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
#1305 How to Build an Empire (A History of American Expansion) (Repost)
Air Date 9/13/2019
Today we take a look at the history and the process of the building of an American empire that currently spans the globe but allows as few people of color to vote as possible.
Be p…
#1357 What Trump is Invoking When He Invokes Manifest Destiny (Repost)
Air Date 7/10/2020
Today we take a look at the origins and legacy of Manifest Destiny, the historical term most closely tied to our most toxic version of nostalgia: the one longing for America's gold…
#1432 Wishing Cuba well in one breath, enforcing the embargo in the next
Air Date 8/1/2021
Today we take a look at the anti-government protests in Cuba in the context of decades of anti-communist propaganda in the US and our punishing embargo intended to destabilize Cuba …
#1431 Stealing Native Children and Their Future (Residential Schools)
Air Date 7/28/2021
Today we take a look at the legacy of residential schools for native children in the US and Canada. We hear some of the voices of victims, from those looking to establish truth and…
#1430 Abortion laws are changing and so is how we talk about it
Air Date 7/24/2021
Today we take a look at the messaging wars over abortion and reproductive justice more broadly as well as the politics of supporting full abortion rights and the likely restriction…
#1334 Your Life Will Have Been What You Paid Attention To (Attention Economy) (Repost)
Air Date 2/4/2020
Today we take a look at the past, present and future of behavior modification from worms to pigeons to prisoners, and finally, internet users.
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Bonus Sample: Even Nazis Want to do a War Dance
Air Date: 7-2-21
Today, I am joined by Amanda, Erin and Deon to discuss:
- Why the right wing, and many others, fetishize native tribes in the US
HEAR THE REST! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE…
#1429 The Grit, Glory and Gaslighting of the Olympic Games
Air Date 7/13/2021
Today we take a look at the costs of the Olympic Games including financial, ethical, moral and social. Private profits come at the hands of public investment, disruption of communi…
#1361 Building a Better System of Justice (Repost)
Air Date 8/12/2020
Today we take a look at Restorative Justice as an antidote to a wide range of injustices we face, from mass incarceration to having a toddler throw a cheerio at your forehead and m…
#1428 Labor Shortages and the War to Keep Wages Low and Profits High
Air Date 7/6/2021
Today we take a look at the talking points and policy pushes that have kept wages in America artificially low for decades. The circumstances today are almost entirely new with unpre…
Bonus: Justifications rather than justice
Air Date: 6-17-21
Today, I am joined by Amanda, Erin and Deon to discuss:
- Exploitation of the poor carefully explained away
- Increasing wealth of the ungodly wealthy raucously celebrated
Produce…
#1427 The Consequences of Everyday Racism
Air Date 6/29/2021
Today we take a look at racism on a more personal level than usual with a focus on individual lived experiences that still speak to the systemic nature racism more broadly.
Be part…
#1426 The Liberation and Assimilation of Pride Month
Air Date 6/26/2021
Today we take a look at the mainstreaming of Pride in recent decades and what that is doing to the liberatory origins of the Pride movement. Corporatization and "pink washing" high…
#1425 Remembering and Learning from History (Tulsa Massacre and Juneteenth)
Air Date 6/23/2021
Today we take a look at the purposeful effort to erase the history of anti-Black terrorism in America and the renewed efforts expose our true history in order to learn from it and …
#1424 Fighting with at least two hands tied (Conservative Democrats Manchin and Sinema)
Air Date 6/19/2021
Today we take a look at the politics of obstruction in service to big donors' interests while sacrificing the ability to run a functioning democracy in the process.
Be part of the…
Value: Health Insurance companies and Surveillance Capitalism
Do you feel valued by your health insurance company? Because they are definitely working to extract as much value out of you as they can.
Air Date: 6-4-21 Today, I am joined by Amanda, Erin and Deon …
#1423 A Microcosm of our Broken Society (Sports)
Air Date 6/12/2021
Today we take a look at the politics of sports including racism, sexism, capitalism, media and mental health. So, pretty much just like regular politics but with the one group of r…
#1422 Teach No Evil, Protest No Evil, Vote Not At All
Air Date 6/9/2021
Today we take a look at the motivations behind legislation being introduced in statehouses around the country to ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory, criminalize the right to p…
#1421 The Rise of China and the Freak Out of the West
Air Date 6/6/2021
Today we take a look at the tensions building between the US and China with an emphasis on understanding the context in which China has grown from a Cold War afterthought into a for…
#1420 Alexa Is Not Your Friend (Digital vs Democratic Futures)
Air Date 6/1/2021
Today we take a look at the world of surveillance capitalism and the current age of techno-optimism that is just the newest iteration of the age-old effort to consolidate power and …