Sat, 29 May 2021
Air Date 7/2/2019 Today we take a look at the ways in which Christians are being rallied to see themselves as the true victimized minority in America, a key component to stoking right-wing nationalism Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) BestOfTheLeft.com/Refer Sign up, share widely, get rewards. It's that easy! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Rise of the Christian Taliban - The Intercept with Mehdi Hasan - Air Date 6-20-18 Mehdi Hasan is here to warn you about a growing threat to the laws and values of the United States from a group of religious extremists and fanatics. Ch. 2: Reverse Discrimination Isn't A Thing - Boom! Lawyered - Air Date 4-11-19 The religious right claims reverse discrimination in that they are being unfairly required to exist in the same world as trans people Ch. 3: Is Mike Pence Christian? - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 4-15-19 Mike Pence argues that to be a Christian one must discriminate against gay people, prevent women from getting abortions or birth control, support tearing refugee children from their parents and prevent the working poor from having access to healthcare. Mike Pence insists that it's the Christians who are being discriminated against. Ch. 5: Educating and Engaging with Lyra McKee - This Way Out - Air Date 4-29-19 Lyra McKee (full TEDx talk) shares her experiences transforming lives with conversations in religious spaces Ch. 6: Master Plan to Dismantle LGBTQ Rights - Boom! Lawyered - Air Date 4-25-19 What are the LGBTQ cases heading to the Supreme Court? It's 2019 and people can be fired for not adhering to heteronormative gender ideas. Corporate, Christian, Conservative resistance is damaging and disgusting. Ch. 7: House Passes the Equality Act - This Way Out - Air Date 5-20-19 The House passes the Equality Act in an effort to stop LGBTQ discrimination and ensuring their freedoms. GOP is pushing back with the fallacious idea that white Christians are being discriminated against. Ch. 8: Demand the Senate Pass the Equality Act & Protect Trans Health Rights - Best of the Left Activism Take action! Click the title and/or scroll down for quick links and resources from this segment. Republicans are always claiming that everything progressives do is an attack on religious liberty, even sometimes just existing by some people is seen as an attack on "religious freedom'... in the meantime, Republican speaker Paul Ryan fires a religious leader fires a Chaplain over politics? VOICEMAILS Ch. 10: From depression to anxiety - Corey from New Jersey Ch. 11: Prisoners dilemma and the presidential election - Heather FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 12: Final comments on the overthinking many do during primary elections TAKE ACTION! Tell the Senate to Pass the Equality Act Protect Trans Health: Comment on Trump’s Discriminatory Rule EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE 7 maps show the mess LGBT laws are in the USA (USA Today) The Senate should stand up for all Americans and pass the Equality Act (Rep. Patrick Maloney in The Hill) A History of Federal Non-Discrimination Legislation (93rd - 114th Congress) (Human Rights Campaign) Why Trump Is Rolling Back LGBTQ Health-Care Protections (The Atlantic) The Trump Administration Will Allow Health Workers To Refuse Abortion And Sex Reassignment Services (Buzzfeed) Researched & 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: 1286_Christian_Nationalism_Air_Date_7-2-19_Ad_Free_-_5-29-21_19.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:47pm EST |
Tue, 25 May 2021
Air Date 5/25/2021 Today we take a look through a wide-angle lens at the current flareup of the conflict in Israel and Palestine including a discussion of disparate power dynamics, lived experience in Palestine, the creation story of Hamas, understanding the definition of apartheid and recognizing how the reactions in American politics and media are shifting. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) BestOfTheLeft.com/Refer Sign up, share widely, get rewards. It's that easy! OUR AFFILIATE LINKS: BestOfTheLeft.com/Descript CHECK OUT OUR FANCY PRODUCTION SOFTWARE! BestOfTheLeft.com/Blinkist GET KEY INSIGHTS FROM THOUSANDS OF BOOKS! BestOfTheLeft.com/Bookshop BotL BOOKSTORE BestOfTheLeft.com/Store BotL MERCHANDISE! BestOfTheLeft.com/Advertise Sponsor the show! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Michael Brooks takes a question on Israel - The Mill Series - Air Date 3-9-20 The Mill Series hosted Michael Brooks at Lafayette College on Thurs Feb 27, 2020. Ch. 2: Life and Death in Occupied Palestine - Deconstructed - Air Date 5-21-21 On May 7, Israeli police raided the Al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem during the evening prayer. Hamas responded a few days later by launching rockets from Gaza into Israel. Israel retaliated with its own strikes, and the violence escalated. Ch. 3: Blowback: How Israel Helped Create Hamas - The Intercept - Air Date 2-20-18 Did you also know that Hamas — which is an Arabic acronym for “Islamic Resistance Movement” — would probably not exist today were it not for the Jewish state? Ch. 4: Is Israel Guilty Of Apartheid Against Palestinians - AJ+ - Air Date 5-14-21 Although it’s most famously associated with the white supremacist regime that used to rule South Africa, apartheid is actually a crime with specific conditions. In this explainer, we look at what those conditions are and whether they truly apply to Israel Ch. 5: Focus on Palestine feat. Mohammad Alsaafin - Chapo Trap House - Air Date 5-20-21 Felix is joined by journalist for AJ+ Mohammad Alsaafin for a wide ranging discussion on Palestinian resistance and the future of Zionism and the Palestinian cause. Heather Digby Parton will be here to run down the biggest stories of the week. MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Ch. 7: Debunking Israel's Human Shield Defense in Gaza Massacre - Empire Files - Air Date 5-19-21 Abby Martin gives 5 points that evaporate Israel's assertion that the civilians it kills in Gaza were "human shields." Ch. 8: The U.S. Media Has A Palestine Problem - AJ+ - Air Date 5-22-21 Israeli occupation of Palestine tends to be a touchy subject for news media, so much so that they break journalistic standards and writing etiquette just to avoid implicating one party another BONUS Ch. 9: Curation Lesson #1: Definitions FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 10: Final comments playing a logical deduction guessing game in celebration of Towel Day MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
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Direct download: 1419_Israel_Air_Date_5-25-21_General_-_5-25-21_22.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:44pm EST |
Sat, 22 May 2021
Air Date 5/22/2021 Today we take a look at the global struggle to acquire and distribute sufficient doses of vaccine in an effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not going as well as one might hope. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Pandemic Immunoprivilege - In The Thick - Air Date 4-27-21 Ranna Ayyub writes for Time Magazine about the COVID-19 crisis in India and the Prime Minister’s failure to lead during this second wave. Dean Baker, a senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, joined host Jamilah King on the podcast to talk about the impact this decision could have on bringing the pandemic to an end. The international disparity in vaccine access between rich and low-income countries highlights “the irrationality of global capitalism,” says acclaimed Filipino scholar and activist Walden Bello. Refuting the hollow arguments made by the likes of Bloomberg News against waiving the vaccine patents. We breakdown the anti-TRIPS waiver corporate and ideological forces behind the seemingly good-hearted #VaxLive concert on May 8th. Ch. 6: Covid Vaccines - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Air Date 5-3-21 John Oliver explains why some people don’t want to get the Covid-19 vaccine and how they might be reassured. MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Ch. 7: James Love on Bill Gates & Vaccine Politics - CounterSpin - Air Date 5-7-21 How we navigate that has to do with media’s elevation of “experts” like Bill Gates raise serious questions about why we allow billionaires to set policy on something as important as public health. We talk about that with James Love. Ch. 9: Pandemic Immunoprivilege Part 2 - In The Thick - Air Date 4-27-21 VOICEMAILS Ch. 10: Disney IP and copyright law - Nick From California FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 12: Final comments on our recent bonus episode about surveillance capitalism MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
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Direct download: 1418_Vaccine_Rollout_Air_Date_5-21-21_General_-_5-22-21_10.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:52am EST |
Wed, 19 May 2021
Air Date 5/18/2021 Today we take a look at the potential of the end of American involvement in the war in Afghanistan as well as some of our recent actions related to Yemen and Syria as well as our relationship with Saudi Arabia. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com EPISODE SPONSORS: BOMBAS.COM/BEST | UNF*CKING THE REPUBLIC Want to advertise/sponsor the show? Details -> advertisecast.com/BestoftheLeft MEMBERSHIP, Gift Memberships and Donations! (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) REFER-O-MATIC! Sign up, share widely, get rewards. It's that easy! SHOW NOTES President Biden announced a complete troop withdrawal from what he called the “forever war” in Afghanistan, by September 11th. “Only the Afghans have the right and responsibility to lead their country,” Biden said from the White House. Ch. 2: America is finally leaving Afghanistan - Worldly - Air Date 4-15-21 Zack, Jenn, and Alex talk about President Joe Biden’s announcement that all remaining US troops will withdraw from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021 — the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that launched the war. Ch. 3: Let's End the War in Yemen - Deconstructed - Air Date 2-12-21 In his first significant foreign policy announcement since taking office, President Biden broke with both former presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama and declared an end to U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is deepening amid the pandemic and cuts to international aid from the United States and its allies, leaving millions of Yemenis facing famine after years of a brutal U.S.-backed, Saudi-led bombing campaign Ch. 5: Biden Bombs Syria - Empire Has No Clothes - Air Date 3-17-21 This week on Empire Has No Clothes, Kelley, Dan, and Matt discussed Joe Biden's decision to bomb Syria and what it means for his foreign policy going forward. We also talked with David Sterman of New America about what it means to have an endless war. Ch. 6: The Art of Fake-Ending Wars - Citations Needed - Air Date 4-14-21 In this episode, we discuss the United States' history of fake-ending wars, who these pronouncements are meant to please, why troops levels are often impossible to know, and why so many of our so-called "wars" are not really wars at all, but occupations MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Ch. 7: Joe Biden's War Powers - Intercepted - Air Date 4-28-21 If you went back and looked at every foreign policy decision Joe Biden made — every single one — would you be any closer to understanding him? Ch. 8: Samantha Nutt: The real harm of the global arms trade - TEDTalks - Air Date 6-23-16 In some parts of the world, it's easier to get an automatic rifle than a glass of clean drinking water. Is this just the way it is? Samantha Nutt, doctor and founder of the international humanitarian organization War Child, explores the global arms trade VOICEMAILS Ch. 9: Disney, racism and capitalism - Sasha Ch. 10: Recommending "Somebody" podcast for example of DARVO - Pat from Chicago FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 11: Final comments on DARVO from the police in the Somebody podcast Bonus clip: Somebody MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
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Direct download: 1417_Afghanistan_War_Air_Date_5-18-21_General_-_5-19-21_01.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:30am EST |
Fri, 14 May 2021
Air Date 7/20/2020 Systems maintain themselves through the efforts of many moving parts that need not understand their roles in maintaining the system as a whole, only their specialized task. Today, I use a case study incident to show how the system of racism defends itself against attack. Many separate parts, none of which understand how their individual actions connect to the larger system, work in complicated yet predictable ways to carry out this defense of racism much like the many specialized antibodies of an immune system work together to isolate and eradicate threats to the host. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Introduction to the story of a story Ch. 2: Yascha Mounk on antiracism in America - The Good Fight - Air Date 7-10-20 Ch. 3: Jay explains the fraught nature of interracial relationships Ch. 4: Introducing the Education Council Meeting incident - The Good Fight - Air Date 7-10-20 Ch. 5: Edward Irizarry speaks about the privilege and racial dynamics of the council Ch. 6: Explaining DARVO: Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender Ch. 7: Robin Brochi responds to Edward Ch. 8: Tom demands to know what’s racist about holding a brown baby Ch. 9: Additional input from other council members Ch. 10: The story of the story Ch. 11: Recap and wrap up Original meeting video: CEC D2 Working Business Meeting June 29, 2020 16:55 - Edward Irizarry Speech 22:50 - Robin Brochi's Apology 26:25 - Tom Wrocklage asks what about his actions were racist 39:20 - Beginning of segment that is ultimately clipped out of context Tom's I-have-a-black-friend video: My friend from my living room on the June 11th CECD2 meeting FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 12: Final comments MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
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Direct download: Rerun_1358_White_people_talking_about_race_Air_Date_7-20-20_Ad_Free_-_5-14-21_16.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:58pm EST |
Tue, 11 May 2021
Air Date: 5-11-21
Red Bull, Elon Musk, and Matt Gaetz - The Bulwark Brooke speaks with Lulu Miller about her new book, "Why Fish Don't Exist" Billy Bragg - Not Everything That Counts Can Be Counted Commentary: I love Disney World, but wokeness is ruining the experience
Produced by: |
Sat, 8 May 2021
Air Date 5/8/2021 Today we take a look at the culture that Disney has helped create and how they did it, using cuteness as a weapon to push ideas from racist stereotypes and segregation to the masterful use of hollow nods toward progressivism while reinforcing the ethics of individualism in order to give systemic injustice a pass. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com MEMBERSHIP, Gift Memberships and Donations! (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) REFER-O-MATIC! Sign up, share widely, get rewards. It's that easy! Want to advertise/sponsor the show? Details -> advertisecast.com/BestoftheLeft SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: The Racial Politics of Disney Animals Part 1 - Popaganda from @BitchMedia - Air Date 8-28-15 Scholar, writer, and activist Walidah Imarisha is someone who’s been thinking hard about what stories Disney tells and why. She teaches a class on race and Disney films at Portland State University. Ch. 2: 40 Acres and a Movie - Still Processing - Air Date 4-8-21 Disney owns a piece of every living person’s childhood. Now it owns Marvel Studios, too. Jenna and Wesley look at depictions of racist tropes and stereotypes in Disney’s ever-expanding catalog. The company has made recent attempts to atone for its past. Ch. 3: The Racial Politics of Disney Animals Part 2 - Popaganda from @BitchMedia - Air Date 8-28-15 Ch. 4: Woke Disney - Lindsay Ellis - Air Date 9-30-21 Nodding to progressive ideas while just proping up capitalism is just marketing. Ch. 5: Disneyfication of American History - American Hysteria - Air Date 1-25-21 Disney has been presenting a fairytale reality within a reality since the 1920s, a far cuter reality that mimics our reality until reality is no longer reality at all. Make sense? Ch. 6: How Disney Ruined Culture - Wisecrack - Air Date 11-9-20 It's no surprise that Disney has an absolute stranglehold on the culture we consume today. But the joys of the Magic Kingdom aside, what if it's actually kind of really bad for art? We'll explain in this Wisecrack Edition: How Disney Ruined Culture. Ch. 7: The (Not So) Wonderful World of Disney - It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders - Air Date 2-16-18 Sam talks to filmmaker and activist Abigail Disney, daughter of Roy E. Disney, about her views on inequality in the U.S., corporate greed and why, despite her last name, she's become one of the more vocal and prominent critics of The Walt Disney empire. Ch. 8: DED Talks: Why Walt Disney is Nothing Like You Think He Was - Cracked - Air Date 1-19-15 Disney tell's his story MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Ch. 9: Disneyfication Of Cuteness - American Hysteria - Air Date 1-25-21 Disney has been presenting a fairytale reality within a reality since the 1920s, a far cuter reality that mimics our reality until reality is no longer reality at all. Make sense? Ch. 10: Copyright: Why We Can't Have Nice Things - Wisecrack - Air Date 4-23-21 This video, like everything else in the world, is copyrighted. But what does that really mean? Copyright laws started out as a way to protect creators from having their hard work stolen, but it's turned into something else entirely. VOICEMAILS Ch. 11: Ableism in the show - Alyson from Colorado FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 12: Final comments on Woke Disney and Ableist language MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
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Direct download: 1416_Disney_Air_Date_5-8-21_General_-_5-8-21_12.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:53pm EST |
Wed, 5 May 2021
Air Date 5/5/2021 Today we take a look briefly at the trial of Derek Chauvin itself before moving on to various responses, a wide-angle lens on some of the forces at play in policing and the work still to be done. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com MEMBERSHIP, Gift Memberships and Donations! (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) REFER-O-MATIC! Sign up, share widely, get rewards. It's that easy! Want to advertise/sponsor the show? Details -> advertisecast.com/BestoftheLeft SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Chauvin Found Guilty on All Counts - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 4-21-21 Introducing the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin Ch. 2: Chauvin Guilty - Criminal (In)justice - Air Date 4-22-21 A Minneapolis jury has found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three counts in the murder of George Floyd. What does it mean for criminal justice reform? We go to Minneapolis to speak with Kandace Montgomery, co-executive director of Black Visions Collective, about their response to the guilty verdict for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. Staff writer for The New Republic, Osita Nwanevu, joins the show to share his thoughts on the conviction of Derek Chauvin. Sam Seder and the Majority Report crew discuss this. Ch. 5: What have we learned - Dr. Roger Ray Part 1 - Progressive Faith Sermons - Air Date 4-25-21 While we want to show respect and support for public servants generally, such respect must also be met, especially now, with a willingness to question authority and to challenge the racism and classism that is so deeply embedded in policing. Ch. 6: Live Event Announcement Join Jay and Roger Ray in a live discussion on Ch. 7: Why Cops Don't Change - The United States of Anxiety - Air Date 4-19-21 A retired NYPD detective says the force’s stubborn, insular culture was built to last. And Elie Mystal explains a 1989 Supreme Court ruling that made killing “reasonable.” Ch. 8: What have we learned - Dr. Roger Ray Part 2 - Progressive Faith Sermons - Air Date 4-25-21 MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Ch. 9: Why Cops Don't Change Part 2 - The United States of Anxiety - Air Date 4-19-21 The guilty verdict for Derek Chauvin came as a relief to many nationwide, but the number of people killed by police since his trial began underscores the broader issues that remain. VOICEMAILS Ch. 11: A rant for Patrons - Andy from New Orleans FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 12: Final comments on the business of progressive media MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
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Direct download: 1415_Chauvin_Trail.Police_Air_Date_5-5-21_General_-_5-5-21_21.28.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:41pm EST |