More Hectic? - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 05-08-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Spider-Man (Live) - Ramones


Ch. 12: Act 6: Tristan Harris: How better tech could protect us from distraction - @TEDTalks - Air Date 6-14-16

Ch. 13: Song 6:  Time Well Spent - Tom Felton


Ch. 14: Act 7: Laura Vanderkam - How to gain control of your free time - @TEDTalks - Air Date 2-7-2017 

Ch. 15: Song 7:  Time In a Bottle - Jim Croce


Ch. 16: Act 8: Yuval Noah Harari - Think Again @bigthink - Air Date 2-25-17

Ch. 17: Song 8:  We're Simple Minds - Club 8


Ch. 18: Act 9: Someday - The Minimalists - Air Date 3-29-17


Ch. 19: Final comments on my personal slate of apps, settings and strategies to keep my digital life under control

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: 1121_Time_Air_Date_7-21-17_-_7-21-17_11.03.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 07/18/2017

Today we look at the woeful state of the Democratic Party and the strategy to bring them back from the brink

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​Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: All roads lead to Trump unless we make major changes - #PoliticallyReactive with @wkamaubell and @harikondabolu - Air Date 6-15-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: The Perfect Space - The Avett Brothers


Ch. 4: Act 2: David Sirota Discusses the Role of Journalism In the Trump Resistance - @TheRealNews - Air Date 6-16-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Failure - Kings of Convenience


Ch. 6: Act 3: Bill Curry on how and why the Democratic party lost its way - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date 6-3-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Changes - Langhorne Slim & The Law


Ch. 8: Act 4: Naomi Klein on why No is not enough - Start Making Sense from @TheNation - Air Date 6-28-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Rome Wasn't Built In a Day - Morcheeba


Ch. 10: Act 5: Tom Ferguson on why establishment Democrats are vulnerable - Jacobin Radio (@jacobinmag) - Air Date 7-11-17


Voicemails

Ch. 11: Reaction to 1119 on Poverty - Alan from Connecticut

Ch. 12: Follow-up on de-transitioning article - Rachel from Seattle

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 13: Final comments on how conservatives have come full circle on their understanding of LGBTQ people and ended up right where they started

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: 1120_Democrats_Air_Date_7-18-17_-_7-18-17_20.48.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 11/25/2013

A look at what we need to remember to appreciate about the labor movement. Is the American Dream possible anymore as we seem to be racing to the bottom? What changes can we make to fight back?

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Is the American Dream a Reality? – David Pakman Show – Air Date: 10-02-13

Ch. 3: Song 1: You Are Dreaming - Our Ill Wills


Ch. 4: Act 2: Would You Like A Living Wage With That? | McDonald’s Employee Confronts CEO – Young Turks – Air Date: 10-11-13

Ch. 5: Song 2: Welcome to the Machine - Wish You Were Here (Deluxe Experience Version) [Remastered]


Ch. 6: Act 3: A race to the bottom – Real Time With Bill Maher – Air Date: 10-25-13

Ch. 7: Song 3: Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) - Lungs


Ch. 8: Act 4: Why are we subsidizing McDonald’s? – Jim Hightower – Air Date: 10-29-13

Ch. 9: Song 4: Do You Believe In Magic? - Do You Believe In Magic


Ch. 10: Act 5: Time to do Away with Tipping? – Thom Hartmann – Air Date: 08-16-13

Ch. 11: Song 5: It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) - Document


Ch. 12: Act 6: Kathi Weeks: The American Work Ethic and Hours for What We Will – GRITtv – Air Date: 8-20-13

Ch. 13: Song 6: Work - Uprising (Remastered)


Ch. 14: Act 7: Small Business Saturday – UnFuck it Up Project

Ch. 15: Song 7: I Didn't F*uck It Up - I Didn't F*ck It up


Ch. 16: Act 8: Unlike Walmart, Trader Joe’s Profitable with Living Wage – David Pakman Show – Air Date: 08-24-13

Ch. 17: Song 8: Revolution (Human Need Over Profit) - Tha People's Music


Ch. 18: Act 9: Is it Vampire Capitalism, or Something Else? – Thom Hartmann – Air Date: 10-17-13

Ch. 19: Song 9: You're a Vampire - Something About a Dragon?


Ch. 20: Act 10: Walmart Holding Food Drive for the Poor: Their Own Underpaid Employees – Majority Report – Air Date: 11-19-13


 

Direct download: 1119_Rerun_Air_Date_7-14-17_-_7-14-17_16.13.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 07/11/2017

Today we look at many of our misconceptions of the nature of poverty, the interconnectedness of economics with all aspects of life and some suggestions on how to pursue justice

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Dividing the generations to distract from the class war - CounterSpin @FAIRmediawatch - Air Date 1-8-16

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Class-Warfare - Chris Priest


Ch. 4: Act 2: The frames through which we look at low-income aid programs - @offkiltershow - Air Date 6-9-17

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Call It Even - Scott Simons


Ch. 6: Act 3: Does prolonged exposure to poverty have a lasting effect on the brain? - The Inquiry - Air Date 5-25-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Sur Le Fil - Yann Tiersen


Ch. 8: Act 4: Everything is economic - The Other Washington from @civicskunkworks - Air Date 5-25-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Poverty (Single (Stereo)) - Bobby "Blue" Bland


Ch. 10: Act 5: Rutger Bregman: Poverty isn't a lack of character; it's a lack of cash - @TEDTalks - Air Date 6-13-17

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Protect & Serve - Stiff Little Fingers


Ch. 12: Act 6: Bryan Stevenson: the opposite of poverty is not wealth, the opposite of poverty is justice - The Ezra Klein Show - Air Date 5-16-17


Ch. 13: Final comments asking the question of the age: What the f**k is wrong with economists?

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


Recommended Reading/Sharing:

Why do we think poor people are poor because of their own bad choices? (Outclassed, The Guardian)

45 million Americans rely on food stamps. Trump wants to gut the program. (Vox)

The Problem Isn’t Food Stamps, It’s Poverty (Editorial Board, New York Times)

What Works to Reduce Poverty (Center of Budget and Policy Priorities)

Trump’s Budget Cuts Deeply Into Medicaid and Anti-Poverty Efforts (New York Times)

Welfare programs shown to reduce poverty in America (The Guardian, 2014)

Curated by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1119_Benefits_and_Poverty_Air_Date_7-11-17_-_7-11-17_19.06.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 07/07/2017

Today we look at gender dysphoria, transitioning, de-transitioning and the various perspectives on these phenomena

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: Norman Spack How I help transgender teens become who they want to be - @TEDTalks - Air Date 4-16-14

Ch. 3: Song 1:  Luriana Lurilee - Ben McElroy


Ch. 4: Act 2: Julia Serano on Transfeminism, Gender, Biology, and Making Feminist and Queer Movements More Inclusive - Sex Out Loud with Tristan Taormino - Air Date 7-17-15

Ch. 5: Song 2:  Body Was Made - Ezra Furman


Ch. 6: Act 3: The eager child: informed consent and watchful waiting - @TransAdvocate - Air Date 1-9-17

Ch. 7: Song 3:  Rain Begins To Fall (instrumental) - Silence Is Sexy


Ch. 8: Act 4: A look at one person's experience with detransitioning - Love and Radio - Air Date 2-27-17

Ch. 9: Song 4:  Take Me There instrumental 03-12 - Silence Is Sexy


Ch. 10: Act 5: #DearBetsy: Enforce Title IX to Protect Students via @TransEquality - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 11: Song 5:  Activism - Shihan


Ch. 12: Act 6: There is no universal experience of women - #PoliticallyReactive with @wkamaubell and @harikondabolu - Air Date 6-22-17


Ch. 13: Final comments on how to normalize positivity, support and nuance in the discussion of gender dysphoria

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Tell the Dept. of Ed that Title IX must be Federally enforced with #DearBetsy 

Learn more about the impacts of the Title IX guideline roll backs with National Center for Transgender Equality’s School Action Center 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

The Simple, Self-Evident Truths Of Transgender Kids, Equality And Title IX (Huffington Post)

Trump administration rolls back protections for transgender students (Washington Post) 

The Trump administration is systematically dismantling Title IX (Think Progress)

Betsy DeVos Confirmation Hearings Spark Title IX Concerns (Teen Vogue)

DeVos says it’s ‘premature’ to commit to following Title IX guidance on campus sexual assault (Think Progress)

Parents of Transgender Kids Meet With Education Secretary Betsy DeVos (NBC News)

Trump administration withdraws federal protections for transgender students (CNN) 

Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman


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: 1118_Trans_Rights_Air_Date_7-7-17_-_7-7-17_18.29.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 07/04/2017

Today we take a look at the history and present state of corruption in America, both for the special case of Donald Trump and the system-wide corruption we almost take for granted

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: America's Lost Anti-Corruption History - On the Media - Air Date 3-3-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Corruption - Jah Cure


Ch. 4: Act 2: Zephyr Teachout explains the emoluments clause - The Ezra Klein Show - Air Date 6-13-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Follow the Rule - Johnny Ace & The Beale Streeters


Ch. 6: Act 3: Study Says Buying A Congress Member’s Vote Is Cheaper Than You Think - @RingOfFireRadio - Air Date: 05-06-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Corruption - Iggy Pop


Ch. 8: Act 4: How the game gets rigged - Ideas - Air Date 4-20-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Les monstres - David Ari Leon


Ch. 10: Act 5: Rick Hasen on dealing with Citizen's United - The Bernie Sanders Show - Air Date 5-24-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Strong Animals - Dan Romer & Benh Zeitlin


Ch. 12: Act 6: NO MORE WAITING Wolf-PAC.com | Election Day Coverage 2016 - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 11-09-16

Ch. 13: Song 6: Nothing Left to Lose - Mat Kearney


Ch. 14: Act 7: How to Fix America's Corrupt Political System - Represent.Us - Air Date: 4-19-16


Ch. 16: Act 8: Fight Corruption to Save America via @JusticeDems @WolfPAChq @RepresentDotUs - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Right to Complain - Trombone Shorty & Marc Broussard


Ch. 18: Act 9: Zephyr Teachout on the split in our language about corruption - The Ezra Klein Show - Air Date 6-13-17


Voicemails

Ch. 19: Chastity belts and anti-police violence wallets are how capitalism responds to injustice - Eli from Northern California

Ch. 20: Comparing Christian and Islamic terror - Mark from Santa Barbara

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 21: Final comments explaining terrorism and why some extremists do while others do not

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION 

Replace corporate-backed Democrats with Justice Democrats

Help pass local Anti-Corruption legislation with Represent.Us

Help pass the Free and Fair Elections Constitutional amendment with Wolf-PAC

EDUCATE YOURSELF

The Logical Path to End Corruption (Wolf-PAC)

South Dakota GOP uses 'emergency' rules to repeal anti-corruption law (CNN)

What the Single-Payer Loss Reveals About the Role of Corporate Money in California Politics (In These Times)

House Bill Would Ax Election Panel, Bar Limits on Money in Politics (Bloomberg BNA)

Pro-Trump super PACs have already spent $1 million on Election 2020 (The Center for Public Integrity)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1117_Corruption_Air_Date_7-4-17_-_7-4-17_19.32.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 06/30/2017

Today we take a look at some of the problems with modern policing and how we got to now

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 evolution of law enforcement - Ideas - Air Date 6-15-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Hill Street Blues (Main Theme) - Knightsbridge


Ch. 4: Act 2: Positive proposals for police reform - @theLFshow w: @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date 3-2-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Hide Your Tears - Daniel Licht


Ch. 6: Act 3: Questioning the purpose of police legitimacy - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 4-14-17

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


Ch. 8: Act 4: The complications of the Castile case - Code Switch - Air Date 6-21-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Under Pressure - Queen & David Bowie


Ch. 10: Act 5: Police Violence Is NOT A Few Bad Apples, It's The ENTIRE Barrel - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-19-17

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


Ch. 12: Act 6: @PrisonCulture on a holistic view of the problem with policing - @Intercepted w @JeremyScahill - Air Date 5-31-17


Voicemails

Ch. 13: Where the US got its wealth - Elaina from Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Ch. 14: Democratic Leftist - Alan from Connecticut

Ch. 15: Dealing with Russia and the debate within the Democratic party - Ryan from Phoenix

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 16: Final comments on the individual vs the societal as seen through a new wallet

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


Recommended Reading:

White People, the Philando Castile Acquittal Should Make You Mad as Hell (Zenobia Jeffries, Yes! Magazine)

Philando Castile and the Terror of an Ordinary Day (Elise C. Boddie, New York Times)

Rethinking Juneteenth in the Age of Black Lives Matter (Sarah Jaffe, Bill Moyers & Company)

The interconnected injustice of Philando, Charleena and Nabra (Preston Mitchum, The Grio)

We are losing the battle against police brutality in America (Shaun King, NY Daily News) *Warning: Autoplay video of police brutality at the top of this article*

Curated by Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1116_Police_State_Air_Date_6-30-17_-_6-30-17_10.19_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 06/27/2017

Today we take a look at the enormous amount of damage the latest version of the GOPs vision of health care would inflict on the nation and keep our eye on the ultimate goal of a Medicare-For-All 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: Sen. Ron Wyden on the Secret Republican Health Care Bill - On The Media - Air Date 6-16-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Ask - The Smiths


Ch. 4: Act 2: CBO reveals just how bad the senate bill is, confirms that everyone hates it - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 6-26-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: The Oligarch - Ephemerals


Ch. 6: Act 3: Bernie Sanders & Elizabeth Warren Republicans Won't Make Healthcare Bill Public Because It's AWFUL - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date 06-21-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Dawn Departure, Jefferson County - Black Prairie


Ch. 8: Act 4: The death spiral we're creating for Medicaid - Trumpcast from @Slate - Air Date 6-22-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: You're a Disaster - Dragonette


Ch. 10: Act 5: How we get from here to a single payer system - Start Making Sense from @TheNation - Air Date 6-21-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: See you in the light - Michael Franti And Spearhead


Ch. 12: Act 6: The AHCA Is Public, and Republicans Are Officially Out To Kill Us All - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 06-23-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: Le Moulin - Yann Tiersen


Ch. 14: Act 7: Support Grows For Single-Payer Medicare-For-All Plan Instead of Massive Cuts to Healthcare - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 06-23-17

Ch. 15: Song 7: Keep On Moving Forward - Emma's Revolution


Ch. 16: Act 8: Time for Democratic Party leaders to get going – or go - Jim @HightowerNews - Air Date 6-20-17

Ch. 17: Song 8: Basique - Little People


Ch. 18: Act 9: STOP TRUMPCARE via @IndivisibleTeam and TrumpcareToolkit.org - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 19: Song 9: This Fickle World - Theo Bard


Ch. 20: Act 10: Mitch McConnell's unconscionable health care bill - Primary Concerns from @NewRepublic - Air Date 6-27-17


Ch. 21: Final comments on Bernie Bros and the movement to remove Nancy Pelosi

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Call & tweet at the 15 Senators most likely to vote against Trumpcare with Trumpcare Toolkit 

Get info and call scripts on Trumpcare from Indivisible Guide's Stop Trumpcare Toolkit 

Find a Town Hall with TownHallProject.com

EDUCATE YOURSELF 

CBO Analysis Endangers GOP Health-Care Bill (The Atlantic) 

The Latest: 5th GOP senator opposes debate on health bill (MSN.com)

Senate GOP health-care bill's tax cuts would be a big boon for the rich, analysis says (CNBC)

The most devastating passage in the CBO’s report on the Senate health bill (Vox)

The Senate Health-Care Bill Is Morally Indefensible (The Nation)

Republicans Spent the Weekend Lying Their Faces Off About Health Care (The Nation)

Police drag away protesters in wheelchairs from Mitch McConnell’s office (Salon)

Sean Spicer: America Either Passes GOP Plan or Adopts Single Payer (The Ring of Fire)

Opinion: The GOP says its healthcare bill will protect those with preexisting conditions. Um, no it won’t (LA Times)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1115_Health_Care_Air_Date_6-27-17_-_6-28-17_10.02_AM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 06/23/2017

Today we take a look at the state of foreign affairs as Trump trips and stubbles his way through his learning curve

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: Another foreign policy built by an administration of lies - Intercepted (@theintercept) - Air Date 3-1-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Misinformation - Silvanus


Ch. 4: Act 2: Could Trump's White House Bury or Even Destroy the Landmark 2014 Senate Report on CIA Torture? - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 06-05-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Wonderwall - Vitamin String Quartet


Ch. 6: Act 3: Pentagon Shocked Trump Told Philippines President Where US Nuclear Subs Are - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 05-25-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Secrets - OneRepublic


Ch. 8: Act 4: President Trump’s Odd Diplomatic Approach - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 06-08-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Blue Girl - A-Set


Ch. 10: Act 5: Chomsky: Like Obama, Trump Is Radically Increasing the Danger of Nuclear War - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 04-26-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Game Over - Plusplus


Ch. 12: Act 6: Trump Greenlights Bahrain Brutality - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-27-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: Sickening - Ken Mickey


Ch. 14: Act 7: London Terror: We Need to Talk About Saudi Arabia - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 06-05-17

Ch. 15: Song 7: Fearless (Acoustic Version) - For Today


Ch. 16: Act 8: Playing the Madman - On The Media - Air Date 4-21-17


Voicemails

Ch. 17: Millennial thoughts on Russia - Ariel from Memphis, TN

Ch. 18: Millennial thoughts on Russia - Megan from Seattle, WA

Ch. 19: Explaining how third parties have traditionally been formed - Will from Georgia

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 20: Final comments on why Clinton and Sanders supporters don’t understand each other

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: 1114_Foreign_Policy_Air_Date_6-23-17_-_6-23-17_7.51_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Air Date: 06/20/2017

Today we take a look at the legacy of conservative economics in Kansas, the new federal budget being pushed that would echo the Kansas disaster, deregulation that will cost citizens billions and the intellectual underpinning of modern conservative philosophy that is driving all this

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: Conservatism is failing from Topeka to Tulsa to the River Thames - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 6-9-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Dust in the Wind - Kansas


Ch. 4: Act 2: A billionaire perspective on Trump's budget - The Other Washington - Air Date 6-1-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Turtle (Bonobo Remix) - Pilote


Ch. 6: Act 3: Republicans Repeal Disastrous Tax Cuts - @theyoungturks - Air Date 06-11-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Lesson Learned (feat. John Mayer) - Alicia Keys


Ch. 8: Act 4: Roll-Back of Financial Regulations Has Nothing to do with Complexity or Boosting the Economy - @TheRealNews - Air Date 6-13-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Ennio 08-08 - Silence Is Sexy


Ch. 10: Act 5: Stop Republicans from Deregulating Wall Street & #DefendCFPB via @RealBankReform - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 11: Song 5: This fickle world - Theo Bard


Ch. 12: Act 6: Nancy MacLean on the intellectual underpinning of a “mean” Republican Party - Who What Why - Air Date 6-16-17


Voicemails

Ch. 13: Russia - Alan from Connecticut

Ch. 14: Interested in hearing about the Draft Bernie movement - Ahmed from the Bronx, NY

Ch. 15: A rumination on freedom of speech - Dave from Olympia, WA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 16: Final comments in response to Nathan from Vancouver, WA on free speech

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Hold Congress accountable for the "Financial CHOICE Act" (H.R. 10) via Americans for Financial Reform 

Explore Americans for Financial Reform's website

Follow Americans for Financial Reform on Twitter @RealBankReform  

Engage with the campaign through the hashtags #WrongCHOICEAct and #DefendCFPB

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Letter to Congress: Oppose H.R. 10 – The Wall Street’s CHOICE Act Would Devastate Financial Regulation (Americans for Financial Reform)

What They Want to Hide Tells You Who They Are (Bill Moyers)

Trump Administration Says Financial Watchdog Agency Should Be Defanged (New York Times)

The Choice Act is Not a Community Banking Bill (American Banker, Op-ed)

Bill to Erase Some Dodd-Frank Banking Rules Passes in House (New York Times)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1113_Tax_and_Deregulation_Air_Date_6-20-17_-_6-20-17_10.02_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1112

Today we take a high-level look at the Trump/Russia controversy and examine how we should and shouldn’t be reacting to 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: Manchurian candidate or useful idiot? - Intercepted (@theintercept) - Air Date 3-1-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Дискотека Авария - Малинки (feat. Ж. Фриске)


Ch. 4: Act 2: A theory on how Trump got involved politically with Russia - The Ezra Klein Show - Air Date 6-6-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: 007 (From "From Russia With Love") - The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra


Ch. 6: Act 3: Chomsky With U.S. History of Overthrowing Govts, Outrage over Russian Hacking Claims is Laughable - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 04-04-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Blue Girl - A-Set


Ch. 8: Act 4: James Comey: 'No Doubt' Russia Interfered in 2016 Election, 'No Doubt' Russian Govt. Was Fully Aware - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 06-09-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Nothing Is Good Enough (Instrumental) - Aimee Mann


Ch. 10: Act 5: Why Liberals are Falling for Fake News About Russia - On the Media - Air Date 6-2-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: The Love You Save (May Be Your Own) - Joe Tex


Ch. 12: Act 6: Legitimate concerns about Russia shouldn't lead to mass hysteria - The Zero Hour w: @RJEskow - Air Date 6-3-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: The Bathtub (feat. The Lost Bayou Ramblers) - Dan Romer & Benh Zeitlin


Ch. 14: Act 7: Is It a Mistake Focusing So Much Attention on Russia? - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date 03-05-17

Ch. 15: Song 7: People, Turn Around - Delta Spirit


Ch. 16: Act 8: Masha Gessen on how the left has fallen into a Russia conspiracy sphere - The Ezra Klein Show - Air Date 6-6-17

Ch. 17: Song 8: Hide the Truth - Chronicle


Ch. 18: Act 9: Yes, The Russia Scandal Is Actually A Scandal - @theyoungturks - Air Date 05-13-17


Voicemails

Ch. 19: Explaining how campaigning on progressive ideas leads to victory - Steven from the People's Caliphate of Birmingham, UK

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 20: Final comments asking for thoughts on the state of the left

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!

Direct download: 1112_Russia_Air_Date_6-16-17_-_6-16-17_7.04_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1111

Today we take a look at the ways America is being left behind by the rest of the world in the future of energy production thanks to the climate denialism of the Republican party. 

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: Donald Trump announces our pull-out from Paris agreement - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 6-1-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Alone Too Long - Daryl Hall & John Oates


Ch. 4: Act 2: Protesters Take to Streets in NYC, Enraged by Trump's Decision to Withdraw from Paris Climate Deal - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 06-02-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Paris - Dido


Ch. 6: Act 3: An official rebuttal to the false claim being made about the satellite temperature data - Quirks and Quarks - Air Date 6-2-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Doing Business - The Rorschach Garden


Ch. 8: Act 4: Richard Branson on Trump’s coal plans ‘I can’t think of anything more stupid’ - Cape Up with Jonathan Capehart - Air Date 5-2-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Sunshine Goodtime - Minnutes


Ch. 10: Act 5: Paris Agreement - @LastWeekTonight with @iamjohnoliver - Air Date 06-05-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Backwards Blues - Adia Victoria


Ch. 12: Act 6: The world response to the US announcing that we will leave the Paris agreement - @GreenNewsReport - Air Date 6-8-17


Voicemails

Ch. 13: Tentatively excited about cap and dividend - Nick from California

Ch. 14: In defense of free speech - Nathan from Vancouver, WA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 15: Final comments on conservatives explaining how conservatives think

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: 1111_Climate_Paris_Air_Date_6-13-17_-_6-14-17_10.28_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1110

Today we take a look at some of the structures of white supremacy and the moment in the sun it is currently enjoying

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: Hate Groups Promise Revolt If Trump Abandons White Supremacy - @RingOfFireRadio - Air Date: 12-31-16

Ch. 3: Song 1: A Dose of White Supremacy - Neffe Odom Kragh-Muller


Ch. 4: Act 2: As Confederate Monuments Come Down, the Struggle Continues - On the Media - Air Date 5-26-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Soft Serve - Soul Coughing


Ch. 6: Act 3: Steve Bannon Loves This "Shockingly Racist" Book - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 03-08-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Your Racist Friend - They Might Be Giants


Ch. 8: Act 4: Heidi Beirich on White Supremacist violence - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 6-2-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: We Are Nowhere And It's Now - Bright Eyes


Ch. 10: Act 5: Learn How to Effectively Fight & Report Hate in Your Community via @SPLCenter - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 11: Song 5: Right to Complain - Trombone Shorty & Marc Broussard


Ch. 12: Act 6: Something Is Emerging From This Community - On the Media - Air Date 6-2-17


Voicemails

Ch. 13: How do we talk to people who's beliefs aren't based on fact? - Marguerite from North Carolina 

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 14: Final comments on the toxic garbage dump that is White Supremacy

Ch. 15: Bonus Clip: How to Argue - Love and Radio - Air Date 2-11-17

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Read and share SPLC's "Ten Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Response Guide"

#ReportHate crimes to SPLC at splcenter.org/reporthate 

Stay informed about hate-fueled incidents across the country via SPLC's Hatewatch 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

SPLC Hatewatch: Headlines for 6/7/2017 (SPLC Hatewatch)

Defiant Alt-Right “Patriots” Encounter Portland’s Simmering Anger After Train Killings (SPLC Hatewatch)

As Hate Crimes Rise, The Trump Administration Blocks Funding to Fight Domestic Extremism (Right Wing Watch)

Why Taking Down Confederate Memorials is Only a First Step (The Conversation)

Protest in the Era of Donald Trump (Huffington Post)

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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Direct download: 1110_White_Supremacy_Air_Date_6-9-17_-_6-7-17_10.36_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1109

Today we look at where the Democratic party went wrong that led them to their current disempowered state and some of the arguments for why moving in a progressive direction is both morally correct and electorally smart

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Thomas Frank on how Democrats lost their Democratic values - The Zero Hour w: @RJEskow - Air Date 4-22-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: How's That Workin' for You? - Karen Taylor-Good


Ch. 4: Act 2: Brian Beutler and Glenn Greenwald discuss the path forward for Democrats - Primary Concerns from @NewRepublic - Air Date 4-27-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: State Your Case - Tibursky


Ch. 6: Act 3: Parker Malloy discusses the place for identity politics in the progressive movement - Trumpcast from @Slate - Air Date 4-20-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Join Forces - Caribbean Pulse


Ch. 8: Act 4: The Assault on Bernie Continues: Identity Politics - The @BenjaminPDixon Show - Air Date 4-26-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Tonight The Streets Are Ours - Richard Hawley


Ch. 10: Act 5: FDR provides a guide for how the Democratic Party can win - @Jimmy_Dore Show - Air Date 3-31-17


Voicemails

Ch. 11: Climate Response - Alan from Connecticut

Ch. 12: Response to market-based solutions to climate change - Annie from Alabama

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 13: Final comments on the progressive debate over cap and dividend climate legislation

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


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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Direct download: 1109_Progressives_Air_Date_6-2-17_-_6-5-17_8.05_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1087

Today we look at the mechanics and consequences of systemic lies and propaganda in an age of ignorance and anti-intellectualism

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Carl Sagan saw the Future - Quirks and Quarks - Air Date 1-27-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Can't Hide from the Truth - The Hot 8 Brass Band


Ch. 4: Act 2: How to question the information we receive - @thisishellradio - Air Date 2-24-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Hide the Truth - Chronicle


Ch. 6: Act 3: Former Supreme Court Justice Souter on The Danger of America's 'Pervasive Civic Ignorance'

Ch. 7: Song 3: Debate - Rain Over St. Ambrose


Ch. 8: Act 4: Words matter: Emotions and statistics - Frontline: The Persuaders - Air Date 11-9-2004

Ch. 9: Song 4: Honesty - Billy Joel


Ch. 10: Act 5: How propaganda works - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 1-19-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: A Few Honest Words - Ben Sollee


Ch. 12: Act 6: Character Education: The need for a love of truth - Progressive Faith Sermons w: @RevDrRay - Air Date 12-11-16


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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Direct download: 1087_Propaganda_Air_Date_3-14-17_Rerun_-_6-2-17_7.28_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1108

Today we look at some conservatives engaged in the fight against climate change and their best policy proposal to get the job done

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Bob Inglis Changing the dialogue on energy and climate Part 1 - TEDxJacksonville - Air Date 12-10-13

Ch. 3: Song 1: Free Enterprise - Dexter Jones' Circus Orchestra


Ch. 4: Act 2: Ted Halstead: A climate solution where all sides can win – @TEDTalks - Air Date 5-17-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Man With a Plan - The Button Men


Ch. 6: Act 3: Bob Inglis Changing the dialogue on energy and climate Part 2 - TEDxJacksonville - Air Date 12-10-13

Ch. 7: Song 3: The Compromise - The Format


Ch. 8: Act 4: Mitch Hescox on Why We're Not as Divided as You Think: Quiet Cooperation on Climate - Immense Possibilities on NETA

Ch. 9: Song 4: Sweet Lullaby - Deep Forest


Ch. 10: Act 5: D@W Field Report Climate March - Economic Update w: @profwolff  - Air Date 5-18-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Adventure, Darling - Gillicuddy


Ch. 12: Act 6: Bob Inglis on Why We're Not as Divided as You Think: Quiet Cooperation on Climate - Immense Possibilities on NETA


Ch. 13: Final comments on the artificial left/right divide on climate change policy

Ch. 14: Bonus Clip: Cap & Dividend Explained - Chesapeake Climate Action Network - Air Date 4-9-09

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Let’s solve climate change! Engage with your conservative friends…

Get more details and sample social media posts here.

EDUCATE YOURSELF

An Evangelical Movement Takes on Climate Change (Newsweek, 2016) 

Conservatives Plan for a Carbon Tax (The New York Times)

Citizens Climate Lobby pushes for a carbon tax and dividend (The Guardian, 2013)

7 Reasons Conservatives Should Support Climate Change Solutions (Huffington Post)

New economic study shows carbon tax refunded to households would create jobs (Citizens Climate Lobby, 2014)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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Direct download: 1108_Climate_Air_Date_5-30-17_-_5-30-17_7.20_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1107

Today we look again at some of the underlying forces that shape the modern conservative mindset, including an answer (at long last!) to how anyone could think conservative comedy is funny

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Introduction + Deep Story - What Drives Trump Supporters? Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild on Anger & Mourning of the Right - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 9-28-16

Ch. 3: Song 1: Leader - Burning Spear


Ch. 4: Act 2: Asking the Right Questions About Health Care - On The Media - Air Date 5-5-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Blue Moon Of Kentucky - Ben Sollee


Ch. 6: Act 3: Understanding conservative humor - Backstory - Air Date 5-19-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: My Drugs Are Red, White, And Blue - The O'Franken Factor Factor: The Very Best Of The O'Franken Factor


Ch. 8: Act 4: Diehard Trump Supporter Has a Complete Change of Heart - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 03-23-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Lessons Learned - Matt & Kim


Ch. 10: Act 5: Examining diversity and instability in the US - The Ezra Klein Show - Air Date 5-23-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Between the Wars - Billy Bragg


Ch. 12: Act 6: Anand Giridharadas: A letter to all who have lost in this era - TEDTalks - Air Date 8-18-16


Voicemails

Ch. 13: In response to Jacobin Radio and the economics of wealth creation - Dave from Olympia, WA

Ch. 14: Put your media where your mouth is - Ryan in San Diego, CA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 15: Final comments on how the labels we use distort our perception of politics and policies

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


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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Direct download: 1107_Conservatives_Air_Date_5-26-17_-_5-26-17_7.44_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1106

Today we look at the current state of voting rights and the full press efforts being made to expand voter suppression far and wide across the country

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Where we stand on voting rights right now - Start Making Sense from @TheNation - Air Date 4-12-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: What's Going On - Marvin Gaye


Ch. 4: Act 2: Voter ID Suppressed 200,000 Wisconsin Votes; Trump Won by 22,748 - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 05-11-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Who Benefits? - Mustard Plug


Ch. 6: Act 3: The benefits of vote-by-mail - The Other Washington from @civicskunkworks - Air Date 5-18-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Tusk - Errors


Ch. 8: Act 4: The origins of Trump's new voter fraud commission - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 5-12-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: I Told You So - Karmin


Ch. 10: Act 5: Call Out Voter Suppression with Let America Vote via @Let_AmericaVote - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 11: Song 5: Activism - Shihan


Ch. 12: Act 6: Donald Trump Orders "Election Integrity" Commission Headed by Architects of Voter Suppression - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 05-12-17


Voicemails

Ch. 13: When the threat is real, our perspective on freedom changes - Dave from Olympia, WA

Ch. 14: Don't forget that the far left is never given a voice - Zach from Atlanta, GA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 15: Final comments on who is most effected by Voter ID laws

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Get involved with Let America Vote to fight voter suppression 

EDUCATE YOURSELF 

The GOP’s Attack on Voting Rights Was the Most Under-Covered Story of 2016 (The Nation)

There’s a reason Trump keeps lying about voter fraud (Washington Post, Opinion)

‘The Stakes': Let America Vote Founder Jason Kander on Fighting Voter Suppression (MTV) 

There Are 868 Fewer Places to Vote in 2016 Because the Supreme Court Gutted the Voting Rights Act (The Nation) 

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

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Direct download: 1106_Voting_Rights_Air_Date_5-23-17_-_5-23-17_5.49_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1105

Today we look at the impact Jeff Sessions and the entire Republican government is having on drug policy in America and how we should be addressing destructive drug addiction instead

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Jeff Sessions Pushes New War on Drugs While Killing Obama-Era Police Reform Measures - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 04-11-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Cold Hearts / Closed Minds - Nanci Griffith


Ch. 4: Act 2: What Jeff Sessions means for the drug war - Fake the Nation - Air Date 4-20-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: High Demand - The Haymarket Squares


Ch. 6: Act 3: Jeff Sessions Demands "Strongest Possible Charges" For Drug Users - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-13-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: War On Drugs - Fifteen


Ch. 8: Act 4: Opiate Overdoses Drop in States with Legal Marijuana - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 04-08-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Needle in the Hay - Elliott Smith


Ch. 10: Act 5: Drug Addicts Should Be Treated Like Patients, Not Criminals - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 08-26-16

Ch. 11: Song 5: Winning the War On Drugs - Asylum Street Spankers


Ch. 12: Act 6: Call Congress to Support the Justice Safety Valve Act of 2017 via @DrugPolicyOrg - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: This Fickle World - Theo Bard


Ch. 14: Act 7: A Man Had Two Sons (One Was Addicted to Heroin) - Progressive Faith Sermons w/ @RevDrRay - Air Date 3-6-16


Voicemails

Ch. 15: The Democratic Party is there for the taking - Erica from Seattle, WA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 16: Final comments on how to take over the Democratic Party

Bonus Clip: You Too can Take Over a Political Party! - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 03-15-16

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Call your Reps and Senators and tell them to support the Justice Safety Valve Act of 2017

Get involved with Drug Policy Alliance and follow them @DrugPolicyOrg

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Sessions Tells Prosecutors To Seek 'Most Serious' Charges, Stricter Sentences (NPR)

Senate Moves Forward with Bipartisan Bill to Rein in Jeff Sessions (Rolling Stone)

I prosecuted drug offenders in the ’80s. It was a disaster. Why is Sessions taking us back? (Vox)

Drug War Part 2: When the sequel is as bad as the original (The Hill, Opinion)

Report: Aide says Nixon's war on drugs targeted blacks, hippies (CNN, 2016)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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Direct download: 1105_Drug_War_Air_Date_5-19-17_-_5-19-17_7.58_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1104

Today we look at some of the specifics of the health care bill that Republicans passed through the House of Representatives including it’s impact on pre-existing condition coverage, coverage for women and more

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Protests Erupt After House Republicans Pass Healthcare Bill That Could Hike Premiums for Millions - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 05-05-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Screwed - Kid Cudi


Ch. 4: Act 2: What would Trumpcare mean for pre-existing conditions - Trumpcast from @Slate - Air Date 5-5-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Just Dropped In - Kenny Rogers


Ch. 6: Act 3: American Health Care Act vs. Women - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-09-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: What Are Their Names - David Crosby


Ch. 8: Act 4: Republican: "Nobody Dies" Due to Lack of Health Care - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 05-08-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Live And Let Die - Guns N' Roses


Ch. 10: Act 5: Financial consequences of the ACA - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 5-4-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Common Sense - Justin Mcroberts


Ch. 12: Act 6: Jimmy Kimmel's Tearful Monologue: The Birth of His Son & the Nightmares That the Uninsured Can Face - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 05-03-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: Figure It Out - Plain White T's


Ch. 14: Act 7: Use ALL the Resistance Tools to Fight Trumpcare via @IndivisibleGuide & #PaybackProject - Best of the Left Activism

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


Ch. 16: Act 8: The peasants are revolting - Progressive Faith Sermons w/ @RevDrRay - Air Date 5-14-17

Ch. 17: Song 8: Common Ground - Our Last Night


Ch. 18: Act 9: Let's compare what we get for our health care expenses with other countries - @DCCommonSense w/ Dan Carlin - Air Date 3-15-17


Voicemails

Ch. 19: Still unclear if universal health care means slavery for doctors - David from South Carolina

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 20: Final comments on why debating if health care is a human right is a distraction

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Use the new "Stop Trumpcare" tools and resources from Indivisible Guide 

Amplify your local actions against the 217 pro-AHCA Reps with Payback Project

Send faxes and letters to Congress quickly via Resistbot, and voicemails via Stance

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Here are the 217 Representatives that voted for the AHCA and their contact info (Project Payback)

If you would die under Trumpcare, you can send your ashes to Congress via Mail Me to the GOP 

What a Trumpcare nightmare: Just about everyone with health care is going to pay more, get less and face chaos (Salon)

The Health Care Bill’s Insults to Women (New York Times)

Republicans duck town halls after voting for Trumpcare… (The Guardian)

Trumpcare Hits Children's Hospitals Hard (Forbes)

Poll: 48 Percent Say House GOP Health Care Bill Is a Bad Idea (NBC News)

Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman


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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Direct download: 1104_Health_Care_Air_Date_5-16-17_-_5-16-17_5.19_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1103

Today we look at the Trump administrations proposed tax plan, a progressive alternative for how we should be spending our money and some of the underlying principles of paying taxes

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: The DISASTER That Is Donald Trump's Tax Plan - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 04-27-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: You're a Disaster - Dragonette


Ch. 4: Act 2: Corporations stashing their profits abroad - Economic Update w: @profwolff - Air Date 12-2-16

Ch. 5: Song 2: Ennio 08-08 - Silence Is Sexy


Ch. 6: Act 3: Vanessa Williamson on Why Americans are proud to pay our taxes - @offkiltershow - Air Date 4-21-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Petit - The Little Prince - David Ari Leon


Ch. 8: Act 4: The People's Budget from the Progressive Caucus in Congress - The Zero Hour w: @RJEskow - Air Date 5-6-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Political Prisoners - The Undercover Hippy


Ch. 10: Act 5: Spread the Word about The People’s Budget via @USProgressives (Congressional Progressive Caucus) - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 11: Song 5: 


Ch. 12: Act 6: Taxes equals freedom - Jacobin Radio - Air Date 4-18-17


Voicemails

Ch. 13: Systematic racism through housing during the New Deal - Kevin from Louisiana

Ch. 14: Competing liberal values re: free speech - Trent from Salt Lake City, Utah

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 15: Final comments recommending episodes #908 and #987 on racism in housing policy and my thoughts on the current debate over free speech

#908 Unfair housing, unfair society

#987 The double helix of racial and economic inequality

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Check out The People's Budget at cpcbudget.org and spread the word. 

Visit the Progressive Caucus website and follow @USProgressives on Twitter for updates.

EDUCATE YOURSELF

The Democrats are getting ready to govern again (The Week)

This new budget points the way forward for Democrats (The Washington Post)

The People’s Budget, Not Trump’s Budget, Will Help Working Americans (Common Dreams)

The People’s Budget, not Trump’s budget, will help working Americans (Economic Policy Institute)

The People's Budget: Progressive Proposal Aims to Un-Rig Failed Economic System (Common Dreams, 2015)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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!

Direct download: 1103_Taxes_Air_Date_5-12-17_-_5-12-17_10.14_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1102

Today we look at the ways we are all adversely effected by the racist structures of our society and examine the ways liberals helped build these systems and continue to fail to serve the needs of people of color

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Dr. Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor on how we're all suffering from racism and capitalism - @Making_Contact - Air Date 1-23-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Doing The Best That We Can - Kids At Risk


Ch. 4: Act 2: How liberals built Prison America - @theLFshow w/ @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date 12-15-15

Ch. 5: Song 2: I Can't Breathe - Garner Family


Ch. 6: Act 3: Donna Murch on For-Profit Punishment and Criminal-Justice Debt - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 8-12-16

Ch. 7: Song 3: At The Seams - Kimya Dawson


Ch. 8: Act 4: Support Mama’s Bail Out Day This Mother’s Day via @NationalBailOut #FreeBlackMamas #EndMoneyBail - Best of the Left Activism 

Ch. 9: Song 4: Activism - Shihan


Ch. 10: Act 5: How the Democratic party is failing their most loyal constituency - @thisishellradio - Air Date 4-17-17


Voicemails

Ch. 11: Cowspiracy Vs Science Podcast - Alan from Connecticut

Ch. 12: Punishing abortion providers punishes women by proxy - Catherine from Bloomington, IL

Ch. 13: Competing liberal values re: free speech - Trent from Salt Lake City, Utah

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 14: Final comments on fossil fuels used in industrial agriculture and putting the rosiest lens on the harm anti-choice legislation would do to women

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION 

Support Mama's Bail Out Day this Mother's Day via @NationalBailOut 

Engage online with the hashtags #FreeBlackMamas and #EndMoneyBail

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Locked Up for Being Poor (New York Times)

Federal judge: Harris Co. bail system unfair to poor, low-level defendants (Houston Chronicle)

Black Is the New Black: Number of African-American Women in Prison Is Rising (BET, 2014)

Incarcerated Women and Girls (The Sentencing Project)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1102_Racism_Air_Date_5-9-17_-_5-9-17_10.35_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1101

Today we look at some of the many layers of debate around freedom of speech, the freedom to protest, violent vs non-violent resistance and the fight against fascism

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​Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Protest Rights Under Threat - On The Media - Air Date 2-7-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Free and Equal Speech - Chris Priest


Ch. 4: Act 2: A Couple of Yiannopolous Supporters Actually Went to a Rally to Shoot a Liberal Protester! - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 04-28-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Pay Attention - Dilated Peoples


Ch. 6: Act 3: The history of violent and non-violent resistance movements - @CitizenRadio - Air Date 3-14-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: All You Fascists - Billy Bragg & Wilco


Ch. 8: Act 4: For Antifa, Not All Speech Should Be Free - On The Media - Air Date 2-7-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Antifa - Outrage


Ch. 10: Act 5: Liberty and freedom as the Golden Rule - @dccommonsense w: Dan Carlin - Air Date 2-14-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Freedom of Speech - John Mellencamp


Ch. 12: Act 6: Arizona's Fascist Attempt To Ban Protests - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 02-24-17


Voicemails

Ch. 13: Science episode was good, is the country more progressive or conservative? - Jennifer from Columbus, OH

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 14: Introduction to mini episode on progressive values of Americans

Mini Episode: 

Ch. 15: Poll Results: America Fundamentally Progressive - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 05-23-12

Ch. 16: Poll: Americans Progressive On Key Issues - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 01-4-11

Ch. 17: Polls Prove America is Progressive - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 04-11-12

Ch. 18: Polls: Americans Are Progressive On Most Issues - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 07-23-10

Ch. 19: Final comments on how Fox News intentionally misleads without lying

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

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Direct download: 1101_Free_Speech_Air_Date_5-5-17_-_5-5-17_6.59_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1100

Today we look at the myriad benefits of earned benefits and why we should be looking to greatly expand our social benefits programs rather than cut them

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Fox News: Starve The Poor, Feed The Rich - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 12-30-16

Ch. 3: Song 1: Let's Eat the Poor - alan ross haynes


Ch. 4: Act 2: David Dayen On Social Security Expansion - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 06-20-16

Ch. 5: Song 2: Social Security - Tallia Storm


Ch. 6: Act 3: Ikea and the family leave we all deserve - Economic Update w @profwolff - Air Date 12-15-16

Ch. 7: Song 3: Family Values - Johnossi


Ch. 8: Act 4: Economics: How Scandinavia Got it Right - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 11-05-16

Ch. 9: Song 4: Turtle (Bonobo Remix) - Pilote


Ch. 10: Act 5: Defending Social Security from those who would dismantle it - The Zero Hour w: @RJEskow - Air Date 4-15-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Bills - LunchMoney Lewis


Ch. 12: Act 6: Call Congress to Demand they Stop the Budget Cuts & Invest in Human Needs via @CoalitiononHN - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Activism - Shihan


Ch. 14: Act 7: Taxes, defense and public insurance programs - Economic Update w @profwolff - Air Date 4-24-16


Voicemails

Ch. 15: Responses to Alan from Georgia re: Louisiana abortion laws - Dave from Olympia, WA

Ch. 16: Framing universal health care as an American value - Annie from Alabama

Ch. 17: My first 100 days - Romulo from Miami, FL

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 18: Final comments on Stance, my new favorite way to contact congress

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


Activism: 

TAKE ACTION

Tell Congress to pass a spending bill that invests in basic living standards and fundamental human needs via Coalition on Human Needs (@CoalitiononHN

Leave Congress a direct voicemail with Stance 

Check out stats and data on the National Priorities Project (@natpriorities) and spread the word 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Federal Budget TipSheet - Social Insurance and Earned Benefits (National Priorities Project) 

Federal Budget TipSheet - Health Care Spending (National Priorities Project) 

Trump's Budget Cuts (National Priorities Project Blog) 

Under Trump, coal communities are stuck between a rock and a hard place (Think Progress)

Remember When Donald Trump Promised to Save Social Security? (The Nation) 

HEAD SMACKER: Trump Plan Slashes Taxes on Companies Already Dodging Taxes (Coalition for Human Needs Blog)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1100_Benefits_Air_Date_5-1-17_-_5-2-17_11.33_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1099

Today we look at the importance of science in our lives and public policy and also at the Trump administration’s drive to stop science in it’s tracks

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: Science in America - Neil deGrasse Tyson - Air Date 4-19-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: ​N/A


Ch. 4: Act 2: The history of how we know that humans are driving climate change - Science VS - Air Date 3-16-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Put It to the Test - They Might Be Giants


Ch. 6: Act 3: How to Convince a Climate Change Sceptic - Quirks and Quarks - Air Date 12-16-16

Ch. 7: Song 3: Messages - Xavier Rudd


Ch. 8: Act 4: Scientists, politics and protest - Science for the People - Air Date 2-16-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Science Is Real - They Might Be Giants


Ch. 10: Act 5: 314 Action and the movement to elect scientists to office - Who What Why - Air Date 4-22-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Science Fair - Recess Monkey


Ch. 12: Act 6: Take Part in Global Divestment Mobilization Week May 5-13 via @GoFossilFree @350 - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: This Fickle World - Theo Bard


Ch. 14: Act 7: Trump Signs Government Scientist Gag Order - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 01-26-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: Not all anti-choice people want to punish women who have abortions - Alan from Georgia

Ch. 16: Less desire, less suffering - Dale from Minneapolis, MN

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 17: Final comments on how to sustain your activism

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Join or organize Global Divestment Mobilization Actions, May 5-13,2017 

Follow @GoFossilFree and @350 on Twitter 

Engage with the Divestment Mobilization hashtag #FossilFree  

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Why Divestment is Changing the Climate Movement (The Nation, 2013)

The rise and rise of the fossil fuel divestment movement (The Guardian, 2015)

This is a Timed Test (Slate, Bill McKibben, 2015)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1099_Science_Air_Date_4-28-17_-_4-28-17_9.36_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1098

Today we look at the current state of abortion politics here and abroad and explain how the Republicans intend to hurt women and increase the number of abortions worldwide by ignoring science and humanity

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: Education and contraception bring abortion rates as low as 1973 - Savage Love w: @FakeDanSavage - Air Date 1-31-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Thanks, Birth Control: The Song - bedsider


Ch. 4: Act 2: The Story Behind the Mexico City Policy - On the Media - Air Date 1-27-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Bury the Past - Professional Victims


Ch. 6: Act 3: Trump’s Anti-Abortion Order Likely to Increase Abortions - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 02-03-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Mandy Goes to Med School - The Dresden Dolls


Ch. 8: Act 4: Where abortion is illegal - Popaganda from @BitchMedia - Air Date 3-30-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Luriana Lurilee - Ben McElroy


Ch. 10: Act 5: Mike Pence Casts Tie-Breaking Vote To Defund Planned Parenthood - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 03-31-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Beneath the Lies - Abscondo


Ch. 12: Act 6: Protect #ReproductiveRights at the State Level via @PPact @ReproRights @AllAboveAll - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Activism - Shihan


Ch. 14: Act 7: Beyond Choice to Reproductive Justice - @Making_Contact - Air Date 4-12-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: Understanding human interactions - Alan from Connecticut

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 16: Final comments on how the Science of "Blue Lies" May Explain Trump's Support

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Get involved with Planned Parenthood Action Fund and follow @PPact

Get involved with The Center for Reproductive Rights and follow @ReproRights

Get involved with All Above All and follow @AllAboveAll

EDUCATE YOURSELF

State lawmakers rush to protect funding for Planned Parenthood (PBS Newshour)

Minnesota House backs ban on state dollars for abortion (StarTribune)

Governor Bullock lets Montana abortion bill become law (Missoulian)

Women march outside as abortion bill debated inside (The State Journal-Register)

Trump Signs Law Giving States Option To Deny Funding For Planned Parenthood (NPR)

Why is Planned Parenthood popular? And if it's defunded, could any other organization fill the gap? (LA Times)

Who's Popular and Who Isn't? (NBC News)

The EACH Woman Act (Congress.gov)

Women's Health Protection Act (Congress.gov)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1098_Repro_Rights_Air_Date_4-25-17_-_4-25-17_6.56_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1097

Today we make the argument that people are naturally good and that society and economists should treat them that way

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: A lesson in Buddhist economics Part 1 - @thisishellradio - Air Date 3-7-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Out With the Old - Casa Di Mondo


Ch. 4: Act 2: Thomas Hobbes Was Wrong... Our Core Nature Is Good! - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 01-05-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: One of the Good Ones - Redd Kross


Ch. 6: Act 3: A lesson in Buddhist economics Part 2 - @thisishellradio - Air Date 3-7-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Renegades - X Ambassadors


Ch. 8: Act 4: Nipun Mehta - Designing For Generosity - TEDxBerkeley - Air Date: 02-26-12

Ch. 9: Song 4: Something Good Can Work - Two Door Cinema Club


Ch. 10: Act 5: Lux Narayan: What I learned from 2,000 obituaries - @TEDTalks - Air Date 3-1-17


Voicemails

Ch. 11: You're killing me - Anonymous

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 12: Final comments on balancing the bad with a positive vision for the future

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: 1097_Culture_Air_Date_4-21-17_-_4-21-17_6.53_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1096

Today we look at some of the lesser-known characters in the right-wing oligarchy who now own the White House and Supreme Court

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: Inside How the Federalist Society & Koch Brothers Are Pushing for Trump to Reshape Federal Judiciary - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 03-21-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Follow the Money - Vova Zen


Ch. 4: Act 2: Robert Mercers bizarre opinions and influences - Start Making Sense from @TheNation - Air Date 3-22-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: The Oligarch - Ephemerals


Ch. 6: Act 3: Dark Data Trump Backers Bankroll Firm Developing Psychological Profiles of Every U.S. Voter - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 03-23-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Take A Look Around {Instrumental) - Limp Bizkit


Ch. 8: Act 4: How to protect yourself in the face of diminishing online privacy - @HumorlessQueers - Air Date 3-25-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Mind Control - Stephen Marley


Ch. 10: Act 5: The Secret Family Behind The Rise Of Brietbart News - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date 03-28-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Follow the Money - Zounds


Ch. 12: Act 6: Who Bankrolls Breitbart News? - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 03-31-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: Oligarchy - The Haymarket Squares


Ch. 14: Act 7: Erik Prince rises again - Intercepted (@theintercept) - Air Date 4-5-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: Clarifying the right to labor - Dan from Cleveland

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 16: Final comments on yet another reason why health care is not slavery

Bonus Clip: Free Healthcare = Slavery (Rand Paul) - The Young Turks - Air Date 5-13-2011

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!

Direct download: 1096_Oligarchy_Air_Date_4-18-17_-_4-18-17_5.41_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1095

Today we look at a Trump’s foreign policy so far, question the prevailing narrative and look back at how we got to now

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: Trump Bombs Syria: It's Bad, Really Bad - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 04-10-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Handlebars - Flobots


Ch. 4: Act 2: Taking the wider angle perspective on America's militarism - #PoliticallyReactive with @wkamaubell and @harikondabolu - Air Date 4-12-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Don't Waste Your Breath - Colour Me Wednesday


Ch. 6: Act 3: Questioning the unquestioned media narrative of US military actions - Intercepted (@theintercept) - Air Date 4-12-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Fake Empire - The National


Ch. 8: Act 4: Stupid and easily manipulatable as Commander in Chief - @HumorlessQueers - Air Date 3-25-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Mistake - Hi I'm Case


Ch. 10: Act 5: Strike That Killed Dozens of Civilians Is Exactly What Trump Promised - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 03-29-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Forgotten - The Haymarket Squares


Ch. 12: Act 6: Fight the War Economy By Growing Local #Peace Economies via @CodePink - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Song Link here


Ch. 14: Act 7: Andrew Bacevich on the Carter doctrine and the birth of our endless Middle East war - Le Show w @TheHarryShearer - Air Date 2-12-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: Thank you for disability episode - Tyler from Maine

Ch. 16: Asking for clarification on health care policy - David from South Carolina

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 17: Final comments on why government-administered health insurance isn’t slavery

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Visit codepink.org/peaceeconomy to learn more about divesting from war and investing in your community

Take action with Next Steps to building a Local Peace Economy 

Follow Code Pink @codepink or their Peace Economy campaign account @PeaceEcon

EDUCATE YOURSELF

What does an 'America First' Policy Actually Mean? (The Nation)

No Rural-Urban Divide Here: We All Want Good Jobs and Strong Local Economies (YES! Magazine)

What a Policy of Real Solidarity with the Syrian People Looks Like (YES! Magazine)

Why These Missile Strikes Won't Make Things Better for the Syrian People (YES! Magazine)

To Billionaire Doomsday Preppers: Your Wealth Won't Save You (YES! Magazine)

Is War Good for the Economy? (Huffington Post Blog, 2013)

A State of Perpetual War (Huffington Post Blog, 2010) 

The US and NATO are Preparing for a Major War with Russia (The Nation, 2016)

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Amanda Hoffman


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: 1095_Foreign_Policy_Air_Date_4-14-17_-_4-14-17_9.08_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1094

Today we look at a variety of ways to bring the disability rights movement into the mainstream of media, advocacy and the world

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: Media coverage of disabilities and the ADA getting better but still lacking - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 7-31-15

Ch. 3: Song 1: Nothing Is Good Enough (Instrumental) - Aimee Mann


Ch. 4: Act 2: Bringing disability into the mainstream of diversity - Off Kilter (@TalkPoverty) - Air Date: 7-2-15

Ch. 5: Song 2: Going Home - Niklas Aman


Ch. 6: Act 3: Discrimination in immigration then and now - Backstory - Air Date 2-10-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: The Cave - Piano Tribute Players


Ch. 8: Act 4: On Disability and Representation - Black Girls Talking - Air Date 7-20-16

Ch. 9: Song 4: Julie-O - Kevin "KO" Olusola


Ch. 10: Act 5: Stop HR 620: Tell Congress to #ProtectADA via @NDRNAdvocates - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 11: Song 5: La Valse d'Amélie (Version Orchestre) - Yann Tiersen


Ch. 12: Act 6: Elise Roy: When we design for disability, we all benefit - @TEDTalks - Air Date 11-12-16


Ch. 23: Final comments

Bonus Clip 1: Nick Dupree's Story: A Medicaid Victory - All Things Considered - Air Date 2-12-03

Bonus Clip 2: Nick Dupree Fought To Live 'Like Anyone Else' - All Things Considered - Air Date 2-22-17

Bonus Clip 3: Tribute to Nick Dupree - @dccommonsense w/ Dan Carlin - Air Date 3-15-17

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION 

Visit the NDRN website to read up on the response to HR 620 and learn what you can do to protect the ADA

Call Congress, especially the 14 co-sponsors of HR 620 (7 Republicans, 7 Democrats) 

Learn more about disability culture and experiences through personal stories via Disability Visibility Project and about the importance of disabled people in public service via #CriptheVote.

EDUCATE YOURSELF  

HR 620: ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 (via Countable.us) 

Overview of Concerns on HR 620 (via NDRN.org)

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Letter of Opposition for ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017, HR 620 (via NDRN.org)

People with Disabilities Battle Trump (via Workers World)

Denham bill would fight ADA lawsuit abuse (via Central Valley Business Journal)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1094_Disability_Air_Date_4-11-17_-_4-11-17_5.22_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1093

Today we look at Trump’s recent moves to dismantle Obama’s environmental legacy, the legal troubles he faces and the bright future that renewable energy is still headed towards 

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: Trump SHREDDING Obama's Environmental Rules - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 03-30-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Revolution (Human Need Over Profit) - Tha Truth


Ch. 4: Act 2: Rolling back Obama's clean energy policies will be harder than Trump thinks - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 3-29-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Things a Get from Bad to Worse - The Ethiopians


Ch. 6: Act 3: Solar Creating Jobs 2X Faster Than Dirty Coal, Trump Wants Coal - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 03-19-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Underneath A Blackened Moon - Keith And Joan Pitzer


Ch. 8: Act 4: Trump Has Weakened America By Destroying Environmental Protections - @RingOfFireRadio - Air Date: 04-03-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: What Have We Done - The Haymarket Squares


Ch. 10: Act 5: Why Trump Will Go Down In History As The Exxon President - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 03-18-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: ​My Country - Nahko and Medicine for the People


Ch. 12: Act 6: Human adaptation at odds with fortress continents - Intercepted (@theintercept) - Air Date 3-29-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: Something happened - The Dodos


Ch. 14: Act 7: To save the climate we need to remake the Democratic party - @thisishellradio - Air Date 3-11-17

Ch. 15: Song 7: Do The Right Thing - Beres Hammond


Ch. 16: Act 8: Get in the Streets! Join #ScienceMarch on 4-22 & People's #ClimateMarch on 4-29 via @ScienceMarchDC and @Peoples_Climate - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: This Fickle World - Theo Bard


Ch. 18: Act 9: Fantastic, amazing, excellent, very good news for renewable energy - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 3-14-17 


Ch. 19: Final comments on a couple more resources for the war on coal

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

April 22nd (Earth Day): March for Science Follow: @ScienceMarchDC

April 29th (Trump’s 100th Day): People’s Climate March Follow: @Peoples_Climate

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Activists Announce People's Climate March (Huffington Post)

Peoples Climate Movement Releases March Route (Common Dreams)

Climate Justice Organizations Call for "People's Climate March" on April 29 (DemocracyNow!)

Pussy Hats Making Way For Resistor Beanies In Science March (Huffington Post)

This man in a space suit has a message for Earthlings (CNN)

Congress’s one PhD-trained scientist will join march on Washington (STAT News)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1093_Climate_Air_Date_4-7-17_-_4-7-17_8.44_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1092

Today we look at the ways in which both corporate and governmental institutions are looking to gain more and more access to your private data and communications

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: Clarifying exactly how much you're getting screwed by internet companies - @HumorlessQueers - Air Date 3-25-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: I'm Confused - Handsome Furs


Ch. 4: Act 2: You're getting bought and sold by marketers online - The Benjamin Dixon Show (@TheBpDShow) - Air Date 3-28-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Corporate America - SuperMonkey


Ch. 6: Act 3: The racist application of surveillance laws through history - @theLFshow w @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date 2-15-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Privacy - Michael Jackson


Ch. 8: Act 4: Section 702 Is In the Spotlight - On The Media - Air Date 3-24-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Private Eyes - Daryl Hall & John Oates


Ch. 10: Act 5: FCC Under Trump: Net Neutrality & Internet Freedom Faces New Attack - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 02-14-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Feet to the Fire - the hereafter


Ch. 12: Act 6: Prepare to #SavetheInternet…AGAIN via @FreePress and @EFF - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: This Fickle World - Theo Bard


Ch. 14: Act 7: Edward Snowden on the Vault 7 leaks - Intercepted (@theintercept) - Air Date 3-15-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: Thoughts on our complicated health care system - Steve from New York

Ch. 16: Inclusion needs to include the disabled - Annie from Alabama

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 17: Final comments on the need for more solidarity with the disabled

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION 

Sign up for updates at FreePress.net and EFF.org

Follow FreePress on Twitter @FreePress and Facebook; Follow EFF on Twitter @EFF and Facebook 

Stay up to date on all the latest proposed legislation related to privacy on Countable.us

EDUCATE YOURSELF

House Republicans Vote to Destroy FCC's Online Privacy Protections (FreePress.net)

Net Neutrality Is Trump’s Next Target, Administration Says (The New York Times)

They Attacked Privacy. Net Neutrality is Next. (FreePress.net)

Letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai from Keith Ellison and 30 other Senators on Preserving Net Neutrality (Ellison.house.gov)

Should an FCC Rule Imposing Data Privacy Requirements on Internet Service Providers be Repealed? (Countable.us)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1092_Privacy_Air_Date_4-4-17_-_4-4-17_7.02_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1091

Today we look at the multi-front political battles being waged for the heart of the progressive movement, women’s movement, the Democratic party and the county as a whole

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: A roundup of grassroots resistance groups - Start Making Sense from @TheNation - Air Date 3-8-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: A Lot of Work to Do - Friendly People


Ch. 4: Act 2: Intersectional feminism is looking to tear down the capitalism establishment - Off Kilter (@TalkPoverty) - Air Date 3-8-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Intersectionality - Those American Girls


Ch. 6: Act 3: The Democratic party needs to debate it's differences - The Zero Hour w @RJEskow - Air Date 3-4-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Keep On Moving Forward - Emma's Revolution


Ch. 8: Act 4: Why we can't abandon the red states - Belabored (@DissentMag) - Air Date 3-24-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Immigrants (We Get the Job Done) - K'naan, Snow Tha Product, Riz MC & Residente


Ch. 10: Act 5: A coalition of movements arise under Trump - @theLFshow w @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date 3-15-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Workers of the World Unite! - The Last Internationale


Ch. 12: Act 6: Nancy Pelosi Has Super Secret Plan To Keep Losing - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 03-24-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: Master Plan - My Morning Jacket


Ch. 14: Act 7: The messaging of inevitability for the progressive movement - The Zero Hour w: @RJEskow - Air Date 3-4-17

Ch. 15: Song 7: Inevitable - Scissor Sisters


Ch. 16: Act 8: Tap Into the Tools for ‘The Resistance’ - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Time for Action - Secret Affair


Ch. 18: Act 9: Women in the age of Trump and what the movement looks like - We the Podcast with Rep. @keithellison - Air Date 3-30-17


Voicemails

Ch. 19: We need to push for single payer - Zach from Atlanta, GA

Ch. 20: An update on conservatives in my community - V from Central New York

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 21: Final comments on the progressive movement; past, present and future

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Use these websites and apps as part of your Resistance Plan:

5Calls.org 

Countable.us

ResistanceCalendar.org

ResistanceManual.org

ActionAlliance.co

READ: "Your Guide to the Sprawling New Anti-Trump Resistance Movement" (via The Nation)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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Direct download: 1091_Resistance_Air_Date_3-31-17_-_3-31-17_9.35_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1090

Today we look at the confirmation of Betsy DeVos to head the Department of education and some of the ideological and historical context that brought us to this point

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: Betsy DeVos Confirmation Proves You Can Buy Power - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 02-09-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Oligarchy - The Haymarket Squares


Ch. 4: Act 2: The truth about school vouchers for impoverished or disabled children - Off Kilter (@TalkPoverty) - Air Date 2-17-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Teach Me Something - Hot Tip


Ch. 6: Act 3: Charter Schools - @LastWeekTonight with @iamjohnoliver - Air Date 08-22-16

Ch. 7: Song 3: How to save a life - The Fray


Ch. 8: Act 4: The history of education policies and their purposes - @Making_Contact - Air Date 3-14-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Dancing Through Life - Christopher Fitzgerald, Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, Michelle Federer & Norbert Leo Butz


Ch. 10: Act 5: Will Reaganomics Put The Final Nail In The Coffin of Public Education? - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 11-29-16

Ch. 11: Song 5: The Idiots are taking over - NOFX


Ch. 12: Act 6: #SaveOurSchools- Stop Legislation that Kills Public Education & Hurts Poor Children via @Network4pubed - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Activism - Shihan


Ch. 14: Act 7: Diane Ravitch on the damage Betsy DeVos can do to the Department of Education - Who What Why - Air Date 1-20-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: Improve on the ACA to build toward single payer - Matt from Pueblo, CO

Ch. 16: New York Health campaign - Alan from Connecticut

Ch. 17: The ACA is a step towards single payer - Evan from Texas

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 18: Final comments on the way to negotiate for a better health care system

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Get involved with Network for Public Education and follow them on Facebook and Twitter

Join the conversations about school vouchers online with #SaveOurSchools

Call Members of Congress: Countable.us Education Bills ; Members of the Education and the Workforce Committee

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Read the Summary of HR 610 (Congress.gov)

Do Private-School Vouchers Promote Segregation? (The Atlantic)

BETSY DEVOS WANTS TO USE AMERICA'S SCHOOLS TO BUILD "GOD'S KINGDOM" (Mother Jones)

Jeff Bryan: The Big Lie Behind Trump’s Budget Proposals for Education (DianaRavitch.com)

Tensions rise as vouchers pick up traction across Wisconsin (Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

Subtracting Schools from Communities (Urban.org)

 Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1090_Education_Air_Date_3-28-17_-_3-28-17_9.58_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1089

Today we look at the hearings of Supreme Court Nominee Neil Gorsuch, how we got to here and what his possible placement on the court portends for our 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: The important Gorsuch stories the media is missing - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 2-17-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: One - Apocalyptica


Ch. 4: Act 2: Discussing the judicial coup Republicans are in the midst of - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 3-21-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: La Réalité - Amadou & Mariam


Ch. 6: Act 3: Behind Neil Gorsuch's Rhetoric, His Record Suggests Aggressive Judge Wedded to Conservative Agenda - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 03-21-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: The Game Is Rigged - The Great Malarkey


Ch. 8: Act 4: Dan Goldberg on some of Neil Gorsuch's worst rulings - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 3-24-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: The Smallest Piece - Dan Romer & Benh Zeitlin


Ch. 10: Act 5: The corporate takeover of the judicial system - Amicus from @Slate - Air Date 3-18-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: It's Just Not Right - Beatnik Turtle


Ch. 12: Act 6: STOP Arch Conservative SCOTUS Pick Neil Gorsuch via @IndivisibleTeam #StopGorsuch - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: This Fickle World - Theo Bard


Ch. 14: Act 7: How Democrats Should Fight Trump's Supreme Court Pick - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 03-21-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: Seeking out progressive sci-fi to imagine a better world - Erin from Philadelphia

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 16: Final comments on our dystopian pop culture and thoughts on where health care should go from here

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Use Indivisible Guide's fact sheet on Gorsuch and scripts to call Senators

Easily Call Your Senators: 5calls.org (or) Countable.us 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Hobby Lobby and executive power: Gorsuch's key rulings (CNN)

Call Your Senators and Demand That They Reject Neil Gorsuch (The Nation)

The Democrats Must Filibuster Neil Gorsuch (Slate)

Gorsuch: Roe v. Wade is the 'law of the land' (The Atlantic)

Supreme Court Nominee Neil Gorsuch Has a Troubling History When Ruling on Disability Rights Cases (ACLU Blog)

If We Care About Abortion, Asking Judge Neil Gorsuch His Opinion on Roe v. Wade Is Not Enough (ACLU Blog)

Should Your Boss’s Religious Beliefs Dictate Your Health Insurance Coverage? Supreme Court Nominee Judge Gorsuch Thinks So (ACLU Blog)

Attorney for "Frozen Trucker": Neil Gorsuch May Have Been Most Hostile Judge I've Ever Encountered (Truth Out)

Durbin, Gorsuch spar over Hobby Lobby ruling (The Washington Post)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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!

Direct download: 1089_SCOTUS_Air_Date_3-24-17_-_3-24-17_7.49_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1088

Today we look at the rollout of Trumpcare including how we got here, the ideological challenges Republicans face in trying to repeal the ACA and the direction we should obviously go

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: Bill Krystal's prediction about the future of health care - Start Making Sense from @TheNation - Air Date 1-11-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Burn My Candle (At Both Ends) [Live] - Shirley Bassey


Ch. 4: Act 2: Conservative principles tied into pretzel over health care - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 3-7-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealers Wheel


Ch. 6: Act 3: What is Trumpcare? - Trumpcast from @Slate - Air Date 3-17-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Shame - Ophelia of the Spirits


Ch. 8: Act 4: Healthcare or Wealthcare? 24 Million to Lose Insurance Under GOP Plan While Rich Get Big Tax Breaks - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 03-14-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Hurt - Johnny Cash


Ch. 10: Act 5: Republicans backed themselves into a corner on health care - Primary Concerns from @NewRepublic - Air Date 3-9-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Accountability - Sammy R. Hall


Ch. 12: Act 6: The continuous coverage provision encourages people to not get health insurance until they're sick - The Zero Hour w: @RJEskow - Air Date 3-11-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: Sickening - Ken Mickey


Ch. 14: Act 7: Budget Expert: Republicans Are Lying When They Say AHCA Won't Hurt Majority of Americans - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 03-16-17

Ch. 15: Song 7: Pas Si Simple - Yann Tiersen


Ch. 16: Act 8: Luck Health Plan: You'll be okay. Probably. - Luck Plan - Air Date: 11-11-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: A Quai - Yann Tiersen


Ch. 18: Act 9: Why we're stuck with the very flawed ACA - @dccommonsense w Dan Carlin - Air Date 3-15-17

Ch. 19: Song 9: Meaningless - The Nighty Nite


Ch. 20: Act 10: Join the National Week of Action (April 3-7) to Demand Medicare for All via @H_O_P4E & @PHMglobal #Health4All - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 21: Song 11: Time for Action - Secret Affair


 Ch. 22: Act 12: Republicans Promise TrumpCare Won't Suck After Phase Three - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 03-15-17


Ch. 23: Final comments on the real debate going on with health care

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Join the National Week of Action to Demand National Improved Medicare for All: Our Health is NOT for Sale!

If you're in DC, volunteer for HOPE's Medicare for All Lobby Day in DC - March 29th

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Insurance Companies Just Accidentally Made The Case For Medicare For All (Huffington Post)

For-Profit Health Care Used To Be Illegal (Health Over Profit for Everyone)

Trumpcare vs. Obamacare (The New Yorker) 

The Conservative Uprising Against the Republican Health-Care Bill (The Atlantic)

How the AHCA Leaves the Old, Sick and the Poor Behind (The Atlantic)

Affordable Care Act revision would reduce insured numbers by 24 million, CBO projects (The Washington Post)

A Running List of People Who Hate Trumpcare (Mother Jones)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1088_Health_Care_Air_Date_3-21-17_-_3-21-17_9.08_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1048

Today we look at the ways in which the 13th amendment to the constitution opened the doors to a mere evolution of slavery rather than it’s abolition as our national myth contends

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: William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe - Excerpt: Attica explained

Ch. 3: Song 1: Attica State - John Lennon & Yoko Ono


Ch. 4: Act 2: 45 Years After Legendary Attica Prison Uprising, New Book Reveals State Role in Deadly Standoff - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 09-09-16

Ch. 5: Song 2: Strong Animals - Dan Romer & Benh Zeitlin


Ch. 6: Act 3: Prison Labor = Modern Day Slavery? - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 09-16-16

Ch. 7: Song 3: High Demand - The Haymarket Squares


Ch. 8: Act 4: Rattling the Bars US Prison Labor - @TheRealNews - Air Date 9-5-16

Ch. 9: Song 4: Forward - Northbound


Ch. 10: Act 5: Noelle Hanrahan on National Prison Strike - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 9-16-16

Ch. 11: Song 5: Prison Abolition (feat. Daman) - Conscious Youth


Ch. 12: Act 6: Prisoners Strike To Say 'We're Not Slaves!!' (w/Guest: Maya Schenwar) - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 09-21-16

Ch. 13: Song 6: Chain Gang (2005 Remastered) - Sam Cooke


Ch. 14: Act 7: Important stories of the prison strike are blacked out by media - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 9-30-16

Ch. 15: Song 7: Everyday (Single Version) - Carly Comando


Ch. 16: Act 8: Support Prison Strikers by Joining Actions Around the Country - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: This Fickle World - Theo Bard


Ch. 18: Act 9: Advocates: The U.S. Still Profits from Slavery Because the 13th Amendment Perpetuates Prison Labor - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 10-03-16


Ch. 19: Final comments on the timely release of the new Ava DuVernay doc, “13th”

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


TAKE ACTION

Read the call to action post on ItsGoingDown.org and find an event near you at the bottom of the post.

Create your own local action to support the prison strikes and submit it to be posted by emailing info@itsgoingdown.org. 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Why Prisoners Across the Country Have Gone on Strike (via Mother Jones)

"We're Freedom Fighters": The Story of the Nationwide Prison Labor Strike (via truthout)

The biggest national prison strike in American history is happening now (via Daily Kos)

Meet the inmate who launched a massive prison strike from his jail cell (via Vice)

Free Alabama Movement  (website of the inmates spearheading the strike in Alabama)

IWW Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee (unrecognized union for incarcerated prison workers)

 

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Amanda Hoffman


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: 2016_10_07_Slavery_in_America_is_still_alive_and_well_Prison_Labor.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1087

Today we look at the mechanics and consequences of systemic lies and propaganda in an age of ignorance and anti-intellectualism

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: Carl Sagan saw the Future - Quirks and Quarks - Air Date 1-27-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Can't Hide from the Truth - The Hot 8 Brass Band


Ch. 4: Act 2: How to question the information we receive - @thisishellradio - Air Date 2-24-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Hide the Truth - Chronicle


Ch. 6: Act 3: Former Supreme Court Justice Souter on The Danger of America's 'Pervasive Civic Ignorance'

Ch. 7: Song 3: Debate - Rain Over St. Ambrose


Ch. 8: Act 4: Words matter: Emotions and statistics - Frontline: The Persuaders - Air Date 11-9-2004

Ch. 9: Song 4: Honesty - Billy Joel


Ch. 10: Act 5: How propaganda works - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 1-19-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: A Few Honest Words - Ben Sollee


Ch. 12: Act 6: Character Education: The need for a love of truth - Progressive Faith Sermons w: @RevDrRay - Air Date 12-11-16


Voicemails

Ch. 13: Why not join the Democratic Socialists of America? - Nathan from San Diego, CA

Ch. 14: Corporations don't believe in individualism - Brad from Irving, TX

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 15: Final comments on how to combat Trump Fatigue Syndrome

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

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Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1087_Propaganda_Air_Date_3-14-17_-_3-14-17_4.23_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1086

Today we look at how the Trump campaign and presidency has emboldened those who would spew hatred or commit violence against Jews and others

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 "De-Judification" of the Holocaust?: Trump Avoids Word "Jews" on Holocaust Remembrance Day - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 02-02-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Eyes Wide Open - Gotye


Ch. 4: Act 2: PewDiePie In Trouble For Anti-Semitic Comments - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 02-15-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Remember How We Forgot - Shane Koyczan and the Short Story Long


Ch. 6: Act 3: Anti-Semitic & Anti-Muslim Violence Rise Under Trump Presidency - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 03-06-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Mad World - Vitamin String Quartet


Ch. 8: Act 4: Trump Staffer Tied to Anti-Semitic Holocaust Deniers - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 03-01-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Blue Girl - A-Set


Ch. 10: Act 5: Anne Frank Center: Trump's Remarks on Anti-Semitism are Too Little, Too Late - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 02-22-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Beneath the Lies - Abscondo


Ch. 12: Act 6: Demand the Trump Administration Take Action to Fight Anti-Semitism via @ADL_National - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: This Fickle World - Theo Bard


Ch. 14: Act 7: Sebastian Gorka called an American citizen from the White House to argue over tweets - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 2-23-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: Followup on a progressive perspective on immigration - Kiki from Oakland, CA

Ch. 16: Launching a new political party based on collectivism - Alexander from Grand Canyon Village, AZ

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 17: Final comments on the meaning of life and starting now

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Share the ADL's 9 step plan for the Trump administration to fight anti-semitism 

Send the plan to your Representatives and Senators and demand they fight for action 

EDUCATE YOURSELF

President Trump: Time for a Plan of Action to Fight the Surge of Anti-Semitism (ADL.org)

Anti-Semitism in the United States (ADL.org)

Letter from Senate to DOJ, DHS and FBI (Peters.senate.gov)

Homeland Security Finally Vows To Fully Join Investigation Into ‘Hate-Inspired Attacks’ (Huffington Post)

After a new wave of anti-Semitic attacks, White House appears skeptical about anti-Semitism (Vox)

A Sixth Wave Of Bomb Threats Has Hit Jewish Centers Around The United States (BuzzFeed News)

Muslim Fundraiser to Repair Jewish Cemetery Raises $100k (NBC News)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1086_Anti-Semitism_Air_Date_3-10-17_-_3-10-17_4.56_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1085

Today we look at the dangerous myths of individualism and the American Dream™, some of their origins and some of their consequences 

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: Cultural influences on our perspective of self w/Gish Jen - Think Again - Air Date 3-4-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Different People - No Doubt


Ch. 4: Act 2: You are not as free as you think you are w/Raoul Martinez - @thisishellradio - Air Date 2-24-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: The system - Abscondo


Ch. 6: Act 3: Individualism in the prosperity gospel brand of Christianity - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 1-8-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Southern Baptism - Richard Gilks


Ch. 8: Act 4: The cold war propaganda of anti-collectivism w/Gish Jen - Think Again - Air Date 3-4-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Knock Yourself Out - Jon Brion


Ch. 10: Act 5: The myths of the autonomous individual and free markets w/Raoul Martinez - @thisishellradio - Air Date 2-24-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Drums of Freedom - Theo Bard


Ch. 12: Act 6: Training is all that matters - A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

Ch. 13: Song 6: Perpetuum Mobile - Penguin Cafe Orchestra


Ch. 14: Act 7: An ignorance of history bolsters acceptance of anti-regulation individualism - You are not so smart - Air Date 2-24-17

Ch. 15: Song 7: Making Progress - Freedom's Progress


Ch. 16: Act 8: The dangerous myth of the American Dream w/Raoul Martinez - @thisishellradio - Air Date 2-24-17


Voicemails

Ch. 17: Thoughts on ICE agents now going after softer targets - Charlie from Cleveland, OH

Ch. 18: Confronting a "racial realist" worldview - Zach from Atlanta, GA

Ch. 19: Response to Rich re: Indivisible - Dave from Olympia, WA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 20: Final comments rejecting the Personal Responsibility/Social Good dichotomy

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

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Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1085_Individualism_Air_Date_3-7-17_-_3-6-17_6.36_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1084

Today we look at how Trump is currently running his foreign policy programs and where he’s planning to take 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: In First TV Interview, President Trump Says Torture "Absolutely" Works - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 01-26-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Waterboarding USA - Harry Shearer


Ch. 4: Act 2: Torture Doesn't Work and Here's the Scientific Evidence - Quirks and Quarks - Air Date 2-2-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: ​Talk to Me - Stevie Nicks


Ch. 6: Act 3: Media operates on articles of faith regarding American foreign policy - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 2-17-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Drone Bomb Me - ANOHNI


Ch. 8: Act 4: Rep. Lieu: The White House Lying & Stifling Dissent on Yemen Raid is Step Toward Authoritarianism - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 02-15-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Never Gonna Learn - Jont


Ch. 10: Act 5: Trump Takes Zero Responsibility For Yemen Raid Disaster - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 03-01-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: The Buck Stops Here - Childsplay


Ch. 12: Act 6: Wilkerson: Trump's Proposed $54 Billion Increase in the Military Budget Not for National Security - @TheRealNews - Air Date 2-28-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: Moneytalks - Vitamin String Quartet


Ch. 14: Act 7: Plan a MLK, Jr. “Beyond Vietnam” Speech-Reading Event for April 4th via @VFPNational and National Council of Elders - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7: Activism - Shihan


Ch. 16: Act 8: Anti-Islam religious zealots retake power in the White House - Intercepted (@theintercept) - Air Date 3-1-17


Voicemails

Ch. 17: R.I.P Alan Colmes - Rick from Madison, WI

Ch. 18: Excited about the Justice Democrats - Sunny from St. Paul, MN

Ch. 19: Fragility and the progressive case for immigration - Ken from Raleigh, NC

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 20: Final comments on conservative political correctness

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Plan a "Beyond Vietnam" Speech-reading event in your community for April 4th with the Veterans For Peace Toolkit

Volunteer with a Veterans For Peace Chapter near you to help plan a "Beyond Vietnam" speech-reading event

Read the National Council of Elders call to action for the 50th anniversary of MLK, Jr.'s "Beyond Vietnam speech

Read the entire "Beyond Vietnam" speech

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Donald Trump Goes All In for the Military-Industrial Complex (The Nation)

Why Trump's Military Budget Boost Doesn't Add Up (Mother Jones)

Trump’s Budget Proposal Is an Attack on the Working Class (The Nation)

Trump to Seek $54 Billion Increase in Military Spending (The New York Times)

 Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman


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: 1084_Foreign_Policy_Air_Date_3-3-17_-_3-3-17_9.24_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1083

Today we look at Trump’s new immigration crackdown and several of the reasons why it’s a bad idea

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Show Notes

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

Ch. 2: Act 1: Posturing On Immigration - On The Media - Air Date 2-23-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Bad Idea - Goose


Ch. 4: Act 2: The positive impacts of immigrant communities - Economic Update w @profwolff - Air Date 2-16-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Stop & Frisk (For Treyvon and Alvin) - Vex Davortex


Ch. 6: Act 3: Examining the aspects of a broken immigration system - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 2-24-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Immigrants (We Get the Job Done) ​- K'naan, Snow Tha Product, Riz MC & Residente


Ch. 8: Act 4: Trump's Migration Program Mimics the Cold War Dragnet - The F Word w/ @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date 2-23-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Immigrant - Alysha Brilla


Ch. 10: Act 5: Nazis Once Published List of Jewish Crimes, Trump Now Pushing to Do the Same for Immigrant Crimes - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 02-02-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Immigrant - Deine Lakaien


Ch. 12: Act 6: Refugees Welcome sign hung on Statue of Liberty - The Benjamin Dixon Show (@TheBpDShow) - Air Date 2-21-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: Immigrant - John McCutcheon


Ch. 14: Act 7: Protect Immigrants in Your Community- Join #HereToStay Network & #RaidWatch via @UNITEDWEDREAM & @AmericasVoice - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7: Activism - Shihan


Ch. 16: Act 8: The oscillations in American immigration policy - Backstory - Air Date 2-10-17


Voicemails

Ch. 17: A reply to Ken about shame - Felicia from Centralia, MO

Ch. 18: In response to the Indivisible Guide strategy - Rich from Sequim, WA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 19: Final comments on understanding strategies and tactics

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION 

1. Sign up with United We Dream #HereToStay Network to get notified if an immigrant in your community needs help

2. Document and report ICE activity in your community via social media using #RaidWatch 

3. Call, write and show up at your Mayor’s office to demand they declare your city a “sanctuary of safety” 

Resources for immigrants: 

If you have been approached by ICE officials, call the United We Dream Hotline: 1-844-363-1423 

Read your rights and download United We Dream Deportation Defense Cards and browse their "Resources" page

Find out where raids are happening (and/or submit them) with Latino Rebel’s MigraMap

Find an immigration lawyer via American Immigration Lawyers Association

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Mexican ‘DREAMer’ nabbed in immigrant crackdown (Reuters)

Trump's DHS Executive Orders (DHS.gov)

Donald Trump Plans to Bypass the Courts to Deport as Many People as Possible (The Intercept)

What Immigration Raids Mean for Students (The Atlantic)

Dreamer Says ICE Threatened to Deport Him (The Daily Beast)

Trump's Deportation Raids: What We Know and Don't Know (Mother Jones)

Law-Abiding but Illegal, and Fearing the New Trump Rules (The New York Times)

Trump touts recent immigration raids, calls them a ‘military operation’ (The Washington Post)

President Trump is on shaky ground with his new immigration order (The Washington Post)

Entrepreneurs Are Being Deported -- And They Might Be at the Center of America's Coming Immigration Fight (Entrepreneur)

Dallas County ‘Dreamer’s’ arrest puts scare in immigration-rights community (Texas Star-Telegram)

Immigration Agents Took a Woman With a Brain Tumor Out of the Hospital: Report (TIME)

Plan To Disrupt Immigration Raids Will Enlist Songs And Prayers (NPR) 

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1083_Immigration_Air_Date_2-28-17_-_2-26-17_7.07_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1082

Today we look at the intersection of the climate and capitalism in the shadow of the most crony capitalist administration in American history

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: What is your investment dollar doing? - Australians for coal - Air Date: 02-28-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: N/A


Ch. 4: Act 2: Declining Cost of Renewables Will Challenge Trump's Promise to Bring Back Jobs Through Coal - @TheRealNews - Air Date 1-25-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: A Farewell To Trends - dustmotes


Ch. 6: Act 3: Notes on the fight against fossil capitalism w/ Ashley Dawson - @thisishellradio - Air Date 12-14-16

Ch. 7: Song 3: The sea is rising - Bliss n Eso


Ch. 8: Act 4: Michael Metcalfe: A provocative way to finance the fight against climate change - @TEDTalks - Air Date: 4-11-16

Ch. 9: Song 4: Whatever It Takes - Lifehouse


Ch. 10: Act 5: Germany PROVES We Can END Fossil Fuels - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 09-29-16

Ch. 11: Song 5: Stakes Still High - Sol


Ch. 12: Act 6: Divest Yourself and Your Community from Fossil Fuels via @DeFundDAPL - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Divest! 350Org - Tem Blessed


Ch. 14: Act 7: Not everything that's profitable is good - Economic Update w: @profwolff - Air Date 2-10-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: What's the progressive answer to immigration? - Kiki from Oakland

Ch. 16: In response to Amanda about how to feel better - Rachel from Washington

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 17: Final comments with advice on surviving and thriving during times of oppression

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION 

Use DefundDAPL.org steps and resources to divest your personal finances from banks funding DAPL

Use DefundDAPL.org steps and resources to get engaged or take action to divest your community from banks funding DAPL

Save the date for the People's Climate March on April 29th, 2017 in Washington, DC, and sister marches around US

EDUCATE YOURSELF

2 Cities To Pull More Than $3 Billion From Wells Fargo Over Dakota Access Pipeline (NPR)

7 Things the Defund DAPL Campaign Has Achieved So Far (Including $28 Million in Personal Accounts Moved) (Yes! Magazine) 

Movie Stars Pulling Their Money Out Of Wells Fargo. Defund DAPL (The Young Turks)

4 Key Impacts of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines (National Geographic)

Emails Reveal EPA Chief Scott Pruitt's Dirty Dealings with Oil and Gas Industry (The Intercept)

Trump to roll back Obama’s climate, water rules through executive action (The Washington Post) 

Drilling experts explain why Trump can’t bring back oilfield jobs (Think Progress)

Trump signs measure rolling back last-minute Obama coal mining regulation (CNN)

New rule protecting waterways from coal mining will be early target of Trump administration (Think Progress)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1082_Climate_Economics_Air_Date_2-24-17_-_2-24-17_7.44_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1081

Today we look at the past failings of the Democratic party over the past several decades that brought us to our current point and then look for ways to turn that ship around

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: Van Jones Says Clinton Days Are Over, Centrism Has To Stop - @RingOfFireRadio - Air Date: 01-08-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Wake Me Up - Avicil


Ch. 4: Act 2: Is unity overrated? w/ @onesarahjones - The Zero Hour w: @RJEskow - Air Date 1-28-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: My Conversation - The Uniques


Ch. 6: Act 3: Thomas Frank: Listen Liberal and where the Democratic party went wrong - @Jimmy_Dore Show - Air Date 1-20-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Betrayal - Wang Chung


Ch. 8: Act 4: There is no anti-capitalist party in the US - Economic Update w: @profwolff - Air Date 2-10-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Out With the Old - Casa Di Mondo


Ch. 10: Act 5: Keith Ellison: 'We've Got To Reset the Future of the Democratic Party' - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 12-30-16

Ch. 11: Song 5: Out With the Old - The Sensational Nightingales


Ch. 12: Act 6: Help Elect Keith Ellison as DNC Chair via @DemSpring - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: Out With the Old - Korsairs


Ch. 14: Act 7: The Democratic Party Takeover HAS BEGUN - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 01-24-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: A movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment - Amanda from Asheville, NC

Ch. 16: Losing hope from the wave of very dark rhetoric coming from the right - Amanda from Snohomish, WA

Ch. 17: The American privilege of voting for Clinton - John from New York

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 18: Final comments on voting with eyes wide open

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Sign up to start a delegation in your area and/or make calls to DNC members in your state

Check out the "How You Can Help" page on KeithforDNC.org for social media actions/media and more. 

Follow @EllisonCampaign on Twitter and Keith for DNC on Facebook.

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Keith Ellison for DNC Video on Approach to Voter Turnout (@EllisonCampaign)

Keith Ellison Is Everything Republicans Thought Obama Was. Maybe He's Just What Democrats Need. (Mother Jones)

Why We Support Keith Ellison for DNC Chair (The Nation)

Keith Ellison: How the Democrats Can Win (The Nation)

The Democratic Party Needs Keith Ellison (The Huffington Post Blog)

College Democrats of America President and Vice-President Endorse Keith Ellison for DNC Chair (Press Release)  

Onetime Rival Endorses Ellison for DNC Chair (Common Dreams)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1081_Democrats_Air_Date_2-19-17_-_2-19-17_6.48_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1080

Today we look at the state of the corporate-controlled media in the age of Trump, how you can navigate those murky waters and what we can do to make it better

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: Diversify your news - Popaganda from @BitchMedia - Air Date 11-24-16

Ch. 3: Song 1: N/A


Ch. 4: Act 2: Spicer vs. the Interns - On the Media - Air Date 1-27-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Totem Ancestor - Kronos Quartet


Ch. 6: Act 3: Is Donald Trump good for journalism? - The Inquiry - Air Date 2-13-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: A Waltz for George and Tex - Black Prairie


Ch. 8: Act 4: Bernie Sanders Warns About Dangers Of Corporate-Controlled Media - @RingOfFireRadio - Air Date: 01-01-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Turn it off - The Moxy


Ch. 10: Act 5: Keep Going Back to Substance and the Truth - On the Media - Air Date 1-27-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Freedom (From Braveheart) - Music Themes Group


Ch. 12: Act 6: Is 'Biased News' More Destructive Than Fake News? - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 12-23-16

Ch. 13: Song 6: We Stand As One - Joseph Arthur


Ch. 14: Act 7: Become a “Media Activist” via @FAIRmediawatch - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7: Activism - Shihan


Ch. 16: Act 8: Ned Beatty's NETWORK speech-by Paddy Chayefsky


Voicemails

Ch. 17: Building trust as a foundation - Ryan from Phoenix

Ch. 18: Losing hope from the wave of very dark rhetoric coming from the right - Amanda from Snohomish, WA

Ch. 19: How to persuade conservatives - Ken from Raleigh, North Carolina

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 20: Final comments on the social justice and the fragility of the privileged

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Go to FAIR.org to get Action Alerts and become a “media activist”

Check out FAIR’s Media Activism Kit 

Subscribe to FAIR’s CounterSpin podcast

Member of the media? Check out FAIR’s Media Advisories

EDUCATE YOURSELF

NYT’s False Choice for Democrats: Move to the Right or Divide by Race (FAIR)

Jessica Gonzalez on FCC Chair Ajit Pai (FAIR's CounterSpin)

Scrutiny for Supreme Court Pick Fails to Focus on Rights of Disabled (FAIR)

ACTION ALERT: WaPo’s Post Live Series Is a Love Letter to Corporate Conflicts of Interest (FAIR)

Trump’s Inauguration and the Legitimacy Fetish (FAIR)

Daily Kos Founder Gleefully Celebrates Coal Miners Losing Health Insurance (FAIR)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1080_Media_Air_Date_2-17-17_-_2-17-17_5.46_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1079

Today we look at the plans being cooked up by Trump and the GOP to screw the people and enrich the corporations

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: Republicans To Kill Elizabeth Warren's Greatest Accomplishment - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 11-18-16

Ch. 3: Song 1: Rip-Off - Jimmy Cliff


Ch. 4: Act 2: David Dayen On Trump's Infrastructure Plan - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date 11-25-16

Ch. 5: Song 2: Destructive - Sentry.


Ch. 6: Act 3: Trump's tax plan and how the world may react - Economic Update w @profwolff - Air Date 12-15-16

Ch. 7: Song 3: Screwed - Kid Cudi


Ch. 8: Act 4: Trump’s Anti-Regulatory Agenda Will Cost Economy Billions - @RingOfFireRadio - Air Date: 12-18-16

Ch. 9: Song 4: Monday - Jon Brion


Ch. 10: Act 5: Trump DESTROYED Goldman Sachs During Election, Now Will Be Goldman Sachs President - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date 12-22-16

Ch. 11: Song 5: Bamboozled - Omar and the Howlers


Ch. 12: Act 6: Why we need the fiduciary rule that Trump wants to stop - Economic Update w: @profwolff - Air Date 2-10-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: Working Reward - The Haymarket Squares


Ch. 14: Act 7: Tell Your Senators to Support & Protect the #FiduciaryRule via @IndivisibleTeam - Best of the Left Activism

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


Ch. 16: Act 8: Extreme Vetting for People, But Not for Banks (w/Guest William Black) - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 02-07-17


Voicemails

Ch. 17: Long commutes equals unhappiness - Travis in Ft. Worth, TX

Ch. 18: Trump supporters with a license for bigotry - V from Central New York

Ch. 19: A perspective from the south - Kevin from Louisiana

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 20: Final comments on why facts are not enough to win an argument

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Check out the Fiduciary Rule Call Scripts prepared by the Indivisible Guide Team to use when calling your Senators

Call your Representatives and Senators to demand they publicly support and protect the Fiduciary Rule: 202-224-3121 (Capitol switchboard number)

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Fiduciary Rule is Now in Question. What's Next for Investors? (The New York Times)

Indivisible Guide Twitter Moment: Call Your Members of Congress on the Fiduciary Rule (Indivisible Guide)

Elizabeth Warren's Letter to Acting Secretary of Labor, Edward Hugler, On the Fiduciary Rule (Warren.senate.gov)

A hot investing startup wrote an open letter to Donald Trump, and is setting the stage for a battle on Wall Street (Business Insider)

Market Recap - Executive Actions Planned for Dodd-Frank and Fiduciary Rule (Personal Capital)

"You Might Die Younger" Without the Fiduciary Rule (Personal Capital Blog)

Retirement Plans: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, HBO) 

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1079_Economics_Air_Date_2-14-17_-_2-14-17_7.39_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1078

Today we lay out the story so far of Trump’s attempt to make good on his campaign promise to ban muslims from entering the country

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: Breaking down the fallout of the muslim ban - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 1-30-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Backfire - MuteMath


Ch. 4: Act 2: The muslim ban is unnecessary and ineffective - Trumpcast from @Slate - Air Date 1-29-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Land of Confusion - Genesis


Ch. 6: Act 3: The Attorney General Defied Trump's Muslim Ban. He Did One Thing He Knows How to Do: He Fired Her - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 01-31-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Richard Nixon - Rod & The MSR Singers


Ch. 8: Act 4: Sorry Trumpkins, Obama Didn't 'Ban Muslims' Like Trump Did. RELATED: Obama Also Is Not a Muslim. - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 02-06-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Generator (First Floor) - Freelance Whales


Ch. 10: Act 5: Lena Masri on the religious loophole that targets muslims - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 1-30-17

Ch. 11: Song 5: Islamophobia - Genocide


Ch. 12: Act 6: Media's failures in addressing the muslim ban - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 2-3-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: ​Fear, Terror, and the Fear of Terror - Infinite Third


Ch. 14: Act 7: QUICK EXPLAINER: The FULL 20-Step Vetting Process Already In Place for Refugees To Enter the U.S. - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 02-01-17

Ch. 15: Song 7: get real - the mountain firework company


Ch. 16: Act 8: Fight Trump’s Muslim Travel Ban via @theIRC @HIASrefugees and @ACLU - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Right to Complain - Trombone Shorty & Marc Broussard


Ch. 18: Act 9: The steps along the path to the muslim ban - Intercepted (@theintercept) - Air Date 2-1-17


Voicemails

Ch. 19: Debating Trump supporters - Colin from Cleveland, OH

Ch. 20: Working toward finding common ground - Jenny

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 21: Final comments on how to start any political discussion

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION 

Call your Representatives and Senators to demand they denounce Trump's ban & thank those who have: 202-224-3121 (Capitol switchboard number)

Find out if you are near one of the 29 International Rescue Committee program offices in the US and consider volunteering

Explore and donate to the many other organizations supporting refugees and immigrants

Find local groups near you committed to fighting the Trump agenda via Indivisible Guide

Take part in the HIAS National Day of Jewish Action for Refugees the weekend of February 11th and 12th

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Letter: National and Local Organizations Support the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program and Oppose Legislation that Would Stop the Resettlement of Syrian Refugees (Refugees International)

How to Help Immigrant and Muslim Neighbors (BillMoyers.com)

10 Concrete Ways to Take Action Against the Muslim Ban (Huffington Post)

Trump's Muslim Ban is Cowardly and Dangerous (The New York Times Editorial Board)

Donald Trump's Muslim Ban Makes Us All Less American (Rolling Stone)

Is President Trump's Immigration Order a 'Muslim Ban'? (Yes, here's why) (The Atlantic)

Trump’s Muslim Ban Is Culmination of War on Terror Mentality but Still Uniquely Shameful (The Intercept)

This is the Beginning of Donald Trump's Muslim Ban (The Nation)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1078_Muslim_Ban_Air_Date_2-10-17_-_2-10-17_7.31_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1054

Today we dive deeply into the world of conservatives as described in the new book “Strangers in their own Land” by Arlie Russel Hochschild in an attempt to understand how some non-deplorable people in the country could be supporting Donald Trump

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: What Drives Trump Supporters? Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild on Anger & Mourning of the Right Part 1 - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 9-28-16

Ch. 3: Song 1: Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel


Ch. 4: Act 2: The environmentalist tea-partier who dumped toxic waste in public water - Start Making Sense from @TheNation - Air Date 10-5-16

Ch. 5: Song 2: Protect & Serve - Stiff Little Fingers


Ch. 6: Act 3: How Our Stone-Age Brain Gets in the Way of Smart Politics Part 1 - @BillMoyersHQ in Conversation - Air Date 4-15-16

Ch. 7: Song 3: I Don't Think About It - Emily Osment


Ch. 8: Act 4: What Drives Trump Supporters? Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild on Anger & Mourning of the Right Part 2 - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 9-28-16

Ch. 9: Song 4: Refund - Minor Motion


Ch. 10: Act 5: The Deep Story of conservatives and the rise of Trump - Economic Update w/ @profwolff - Air Date 9-29-16

Ch. 11: Song 5: Shame - The Avett Brothers


Ch. 12: Act 6: How Our Stone-Age Brain Gets in the Way of Smart Politics Part 2 - @BillMoyersHQ in Conversation - Air Date 4-15-16

Ch. 13: Song 6: Vote - Jefferson Coker


Ch. 14: Act 7: Where shame is the companion to need - @thisishellradio - Air Date 10-22-16

Ch. 15: Song 7: Only a Pawn In Their Game - Bob Dylan


Ch. 16: Act 8: The Media That Created Trump - United States of Anxiety - Air Date 10-13-16


Voicemails

Ch. 17: Shifting to the Right - Greg from North Cackalacky

Ch. 18: Shout out to Wade/asking for conservative show suggestion - Quai from North Carolina

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 19: Final comments on a conservative show recommended to those interested in hearing the other side

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: Repost_Conservatives_Air_Date_2-7-17_-_2_5_17_10.04_AM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1077

Today we look briefly at Trump’s cabinet, his communication style, his inaugural speech and the foreboding nature of it 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: Trump's Dark Money Cabinet Is Going To Deconstruct The American Dream! - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 11-28-16

Ch. 3: Song 1: Free Education (feat. Treez & Young DJ) - Jawaan Larue


Ch. 4: Act 2: Trump's Cabinet Poised To Loot The Country - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 12-28-16

Ch. 5: Song 2: ​Crook - Niel Nasset


Ch. 6: Act 3: Masha Gessen on the rules for surviving autocracy - Trumpcast from @Slate - Air Date 11-14-16

Ch. 7: Song 3: All You Fascists - Billy Bragg & Wilco


Ch. 8: Act 4: A Taxonomy of Trump Tweets - On the Media - Air Date 1-13-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Misinformation - Silvanus


Ch. 10: Act 5: We Need To Talk About That Donald Trump Press Conference - Jay Smooth (@jsmooth995) - Air Date 1-12-17

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


Ch. 12: Act 6: Examining Trump's inauguration speech - The Bugle (@hellobuglers) - Air Date 1-20-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: Supervillain - Schaffer The Darklord


Ch. 14: Act 7: The mood of the inauguration - @EdgeofSports w Dave Zirin - Air Date 1-25-17

Ch. 15: Song 7: Fake - Dhiego Ferraz


Ch. 16: Act 8: Trump's team exhibits classic abuser behavior - Bradcast from @TheBradBlog - Air Date 1-23-17


Voicemails

Ch. 17: Followup after receiving some advice - Matt from Pittsburg, PA

Ch. 18: How Trump is tearing people apart - Evan from Texas

Ch. 19: Thoughts on the cis-centeredness of the women's march - Megan from Seattle

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 20: Final comments on Mr. Money Mustache and, unrelatedly, the divide within feminism

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: 1077_Fascism_Air_Date_2-3-17_-_2-3-17_5.49_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1076

Today we listen in on the women’s marches in DC and Baltimore and hear some of the thoughtful critiques of and hopes for the future of the feminist movement

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: Women’s March on Washington: Historic Protest Three Times Larger Than Trump’s Inaugural Crowd - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 01-23-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: On the turning away - Pink Floyd


Ch. 4: Act 2: Women's Voices Rise in Baltimore and Beyond - @TheRealNews - Air Date 1-22-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: What A Beautiful Morning! - Drunken Logic


Ch. 6: Act 3: The need for inclusive feminism - Backtalk from @BitchMedia - Air Date 1-26-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Police On My Back - The Clash


Ch. 8: Act 4: Voices of the Women's March: Angela Davis, Gloria Steinem, Madonna, Alicia Keys, Janet Mock & More - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 01-23-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Bigger Is Better - Dan Reich & Friends


Ch. 10: Act 5: Thoughts On The Women's March That Already Feels Like So Long Ago Because These Are The End Times - Jay Smooth - Air Date 1-26-17

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


Ch. 12: Act 6: The importance of listening to one another and getting different perspectives - @WhoreCast - Air Date 1-25-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: Change Your Mind - Sister Hazel


Ch. 14: Act 7: Michelle Taylor on the Philly Women's March and the principles of feminism - @TalkPoverty Radio - Air Date 1-27-17


Voicemails

Ch. 15: Woman's march summary - Alan from Connecticut

Ch. 16: Breaking down the discussion on race, class and Trump - Darice from Washington, DC

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 17: Final comments on the Women’s March and how we communicate within the movement

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

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Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1076_Womens_March_Air_Date_1-31-17_-_2-1-17_11.30_AM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1075

Today I present the unabridged audiobook of Indivisible: A Practical Guide for Resisting the Trump Agenda licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Visit indivisibleguide.com for more details

The team behind the guide is reachable on Twitter: 

@IndivisibleTeam@ezralevin@angelrafpadilla@texpat@Leahgreenb

Or email IndivisibleAgainstTrump@gmail.com

Direct download: 1075_Indivisible_Air_Date_1-27-17_-_1_27_17_8.55_AM_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

Edition #1074

Today we take a look at the conflicts of interest, broken laws and constitutional violations of the new administration 

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: Craig Holman: Trump Administration Gearing Up to Be "Most Scandal-Ridden in History" - @DemocracyNow - Air Date: 01-03-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Ethics - Bobby P.


Ch. 4: Act 2: Zephyr Teachout on Trump and the emoluments clause - Amicus from @Slate - Air Date 12-24-16

Ch. 5: Song 2: Remedy - The Black Crowes


Ch. 6: Act 3: SHOCKING: The GOP Doesn't Care That the Office of Govt. Ethics Can't Fully Vet Trump Nominees - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date: 01-10-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Code of Ethics - Manhattan Transfer


Ch. 8: Act 4: Trump Makes Ivanka's Husband Top Adviser - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 01-10-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: I Fought the Law - The Clash


Ch. 10: Act 5: Join or Start a Represent.US chapter near you to Fight Corruption via @Representdotus - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 11: Song 5: Right to Complain - Trombone Shorty & Marc Broussard


Ch. 12: Act 6: What should Trump do to resolve his conflicts of interest? - @DecodeDC - Air Date 1-11-17


Voicemails

Ch. 13: The Affordable Care Act saved my life twice - Chris from Boston

Ch. 14: Coping with the Trump election - Zach from Atlanta

Ch. 15: Explaining socialism vs. communism and tribalism - Mike from Albany, NY

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 15: Final comments on having conversations about race

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Promote the Represent.US campaign to stop South Dakota from gutting the state's Anti-Corruption Act

Join or start a Represent.US chapter near you to fight corruption locally

EDUCATE YOURSELF

South Dakota Declares State of Emergency (via All In with Chris Hayes)

Your Day-One Guide to Donald Trump's Conflicts of Interest (via Mother Jones)

The Wall Street Washington Complex Invades Trump's Cabinet (via Mother Jones)

The many scandals of Donald Trump (via The Atlantic)

Trump Could be the Most Corruptible President Ever (via Politico Magazine)

Donald Trump's Business Dealings Test a Constitutional Limit (via The New York Times)

A Close Look at Donald Trump's Cabinet (via Marie Claire)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman


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: 1074_Trump_Air_Date_1-24-17_-_1-24-17_6.59_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Edition #1073
Today we take a look at several aspects of Obama’s presidency, what marks he left behind and what he passes on to his successor
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 Human Rights Campaign creates highlight reel of Obama on LGBT issues - @GAY_USAtv - Air Date 1-11-17

Ch. 3: Song 1: Halo - Beyoncé


Ch. 4: Act 2: Obama's legacy on immigration as the Deporter-in-Chief - Code Switch - Air Date 1-11-17

Ch. 5: Song 2: Represent - Weezer


Ch. 6: Act 3: Obama Takes Blame For Democrats Losing - @theyoungturks - Air Date 01-10-17

Ch. 7: Song 3: Failure - Kings of Convenience


Ch. 8: Act 4: Jameel Jaffer on Obama's National Security Legacy & What Lies Ahead with Trump - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 12-28-16

Ch. 9: Song 4: Breaking the Law - Emeli Sandé


Ch. 10: Act 5: Most Americans Realize Things Are Pretty Good Under Obama - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 12-24-16

Ch. 11: Song 5: Don't Let Me Down - Stereophinics


Ch. 12: Act 6: Obama's Economic Legacy: Recovery for the Architects of Financial Crisis - @TheRealNews - Air Date 1-8-17

Ch. 13: Song 6: Nobody's Fault But Mine - Led Zeppelin


Ch. 14: Act 7: In Response to Ta-Nehesi Coates' 'My President Was Black' : Obama's Failure During the Housing Crisis - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date 01-03-17

Ch. 15: Song 7: If I Ever Lose My Faith in You - Sting


Ch. 16: Act 8: If Obama wasn't good enough for these people then no one is - Code Switch - Air Date 1-4-17


Ch. 17: Final comments about finding common cause across all of the intersectional identities across the working class

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: 1073_Obama_Air_Date_1-20-17_-_1-19-17_8.24_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00am EDT

Edition #1072
Today we take a look at the Democrats failure to present viable economic solutions and offer a new vision for where we should go from here
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: Democrats failed to offer a better solution - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date 11-26-16

Ch. 3: Song 1: Once There Was a Hushpuppy - Dan Romer & Benh Zeitlin


Ch. 4: Act 2: How progressives need to frame their economic message - @theLFshow w: @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date 12-29-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Unified - Unified Highway


Ch. 6: Act 3: AI Will Eliminate 6% of Jobs in Next 5 Years - @DavidPakmanShow - Air Date: 09-18-16

Ch. 7: Song 3: Automation - Allan Sherman


Ch. 8: Act 4: Paul Street on the folly of throwing away identity politics - @BlkAgendaReport - Air Date 1-16-17

Ch. 9: Song 4: Working Class Hero - Green Day


Ch. 10: Act 5: Not Trickle Down, But Bottom Up | Anthony Flaccavento - @theLFshow w: @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date 12-15-16

Ch. 11: Song 5: Trickle Down - Hayseed Dixie


Ch. 12: Act 6: What is Economic Democracy? - The Next System Project - Air Date: 3-1-16

Ch. 13: Song 6: Le monde de contre jour - David Ari Leon


Ch. 14: Act 7: The UK Labor party taking the lead on worker coops - Economic Update w: @profwolff - Air Date 5-9-16

Ch. 15: Song 7: Capitalism Is Tearing Us Apart - Sole


Ch. 16: Act 8: Social Welfare Does Not Kill Business, with President of Iceland Ólafur Grímsson - Big Think - Air Date 11-13-14

Ch. 17: Song 8: Success - Iggy Pop


Ch. 18: Act 9: Join or Start a Local Democracy @ Work Action Group via @Democracyatwrk - Best of the Left Activism


Voicemails

Ch. 19: Why Trump voters are angry - Luis in Texas

Ch. 20: The true cost of commuting and how best to get engaged - Anonymous

Ch. 21: What should the new economy movement look like? - Natalia from North Hampton, MA

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics


Ch. 22: Final comments explaining to conservatives why we should shift to a co-op economy

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


Activism:

TAKE ACTION

Find or Start a Democracy At Work Action Group near you

EDUCATE YOURSELF

10 Ways to Challenge Capitalism's Death Grip on Daily Life (via Truthout)

Cooperatives: The key to climate action? (via Democracy at Work)

Energy cooperatives are booming in Germany (via DW.com)

Worlds 8 Richest People Have Same Wealth as Poorest 50% (via The Guardian)

This Worker-Owned Cooperative is "Bigger than a Business" (via DCist.com)

Workers will get right to buy out bosses under Labour rule (The Independent UK)

Corporations Open Cash Spigot for Trump's Inauguration (The New York Times)

Written by BOTL Communications Director, Amanda Hoffman.


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: 1072_Economics_Air_Date_1-17-17_-_1-17-17_8.08_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT