Tue, 31 December 2024
Original 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 (Membership 20% off for the Holiday! Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Send the Gift of Membership! (Or on Patreon) Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Segrenomics: The Long History of Cashing In On Unequal Education - Have You Heard - Air Date 1-3-18 Ch. 2: Democracy and Public Education: A Future in Peril - Have You Heard - Air Date 8-12-21 Ch. 3: The Hidden Agenda of Privatization with Jessica Piper (pt.1) - Teach Me, Teacher - Air Date 10-31-21 Ch. 4: Betsy DeVos Is Still Making Moves to Destroy Public Schools - The New Abnormal - Air Date 4-1-23 Ch. 5: The Surprising History Behind Charter Schools - WBUR - Air Date 11-4-16 Ch. 8: Diane Ravitch on Pandemic School Privatization - CounterSpin - Air Date 5-22-20 Ch. 9: Racism-High-Stakes Disaster Education | Dr. Ricardo Rosa - TEDxCCSU - Air Date 11-24-15 Ch. 10: The Secret Power of Homeschoolers - VICE NEWS - Air Date 10-12-22 MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions)
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1554_Destroying_Education_and_Democracy_for_Fun_and_Profit_-_General.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:30am EST |
Sat, 28 December 2024
Air Date 12/28/2024 Decades of dictatorial rule in Syria have come to an end, leading to something else to be determined. Israel sprang into action taking control of Syrian land on their border. And no one seems to care what the US thinks of all this, which is telling. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Membership 20% off for the Holiday! Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Send the Gift of Membership! (Or on Patreon) Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! KEY POINTS KP 1: Assad Ousted From Syria - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 12-10-24 KP 2: Assad downfall: Is the Arab Spring back from the dead? - Middle East Eye - Air Date 12-14-24 KP 4: Why is Israel bombing Syria? - The Take - Air Date 12-17-24 (53:44) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On closing out the year DEEPER DIVES (56:35) SECTION A - THE SYRIAN PEOPLE (1:38:56) SECTION B - ISRAEL (2:03:38) SECTION C - HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND THE PROXY WAR SHOW IMAGE Description: The sun shining through a Syrian flag flying in the breeze against a clear sky. Credit: “Close up of Syrian flag” by Ahmed akasha, Pexels | License: Pexels
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1679_The_Middle_East_War_Process-_Syrias_Transition_Israels_Expansion_and_Beyond.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:26am EST |
Wed, 25 December 2024
Original Air Date: 6/13/2023 Today, we take a look at the struggle to act ethically, at least by our own measure if there's not a universally-agreed standard to compare with, relating to the purchase of both the necessities of life we all need as well as the more luxury items that get added on top. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Membership 20% off for the Holiday! Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Send the Gift of Membership! (Or on Patreon) Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: No ethical consumption under capitalism: short deep dive - @professor_neil - Air Date 4-13-23 Ch. 3: "Separating Art vs. the Artist" doesn't work for Harry Potter - Kuncan Dastner - Air Date 4-14-22 Ch. 5: Ethical Consumption - Pullback - Air Date 3-7-23 Ch. 7: Ethical Capitalism: Is It Possible? - Wise Crack - Air Date 7-19-21 Ch. 9: Conscious Consumerism: Does it make a difference - Roundtable - Air Date 7-10-19 Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1566_Wrestling_with_Ethical_Consumption_Under_Capitalism.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:30am EST |
Mon, 23 December 2024
LOOKING FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS? bestoftheleft.com/holiday Air Date: 12-23-24 - The need for a different kind of government efficiency than DOGE is offering - The future of the left working to fix government
FOLLOW US ON: REFERENCES: The American People Deserve DOGE - The Atlantic In This House, We’re Angry When Government Fails - The New York Times
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Direct download: SAMPLE_BONUS_331_-_The_realignment_will_make_you_seasick.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:05am EST |
Fri, 20 December 2024
Air Date 12/20/2024 There's no denying that things are about to get bad, Trump and company have had years to prepare for their next turn in office, but those preparing to resist also have the benefit of past experience resulting in a response to Trumpism that looks very different this time around. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Membership 20% off for the Holiday! Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Send the Gift of Membership! (Or on Patreon) Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! KEY POINTS KP 2: Can Trump Really End Birthright Citizenship? - Boom! Lawyered - Air Date 12-12-24 KP 4: Can Trump Really End Birthright Citizenship? Part 2 - Boom! Lawyered - Air Date 12-12-24 KP 5: Centrists Signal Capitulation After Trump's Victory - The Majority Report - Air Date 12-16-24 (53:43) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the importance of scheduled maintenance for democracy Reference article: Reviving the American Tradition of Fusion Voting DEEPER DIVES (1:00:59) SECTION A - IMMIGRATION INTIMIDATION (1:19:46) SECTION B - BENDING THE KNEE (1:40:16) SECTION C - RESISTANCE SHOW IMAGE Description: Composite image of Trump with his arm out admiring a lit match in his hand in front of a burning U.S. Constitution. Credit: Composite design by A. Hoffman using multiple images from Pixabay | License: Pixabay |
Tue, 17 December 2024
Air Date 12/17/2024 Changing the direction of a political party doesn't happen overnight and it usually takes a major disrupting event to shake it out of its well-wore groove. The loss of the Harris campaign to Trump and the evident desperation people have for a new economics that works for people might finally be enough to put Democrats on track to a more full-throated support of economic populism. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Membership 20% off for the Holiday! Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Send the Gift of Membership! (Or on Patreon) Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! KEY POINTS KP 1: Jon Stewart On What Went Wrong For Democrats - The Daily Show - Air Date 11-11-24 KP 2: The Democratic Party Is A Rudderless Ship - The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder - Air Date 11-21-24 KP 3: ‘BERNIE WAS RIGHT!’: Corporate Democrat ADMITS DEFEAT - The Kyle Kulinski Show - Air Date 11-18-24 KP 4: Assad Ousted From Syria - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 12-10-24 KP 5: Can Ben Wikler Fix The Democratic Party? - The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder - Air Date 12-4-24 KP 6: “Get These Incels to Work” (feat. Hasan Piker) Part 1 - Pod Save America - Air Date 11-27-24 (49:33) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the Democrats perception gap and Ben Wikler for the DNC DEEPER DIVES (1:00:11) SECTION A - WHY DEMOCRATS LOST (1:32:40) SECTION B - TIME TO FIGHT (1:56:05) SECTION C - MOVING FORWARD SHOW IMAGE Description: Photo of billionaire Mark Cuban speaking into a microphone at a Harris Walz campaign event. Credit: “Mark Cuban” by Gage Skidmore, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Cropped
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com |
Sun, 15 December 2024
Give the gift of membership! (Standard or Patreon) Air Date: 12-15-24 FOLLOW US ON: REFERENCES: Stephanie Harrison - The New Happy: How to stop being lonely Americans Are Hoarding Their Friends On Family Policy, Neither Party Has a Vision of the Good Life
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Direct download: SAMPLE_Bonus_330_-_Rebuilding_the_Village.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:14am EST |
Fri, 13 December 2024
Air Date 12/13/2024 The most important thing to understand about authoritarian and dictatorial governance is that it is neither efficient nor competent, contrary to the myth. The problem lies with the need to hire people based on their unquestioning loyalty rather than any kind of demonstrated ability to do the jobs they're tasked with. The results are, unsurprisingly, chaos. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Send the Gift of Membership! (Or on Patreon) KEY POINTS KP 2: MAGA 2.0 w Quinn Slobodian & Wendy Brown - The Dig - Air Date 11-29-24 KP 3: A Slew Of A$$hole Nominations...- The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 11-15-24 KP 5: Trump goes off the deep end with Cabinet pick - No Lie w Brian Tyler Cohen - Air Date 12-1-24 KP 6: The Trump Trials... Cases Closed - Americast - Air Date 11-29-24 KP 7: MAGA 2.0 w Quinn Slobodian & Wendy Brown - The Dig - Air Date 11-29-24 (54:37) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On why it's important to stay engaged Don’t Let Donald Trump Drive You Into Internal Exile - NYTimes DEEPER DIVES (58:44) SECTION A: THE LINEUP (1:27:56) SECTION B: THE PLAYBOOK (1:52:28) SECTION C: GLOBAL REFERENCE (2:12:50) SECTION D: CRACKS IN AUTHORITY SHOW IMAGE Description: Composite graphic of Trump giving the double thumbs up over black silhouettes of people in suits with the clown face emoji on their heads and “MAGA” on their chests. Credit: Composite design by A. Hoffman. Various images via Pixabay.
Direct download: 1676_-_Cabinet_of_Incompetence_-_General.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:42pm EST |
Thu, 12 December 2024
Air Date: 12-12-24 FOLLOW US ON: REFERENCES: Confessions of a Former Carnivore For Our Movements to Win, We Must Learn How Not to Let Our Grief Destroy Us
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Direct download: SAMPLE_Bonus_329_-_This_is_Really_Happening.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:44am EST |
Tue, 10 December 2024
Air Date 12/10/2024 In a moment of darkness, it's important to not only look for light but also understand how to create your own. Today we're exploring the philosophy of Tragic Optimism, the differing frameworks of freedom-from and freedom-to, and the slow progress of democracy but also the organizing strategies that are themselves the best coping mechanisms and path to progress. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Membership 20% off for the Holiday! Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Send the Gift of Membership! (Or on Patreon) KEY POINTS KP 3: How To Fight Fascism In America - Why, America? with Leeja Miller - Air Date 11-20-24 KP 4: Timothy Snyder: Is Freedom Misunderstood? - The Agenda - Air Date 10-9-24 KP 5: Neoliberalism Borrowed From Lenin, Why Can’t We? - Unf*cking The Republic - Air Date 11-22-24 (49:55) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On holiday memberships DEEPER DIVES (52:31) SECTION A - ORGANZING A1: Organizing in Rural America (w/ Luke Mayville) - Know Your Enemy - Air Date 11-27-24 (1:11:16) SECTION B - COPING MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions) uxnpfz6i Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1675_coping_organizing_building_-_12924_20.09.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:23am EST |
Sun, 8 December 2024
Original Air Date: 11/29/2023 The movement for universal health care is still underway, though it rarely gets recognized in mainstream discourse. The murder of United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson is an occasion worth using to look at the progress being made to improve our system of promoting the health of all people in the United States as well as efforts to rein in the power of big Pharma that's used to gouge the American people with exorbitant prices. So, that's what we're doing. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Clips and Shows + No Ads!) SHOW NOTES Healthcare activist Ady Barkan has died at the age of 39 of the neurodegenerative disease ALS. His story is told in the documentary Not Going Quietly. In 2021, Democracy Now! spoke with Ady Barkan just ahead of the film’s premiere. Ch. 2: Why your health insurance is tied to work - The Weeds - Air Date 10-18-23 The wartime policy that changed health insurance forever Ch. 3: Rethinking the path to winning single payer - Code WACK! - Air Date 4-10-23 Winning Medicare for All in the U.S. may be at a standstill at the federal level, but it's a different story In the states. In 2021 alone, 18 single-payer bills were introduced in states such as Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Oregon. If Medicare Advantage, the profit-driven entity that is decidedly NOT part of REAL Medicare, could be summed up in three words, they might be: deny, deny, deny. Peter Maybarduk joins us to discuss how the new negotiation process aims to break up drug monopolies and disband the pharmaceutical industry’s profit incentive. Ch. 8: The Challenge of Caring for Our Elders - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 11-15-23 |
Fri, 6 December 2024
Sign Up or Manage Your Membership Air Date: 12-6-24 FOLLOW US ON: REFERENCES: Naomi Klein on her doppelganger (and yours) Be Like Claud Cockburn: Tell Truths to the Masses
Produced by: ugf9dzuv Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: SAMPLE_BONUS_328_-__The_Truth_Shall_Set_Us_Free.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:25pm EST |
Tue, 3 December 2024
Air Date 12/3/2024 At a time when there are very legitimate concerns about men's place in society, the Manosphere has stepped in to fill the gap in the cultural discussion to give an answer, not a good answer but an answer, to young men about modern masculinity which included a strong push to vote Trump. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) KEY POINTS KP 1: The Role of the Press in This Moment with Matt Pearce - Why Is This Happening - Air Date 11-19-24 KP 5: Make America Male Again Fifteen years of aggrieved men - It's Been a Minute - Air Date 11-19-24 KP 6: Misinformation, Disinformation, Malinformation ( Feat Esosa Osa)- Gettin' Grown - Air Date 11-12-24 KP 7: How the Fediverse can make social fun again - WordPress - Air Date 8-12-24 (56:23) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the slow process of fixing our broken internet DEEPER DIVES (1:02:00) SECTION A - MEDIA LANDSCAPE (1:22:06) SECTION B - MEN ARE NOT OKAY (1:52:03) SECTION C - WHAT WE CAN DO SHOW IMAGE Description: Photo of the back of a young man standing on a subway platform putting headphones on as a silver train whizzes past. Credit: “People guy man sound music” by StockSnap, Pixabay | License: Pixabay
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com
Direct download: 1674_Information_Environment_-_12224_23.26.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:29am EST |
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