Fri, 27 September 2019
Air Date: 9/27/2019 Today we take a look at the legacy of 9/11; the war on terror, the PATRIOT Act, our collective PTSD and our desperate clinging to American Exceptionalism™ Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991
EPISODE SPONSORS: Blinkist.com/BEST | Madison-Reed.com (Promo Code: LEFT) | Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) VOTE IN THE WEEKLY SHOW TOPICS POLL
SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: The long war on terror - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 9-11-19 Discussing the military legacy of 9/11, the war on terror, and the Middle East. On the 18th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, a new book recasts one of America's darkest days in strikingly personal terms by weaving together survival stories in minute-by-minute detail. The mainstream corporate media is one of the chief propagators of American exceptionalism and innocence...the narratives of American exceptionalism and American innocence work together to serve white supremacy, empire, capitalism, and the US war machine. Ch. 4: Endless war authorized by the AUMF on 9/14/11 - Project Censored - Air Date 6-25-19 Jon Gold on the lingering impact of the AUMF Ch. 5: First-hand accounts of the post-9/11 wars - Home of the Brave - Air Date 7-9-19 Alan Chin talks about his experience covering wars since 9/11. Ch. 6: The cost of America’s post-9/11 wars - This is Hell - Air Date 12-17-18 Political scientist Neta C. Crawford examines the brutal, ongoing human cost of America's wars. Neta is author of the paper "Human Cost of the Post-9/11 Wars: Lethality and the Need for Transparency" Ch. 7: The legacy of the PATRIOT Act - Pod Save the People - Air Date 8-13-19 DeRay, Clint and Sam discuss how the PATRIOT Act targets drug use more than terrorism Ch. 8: A Theory of ISIS with Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou - Jacobin Radio - Air Date 3-13-19 The terrorists and the national security states waging war against them are dependent upon one another, and together have created a more violent, divided and alienated world. FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 9: Final comments on dealing with the emotional damage of childhood MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Listen on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify | Alexa Devices | +more 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
Direct download: 1308_9.11_Air_Date_9-27-19_-_9-27-19_19.19.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00pm EDT |
Tue, 24 September 2019
Air Date: 9/24/2019 Today we take a look at the 2020 electorate. Not the election, not the candidates, the electorate - the people voting. Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991
EPISODE SPONSORS: Babbel.com | Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: The New Voters of 2020 with Steve Phillips - Start Making Sense with Jon Wiener - Air Date 5-8-19 We need to consider the voters and the changes in the electorate since 2016. Especially significant: young people of color. When it comes to elections there’s always a key voting bloc that gets the media attention. If candidate X wins the FILL IN THE BLANK they’ll win the election. Latino, White, Working Class, but never Black, and that needs to change. Alicia Garza discusses research and advocacy organization dedicated to transforming black communities, talks about surveying 31,000 black voters in an attempt to understand what "black voters want" from a presidential candidate. Ch. 4: Young Voter Turnout Surges - Election Ride Home - Air Date 4-24-19 Youth voter turnout is way up. Ch. 5: Hispanic Population At An All-Time High But Growth Is Slowing - The Takeaway - Air Date 7-11-19 We analyze the U.S. Hispanic population demographically, economically, and politically, and look into what this means for the Latino vote in 2020. Ch. 6: Electoral motivations of Evangelical Christians - Pod Save the People - Air Date 7-29-19 DeRay, Brittany, Sam and Clint discuss a survey of evangelical Christians on their perspectives of a changing America Ch. 7: American Evangelicals with Bob Roberts - Interfaith Voices - Air Date 6-6-19 Bob Roberts discusses the divide in the Evangelical religion between generations and how much more inclusive younger evangelicals are. Young Republicans want climate action, but they disagree with how to do it. When it comes to elections there’s always a key voting bloc that gets the media attention. If candidate X wins the FILL IN THE BLANK they’ll win the election. Latino, White, Working Class, but never Black, and that needs to change. Ch. 10: The Voter Blame Game - #sundaycivics with L. Joy Williams - Air Date 8-5-19 The voter blame game has begun with talking heads blaming voters who stayed home in 2016 for Trump’s win. But shaming voters is not a winning strategy, only voter engagement produces voter turnout VOICEMAILS Ch. 11: Analyzing the corporate structure - Dave from Olympia, WA FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 12: Final comments on seating black people at a restaurant and Bernie’s grumpy attitude Bonus Clip: Bernie and Black Voters with Malaika Jabali and Wendy Muse - The Dig from Jacobin Radio - Air Date 5-30-19 Contrary to conventional wisdom, Sanders isn’t unpopular with Black voters. In fact, he has done rather well with young Black people. But to win the primary and beat Biden, he must do a lot better. MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Listen on iTunes | Stitcher | Spotify | Alexa Devices | +more 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
Direct download: 1307_Electorate_Air_Date_9-24-19_-_9-24-19_20.53.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00pm EDT |
Tue, 17 September 2019
Air Date: 9/17/2019 Today we take a look at the lives and legacies of the Koch Brothers. Or, put more pointedly, we look at how two decedents of a bonafide conspiracy theorist have almost single-handedly doomed us to endure runaway climate chaos while suffering from severely degraded labor standards and a broken democracy. Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991
EPISODE SPONSORS: Babbel.com | Madison-Reed.com/LEFT | Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content!) Donate to the Our Running for Answers Team to Support the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Christopher Leonard on Secret History of Koch Industries - Democracy Now - Air Date 8-27-19 How David and his brother Charles Koch transformed the American economy and political system, from funding climate change deniers to fighting organized labor. Ch. 2: David Koch Dead at 79 - The Young Turks - Air Date 8-23-19 David Koch has permanently clocked out from corruption. Cenk Uygur, John Iadarola, and Dan Evans, hosts of The Young Turks, break it down. Leonard explains how Charles Koch and his political network were able to amass so much power and influence over American life. Ch. 4: Documentary: Trump, Koch Brothers and Their War on Climate Science - The Real News - Air Date 4-5-19 Narrated by Danny Glover, A documentary special reveals how climate change science has been under systematic attack; the multi-million dollar campaign allowed a climate change denier to be elected president The Koch brothers transformed an obscure oil company based in Wichita into a $110 billion colossus, and reshaped the Republican Party—but failed to prevent Trump from becoming president. Leonard explains how Charles Koch and his political network were able to amass so much power and influence over American life. Christopher Leonard joins Sam to discuss his new book The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in America. Ch. 8: Christopher Leonard On The Koch Brothers - Live at Politics and Prose - Air Date 9-6-19 Christopher Leonard speaks about his book Kochland, and answers questions from the audience. VOICEMAILS Ch. 9: Thoughts on Larry Krasner, the Philadelphia DA - Erin from Philadelphia FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 10: Final comments on strategies to be as effective as possible during the upcoming elections MUSIC(Blue Dot Sessions):
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Listen on iTunes | Stitcher| Spotify| Alexa Devices| +more 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
Direct download: 1306_Kochland_Air_Date_9-17-19_-_9-17-19_18.23.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00pm EDT |
Fri, 13 September 2019
Air Date: 9/13/2019 Today we take a look at the history and the process of the building of an American empire that currently spans the globe but allows as few people of color to vote as possible. Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991
EPISODE SPONSORS: Bombas.com/BEST | Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) VOTE IN THE WEEKLY SHOW TOPICS POLL! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Daniel Immerwahr: Empire State of Mind Part 1 - On the Media - Air Date 8-22-19 The history of US imperialism — and why the familiar US map hides the true story of our country. With Northwestern University historian Daniel Immerwahr, author of How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States. Ch. 2: Doctrine of Christian Discovery - Let’s Talk Native - Air Date 3-18-19 I learned that most educators know nothing about the Doctrine of Christian Discovery. How can you teach about colonization, slavery, the American genocide, Westward expansion or imperialism without teaching the origins of it all? Ch. 3: Harvest of Empire Part 1 - Making Contact - Air Date 6-25-19 It's not just jobs and prosperity that draw immigrants to the United States. Many Latin American’s were brought here, or forced to come by dangerous or deadly conditions. And the US often had a role in creating those crises. Journalist Todd Miller (@memomiller) joins Sam to discuss his new book, "Empire of Borders: The Expansion of the U.S. Border Around the World." Ch. 5: Harvest of Empire Part 2 - Making Contact - Air Date 6-25-19 It's not just jobs and prosperity that draw immigrants to the United States. Many Latin American’s were brought here, or forced to come by dangerous or deadly conditions. And the US often had a role in creating those crises. Ch. 6: Daniel Immerwahr: Empire State of Mind Part 2 - On the Media - Air Date 8-22-19 The history of US imperialism — and why the familiar US map hides the true story of our country. With Northwestern University historian Daniel Immerwahr, author of How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States. Ch. 7: Blood, lies and the American empire - This is hell - Air Date 5-13-19 Black Agenda Report's Danny Haiphong traces a 300 year history of fake news in America. Danny is author of the book American Exceptionalism and American Innocence: A People's History of Fake News—From the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror VOICEMAILS Ch. 8: Gun responsibility vs naked evil - Dave from Olympia, WA FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 9: Final comments on this weeks topics poll MUSIC(Blue Dot Sessions):
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Listen on iTunes | Stitcher| Spotify| Alexa Devices| +more Check out the BotL iOS/AndroidApp in the App Stores! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1305_Empire_Air_Date_9-13-19_-_9-13-19_17.49.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00pm EDT |
Tue, 10 September 2019
Air Date: 9/10/2019 Today we take a look at the economic indicators portending a recession, the global impacts of Trump's trade war with China and then look ahead to what policies progressives should be ready to implement when the next inevitable recession eventually hits. Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991
EPISODE SPONSORS: Babbel.com | Madison-Reed.com/LEFT| Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Economy About To Crash, Senator Warren Sounds the Alarm - The Young Turks - Air Date 7-22-19 Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Monday predicted an imminent economic crisis unless the Trump administration and Congress quickly pass legislation to regulate the financial sector and significantly reduce middle-class household debt Ch. 2: Should We Be Worried About A Recession with Nancy Cook - The Takeaway - Air Date 8-23-19 The ongoing trade war with China, a weakened global economy, and a lack of investment by companies indicates that a recession might be looming. Ed sits down with CAP Senior Economist Gbenga Ajilore to discuss warning signs in the economy, what they might mean, as well as some of the contributing factors. Ch. 4: Dr. Gerald Horne On China Tariffs and Trade Wars - Sojourner Truth - Air Date 6-3-19 Dr. Gerald Horne discusses Trump's trade war with China and the impact on US and China's economies. International economist Mary Lovely discusses the ways in which Trump’s tariffs are affecting the economy and what the future could look like. Ch. 6: Trumps Trade War - Frontline PBS - Air Date 5-10-19 The inside story of President Trump’s gamble to confront China over trade. Reporting from the U.S. and China, FRONTLINE and NPR investigate what led the world’s two largest economies to the brink, and the billions at stake Connie explains what policy proposals and political infrastructure will successfully orient our recovery from the next recession toward economic outcomes that reduce, rather than boost, wealth inequality around racial and gender lines. VOICEMAILS Ch. 8: Vote by mail why don't you? - Chris from San Diego Ch. 9: Nancy's my hero - Alan from Connecticut Ch. 10: Medicare doesn't pay for everything - Jeff from Charlotte, NC FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 11: Final comments on Vote-By-Mail and IMPROVED Medicare For All MUSIC(Blue Dot Sessions):
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Listen on iTunes | Stitcher| Spotify| Alexa Devices| +more 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
Direct download: 1304_Trade_War.Recession_Air_Date_9-10-19_-_9-10-19_19.38.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00pm EDT |
Fri, 6 September 2019
Air Date: 9/6/2019 Today we take a look at the fact that our election system is designed to fail in ways that undermine the legitimacy of our elections and, by extension, our entire democracy. Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991
EPISODE SPONSORS: Blinkist.com/BEST | Election Ride Home| Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) VOTE IN THE WEEKLY SHOW TOPICS POLL SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Holes and Gaps: Where Our Voting Systems Fail Part 1 - The Takeaway - Air Date 7-3-19 Even as our national focus has turned towards cyber threats, vulnerabilities in our election systems abound -- from outdated voting machines and hack-able technology to lack of paper back-ups and no procedural standards across states or even counties. Capital One exposed the personal financial records of more than 100 million people — underscoring yet again the insanity of relying on proprietary, hackable computer systems "overseen" by ordinary county clerks to safeguard free and fair elections. Ch. 3: VIDEO: Voting Machine Switches Votes - David Pakman Show - Air Date 8-28-19 Multiple Mississippi voting machines are caught flipping votes just as we've seen many times before Ch. 4: Voting machine errors in Georgia seen as part of biggerproblem - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 8-27-19 Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, talks with Rachel Maddow about the need for states like Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi to upgrade their voting systems to avoid undermining faith in elections Ch. 5: Holes and Gaps: Where Our Voting Systems Fail Part 2 - The Takeaway - Air Date 7-3-19 Even as our national focus has turned towards cyber threats, vulnerabilities in our election systems abound -- from outdated voting machines and hack-able technology to lack of paper back-ups and no procedural standards across states or even counties. Take action! Click the title and/or scroll down for quick links and resources from this segment. A growing chorus of cybersecurity and voting systems experts are warning against new, unverifiable touchscreen voting systems known as Ballot Marking Devices VOICEMAILS Ch. 8: Go green - Alan from Connecticut Ch. 9: Distrusting the press - Dave from Olympia, WA FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 10: Final comments on the legitimate concerns about voting from the disability community TAKE ACTION! Understand your state and local elections & take action: 1. Learn About Your State Election Policies&Voting System Paper Trail Requirements 2. Learn How Your State’s Election Administration Officials Are Put in Office& Fight to Unseat Those Not Actively Advocating for Hand-marked Paper Ballots 3. Attend Your Local Town/City/County Public Meetings and Advocate for Hand-marked, Voter-verifiable Paper Ballots. 4. Learn From/Get Involved With: The Brennan Center for Justice EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE Vote Flipping Claims Underline Urgent Need to Fix Voting Machines (The Brennan Center) The scramble to secure America’s voting machines (Politico) How Officials and Citizens Can Protect the Integrity of Their Elections(City Lab) Groups push lawmakers for hearings on voting machine security(The Hill) Voters say touchscreen machines switched their votes in nine Mississippi counties (Salon) Georgia’s New Voting Machines Must Be Ready for 2020 Primary, Judge Says(The Wall Street Journal) A Top Voting-Machine Firm Calls for Paper Ballots(Wired) Voting Machine Security: Where We Stand Six Months Before the New Hampshire Primary(The Brennan Center) Researched and written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman MUSIC(Blue Dot Sessions):
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Listen on iTunes | Stitcher| Spotify| Alexa Devices| +more Check out the BotL iOS/AndroidApp in the App Stores! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1303_Voting_Machines_Air_Date_9-6-19_-_9-7-19_10.04.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00pm EDT |
Tue, 3 September 2019
Air Date: 9/3/2019 Today we take a look at the attacks on the Amazon rainforest and its inhabitants by the fascist government of Brazil and the protests and worldwide boycotts springing up in response Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991
EPISODE SPONSORS: Election Ride Home Podcast| Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content)
SHOW NOTES Maria Luise Mendonca lays it all out about the corruption from Bolsonaro and global corporations that have led to the amazon's destruction. Guardiola and Daniel discuss the policies behind the Amazon's destruction and Bolsonaro's capitalist imperialism. Michael Brooks breaks down just how messed up the burning Amazon situation is. Glenn Greenwald breaks down the corruption in Brazil and how its getting worse. Ch. 5: Smoke From A Thousand Miles Away with Brian Mier - This Is Hell - Air Date 8-24-19 Brian Mier discusses the terror of dark skies during the middle of the day from fires a thousand miles away. Ch. 6: Protests and Climate Change - Green News Report - Air Date 8-27-19 A summary of the protests in response to the amazon fires. There are massive fires and massive protests for the Amazon. VOICEMAILS Ch. 10: Justice or revenge? - Alan from Connecticut Ch. 11: Supporting independent media and getting involved - Nancy from San Francisco Ch. 12: Capitalism and the corporate structure vs conservation of nature - V from Central New York FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 13: Final comments on capitalism and the corporate structure as a cancer on nature READ THE COMPLETE ACTIVISM SEGMENT TAKE ACTION: Participate in "Act for the Amazon" protests, Thursday, September 5th DONATE to organizations protecting indigenous rights and the rainforest on the ground, such as Amazon Watch& Rainforest Alliance If you eat meat, east LESS of it and BOYCOTT Brazilian beef companies (Marfrig Global Foods, JBS, and Minerva Foods) that also operate and produce beef brands in the US (Note: The US banned fresh beef imports from Brazil in 2017, but these Brazilian companies produce US beef brands too. Don't support them.) Details in activism blog post. Commit yourself to the CLIMATE MOVEMENT: take part in the Global Climate Strike on 9/20-27th EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE Brazilian indigenous peoples propose boycott(The Ecologist) Here's what you can do to help the burning, ravaged Amazon rainforest(Business Insider) Brazilian indigenous people speak out as Amazon fires rage (PBS Newshour) Naomi Klein: The Amazon Is on Fire—Indigenous Rights Can Help Put It Out(Common Dreams via Boston Globe) Raoni Metukire: We, the peoples of the Amazon, are full of fear. Soon you will be too(The Guardian) Brazilian businesses fear backlash over Amazon crisis(Financial Times) Written & curated by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman MUSIC(Blue Dot Sessions):
EPISODE IMAGE: Source: Frame from "Carbon monoxide from Amazon fires.gif," NASA
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Listen on iTunes | Stitcher| Spotify| Alexa Devices| +more 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
Direct download: 1302_Amazon_Fires_Air_Date_9-3-19_-_9-3-19_19.48.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:00pm EDT |
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