Wed, 29 January 2020
Air Date 1/29/2020 Today we take a look at the flurry of controversy around the Democratic Primary race, once again exposing multiple rifts within the party along both ideological and gender lines. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 EPISODE SPONSORS: Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Debates and the Candidates Position on War - Democracy Now - Air Date 1-15-20 The Democratic Debates got a lot whiter, and they share jabs about how much they support war. Ch. 2: The Big White Wave - In The Thick - Air Date 1-14-20 Discussing the impact of voters of color on the primaries and how money in politics reinforces the dominance of white politicians Ch. 3: Warren, Sanders and the Question of Sexism - On the Media - Air Date 1-17-20 Rebecca Traister is a writer at The Cut where she wrote an article responding to the incident called “The Third Rail of Calling ‘Sexism’.” Here, she speaks with Brooke about the trickiness of talking about sexism without falling victim to it. Ch. 4: Can a Woman be President? - Call Your Girlfriend - Air Date 1-24-20 A nuanced discussion of how to talk about sexism within Democratic circles while understanding some of the contextual forces at play. Ch. 5: Hillary Clinton Is Not Going Away - The Young Turks - Air Date 1-21-20 Ana and Cenk discuss Hillary Clinton's documentary where she drags Bernie and Progressives. Michael Moore reviews the facts about Bernie Sanders' support of Hilary Clinton as the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in 2016 VOICEMAILS Ch. 7: We're the bully in the playground - Alan from Connecticut Ch. 8: Two-faced politicians - Naomi from Canada FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 9: Final comments on how tomorrow’s leaders are made 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: 1332_Democratic_Primary_Air_Date_1-28-20_-_1-29-20_13.51.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:47pm EST |
Sat, 25 January 2020
Air Date 1/25/2020 Today we take a look at the climatic, political and social dynamics at play that have helped set the country of Australia ablaze both literally and figuratively Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 EPISODE SPONSORS: Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) SHOW NOTES Australia’s grim warning to the world: our dangerous, climate-altered future is here, right now. Ch. 2: Listener connections to the Australia Fires Part 1 - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 1-14-20 Umair Irfan talks about the environmental and human costs of the fire, its connection to climate change, and why any Australians are frustrated with how their politicians are responding to the disaster. Diane talks with David Wallace-Wells, deputy editor at New York Magazine and author of “The Uninhabitable Earth.” Michael Mann on Australia’s grim warning to the world: our dangerous, climate-altered future is here, right now. Ch. 5: Climate Change, News Corp, and the Australian Fires - On the Media - Air Date 1-15-20 Damien Cave is the New York Times bureau chief in Sydney, and he recently wrote about "How Rupert Murdoch Is Influencing Australia's Bushfire Debate." Ch. 6: Australian Fires and the Culture Wars - Behind the News, Jacobin Radio - Air Date 1-13-20 Writer Jeff Sparrow on the Australian fires. Diane talks with David Wallace-Wells, deputy editor at New York Magazine and author of “The Uninhabitable Earth.” Ch. 8: The Green News Report - Air Date 1-14-20 Australia’s catastrophic bushfires cause $2 billion in damages; 2019 was the second hottest year ever recorded globally; PLUS: 150 arrested at Jane Fonda’s ‘Fire Drill Fridays’ climate protest Ch. 9: Listener connections to the Australia Fires Part 2 - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 1-14-20 Umair Irfan talks about the environmental and human costs of the fire, its connection to climate change, and why any Australians are frustrated with how their politicians are responding to the disaster. The crisis in Australia & moving toward a GND. VOICEMAILS Ch. 11: Hacking your home screen - Annonymous from Connecticut Ch. 12: Liberals and Progressives need to be a united front - Heather from Colorado FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 13: Final comments on why any coherent theory of change should bring progressives and Democrats together into a unified force 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: 1331_Australia_Bushfires_Air_Date_1-25-20_-_1-25-20_18.02.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:21pm EST |
Wed, 22 January 2020
Air Date 1/22/2020 Today we take a look at the history of US tensions with Iran and the reality that it has been the irrationality of multiple Republican administrations working hand-in-glove with the far-right government of Israel that has thwarted any chance of peace. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 EPISODE SPONSORS: 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 US and Iran: A Brief History with Hussein Banai - BackStory - Air Date 1-10-20 BackStory delves into the long history between Iran and the US following the assassination of Soleimani. Ch. 2: America Exists To Make War with Lawrence Wilkerson - Democracy Now - Air Date 1-13-20 Amy Goodman talks with Lawrence Wilkerson about the endless war machine of US imperialism in Iran. Ch. 3: Iran with Mehdi Hasan Part 1 - Intercepted with Jeremy Scahill - Air Date 1-14-20 Jeremy Scahill hosts a discussion about the state of Iran and what the US has done. Amy Goodman and Sarges Bajoghli discuss the consequences of the assassination of Soleimani. Ch. 5: Hurtling Toward Catastrophe with Nathan Robinson - On the Media - Air Date 1-10-20 Experts discuss the Iran situation and how we got to the brink of war. Jeremy Scahill hosts a discussion about the state of Iran and what the US has done. Ch. 7: Danny Sjursen on Iran and War - The Zero Hour with RJ Eskow - Air Date 1-11-20 RJ Eskow talks with Danny Sjursen about Iran and how the military approaches Trump. Ch. 8: US and Iran with Mohammad Marandi - Unauthorized Disclosure - Air Date 1-12-20 Iran's reaction to the US assassinating their top General was quite restrained. Ch. 9: No War With Iran Jan. 25th International Day of Action via @CODEPINK - Best of the Left Activism Take action! Click the title and/or scroll down for quick links and resources from this segment. Ch. 10: Iran with Mehdi Hasan Part 2 - Intercepted with Jeremy Scahill - Air Date 1-14-20 Jeremy Scahill hosts a discussion about the state of Iran and what the US has done. VOICEMAILS Ch. 11: We need more and better candidates - Dave from Olympia, WA FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 12: Final comments on the dynamics of presidential candidates including “bench” and “wave” candidates TAKE ACTION! Find a Jan. 25th "No War With Iran" International Day of Action rally near you Tell your members of Congress to support the Senate War Powers Resolution EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE Why Iran's Qassem Soleimani was on a not-so-secret trip to Iraq when he was assassinated (Business Insider) Trump authorized Soleimani's killing 7 months ago, with conditions (NBC News) Trump’s team insists Soleimani was an “imminent” threat. Just don’t ask for details. (Vox) 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/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: 1330_Iran_Escalation_Air_Date_1-22-20_-_1-22-20_22.48.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:08pm EST |
Sat, 18 January 2020
Air Date 1/18/2020 Today we take a look at The Afghanistan Papers which reveal in stark detail much of what the anti-war movement has known or strongly suspected since the beginning. Going beyond the scope of The Pentagon Papers of the Vietnam War era, The Afghanistan Papers feature interviews and documentation from top-ranking officials admitting from the start that they had no idea what they were doing in Afghanistan. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 EPISODE SPONSORS: Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Headlines: The Afghanistan Papers - Democracy Now - Air Date 12-10-19 Breaking the news of The Afghanistan Papers Ch. 2: The "Pentagon Papers" Of Our Time with Craig Whitlock - On the Media - Air Date 12-20-19 Bob Garfield talks with Craig Whitlock about the Afghanistan Papers and the comparison to the Pentagon Papers. Ch. 3: They Lied To Us All Along with Danny Sjursen - The Real News with Marc Steiner - Air Date 12-15-19 Marc Steiner talks with Danny Sjursen about the lies of war and the lack of accountability for leadership. Brian talks with Craig Whitlock about the Afghanistan Papers and the history of the endless war on terror. Ch. 5: The Afghan Pentagon Papers - The Michael Brooks Show - Air Date 12-14-19 Michael Brooks breaks down the history of the modern military establishment. Ch. 6: The Afghanistan Papers - Eyes Left with Spenser Rapone and Mike Prysner - Air Date 12-16-19 Spenser and Mike bring context to the Afghanistan Papers and delve into the history of the endless war. An in-depth discussion of the history and corruption of the Afghanistan war. VOICEMAILS Ch. 8: I didn't realize I was a socialist - Sarah from Cool, CA Ch. 9: Balancing policy and identity - Pat from Chicago FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 10: Final comments on making diversity part of our process of learning and growing MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
"Afghanistan War Anniversary", Jayel Aheram on Flickr / License / Changes: Zoomed in and cropped
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: 1329_The_Afghanistan_Papers_Air_Date_1-17-20_-_1-18-20_11.34.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am EST |
Tue, 14 January 2020
#1328 Iraq, Citizens United, Obamacare, The Tea Party and The Deepwater Horizon (A Look Back at 2010)
Air Date 1/14/2020 Today we take a look back at the year 2010 in our annual 10-years-past retrospective to see what we may learn. 2010 was an enormous year of news and I've been working on this episode so long that I can hardly remember life before I started. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 EPISODE SPONSORS: Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Andrew Bacevich on Afghanistan - Bill Moyers Journal - Aired 5-15-10 Ch. 2: Congrats to Wikileaks! - Progressive Point of View - Aired 8-4-10 Ch. 3: Credit where credit is due - Rachel Maddow - Aired 9-4-10 Ch. 4: Obama Admin- Torture Not Illegal, Just A "Disagreement" - The Young Turks - Aired 3-27-10 Ch. 5: What's Next For Campaign Finance? - Bill Moyer's Journal - Aired 9-12-10 Ch. 6: Corporate Personhood - The Floodgates were Opened Today - Thom Hartmann - Aired 1-27-10 Ch. 7: Dems Must Fight Back on the Filibuster - Colbert Report Ch. 8: Robert Knutter and on healthcare - Bill Moyer's Journal - Aired 1-23-10 Ch. 9: For he's a jowly good fellow - Colbert Report - Aired 1-3-10 Ch. 10: Obama's signing speech - Countdown - Aired 3-31-10 Ch. 11: The Un-Tea party movement - Rachel Maddow - Aired 4-25-10 Ch. 12: Obama crushes house GOP - The Young Turks Ch. 13: Elizabeth Warren on financial reform - Colbert Report - Aired 5-6-10 Ch. 14: Financial Reform Bill is a Joke -- Economic Collapse Coming - The Young Turks - Aired 6-3-10 Ch. 15: Bet Against The American Dream - This American Life Ch. 16: Israel does something crazy/frustrating - The Bugle - Aired 6-17-10 Ch. 17: Joe Biden Hits New Low Defending Israeli Murder - Matthew Rothschild - Aired 6-17-10 Ch. 18: Obama Mute on Israeli Aggression - Matthew Rothschild - Aired 6-17-10 -0:08-0:17 Ch. 19: Scapegoating Immigrant Children Now - The Progressive - Aired 9-7-10 Ch. 20: Republican Wants Illegal Immigrant Camps - The Young Turks - Aired 9-7-10 Ch. 21: Papers please amendments - Rachel Maddow - Aired 5-11-10 Ch. 22: BP oil spill – The Progressive Ch. 23: Test of functioning media and politics - Rachel Maddow - Aired 6-15-10 Ch. 24: Strike it mucky! - The Bugle - Aired 6-23-10 Ch. 25: BP and the oil spill - The Now Show - Aired 7-1-10 Ch. 26: Bush-like missteps - The Daily Show - Aired 6-26-10 Ch. 27: Arne Duncan on US education system - Colbert Report - Aired 4-11-10 Ch. 28: Release the Kagan - The Daily Show - Aired 7-13-10 Ch. 29: Largest ever tax hike - Media Matters Minute - Aired 7-29-10 -0:45 Ch. 30: History made - Sanders speech - Countdown - Aired 12-16-10 Ch. 31: Pro-Gay Groups 'Desperate' For Obama To Take Action - NPR - Aired 12-11-10 Ch. 32: Beck vs MLK - Media Matters Minute - Aired 8-29-10 Ch. 33: Sanity/Fear protest of the absurd – NPR - Aired 11-16-10 Ch. 34: Religious and ethnic intolerance in the election - Rachel Maddow - Aired 11-4-10 Ch. 35: Yes we can, but - Le Show - Aired 11-10-10 FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 36: Final comments, last day of working at CCAN - Comments Ch. 37: Real job coming to an end, increasing episode output immediately Ch. 38: Over the Health Care Hump, on to other topics - Aired 4-6-10 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: 1328_2010_Retrospective_Air_Date_1-12-20_-_1-14-20_20.42.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:41pm EST |
Thu, 9 January 2020
Air Date: 1/6/2019 Today, due to my current bout of perpetual-rake-in-the-face, I share a selection of honorable mentions from the 2009 retrospective show Bonus Clips: Introduction to SERE - Rachel Maddow Timeline summary of torture memos and fallout - Rachel Maddow Liz Cheney talks torture with the complicit media - The Young Turks Mancow gets waterboarded - The Young Turks Cheney testing the constitution - Rachel Maddow Correcting the record on Jim Cramer at CNBC - Daily Show Franken Kicks Conservative Ass - The Young Turks Obama Pwns Himself on Signing Statements - The Young Turks Correcting the record on Jim Cramer at CNBC - Daily Show Glenn Beck loses his mind talking about healthcare - The Young Turks Colbert on Glenn Beck's 9/12 project - Colbert Report High tech culture - On the Media Stephen Colbert study analyzed - On the Media Fox News The New Liberals (Craig T Nelson) - Daily Show Pizza Party - Slate
Leave a message at 202-999-3991
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!
Direct download: Rerun_Bonus_127_Honorable_Mentions_Retrospective_2009_Air_Date_1-9-20_Ad_Free_-_1-9-20_20.18.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:54pm EST |
Fri, 3 January 2020
Air Date 3/1/2019 Today we take a look at the social benefits of high taxation as the US gears up for our first genuine debate on raising taxes in a long time with an eye toward the life-improving programs that money could fund. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Dean Baker on Taxing the Rich - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date 2-7-19 We’ll talk about some of the proposals to reduce wealth and income inequality—what they can and can’t do, and why we need them all—with economist Dean Baker Ch. 2: Bruce Bartlett explains the GOP Starve the Beast strategy - Pitchfork Economics - Airdate 1-29-19 Reaganomics and the destructive power of austerity. We need a strong and vocal socialist left to pull the conversation back to the left. Ch. 3: Democrats are Eisenhower Republicans - The Zero Hour w @RJEskow - Air Date 9-9-17 Explaining how the GOP went from the party of fiscal responsibility to the opposite and why the Democrats took up the task themselves How did Nordic countries become what they are today? They've worked to eliminate poverty and produce an alternative vision of economies. Workers are happier and more productive. Ch. 5: How to Be Happy - Freakonomics Radio - Airdate 1-2-19 Looking at Gross Domestic Product versus Gross National Happiness and how Nordic countries have built the social trust to afford sweeping social programs Why is America the way it is? Reagan. We were heading the way of Nordic economies but Reaganomics put America on the economic defense, regressing our progress. VOICEMAILS Ch. 7: The dynamics of supporting candidates - Dave from Olympia, WA Ch. 8: Was Harris treated differently because of her minority status? - Marguerite from Fortuna, CA FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 9: Final comments on the racial and gender dynamics of covering and criticizing presidential candidates 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: 23125320The20Joy20of20Tax2028Comparing20the20US20and20Scandinavian20Systems29.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm EST |