Mathew Toro is 32 years old—and says he is already preparing to run for president of the United States in 2036.

Toro says this is not a sudden ambition, but a 16-year effort he began planning in 2020, when he was just 26 years old.

He is building that effort around what he calls an “Economic Justice Revolution,” a proposal designed to return more corporate profits to the workers who helped create them.

But will Toro develop the experience, organization, and credibility required to become a serious presidential contender? And by 2036, will an America battered by economic inequality, corporate power, political division, and distrust be ready for the kind of revolution he proposes?

In this Lean to the Left interview, host Bob Gatty presses Toro about his background, qualifications, political philosophy, economic proposals, campaign strategy, education, foreign policy views, and the enormous challenge of building a credible national campaign.

Toro explains his proposal to require highly profitable corporations to return 36 percent of their net income above $1 billion to their employees. Using Apple as an example, he argues that workers could receive substantial annual payments representing what he calls the true value of their labor.

The discussion includes:

• Why Toro began planning his presidential run in 2020

• His experiences with homelessness and economic hardship

• Why he believes corporate greed and political corruption are connected

• His plan to build a grassroots campaign through social media

• Whether he would seek another elected office before running for president

• His support for universal preventive healthcare

• His views on labor unions and working-class power

• The current Democratic Party and political polarization

• How he would confront opposition from Congress and corporate interests

• What he still must accomplish before voters should consider him qualified

Toro acknowledges that he currently lacks the staff, funding, national organization, and political infrastructure required for a presidential campaign. But he insists the years ahead give him time to build a movement and establish credibility.

“I’m barely half the man I’ll be in 2036,” he says, describing that election year as “a date with American history.”

Will Mathew Toro be ready by then?

And after another decade of economic and political upheaval, will America be ready for him?

Watch the interview and decide for yourself.

Subscribe to Lean to the Left for interviews, political commentary, and independent reporting focused on democracy, economic fairness, government accountability, and the issues affecting working Americans.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Welcome and Setup

01:28 Meet Matthew Toro

01:46 Origins of His Mission

03:59 Homelessness and Solutions

05:55 Why Aim for 2036

08:37 Corruption and Bipartisanship

09:40 Economic Justice Plan Explained

13:18 Is It Socialism

14:59 Unions Healthcare Housing

16:31 Building a Real Campaign

18:10 Books and Fundraising Online

20:09 Democrats and Misinformation

23:13 Getting Congress Onboard

27:10 Foreign Policy and Trump

28:24 Background and Weaknesses

30:05 How Voters Should Judge

31:32 Closing Thoughts and Farewell

#MathewToro #Election2036 #EconomicJustice #WorkingClass #PresidentialElection #ProgressivePolitics #CorporateGreed #LaborRights #PoliticalInterview #LeanToTheLeft

Democrats must get tough to win Congress and defeat Donald Trump and his MAGA allies in the House and Senate, says longtime activist Patrick Reynolds.

Watch four killer ads he produced to hammer Trump and his MAGA allies in the key House and Senate races that could determine control of Congress.

The grandson of tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds, Patrick became nationally known when he turned against the industry that made his family wealthy and spent decades fighting Big Tobacco -- largely because RJR's products caused his father's death.

Now, he's taken on a new political battle: helping Democrats regain control of Congress.

As leader of the Congress Majority PAC, Reynolds argues that Democrats must fight harder, sharpen their message, and directly confront Trump and the Republican Party as a whole—not simply rely on traditional candidate-versus-candidate advertising.

In this Lean to the Left interview, Reynolds explains what Democrats must do to win the critical House and Senate races that will determine control of Congress.

You will also see four killer political ads Reynolds produced for use in key races across the country. The ads target:

Donald Trump and his MAGA allies

Republican policies on climate change

The economy and cost of living

Disaffected voters who no longer feel loyal to the Democratic Party

Reynolds intends to place these hard-hitting, nationally relevant messages in the battleground races where they could make the greatest difference.

Can Democrats finally stop playing defense, get tough, and win back Congress?

Watch the interview, see the four ads, and share your reaction in the comments.

Subscribe to Lean to the Left for independent political commentary, interviews, and analysis.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Trump Party Cold Open

00:11 Meet Patrick Reynolds

01:39 Why Start a Super PAC

03:30 Vote Democrat Ad Strategy

05:23 Privilege and Family Fallout

07:28 Tobacco Legacy and Disinheritance

09:58 Introducing the Ad Lineup

10:43 Ad 1 Anti Trump Message

11:50 Ad 2 Climate Change and Big Oil

14:07 Ad 3 Economy and Cost of Living

16:02 Ad 4 Disaffected Democrats

17:27 Whats at Stake and Call to Action

21:11 Closing Thanks and Support

The political aftermath of Lindsey Graham’s death sees South Carolina politics suddenly thrown wide open—but the political consequences could extend far beyond one Senate seat.

In this special summer edition of Dixie Dems, Bob Gatty of South Carolina, Arthur Hill of North Carolina, and Robert Thompson of Georgia examine the fight to replace Graham, Donald Trump’s endorsement of Graham’s sister, and the Democrats hoping to capitalize on a rapidly changing political landscape.

The discussion also covers:

• Whether Democrats can pull off major upsets in South Carolina

• Republican efforts to restrict early and Sunday voting in North Carolina

• Growing election controversy and FBI involvement in Georgia

• The campaigns of Roy Cooper, Jon Ossoff, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Jermaine Johnson, John Vincent, and Dr. Annie Andrews

• Allegations involving voter-roll manipulation and so-called “ghost voters”

• Why voters throughout the South should check their registration before the midterms

Could Lindsey Graham’s death help trigger a political transformation in the South—or will Republicans tighten their grip on elections to protect their power?

Join the conversation in the comments.

Dixie Dems: The South has a voice—and it’s blue.

Subscribe to Lean to the Left for progressive news, interviews, and political commentary from across the South.

#DixieDems #LindseyGraham #SouthCarolinaPolitics #SouthernPolitics #Democrats #ElectionIntegrity #VoterSuppression #LeanToTheLeft

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Welcome to Dixie Dems

00:35 Graham Death Fallout

01:11 Trump Endorsement Talk

04:09 GOP Field Opens Up

05:18 North Carolina Race Update

07:56 Election Board Power Grab

10:17 Turnout and Registration Surge

11:09 Georgia Election Fiasco Claims

15:00 Ossoff Humor and Debate Talk

17:13 Georgia Senate Stakes

18:36 Downballot Races Spotlight

19:19 Voter Roll Purges Warning

20:49 Martha Zoller Backstory

22:29 South Carolina Fry vs Vincent

24:03 Haley Talk and Upset Scenarios

26:01 Ghost Voters Investigation

28:50 How to Volunteer and Wrap-Up

Since Donald Trump constantly claims U.S. elections are rigged, can South Carolina trust its voter rolls?

Following the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina is preparing for a special election that could have major consequences for the state—and for control of the U.S. Senate.

But before voters choose Graham’s successor, investigative journalist Alison Greene says South Carolina’s voter-registration records need close scrutiny.

In this interview with Lean to the Left host Bob Gatty, Greene explains why she has begun filing public-records requests for county voter rolls across South Carolina and why she is recruiting volunteers to help compare those records before the election. In several other states, including Texas and Florida, Greene has found that indeed elections have been rigged, due to voter roll tampering that largely benefited Republican candidates, not Democratic candidates. Will she find the same in South Carolina?

The discussion covers:

• How legally registered voters can disappear from voter rolls

• Why voters should verify their registration before Election Day

• Concerns about inaccurate, fraudulent, or “ghost” voter records

• How county-by-county comparisons can reveal suspicious changes

• Why the final 90 days before an election may be especially important

• What South Carolinians can do to help examine the records

• Why election transparency matters regardless of which candidate wins

Greene stresses that unusual voter-roll changes should be investigated, not automatically assumed to be illegal. Her goal is to identify potential problems early enough for election officials, campaigns, and affected voters to address them before ballots are cast.

Whether Democrat Dr. Annie Andrews wins or loses, South Carolinians deserve confidence that every eligible voter can participate and that the result reflects the will of the people.

To volunteer with Greene’s voter-roll research project, visit:

itsuptous.grassrootsspeak.com

This episode is part of the Lean to the Left Truth Under Attack series examining election integrity, investigative journalism, whistleblowers, and threats to democratic accountability.

Subscribe to Lean to the Left for independent political reporting, interviews, and progressive commentary.

#SouthCarolina #LindseyGraham #ElectionIntegrity #VoterRolls #AlisonGreene #AnnieAndrews #GhostVoters #VotingRights #TruthUnderAttack #LeanToTheLeft

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Special Election Stakes

01:09 Why Graham 2020 Looked Off

02:53 ES&S Machine Pattern

05:23 Shift to Voter Rolls

06:01 FOIA Plan for Counties

07:51 Voters Vanishing Example

10:42 How Roll Hacking Works

14:33 Ninety Day Danger Window

18:40 Volunteer Roles Needed

20:43 Ghost Voters and IDs

26:36 ERIC and Cross State Checks

28:33 Russian Fake ID Case

32:56 How to Help and Wrap Up

35:27 Truth Under Attack Outro

Why do Democrats so often lose the message war and allow Republicans to dominate the political conversation—even when Democrats and progressives have popular policies?

Legendary progressive strategist and activist David Fenton says Democrats are practicing what amounts to “unilateral disarmament” in today’s information war.

After more than 50 years helping movements win public support, he believes progressives must simplify their language, repeat compelling messages, reconnect with working people and build mass movements capable of defeating concentrated wealth and political corruption.

In this wide-ranging Lean to the Left interview, Fenton explains why good policies do not sell themselves—and why Democrats must stop relying on academic language, insider terminology and messages that ordinary voters do not understand.

Fenton discusses:

• Why Republicans have become better at framing political issues

• How simple language and repetition influence voters

• Why Democrats must speak to affordability and working-class concerns

• The danger of allowing specialized identity language to divide potential allies

• Why the central struggle is not simply left versus right—but top versus bottom

• How Democrats should connect climate change to higher costs and political corruption

• Why effective metaphors such as “Make Polluters Pay” can move public opinion

• How mass movements have changed America—and can do so again

• What today’s activists can learn from Abbie Hoffman, the antiwar movement and decades of progressive organizing

Fenton also shares hilarious stories from an extraordinary career that included the No Nukes concerts, the campaign to free Nelson Mandela, efforts to reform marijuana laws, environmental campaigns and work with activists, political leaders and cultural figures including his mentor, Abbie Hoffman, and Jane Fonda, Jesse Jackson, John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen.

His message is blunt: Democrats and progressives cannot win merely by being correct. They must learn how to communicate, reach a mass audience and give people a reason to join something bigger than themselves.

David Fenton is the author of The Activist’s Media Handbook, available here https://amzn.to/4gDYmSH, and host of The Fenton Forecast podcast.

Watch the full conversation, then tell us in the comments: What is the single biggest change Democrats should make in the way they communicate with voters?

Subscribe to Lean to the Left for independent progressive commentary, political analysis and conversations with the people documenting—and shaping—America at a crossroads.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Meet David Fenton

02:00 Dropping Out Into Activism

02:46 Underground Press Days

04:13 Abbie Hoffman Lessons

07:37 John Sinclair Freedom Concert

08:49 Ann Arbor Human Rights Party

10:53 High Times To Rolling Stone

11:52 No Nukes And Starting Fenton

13:05 Why Progressives Lose Media Wars

14:24 Framing And Simple Messages

17:20 Climate Language That Works

19:40 Woke Sectarianism Debate

20:40 Stop Divisive Messaging

22:00 Socialism Label Problem

22:30 Woke Pitfalls and Attacks

23:16 Plainspoken Progressives

25:58 Climate as Cost and Corruption

27:32 Senate Map and Party Future

29:04 AOC Versus Old Guard

30:37 Fixing Disinformation Platforms

33:58 Trump Costs and Vance Threat

37:24 Podcast Book and Farewell

What if you arrived at your polling place on Election Day and discovered your name was no longer on the voter rolls?

Investigative journalist Alison Greene returns to Lean to the Left to explain why that scenario may be more common than many Americans realize—and, more importantly, what voters can do now to protect themselves before the 2026 midterm elections.

In this follow-up conversation, Greene discusses her ongoing investigation into voter roll irregularities, explains how voters can verify their registration, why provisional ballots matter, and how volunteers across the country are working to identify voters who may have been removed from registration lists.

Whether you agree with Greene's conclusions or simply want to better understand how voter registration systems work, this conversation offers practical steps every voter should consider before heading to the polls.

In this episode:

✅ What to do if your name is missing from the voter rolls

✅ Why checking your voter registration now matters

✅ How provisional ballots work—and their limitations

✅ Greene's nationwide volunteer effort to monitor voter rolls

✅ How citizens can help protect election integrity before the midterms

If you believe every eligible American deserves the opportunity to vote, please Like, Subscribe, and Share this episode.

Previous episodes in our Democracy & Election Integrity Series:

• Marcel Reid: They Want Us Silent — Why protecting journalists, whistleblowers, and truth-tellers is essential to defending democracy.

• Lilli McGregor: Can We Trust the Vote? — The Election Truth Alliance examines alleged election irregularities and why they deserve closer scrutiny.

• Alison Greene (Part 1): Ghost Voters? What Florida Investigators Found — Greene discusses her investigation into alleged voter-roll irregularities and explains why she believes they warrant further investigation.

🎙️ Lean to the Left with Bob Gatty features in-depth interviews and commentary on politics, democracy, healthcare, social justice, and the issues shaping America's future.

Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction: What You Can Do Before the Midterms

02:01 Why "Cleaning the Voter Rolls" Can Mean Different Things

05:28 Ghost Voters vs. "Ghosted" Voters Explained

07:09 What Happens If Your Name Is Missing on Election Day?

10:03 Why Registered Voters Couldn't Be Found in Florida

13:02 Should You Bring Proof of Registration?

15:34 Building a National Voter Registration Database

16:39 How Citizens Can Volunteer to Help

18:17 Reviewing the "Ghost Voter" Investigation

19:12 Michigan Case and Other Election Investigations

23:21 Election Fraud Claims and Public Confidence

25:19 Funding the Technology to Protect Voters

27:14 The Plan to Restore Eligible Voters to the Rolls

30:19 Final Thoughts

Two recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions may have far greater consequences than most Americans realize.

One gives presidents significantly more authority over independent federal agencies. The other removes limits on coordinated campaign spending, allowing political parties and candidates to work together with far fewer restrictions.

Individually, each ruling is important.

Taken together, they may create new opportunities for wealthy donors to influence government policy and for presidents to reward political allies after taking office.

In this commentary, Bob Gatty explains why these two cases should be viewed together—and why they could reshape American democracy for years to come.

Do you agree? Or am I connecting dots that don't belong together?

Let me know in the comments.

👍 Please Like

📺 Subscribe

🔔 Click the notification bell

For more independent political analysis, visit:

https://LeanToTheLeft.net

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why these two Supreme Court decisions matter

00:53 Decision #1: Expanding presidential power

02:05 Decision #2: More money in politics

02:57 Why the two rulings belong together

03:01 The FTC example

03:57 What this could mean for American democracy

04:29 Final thoughts

What does South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dr. Jermaine Johnson want to do if elected governor?

In this 4-minute highlight reel, Johnson outlines his plans to improve roads, strengthen public schools, expand healthcare access, reform taxes, address affordable housing, regulate AI data centers, and tackle other key issues facing South Carolina.

🎥 Hear the full exclusive interview on the Lean to the Left channel.

Do you think Jermaine Johnson's plan would move South Carolina in the right direction? Let us know in the comments.

#SouthCarolina #JermaineJohnson #GovernorRace #Politics #Election2026 #LeanToTheLeft

South Carolina Democratic nominee for governor Dr. Jermaine Johnson discusses his plans for addressing key issues, including roads, schools, healthcare, taxes and more, in an exclusive interview with Lean to the Left.

To bring voters into the discussion, this conversation is driven by questions submitted through social media, giving South Carolina citizens a chance to ask Johnson about the issues they care about most.

Johnson says decades of one-party Republican control have left South Carolina with some of the nation's worst roads, struggling schools, limited healthcare access, and too many working families falling behind.

His goal? To help bring South Carolina out of the political dark ages—and into a future with better roads, stronger schools, affordable healthcare, and greater opportunity.

In this interview, Johnson discusses:

✅ Repairing South Carolina's crumbling roads and bridges

✅ Improving public education and supporting teachers

✅ Expanding Medicaid and increasing access to healthcare

✅ Reforming state taxes without hurting working families

✅ Increasing affordable housing and helping veterans

✅ Reducing gun violence through responsible firearm policies

✅ Protecting women's reproductive freedom

✅ Regulating AI data centers while protecting South Carolina's natural resources

✅ Increasing voter participation and restoring confidence in state government

Johnson stresses the need for political candidates to tell the truth about what's realistically possible to solve problems, and not make unrealistic promises rather than make promises that can't be kept -- like eliminating the state income tax, which provides 50% of funding for the state's budget.

Whether you're a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or simply concerned about South Carolina's future, this conversation offers an in-depth look at one of the state's most important elections.

What do you think? Can a Democrat win South Carolina? Let us know in the comments below.

👍 Like this video if you enjoyed it.

🔔 Subscribe to Lean to the Left for thoughtful conversations with political leaders, investigative journalists, authors, and policy experts.

📤 Share this interview with friends and family across South Carolina.

About Lean to the Left

Hosted by veteran journalist Bob Gatty, Lean to the Left features independent journalism, insightful interviews, and progressive commentary on the issues shaping America today.

Substance. Not Sensationalism.

Visit LeanToTheLeft.net for more podcasts, articles, and commentary.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction: Can a Democrat Win South Carolina?

01:02 Why Jermaine Johnson Is Running for Governor

03:00 Can a Democrat Win in a Red State?

03:45 Winning Independent Voters

05:05 Is Trump's Grip on South Carolina Slipping?

06:15 Tax Reform & The Income Tax Debate

09:25 Fixing South Carolina's Roads & Bridges

11:45 Education, Schools & Infant Mortality

14:05 AI Data Centers & "Bring Your Own Energy"

15:55 Abortion & Reproductive Rights

17:55 Gun Violence & Responsible Gun Ownership

19:45 Increasing Voter Participation

21:30 Helping Veterans & Affordable Housing

22:55 His Choice for Lieutenant Governor?

23:45 How to Support the Campaign

25:05 Final Thoughts

#SouthCarolina #JermaineJohnson #SouthCarolinaGovernor #SouthCarolinaPolitics #Election2026 #Healthcare #Education #Infrastructure #MedicaidExpansion #LeanToTheLeft #BobGatty

This interview was recorded in South Carolina as part of Lean to the Left's continuing coverage of the 2026 South Carolina governor's race.Jereymy Johnson Inter

In this episode of Lean to the Left, host Bob Gatty talks with podcasting expert Michelle Glogovac, founder of MLG Collective, author of How to Get on Podcasts, and host of multiple successful podcasts including Read the Damn Book, Kitchen Briefs, and Beyond the Campaign.

Michelle explains why podcasting continues to grow despite intense competition, how independent podcasters can compete with major media personalities, and why trust is the secret ingredient that makes podcasts such a powerful marketing and communications tool. She also shares her remarkable journey from selling jet fuel to becoming one of the industry's leading podcast publicists.

Whether you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, author, activist, or aspiring podcaster, Michelle offers practical advice on launching a show, finding your audience, creating compelling content, and using storytelling to build meaningful connections.

She also discusses the success of her fast-growing Kitchen Briefs news series and reveals how she manages multiple podcasts while helping clients secure guest appearances on shows around the world.

In this episode:

✅ Why podcast listeners trust podcast hosts

✅ How podcasting can help grow a business

✅ The real costs of starting a podcast

✅ Competing against celebrity and corporate podcasts

✅ How Michelle built a successful podcast PR business

✅ Why storytelling is the key to audience growth

✅ Tips for entrepreneurs and authors seeking podcast exposure

✅ How short-form content is helping Michelle reach new audiences

If you've ever thought about starting a podcast—or using podcasts to grow your brand—this conversation is packed with valuable insights.

New to Lean to the Left? Subscribe for conversations with authors, journalists, activists, thought leaders, and newsmakers discussing politics, democracy, media, culture, and the issues shaping America.Can a successful podcast create a loyal audience, help grow your business, build trust with customers, and establish you as a thought leader?

👍 Please Like, Subscribe, and Share to support independent journalism and thoughtful conversations.

And, to check out the three episodes in our Truth Under Attack series, here are the links:

✅ Lilli McGregor -- Can We Trust Our Elections? https://leantotheleft.net/podcast/election-watchdog-republicans-benefited-voting-irregularities/

✅ Alison Greene -- Uncovering Ghost Voters -- https://leantotheleft.net/podcast/ghost-voters-florida-investigation-raises-alarm-even-beyond-the-sunshine-state/

✅ Marcel Reid -- Whistleblowers, the Free Press & Democracy Under Attack -- https://leantotheleft.net/podcast/they-want-us-silent-marcel-reid-on-why-democracy-needs-whistleblowers-and-a-free-pressmarcel-reid-whistleblowers-free-press-democracy-under-attack/

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction & Meet Michelle Glogovac

02:42 Why Podcasting Exploded During COVID

04:10 Why Podcast Listeners Trust Their Hosts

06:22 Competing Against Celebrity & Network Podcasts

08:15 Why Independent Podcasters Have an Advantage

09:25 From Selling Jet Fuel to Podcast Matchmaker

11:15 Building a Podcast PR Business

12:05 Beyond the Campaign & Kitchen Briefs Success

13:35 Michelle's Take on Politics, Trump & UFC

15:20 How Podcasts Help Small Businesses Gain Customers

17:10 Turning a Podcast into a Marketing Tool

18:00 The Pizza Shop Podcast Example

20:25 What You Need to Start a Podcast

21:15 Starting a Podcast for Less Than $100 a Month

22:20 How Michelle Produces Four Podcasts

24:15 Michelle's Book: How to Get on Podcasts

25:30 Repurposing Podcast Content for Growth

26:20 Why Every Creator Should Own Their Domain Name

27:45 Using Substack and Websites Together

28:45 Do You Need Guests on Your Podcast?

29:45 Bob's Famous UFO Reporting Story

32:20 Audio vs. Video Podcasts: Which Is Better?

33:30 Do You Need B-Roll, Graphics & Fancy Effects?

34:40 Music, Copyright & Podcast Production Tips

35:25 Can You Actually Make Money Podcasting?

36:25 SEO Tips for Podcasters

37:15 Michelle's Pod