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
#1460 The Growing Threat of Minority Rule
Air Date 12/12/2021
Today we take a look at the many structures of American government that tilt to favor minority rule and conservatism which, in our case, is one and the same. Some structures like …
#1459 Disability Is Not Merely Physical or Mental But Is Also Social
Air Date 12/8/2021
Today we take a look at the state of disability rights and reexamine what we thought we knew about what it means to be disabled in a society that is not built to accommodate variou…
Bonus Sample #242 It's Always the Season for Male Supremacy
#1458 White Supremacy on Trial (Rittenhouse in Kenosha, Arbery Murder, Charlottesville Nazis)
Air Date 12/2/2021
Today we take a look at the state of White Supremacy in the US through the lens of three recent trials; Kyle Rittenhouse's acquittal for his role in the deaths of two and injury of…
#1385 The Lost Causes of the Confederacy and the Forty Fives (Repost)
Original Air Date 12/09/2020
Today we take a look in real-time at the construction of the world's newest Lost Cause narrative, the failed re-election of Donald Trump. This is not our country's first …
#1457 GOP Authoritarianism Will Likely To Get Worse Before It Gets Better
Air Date 11/24/2021
Today we take a look at the state of the ever-increasingly authoritarian Republican Party as they hack the media by being too terrible to hold to account, hack the democratic proc…
#1456 Capitalism and Colonialism vs Climate Progress
Air Date 11/20/2021
Today we take a look at the state of international climate negotiations and the intersection of capitalism and colonialism in the role of indigenous peoples around the world in st…
Bonus Sample: You want it to be one way, but it's that other way
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Original Air Date: 11-2-21
Today, I am joined by Amanda, Erin and Deon to discuss:
- Te deths of the Red Scare™
- Why some Christians think that empathy is a …
#1379 Tell Stories, Not Myths: Democracy in America (Repost)
Original Air Date 11/10/2020
Today we take a look at the long and shifting history of the myth of democracy in America. We've never had it since the beginning but the reasons have shifted, ebbed and …
#1455 How to End Homelessness
Air Date 11/12/2021
Today we take a look at the current state of homelessness in America and the best solution we currently know of to tackle the problem. Surprisingly simple, the best way to end hom…
#1454 The Problem with Facebook is Facebook
Air Date 11/9/2021
Today we take a look at the Facebook business model that is driving hate, lies, violence, extremism, and the breakdown of democracy around the world as well as some of the regulato…
Bonus Edition: Playing With Children
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Original Air Date: 10-21-21
Today, I am joined by Amanda, Erin and Deon to discuss:
- Why "Blacks Rule"
- Hostile Archi…
#1453 The Tea Party Too (School Board Backlash and the Dark Money Behind It)
Air Date 11/6/2021
Today we take a look at the raucous school board meetings where parents have been expressing their displeasure with protecting one another from a deadly pandemic or making children…
#1452 Worked to Death: Pandemics Expose the Power of Labor
Air Date 11/3/2021
Today we take a look at the current wave of strikes and labor movements through the lens of pandemic economics and the history of businesses abuse of the worker.
Be part of the sho…
#1376 Tell Stories, Not Myths: America is a Force But Not Always For Good (Repost + Bonus Clips)
Air Date 10/21/2020
Today we take a look at some of the many zany foreign misadventures the United States has had over the past 100 years. And by "zany misadventures" I mean the naked pursuit of capi…
#1451 The Foxification of American Media (Fox News 25th Anniversary)
Air Date 10/27/2021
Today we take a look at some of the ways that 25 years of Fox News has reshaped our media and political landscape. Crucially, understanding Fox isn't just about their influence on…
#1450 Tax the Mother-Forking Rich (Pandora Papers and other Financial Tricks)
Air Date 10/23/2021
Today we take a look at a few of the ways that enormous corporate and personal and family wealth is being hidden around the world, most prominently in the United States.
Be part o…
Bonus Sample #239 You probably need a therapist
#1449 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, 2Spirit and Relatives (MMIWG2S+)
Air Date 10/20/2021
Today we take a look at the flip side of the so-called "Missing White Woman Syndrome" and highlight the structural legacies of colonialism that have put indigenous communities in …
#1448 Pillars of Copaganda and the Lies We Are Told About Police
Air Date 10/16/2021
Today we take a look at some of the structures of "copaganda," from misreported stats and coverups to propagandistic opinion articles and police procedurals that flood the pop cul…