Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

Air Date 8/6/2025 Today's slate of topics may feel disjointed at first until you realize that they're not. We set out to produce an episode in which we explored powerful men and those who look up to them from various angles and so that ended up including both real and fictional men from supervillains to superheroes. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Tired of Putin's 'Bullshit': Trump Reverses, Says Us Should Send Weapons to Ukraine - Erin Burnett Outfront - Air Date 7-8-25 KP 2: What Does Trump See in Putin? Part 1 - The Foreign Affairs Interview - Air Date 3-14-25 KP 3: Russia's Indoctrination Machine Ft. Ian Garner Part 1 - The New Liberal Podcast - Air Date 5-31-25 KP 4: The Next Generation of Maga Influencers Part 1 - Some More News - Air Date 5-28-25 KP 5: Why the Right Hates James Gunn's Superman and Loves the Snyderverse Part 1 - Cinema Survivors - Air Date 7-16-25 KP 6: Super Mad About Superman Part 1 - Today, Explained - Air Date 7-18-25 KP 7: Brief Mehdi Hasan Vs Jordan Peterson Part 1 - Conspirituality - Air Date 7-26-25 KP 8: Mehdi Hasan Jubilee Debate Left Me Speechless Part 1 - Bulwark Takes - Air Date 7-22-25 (01:02:25) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On why supporting the rich and powerful is pathetic DEEPER DIVES (01:10:31) SECTION A: RUSSIA (01:46:10) SECTION B: MANOSPHERE (02:21:33) SECTION C: DEBATE CULTURE (03:39:51) SECTION D: SUPERMAN/MEDIA

Original Air Date: 7–22-2023 Today, we take a look at the action needed to curb and adapt to the extreme weather that climate change is already delivering Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Climate and Energy Journalist Andrew Freedman on the Spate of Record-Shattering Extreme Weather - The BradCast - Air Date 7-10-23 Ch. 2: Bill McKibben Climate Crisis Needs Urgent Action as Earth Records Hottest Temps Ever - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-7-23 Ch. 3: Climate and Energy Journalist Andrew Freedman on the Spate of Record-Shattering Extreme Weather Part 2 - The BradCast - Air Date 7-10-23 Ch. 4: Emily Sanders on How Not to Interview an Oil CEO, Kaufman & Bozuwa on Fighting Climate Disrupters - CounterSpin - Air date 7-7-23 Ch. 5: Climate Precipice & Israel’s Palestinian Expulsion w Bill McKibben, Basel Adra - The Majority Report - Air Date 7-12-23 Ch. 6: To Be Forewarned The Historical Record on Climate Change - WhoWhatWhy - Air date 7-14-23 Ch. 7: Disaster Unpreparedness - Today, Explained - Air Date 7-13-23 Ch. 8: How Will the Next Generation of Cities Address the Challenges of Climate Change? - VOX - Air Date 6-15-23 Ch. 9: Emily Sanders on How Not to Interview an Oil CEO, Kaufman & Bozuwa on Fighting Climate Disrupters Part 2 - CounterSpin - Air date 7-7-23 Ch. 10: Rep. AOC Reintroduces the Green New Deal on its 4th Anniversary - RepAOC - Air Date 4-20-23 Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date: 8-1-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube (This episode drops on YouTube on Friday - please share!) Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: AI Will Never Be Your Kid’s Friend - The Atlantic ChatGPT May Be Eroding Critical Thinking Skills, According to a New MIT Study - Time MIT researchers say using ChatGPT can rot your brain. The truth is a little more complicated - The Conversation What Happens When People Don’t Understand How AI Works - The Atlantic Steve Jobs on Why Computers Are Like a Bicycle for the Mind (1990) - The Marginalian Progressive grassroots activist groups must adopt AI or risk irrelevance - Sacramento Bee Final Thoughts & A Warning: AI as a Tool, Not a Substitute for Thinking - Harvard Kennedy School - Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation Can AI Chatbots Worsen Psychosis and Cause Delusions? - Psychology Today TAKE ACTION: One Million Rising Trainings In a blue state? Help stop ICE overreach Use the 5 Calls app for scripts and to reach all your elected officials Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 Find your Indivisible group - or start one Write to the DNC Join our Discord Server Reach us via Signal: Bestoftheleft.01 Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts!

Air Date: 7/31/2025 Who would have thought that a political movement built almost exclusively on conspiracy theories and a cult of personality would end up being threatened by the cult leader being implicated in the biggest and worst conspiracy coverup… even though it’s been well documented for decades? Content warning for detailed accusations leveled against Trump and Epstein by their alleged victims. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! KEY POINTS KP 1: Epstein Files Firestorm Shows the Power of Online Conspiracy - There Are No Girls on the Internet - Air Date 7-8-25 KP 2: Trump Launches Wild Conspiracy Theory Smokescreen After Being Named in Epstein Files - What a Day - Air Date 7-24-25 KP 3: Epstein Conspiracy, or Epstein Conspiracy Theory? - Radio Atlantic - Air Date 7-7-25 KP 4: Lame Duck Trump Can't Deny Epstein Shockers: Wolff - The Daily Beast Podcast - Air Date 7-18-25 KP 5: Why They_re Protecting Jeffrey Epstein_s Secrets (with Julie K. Brown) - Lever Time - Air Date 7-6-25 KP 6: Epstein Exposed: Trump, Mossad & the Elites Dark Secrets - Double Down News - Air Date 7-21-25 (00:51:26) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the role of human psychology in conspiracies and authoritarianism DEEPER DIVES (00:58:55) SECTION A: THE VICTIMS SHOULD BE THE FOCUS (01:34:23) SECTION B: BROKEN NEWS: WE'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE (01:49:11) SECTION C: IS THERE A DEEPSTATE? (02:14:19) SECTION D: ENIGMAS NEVER DIE (02:39:05) SECTION E: THE MEDIA IS BAD THIS (03:02:29) SECTION F: TRUMP & HIS BASE SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Photo of a bus stop in the UK with a large photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump. An unidentifiable person in a hoodie and yellow vest is closing the bus stop frame. Credit: “Put this photo everywhere for Trump's UK visit” via Crowdfunder by user Everyone Hates Elon | Changes: Cropped

Air Date: 7-27-2025 Back when I worked in the climate movement, just after the turn of the century, we knew that the extreme weather we were warning about would become ever-more clear to see in people's lived experiences and assumed that any doubts people had about the science of climate change would be wiped away with the evidence they could see with their own eyes as weather became more intense and less predictable. Of course, we didn't foreseen that we were headed straight into the eye of a storm of partisan conspiracism that would fully take over a third of the political spectrum. But here we are, head for high ground. The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue by Mike Tidwell Ebook Audiobook Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Flooding Is Common in Texas Hill Country. This Was Different - Consider This - Air Date 7-7-25 KP 2: Trump Press Secs Fury at Media Over Texas Flood Exposes Worst of Maga - The Daily Blast - Air Date 7-9-25 KP 3: Why Kristi Noems Incompetence Matters Part 1- Bulwark Takes - Air Date 7-10-25 KP 4: Republicans Get Exposed on Fox Live - The Adam Mockler Show - Air Date 7-10-25 KP 5: Weekly Roundup: Texas Floods and the Vengeful Theology of Kristi Noem + Why the Concentration Camp Had to Be in Florida - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 7-11-25 KP 6: The Real Conspiracy Behind the Texas Floods - More to the Story - Air Date 7-16-25 KP 7: Disasters, Natural and Man-made Part 1 - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 7-8-25 (00:51:08) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On why we need to fight ignorance with research The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue by Mike Tidwell Ebook Audiobook DEEPER DIVES (00:57:45) SECTION A: FLOOD DETAILS A1: Texas Flooding Tragedy Was Both Predictable and Predicted Part 1 - The Bradcast - Air Date 7-7-25 A2: Flooding Is Common in Texas Hill Country. This Was Different Part 2- Consider This - Air Date 7-7-25 A3: Texas Flooding Tragedy Was Both Predictable and Predicted Part 2 - The Bradcast - Air Date 7-7-25 A4: This Is Not a Good Time to Cut Funding for Weather Forecasting - Even More News - Air Date 7-8-25 (01:33:24) SECTION B: FASCIST REGIME B1: Texas Floods and the Vengeful Theology of Kristi Noem + Why the Concentration Camp Had to Be in Florida Part 2 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 7-11-25 B2: Why Kristi Noems Incompetence Matters Part 2 - Bulwark Takes - Air Date 7-10-25 B3: Devastating Texas Floods Highlight Stakes of Vital Weather Services Amid Reckless Trump Cuts - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 7-8-25 B4: Trump Press Secs Fury at Media Over Texas Flood Exposes Worst of Maga Part 2 - The Daily Blast - Air Date 7-9-25 B5: Disasters, Natural and Man-made Part 2 - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 7-8-25 B6: GOP's Conspiracy Theorist Problem Worsens as Flood Disasters Trigger Misinformation Frenzy - The Briefing - Air Date 7-11-25 (02:13:59) SECTION C: CLIMATE POLICY CAPTURE C1: A Brighter Climate Future Really Part 1 - The Insurgents - Air Date 7-12-25 C2: The War on Climate Change Policy W/ Lauren Windsor Part 1- The Majority Report - Air Date 7-18-25 C3: Idea: Let Big Oil Dump Its Fracking Into Our Lakes, Rivers, Etc. - Jim Hightower's Radio Lowdown - Air Date 7-10-25 C4: The War on Climate Change Policy W/ Lauren Windsor Part 2 - The Majority Report - Air Date 7-18-25 C5: How the 'big Beautiful Bill' Is Bad for the Climate Part 1 - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 7-8-25 C6: A Brighter Climate Future Really Part 2 - The Insurgents - Air Date 7-12-25 C7: How the 'big Beautiful Bill' Is Bad for the Climate...

Air Date: 7-27-2025 Back when I worked in the climate movement, just after the turn of the century, we knew that the extreme weather we were warning about would become ever-more clear to see in people's lived experiences and assumed that any doubts people had about the science of climate change would be wiped away with the evidence they could see with their own eyes as weather became more intense and less predictable. Of course, we didn't foreseen that we were headed straight into the eye of a storm of partisan conspiracism that would fully take over a third of the political spectrum. But here we are, head for high ground. The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue by Mike Tidwell Ebook Audiobook Direct Download KEY POINTS KP 1: Flooding Is Common in Texas Hill Country. This Was Different - Consider This - Air Date 7-7-25 KP 2: Trump Press Secs Fury at Media Over Texas Flood Exposes Worst of Maga - The Daily Blast - Air Date 7-9-25 KP 3: Why Kristi Noems Incompetence Matters Part 1- Bulwark Takes - Air Date 7-10-25 KP 4: Republicans Get Exposed on Fox Live - The Adam Mockler Show - Air Date 7-10-25 KP 5: Weekly Roundup: Texas Floods and the Vengeful Theology of Kristi Noem + Why the Concentration Camp Had to Be in Florida - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 7-11-25 KP 6: The Real Conspiracy Behind the Texas Floods - More to the Story - Air Date 7-16-25 KP 7: Disasters, Natural and Man-made Part 1 - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 7-8-25 (00:51:08) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR on why we need to fight ignorance with research The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue by Mike Tidwell Ebook Audiobook DEEPER DIVES (00:57:45) SECTION A: FLOOD DETAILS (01:33:24) SECTION B: FASCIST REGIME (02:13:59) SECTION C: CLIMATE POLICY CAPTURE

Air Date 7/23/2025 Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani's recent win in the Democratic primary in the race for Mayor of New York City has thrust socialism back into the spotlight. Perhaps we can have a calm, rational, thoughtful debate about it this time... though it would be the first. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Old Democrats Must Go or Trump NEVER Will - UNFTR Media - Air Date 7-15-25 KP 2: 'The Economy Is Rigged": Robert Reich on Zohran Mamdani, The Democratic Party, Inequality, and Trump - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-26-25 KP 3: Why We Don't Revolt - Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber - Air Date 6-18-25 KP 4: Socialism for Absolute Beginners - Second Thought - Air Date 5-6-22 KP 5: Why We Should Fight For Paid Family Leave ft Natasha Hakimi Zapata - THIS IS REVOLUTION podcast - Air Date 2-20-25 KP 6: What If We Ran The Economy? - Andrewism - Air Date 2-3-25 (00:47:58) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the US being inwardly focused to our own detriment DEEPER DIVES (00:57:10) SECTION A: HISTORICAL CONTEXT (01:45:23) SECTION B: FAILURE TO LAUNCH (02:16:09) SECTION C: CAPITALISM SUCKS (02:42:05) SECTION D: MAMDANI (02:55:29) SECTION E: VISION OF THE FUTURE SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date: 7–22-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube (This episode drops on YouTube on Friday - please share!) Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: Exploring portable benefits for gig workers - Brookings Institute Ride-Hailing Apps Make Traffic Worse - And Now They’re Admitting It - Futurism Tipping Is Racist and Harms Us All — It’s Past Time to Eliminate It - Inequality.org Expanding food banks is no substitute for tackling poverty, charities warn - The Guardian GoFundMe Is The New FEMA - Wessiler via Substack GoFundMe Is a Boon for Disaster Survivors. Especially the Wealthy Ones. - The New York Times How GoFundMe Perpetuates Myths of Merit and Deservingness - MIT’s The Reader GoFundMe CEO - Dropout.tv For Trump’s ‘no taxes on tips,’ the devil is in the details - The Conversation EXTRAS: Snopes: Investigating claims Kerr County rejected Biden admin's $10M offer to improve flood warning systems - Snopes via Yahoo News Study Erin mentions at 00:28:38 showing those in lower economic class think they are higher than they are. - Marketplace Did politics delay approval of Kerr County life-saving infrastructure? - Chrom.com (Former Houston Chronicle digital)) TAKE ACTION: One Million Rising Trainings In a blue state? Help stop ICE overreach Use the 5 Calls app for scripts and to reach all your elected officials Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 Find your Indivisible group - or start one Write to the DNC Join our Discord Server Reach us via Signal: Bestoftheleft.01 Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts!

Original Air Date: 10–16-2020 Transcript Today we take a look at the history and origins of the American militia movement right up to the recent plot to kidnap the Governor of Michigan, the likelihood of more violence and the high probability that they will show up at polling places on Election Day. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads! Join our Discord community! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: FBI Foils Right-Wing Plot to Kidnap Michigan Gov. Months After Trump Urged "Liberation" of State - Democracy Now! - Air Date 10-9-20 Ch. 2: Ohio has long history with militias; 2020 saw a surge in activity - WBNS 10TV - Air Date 10-9-20 Ch. 3: Rise of Violent Militias Prompts National Fears After Foiled Kidnapping Plot - The Takeaway - Air Date 10-12-20 Ch. 4: Mary McCord on Unlawful Militias - CounterSpin - Air Date 10-9-20 Ch. 5: Great Replacement Theory - RE-EDUCATION - Air Date 8-16-19 Ch. 6: Protests Put Spotlight on the Relationship Between Armed White Vigilantes, Militia Groups, and Law Enforcement - The Takeaway - Air Date 8-31-20 Ch. 7: Robert Evans Are We In a Second Civil War? - The Zero Hour with RJ Eskow - Air Date 10-13-20 Ch. 8: Kathleen Belew Explains the Long History of the White Power Movement and its Global Plans for "Race War" - The Truth Report w. Chauncey DeVega - Air Date 5-26-19 Ch. 9: Did Trump's "Liberate Michigan" Result in Kidnapped Governor? - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 10-8-20

Air Date 7/16/2025 It increasingly feels like we are completely past the era of legitimate differences in political philosophy and policy preferences. Now that the Republican governing style has been completely consumed by Trumpism, we've entered the era of scam politics which fits nicely with Trump's traditional retail scams, capitalism's continual reinvention of financial scams, and the new age of crypto scams. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads! Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Weekly Roundup Mamdani and the Rebirth of Birtherism + Christofascism in the Big Bill - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 7-4-25 KP 2: Make America Uninsured Again Part 1- Today, Explained - Air Date 7-2-25 KP 3: Michael Galant on Sanctions & Immigration, LaToya Parker on Budgets Racial Impacts - CounterSpin - Air Date 6-20-25 KP 4: Why Gutting SNAP Makes the Economy Worse for Everyone (with Lily Roberts) - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 6-3-25 KP 5: The Big Beautiful Bill, Explained Part 1- Leeja Miller - Air Date 7-2-25 KP 6: Why Private Equity Is Buying Hospitals & Shutting Them Down - More Perfect Union - Air Date 6-26-25 KP 7: Mind-Boggling Trump Voters Suddenly Learn Hes Screwing Them Badly - THE DAILY BLAST - Air Date 6-30-25 KP 8: Trump Supporters SEETHE After Getting SCAMMED by His Meme Coin He Fed Us Part 1 - The Humanist Report - Air Date 1-20-25 (00:56:27) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On how desperation drives scams and how progressive populism can turn the tide DEEPER DIVES (01:03:55) SECTION A: BIG BEAUTIFUL SCAM (02:39:46) SECTION B: TRUMPS PERSONAL SCAMS (03:19:19) SECTION C: OTHER SCAMS SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Composite of a high contrast image of Trump smirking and giving a thumbs up, over the outline of the US filled in with the flag, and the word SCAM over his chest. Credit: Composite design A. Hoffman. Elements from Pixabay. Trump, Scam, US | License

Air Date: 7–13-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: ⁃ The calculated, propaganda motives behind “Mar-a-Lago face” and bizarre MAGA hyper-femininity ⁃ How MAGA uses Kristi Noem’s “Border Barbie” vibes to attempt to soften its vicious immigration policy, and project victimization ⁃ How bad AI imagery is now the look of modern fascism ⁃ The cruelty of the White House X account - a propaganda machine of memes (run by Groypers) ⁃ The Right’s psychopathic treatment of immigrants, and bracing ourselves for what’s coming next ⁃ …and more in BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm (MEMBERS ONLY!) FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: MAGA glam isn’t about beauty — it’s about politics - Vox The “Delicate, Beautiful, Tiny” Fascism of Kristi Noem - Mother Jones AI: The New Aesthetics of Fascism - New Socialist The Gleeful Cruelty of the White House X Account - The Atlantic The Right’s Cruelty to Immigrants Is Psychopathic - Current Affairs EXTRAS: @Novaramedia and @blindboyboatclub (The video on Trump and wrestling that Erin couldn’t recall during the show!) MEMBERS ONLY Systems are crumbling – but daily life continues. The dissonance is real - The Guardian TAKE ACTION: July 17th - National Day of Action - Good Trouble Lives On One Million Rising Trainings In a blue state? Help stop ICE overreach Use the 5 Calls app for scripts and to reach all your elected officials Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 Find your Indivisible group - or start one Write to the DNC Join our Discord Server Reach us via Signal: Bestoftheleft.01 Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening!

Air Date 7/12/2025 The idea of the founders was to separate and balance the powers of the federal government and that, as Madison wrote, that ambition would counteract ambition. The problem we face now is that the ambition of the Supreme Court is to give as much power as possible to the executive branch because, ironically, they seem to be nostalgic for a king. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Trump, the Imperial Presidency, and How the Bush & Biden Administrations Got Us Here w/ James Bovard - Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael - Air Date 7-2-25 KP 2: The Shadow Docket and How the Supreme Court Uses It - Bloomberg Law - Air Date 11-3-21 KP 3: SCOTUS Clears the Way for Trump's Lawlessness - Strict Scrutiny - Air Date 6-30-25 KP 4: Hot Shadow Docket Summer with Leah Litman Part 1 - Justice By Design - Air Date 6-20-25 KP 5: The Many Compromises of Elena Kagan - Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts - Air Date 6-21-25 KP 6: Trump-GOP’s Supreme Court Rubber Stamp w/ Elie Mystal - The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder Part 1 - Air Date 6-30-25 KP 7: Why Supreme Court Approved Trump's Mass Deportation to Foreign Concentration Camp Scheme - Thom Hartmann Progam - Air Date 6-25-25 (00:50:22) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the One Million Rising activist trainings from Indivisible.org DEEPER DIVES (00:56:04) SECTION A: SHADOWY & FUTURE RULINGS (01:25:26) SECTION B: THE IMPLICATIONS (01:50:55) SECTION C: THE GOP'S JUDGES (02:25:22) SECTION D: DICTATOR TRUMP (02:46:07) SECTION E: SORT OF POSITIVE I GUESS SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Composite image of the conservative justices on the Supreme Court in front of a giant, elaborate gold frame with a painting of an angry-looking Trump in king/general regalia and tie. Credit: Composite design A. Hoffman. Elements: Portrait of Supreme Court Justices, Public Domain | Other elements from Pixabay. License Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Air Date 7/9/2025 It's an old joke that "military intelligence" is a good example of an oxymoron so I just asked an AI chatbot to finish a joke about what a military becomes when they implement artificial intelligence. It said, "an oxymoron squared - or as the generals call it, "strategically enhanced stupidity with a confidence interval of 95%" which is not funny but still managed to be pretty on point regarding the dangers of overconfidence that inevitably follows from the implementation of new technology. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads! Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Empire of AI w/ Karen Hao - Why Is This Happening - Air Date 6-3-25 KP 2: The REAL Reason Investors Are Going All In on Palantir - More Perfect Union - Air Date 6-24-25 KP 3: The New Military Industry Complex w Sam Biddle Part 1- Tech Won't Save Us - Air Date 6-5-25 KP 4: Jeff Hauser on DOGE After Musk, Katya Schwenk on Boeing Deal - CounterSpin - Air Date 6-6-25 KP 5: Resisting "Cop City" in America's Most Surveilled, Unequal City w/ Micah Herskind Part 1 - This Is Hell! - Air Date 6-25-25 KP 6: Empire of AI: Karen Hao & Roger McNamee Expose Sam Altman, Musk & Big Tech - The Nerd Reich - Air Date 6-16-25 KP 7: Is AI Productivity Worth Our Humanity w/ Prof. Michael Sandel - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-26-25 (00:55:20) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the coming merger between big tech and the military DEEPER DIVES (01:00:39) SECTION A: SURVEILLANCE (01:32:18) SECTION B: MILITARIZED CAPITALISM (02:01:38) SECTION C: COMPANIES VS REGULATION (02:29:40) SECTION D: HUMAN DRAIN SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Photo of the Palantir logo with snow on it on the Palantir pavilion facade at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Credit: “Palantir pavilion, World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland” by Cory Doctorow, Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Slightly cropped Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X

Air Date: 7–7-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: ( FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: The Left Needs to Learn the Difference Between Imperfect Allies and Our True Opponents - Films for Action “America Has No Left Wing” with Vivek Chibber - Factually with Adam Conover (Only between time codes 27:36-52:20) Building Resilient Organizations: Toward Joy and Durable Power in a Time of Crisis - Convergence Magazine The Left is Eating Itself - First Person from The New York Times American Politics Only Pretends to Work - The New Republic MEMBERS ONLY: It’s Nice to Be right - New York Magazine “MAMDANI” via @astorwalk on Instagram TAKE ACTION: July 17th - National Day of Action - Good Trouble Lives On Use the 5 Calls app for scripts and to reach all your elected officials Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 Find your Indivisible group - or start one Write to the DNC Join our Discord Server Reach us via Signal: Bestoftheleft.01 Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Original Air Date: 10-21-20 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 capitalism at any cost, the support of military coups and other undemocratic overthrows of foreign governments and wars for oil and resources in an unabashed attempt to keep America wealthy and the rest of the world less so - all while maintaining an anti-imperial, pro-democracy, pro-freedom, live-and-let-live poker face Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: The bipartisan empire machine that runs the United States - Intercepted with Jeremy Scahill - Air Date 9-26-18 Ch. 2: Empire Unhinged with Aslı Bâli & Aziz Rana - The Dig - Air Date 6-11-20 Ch. 3: American Empire Part 1 - Scene on Radio - Air Date 4-29-20 Ch. 4: Ghosts of Mossadegh: The Iran Cables, U.S. Empire, and the Arc of History - Intercepted with Jeremy Scahill - Air Date 11-20-19 Ch. 5: 2020 Hindsight on Iraq - Open Source with Christopher Lydon - Air Date 1-9-20 Ch. 6: American Empire Part 2 - Scene on Radio - Air Date 4-29-20 Ch. 7: American Empire Part 3 - Scene on Radio - Air Date 4-29-20 Ch. 7: The Always Stumbling US Empire - Citations Needed - Air Date 10-25-17 Ch. 9: The Other 9/11: Part One - Making Contact - Air Date 9-3-13 Ch. 10: Empire Unhinged with Aslı Bâli & Aziz Rana Part 2 - The Dig - Air Date 6-11-20 Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date 7/2/2025 The militarization of Trump's deportation regime and response to protesters is the clearest example of his desire to implement a fully authoritarian government. Pure and simple. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: America Hates The Left & We Need A Plan - Olurinatti - Air Date 12-8-24 KP 2: America Has No Left Wing with Vivek Chibber - Factually! with Adam Conover - Air Date 6-18-25 KP 3: What's 'Left' in America?: The Moral Apathy of Liberal Optimism - Cheyenne Lin - Air Date 9-2-24 KP 4: Ralph Nader’s Message to Doomers: "Stop Making Excuses!" - Current Affairs - Air Date 6-22-25 KP 5: The Worst People in Politics Are LOSING IT Over Zohran Mamdani - Current Affairs - Air Date 6-25-25 KP 6: “We Fight for Working People with No Apology”: Zohran Mamdani Beats Cuomo in NYC Mayoral Primary - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-25-25 (00:45:01) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On how to fund the politics we need DEEPER DIVES (00:56:26) SECTION A: PROTESTS (01:25:24) SECTION B: HISTORY & INFIGHTING (02:01:22) SECTION C: SUBVERSION & THE RIGHT (02:38:02) SECTION D: ORGANIZING (03:24:46) SECTION E: THEORY SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Photo of a grid of multi-colored Zohran Mamdani political posters that say “Zohran For Mayor” and a photo of Zohran. Credit: “Zohran for Mayor” by Eden, Janine and Jim, Flickr | License: CC BY 2.0 Changes: Cropped and expanded background Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date: 6–30-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: Trump's Manufactured Crisis and the Urgency of Strategic Nonviolence - In These Times A Song of “Full Self-Driving”: Elon Isn’t Tony Stark. He’s Michael Scott. - The Bulwark They Always Call You Unrealistic - Current Affairs The Gobs of Money and Lack of Vision at the Heart of Centrism - In These Times Red Tape Isn’t the Only Reason America Can’t Build - The Atlantic SOLVED! SONG! Concepts: Human Intelligence * Song: Artificial Intelligence: “Make Some Enemies” inspired directly by SOLVED! #13: “How to Make Enemies and Influence People” (June 30, 2025) TAKE ACTION: Use the 5 Calls app for scripts and to reach all your elected officials about stopping the Big Stupid Cruel Bill Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 July 17th - National Day of Action - Good Trouble Lives On Find your Indivisible group - or start one Write to the DNC Join our Discord Server Reach us via Signal: Bestoftheleft.01 Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts!

Air Date 6/28/2025 The militarization of Trump's deportation regime and response to protesters is the clearest example of his desire to implement a fully authoritarian government. Pure and simple. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) KEY POINTS KP 1: Papers, Please: Hayes Flags New Police Tactic Trend in Trumps America - All In w Chris Hayes - Air Date 6-19-25 KP 2: David Gilbert of WIRED on Trump Demand for Ethnic Cleansing in U.S. - The BradCast - Air Date 6-17-25 KP 3: Trump, ICE, and the US War on Migrants - Red Flag Radio - Air Date 6-15-25 KP 4: Palantir Peter Thiel's Data-Mining Firm Helps DOGE Build Master Database to Surveil Immigrants - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-3-25 KP 5: Tanks On DCs Streets And A US Senator In Handcuffs - Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 6-14-25 KP 6: The Military Occupation of Los Angeles - and the USA - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 6-13-25 KP 7: Trump Deploys Troops Against LA Protesters. Plus, Journalists Under 'Less Lethal' Fire. - On the Media - Air Date 6-13-25 KP 8: Tanks On DCs Streets And A US Senator In Handcuffs Part 2 - Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 6-14-25 (01:00:15) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On protesting with a theory of change DEEPER DIVES (01:07:52) SECTION A: LA PROTESTS AND CIVIL UNREST (02:01:45) SECTION B: FASCIST PLAYBOOK (03:05:41) SECTION C: IMMIGRATION CONTEXT (03:34:17) SECTION D: SURVEILLANCE SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Photo of a protest sign held in the air depicting a colorful drawing of a happy brown-skinned family surrounded by flowers. The text “No more detention” is at the top and “No more deportations. Abolish I.C.E.” is at the bottom. Credit: “Abolish ICE protest” by Master Stever Rapport, Flickr | License: CC BY 2.0 Changes: Cropped and expanded background

Air Date: 6-25-2025 We thought we were going to have an episode about the war Israel is conducting ready for you last week but then they started another war. So, it would have felt odd to release an Israel episode without the latest major updates including Iran. I can only imagine what will happen between the time I speak these words and when you hear them that will make this episode feel out of date. What Happens When Bereaved Israelis and Palestinians Share Their Pain? Listening from the Heart Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Why Is The Media Coverage of Israel vs Iran So Skewed? - Zeteo - Air 6-16-25 KP 2: Jon Stewart on Israel’s "Urgent" Iran Strike, Minnesota Murders & MAGA’s Blame Game - The Daily Show - Air Date 6-16-25 KP 3: The REAL Reason Israel Attacked Iran - uncivilized - Air Date 6-18-25 KP 4: Israeli Forces Open Fire at New Gaza “Aid” Site, as Netanyahu Rejects Ceasefire Deal Part 1 - Drop Site News - Air Date 5-27 KP 5: Greta Thunberg Speaks to France 24 After Her Deportation From Israel - FRANCE 24 English - Air Date 6-10-25 KP 6: Preemptive Strike or Act of War? Israel Attacks Iran Amid Sinking Global Support for Assault on Gaza - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-17-25 (END OF MAIN ) (00:40:25.) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the Parents Circle efforts for reconcilliation DEEPER DIVES (00:49:45) SECTION A: STARVATION A1: “Israel Is the Rabid Dog of American Imperialism”: Gaza Surgeon Dr. Mohammed Tahir Speaks Out Part 1 - MintCast - Air Date 6-10-25 A2: When Hunger Is a Weapon - Front Burner - Air Date 6-3-25 A3: Doctors Returning From Gaza Beg Humanity to Stop the Carnage - The Marc Steiner Show - Air Date 6-10-25 A4: Mara Kronenfeld on Israel’s Aid Blockade - CounterSpin - Air Date 5-16-25 A5: “Israel Is the Rabid Dog of American Imperialism”: Gaza Surgeon Dr. Mohammed Tahir Speaks Out Part 2 - MintCast - Air Date 6-10-25 A6: Has Israel Turned Gaza Into a Starvation Camp? | Inside Story - Al Jazeera English - Air Date 5-31-25 (01:42:13) SECTION B: GAZA B1: The Israeli Government’s True Goal in Gaza - On Point - Air Date 6-5-25 B2: Mosquito Protocol: Ex-Israeli Soldier on Army's Systematic Use of Palestinians as Human Shields - Democracy Now! - Air Date 5-29-25 B3: The State of the Gaza Negotiations and Ongoing Israeli Massacres - Drop Site News - Air Date 6-3-25 (02:08:26) SECTION C: NETANYAHU C1: Israel Allies With ISIS - To STARVE Gaza to Death - Owen Jones - Air Date 6-10-25 C2: Israeli Forces Open Fire at New Gaza “Aid” Site, as Netanyahu Rejects Ceasefire Deal Part 2 - Drop Site News - Air Date 5-27 C3: Israeli PM Netanyahu Confirms Arming Gaza Militia Against Hamas - FRANCE 24 English - Air Date 6-6-25 (02:30:42) SECTION D: Historical & Media Context D1: Blowback: How Israel Helped Create Hamas - The Intercept - Air Date 2-20-18 D2: How Israel, the Media, & the West Set the Stage for Gaza’s Genocide - Zeteo - Air Date 6-10-25 (02:48:16) SECTION E: WAR WITH IRAN E1: Ukraine Drone Attack, Gaza Aid Center Massacres, IAEA Suggests “Secret Nuclear Activities” in Iran - American Prestige - Air Date 6-6-25 E2: Will the US Join the War With Iran? w/ Akbar Shahid Ahmed - American Prestige - Air Date 6-18-25 E3: Israel Attacks Iran w/ Séamus Malekafzali - American Prestige - Air Date 6-13-25 (03:13:15) SECTION F: PROTESTS F1: LIVE Interview From Gaza Flotilla as Threats Escalate - Empire Files - Air Date 6-4-25 F2: Piers Morgan's DISGUSTING Attack On Greta Thunberg - Novara Media - Air Date 6-9-25 F3: The Grassroots Movements to Break the Siege on Gaza - Drop Site News - Air Date 6-10-25 F4: Why Sisi Won't Lift the Gaza Blockade - Middle East Eye - Air Date...

Air Date: 6–23-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube REFERENCES: Donald Trump and the ’80s Aesthetic - Jacobin The 1980s Are Back, and Not in a Good Way - The New York Times Trump’s Big Fail: Making America the 1980s Again - Mother Jones Trump is What Happens When You Give a Landlord Power - Current Affairs EXTRAS: “Wrestling is Drag” - Smartypants Dropout.tv https://youtube.com/shorts/zw9bNgKogUI TAKE ACTION: Use the 5 Calls app for scripts and to reach all your elected officials about stopping the Big Stupid Cruel Bill Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 July 17th - National Day of Action - Good Trouble Lives On Find your Indivisible group - or start one Write to the DNC Join our Discord Server Reach us via Signal: Bestoftheleft.01 Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts!