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

Air Date 8/30/2024

Israel's assault on Gaza is fueled by pain, rage, trauma... a desire for safety, a desire for revenge, the hope for the safe return of hostages. It's a complicated mix of all of the above and more and it will be different for each person. However, there's also a deep well of denial and delusion about the decades-old status quo between Israel and Palestine that made the current conflict all but inevitable and the pursuit of genocide by some decision-makers in the Israeli government - as well as the support of the US government - possible.

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: Kamala Harris Mentioned Palestinian Suffering — in the Passive Voice - The Intercept - Air Date 8-26-24

KP 2: Substance vs Vibes in VP Kamala Harris' Gaza PR Reboot - Citations Needed - Air Date 8-2-24

KP 3: Former Israeli Spy Chief- If I Was A Palestinian, I Would Fight Against Israel's Occupation - Zeteo - Air Date 8-19-24

KP 4: Torture Is Systemic in Israel's Prisons / Shai Parnes - This Is Hell! - Air Date 8-21-22

KP 5: EXPOSED- Netanyahu's Plan to Set World on Fire - Double Down News - Air Date 8-23-24

KP 6: Rami Khouri on Latest Israel-Hezbollah Escalation & Stalled Ceasefire Talks - Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-26-24

(50:37) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On the deep denial at the heart of Zionism

My Father and the Withering of Liberal Zionism - New York Mag

DEEPER DIVES

(1:02:24) SECTION A - UNCOMMITTED

(1:28:38) SECTION B - TORTURE

(1:56:35) SECTION C - ARMS EMBARGO

(2:26:17) SECTION D - JOURNALISM

SHOW IMAGE

Description: A young woman in the middle of a protest in Washington, DC holds up a sign in front of her that says “End the Siege On Gaza Now”

Credit: “March on Washington for Gaza” https://www.flickr.com/photos/perspective/53463705757/ by Elvert Barnes, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode.en | Changes: Cropped

Air Date 8/27/2024

People feel lots of ways about immigration. Sometimes it's fear of the other, other times it's not about the people but just dismay over a broken system. The validity of these concerns and others certainly exist on a spectrum, some are utter bullshit and others aren't. Left-wing political parties tend to do a terrible job creating immigration policy - in that they just don't do it at all - while the right wing is all too happy to create and implement terrible policy. And given a choice between action and inaction, regardless of how misguided the proposed action is, people with concerns will choose action.

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: The UK's Far Right Riots - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 8-8-24

KP 2: Riots in the UK - Today, Explained - Air Date 8-7-24

KP 3: Introducing 'Battle of 187' week! - The Times Essential news from the L.A. Times - Air Date 7-19-21

KP 4: The Battle of 187 ends — and the war begins - The Times Essential news from the L.A. Times - Air Date 7-20-21

KP 5: RNC & ”Migrant Crime”- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Air Date 7-25-24

KP 6: Election 2024 As 'neofascist' Trump targets immigrants, how will the left respond w Juan González - The Real News Network - Air Date 7-28-24

KP 7: Employment Visa Paths for Dreamers and a Harris vs. Trump Presidential Race - This Week in Immigration - Air Date 7-30-24

(50:32) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On the electoral politics of immigration policy

DEEPER DIVES

(58:41) SECTION A - THE UK RIOTS

(1:13:16) SECTION B - CA PROPOSITION 187

(1:26:59) SECTION C - TRUMP VS HARRIS

(1:49:23) SECTION D - MIGRANTS

SHOW IMAGE: Description: Two young women stand amidst a protest in London showing their signs to the camera that say "No human is illegal."

Credit: "No Human is Illegal" by Alisdare Hickson, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Cropped

Air Date 8/23/2024

The vibes of this election are nothing anyone could have predicted a month ago. And yet, some of the details have played out as though by a script. Democrats drink hope like ambrosia from the gods; Trump, when confronted with reality initiates a full blown meltdown; and everyone is doing their best to ignore the genocide in Gaza being carried out with our weapons.

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: Unlearning Zionism with Simone Zimmerman & Eliza Skinner - The Bitchuation Room (with Francesca Fiorentini) - Air Date 8-13-24

KP 2: Dems Walz All Over GOP Attacks; Harris's Israel Tightrope w/ Krystal Ball - The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder - Air Date 8-9-24

KP 3: The Rise of Kamala Harris with Heather McGhee Part 1 - Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes Podcast - Air Date 8-13-24

KP 4: Jon Stewart on Why Trump Wants Biden Back So Badly He's Reusing His Old Attacks - The Daily Show - Air Date 8-12-24

KP 5: 'Stupidest' candidate Trump did not answer reporters' questions - The Last Word With Lawrence O'Donnell - Air Date 8-8-24

KP 6: Democrats, Republicans, and the Meaning of Life - Steve Shives - Air Date 8-19-24

(48:45) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

on the vibes and archetypes of the election

Kamala Harris Is Providing a Very Specific Kind of Psychological Relief to America - Slate

Tim Walz is the dad that we lost - TikTok

DEEPER DIVES

(1:03:02) SECTION A - HARRIS'S POSITIVE VIBES

(1:33:14) SECTION B - GAZA WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN

(1:54:55) SECTION C - REALITY OVER VIBES

(2:25:41) SECTION D - TRUMP MELTDOWN

SHOW IMAGE:

Description: Composite triptych graphic showing Kamala Harris smiling with her hands in the air at a podium, the flag of Palestine in vertical, and Trump in profile stepping off the stage with his head down.

Credit: Composite design by A. Hoffman. Image 1: “Kamala Harris” by Marc Nozell, Flickr | License: CC BY 2.0 | Changes: Cropped ; Image 3: “Donald Trump” by Gage Skidmore, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Cropped

Original Air Date: 8/23/2023

For decades, we have rightly been focused on dialing back endemic misogyny and poking holes in the patriarchy in the hopes of a new normal of gender relations emerging that would be genuinely healthier for everyone, not just women. But, with so much of the focus on the type of masculinity men and boys shouldn't embrace, we may have fallen short on giving positive direction to boys about what they should be and do.

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: Andrew Tate & Re-examining Masculinity - Long Story Short The Daily Show - Air Date 4-21-23

Jordan Klepper looks at Andrew Tate and breaks down how a void of role models has harmful consequences for young boys.

Ch. 2: The new crisis of masculinity - The Gray Area - Air Date 8-7-23

What does masculinity mean these days? Sean Illing speaks with Christine Emba, a columnist at The Washington Post who wrote the piece “Men are lost. Here’s a map out of the wilderness.”

Ch. 3: The New Masculinity - ON BOYS podcast - Air Date 4-27-23

Boys and men, Manley says, are caught between traditional definitions and understandings of masculinity, and a future definition that hasn’t been fully defined.

Ch. 4: Redefining Masculinity and Embracing Vulnerability - The Daily Show Beyond the Scenes - Air Date 3-7-23

Host Roy Wood Jr. sits down with the co-founder of “A Call to Men,” Ted Bunch, and developmental psychology professor at NYU, Niobe Way, to chat about boys' friendships and how therapy could be transformative for a lot of men.

Ch. 5: What Does Positive Masculinity Look Like? - Paging Dr. NerdLove - Air Date 4-12-18

Toxic masculinity doesn’t mean that being a man is toxic, bad, or even undesirable. At the same time, non-toxic or positive masculinity doesn’t mean apologizing for being a man or trying to be as gender-neutral as possible.

Ch. 6: What is Positive Masculinity: How Patriarchy Oppresses Men - Swolesome - Air Date 12-2-22

Looking at what patriarchy teaches boys to do

Ch. 7: Redefining Masculinity and Embracing Vulnerability Part 2 - The Daily Show Beyond the Scenes - Air Date 3-7-23

Ch. 8: The New Masculinity Part 2 - ON BOYS podcast - Air Date 4-27-23

Ch. 9: Why Allan Energy Is The New “Big D_CK Energy” - Barbie Movie - Fashionistas - Air date 8-4-23

Examining positive masculinity through Allen from The Barbie Movie

FINAL COMMENTS

Ch. 10: Final comments on why emotionally stunted men are a social, not individual, problem

Air Date: 8-19-24 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon and Erin discuss: - How we likely all have COVID and can't believe we did a Bonus Show - The bizarre ways AI is already part of our political systems - Strong feelings on AI-generated art in a hyper-capitalist world - The ups, downs and side effects of so-called AI friends - AI in our love lives (P.S. Audiophiles Beware: We had some technical difficulties, so this show may sound a little strange in spots.)

REFERENCES:

RFK Jr. Doubles Down on Dead Bear Cub With Bonkers Brag

The A.I. Influencer Ads Are Coming

Zoom founder Eric Yuan wants ‘digital twins’ to attend meetings for you so you can ‘go to the beach’ instead

There’s an AI Candidate Running for Parliament in the UK

An AI Bot Is (Sort of) Running for Mayor in Wyoming

OpenAI Imprisons AI That Was Running for Mayor in Wyoming

Harvard Scholars Suggest Pollsters Ask Questions to AI Simulations of Voters Because Real People Won't Answer The Phone

Political Candidate Accused of Being AI Insists He Is a Living Human With a Very Smooth, AI-Looking Face

‘We have to adapt or die’: Daniel Bedingfield says AI is music’s future

Wear This AI Friend Around Your Neck

Can an AI friend make you less lonely?

What If Your AI Girlfriend Hated You?

Computer says yes: how AI is changing our romantic lives

In the Age of A.I., What Makes People Unique?

The Big AI Risk Not Enough People Are Seeing

Bonus: Opinion: The problem with calling Trump and Vance weird

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Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft  Contact me directly at [email protected]  Review the show on Apple Podcasts!

Air Date 8/17/2024

James Baldwin's 100th birthday passed by recently and we're using the occasion to draw on his moral clarity and eloquence while we assess the state of race in America

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: Celebrating James Baldwin's 100th Birthday - 1A - Air Date 7-30-24

KP 2: James Baldwin's Fire - Throughline - Air Date 9-17-20

KP 3: “Justice for My Brother”: Sister of Samuel Sharpe Speaks Out After Police Killing During RNC - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-19-24

KP 4: Why JD Vance and the MAGA GOP Do Not Represent the True Idea of America & Our Core Values - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 8-2-24

KP 5: Truth, Privilege, and James Baldwin - Woke AF Daily - Air Date 10-3-23

KP 6: Celebrating James Baldwin's 100th Birthday Part 2 - 1A - Air Date 7-30-24

KP 7: US' Unconditional Support For Israel Making The World More Dangerous - The Majority Report - Air Date 8-2-24

KP 8: Raw video- Rep. Cori Bush concedes 1st Congressional District primary race to Wesley Bell - KSDK News - Air Date 8-7-24

(49:08) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On the need for national self-reflection

DEEPER DIVES

(56:50) SECTION A - BALDWIN THE WRITER

A1: 100 Years of James Baldwin; Election Integrity and National Security; New York City Etiquette - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 8-3-24

A2: Celebrating James Baldwin's 100th Birthday Part 3 - 1A - Air Date 7-30-24

(1:08:50) SECTION B - RACE IN AMERICA

(1:35:59) SECTION C - THE WHITE LIE

(2:00:40) SECTION D - GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

SHOW IMAGE: 

Description: Portrait of author and civil rights activist James Baldwin, an African American man, leaning against a tree with arms folded in a park and smiling, looking away from the camera.

Credit: “James Baldwin taken in Hyde Park London” by Allan Warren, Wikimedia Commons | License: CC BY-SA 3.0 | Changes: Cropped

Air Date 8/13/2024

Spirits among Kamala Harris supporters, Democrats, and anyone opposing Trumpism are at an all-time high right now. That's both fortuitous and crucial to the upcoming election. By the very nature of Trumpism, this election will be the most flagrantly contested in history with far more Trump loyalists in place ready to throw wrenches in the works wherever they can. Nothing short of overwhelming victory for the Harris/Waltz ticket is necessary to stave off constitutional crisis.

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: Maddow points out frightening truth about Trump's lack of concern about votes - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 7-29-24

KP 2: How Trump (Allegedly) Tried to Steal the Election - LegalEagle - Air Date 8-12-23

KP 3: As Tension over Venezuelan Election Escalates, the Left Debates Who Won the Contested Vote - Democracy Now! - Air Date 8-5-24

KP 4: Why Millions Won't Be Able To Vote In 2024? - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 8-8-24

KP 5: In The Hands Of The Voters with Marc Elias - Justice by Design - Air Date 8-2-24

KP 6: Resisting Minority Rule - Brennan Center for Justice - Air Date 5-30-24

(52:11) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On the importance of happy warriors

DEEPER DIVES

(54:53) SECTION A - THE MECHANICS OF MINORITY RULE

(1:22:28) SECTION B - THE PROPONENTS OF MINORITY RULE

(1:44:21) SECTION C - THE HISTORY OF MINORITY RULE

(2:01:34) SECTION D - A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

(2:38:53) SECTION E - ACTIVISM

SHOW IMAGE:

Description: A cardboard sign taped to a street poll shows an American flag image and a short arrow pointing toward it. Underneath is the word "VOTE".

Credit: "Vote!" by Kristin Ausk, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Slightly cropped

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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Air Date: 8-11-24 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: - Understanding the New Right - JD Vance's mangled metaphor - The best headline about RFK Jr. - Where the anti-trans movement has taken us - What Star War controversies through the years can teach us

REFERENCES: Watch: J.D. Vance Makes an Unfortunate Couch Joke at Nevada Rally

This Is Why J.D. Vance Hates “Childless Cat Ladies”

How JD Vance Thinks About Power

JD Vance Just Blurbed a Book Arguing That Progressives Are Subhuman

Read J.D. Vance’s Violent Foreword to Project 2025 Leader’s New Book

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says He Staged an Elaborate Bear-Cub Murder Scene in Central Park, but Only Because He’d Planned to Eat It Later

RFK Jr is an always sunny in Philadelphia character

The Insidious Scrutiny of Female Athletes’ Bodies

The misleading controversy over an Olympic women’s boxing match, briefly explained

The Right-Wing Campaign to Purge Women From Women’s Sports

This Olympics Moment Shows Where Anti-Trans Calls to “Protect Women” Have Brought Us

Every Star Wars Backlash I've Ever Seen Has Really Been About The Same Thing

Once the most hated man in Star Wars, the actor behind Jar Jar Binks reflects on his reputation in that galaxy far, far away.

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Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft  Contact me directly at [email protected]  Review the show on Apple Podcasts!

Original Air Date: 2/8/2019

Amid the ongoing fallout of a contested presidential election, we take a look back, briefly, at the last 100 years of Venezuelan history to understand how they went from oil riches and inequality to revolution and social progress only to run afoul of American imperialism

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: Attempted Coup in Venezuela with Abby Martin, Greg Wilpert, Paul Jay - @TheRealNews - Air Date 1-26-19

Ch. 2: How Did Venezuela Go From So Rich To So Poor - The Inquiry - Air Date 5-10-17

Ch. 3: Venezuela in Crisis- Defending the Bolivarian Revolution - Revolutionary Left Radio - Air Date 7-29-17

Ch. 4: Is Donald Trump waging a coup in Venezuela? - Majority Report (@MajorityFM) - Air Date 1-25-19

Ch. 5: Maduro’s Corruption Pushed Venezuela Further Into Economic DISASTER - @RingOfFireRadio - Air Date 2-2-19

Ch. 6: Jorge Martin on what’s next for Venezuela’s Bolivarian revolution? - @ThisIsHellRadio - Air Date 5-25-18

Ch. 7: The Yankee Plot to Overthrow Nicolás Maduro and Steal Venezuela’s Oil - The Intercept - Air Date 2-2-19

Ch. 8: As U.S. Moves to Oust Maduro, Is Invading Venezuela Next? Allan Nairn on Trump’s Attempted Coup - @DemocracyNow - Air Date 1-30-19

Ch. 9: Many Countries at UN Oppose Trump Interference in Venezuela - @TheRealNews - Air Date 1-29-19

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

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Air Date 8/6/2024

After the recent Supreme Court ruling that allowed governments to constitutionally purge unhoused people from public spaces, we are getting an immediate lesson in the difference between addressing systemic problems with solutions and using the police to clean up after governments that failed to act.

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: Criminalizing homelessness - Today, Explained - Air Date 7-2-24

KP 2: Sotomayor TORCHES Oregon Town Trying To Ban Homeless People - The Majority Report - Air Date 4-23-24

KP 3: Biden Proposes Major SCOTUS Reforms, Including Ending Lifetime Appointments & Enforcing Ethics Code - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-30-24

KP 4: Billionaires' Attacks on Homeless People May Pay Off Big at Supreme Court - Citations Needed - Air Date 3-6-24

KP 5: Myths about Homeless People with Dr. Margot Kushel - Factually! - Air Date 5-8-24

KP 6: White House takes new action to lower housing costs - Morning Joe - Air Date 7-16-24

KP 7: Can Homelessness Be Eliminated- One Oregon County Found a Surprising Solution - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 4-1-24

(45:37) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On the layers of problems and solutions for addressing homelessness

Article: 

With Sacramento’s robust water infrastructure, why are homeless residents still dying of thirst?

DEEPER DIVES

(51:59) SECTION A - THE SUPREME COURT

(1:02:06) SECTION B - DEMONIZATION

(1:19:15) SECTION C - DIGITALIZATION OF RENTING

(1:33:27) SECTION D - SOLUTIONS

SHOW IMAGE: 

Description: A photograph of a group of multicolored camping tents on a plaza outside City Hall in Los Angeles.

Credit: "Unhoused in Los Angeles" by Ron Reiring, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Cropped