Air Date 5/2/2023

Today, we take a look at the intertwining of oil wealth, philanthropy, and culture washing from John Rockefeller to the sheiks of the Middle East.

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: Who Were the Robber Barons? - Brain Blaze - Air Date 10-29-19

The Robber Barons were some dudes who got rich and were pretty sketchy about it all, but then founded a bunch of universities and stuff like that, so I guess we're cool? 

Ch. 2: Jane Mayer / The Koch Brothers and the Weaponizing of Philanthropy - EthicsinSociety - Air Date 4-6-16

Why is America living in an age of profound economic inequality? Why, despite the desperate need to address climate change, have even modest environmental efforts been defeated again and again? 

Ch. 3: “Sportswashing & Greenwashing”: Ex-Soccer Player Jules Boykoff on Qatar Hosting World Cup - Democracy Now! - Air Date 11-29-22

We speak with author Jules Boykoff about the climate and political implications of the 2022 World Cup. 

Ch. 4: How One Industry Controls Football - Athletic Interest - Air Date 11-5-21

Who controls football?

Ch. 5: Why Billionaire Philanthropy Won't Solve Anything - Second Thought - Air Date 2-25-22

You ever notice how oligarchs like Warren Buffet and Bill Gates are cast as these uber-wealthy saviors who are singlehandedly raising the world out of poverty? That doesn't happen by accident.

Ch. 6: What Is Sportswashing (and Does It Work)? - Freakonomics - Air Date 6-8-22

In ancient Rome, it was bread and circuses. Today, it’s a World Cup, an Olympics, and a new Saudi-backed golf league that’s challenging the P.G.A. Tour. 

Ch. 7: Why Billionaires Won't Save Us - Our Changing Climate - Air Date 5-21-21

I look at how the elite philanthropy of Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk function as more of a billionaire preservation of wealth and self than as an act of altruism.

Ch. 8: Anand Giridharadas: Why We Should Be Skeptical of Billionaires - Amanpour and Company - Air Date 9-19-18

Anand Giridharadas believes we should be a bit more skeptical about embracing billionaires as the change-makers of our era. 

MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S)

Ch. 9: The 2022 FIFA World Cup And The Rise Of 'Sportswashing' (In The Loop) - Scripps News - Air Date 11-21-22

Christian Bryant explores why sporting events are and can be held in countries with authoritarian regimes in this segment of "Scoreboard."

Ch. 10: Fixing the Economy - Garys Economics - Air Date 11-27-22

After having opened up the publics eyes to the problem of Wealth Inequality, Gary reveals to the Channel his own idea for a possible Wealth Tax.

VOICEMAILS

Ch. 11: Reaching a conclusion on understanding the J.K Rowling episode - Boris from Belgium

Ch. 12: The is/ought malfunction in our pattern recognition - Dave from Olympia, WA

FINAL COMMENTS

Ch. 13: Final comments on the is/ought problem of politics

MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions)

SHOW IMAGE

Description: A diptych of photos of Mohammad bin Salman and a painting of John. D. Rockefeller. A drop of black oil falls into a splash over the center of the image.

Credits: Composite design by A. Hoffman. Photo of “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis stands with Deputy Crown Price of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud” by U.S. Secretary of Defense, Flickr | License: CC by 2.0) | Changes: Cropped / Photo of painting of J.D. Rockefeller by John Singer Sargent, Flickr | License: Public Domain | Changes: Cropped / Oil drop and splash from Pixabay.

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date 5/2/2023

Today, we take a look at the intertwining of oil wealth, philanthropy, and culture washing from John Rockefeller to the sheiks of the Middle East.

Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email [email protected]

Transcript

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: Who Were the Robber Barons? - Brain Blaze - Air Date 10-29-19

The Robber Barons were some dudes who got rich and were pretty sketchy about it all, but then founded a bunch of universities and stuff like that, so I guess we're cool? 

Ch. 2: Jane Mayer / The Koch Brothers and the Weaponizing of Philanthropy - EthicsinSociety - Air Date 4-6-16

Why is America living in an age of profound economic inequality? Why, despite the desperate need to address climate change, have even modest environmental efforts been defeated again and again? 

Ch. 3: “Sportswashing & Greenwashing”: Ex-Soccer Player Jules Boykoff on Qatar Hosting World Cup - Democracy Now! - Air Date 11-29-22

We speak with author Jules Boykoff about the climate and political implications of the 2022 World Cup. 

Ch. 4: How One Industry Controls Football - Athletic Interest - Air Date 11-5-21

Who controls football?

Ch. 5: Why Billionaire Philanthropy Won't Solve Anything - Second Thought - Air Date 2-25-22

You ever notice how oligarchs like Warren Buffet and Bill Gates are cast as these uber-wealthy saviors who are singlehandedly raising the world out of poverty? That doesn't happen by accident.

Ch. 6: What Is Sportswashing (and Does It Work)? - Freakonomics - Air Date 6-8-22

In ancient Rome, it was bread and circuses. Today, it’s a World Cup, an Olympics, and a new Saudi-backed golf league that’s challenging the P.G.A. Tour. 

Ch. 7: Why Billionaires Won't Save Us - Our Changing Climate - Air Date 5-21-21

I look at how the elite philanthropy of Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk function as more of a billionaire preservation of wealth and self than as an act of altruism.

Ch. 8: Anand Giridharadas: Why We Should Be Skeptical of Billionaires - Amanpour and Company - Air Date 9-19-18

Anand Giridharadas believes we should be a bit more skeptical about embracing billionaires as the change-makers of our era. 

MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S)

Ch. 9: The 2022 FIFA World Cup And The Rise Of 'Sportswashing' (In The Loop) - Scripps News - Air Date 11-21-22

Christian Bryant explores why sporting events are and can be held in countries with authoritarian regimes in this segment of "Scoreboard."

Ch. 10: Fixing the Economy - Garys Economics - Air Date 11-27-22

After having opened up the publics eyes to the problem of Wealth Inequality, Gary reveals to the Channel his own idea for a possible Wealth Tax.

VOICEMAILS

Ch. 11: Reaching a conclusion on understanding the J.K Rowling episode - Boris from Belgium

Ch. 12: The is/ought malfunction in our pattern recognition - Dave from Olympia, WA

FINAL COMMENTS

Ch. 13: Final comments on the is/ought problem of politics

MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions)

SHOW IMAGE

Description: A diptych of photos of Mohammad bin Salman and a painting of John. D. Rockefeller. A drop of black oil falls into a splash over the center of the image.

Credits: Composite design by A. Hoffman. Photo of “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis stands with Deputy Crown Price of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud” by U.S. Secretary of Defense, Flickr | License: CC by 2.0) | Changes: Cropped / Photo of painting of J.D. Rockefeller by John Singer Sargent, Flickr | License: Public Domain | Changes: Cropped / Oil drop and splash from Pixabay.

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Air Date 4/26/2023

Today, we take a look at the trials and tribulations facing the youth today as men and boys are being surpassed academically by women and girls and girls are suffering disproportionately under the weight of the toxic forces of social media.

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: Senator Josh Hawley on masculinity - Axios on HBO - Air Date 11-7-21

Axios’ Mike Allen sits down with Missouri Senator Josh Hawley to discuss the senator's comments on masculinity.

Ch. 2: Male inequality, explained by an expert | Richard Reeves - Big Think - Air Date 1-4-23

Modern males are struggling. Author Richard Reeves outlines the three major issues boys and men face and shares possible solutions.

Ch. 3: Liz Plank & Richard Reeves Debate Gender Inequality - The Man Enough Podcast - Air Date 4-5-23

Brookings Institution scholar and acclaimed author Richard Reeves tackles the pressing issue of young men falling behind, on a mission to uplift them without jeopardizing women's rights.

Ch. 4: Teenage girls experiencing record high levels of sadness, violence and trauma, CDC says - PBS Newshour - Air Date 2-20-23

In 2021, the CDC saw an increase in mental health challenges across the board, but it’s girls in the U.S. that are engulfed in a wave of sadness, violence, and trauma.Stephanie Sy spoke with Sharon Hoover about the survey.

Ch. 5: The Number One Reason This Generation Is Struggling | Scott Galloway Part 1 - The Diary of a CEO - Air Date 10-27-22

Scott Galloway, or ‘Prof G’ to his fans, is one of the most influential business thought leaders in the world. Host of The Prof G Show, one of the most popular business podcasts in America

Ch. 6: What the Andrew Tate phenomenon reveals about our society | Richard Reeves - Keep Talking - Air Date 11-13-22

Ch. 7: Social media companies face legal scrutiny over deteriorating mental health among teens - PBS Newshour - Air Date 2-14-23

A national survey by the CDC sounded a new alarm about teens in crisis. It shows nearly 30% of teenage girls said they considered dying by suicide, and three out of five girls said they felt persistently sad or hopeless.

Ch. 8: Are the Kids Alright — with Jonathan Haidt Part 1 - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 10-27-20

NYU social psychologist Jonathan Haidt has spent the last few years trying to figure out why, working with fellow psychologist Jean Twenge, and he believes social media is to blame.

Ch. 9: The Number One Reason This Generation Is Struggling | Scott Galloway Part 2 - The Diary of a CEO - Air Date 10-27-22

Ch. 10: Are the Kids Alright — with Jonathan Haidt Part 2 - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 10-27-20

MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S)

Ch. 11: Spotlight — Addressing the TikTok Threat - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 9-8-22

This week on Your Undivided Attention, we bring you a bonus episode about TikTok. Co-hosts Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin explore the nature of the TikTok threat, and how we might address it.

Ch. 12: Male inequality, explained by an expert | Richard Reeves Part 2 - Big Think - Air Date 1-4-23

VOICEMAILS

Ch. 13: Continuing discussion of J.K. Rowling episode - VoiceMailer Boris

Ch. 14: Marking an isolating Black leaders - V from Central New York

FINAL COMMENTS

Ch. 15: Final comments on the fundamental disconnections that tend to drive modern debate

MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions)

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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Air Date: 4-21-23 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Erin and Deon discuss: - How you’re seen by others is important - Jokes are learning - Injecting money into morality breaks people’s brains - Remembering the labor movement - Another frustrating Atlantic article, this time about France

REFERENCES: Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World (Affiliate: Book, Audio)

The French are in a Panic over Le Wokisme - The Atlantic

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

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 4/19/2023

Today, we take a look at the history and present of the interconnected movements to privatize education and dismantle democracy.

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: Segrenomics: The Long History of Cashing In On Unequal Education - Have You Heard - Air Date 1-3-18

Education reform is often referred to as the "civil rights issue of our time." But what would have happened if "edupreneurs" had used their money, influence, connections and access to solve the riddle of why we can't integrate schools?

Ch. 2: Democracy and Public Education: A Future in Peril - Have You Heard - Air Date 8-12-21

Why are the same states that are rolling back democracy also intent on dismantling public education? We assembled an all-star cast to get some answers.

Ch. 3: The Hidden Agenda of Privatization with Jessica Piper (pt.1) - Teach Me, Teacher - Air Date 10-31-21

Jessica Piper, a previous middle and high school English teacher and now candidate for Missouri state representative, believes there's a far bigger agenda behind the outrage we are currently hearing about.

Ch. 4: Betsy DeVos Is Still Making Moves to Destroy Public Schools - The New Abnormal - Air Date 4-1-23

Betsy DeVos is no longer wreaking havoc as former President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Education, but even without the title, the Republican donor is still actively making moves to “destroy” the public school system.

Ch. 5: The Surprising History Behind Charter Schools - WBUR - Air Date 11-4-16

Today, teachers' unions are among the fiercest opponents of charter schools in the United States. The fact that a legendary union president was maybe the key champion of the idea tells you how much things have changed in 30 years.

Ch. 6: The Segrenomics of American Education w/ Dr. Noliwe Rooks - Human Restoration Project - Air Date 2-11-23

Because it is so well researched and presented, Cutting School: The Segrenomics of American Education, is a frustrating read. To tell the story of privatization, segregation, & the end of public education requires a massive cast.

Ch. 7: The War on Public Education Is Escalating – with Jennifer Berkshire - Is This Democracy - Air Date 3-16-23

We are in the midst of an escalating rightwing assault on public education in America. It comes in the form of an attempted authoritarian takeover of schools and universities, in hundreds of bills establishing state censorship, banning books, ect.

Ch. 8: Diane Ravitch on Pandemic School Privatization - CounterSpin - Air Date 5-22-20

We talk with Diane Ravitch about the latest scheme for rich folks to decide what's best for schools their children don't attend.

Ch. 9: Racism-High-Stakes Disaster Education | Dr. Ricardo Rosa - TEDxCCSU - Air Date 11-24-15

Dr. Rosa is a member of Save Our Schools, United Opt-Out and the Badass Teachers Association. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, an activist, writer, and researcher.

MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S)

Ch. 10: The Secret Power of Homeschoolers - VICE NEWS - Air Date 10-12-22

VICE News investigates why families are opting out, and what happens to the institution of public school when people abandon it.

VOICEMAILS

Ch. 11: Thanks for the Rowling episode - VoicedMailer Roland

Ch. 12: Regarding Puberty Blockers - VoicedMailer J

Ch. 13: Thoughts on the J.K. Rowling episode - VoicedMailer Boris

Ch. 14: Something to add to the JK Rowling episode - VoicedMailer Daniel

Presentation: Is Sex Binary?

FINAL COMMENTS

Ch. 15: Final comments on responses to the trans rights and authoritarianism episode

MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions)

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Air Date 4/16/2023

Today, we take a look at some of the arguments of the anti-trans feminist movement, known by its most prominent proponent, J.K. Rowling, all in the shadow of the anti-trans fervor of the right wing which is checking off the stages of genocide like a to-do list.

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: Stage 1 - Classification | The Ten Stages of Genocide by Dr. Gregory Stanton - Genocide Watch - Air Date 9-1-21

Ch. 2: Understanding The 'Logic' Of TERFs - The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder - Air Date 2-13-22

Why do TERFs think the way they do? The history of TERFs goes way back before JK Rowling. In the 1980s TERF Janice Raymond ran a successful campaign to push Sandy Stone out of Olivia Records.

Ch. 3: Comments 1: Introducing Authoritarianism

Ch. 4: Stage 3 - Discrimination | The Ten Stages of Genocide by Dr. Gregory Stanton - Genocide Watch - Air Date 9-15-21

Ch. 5: Transphobia In A Suit - The Anti-Trans Hate Machine: A Plot Against Equality - Air Date 7-22-21

Imara investigates the influence the Heritage Foundation had in infusing anti-trans ideology into the government during Trump’s presidency—a legacy the Biden administration is still trying to unravel.

Ch. 6: Comments 2: Reasons for the extreme defense of trans rights

Ch. 7: Stage 4 - Dehumanization | The Ten Stages of Genocide by Dr. Gregory Stanton - Genocide Watch - Air Date 9-22-21

Ch. 8: American Fascism And The Groomer Panic Part 1 - Second Thought - Air Date 2-24-23

We've seen a number of moral panics over the decades, and this one is no different. Come learn how the same old tropes are being recycled to animate this latest strain

Ch. 9: Comments 3: Just asking questions

Ch. 10: Stage 5 - Organization | The Ten Stages of Genocide by Dr. Gregory Stanton - Genocide Watch - Air Date 9-29-21

Ch. 11: American Fascism And The Groomer Panic Part 2 - Second Thought - Air Date 2-24-23

Ch. 12: Comments 4: Straw men and moderates

Ch. 13: Stage 6 - Polarization | The Ten Stages of Genocide by Dr. Gregory Stanton - Genocide Watch - Air Date 10-6-21

Ch. 14: Can We Stop the GOP From “Eradicating” Trans People? - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 3-8-23

Pastor Martin Niemöller’s famous poem begins, “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist.” But, in fact, first they came for the queer people. A year before Nazis began attacking union leaders and socialists

Ch. 15: Comments 5: Who understands Harry Potter?

Ch. 16: Comments 6: Misogyny in the movement

Ch. 17: Comments 7: Fueling anger and emboldening action

Ch. 18: TERFs and the Fascist Roots of Anti-Trans Movements - Jessie Gender - Air Date 3-22-23

At a gender-critical TERF rally in Melbourne, Australia, Neo-Nazis showed up to support the anti-trans rhetoric... and this shouldn't surprise anyone.

Ch. 19: Comments 8: If nazis are supporting your movement...

FINAL COMMENTS

Ch. 20: Final comments on reimagining reality

MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions)

SHOW IMAGE

Description: The sentence “Trans Rights Are Human Rights” is repeated in alternating colors of the transgender pride flag. The UN Free & Equal logo is on the bottom right corner.

Credit: "#TransRightsAreHumanRights" UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) initiative UN Free & Equal (@free_equal)

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Original Air Date 4/20/2022

Today we take a look at the bizarre halo effect that seems to surround Elon Musk and then thoroughly puncture it by just explaining a few things about him and his companies.

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: The Myth Of The "Self-Made" Billionaire - Second Thought - Air Date 9-10-21

It’s no secret that Americans love to hear about billionaires. You’ll find them everywhere. They’re on the news [Bezos space launch], have their own TV shows, movies, and even make their way to elected office.

Ch. 2: Is Elon Musk a Fraud - Deconstructed - Air Date 5-14-20

Over the weekend, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to Twitter to voice his frustrations about the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown in Alameda County, California. The billionaire entrepreneur threatened that he would take his auto factory to another state

Ch. 3: Tesla SUED Over Racial Discrimination In The Workplace - The Young Turks - Air Date 2-12-22

Elon Musk and Tesla are coming under fire as the state of California is suing the company for allegedly running a “racially segregated” workplace. Black workers are reportedly concentrated in certain parts of the factory and are constantly berated

Ch. 4: Elon Musk Is Not Your Friend - Some More News - Air Date 5-10-21

Hi. Elon Musk will not save us. Sorry.

Ch. 5: Elon Musk’s Childlike Libertarian Fantasy That Government Is The Biggest Corporation - The Majority Report - Air Date 12-9-21

Billionaire memelord Elon Musk has dropped yet another batcrap Libertarian rant for his adoring fans, this time regarding the bloodthirsty government and how he hates the pesky electric vehicle subsidies that he would (and already does) benefit from.

Ch. 6: Elon Trolls the SEC - What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future - Air Date 4-8-22

With 9.1% ownership of Twitter—and a board seat—Elon Musk is the new master of Twitter's future. Why did the wealthiest man in the world just take over the world's most influential platform?

Ch. 7: Elon, Segregationist & Culture War in Colorado w/ Chase Woodruff - Left Reckoning - Air Date 2-23-22

The real reason Elon Musk fleed California: incredible racism and animal cruelty charges. Also, how he's giving marching orders to Texas cops.

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Ch. 9: Elon Musk Isn’t Saving Humanity w/ Manu Saadia - Tech Won't Save Us - Air Date 3-25-21

Paris Marx is joined by Manu Saadia to discuss the roots of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos’ visions for space, and why they serve the billionaires’ need for control, not the betterment of humanity.

VOICEMAILS

Ch. 10: Back on the path - Dave from Olympia, WA

FINAL COMMENTS

Ch. 12: Final comments on foundational ideas that help explain politics

MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):

• Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr 
• Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
• Activism Music: This Fickle World by Theo Bard (https://theobard.bandcamp.com/track/this-fickle-world)
• Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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Original Air Date: 4-6-23 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Erin and Deon discuss: - Reactions to the Half Hour News Hour - A layered conservative joke? - Romance bots for all - Tech bros are 8-year-olds - How to teach American history

REFERENCES: Half Hour News Hour Snipits

Time to take biden to the train station

What Happens When Sexting Chatbots Dump Their Human Lovers

Super League: The War for Football

Elon Musk Sets Poop Emoji as an Autoreply to Twitter’s Press Email

A view of American History that Leads to One Conclusion

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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 4/2/2022

Today we take a look at the modern reality of cyber war. It's not the mass destruction of attacks that were imagined to look like a "Cyber Pearl Harbor" but the much more subtle cyber attacks that often fly under the radar and live in the grey area in attempts to inflict harm without provoking counterattack.

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: Andy Greenberg - Longform - Air Date 12-11-19

Andy Greenberg is a senior writer for Wired. His new book is Sandworm. “I kind of knew I was never going to get access to Sandworm, which is the title of the book - so it was all about drawing a picture around this invisible monster.”

Ch. 2: How America’s gas got hacked - Today, Explained - Air Date 5-12-21

The largest-known ransomware attack on American energy infrastructure is driving up gas prices and creating shortages. Wired's Lily Hay Newman says Colonial Pipeline might be a turning point for cybersecurity.

Ch. 3: Is Russia at War with the West? Part 1 - The Inquiry - Air Date 11-21-18

There are currently a number of serious allegations made in the West against Russia. They include the attempted murder of the former spy Sergei Skripal on British soil; interference in the 2016 US election; the hacking of the American electricity grid.

Ch. 4: How prepared is the U.S. to fend off cyber warfare? Better at offense than defense, author says - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 8-6-18

Sanger joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the threats and realities, how the U.S. wages cyber warfare, and how prepared the U.S. is to stop attacks.

Ch. 5: Is Russia at War with the West? Part 2 - The Inquiry - Air Date 11-21-18

Ch. 6: Russia Perfected Its Cyberwarfare In Ukraine — America Could Pay The Price - Think | NBC News - Air Date 11-23-19

Russia has been practicing cyberwar in a real-life test lab — Ukraine. Andy Greenberg, author of 'Sandworm', recounts how Russia went from repeatedly shutting down Ukraine's infrastructure to unleashing worms that caused billions of dollars in damage.

Ch. 7: Is World War III Already Here? - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 1-3-22

Warfare has changed so fundamentally, that we're currently in a war we don't even recognize. It's the war that Russia, China, and other hostile foreign actors are fighting against us — weaponizing social media to undermine our faith in each other

MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S)

Ch. 8: The Hackers Who Took Down the Colonial Pipeline - What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future - Air Date 5-21-21

Last week, a hacker group called DarkSide shut down the Colonial Pipeline, which supplies 45 percent of the fuel consumed on the East Coast. Gas prices skyrocketed, people started hoarding gas, and DarkSide walked away with over $4 million in Bitcoin.

VOICEMAILS

Ch. 9: Puberty blockers experimental? - Maria in Pennsylvania

FINAL COMMENTS

Ch. 10: Final comments on the deception and logical fallacies at the heart of critiques of gender affirming care

MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):

• Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr 
• Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
• Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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Air Date 3/31/2023

Today, we take a look at the history and legacy of the invasion of Iraq by the United States under George W. Bush and his administration with the support of the vast majority of Americans who had been systematically mislead by falsified evidence used to make the case for war.

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: Catastrophic Iraqi Writers Sinan Antoon & Feurat Alani Reflect on U.S. Invasion 20 Years Later Part 1 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 3-20-23

We spend today's show with two Iraqis looking back at how the unprovoked U.S. invasion devastated Iraq and helped destabilize much of the Middle East.

Ch. 2: How To Start A War And Get Away With It Part 1 - AJ+ - Air Date 3-16-23

Twenty years ago the U.S. began its invasion of Iraq. What came next is a story well tread— a bloody, brutal and senseless war— but what lead up to the invasion deserves just as much scrutiny

Ch. 3: 20 years on, should George W. Bush be on trial for Iraq Part 1 - The Mehdi Hasan Show - Air Date 3-16-23

20 years after the launch of the disastrous invasion of Iraq, Mehdi is asking: Isn’t it finally time to hold George W. Bush accountable for the brutal war and the lies he told us about it?

Ch. 4: How To Start A War And Get Away With It Part 2 - AJ+ - Air Date 3-16-23

Ch. 5: Norman Solomon on the Iraq Invasion, 20 Years Later - CounterSpin - Air Date 3-24-23

We’ll talk about it with author, critic and longtime friend of FAIR Norman Solomon. What passes for debate about why we must remain at some kind of war—cold, hot, corporate, stealth, acknowledged, denied has roots worth studying in 2003.

Ch. 6: 20 years on, should George W. Bush be on trial for Iraq Part 2 - The Mehdi Hasan Show - Air Date 3-16-23

Ch. 7: “To Start a War” by Robert Draper - PBS - Air Date 8-7-20

On the Washington Week Extra, New York Times Magazine writer at large and National Geographic contributing writer Robert Draper discusses his latest book, "To Start a War: How the Bush Administration Took America into Iraq.”

Ch. 8: Death, Destruction & Resilience Nadje Al-Ali on the 20th Anniversary of U.S. Invasion of Iraq - Democracy Now! - Air Date 3-16-23

“The story of the past 20 years is a story of destruction, devastation, corruption, incompetence, but also a story of resilience,” says Nadje Al-Ali, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at Brown University

Ch. 9: Catastrophic Iraqi Writers Sinan Antoon & Feurat Alani Reflect on U.S. Invasion 20 Years Later Part 2 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 3-20-23

Ch. 10: 20 years on, should George W. Bush be on trial for Iraq Part 3 - The Mehdi Hasan Show - Air Date 3-16-23

MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S)

Ch. 11: Lessons America Refuses To Learn From The Iraq Disaster w/ Spencer Ackerman - The Majority Report - Air Date 3-21-23

Sam hosts Spencer Ackerman, columnist for The Nation and author of the Forever Wars newsletter on Ghost, to discuss his recent piece “The Unlearned Lessons From the War in Iraq”.

VOICEMAILS

Ch. 12: Leftists are now war mongers - Ronald Bruce Meyer

Ch. 13: Senseless war - VoicedMailer Marg

Comment on your recent Ukraine podcast - VoicedMailer Trevor

FINAL COMMENTS

Ch. 14: Final comments on the moral responsibility of inaction in Ukraine

MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions)

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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