Best of the Left Podcast

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!

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Direct download: 1116_Police_State_Air_Date_6-30-17_-_6-30-17_10.19_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Tue, 27 June 2017

#1115 An enormous tax cut for the rich disguised as health care

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

Fri, 23 June 2017

#1114 Running the world with an inferiority complex (Foreign Policy)

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

Tue, 20 June 2017

#1113 Tax cuts and deregulation have failed before and will fail again

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

Fri, 16 June 2017

(2017/06/16) So, this whole Russia thing, right?

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

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

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

Tue, 13 June 2017

(2017/06/13) Hamstringing American innovation and restricting growth industries

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

Fri, 9 June 2017

(2017/06/09) The rise of hate in America (White Supremacy)

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

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: 1110_White_Supremacy_Air_Date_6-9-17_-_6-7-17_10.36_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00pm EDT

Tue, 6 June 2017

(2017/06/06) Finding the path forward for Democrats and the progressive movement

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

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