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

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

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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

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

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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

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

Support our Winter Fundraiser!

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