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

#1744 Sell Outs, Shills, and Scandals: Saudi Arabia and Israel are buying the credibility they can't earn honestly


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Air Date 10/15/2025

It's said that money can't buy a variety of things like peace, happiness, loyalty, and, relevant for today; integrity and trust. But in a world in which impressions (a very multilayered word, in this case) can be bought and sold on the open market and an audience's loyalty to influencers, entertainers, and athletes can be leveraged in an attempt to transfer the credibility from the talented to the tyrannical... you better believe places like Saudi Arabia and Israel are going to try.

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Full Show Notes

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: How We Stopped Caring About "Selling Out" - Current Affairs - Air Date 8-18-25

KP 2: Comedians Hold NOTHING Back While RIPPING Fellow Comics to Shreds - TYT Sports - Air Date 10-1-25

KP 3: A New Form of Capitalism: The Influencer Culture | Al Jazeera Untangles - Al Jazeera English - Air Date 8-21-25

KP 4: Why I Became a Crypto Shill - Adam Conover - Air Date 5-23-25

KP 5: The Secret Role Of Influencers In Global Propaganda - Taylor Lorenz's Power User - Air Date 9-24-25

KP 6: US and Saudi Arabia Sign 'biggest Arms Deal in History' - DW News - Air Date 5-13-25

(00:48:45) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Explaining that influencers are just infomercial hosts

DEEPER DIVES

(00:55:11) SECTION A: SELL OUTS & SHILLS

(01:35:50) SECTION B: INFLUENCERS

(01:58:52) SECTION C: SAUDI ARABIA BUYING SOFT & HARD POWER

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Composite image of a microphone in a spotlight against a red curtain with burlap sacks overflowing with money at the base with the Israeli and Saudi Arabian flags on them.

Credit: Internal composite design. Multiple images from Pixabay | Pixabay License

 

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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