Air Date: 8–28-25

Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss:

• Ch. 1 - How scientific empires fall
• Ch. 2 - How fascists of the past have destroyed their country’s scientific progress in fear of inconvenient truths
• Ch. 3 - How other countries are taking the opportunity to poach American scientists
• Ch. 4 - Living in a society that is shifting away from believing in evidence based science
• Ch. 5 - The 1938 pro-science manifesto that defended democracy against fascism
• BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm - Trump’s eugenicist mindset and what we didn’t have time for from our main articles

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REFERENCES:

AOL Dial-Up Ending Reminds Us That All Empires Collapse Eventually - Kotaku

Every Scientific Empire Comes to an End - The Atlantic

What’s Behind the Rejection of Science? - American Laboratory

Attacks on the U.S. Innovation Ecosystem Are an Attack on a Wellspring of American Prosperity - American Progress

The World Is Wooing U.S. Researchers Shunned by Trump - NY Times

Science Caught in a Rip Tide: How Authoritarianism Sweeps Away Evidence-Based Policy - USC.org

This 1938 pro-science manifesto defended democracy against fascism - Big Think

MEMBERS ONLY

Attacks on the U.S. Innovation Ecosystem Are an Attack on a Wellspring of American Prosperity - American Progress

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Produced by:

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Air Date 8/27/2025

RFK Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again movement aren't completely wrong about everything, they often identify the larger structural problems with the US health industrial complex even if their proposed solutions are wildly off the mark. But the problem they failed to see coming when partnering with Trump and the Republicans is that they're only going to be allowed to misguidedly defund and dismantle parts of the government that support health which is in line with the broader burn-it-all-down vibes of the MAGA movement, but under no circumstances will they be allowed to implement new regulations that might actually do the public some good at the expense of corporate interests because that would go against the pro-corporate/deregulation obsession of the Republican Party. So, MAHA might be a mixed bag but what the country is getting is a lose/lose.

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: RFK Jr. Is Putting American Lives At Risk Part 1 - What A Day - Air Date 8-8-25

KP 2: What the Wellness Industry Doesn't Want You to Know Part 1 - More Perfect Union - Air Date 8-4-25

KP 3: Aryn Melton Backus of 'Fired But Fighting' on RFK's War on Public Health Part 1 - The BradCast - Air Date 8-11-25

KP 4: Despite 'MAHA' Fuss, Truth of Trump Admin's Health Priorities Seen in Drastic Cuts - The Briefing - Air Date 5-23-25

KP 5: The Nutrition Lies We All Fell For Part 1 - Rich Roll - Air Date 8-11-25

KP 6: Dr. Mikes Fight to Save Medicine From RFK Jr. Part 1 - Bulwark Takes - Air Date 8-4-24

KP 7: You're on Your Own MAHA Dismantles Public Health Rob Wallace & Rita Valenti Part 1 - This Is Hell! - Air Date 8-7-25

(00:53:06) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On why regulations are written in blood

DEEPER DIVES

(01:01:33) SECTION A: MAHA AGENDA

A1: Kennedy's MAHA Report Targets Vaccines, Food Supply and Prescription Drugs - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 5-22-25

A2: Raul Ruiz Absolutely Hammers RFK Jr. Over MAHA Report 'That's Lying And Dishonest' - Forbes Breaking News - Air Date 6-24-25

A3: 270 Kennedy's Bloodbath Part 1 - Conspirituality - Air Date 8-14-25

A4: RFK Jr.'s New Vaccine Advisors Signal Big Changes to Come - Short Wave - Air Date 6-30-25

A5: RFK Jr. Is Putting American Lives At Risk Part 2 - What A Day - Air Date 8-8-25

A6: 270 Kennedy's Bloodbath Part 2 - Conspirituality - Air Date 8-14-25

A7: You're on Your Own MAHA Dismantles Public Health Rob Wallace & Rita Valenti Part 2 - This Is Hell! - Air Date 8-7-25

(01:53:49) SECTION B: THE GRIFTERS

B1: What the Wellness Industry Doesn't Want You to Know Part 2 - More Perfect Union - Air Date 8-4-25

B2: Make America Healthy Again Part 1 - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Air Date 8-18-25

B3: The Nutrition Lies We All Fell For Part 2 - Rich Roll - Air Date 8-11-25

B4: Dr. Mikes Fight to Save Medicine From RFK Jr. Part 2 - Bulwark Takes - Air Date 8-4-24

B5: Make America Healthy Again Part 2 - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Air Date 8-18-25

(02:36:28) SECTION C: CON-TRADICTORY POLICIES

C1: The Nutrition Lies We All Fell For Part 3 - Rich Roll - Air Date 8-11-25

C2: 4 Ways SNAP Benefits Will Change After Trump's Big Policy Act - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 8-9-25

C3: Aryn Melton Backus of 'Fired But Fighting' on RFK's War on Public Health Part 2 - The BradCast - Air Date 8-11-25

C4: Ending Corporate Harm Undue Influence Within Corporate Product Health and Safety with Dr. Tracey Woodruff, PhD, MPH - Cult Conversations The Influence Continuum - Air Date 7-28-25

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Composite image showing a circular screen grab showing from HHS Secretary RFK Jr. wearing the MAHA hat and pulling down the brim to show the “Make America Healthy Again” text, on a green background.

Credit: Composite design by A. Hoffman. Image Source: HHS “Netzpolitik Demonstration for press freedom in Berlin” by Sebaso, Wikimedia Commons | License: CC BY-SA 4.0 | Changes: Cropped

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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Air Date 8/24/2025

The nature of politics and public policy is that there's always a need to balance opposing interests. Almost nowhere is there a more intractable set of opposing interests than in the attempt to protect children from harmful content on the internet while maintaining free access to adults, particularly because people wildly disagree about what qualifies as harmful and what degree of privacy invasion is an acceptable tradeoff.

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: Age Verification Will Kill Free Speech Online - Taylor Lorenz - Air Date 6-6-25

KP 2: Can the UK Child-proof the Internet? - Front Burner - Air Date 7-31-25

KP 3: Social Media Is Making Us Self-Censor - The Bitchuation Room (with Francesca Fiorentini) - Air Date 8-14-25

KP 4: Republicans Want to Redefine 'Obscenity' - Here's Why That Should TERRIFY You - What A Day - Air Day 5-17-25

KP 5: Meet the Creepy Pro-Trump Billionaire Profiting Off of Internet Censorship - The Humanist Report - Air Date 8-7-25

KP 6: Freedom to Connect: Aaron Swartz (1986-2013) on Victory To Save Open Internet, Fight Online Censors - Democracy Now! - Air Date 1-14-13

(00:46:37) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On the need to demand serious arguments about serious issues

DEEPER DIVES

(00:52:04) SECTION A: AGE VERIFICATION

(01:19:18) SECTION B: SAVE THE CHILDREN

(01:45:50) SECTION C: CENSORSHIP

(02:20:34) SECTION D: ANTI-PORN AGENDA

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Photo of a stack of protest signs that say “Fight for your digital rights!”

Credit: “Netzpolitik Demonstration for press freedom in Berlin” by Sebaso, Wikimedia Commons | License: CC BY-SA 4.0 | Changes: Cropped

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Contact me directly at [email protected]

Air Date 8/20/2025

There's been a faction of conservatives who have been trying to instill king-like powers into the presidency for a long time, so it shouldn't be surprising that Trump is getting so much help from the packed court and the apparatchiks in the states who are more than happy to turn their precious federalism on its head as long as their king is in charge.

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: Justifying Democracy w/ Osita Nwanevu - The Majority Report - Air Date 8-11-25

KP 2: Texas Hold Dems - Today, Explained - Air Date 8-7-25

KP 3: Fighting Fire with Fire with Texas Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez - The Practivist Pod - Air Date 8-7-25

KP 4: Bruce Bueno De Mesquita The Five Rules of Power Politics - Big Think - Air Date 5-13-12

KP 5: When Unaccountable People Come for Your Vote - Amicus with Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 7-26-25

KP 6: Executive Lawlessness w/ Leah Litman on the Supreme Court Enabling Presidential Overreach Part 1 - The Intercept Briefing - Air Date 7-18-25

KP 7: Leah Litman on the Grievance and Conspiracy Theories That Run SCOTUS Part 1 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 8-11-25

(00:50:56) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On how fascists run interference

DEEPER DIVES

(01:03:07) SECTION A: GRIFT AND FORCE

A1: Trump's Presidential Library Grift. Plus, the Hacker Behind the NYTs Mamdani Story. - On the Media - Air Date 7-25-25

A2: Trump Threatens National Guard Deployment to DC - DSR Daily - Air Date 8-11-25

A3: Loyalty Over Competence At Trump's Justice Department - What A Day - Air Date 7-31-25

A4: Trump Deploys National Guard - HasanAbi - Air Date 8-14-25

A5: Trump Press Secs Weird Fawning Rant Goes Awry as Poll Slide Worsens - THE DAILY BLAST - Air Date 8-1-25

A6: U.S. Profoundly Changed by Authoritarian Leader; 'We're Beyond Waiting and Seeing Now' - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 8-4-25

A7: How Today's Tensions Mirror Pre-Civil War America - Why, America? with Leeja Miller - Air Date 8-8-25

(02:00:53) SECTION B: GERRYMANDERING

B1: Republicans Ramp Redistricting Fight up to a 10 - No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen - Air Date 8-10-25

B2: Fighting Fire with Fire with Texas Rep. Cassandra Garcia Hernandez Part 2 - The Practivist Pod - Air Date 8-7-25

B3: TEXAS HOLD DEMS Part 2 - Today, Explained - Air Date 8-7-25

B4: Republicans Ramp Redistricting Fight up to a 10 Part 2 - No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen - Air Date 8-10-25

B5: U.S. Profoundly Changed by Authoritarian Leader; 'We're Beyond Waiting and Seeing Now' Part 2 - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 8-4-25

B6: Justifying Democracy w/ Osita Nwanevu Part 2 - The Majority Report - Air Date 8-11-25

B7: How Today's Tensions Mirror Pre-Civil War America Part 2 - Why, America? with Leeja Miller - Air Date 8-8-25

(02:52:39) SECTION C: COURTS

C1: Stacking the Bench with Creeps and Kooks - Strict Scrutiny - Air Date 8-4-25

C2: Leah Litman on the Grievance and Conspiracy Theories That Run SCOTUS Part 2 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 8-11-25

C3: When Unaccountable People Come for Your Vote Part 2 - Amicus with Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 7-26-25

C4: Stacking the Bench with Creeps and Kooks Part 2 - Strict Scrutiny - Air Date 8-4-25

C5: Executive Lawlessness w/ Leah Litman on the Supreme Court Enabling Presidential Overreach Part 2 - The Intercept Briefing - Air Date 7-18-25

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Image of a king of diamonds playing card with a king with orange skin and blonde hair, and a nervous expression on his face, against a dark American flag.

Credit: “king-card-casino-diamond” via Pixabay | Pixabay License

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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Air Date: 8–19-25

Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss:

• Ch.1 - The Trump administration’s unprecedented attempts to get your data from the states
• Ch. 2 - Why Trump’s new private health tracking system is a wolf in sheep’s clothing
• Ch. 3 - How HIV patients suffering in the 80s, 90s and early 00s from constant health data breaches is a hint of what could come
• Ch. 4 - Why a new UK law trying to protect children from seeing terrible things online is doing more harm than good
• Ch. 5 - Tips on keeping your digital privacy intact as best as you can in this data hungry world
• BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm (Members Only): How an activist organization used debanking to make video game companies censor their content, where that tactic might lead, and more.
• A funny thing happened on the way to recording… (blooper)

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REFERENCES:

States Have More Data About You Than the Feds Do. Trump Wants to See It. - NY Times

Trump Announces Plan to Launch Private Health Tracking System With Big Tech Firms - Time

HIV & Civil Rights: A Report from the Frontlines of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic - ACLU

Blocking Access to Harmful Content Will Not Protect Children Online, No Matter How Many Times UK Politicians Say So - EFF

'A disaster waiting to happen' — Cybersecurity experts react to UK age verification law - Toms Guide

UK Age Verification Laws: How to Comply & Stay Safe in 2025 - WizCase

MEMBERS ONLY

Steam and Itch.io Are Pulling ‘Porn’ Games. Critics Say It’s a Slippery Slope to More Censorship - Wired

EXTRAS

SOLVED! #7 - The Deficiency of Efficiency: Why govt is inefficient BY DESIGN, & more - SOLVED! (Recorded April 2025)

All 2025 Health Information Data Breaches (Source: HHS.gov)

2025 Data Breach (Account info for Apple, Facebook, Google, GitHub, Telegram, and government platforms)

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

Air Date 8/16/2025

There's the old Douglas Adams quote stating that, "Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job" which is a good general rule to live by. But then there are the real baddies, those would-be leaders who possess one or more of the dark triad of traits that spells real doom for the societies that elevate them to power: narcissism, psychopathy, and machiavellianism. Today we compare and contrast Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Benjamin Netanyahu. Xi Jinping also fits nicely on this list as an honorable mention but happens to not be part of the focus today.

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 [email protected]

Full Show Notes

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: The World War II Lessons Trump, Putin, & Netanyahu Actually Learned - Tad Stoermer - Air Date 8-8-25

KP 2: 'Not About Crime': Maddow CRACKS OPEN Trump's Real Motives in Deploying the National Guard to D.C. - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 8-11-25

KP 3: Totally Unexpected - HasanAbi - Air Date 8-7-25

KP 4: 'No International Community Is Capable of Stopping Netanyahu' - James O'Brien on LBC - Air Date 7-22-25

KP 5: Kyiv-based Analyst: 'Ukraine Is Being Sidelined From Talks' - LBC - Air Date 8-10-25

KP 6: How Putin's Lies Are Driving the War in Ukraine The Foreign Affairs Interview - The Foreign Affairs Interview - Air Date 1-12-23

KP 7: Donald Trump Wants to Seize Your Reality - Mother Jones - Air Date 8-8-25

(00:49:39) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On why humanity is better than we seem and how we can save ourselves

‘Self-termination is most likely’: the history and future of societal collapse

DEEPER DIVES

(00:57:15) SECTION A: TRUMP THE LIAR

A1: Trump Rejects Reality - The Muckrake Political Podcast - Air Date 8-5-25

A2: Trump Pushes Forward with Revenge Presidency - All In with Chris Hayes - Air Date 8-8-25

A3: Ed Elson Slams Trump Firing Labor Statistics Boss: 'This Is What Cartoon Dictators Do' - Katy Tur - Air Date 8-1-25

A4: Trump Vs. the Bureau of Labor Statistics - The Journal. - Air Date 8-4-25

A5: Trump Thinks You're Very Stupid - The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder - Air Date 8-9-25

(01:32:17) SECTION B: NETANYAHU THE MANIPULATOR

B1: Gaza Takeover: Israel Launches New Stage of 'Indefinite, Genocidal Military Campaign' -Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-8-25

B2: Why Bibi Netanyahu Is on Trial - ABC News In-depth - Air Date 4-26-24

B3: DEBUNKED: 14 Israeli LIES About Gaza Famine - Owen Jones - Air Date 8-8-25

B4: Mehdi Hasan Explains Why the War in Gaza Wont End Soon - LBC -Air Date 8-5-25

B5: Trump's Intervention in Netanyahu's Corruption Trial 'Unprecedented': Gideon Levy - Al Jazeera English - Air Date 6-30-25

(02:09:13) SECTION C: PUTIN THE STRATEGIST

C1: Does Putin Have Dark Triad Traits? | Vladimir Putin Case Analysis - Dr. Todd Grande - Air Date 2-23-22

C2: What Happens When You Confront Putin in Public - Penguin History - Air Date 8-7-25

C3: Why Putin Is so Hard to Overthrow - Search Party - Air Date 8-18-23

(02:27:11) SECTION D: MYTHS COLLAPSE

D1: Shocking Study Proves Trumps Biggest Supporters Are Psychopaths - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 8-11-25

D2: America's Authoritarian Turn - Harvard Radcliffe Institute - Air Date 3-3-25

D3: Huge Economic Problems Coming for Republicans and the U.S. - Heather Cox Richardson - Air Date 8-7-25

D4: How Gaza Exposes The Myths Of The System - Andrewism - Air Date 8-5-25

(03:07:29) SECTION E: THE MEN BEHIND THE THRONE

E1: Who's the Man Who Has Putin's Ear? - NewsNation - Air Date 4-8-22

E2: From Terrorist Backer to Kingmaker: Itamar Ben-Gvir Israeli Far Right Help Netanyahu Regain Power - Democracy Now! - Air Date 11-4-22

E3: Bezalel Smotrich: Far-right Israeli Minister Calls for Resettlement of Gaza After War - Al Jazeera English - Air Date 12-31-23

E4: Aleksandr Dugin: The Far-right Theorist Behind Putins Plan - 60 Minutes - Air Date 4-12-22

E5: Why Did Israel Restart the War? One Answer: Bezalel Smotrich. - Consider This From NPR - Air Date 3-28-25

E6: Project 2025 Co-Author Lays Out 'Radical Agenda' for Next Trump Term in Undercover Video - Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-16-24

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: A composite image of a pleased-looking Trump holding up a triangle that says “The Dark Triad” in the center, and “Narcissism”, “Machiavellianism”, and “Psychopathy” along each side. Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Benjamin Netanyahu are pictured underneath.

Credit: “The Dark Triad” by Manitee71, Wikimedia Commons, License: CC-By-SA 4.0 | “Putin-politics-kremlin-russia” by DimitroSevastopol, Pixabay, License: Pixabay | “Xi Jinping 2019” by Palácio do Planalto, Wikimedia Commons, License: CC-BY-SA 4.0 | “31/03/2019 Jantar na Residência do Primeiro-Ministro de Israel” by Palácio do Planalto, Flickr, License: CC-BY-2.0

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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Air Date 8/12/2025

The Monthly-ish Mix™ is here to get you caught up on recent news without being overwhelming! This month, we're covering the full spectrum of authoritarian threats—military in the streets, surveillance in our phones, conspiracies in our feeds, and corruption at the top—before turning to the grassroots organizers and Democratic Socialists who are building the resistance and winning.

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 [email protected]

Full Show Notes

Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube!

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Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience!

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PART 1: DIRECT STATE VIOLENCE

(00:01:34) #1719 - The Fascist Playbook: Immigrants, Brown Shirts, and the Backlash

1: Tanks on DC's Streets and a Us Senator in Handcuffs - Amicus with Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 6-14-25

2: Papers, Please Hayes Flags New Police Tactic Trend in Trumps America - All in w/ Chris Hayes - Air Date 6-19-25

3: Palantir Peter Thiel's Data-mining Firm Helps Doge Build Master Database to Surveil Immigrants - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-3-25

(00:22:14) #1722 - Imbalance of Powers: The Supreme Court and Executive Branch Collude for Unchecked Power Grab

4: SCOTUS May End Birth Right Citizenship Soon - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 6-30-25

5: The Injunction Ban, Explained - Leeja Miller - Air Date 6-30-25

6: ‘Lawlessness Will Flourish’: Scotus Justice Issues Chilling Warning After Major Ruling - The Beat - Air Date 6-27-25

PART 2: SYSTEMIC DESTRUCTION

(00:39:30) #1723 - Scam Nation: Trumpism is the Art of Screwing You Over in Every Way Possible

7:  Is AI Productivity Worth Our Humanity w/ Prof. Michael Sandel - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-26-25

8:  Empire of AI: Karen Hao & Roger Mcnamee Expose Sam Altman, Musk, & Big Tech - The Nerd Reich - Air Date 6-16-25

8: The Real Reason Investors Are Going All in on Palantir - More Perfect Union - Air Date 6-24-25

(01:02:26) #1721 - The Evolution of the Military Industrial Complex: Now with AI!

10: Is AI Productivity Worth Our Humanity w/ Prof. Michael Sandel - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-26-25

11: Empire of AI: Karen Hao & Roger McNamee Expose Sam Altman, Musk & Big Tech - The Nerd Reich - Air Date 6-16-25

12: The REAL Reason Investors Are Going All In on Palantir - More Perfect Union - Air Date 6-24-25

PART 3: REALITY MANIPULATION

(01:23:14) #1725 - A Flood of Disinformation: A World of Climate Change and Conspiracies

13:  Flooding Is Common in Texas Hill Country. This Was Different - Consider This - Air Date 7-7-25

14: Why Kristi Noems Incompetence Matters - Bulwark Takes - Air Date 7-10-25

15: The Real Conspiracy Behind the Texas Floods - More to the Story - Air Date 7-16-25

(01:42:48) #1726 - Epstein Forever: Trump flails as criticism finally comes from inside the MAGA house

16: Epstein Files Firestorm Shows the Power of Online Conspiracy - There Are No Girls on the Internet - Air Date 7-8-25

17: Epstein Conspiracy, or Epstein Conspiracy Theory? - Radio Atlantic - Air Date 7-7-25

18: Epstein Survivor Calls for Accountability: Release the Files, End Impunity for Rich, & Powerful Abusers - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-18-25

19: We Tracked Every Visitor to Epstein Island - Wired - Air Date 11-22-24

Part 4: Global Chaos

(02:12:24) #1718 - On the Path to Destruction: Israel Attacks Iran as Support for War on Gaza Drops

20: Jon Stewart on Israel’s "Urgent" Iran Strike, Minnesota Murders & Maga’s Blame Game - The Daily Show - Air Date 6-16-25

21:  “A Show of Human Solidarity”: Ex-U.S. Diplomat to Join Global March to Gaza to Break Israel’s Siege - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-10-25

(02:32:30) #1727 - Super-Powered Men For Good and Ill: Fascism, Media, and the Manoshpere

22: Tired of Putin's 'Bullshit': Trump Reverses, Says Us Should Send Weapons to Ukraine - Erin Burnett Outfront - Air Date 7-8-25

23: The Next Generation of Maga Influencers - Some More News - Air Date 5-28-25

24:  Brief Mehdi Hasan vs Jordan Peterson - Conspirituality - Air Date 7-26-25

PART 5: BUILDING RESISTANCE

(02:54:25) #1720 - Building an Organized Left, the Eternal Oxymoron

25: Ralph Nader’s Message to Doomers: "Stop Making Excuses!" - Current Affairs - Air Date 6-22-25

26: “We Fight for Working People with No Apology”: Zohran Mamdani Beats Cuomo in Nyc Mayoral Primary - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-25-25

27: Is Protesting Ineffective? | Penny for Your Thoughts - Dasia Sade - Air Date 6-23-25

(03:21:46) #1724 - How to Socialism: Einstein liked socialism, you think you know better?

28:  Mamdani’s Spectacular Victory w/ Alan Minsk - Jacobin Radio - Air Date 7-2-25

29: 'The Economy Is Rigged": Robert Reich on Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party, Inequality, and Trump - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-26-25

30: Old Democrats Must Go or Trump Never Will - UNFTR Media - Air Date 7-15-25

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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Air Date: 8–10-25

Today, Jay!, Amanda, and Deon (Erin was on vacation!) discuss:

• How modern fascism does not look like the jarring and brutal images people think of, and the “rituals of conformity” in Nazi Germany that remind us of another era we’ve lived through
• How despotism affects the citizen psyche and how to counter those effects
• The importance of countering Orwellian language under fascism
• Advice on living under authoritarianism, with a big focus on community for sanity and resistance
• BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm (Members Only): A look at the way societies have collapsed throughout history and where the U.S. falls in the pattern

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REFERENCES:

Life in authoritarian states is mostly boring and tolerable - Vox

Rituals of Conformity in Nazi Germany - The Montreal Review

The Psychological Impact of Despotism on Citizens: Development Implications - GaradeSud

The Language of Surrender - Notes from the Circus

How to Live Under Authoritarianism (And Protect the People You Love) - Dispatch Revolution

BACKSTAGE:

History shows that societies collapse when leaders undermine social contracts - Phys.org

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Air Date 8/10/2025

Trump has been condemning the media for all of his professional life and is pretty open about doing it so that people won't believe the negative press he so richly deserves. Now, with the power of the presidency, he's turned his battle with the press into a protection racket complete with payoffs and side deals in an attempt to turn the media into pro-Trump propaganda.

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PART 1: DIRECT STATE VIOLENCE

(00:01:34) #1719 - The Fascist Playbook: Immigrants, Brown Shirts, and the Backlash

1: Tanks on Dc's Streets and a Us Senator in Handcuffs - Amicus with Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 6-14-25

2: Papers, Please Hayes Flags New Police Tactic Trend in Trumps America - All in W/ Chris Hayes - Air Date 6-19-25

3: Palantir Peter Thiel's Data-mining Firm Helps Doge Build Master Database to Surveil Immigrants - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-3-25

(00:22:14) #1722 - Imbalance of Powers: The Supreme Court and Executive Branch Collude for Unchecked Power Grab

4: SCOTUS May End Birth Right Citizenship Soon - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 6-30-25

5: The Injunction Ban, Explained - Leeja Miller - Air Date 6-30-25

6: ‘Lawlessness Will Flourish’: Scotus Justice Issues Chilling Warning After Major Ruling - The Beat - Air Date 6-27-25

PART 2: SYSTEMIC DESTRUCTION

(00:39:30) #1723 - Scam Nation: Trumpism is the Art of Screwing You Over in Every Way Possible

7: Is Ai Productivity Worth Our Humanity W/ Prof. Michael Sandel - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-26-25

8: Empire of Ai: Karen Hao & Roger Mcnamee Expose Sam Altman, Musk & Big Tech - The Nerd Reich - Air Date 6-16-25

8: The Real Reason Investors Are Going All in on Palantir - More Perfect Union - Air Date 6-24-25

(01:02:26) #1721 - The Evolution of the Military Industrial Complex: Now with AI!

10: Is AI Productivity Worth Our Humanity w/ Prof. Michael Sandel - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-26-25

11: Empire of AI: Karen Hao & Roger McNamee Expose Sam Altman, Musk & Big Tech - The Nerd Reich - Air Date 6-16-25

12: The REAL Reason Investors Are Going All In on Palantir - More Perfect Union - Air Date 6-24-25

PART 3: REALITY MANIPULATION

(01:23:14) #1725 - A Flood of Disinformation: A World of Climate Change and Conspiracies

13: Flooding Is Common in Texas Hill Country. This Was Different Part 2- Consider This - Air Date 7-7-25

14: Why Kristi Noems Incompetence Matters - Bulwark Takes - Air Date 7-10-25

15: The Real Conspiracy Behind the Texas Floods - More to the Story - Air Date 7-16-25

(01:42:48) #1726 - Epstein Forever: Trump flails as criticism finally comes from inside the MAGA house

16: Epstein Files Firestorm Shows the Power of Online Conspiracy - There Are No Girls on the Internet - Air Date 7-8-25

17: Epstein Conspiracy, or Epstein Conspiracy Theory? - Radio Atlantic - Air Date 7-7-25

18: Epstein Survivor Calls for Accountability: Release the Files, End Impunity for Rich & Powerful Abusers - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-18-25

19: We Tracked Every Visitor to Epstein Island - Wired - Air Date 11-22-24

Part 4: Global Chaos

(02:12:24) #1718 - On the Path to Destruction: Israel Attacks Iran as Support for War on Gaza Drops

20: Jon Stewart on Israel’s "urgent" Iran Strike, Minnesota Murders & Maga’s Blame Game - The Daily Show - Air Date 6-16-25

21: “A Show of Human Solidarity”: Ex-u.s. Diplomat to Join Global March to Gaza to Break Israel’s Siege - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-10-25

(02:32:30) #1727 - Super-Powered Men For Good and Ill: Fascism, Media, and the Manoshpere

22: Tired of Putin's 'bullshit': Trump Reverses, Says Us Should Send Weapons to Ukraine - Erin Burnett Outfront - Air Date 7-8-25

23: The Next Generation of Maga Influencers - Some More News - Air Date 5-28-25

24: Brief Mehdi Hasan Vs Jordan Peterson - Conspirituality - Air Date 7-26-25

PART 5: BUILDING RESISTANCE

(02:54:25) #1720 - Building an Organized Left, the Eternal Oxymoron

25: Ralph Nader’s Message to Doomers: "stop Making Excuses!" - Current Affairs - Air Date 6-22-25

26: “We Fight for Working People with No Apology”: Zohran Mamdani Beats Cuomo in Nyc Mayoral Primary - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-25-25

27: Is Protesting Ineffective? | Penny for Your Thoughts - Dasia Sade - Air Date 6-23-25

(03:21:46) #1724 - How to Socialism: Einstein liked socialism, you think you know better?

28: Mamdani’s Spectacular Victory W/ Alan Minsk - Jacobin Radio - Air Date 7-2-25

29: 'The Economy Is Rigged": Robert Reich on Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party, Inequality, and Trump - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-26-25

30: Old Democrats Must Go or Trump Never Will - Unftr Media - Air Date 7-15-25

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

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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.

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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