Best of the Left Podcast

Fri, 13 July 2018

#1196 Building a media that supports rather than undermines democracy

Air Date: 7/13/2018

Today we take a look at the media landscape and how it enables rather than challenges our horrific political status quo and we also hear suggested alternatives structures that could help us change the game

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: Jeff Cohen on Cable News Hawks - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 3-30-18

As the US government ramped up for war in the wake of September 11, 2001, TV screens were filled with what seemed a parade of generals. Military men became the sources of first resort, over and indeed against regional experts, historians and peace advocates.

Ch. 2: Laura Flanders on media consolidation and its impact on our democracy - #BuildingLocalPower from @ilsr - Air Date 5-4-18

Laura Flanders discusses the consolidation of media companies and its impact on our democracy including the scale of the big problem with gatekeepers like Facebook and Google and media companies like Sinclair as an “extractive machine.”

Ch. 3: THE MIDTERMS MINUTE- Support Progressive Primary Candidates - Hawaii (8.11) & Minnesota (and WI, CT, & VT) (8.14) - Best of the Left Activism

*Scroll down for the segment info, dates and links. Or click above for the full blog post.*

Ch. 4: Sarah Kendzior on how the media enables Donald Trump - Unpresidented (@UnPresidentPod) - Air Date 5-24-18

Author Sarah Kendzior (“The View from Flyover Country”) talks about how the media continues to enable Donald Trump, and how they/we can more effectively confront the Trump “kleptocracy.”

Ch. 5: Marc Cooper on media and democracy - Jacobin Radio (@jacobinmag) - Air Date 12-19-17

Journalist Marc Cooper looks at media delivery in the present digital era of democratized information that has introduced new potential as well as new dangers.

Ch. 6: Laura Flanders on building the next system of media - @TheNextSystem ‏Project - Air Date 10-18-17

Laura Flanders discusses her latest paper for the Next System Project on the “urgent necessity” of Next System Media including criticisms of for-profit media and some suggested alternatives.

VOICEMAILS

Ch. 7: What the math on the cost of health insurance for insurance companies? - Kyle from Portland

Ch. 8: Final comments on private health insurance vs government-run insurance and the perverse incentive for private insurers to want medical costs to go ever-higher

THE MIDTERMS MINUTE

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For an easy way to donate to candidates, check out DownTicket.com on your mobile browser.

August 11th Primary:

Hawaii (Reg. Deadlines - Primaries: Online: July 12th, In person: Until August 11th / General: Oct. 9th)

U.S. House - 1st District: Kaniela Ing

U.S. House - 2nd District: Tulsi Gabbard(Incumbent)

August 14th Primaries:

Minnesota (Reg. Deadlines - Primaries: Online: July 24th, In person: Until August 14th / General: Oct. 9th)

U.S. House - 5th District: Ilhan Omar

U.S. House - 8th District: Michelle Lee