Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
Expertly-curated progressive politics, news, and culture produced by leftist humans, not algorithms or AI. This is an award-winning podcast that dives deeply into a wide range of national and international issues facing society and governments. We draw from hundreds of sources of progressive news and commentary. Est. 2006.
Save time by listening to a range of perspectives on a focused topic in each episode and be introduced to new sources you will not have come across on your own!
- Update frequency
- every 2 days
- Average duration
- 76 minutes
- Episodes
- 582
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
#1525 Don't Panic: Irrational Fear and Panic in the US
Air Date 11/12/2022
Today, we take a look at a few types of panic that regularly strike within communities or across the nation including various satanic panics, Halloween candy panics, and panic ove…
#1524 An Historic, World-Shaping Election, Of Sorts (China, Xi Jinping)
Air Date 11/8/2022
Today, we take a look at the life and times of China's president, Xi Jinping, and his rise to be China's first non-term-limited president who also, not coincidentally, has a bit of…
Bonus Sample #258 Chatbots and Catbots
Original Air Date: 10-24-22
Today, I am talking with Amanda, Deon and Erin. We discuss:
- The rise of AI-powered therapy bots
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#1523 Pocketbook Pain and Corporate Profits
Air Date 11/1/2022
Today, we take a look at the corporate price-gouging and massive profits happening under the cover of widespread inflation, all in the run-up to the midterm elections in which the …
#1522 An extremist cult conspired to destroy the United Kingdom from within
Air Date 10/29/2022
Today, we take a look at the destruction accomplished over decades by adherents to a libertarian, neoliberal ideology in the UK which culminated recently in the tanking value of t…
#1521 The election of a lifetime for this year
Air Date 10/26/2022
Today, we take a look at the 2022 election and the political dynamics at play as the GOP continues on its path of ideological anti-democracy and Democrats work to register new vot…
Bonus Sample #257 The Fascist Hobbit and the Conservatism of Storytelling
Original Air Date: 10-12-22
Today, I am talking with Amanda, Deon and Erin. We discuss:
- The new fascist party running Italy and their love of Lord of the Rings
- "The Jay Principle" which has somet…
#1440 The Physical Structures of Structural Racism and the Fight for Environmental Justice (Repost)
Original Air Date 9/8/2021
Today we take a look at the legacy of red-lining, the building and subsequent destruction of Black communities and the health and environmental impacts of segregation. The …
#1435 A History of White Violence in Policy and Practice (Repost)
Original Air Date 8/18/2021
Today we take a look at history of white people deciding to get their way through violence and the tradition of having the government look the other way
Be part of the sho…
#1520 Demanding Rights for Women in Iran
Air Date 10/14/2022
Today, we take a look at the women-led protests roiling Iran in response to violent crackdowns from the so-called morality police that have led to the deaths of young women demand…
Bonus Sample #256 Life is a Series of Tasks
Original Air Date: 9-27-22
Today, I am talking with Amanda, Deon and Erin. We discuss:
- Nazis using The Amanda Principle on Uncle Tom's Cabin
- Societal instability driven by businesses always "disr…
#1447 Settler Colonialist Structures Around the World (Repost)
Original Air Date 10/9/2021
Today we take a look at structures and specifics of settler colonialism from around the world including the US, Caribbean, Australia, Israel and Mexico
Be part of the show…
#1519 International Fascist Movement on the Move
Air Date 10/8/2022
Today, we take a look at the recent elections in Italy, Brazil and Sweden where far-right parties are either taking power or looking to maintain it as well as the parallels to our …
#1518 Ronald Reagan, It Turns Out, Was Bad
Air Date 10/5/2022
Today, we take a look at the life and legacy of President Ronald Reagan, the last transformational U.S. president who's regime we are still living in. Between his neoliberal econom…
#1517 Reverse Freedom Rides (Human Trafficking Asylum Seekers)
Air Date 9/30/2022
Today, we take a look at the attention-grabbing stunt of transporting asylum seekers from Texas to Martha's Vineyard and other politically-liberal destinations and the White suprem…
Bonus Sample #255 Good Questions and Bad Answers
Original Air Date: 9-8-22
Today, I am talking with Amanda, Deon and Erin. We discuss:
- Dystopian longtermism
- Why the Man-O-Sphere won’t get you a girlfriend
- Cultural commodification
#1516 The Clean-Up Crew (The System of Activist Judges Defending Trump)
Air Date 9/24/2022
Today, we take a look at the decades-long scheme to funnel conservative activist judges into the judiciary to support Republican policy goals and the resulting legal bulwark defend…
#1515 Set the Sun on the British Empire (Queen Elizabeth II)
Air Date 9/21/2022
Today, we take a look at the history and legacy of British imperialism and slavery through the lens of the divergent views on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the growing move…
#1514 Creating a Digital World of our Worst Habits
Air Date 9/17/2022
Today, we take a look at the way terrible patterns of the past like colonialism, racism, propaganda, feudalism, and abuse of corporate monopoly power are recreating and re-entrench…
#1513 The Morality of Debt and Forgiveness
Air Date 9/14/2022
Today, we take a look at the history and hysteria behind debt and debt forgiveness while Biden is canceling student debt and opponents of the idea are reacting in the most predicta…