Sat, 29 April 2023
Original Air Date 5/10/2022 Today we take a look at the impacts of media ownership on society including legacy newspapers and social media platforms owned by billionaires and the consolidation of our news and entertainment corporations through mega-mergers. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Who Rules America: The Power of The Media | Propaganda - ENDEVR Documentary - Air Date 1-3-21 Who Rules America? takes a comprehensive look into the governing system of the United States of America and reveals the behind-the-scene powers that rule the nation. Ch. 2: Billionaires Control The Media - and Its Destroying Democracy - Novara Media - Air Date 11-20-19 Billionaires control the media, and it's undermining our democracy. The Washington Post announced on Monday the paper had been sold to Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos for $250 million. Bezos, one of the world’s wealthiest men, now controls one of the most powerful newspapers in the country. Ch. 4: Elon Musk, Twitter, and the History of Media Oligarchs - Past Present - Air Date 5-2-22 Niki referred to this Los Angeles Times article about the limits of Elon Musk’s “free speech absolutism.” Natalia referenced this New York Times article about billionaire investors in the press. I spoke before FTC Chair Lina Khan and Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Jonathan Kanter this week about how corporate mergers are devastating working conditions, access to diverse voices, and artistic freedom in media. Elon Musk reaching a deal to buy Twitter for $44 billion is discussed by Anand Giridharadas. "This future in which there would actually be more abundant and equitable speech terrifies the crap out of people like Elon Musk,” Giridharadas tells Joy Reid. MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Ch. 7: How William Randolph Hearst Made The Media - KERA's Think - Air Date 9-27-21 He was one of the wealthiest men in America – and his media empire granted him unprecedented influence. Stephen Ives joins host Krys Boyd to tell the story of William Randolph Hearst and the template he created for the media business. Ch. 8: Is Free Speech Online Just a Myth? - What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future - Air Date 5-8-22 A conversation with one of the smartest First Amendment lawyers in the country. FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 9: Final comments on the propaganda of building faulty assumptions into questions MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions) SHOW IMAGE: Description: The front page of a newspaper is held up by a reader. The newspaper is called “The Media” and the large text headline is a quotation that reads “We Own This, Too" above black and white photos of Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Rupert Murdoch. Credit: Composite design by Amanda Hoffman. Images include: “newspaper, world is changing”; "Jeff Bezos" by NASA Robotics Competition, Flickr (Public Domain); "Elon Musk" by Tesla Owners Club Belgium, Flickr (CC BY 2.0); "Rupert Murdoch" by Eva Rinaldi, Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) | Changes: Cropped and black and white
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Direct download: 1489_Media_Ownership_Air_Date_5-10-22_w.ads_-_4-25-23_20.48.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:06pm EST |
Thu, 27 April 2023
Air Date 4/26/2023 Today, we take a look at the trials and tribulations facing the youth today as men and boys are being surpassed academically by women and girls and girls are suffering disproportionately under the weight of the toxic forces of social media. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) OUR AFFILIATE LINKS: ExpressVPN.com/BestOfTheLeft GET INTERNET PRIVACY WITH EXPRESS VPN! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Senator Josh Hawley on masculinity - Axios on HBO - Air Date 11-7-21 Axios’ Mike Allen sits down with Missouri Senator Josh Hawley to discuss the senator's comments on masculinity. Ch. 2: Male inequality, explained by an expert | Richard Reeves - Big Think - Air Date 1-4-23 Modern males are struggling. Author Richard Reeves outlines the three major issues boys and men face and shares possible solutions. Ch. 3: Liz Plank & Richard Reeves Debate Gender Inequality - The Man Enough Podcast - Air Date 4-5-23 Brookings Institution scholar and acclaimed author Richard Reeves tackles the pressing issue of young men falling behind, on a mission to uplift them without jeopardizing women's rights. In 2021, the CDC saw an increase in mental health challenges across the board, but it’s girls in the U.S. that are engulfed in a wave of sadness, violence, and trauma.Stephanie Sy spoke with Sharon Hoover about the survey. Scott Galloway, or ‘Prof G’ to his fans, is one of the most influential business thought leaders in the world. Host of The Prof G Show, one of the most popular business podcasts in America A national survey by the CDC sounded a new alarm about teens in crisis. It shows nearly 30% of teenage girls said they considered dying by suicide, and three out of five girls said they felt persistently sad or hopeless. Ch. 8: Are the Kids Alright — with Jonathan Haidt Part 1 - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 10-27-20 NYU social psychologist Jonathan Haidt has spent the last few years trying to figure out why, working with fellow psychologist Jean Twenge, and he believes social media is to blame. Ch. 10: Are the Kids Alright — with Jonathan Haidt Part 2 - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 10-27-20 MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Ch. 11: Spotlight — Addressing the TikTok Threat - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 9-8-22 This week on Your Undivided Attention, we bring you a bonus episode about TikTok. Co-hosts Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin explore the nature of the TikTok threat, and how we might address it. Ch. 12: Male inequality, explained by an expert | Richard Reeves Part 2 - Big Think - Air Date 1-4-23 VOICEMAILS Ch. 13: Continuing discussion of J.K. Rowling episode - VoiceMailer Boris Ch. 14: Marking an isolating Black leaders - V from Central New York FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 15: Final comments on the fundamental disconnections that tend to drive modern debate MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions)
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1555_Kids_Not_Alright_Air_Date_4-26-23_General_-_4-26-23_21.05.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:27am EST |
Fri, 21 April 2023
Air Date: 4-21-23 REFERENCES: The French are in a Panic over Le Wokisme - The Atlantic
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Direct download: Bonus_Show_269_Sample_-_4-21-23_19.25.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:48pm EST |
Thu, 20 April 2023
Air Date 4/19/2023 Today, we take a look at the history and present of the interconnected movements to privatize education and dismantle democracy. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) OUR AFFILIATE LINKS: ExpressVPN.com/BestOfTheLeft GET INTERNET PRIVACY WITH EXPRESS VPN! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Segrenomics: The Long History of Cashing In On Unequal Education - Have You Heard - Air Date 1-3-18 Education reform is often referred to as the "civil rights issue of our time." But what would have happened if "edupreneurs" had used their money, influence, connections and access to solve the riddle of why we can't integrate schools? Ch. 2: Democracy and Public Education: A Future in Peril - Have You Heard - Air Date 8-12-21 Why are the same states that are rolling back democracy also intent on dismantling public education? We assembled an all-star cast to get some answers. Ch. 3: The Hidden Agenda of Privatization with Jessica Piper (pt.1) - Teach Me, Teacher - Air Date 10-31-21 Jessica Piper, a previous middle and high school English teacher and now candidate for Missouri state representative, believes there's a far bigger agenda behind the outrage we are currently hearing about. Ch. 4: Betsy DeVos Is Still Making Moves to Destroy Public Schools - The New Abnormal - Air Date 4-1-23 Betsy DeVos is no longer wreaking havoc as former President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Education, but even without the title, the Republican donor is still actively making moves to “destroy” the public school system. Ch. 5: The Surprising History Behind Charter Schools - WBUR - Air Date 11-4-16 Today, teachers' unions are among the fiercest opponents of charter schools in the United States. The fact that a legendary union president was maybe the key champion of the idea tells you how much things have changed in 30 years. Because it is so well researched and presented, Cutting School: The Segrenomics of American Education, is a frustrating read. To tell the story of privatization, segregation, & the end of public education requires a massive cast. We are in the midst of an escalating rightwing assault on public education in America. It comes in the form of an attempted authoritarian takeover of schools and universities, in hundreds of bills establishing state censorship, banning books, ect. Ch. 8: Diane Ravitch on Pandemic School Privatization - CounterSpin - Air Date 5-22-20 We talk with Diane Ravitch about the latest scheme for rich folks to decide what's best for schools their children don't attend. Ch. 9: Racism-High-Stakes Disaster Education | Dr. Ricardo Rosa - TEDxCCSU - Air Date 11-24-15 Dr. Rosa is a member of Save Our Schools, United Opt-Out and the Badass Teachers Association. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, an activist, writer, and researcher. MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Ch. 10: The Secret Power of Homeschoolers - VICE NEWS - Air Date 10-12-22 VICE News investigates why families are opting out, and what happens to the institution of public school when people abandon it. VOICEMAILS Ch. 11: Thanks for the Rowling episode - VoicedMailer Roland Ch. 12: Regarding Puberty Blockers - VoicedMailer J Ch. 13: Thoughts on the J.K. Rowling episode - VoicedMailer Boris Ch. 14: Something to add to the JK Rowling episode - VoicedMailer Daniel FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 15: Final comments on responses to the trans rights and authoritarianism episode MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions) Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
Direct download: 1554_Education_Privatization_Air_Date_4-19-23_General_-_4-19-23_20.55.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:58am EST |
Sun, 16 April 2023
Air Date 4/16/2023 Today, we take a look at some of the arguments of the anti-trans feminist movement, known by its most prominent proponent, J.K. Rowling, all in the shadow of the anti-trans fervor of the right wing which is checking off the stages of genocide like a to-do list. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) SHOW NOTES Ch. 2: Understanding The 'Logic' Of TERFs - The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder - Air Date 2-13-22 Why do TERFs think the way they do? The history of TERFs goes way back before JK Rowling. In the 1980s TERF Janice Raymond ran a successful campaign to push Sandy Stone out of Olivia Records. Ch. 3: Comments 1: Introducing Authoritarianism Ch. 5: Transphobia In A Suit - The Anti-Trans Hate Machine: A Plot Against Equality - Air Date 7-22-21 Imara investigates the influence the Heritage Foundation had in infusing anti-trans ideology into the government during Trump’s presidency—a legacy the Biden administration is still trying to unravel. Ch. 6: Comments 2: Reasons for the extreme defense of trans rights Ch. 8: American Fascism And The Groomer Panic Part 1 - Second Thought - Air Date 2-24-23 We've seen a number of moral panics over the decades, and this one is no different. Come learn how the same old tropes are being recycled to animate this latest strain Ch. 9: Comments 3: Just asking questions Ch. 11: American Fascism And The Groomer Panic Part 2 - Second Thought - Air Date 2-24-23 Ch. 12: Comments 4: Straw men and moderates Ch. 14: Can We Stop the GOP From “Eradicating” Trans People? - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 3-8-23 Pastor Martin Niemöller’s famous poem begins, “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist.” But, in fact, first they came for the queer people. A year before Nazis began attacking union leaders and socialists Ch. 15: Comments 5: Who understands Harry Potter? Ch. 16: Comments 6: Misogyny in the movement Ch. 17: Comments 7: Fueling anger and emboldening action Ch. 18: TERFs and the Fascist Roots of Anti-Trans Movements - Jessie Gender - Air Date 3-22-23 At a gender-critical TERF rally in Melbourne, Australia, Neo-Nazis showed up to support the anti-trans rhetoric... and this shouldn't surprise anyone. Ch. 19: Comments 8: If nazis are supporting your movement... FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 20: Final comments on reimagining reality MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions) SHOW IMAGE Description: The sentence “Trans Rights Are Human Rights” is repeated in alternating colors of the transgender pride flag. The UN Free & Equal logo is on the bottom right corner. Credit: "#TransRightsAreHumanRights" UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) initiative UN Free & Equal (@free_equal)
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
Direct download: 1553_Trials_of_JK_Rowling_Air_Date_4-15-23_General_-_4-16-23_15.39.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:35pm EST |
Wed, 12 April 2023
Original Air Date 4/20/2022 Today we take a look at the bizarre halo effect that seems to surround Elon Musk and then thoroughly puncture it by just explaining a few things about him and his companies. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: The Myth Of The "Self-Made" Billionaire - Second Thought - Air Date 9-10-21 It’s no secret that Americans love to hear about billionaires. You’ll find them everywhere. They’re on the news [Bezos space launch], have their own TV shows, movies, and even make their way to elected office. Ch. 2: Is Elon Musk a Fraud - Deconstructed - Air Date 5-14-20 Over the weekend, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to Twitter to voice his frustrations about the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown in Alameda County, California. The billionaire entrepreneur threatened that he would take his auto factory to another state Ch. 3: Tesla SUED Over Racial Discrimination In The Workplace - The Young Turks - Air Date 2-12-22 Elon Musk and Tesla are coming under fire as the state of California is suing the company for allegedly running a “racially segregated” workplace. Black workers are reportedly concentrated in certain parts of the factory and are constantly berated Ch. 4: Elon Musk Is Not Your Friend - Some More News - Air Date 5-10-21 Hi. Elon Musk will not save us. Sorry. Billionaire memelord Elon Musk has dropped yet another batcrap Libertarian rant for his adoring fans, this time regarding the bloodthirsty government and how he hates the pesky electric vehicle subsidies that he would (and already does) benefit from. Ch. 6: Elon Trolls the SEC - What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future - Air Date 4-8-22 With 9.1% ownership of Twitter—and a board seat—Elon Musk is the new master of Twitter's future. Why did the wealthiest man in the world just take over the world's most influential platform? Ch. 7: Elon, Segregationist & Culture War in Colorado w/ Chase Woodruff - Left Reckoning - Air Date 2-23-22 The real reason Elon Musk fleed California: incredible racism and animal cruelty charges. Also, how he's giving marching orders to Texas cops. MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Ch. 9: Elon Musk Isn’t Saving Humanity w/ Manu Saadia - Tech Won't Save Us - Air Date 3-25-21 Paris Marx is joined by Manu Saadia to discuss the roots of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos’ visions for space, and why they serve the billionaires’ need for control, not the betterment of humanity. VOICEMAILS Ch. 10: Back on the path - Dave from Olympia, WA FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 12: Final comments on foundational ideas that help explain politics MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1484_Elon_Musk_Billionaires_Air_Date_4-20-22_w._ads_-_4-12-23_18.34.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:58pm EST |
Sat, 8 April 2023
Original Air Date: 4-6-23 REFERENCES: Time to take biden to the train station What Happens When Sexting Chatbots Dump Their Human Lovers Super League: The War for Football Elon Musk Sets Poop Emoji as an Autoreply to Twitter’s Press Email A view of American History that Leads to One Conclusion
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Direct download: Bonus_Show_268_Sample_-_4-7-23_21.26.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:32am EST |
Wed, 5 April 2023
Original Air Date 4/2/2022 Today we take a look at the modern reality of cyber war. It's not the mass destruction of attacks that were imagined to look like a "Cyber Pearl Harbor" but the much more subtle cyber attacks that often fly under the radar and live in the grey area in attempts to inflict harm without provoking counterattack. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Andy Greenberg - Longform - Air Date 12-11-19 Andy Greenberg is a senior writer for Wired. His new book is Sandworm. “I kind of knew I was never going to get access to Sandworm, which is the title of the book - so it was all about drawing a picture around this invisible monster.” Ch. 2: How America’s gas got hacked - Today, Explained - Air Date 5-12-21 The largest-known ransomware attack on American energy infrastructure is driving up gas prices and creating shortages. Wired's Lily Hay Newman says Colonial Pipeline might be a turning point for cybersecurity. Ch. 3: Is Russia at War with the West? Part 1 - The Inquiry - Air Date 11-21-18 There are currently a number of serious allegations made in the West against Russia. They include the attempted murder of the former spy Sergei Skripal on British soil; interference in the 2016 US election; the hacking of the American electricity grid. Sanger joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the threats and realities, how the U.S. wages cyber warfare, and how prepared the U.S. is to stop attacks. Ch. 5: Is Russia at War with the West? Part 2 - The Inquiry - Air Date 11-21-18 Russia has been practicing cyberwar in a real-life test lab — Ukraine. Andy Greenberg, author of 'Sandworm', recounts how Russia went from repeatedly shutting down Ukraine's infrastructure to unleashing worms that caused billions of dollars in damage. Ch. 7: Is World War III Already Here? - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 1-3-22 Warfare has changed so fundamentally, that we're currently in a war we don't even recognize. It's the war that Russia, China, and other hostile foreign actors are fighting against us — weaponizing social media to undermine our faith in each other MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Last week, a hacker group called DarkSide shut down the Colonial Pipeline, which supplies 45 percent of the fuel consumed on the East Coast. Gas prices skyrocketed, people started hoarding gas, and DarkSide walked away with over $4 million in Bitcoin. VOICEMAILS Ch. 9: Puberty blockers experimental? - Maria in Pennsylvania FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 10: Final comments on the deception and logical fallacies at the heart of critiques of gender affirming care MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1480_Cyber_War_Air_Date_4-1-22_Repost_w._ads_-_4-5-23_09.27.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:20pm EST |
Fri, 31 March 2023
Air Date 3/31/2023 Today, we take a look at the history and legacy of the invasion of Iraq by the United States under George W. Bush and his administration with the support of the vast majority of Americans who had been systematically mislead by falsified evidence used to make the case for war. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) Check out The Laura Flanders Show! OUR AFFILIATE LINKS: ExpressVPN.com/BestOfTheLeft GET INTERNET PRIVACY WITH EXPRESS VPN! SHOW NOTES We spend today's show with two Iraqis looking back at how the unprovoked U.S. invasion devastated Iraq and helped destabilize much of the Middle East. Ch. 2: How To Start A War And Get Away With It Part 1 - AJ+ - Air Date 3-16-23 Twenty years ago the U.S. began its invasion of Iraq. What came next is a story well tread— a bloody, brutal and senseless war— but what lead up to the invasion deserves just as much scrutiny 20 years after the launch of the disastrous invasion of Iraq, Mehdi is asking: Isn’t it finally time to hold George W. Bush accountable for the brutal war and the lies he told us about it? Ch. 4: How To Start A War And Get Away With It Part 2 - AJ+ - Air Date 3-16-23 Ch. 5: Norman Solomon on the Iraq Invasion, 20 Years Later - CounterSpin - Air Date 3-24-23 We’ll talk about it with author, critic and longtime friend of FAIR Norman Solomon. What passes for debate about why we must remain at some kind of war—cold, hot, corporate, stealth, acknowledged, denied has roots worth studying in 2003. Ch. 7: “To Start a War” by Robert Draper - PBS - Air Date 8-7-20 On the Washington Week Extra, New York Times Magazine writer at large and National Geographic contributing writer Robert Draper discusses his latest book, "To Start a War: How the Bush Administration Took America into Iraq.” “The story of the past 20 years is a story of destruction, devastation, corruption, incompetence, but also a story of resilience,” says Nadje Al-Ali, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at Brown University MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Sam hosts Spencer Ackerman, columnist for The Nation and author of the Forever Wars newsletter on Ghost, to discuss his recent piece “The Unlearned Lessons From the War in Iraq”. VOICEMAILS Ch. 12: Leftists are now war mongers - Ronald Bruce Meyer Ch. 13: Senseless war - VoicedMailer Marg Comment on your recent Ukraine podcast - VoicedMailer Trevor FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 14: Final comments on the moral responsibility of inaction in Ukraine MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions)
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Direct download: 1552_Iraq_20_Years_Air_Date_3-31-23_General_-_3-31-23_21.04.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:35pm EST |