By Bob Gatty
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Courage in Tragedy: Confronting Alex Jones
On December 14, 2012, Robbie Parker's six-year-old daughter, Emilie, was tragically killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
In this episode of Lean to the Left podcast, Courage in Tragedy, Robbie shares his deeply emotional journey of coping with the immense grief of losing his daughter, the harassment his family faced from Alex Jones and his InfoWars followers, their subsequent decision to relocate, and the legal battle they waged confronting Alex Jones.
Robbie also discusses his book, 'A Father's Fight: Taking on Alex Jones and Reclaiming the Truth About Sandy Hook,' and his process of healing and preserving his daughter's memory.
The episode ends on a high note with news about The Onion winning the InfoWars platform in a bankruptcy auction, marking a milestone in Robbie's fight for justice.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction to the Sandy Hook Tragedy
00:33 Robbie Parker's Heartbreaking Story
04:16 The Immediate Aftermath and Alex Jones' Conspiracy Theories
04:59 Relocating and Facing Harassment
07:55 Standing Up to Alex Jones
10:08 Writing a Book and Healing
16:06 Reflections on Grief and Family Impact
19:24 The Verdict and Its Implications
23:32 The Onion Wins InfoWars Auction
29:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
About Bob Gatty
A former journalist and communications consultant, Bob Gatty is the founder and editor of the Lean to the Left blog and host of this podcast, which focuses on progressive politics and the important social issues of our time.
Bob's new book, Hijacked Nation: Donald Trump's Attack on America's Greatness, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com and is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other outlets. Paperback: $11; Hardcover: $24. Digital versionalso available. Here's a direct link: https://amzn.to/4eK8ghZ
DISCLAIMER: Some links in this description are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through them, you won’t pay any extra – in fact, you may even save with a discount! Using these links helps support this channel, allowing us to keep providing free content to help you on your journey. Thank you for your support.
In honor of Veterans Day and all of those who have served our country, we are presenting today Paul R. Lawrence, who’s written a new book, Veterans Benefits for You. It’s a terrific resource to help veterans who want help maximizing the veterans benefits that they deserve.
In his book, Paul R. Lawrence, former Under Secretary for Benefits in the Department of Veterans Affairs, provides an up-to-date, comprehensive and accessible guide to all the benefits and services available to veterans of the US armed services and how to make the most of them. We’re proud to present Dr. Lawrence today and hope the information he provides will help veterans take advantage of the benefits and services to which they are entitled.
Please note that this episode was recorded last year for Veterans Day and we are presenting it once again here.
Meanwhile, as we continue to explore pressing social issues, I encourage everyone to share their stories and experiences with us by commenting. Your voice matters!"
About Bob Gatty
A former journalist and communications consultant, Bob Gatty is the founder and editor of the Lean to the Left blog and host of this podcast, which focuses on progressive politics and the important social issues of our time.
Bob's new book, Hijacked Nation: Donald Trump's Attack on America's Greatness, co-authored with CJ Waldron, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com and is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other outlets. Paperback: $11; Hardcover: $24. Digital version is also available. Here's a direct link: https://amzn.to/4eK8ghZ
DISCLAIMER: Some links in this description are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through them, you won’t pay any extra – in fact, you may even save with a discount! Using these links helps support this channel, allowing us to keep providing free content to help you on your journey. Thank you for your support.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction 00:56 Veterans guide explained
01:10 Paul Lawrence background
01:55 Host's personal experience
04:03 Jumping out of airplanes
07:26 Calling your Congressman
08:43 Helping veterans at work as a civilian
09:28 Insider advice for vets
10:13 Key components of book
11:44 Modernizing the VA
12:04 Need to improve mental health services
12:24 Step by step advice
14:24 Can Congressional intervention really help?
17:00 VA Improvements Needed 1
8:02 Needed Congressional action
19:48 Family benefits
20:19 Conclusion
Sabotaged!
Donald Trump is wasting no time sabotaging the U.S. government that he’s supposed to lead.
With the nominations of Robert F. Kenney Jr. as secretary of Health, and Matt Gaetz as attorney general, he’s shown absolute disdain for the American people by
unqualified loyalists in the most sensitive and important positions.
Kennedy, who once had a brain worm and battled drug addiction, has spent years fighting against vaccines.
He backs a national abortion ban and has never seen a conspiracy theory he didn’t like. He has zero health expertise, and was picked because of his last name and his endorsement of Trump.
Gaetz is just plain slimy. He was investigated by the bipartisan House Ethics Committee for allegedly engaging in sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old girl and violating sex trafficking laws, while accepting improper gifts.
He resigned from Congress immediately after being picked by Trump to be his attorney general. One crook hired to protect another. That’s all that is.
Trump wants to consolidate power and that’s what he’s doing with these low-life Cabinet selections. All designed to help consolidate his position as dictator.
We’re in for a rough ride, folks.Connecting You to Issues that Matter
About Bob Gatty A former journalist and communications consultant, Bob Gatty is the founder and editor of the Lean to the Left blog and host of this podcast, which focuses on progressive politics and the important social issues of our time. Bob's new book, Hijacked Nation: Donald Trump's Attack on America's Greatness, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com and is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other outlets. Paperback: $11; Hardcover: $24. Digital version coming soon. Here's a direct link: https://amzn.to/4eK8ghZ .
DISCLAIMER: Some links in this description are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through them, you won’t pay any extra – in fact, you may even save with a discount! Using these links helps support this channel, allowing us to keep providing free content to help you on your journey. Thank you for your support.
Unveiling the Mind of a Master Storyteller: An Interview with David Baldacci
Join us on the Lean to the Left podcast as we welcome David Baldacci, renowned author of over 40 bestselling suspense novels.
In this episode, we delve into Baldacci's latest book 'To Die For' featuring the character Travis Devine. Baldacci discusses his process of character development, the rigorous research that goes into his thrillers, and his commitment to literacy through the Wish You Well Foundation.
What's it like creating those characters that are so important, especially the bad guys (Baldacci's favorites)? Do they stay with the author over time? Where do his story ideas come from? What's in his mind? How does he work? What's the process followed by this master storyteller to create all those novels?
From his journey as a trial lawyer to becoming a celebrated novelist, Baldacci shares insights into the craft of storytelling and what keeps him motivated to continue writing captivating stories. A must-watch for fans and aspiring writers!
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction to David Baldacci
01:26 Discussing 'Absolute Power'
02:01 Exploring 'To Die For'
04:28 The Writing Process
07:42 Research and Realism
17:09 Character Development
18:59 The Wish You Well Foundation
23:55 Advice for Aspiring Authors
26:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Links for Baldacci books discussed in the interview:
To Die For: https://amzn.to/4etVOlv
Absolute Power: https://amzn.to/3Z9z7P3
Memory Man: https://amzn.to/4exd9Kk
The Edge: https://amzn.to/48S4Ebm
The 6:20 Man: https://amzn.to/4hOK1B3
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About Bob Gatty
A former journalist and communications consultant, Bob Gatty is the founder and editor of the Lean to the Left blog and host of this podcast, which focuses on progressive politics and the important social issues of our time.
Bob's new book, Hijacked Nation: Donald Trump's Attack on America's Greatness, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com and is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other outlets. Paperback: $11; Hardcover: $24. Digital versionalso available. Here's a direct link: https://amzn.to/4eK8ghZ
DISCLAIMER: Some links in this description are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through them, you won’t pay any extra – in fact, you may even save with a discount! Using these links helps support this channel, allowing us to keep providing free content to help you on your journey. Thank you for your support.
A GOP Insider's Election Analysis 2024
In this episode of the Lean to the Left podcast, host Bob Gatty interviews Jamie Miller, former Executive Director of the Florida Republican Party and veteran of the 2000 George Bush campaign, for an analysis of Donald Trump's 2024 defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
They discuss a variety of topics including demographic voting patterns, Miller's perceived overreach of the Democratic Party on key issues, the impact of immigration policies, and questions surrounding electric vehicles and the economy. For his part in this election analysis 2024, Host Bob Gatty points out the overreach of the Republican Party, including Donald Trump's threat to go after his perceived enemies, including many in the Democratic Party.
They also touch on controversial subjects such as the aftermath of the January 6th Capitol attack, immigration policies including Trump's mass deportation plans and the situation of the Dreamers, and the debate over whether the 2020 election was legitimately won by Biden.
Miller provides insights from his right-of-center perspective, while Bob offers counterpoints from the left, aiming to foster a balanced and reasonable discussion in this fascinating election analysis.
Miller's bottom line was that Democrats lost the support of many voters by focusing on such issues as abortion, protecting LGBTQ+ rights, and allowing transgender individuals to compete in school sports, when their primary concern was the economy and inflation.
Remember, I believe in the power of dialogue to drive change. What topics would you like us to address? Your input is invaluable!
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:32 Election Analysis: Why Trump Beat Kamala Harris
02:26 Democrats' Strategy and Media's Role
05:34 Impact of Abortion Issue on Election
07:30 Young Voters and Economic Concerns
13:43 Immigration and Latino Voters
16:27 Dreamers and Immigration Policy
26:13 Election Integrity and 2020 Election
32:50 January 6th Attack and Pardons
35:39 Economic Policies and Tariffs
39:32 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts
About Bob Gatty
A former journalist and communications consultant, Bob Gatty is the founder and editor of the Lean to the Left blog and host of this podcast, which focuses on progressive politics and the important social issues of our time.
Bob's new book, Hijacked Nation: Donald Trump's Attack on America's Greatness, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com and is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other outlets. Paperback: $11; Hardcover: $24. Digital versionalso available. Here's a direct link: https://amzn.to/4eK8ghZ
DISCLAIMER: Some links in this description are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through them, you won’t pay any extra – in fact, you may even save with a discount! Using these links helps support this channel, allowing us to keep providing free content to help you on your journey. Thank you for your support.
The Price of Bacon
Trump's supporters, who unfairly blamed Joe Biden for the increase in grocery prices and other products following the pandemic, put the price of bacon and other foods ahead of potentially losing many important freedoms under the presidency of Donald Trump.
Aside from the trepidation that many feel because of Trump's election, perhaps the saddest aspect is that more than 71 million Americans fell for his message of hate, his lies, his exaggerations, and his pie in the sky promises.
They forget that Trump thoroughly mismanaged the pandemic, resulting in millions of deaths. And apparently they don't care that he harbors hopes of installing himself as some sort of dictator.
Harris did her best, but her messaging fell flat with many women, particularly whom she counted on to lead her to victory.
Trump stacked the Supreme court to get rid of abortions, but the price of bacon apparently trumped concerns about losing reproductive freedom. If Trump follows through on his pledge to impose massive tariffs on imported goods, do they not realize that the price of goods will skyrocket?
Perhaps they like Trump's plan to give another huge tax cut to millionaires and big business at their own expense.
Trump promised to deport millions living in the country illegally, and from his continued rhetoric, it sounds like he's entirely serious, regardless of the cost as his braintrust is already making implementation plans. What would be the impact on the economy if he did that? Who will pick the produce or build our houses, do our landscaping, yes, even pick our hardshell crabs?
Trump said he would protect American women whether they like it or not,. That's from the man convicted of sex crimes. He's threatened his political opponents as "the enemy within," and said he military should take care of them.
Apparently 71. 5 million voters who chose Trump paid no attention to that. Or they actually liked the message, such as his deportation plans.
Enough. We must continue to resist this fanatic who, indeed, has hijacked our nation simply to satisfy his on insatiable greed. I intend to continue to do that through this podcast, my LeantotheLeft.net blog, and my books. A new one has just been released, Hijacked Nation, Donald Trump's attack on America's greatness. You can find it here: https://amzn.to/4ePrTF7, and another one, a political thriller, is now in the works.
"The government you elect is the government you deserve," wrote Thomas Jefferson. Those 71. 5 million Trump voters will discover over these next years that those words are absolutely true.
After all, what's more important, the price of bacon or your own freedom?
The Dixie Dems Trump Election Response
In this special post-election episode of the Lean to the Left podcast, the Dixie Dems offer a response to Donald Trump's election nationally and in South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina.
Host Bob Gatty discusses the disappointing results and the continuing battle for democracy with Arthur Hill, vice chair of the Brunswick County North Carolina Democratic Party, and Robert Thompson, a passionate podcaster and political commentator from Georgia.
They explore key pressing issues, such as the public's response to Trump, the challenges faced by Democratic candidates, especially black female candidates, the potential impacts of Project 2025, and the looming threat of an autocratic government.
The trio dives deep into Trump's plans for weaponizing the Department of Justice, the role of immigrants in the workforce, and the uncertain future of American democracy.
The episode concludes with a reflection on the broader societal implications and and information about the host's updated book, 'Hijacked Nation,' co-authored with CJ Waldron.
Remember, as we continue to explore pressing social issues, please share your stories, views and experiences. Your voice matters! We can all get through this together.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction and Post-Election Reflections
00:57 Emotional Reactions and Personal Stories
01:29 Election Analysis and Voter Behavior
02:55 Concerns About Trump's Return
07:10 Supreme Court and Legislative Implications
07:56 Political Strategy and Opposition
13:04 North Carolina Election Results
22:41 Immigration and Labor Issues
27:34 Closing Thoughts and Book Promotion
About Bob Gatty
A former journalist and communications consultant, Bob Gatty is the founder and editor of the Lean to the Left blog and host of this podcast, which focuses on progressive politics and the important social issues of our time. Bob's new book, Hijacked Nation: Donald Trump's Attack on America's Greatness, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com and is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other outlets. Paperback: $11; Hardcover: $24. Digital version coming soon. Here's a direct link: https://amzn.to/4eK8ghZ
DISCLAIMER: Some links in this description are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through them, you won’t pay any extra – in fact, you may even save with a discount! Using these links helps support this channel, allowing us to keep providing free content to help you on your journey. Thank you for your support.
Election Countdown: Insights from the Dixie Dems
Join Bob Gatty and guests Arthur Hill and Robert Thompson in this special election countdown episode of the Dixie Dems on the Lean to the Left Podcast. If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe! We have many more thought-provoking discussions lined up that you won't want to miss.
The discussion in this episode provides insights into key battleground states like North Carolina and Georgia, touching on local electoral dynamics, early voting experiences, and the potential impacts of increased voter turnout.
The episode also delves into issues like sign-stealing, the influence of young voters, and the broader implications of local electoral mechanisms.
Additionally, Bob shares thoughts on his newly released book, 'Hijacked Nation,' covering the political landscape from the January 6 insurrection to the current day. The book is available at Amazon at https://amzn.to/4ePrTF7 and Barnes & Noble at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hija....
Don't miss this insightful conversation as the Dixie Dems break down the upcoming election and its possible outcomes, with optimism about Harris' chances in Georgia and North Carolina, two key battleground states that could be the key to victory.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction and Halloween Special
00:59 Election Focus: North Carolina and Georgia
03:30 Early Voting Experiences
11:27 Georgia's Election Shenanigans
14:04 Final Thoughts and Predictions
30:25 Local Elections and Issues
33:49 Promoting the New Book
36:27 Closing Remarks and Call to Vote
About Bob Gatty
A former journalist and communications consultant, Bob Gatty is the founder and editor of the Lean to the Left blog and host of this podcast, which focuses on progressive politics and the important social issues of our time.
Bob's new book, Hijacked Nation: Donald Trump's Attack on America's Greatness, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com and is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other outlets. Paperback: $11; Hardcover: $24. Digital version coming soon. Here's a direct link: https://amzn.to/4eK8ghZ
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DISCLAIMER:
Some links in this description are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through them, you won’t pay any extra – in fact, you may even save with a discount! Using these links helps support this channel, allowing us to keep providing free content to help you on your journey. Thank you for your support
I want to let you know that our new book, Hijacked Nation, Donald Trump’s attack on America’s greatness, reveals details of the harm posed by the Republicans’ Project 2025, a manifesto for a potential Trump administration.
You can learn more at leantotheleft.net/books, so check it out.
Meanwhile, here’s a great little video about Project 2025 that I thought I’d pass along.
Navigating Racial Myths: A Conversation with Steve Brigham
Join us on this episode of 'Lean to the Left' as we address the pressing issue of racism in America with white author and racial equity consultant, Steve Brigham.
Drawing from his book, 'It's Never Been a Level Playing Field: Overcoming Eight Racial Myths to Even the Field,' Steve shares his 35-year journey dedicated to dismantling racial myths that hinder equality.
We explore systemic racism in housing, criminal justice disparities, and over 36 proposed reforms across education, housing, economic justice, and more.
Steve also reflects on raising biracial children in an African American community and how it has influenced his perspective on racism and social justice.
Tune in for eye-opening facts, actionable recommendations, and insights to build a more equitable society. If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe! We have many more thought-provoking discussions lined up that you won't want to miss."
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction: Racism in America
00:27 Meet Steve Brigham: Author and Advocate
01:00 Steve's Consulting Work on Racial Equity
02:41 Personal Experiences with Racism
05:20 The Myth of a Level Playing Field
07:02 Exploring Racial Myths and Realities
09:45 Criminal Justice Disparities
10:35 Recommendations for Change
12:58 Discussing White Poverty and Moral Fusion Movement
13:46 Potential Programs to Address Poverty
15:16 Impact of Upcoming Election on Policies
17:12 Local Innovations and Affordable Housing
18:05 Environmental Justice and Criminal Justice Reform
19:33 Personal Reflections on Racism and Parenting
21:59 Inspiration Behind the Book
22:50 Where to Find the Book and Newsletter
24:56 Encouragement to Learn and Take Action
25:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
About Bob Gatty
A former journalist and communications consultant, Bob Gatty is the founder and editor of the Lean to the Left blog and host of this podcast, which focuses on progressive politics and the important social issues of our time.
Bob's new book, Hijacked Nation: Donald Trump's Attack on America's Greatness, is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com and is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other outlets. Paperback: $11; Hardcover: $24. Digital version coming soon. Here's a direct link: https://amzn.to/4eK8ghZ
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The podcast currently has 725 episodes available.
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