MEMBERSHIP

Our members keep us going. Join Now.

$6.99/mo or $74.99/yr after trial

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

Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics
  • 4.5 (3.3K)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Expertly-curated progressive politics, news, and culture produced by leftist humans, not algorithms or AI. This is an award-winning podcast that dives deeply into a wide range of national and international issues facing society and governments. We draw from hundreds of sources of progressive news and commentary. Est. 2006. Save time by listening to a range of perspectives on a focused topic in each episode and be introduced to new sources you will not have come across on your own!

  1. Hot Mess: Conservative Chaos Below the Surface of Trump's Authoritarian Regime

    2D AGO

    Hot Mess: Conservative Chaos Below the Surface of Trump's Authoritarian Regime

    Air Date 12/26/2025 Authoritarian governments are always very focused on making it look like they have everything on absolute lock down. Everyone in lockstep, everything proceeding according to plan. But they do this for propaganda purposes, not because it has anything to do with reality. In fact, the opposite is always true. All of which is to say that conservatives are not in chaos because Trump is particularly chaotic, though he is. They're in chaos because that is the natural result of attempting to enforce monolithic thinking and ideological conformity. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! In honor of our 20th birthday, we're giving new Members 20% OFF FOR THE LIFETIME OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP...this includes Gift Memberships! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: The Republicans Bucking Trump Part 1 - Today, Explained - Air Date 12-9-25 KP 2: House Republicans Defy Trump; Plus, When WWII Vets Came Home Part 1 - Start Making Sense - Air Date 11-19-25 KP 3: Indiana Republicans Say No to Trump and Illinois Protects Immigrants in Courthouses, Schools, and Hospitals - Good News for Lefties - Air Date 12-13-25 1 KP 4: The Mainstreaming of Nick Fuentes by the Coward Tucker Carlson Part 1 - It Could Happen Here - Air Date 11-13-25 KP 5: The Republican Party's 'Civil War' Part 1 - On The Media - Air Date 11-12-25 KP 6: Candace Owens at a Turning Point Part 1 - What Next - Air Date 12-17-25 KP 7: What The Susie Wiles Article REALLY Reveals About The White House - Why, America with Leeja Miller - Air Date 12-17-25 (00:56:36) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On why chaos is endemic to authoritarian governments DEEPER DIVES (01:02:30) SECTION A: GOP LAWMAKERS A1: Marjorie Taylor Greene Vs Donald Trump Part 1 - Americast - Air Date 11-21-25 A2: Marjorie Taylor Greene Talks About Leaving Congress Before Walking Out of Interview Early - 11Alive - Air Date 12-10-25 A3: Divorced From Reality Economist Dean Baker Fact-Checks Trump's Primetime Speech - Democracy Now! - Air Date 12-18-25 A4: The Rise of the New Right and MAGA with Laura K. Field Part 1 - The Majority Report - Air Date 11-17-25 A5: Marjorie Taylor Greene Vs Donald Trump Part 2 - Americast - Air Date 11-21-25 (01:45:12) SECTION B: STATE POLITICS B1: House Republicans Defy Trump; Plus, When WWII Vets Came Home Part 2 - Start Making Sense - Air Date 11-19-25 B2: The Republicans Bucking Trump Part 2 - Today, Explained - Air Date 12-9-25 (02:01:08) SECTION C: CLASHING IDEOLOGIES C1: The Republican Party's 'Civil War' Part 2 - On The Media - Air Date 11-12-25 C2: The Mainstreaming of Nick Fuentes by the Coward Tucker Carlson Part 2 - It Could Happen Here - Air Date 11-13-25 C3: The American Rights Civil War Over Israel with David Austin Walsh Part 1 - The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer - Air Date 11-9-25 C4: The Mainstreaming of Nick Fuentes by the Coward Tucker Carlson Part 3 - It Could Happen Here - Air Date 11-13-25 C5: The American Rights Civil War Over Israel with David Austin Walsh Part 2 - The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer - Air Date 11-9-25 C6: The Rise of the New Right and MAGA with Laura K. Field Part 2 - The Majority Report - Air Date 11-17-25 (02:57:28) SECTION D: CANDACE OWENS D1: Candace Owens at a Turning Point Part 2 - What Next - Air Date 12-17-25 D2: Candace Owens Is Not Your Friend - Hysteria - Air Date 9-25-25 D3: This Toxic Feud Just Got WAY Worse - The Majority Report - Air Date 12-22-25 SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Graphic depicting the Republican Party elephant icon on concrete with a giant crack running through it. Credit: Internal composite design, Elements from Pixabay | Pixabay License   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

    3h 27m
  2. You Might Also Like: Untold Stories: Life with a Severe Autoimmune Condition

    2D AGO · BONUS

    You Might Also Like: Untold Stories: Life with a Severe Autoimmune Condition

    Introducing Brandon & Dr. Thawani: The power of shared-decisions from Untold Stories: Life with a Severe Autoimmune Condition. Follow the show: Untold Stories: Life with a Severe Autoimmune Condition After a sudden change in mobility, Brandon Cutrell found himself on an unexpected path toward a CIDP diagnosis. That journey led him to build a remarkable partnership with his neurologist, Dr. Sujata Thawani. In this special episode, Brandon and Dr. Thawani share how trust, advocacy, and shared decision-making make the doctor-patient relationship central to navigating a chronic illness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. America, A Beginner's Guide (Throwback)

    5D AGO · BONUS

    America, A Beginner's Guide (Throwback)

    Original Air Date: 7/4/2022 Today, for this milestone episode, I attempted to squeeze in as many clever and interesting ideas as I could and ended up writing a starter guide to understand the United States. Plus, there are jingles! Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! In honor of our 20th birthday, we're giving new Members 20% OFF FOR THE LIFETIME OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP...this includes Gift Memberships! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! Join our Discord community! SHOW NOTES (00:01:30) Ch. 1: Political Structures of Our Country Tracking the political eras that proceeded our current situation and looking at what may come next. Jingle 1: Strawman (00:13:09) Ch. 2: Progressives and Progress Looking at a progressive perspective of the last 20 years and the process of progress itself Jingle 2: Defer to Authority (00:24:25) Ch. 3: Understanding Race, Gender, Privilege and Power Understanding why our understanding of the world is often insufficiently complicated Jingle 3: Just Asking Questions (00:37:06) Ch. 4: Progressives in Politics Tracing the fissures on the political left from Bush to Biden Jingle 4: Manipulating Data (00:46:45) Ch. 5: Republican Transformation Tracing conservatism from mid-century Republicans to 21st-century insurrectionists Jingle 5: Appeal to Emotion (00:59:32) Ch. 6: Foreign/Power Looking at various forms of power and how they play out on the international stage Jingle 6: Passive Voice (01:08:52) Ch. 7: The Progress Trap The progress traps of new technology and why we're not defending against them Jingle 7: Clickbait (01:19:07) Ch. 8: Structural Thinking and the Alternative What happens when an individualist thinker is faced with problems that only structural thinking can handle? Jingle 8: Conspiracy Theories Jingles: Concept and Some Lyrics by Jay Tomlinson, Music and Most Lyrics by Jonathan Mann   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

    1h 29m
  4. SOLVED! #30 - Everything is Ugly: How Convenience Killed Beauty—And How We Can Bring It Back

    6D AGO · BONUS • MEMBERSHIP ONLY

    SOLVED! #30 - Everything is Ugly: How Convenience Killed Beauty—And How We Can Bring It Back

    Air Date: 12-23-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: ⁃ Ch. 1 - Why everything is so ugly these days ⁃ Ch. 2 - The story of “Millennial Gray” and how our personal spaces are impacted by beauty ⁃ Ch. 3 - How government intervention and regulation does (and could) impact the beauty in our surroundings ⁃ Ch. 4 - How beauty impacts sustainability as well as our very important feelings of belonging ⁃ BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm: Why people around the globe are unhappy despite increasing wealth and progress FOLLOW US ON: YouTube (This full episode premieres on YouTube on Friday - please subscribe and share!) Bluesky Instagram Facebook Mastadon Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES Why Do All Fast Food Chains Look Like Boring Gray Boxes Now? - Delish How Did The World Get So Ugly? (YouTube video) -Sheehan Quirke Why Millenial’s Have No Taste (Youtube video) - Answer in Progress Trump executive order mandates classical architecture for federal buildings, discourages brutalism - CNN ‘We’re doing arch’: Trump says his plan for DC’s answer to the Arc de Triomphe is moving forward - The Independent Zoning Incentives Mandate Private Developers Create Public Open Space - Sustainability The Impact of Architectural Guidelines on Shaping Our Cities - Plusurbia The most sustainable building is one too beautiful to tear down. - Lloyd Alter on Substack Building, Beauty, and Belonging - The Public Discourse BACKSTAGE: The Psychological Reason You Can't Seem to Stay Happy - Very Well Mind The world has gotten richer — so, why aren’t we happier? - Vox EXTRAS: “Palaces for the People” by Eric Klinenberg (If you make a purchase after clicking this link, we get a small commission!) Best of the Left #1758 - “Why Dictators Are Lunatics and Their Followers are Fools” TAKE ACTION: No Kings Next Steps Free DC Project: FOR ALLIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY One Million Rising Trainings In a blue state? Help stop ICE overreach Find your Indivisible group - or start one Join our Discord Server Reach us via Signal: Bestoftheleft.01 Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts!

    1h 54m
  5. Why Dictators Are Lunatics and Their Followers are Fools

    DEC 22

    Why Dictators Are Lunatics and Their Followers are Fools

    Air Date 12/22/2025 It's said that mockery is one of the most effective weapons against dictators. I guess it depends on your goal, but still, there's truth there. And the good thing in that regard is that they are so very mockable. No really nice, likable, non-clownish people make themselves dictators and so the people who do are, without exception, absolutely ridiculous lunatics who deserve all the mockery and disdain in the world. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes In honor of our 20th birthday, we're giving new Members 20% OFF FOR THE LIFETIME OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP...this includes Gift Memberships! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Worlds Most Peaceful Man Finally Wins Peace Prize - Weekly Weird News - Internet Today - Air Date 12-6-25 KP 2: Why Is Trump so Obsessed with the Kennedy Center? - Post Reports - Air Date 8-14-25 KP 3: The Secret Life of Dictators with Frank Dikötter | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution Part 1 - The Secrets of Statecraft - Air Date 10-31-25 KP 4: A Guide to Propaganda - Shawn Grenier | The Canvas - Air Date 1-29-23 KP 5: How Dictators Really Control the World I Anne Applebaum Part 1 - Brad Carr - Air Date 9-18-25 KP 6: On The Epstein Loop and Parallel Improvisation - Robert Arnold - Air Date 12-20-25 (00:47:46) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On Trump's narcissism DEEPER DIVES (00:55:26) SECTION A: MADE UP AWARDS (01:18:24) SECTION B: MONUMENTS TO SELF (01:40:40) SECTION C: PROPAGANDA WORKS (02:08:56) SECTION D: DICTATORS ARE ALL THE SAME MAN (03:04:50) SECTION E: DICTATORSHIPS ALWAYS END HOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Cartoon image of Trump in the famous portrait of King Louis XIV, with a giant long curly wig, tights and robes. Credit: "donald-trump-louis-xiv-létat" by heblo, Pixabay | Pixabay License   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

    3h 31m
  6. SOLVED! FROM THE ARCHIVES - "This is Really Happening" (Original Air Date: 12-12-24)

    DEC 21 · BONUS

    SOLVED! FROM THE ARCHIVES - "This is Really Happening" (Original Air Date: 12-12-24)

    Re-Air Date: 12–18-25 Unless you were a member in December of 2024, this episode of SOLVED! will be brand new to you! If you were a member back then, THANK YOU and this one is worth a re-listen. We're slowing down production for a little bit to reorganize our production processes, so enjoy this episode from our archives (and before YouTube) where Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss:   Ch. 1 -  What the orcas are up to Ch. 2 -  Confronting the truth about eating meat Ch. 3 -  How to not let grief destroy leftist movements Ch. 4 -  Living a better life by accepting our own mortality   FOLLOW US ON: In honor of our 20th birthday, we're giving new Members 20% OFF FOR THE LIFETIME OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP...this includes Gift Memberships! YouTube (This full episode premieres on YouTube on Friday - please share!) Bluesky Instagram Facebook Mastadon   REFERENCES: Confessions of a Former Carnivore - The New Republic For Our Movements to Win, We Must Learn How Not to Let Our Grief Destroy Us - TruthOut You Are Going to Die - The Atlantic EXTRAS: 00:50:04 - Best of the Left Ep. #1672   - "Keep an open mind, but not so open that your brain falls out' (11-26-24)   TAKE ACTION: No Kings Next Steps Free DC Project: FOR ALLIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY - Tell Congress to stand down the federal escalation One Million Rising Trainings In a blue state? Help stop ICE overreach     Join our Discord Server Reach us via Signal: Bestoftheleft.01 Leave a message at 202-999-3991   Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts!

    1h 14m
  7. SOLVED! FROM THE ARCHIVES - “This is Really Happening” (Original Air Date: 12-12-24)

    DEC 20 · BONUS • MEMBERSHIP ONLY

    SOLVED! FROM THE ARCHIVES - “This is Really Happening” (Original Air Date: 12-12-24)

    Re-Air Date: 12–20-25 Unless you were a member in December of 2024, this episode of SOLVED! will be brand new to you! If you were a member back then, THANK YOU and this one is worth a re-listen. We’re slowing down production for a little bit to reorganize our production processes, so enjoy this episode from our archives (and before YouTube) where Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: ⁃ Ch. 1 - What the orcas are up to ⁃ Ch. 2 - Confronting the truth about eating meat ⁃ Ch. 3 - How to not let grief destroy leftist movements ⁃ Ch. 4 - Living a better life by accepting our own mortality FOLLOW US ON: YouTube (This full episode premieres on YouTube on Friday - please share!) Bluesky Instagram Facebook Mastadon REFERENCES: Confessions of a Former Carnivore - The New Republic For Our Movements to Win, We Must Learn How Not to Let Our Grief Destroy Us - TruthOut You Are Going to Die - The Atlantic EXTRAS: 
 00:50:04 - Best of the Left Ep. #1672 - “Keep an open mind, but not so open that your brain falls out’ (11-26-24) TAKE ACTION: No Kings Next Steps Free DC Project: FOR ALLIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY - Tell Congress to stand down the federal escalation One Million Rising Trainings In a blue state? Help stop ICE overreach Use the 5 Calls app for scripts and to reach all your elected officials Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 Find your Indivisible group - or start one Write to the DNC Join our Discord Server Reach us via Signal: Bestoftheleft.01 Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts!

    1h 13m
  8. Why you think the Sudanese civil war doesn't involve you

    DEC 17

    Why you think the Sudanese civil war doesn't involve you

    Air Date 12/14/2025 The sad ease with which we manage to ignore some atrocities, even while paying much attention to others, has to do with how visible or invisible to us the systems are that are propping up those events. Nothing happens in a vacuum and in our world, if you're willing to dig deep enough, you'll always find how we're all connected - across both time and geography. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Will the International Community Act Preschool Massacre & Large Piles of Bodies in Sudan Part 1 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 12-10-25 KP 2: Sudan Civil War the Terrifying Escape From El Fasher - Global News Podcast - Air Date 12-1-25 KP 3: Can Trump Help Sudan Part 1 - Today, Explained - Air Date 11-19-25 KP 4: The War In Sudan with Khalid Medani Part 1- American Prestige - Air Date 5-10-24 KP 5: South Sudans Failed Peace Deal with Joshua Craze Part 1 - American Prestige - Air Date 5-27-25 KP 6: Decolonise Sudan - The Sages Cabin - Herbs & Liberation - Air Date 11-6-25 (00:45:33) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the past 20 years of politics DEEPER DIVES (00:50:08) SECTION A: VIOLENCE NOW (01:12:13) SECTION B: HISTORICAL ROOTS (01:51:58) SECTION C: OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE (02:12:01) SECTION D: RESOLUTION AND SOLIDARITY HOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Photo of Sudanese refugee women, one with her baby, standing in line for food aid in Chad carrying bags, and boxes. Credit: "24 January 2025, Adre, Chad. Sudanese refugees who have fled the conflict in Sudan register for food aid in neighbouring Chad." by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK), Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Cropped   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

    2h 47m
See All (554)

Hosts & Guests

4.5
out of 5
3,332 Ratings

About

Expertly-curated progressive politics, news, and culture produced by leftist humans, not algorithms or AI. This is an award-winning podcast that dives deeply into a wide range of national and international issues facing society and governments. We draw from hundreds of sources of progressive news and commentary. Est. 2006. Save time by listening to a range of perspectives on a focused topic in each episode and be introduced to new sources you will not have come across on your own!

Information

You Might Also Like