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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.

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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.

Ch. 6: Refresher on Bernie Sander's dedication to party unity - Rumble with Michael Moore - Air Date 1-15-20

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):

  • Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr 
  • Line Etching - Marble Run
  • Glass Runner - Marble Run
  • Around Plastic Card Tables - Desert Orchard
  • Rafter - Speakeasy
  • Chrome and Wax - Ray Catcher
  • Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
  • Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent

 

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

Listen on iTunes | StitcherSpotify | Alexa Devices | +more

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Direct download: 1332_Democratic_Primary_Air_Date_1-28-20_-_1-29-20_13.51.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:47pm EDT

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

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: My Brother Fled Australia’s Climate-Fueled Inferno Part 1 - The Mother Jones Podcast - Air Date 1-8-20

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.

Ch. 3: Massive Australian Wildfires And The Consequences Of Climate Change Part 1 - Diane Rehm On My Mind - Air Date 1-7-20

Diane talks with David Wallace-Wells, deputy editor at New York Magazine and author of “The Uninhabitable Earth.”

Ch. 4: My Brother Fled Australia’s Climate-Fueled Inferno Part 2 - The Mother Jones Podcast - Air Date 1-8-20

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.

Ch. 7: Massive Australian Wildfires And The Consequences Of Climate Change Part 2 - Diane Rehm On My Mind - Air Date 1-7-20

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.

Ch. 10: Commentary Australia On Fire & Stopping Green Colonialism - The Michael Brooks Show - AIr Date 1-14-20

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):

  • Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr 
  • Milkwood - The Cabinetmaker
  • Denzel Sprak - CloudCover
  • Waltz and Fury - Macrame
  • The Spinnet - Castle Danger
  • A Path Unwinding - K4
  • One Dirty Sleeve - Wax Museum
  • Nuthatch - Feathers
  • Rafter - Speakeasy
  • Chrome and Wax - Ray Catcher
  • Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
  • Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent

 

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

Listen on iTunes | StitcherSpotify | 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

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1331_Australia_Bushfires_Air_Date_1-25-20_-_1-25-20_18.02.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:21pm EDT

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.

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EPISODE SPONSORS:  Clean Choice Energy

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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.

Ch. 4: Death of Soleimani Could Galvanize Shia Coalitions Against The US with Narges Bajoghli - Democracy Now - Air Date 1-6-20

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.

Ch. 6: Seven Things You Should Know About Trump and Iran with Mehdi Hasan - 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.

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):

  • Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr 
  • Cases to Rest - Bodytonic
  • Wingspan - Bayou Birds
  • Denzel Sprak - CloudCover
  • Weathervane - CloudCover
  • Nuthatch - Feathers
  • Interlude - The Nocturne
  • Contrarian - Sketchbook
  • Andelo - Pacha Faro
  • Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
  • Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent

 

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

Listen on iTunes | StitcherSpotify | 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

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1330_Iran_Escalation_Air_Date_1-22-20_-_1-22-20_22.48.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:08pm EDT

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 USAAmazon CAAmazon 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.

Ch. 4: The Truth About The War In Afghanistan with Craig Whitlock - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 12-16-19

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.

Ch. 7: The Afghanistan Papers with Steven Miles - News Beat with Rashed Mian and Christopher Twarowski - Air Date 12-23-19

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

Bonus: A Song From US Military Officer In Afghanistan - Eyes Left with Spenser Rapone and Mike Prysner - Air Date 12-16-19


MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):

  • Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr 
  • Algea Trio - Algea Fields
  • Cases to Rest - Bodytonic
  • Waltz and Fury - Macrame
  • Tar and Spackle - Plaster
  • Beast on the Soil - Desert Orchard
  • God's Playground - Nathanael Christy
  • Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
  • Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent


SHOW IMAGE:

"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 | StitcherSpotify | 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

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1329_The_Afghanistan_Papers_Air_Date_1-17-20_-_1-18-20_11.34.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am EDT

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.

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EPISODE SPONSORS:  Clean Choice Energy

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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):

  • Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr 
  • Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent

 

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

Listen on iTunes | StitcherSpotify | 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

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 1328_2010_Retrospective_Air_Date_1-12-20_-_1-14-20_20.42.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:41pm EDT

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!


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

Ch. 4: George Lakey on Viking Economics and when change happens Part 1 - @InDeepRadio w @AngieCoiro - Air Date 12-27-17

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

Ch. 6: George Lakey on Viking Economics and when change happens Part 2 - @InDeepRadio w @AngieCoiro - Air Date 12-1-17

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):

  • Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr 
  • Yarrow and Root - The Bulwark
  • Shift of Currents - Aeronaut
  • The Rampart - Castle Danger
  • Thannoid - Bodytonic
  • Wingspan - Bayou Birds
  • Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
  • Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent

 

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

Listen on iTunes | StitcherSpotify | 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

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!