Left Reckoning

Tonight on Left Reckoning: We’re joined by journalist Seth Harp @sethharp to discuss his explosive new book, "The Fort Bragg Cartel" — out today — exposing the “Fort Bragg Cartel” and uncovering the U.S. military’s hidden role in the global drug trade. From the battlefields abroad to the violence coming home, Harp’s investigation lays bare the shadowy side of American imperialism.📖 Get Seth Harp’s new book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730414/the-fort-bragg-cartel-by-seth-harp/We also bring you coverage from the DSA National Convention, including our conversation with Neal Meyer (@nealmeyer) and a live response from Olivia Katbi @oliviakatbi on the DSA convention, BDS, and the fight for a free Palestine, plus respond to recent bizarre allegations from the NY Post.
Follow & Support Left Reckoning:💖 Patreon: patreon.com/leftreckoning🎧 Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0xzcRxgBjKKSigBt11IytK & https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/left-reckoning/id1553413866Pickup Left Reckoning MERCH: Leftreckoning.com/store📱 Twitter: @davidgriscom @mattlech @leftreckoning

Trump's trying to hide how bad this economy is as more and more people struggle to get by. Plus, in Texas GOP reps are hard at work trying to rig the upcoming midterm elections. In a last ditch effort to stop it Texas Dems have fled the state, will it work?

Then Kylie Cheung (@kylietcheung) joins us to talk about her new book, Coercion, which documents the fight for autonomy and the attempt by the Right to control women and their bodies.

Pick up Kylie's book here: https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745350615/coercion/

👉 Join us on Patreon for full access to bonus episodes and behind-the-scenes debriefs: https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning

Get the postgame and Sunday Shows at patreon.com/leftreckoning

Neal Meyer of Left Notes joins David and Matt to discuss this piece on Democratic Socialism, Social Democracy, and Communism: https://www.left-notes.com/p/a-typology-of-socialisms-in-the-21stAlso, Tlaib takes a shot across the bow about supporting Israel with "defensive weapons."

Matt & Dave are at it again, talking about Gaza and AOC. Plus we're joined by Slate journalist Alexander Sammon to talk about the Roosevelt Hotel, that housed thousands of migrants and was also the subject of many RW conspiracy theories. What lessons can we take from its closing?https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/07/donald-trump-immigrants-new-york-city-conspiracy.htmlSupport the show and get access to the postgame:🌹 https://patreon.com/leftreckoning

We’re live talking about the return of Jeremy Corbyn, and whether we’re entering a 2018 reboot. In Texas, things are getting messier than ever, with SpaceX exploding, Paxton's "biblical divorce," and new details about Musk and Abbott’s cozy relationship coming to light.Plus, we're joined by journalist and author Brian Goldstone (@brian_goldstone) to talk about his new book There Is No Place for Us, which dives deep into the crisis of working homelessness, how landlords, private equity, and even gig apps profit off housing precarity — and what real solutions could look like.Link to the book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/645871/there-is-no-place-for-us-by-brian-goldstone/Support the show and get access to the postgame:🌹 https://patreon.com/leftreckoning

We are joined by Branko Marcetic @BMarchetich writer at Jacobin to talk about Zohran's win and Trump's threats against Democracy. David talks about the flooding in Texas and the human consequence of GOP failure.

Immediately after catch Ben Burgis in the POSTGAME for PATRONS ONLY patreon.com/leftreckoning

➡️ Support independent left media: patreon.com/leftreckoning

📺 Subscribe and like for weekly interviews, analysis, and socialist commentary.

-------------------------------

Show Notes:

00:00 Start

1:40 Intro

5:06 Who Is To Blame For The Texas Floods?

31:41 Trump's Authoritarianism

40:59 Morning Joe Centrist Freakout w/ Branko Marcetic

59:00 Who Is James Talarico w/ Ben Burgis

➡️ Support independent left media: patreon.com/leftreckoning📺 Subscribe and like for weekly interviews, analysis, and socialist commentary.In this episode of Left Reckoning, Matt and David are joined by Ashik Siddique, co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, to break down the latest in American politics — and why the Democratic establishment is still failing to meet the moment.We dig into Colin Allred’s announcement that he’s running for Senate in Texas and what it reveals about the party’s refusal to back bold, working-class candidates. Then we examine the Democrats’ newly unveiled “2029 Project”, their soft response to the GOP’s Project 2025, and ask whether they’ve actually learned anything from their repeated losses and near-disasters.Ashik joins us to analyze what a real alternative looks like — one rooted in DSA’s growing electoral strategy and grassroots organizing that just helped deliver a major victory for Zohran Mamdani in NYC.Later, we break down the so-called Big Beautiful Bill that recently passed in the Senate — a dangerous right-wing wish list that would slash Medicaid, ramp up immigration enforcement, and undermine protections for working people across the board. It’s a clear preview of Donald Trump’s 2025 agenda and a direct attack on the multiracial working class. We explain what’s in the bill, why it matters, and how the left must respond.------------------------------------------00:00 Start 01:33 Intro 00:05:12 Democrats Keep Blowing It 2029 Edition00:27:40 Colin Allred Wants Your Money To Lose Another Election 00:44:03 DSA Co-Chair On Why Zohran Won 01:15:02 Responding to Attacks On Zohran 01:31:17 Zohran Responds to Trump Threat 01:42:00 Big Beautiful Bill (Betrayal) 2:00:43 OPEN POSTGAME 2:01:22 Responding To The Nonsense Attacks On Zohran By "Socialists" 2:07:55 Matt Taibbi Comes Out As Total Hack

Hey friends, thank you for joining us in this difficult time. We have two conversations coming up on Israel, Iran, and Trump's decision to use US military power. First up we are joined by Dr. Eskandar Sadeghi-Boroujerdi to talk about the fallout from Trump's decision to attack Iran, what that means for Iran's nuclear program, and the Reza Pahlavi's opportunism in trying to claim rulership of Iran. Read Culmination: https://newleftreview.org/sidecar/posts/culminationThe Failson & The Flag: https://jacobin.com/2025/06/reza-pahlavi-iran-israel-interventionThen we are joined by Derek Davison (@dwdavison) one half of the beloved American Prestige Pod. Derek will help us break down the recent events, what the political scene will mean in the US following Trump and Israel's attacks, and more. Subscribe to American Prestige: https://americanprestige.supportingcast.fm/Subscribe to Derek's FX Newsletter:https://www.foreignexchanges.news/Check out the Crusades series:https://americanprestige.supportingcast.fm/welcome-to-the-crusades-the-first-crusadeLastly, David and Matt take a look at Texas Lt. Gov Dan Patrick, who has officially joined the Panican Party after Greg Abbott vetoed his THC ban. Keep up with Left Reckoning, support the show and get our Sunday bonus episodes by signing up at patreon.com/leftreckoning

Hey folks! Two great interviews for y'all this week. First, doctor and researcher Adam Gaffney on a study that shows how devastating Trump's bill will be for health in this country. Then, Hannah Habtu on genocide in Tigray where up to 800 thousand people have been killed, and an overview of Ethiopian and Eritrean history surrounding the conflict."Genocide in Tigray: Serious breaches of international law in the Tigray conflict, Ethiopia, and paths to accountability":https://newlinesinstitute.org/rules-based-international-order/genocide-in-tigray-serious-breaches-of-international-law-in-the-tigray-conflict-ethiopia-and-paths-to-accountability-2/Support:https://omnatigray.org/

👉 Join us on Patreon for full access to bonus episodes and behind-the-scenes debriefs: https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning

Our good friend Stephen Semler (@stephensemler) is back on the program to talk about Trump's war on the working class, and Stephen Miller's Assault on Los Angeles.

Keep up with Stephen's work over at Polygraph: https://www.stephensemler.com/

Then, David is joined by the editor of The Nation, D.D. Guttenplan (@ddguttenplan) & contributing writer and guest editor Richard Kreitner to talk about "These Dis-United States Of America," The Nation's 160th anniversary issue.

Subscribe to The Nation - https://www.thenation.com/issue/july-august-2025-issue/

Richard Kreitner's book - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374608453/fearnopharaoh/

And his U.S. history podcast - https://www.thinkbackpod.com/

D.D. Guttenplan's book The Next Republic -https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/579718/the-next-republic-by-dd-guttenplan/