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Content Warning: This episode covers topics including bullying, sexual assault and doxing.
In this week's episode, Corn and Jay discuss a follow-up to our last episode where we discussed the Joshua Collins doxxing scandal where Joshua Collins, a candidate for Washington's 10th Congressional District, got wrapped up in drama where a voter in his district was wrongfully accused of sexually aggressing a staff member of Joshua's campaign by Joshua. Corn and Jay talk about follow-ups that came out of an investigation that Jay did including Joshua's "apology" for doxxing.
If you have seen or experienced doxing, bullying or other harmful behavior from candidates or others that are part of the movement, please share those experiences with us at hello@betterleft.net.
To learn more about the Collins campaign check out his twitter @ https://twitter.com/Joshua4Congress or visit their campaign page at http://joshua2020.com.
Or check out one of Joshua's debates with well-known Political Twitch streamers Destiny, Pxie, and others @ https://www.twitch.tv/videos/598031746
For a copy of the complaint click here:
https://betterleft.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/joshua_collins_doxxing_complaint.pdf
For information concerning Jason Call's history of internal party harassment, check here: https://www.heraldnet.com/news/democrats-penalize-a-party-leader-for-unbecoming-conduct/
Intro
Artist: Ash Leon Title: Big Dipper Style
License: With permission from the artist
Adaptation: adjusted audio levels, cut to fit

Outro
Artist: Ash Leon Title: Sympathy for the Devil
License: With permission from the artist
Adaptation: adjusted audio levels

Content Warning: This episode covers topics including bullying, sexual assault and doxing.
In this week's episode, Corn and Jay discuss bullying and the misuse of positions of power from those on the left. Join us as we examine a complaint filed with the Thurston County Democrats regarding Washington's 10th Congressional Candidate Joshua Collins who is alleged to have doxed a progressive voter in his own district. We also discuss other problematic actions from the Collins campaign including the Rent Strike Petition, concerns from tenant organizers in New York and the response from the campaign to them. Corn talks about why it is critical for us as leftists to hold candidates accountable, and how the actions of Collins and his campaign hurt electoral leftist politics for years to come.
If you have seen or experienced doxing, bullying or other harmful behavior from candidates or others that are part of the movement, please share those experiences with us at hello@betterleft.net
To learn more about the Collins campaign check out his twitter @ https://twitter.com/Joshua4Congress or visit their campaign page at http://joshua2020.com.
Or check out one of Joshua's debates with well-known Political Twitch streamers Destiny, Pxie, and others @ https://www.twitch.tv/videos/598031746
For a copy of the complaint click:https://betterleft.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/joshua_collins_doxxing_complaint.pdf
Intro
Artist: Ash Leon Title: Sympathy for the Devil
License: With permission from the artist
Adaptation: adjusted audio levels

Outro
Artist: Ash Leon Title: Big Dipper Style
License: With permission from the artist
Adaptation: adjusted audio levels

We apologize for the quality of our audio. We're getting settled with our respective home studios during quarantine, and we are eternally thankful to Jay for his superlative editing skills and patience. We'll get better! Don't forget to give us some stars and subscribe! We hope you are all staying safe, sane, and healthy. Want to talk about it? Send a note to hello@betterleft.net! Follow The Better Left Cast on Twitter Follow the Better Left Cast on Facebook Follow the Better Left Cast on Instagram
“We are aware that there are some inherent dangers in our work, but none of us signed up for a suicide mission,” said Yestramski.
-Mike Yestramski Jr, RollCall.Com
Mike is a psychiatric social worker at Western State Hospital, and President of AFSCME 28/WFSIE, the union representing approximately 45,000 state employees and public service workers across the state of Washington. That includes employees of state agencies, state colleges and universities, social services providers, state park employees, and correction officers, to name a few.
While all of these public service jobs have been impacted by the unprecedented impact of this global pandemic, COVID-19 has created an untenable pressure on the frontline healthcare workers at facilities like Eastern and Western State hospitals, Harborview Medical Center, and the University of Washington Medical Center.
In this episode, we check in with our friend Mike and unpack the reports we've heard from the frontline workers, the ever-present struggle with hospital administration to get the necessary PPE -protective gear used by hospital staff to reduce exposure and risk of infection for both patient and the people providing vital healthcare services.
In the midst of this crisis, at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak and in the United States, Mike speaks to what's going on and what the team at Washington State Federation of State Employees is doing to advocate on behalf of the incredible work on the frontlines, like #Courageous Duty Pay for front-line workers (SIGN THE PETITION!), and advocating for better screening and prioritized COVID-19 testing for front line staff.
Mike at KUOW.ORG
Mike at PublicNewsService.Org
Michael Ferguson
We also speak with our dear friend Michael Ferguson, an account manager for a company that provides lighting and technical services for large-venue public events. 200 employees were laid off as a result of the impact of COVID-19, and he speaks to the difficulty of the situation, and what he and other leaders from his field are doing to help- like raising $70,000 in support of Washington State Stage and Tech workers in an emergency fund.

This Episode:
Follow The Better Left Cast on Twitter
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Guests: Mike Yestramski Jr and Michael Ferguson
Hosts: Troy Hewitt, Cassidy 'Corn' Butler
Editing: Jay Smith
Show Notes: Troy Hewitt
Intro
Artist: Hemijinks Title: Nice Ray
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Adaptation: Reduced length to fit intro, adjusted audio levels
Promoted by: https://www.tribeofnoise.com/viewMusic.php?fileID=17690

Outro
Artist: Ed Navarro Dee Title: Atacama
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Adaptation: adjusted audio levels
Promoted by:https://www.tribeofnoise.com/viewMusic.php?fileID=61477

Right now Team Better Left are sequestered in our respective homes and preparing to coordinate our all-remote call-in podcast, the first time we've done that, so it should be both technically challenging and entirely frustrating- for everyone! We'll keep you posted! In the meantime, here's the latest episode:




The Next Episode!
We sit down with King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove and talk about the recent firing of two teachers because they were marrying same-sex partners and his public advocacy on their behalf, among a host of other topics.




"This is a reminder of the blatant discrimination that continues to exist in our community against members of the LGBT community," Upthegrove said.
King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove to NBC News






We also finally learn what the King County Council does, talk about Dave's history in politics, and just generally have a great time. Dave was a delight to talk to and we are looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Check out the background for the episode at the links below:




Dave Upthegrove from his King County Council page.

A day in the life of Dave Upthegrove
Wanna Have a Digital Hangout?



We hope you are staying safe! How are you faring? Want to talk about it? How about a digital hangout? Let us know if you are interested in joining us for a digital hangout, who knows, maybe we'll turn it into a podcast. Let us know by sending an email to hello@betterleft.net!
Episode Credits:
Guest: David Upthegrove
Editing: Jay Smith
Episode Lead: Troy Hewitt
Show Notes: Troy Hewitt
Hosts: Cassidy Butler, Troy Hewitt, Jay Smith
The Artists Behind our Tracks
Intro
Artist: Backyard Dreaming Title: Emotional Connection
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Adaptation: Reduced length to fit intro, adjusted audio levels
Promoted by: https://www.tribeofnoise.com/viewMusic.php?fileID=43851

Outtro
Artist: Lvin Red Title: On Top of the World (Feat. Quayba)
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Adaptation: adjusted audio levels
Promoted by: https://www.tribeofnoise.com/viewMusic.php?fileID=48705

Ash sits down with local community activists/poets; Kamali, Maven and Seneca “Rosie Rocket” Rose to celebrate Black History Month and discuss a wide range of related topics spanning from Racial and Gender Identity to Youth Culture and Voting. They do it all through the sociopolitical lens they colloquially refer to as “Blackness”. Join us for this spiritual and often unconventional ride that we hope will inspire more questions and better solutions! References From The Show: https://www.facebook.com/thepeopleareSAFE S.A.F.E. (Seattle Against Foreclosure & Eviction) is a collective group made up of local disabled, queer, cash-poor, community organizers that have come together in an effort to help strengthen the fight against issues of displacement via gentrification through Community, Economic, Enivornmental and Social Justice. Attributions:
Intro song: “Big Dipper Style” - Ash León

Outro Song: “No Sympathy For The Devil” - Ash León
Contact: Hello@betterleft.net
Your Host: Ash León
Editing: Jay Smith
Show Notes: Ash León Guests: Kamali Derek Senior, Maven, Seneca “Rosie Rocket”

Jay and Troy talk with Cassidy "Corn" Butler and Mark "Krouton" Routon, who were in Iowa working the caucus, Corn was there as Field Director, and Krouton as a volunteer in the field, both called to Iowa by their commitment to a Bernie Sander's Presidency, they're back to tell their stories from the field! Run-ins with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Michael Moore, trapping national press in an elevator, and more importantly, stories from the people of Iowa. It's a real adventure and you'll want to listen to every minute of it.
References from the Show:
Journey to Bernie organized by Carolyn Brotherton
https://www.gofundme.com/f/journey-to-bernie-support?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link-tip&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet
Support our friends who are out supporting Bernie! If you can't go yourself, support the people who are! Friends and fellow organizers, We are in a critical moment in this country and we have a real sho… Carolyn Brotherton needs your support for Journey to Bernie.

Knock Doors for Bernie
https://berniesanders.com/en/states/knock/
Want to knock doors for Bernie in your neighborhood? Take our training to get a list of doors to knock near you!

Travel to an Early State for Bernie
https://berniesanders.com/en/states/berniejourney/
Take your own Bernie Journey!

Attributions:
Contact: Hello@betterleft.net
Your Hosts: Troy Hewitt, Jay Smith
Editing: Jay Smith
Show Notes: Troy Hewit
Guests: Cassidy Butler, Mark Routon
Intro song: Bern Necessities
Outro Song: Bernie Can both parodies and written by Eli Alpern and performed by The Bernettes!!!!!