Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
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!
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#1760 Hot Mess: Conservative Chaos Below the Surface of Trump's Authoritarian Regime
12/26/2025
#1760 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: KP 7: (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: A2: A3: A4: A5: (01:45:12) SECTION B: STATE POLITICS B1: B2: (02:01:08) SECTION C: CLASHING IDEOLOGIES C1: C2: C3: C4: C5: C6: (02:57:28) SECTION D: CANDACE OWENS D1: D2: D3: 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 | Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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#1500 America, A Beginner's Guide (Throwback)
12/24/2025
#1500 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! 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 Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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#1759 Why Dictators Are Lunatics and Their Followers are Fools
12/22/2025
#1759 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (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: “” by heblo, Pixabay | Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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SOLVED! FROM THE ARCHIVES - “This is Really Happening” (Original Air Date: 12-12-24)
12/21/2025
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: (This full episode premieres on YouTube on Friday - please share!) REFERENCES: - The New Republic - TruthOut - The Atlantic EXTRAS: 00:50:04 - (11-26-24) TAKE ACTION: Reach us via Signal: Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts!
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#1758 Why you think the Sudanese civil war doesn't involve you
12/17/2025
#1758 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (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: by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK), Flickr | | Changes: Cropped Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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SOLVED! SAMPLE! #29 - “Don’t Be Cringe”: Is Gen Z’s Humor a Political Warning Sign?
12/15/2025
SOLVED! SAMPLE! #29 - “Don’t Be Cringe”: Is Gen Z’s Humor a Political Warning Sign?
Air Date: 12-10-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, and Deon (Erin was out this week) discuss: Ch. 1 - Generational humor, and analysis of Gen Z’s absurdist humor and the impact it’s having Ch. 2 - The unexpected social side effects of NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s campaign on Gen Z volunteers Ch. 3 - The “App”stinence Movement helping people get off of social media Ch. 4 - How the peak Millennial humor mobile game “Sword and Sworcery” has evolved with the times SOLVED! Backstage: Behind the Algorithm: Elon Musk’s “Grokapedia” reminding us of the “Conservapedia” of 2010s punchlines, and the co-opting of Gen Z meme humor by right wing extremists to normalize hate. REFERENCES - Hayden Lim Khai Eun via Medium - Business Insider - Pion - Berkeley Political Review - The New York Times - Mashable - Fast Company - New York Magazine - Waltorious Writes About Games - New Scientist EXTRAS NOT SPONSORS/AFFILIATES
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#1757 Life is But a Game (that you can now bet on)
12/14/2025
#1757 Life is But a Game (that you can now bet on)
Air Date 12/14/2025 Albert Einstein said, "Life is just like a game, first you have to learn rules of the game, and then play it better then any one else." (Or just get some insider knowledge about which team is paid off to lose and bet on the game rather than playing it, am I right?) Now, while it's well known that sports gambling has great potential to corrupt the game, I'm sure being able to bet on literally anything in life all the time right from your phone with billionaires funding persuasion campaigns to convince you to do it will probably work out fine. 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: (00:46:01) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On Best of the Left turning 20! DEEPER DIVES (00:49:22) SECTION A: GAMBLING ON EVERYTHING (01:30:27) SECTION B: THE UBIQUITY OF SPORTS BETTING (01:56:28) SECTION C: SPORTS BETTING IS BAD FOR SPORTS 02:34:14) SECTION D: GAMIFYING LIFE SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Photo of a man staring up at multiple screens showing sports betting updates, along with a live football and hockey game, above the betting counter in a Las Vegas casino. Credit: “” by Baishampayan Ghose, Flickr | | Changes: Cropped Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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#1756 War Criminal Dick Cheney's Guide to Ethical Governance and Saving Democracy
12/10/2025
#1756 War Criminal Dick Cheney's Guide to Ethical Governance and Saving Democracy
Air Date 12/10/2025 Dick Cheney used to be thought of as Darth Vader but did he have an end-of-life conversion back to the light side of the force? No, he was bad all along and only thought Trump was worse. 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:48:24) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the legacies of Dick Cheney and Darth Vader DEEPER DIVES (01:00:59) SECTION A: LEGACY (01:54:23) SECTION B: IRAQ (02:11:15) SECTION C: USING 9/11 FOR POWER & PROFIT (02:31:51) SECTION D: NO ACCOUNTABILITY SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Sidewalk graffiti stencil of Dick Cheney’s face and the word “Terrorist” underneath Credit: “” by David Drexler, Flickr | | Changes: Slightly cropped Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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SOLVED! FROM THE ARCHIVES! - “Not Everything That Counts Can Be Counted” (Original Air Date: 5-26-24)
12/07/2025
SOLVED! FROM THE ARCHIVES! - “Not Everything That Counts Can Be Counted” (Original Air Date: 5-26-24)
Re-Air Date: 12–2-25 Unless you were a member in May 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 B.Y: before YouTube) where Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Ch. 1 - How supply and demand economics is not about “distribution of goods with the greatest efficiency” and is instead about nothing more than predatory greed Ch. 2 - How what we value as humans goes far beyond the price of commodities Ch. 3 - More examples of “enshitification” as companies reach inside our homes to control things we already bought Ch. 4 - How companies are restricting functionality to extract even more from us FOLLOW US ON: (This full episode premieres on YouTube on Friday - please share!) REFERENCES: - The Atlantic - The Wall Street Journal - The Atlantic - The Atlantic - Yahoo! Finance - The Wall Street Journal EXTRAS: 00:12:53 00:42:41 00:48:44 Reach us via Signal: Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening!
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#1605 Our Prison System is a Demonstrable Failure (Throwback)
12/06/2025
#1605 Our Prison System is a Demonstrable Failure (Throwback)
Original Air Date: 1-23-2024 The recent discovery of hundreds of bodies buried behind a jail in unmarked graves sparks a renewed discussion about the futility and counter-productiveness of our system of incarceration and the context of our history that has brought us to this point. 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Ch. 2: Ch. 3: Ch. 4: Ch. 5: Ch. 6: Ch. 7: EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE SHOW IMAGE Description: Photograph of the outside of Coyote Ridge Corrections Center. Barbed wire lines the fences of the entrance in front of the dark gray cement building with tinted windows. Credit: "A sagebrush sea change from behind barbed wire" by U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Flickr | License: | Changes: Cropped Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at
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#1755 Affordability: Actual Economic Populism is the Kryptonite to Fake Populism
12/02/2025
#1755 Affordability: Actual Economic Populism is the Kryptonite to Fake Populism
Air Date 12/2/2025 If you need more evidence for just how far from rationality our politics have slid in recent decades, Zorhan Mamdani is seen by many as a radical for mostly just saying that people should be able to afford to buy the things they need to live. 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:49:49) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the path forward for the Left: Targeted Universalism DEEPER DIVES (01:07:50) SECTION A: AFFORDABILITY (01:43:42) SECTION C: DEMS CAVE (02:24:44) SECTION D: SYSTEMIC RESISTANCE TO CHANGE SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: A vibrantly colorful artistic rendering of Zohran Mamdani at a podium speaking into a microphone with his hand up. The edges appear to vibrate outwards. Credit: “” by Taymaz Valley, Flickr | | Changes: Expanded background with layers and smudging Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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SOLVED! SAMPLE! #28 - Big White Lies: The Impossible Promises of Supremacy
12/01/2025
SOLVED! SAMPLE! #28 - Big White Lies: The Impossible Promises of Supremacy
Air Date: 11-25-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Ch. 1 - The extremists trying to create race-based neighborhoods all over the U.S. Ch. 2 - What we can learn from Ireland’s history of sectarian violence Ch. 3 - How the Irish became white Ch. 4 - An inconvenient truth from Frederick Douglas (and some modern, mild misreadings) Ch. 5 - What you can do to fight back against white supremacists where you live BACKSTAGE! Beyond the Algorithm (Members Only!): Why some marginalized people cozy up to power FOLLOW US ON: (This full episode premieres on YouTube on Friday - please share!) Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES - SPLC - Irish Post - Reuters - Medium - Elevate Society - Teaching American History - Kansas City Defender TAKE ACTION: Use the for scripts and to reach all your elected officials Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 Find your - or start one Reach us via Signal: Leave a message at 202-999-3991
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#1354 Police violence and racism are a product of our past (Uprising, Crackdown, Authoritarianism) (Throwback)
11/28/2025
#1354 Police violence and racism are a product of our past (Uprising, Crackdown, Authoritarianism) (Throwback)
Original Air Date: 6–22-2020 Today we take a look at the history of racist policing which flows seamlessly into our present racist policing which itself flows into Trump's authoritarian glee at the opportunity to consolidate violent, racist power in response to protests against violent, racist power. 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) SHOW NOTES Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | |
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#1754 The Epstein Files and Donald Trump, Our Predator-in-Chief
11/25/2025
#1754 The Epstein Files and Donald Trump, Our Predator-in-Chief
Air Date 11/25/2025 We live in a world awash with baseless conspiracy theories but that doesn't mean there are no true conspiracies, as exemplified by Jeffrey Epstein. But it bears repeating, that we didn't need the exposure of a massive conspiracy to know that Donald Trump was a sexual predator because he said as much on tape before he was elected the first time in 2016. 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: KP 7: (00:50:50) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the conspiracy of wealth and power DEEPER DIVES (00:57:28) SECTION A: INBOX FALLOUT (01:45:02) SECTION B: EPSTEIN WORLDWIDE (02:18:32) SECTION C: PREDATOR-IN-CHIEF SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Screen shot of a recently released email from Jeffery Epstein to Ghislaine Maxwell with a line highlighted that says “I want you to realize that the dog that hasn’t barked is trump…[VICTIM] spent ours at my house with him,, he has never once been mentioned.” Credit: Internal composite design. Screen shot of email from files released by U.S. House Oversight Committee. Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | |
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SOLVED! FROM THE ARCHIVES - “The Truth Shall Set Us Free” (Original Air Date: 12-6-24)
11/23/2025
SOLVED! FROM THE ARCHIVES - “The Truth Shall Set Us Free” (Original Air Date: 12-6-24)
Re-Air Date: 11–18-25 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 B.Y: before YouTube) where Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Ch. 1 - The political origins of SimCity and how capitalism warps our choices Ch. 2 - A new video game offering a very different vision of societal management Ch. 3 - Naomi Klein's insights on the Left's missteps responding to the Mirror World Ch. 4 - Applying cynicism and skepticism in moderation FOLLOW US ON: (This full episode premieres on YouTube on Friday - please share!) Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: - Wired - The Baffler - Vox - Counter Punch TAKE ACTION: Use the for scripts and to reach all your elected officials Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 Find your - or start one Reach us via Signal: Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts!
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#1753 What the Shutdown and Weaponized Hunger Exposed About Our Asymmetric Morality
11/21/2025
#1753 What the Shutdown and Weaponized Hunger Exposed About Our Asymmetric Morality
Air Date 11/21/2025 In an ethical political system, being willing to break the law in order to starve people amid a political dispute wouldn't be a source of greater leverage and power but it is in ours and the shutdown put the wildly different senses of ethics between the parties on full display. 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: KP 7: (00:55:53) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On how to preserve democracy DEEPER DIVES (01:10:38) SECTION A: SHUTDOWN 02:01:39) SECTION B: FOOD INSECURITY (03:19:42) SECTION C: GOP AWFULNESS SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Composite image of the SNAP program logo (food stamps) and a symbol of a stethoscope (healthcare) in a closed cage with a GOP elephant symbol standing on top against a faded American flag background. Credit: Internal composite design. Elements from Pixabay | | and UDSA Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at
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SOLVED! SAMPLE! #27 - Watch what you say! How weaponized language changes our reality
11/16/2025
SOLVED! SAMPLE! #27 - Watch what you say! How weaponized language changes our reality
Air Date: 11-10-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Ch. 1 - “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps” Ch. 2 - “Politically correct” Ch. 3 - “Ethnic cleansing” Ch. 4 - “Meritocracy” Ch. 5 - Our current “wealth pump” crisis and how it has been solved throughout history BACKSTAGE! Beyond the Algorithm (Members Only!): The best words to articulate the current moment FOLLOW US ON: (This full episode premieres on YouTube on Friday - please share!) REFERENCES - Huffington Post - NPR - Mondo Weiss - Lucid (Substack) - Michael Sandel - Kottke - Vox TAKE ACTION: Find your - or start one Reach us via Signal: Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening!
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#1752 Reigniting the Nuclear Arms Race: Fat Man, Little Boy, and Donald Trump
11/14/2025
#1752 Reigniting the Nuclear Arms Race: Fat Man, Little Boy, and Donald Trump
Air Date 11/7/2025 The most dangerous part of nuclear weapons has always been the people in charge of them. As we potentially enter a new arms race, some of the worst people in the world are in charge of the vast majority of nuclear weapons. 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:44:32) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the morality of facts we don't question DEEPER DIVES (00:56:09) SECTION A: CONSTANT PERIL (01:22:44) SECTION B: THE NEW ARMS RACE, WORSE THAN THE FIRST (02:05:41) SECTION C: THE DETERRENCE MYTH (02:44:12) SECTION D: THE AFTERMATH 80 YEARS LATER SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Image of a president’s hand reaching out to press a big red button. Credit: “” by geralt, Pixabay | Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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#1751 Monthly-ish Mix: Institutions Fall, Reality Breaks, Empire Rises
11/11/2025
#1751 Monthly-ish Mix: Institutions Fall, Reality Breaks, Empire Rises
Air Date: 11/11/25 The Monthly-ish Mix™ is here to get you caught up on recent news without being overwhelming! This month we examine how power is being quietly consolidated across institutions, how propaganda and AI are reshaping our sense of reality, and how division and fear are fueling both domestic repression and global aggression. From the Supreme Court to state media manipulation, from dismantled voting rights to foreign influence campaigns, we trace the machinery of authoritarian control—and spotlight the journalists, educators, and activists still pushing back to keep truth and democracy alive. 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! PART 1: INSTITUTIONAL CAPTURE & CONSOLIDATION (00:01:44) (00:16:53) (00:43:56) PART 2 INFORMATION WARFARE & REALITY CONTROL (01:08:35) (01:40:37) (01:54:27) PART 3 OTHERING & EXPANSION (02:13:08) (02:31:27) (02:56:07) (03:20:01) Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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#1750 "America's Backyard" - The War on Terror Meets the War on Drugs
11/07/2025
#1750 "America's Backyard" - The War on Terror Meets the War on Drugs
Air Date 11/7/2025 The United States claiming a divine (and imperialist) right to tamper in the politics of South American countries is nothing new. As is so often the case with Trump, the biggest difference is that he’s doing proudly and in the open what used to be done only shamefully and in secret. 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: (00:53:59) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the long history of messing with Latin America DEEPER DIVES (00:59:42) SECTION A: HISTORY AND NARRATIVE (01:20:49) SECTION B: MILITARY PRETEXT (01:58:37) SECTION C: US AGGRESSION (02:28:44) SECTION D: REGIONAL ECHOES SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Image of a topographical globe of the Earth, only showing North America and South America. Credit: “” by quimono, Pixabay | Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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SOLVED! FROM THE ARCHIVES - “Transgressive Thoughts in a Villain Era” (Original Air Date: 1-6-25)
11/06/2025
SOLVED! FROM THE ARCHIVES - “Transgressive Thoughts in a Villain Era” (Original Air Date: 1-6-25)
Re-Air Date: 11–6-25 Unless you were a member in January of 2025, this episode of SOLVED! will be brand new to you! We’re slowing down production for a little bit to reorganize our production processes, so enjoy this episode from our archives (and B.Y: before YouTube) where Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Ch. 1 - Why people love villains Ch. 2 - How plutocracy kills Ch. 3 - Why the path forward is through membership organizations FOLLOW US ON: (This full episode premieres on YouTube on Friday - please share!) Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES The Year Villainy Won - Wired Plutocracy Kills - The American Prospect Democracy Is Not a Customer Loyalty Program - Jacobin
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#1749 Democracy: In Theory, In Practice, and Under Threat
11/04/2025
#1749 Democracy: In Theory, In Practice, and Under Threat
Air Date 11/4/2025 Elections are always coming up, some sooner than others, so we thought we would take a look at the state of our democracy and what we must do to maintain it in the face of the greatest direct assault on our institutions we've seen in our 250 year history. 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: KP 7: KP 8: (00:49:12) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the willingness to sound the alarm DEEPER DIVES (00:58:05) SECTION A: MAGA POLITICS (01:25:25) SECTION B: GENERAL POLITICS (02:01:21) SECTION C: PROGRESSIVE POLITICIANS (02:25:17) SECTION D: ZOHRAN MAMDANI SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Close up photo of a “I voted early!” sicker from the City of New York Board of Elections Credit: ““ by Eden, Janine and Jim | | Changes: Heavily cropped, slight increased saturation and decreased contrast Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | |
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#1748 Patriotism in Peril: Democracy, the Military, and the Fight Over What America Means
11/02/2025
#1748 Patriotism in Peril: Democracy, the Military, and the Fight Over What America Means
Air Date 11/02/2025 A lot of people on the left aren't feeling the love for their country right now and that's understandable but we have some thoughts on more productive ways to channel those conflicting feelings toward a country that is currently falling far short of living up to its founding ideals. 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: KP 7: (00:59:59) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On how the Left embraces the contradictions of the US DEEPER DIVES (01:10:45) SECTION A: SOCIETAL DRIVERS (01:47:04) SECTION B: INSTITUTIONAL EROSION (02:18:26) SECTION C: MILITARIZED LAWFARE (02:41:12) SECTION D: PATRIOTISM AND NARRATIVE SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Composite image of the Declaration of Independence with three question marks on top filled with the image of the American flag. Credit: Internal composite design. Images via Pixabay. | Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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#1747 Racism in the United States, it turns out, is a problem
10/28/2025
#1747 Racism in the United States, it turns out, is a problem
Air Date 10/28/2025 As we were looking for episode topics, I came across an article making the case that racism is a real problem in the country and that there were lots of recent examples that proved the point. And I was like, "Racism? In the US?! In Trump's Republican Party?? That doesn't sound like the country I've heard of." (sarcasm) But then we looked into it and it turns out racism is everywhere and also quite bad. (true) 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: KP 7: (00:50:25) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On how you CANNOT purchase your happiness with the misery of others DEEPER DIVES (00:56:12) SECTION A: HISTORICAL CONTEXT (01:36:52) SECTION B: WHITE LASH (02:04:02) SECTION C: SYSTEMIC RACISM (02:50:39) SECTION D: TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: 1970s poster that says “Racism Chains Both” with an image of a black person’s hand and a white person’s hand both in connected shackles. Credit: “” via Library of Congress Public Domain Archive Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere!
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#1746 What an actual attack on free speech looks like
10/25/2025
#1746 What an actual attack on free speech looks like
Air Date 10/25/2025 Trump's attacks on free speech, particularly with the use of the Federal Communications Commission, goes far beyond the Jimmy Kimmel story. We're in the middle of an all-out assault on freedom of speech, a free and unbiased press, and freedom of association. 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: (00:48:56) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On 'Working the Refs' DEEPER DIVES (00:53:51) SECTION A: ANTIFA (01:15:09) SECTION B: POLITICAL ENEMIES (01:53:02) SECTION C: FREE SPEECH (02:29:52) SECTION D: MEDIA TAKEOVER (02:52:28) SECTION E: MOCKING THE FACISTS SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Black and white version of the official portrait of FCC Chair Brendan Carr with the list of words banned by the Trump administration in red over his face. Credit: Internal composite design. | via Wikimedia Commons, public domain. Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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#1374 Tell Stories, Not Myths: Columbus and the Centrality of Colonialism (Throwback)
10/22/2025
#1374 Tell Stories, Not Myths: Columbus and the Centrality of Colonialism (Throwback)
Original Air Date: 10/13/2020 Today we take a look at the myths of Columbus and American Exceptionalism™ that we cling to and turn our gaze to some of the less-understood but more accurate and important aspects of our collective history 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Ch. 2: Ch. 3: Ch. 4: Ch. 5: Ch. 6: Ch. 7: Ch. 8: Ch. 9: SHOW IMAGE | | Modifications: Cropped Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
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SOLVED! SAMPLE! #25 - Trump’s “State Capitalism” is Just a Grift, NOT Socialism
10/21/2025
SOLVED! SAMPLE! #25 - Trump’s “State Capitalism” is Just a Grift, NOT Socialism
Air Date: 10–14-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Ch. 1 - The cartoonish conservative and libertarian responses to Trump’s state capitalism Ch. 2 - Trump’s interest in sovereign wealth funds, and the lie the right sells its supporters about getting money back Ch. 3 - The left spectrum of reactions to Trump’s state capitalism Ch. 4 - Why Trump is definitely, 100%, not in any way a socialist SOLVED! BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm: Ayn Rand’s nearly psychotic opposition to altruism FOLLOW US ON: (This full episode premieres on YouTube on Friday - please share!) Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: - Time magazine - Cato Institute - Reason - BBC - Heterodox - The New Republic - The American Prospect - Current Affairs EXTRAS - Britannica - Interviews (Anthology 1859-1993) BACKSTAGE - CNBC - Wikipedia
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#1745 Fake New World: The Age of AI Slop, AI Education, and AI Fascism
10/20/2025
#1745 Fake New World: The Age of AI Slop, AI Education, and AI Fascism
Air Date 10/19/2025 Robber Barons™ of The Gilded Age™ told themselves stories about how they were ushering in progress for all which is why, they argued, they shouldn't be constrained by things like safety regulations or worker unions - impoverishing millions while injuring and killing thousands in the process. It took a stock market crash, the Great Depression, WWII, and The New Deal to finally wrench the power away and redistribute it for the sake of building a middle class that could work in relative safety in the US. Today's Robber Barrons™ ushering in techno-feudalism under the banner of AI-For-All are no different but with even higher stakes in the balance. 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: KP 7: (00:56:20) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the pattern of capitalism's social costs DEEPER DIVES (01:05:22) SECTION A: AL SLOP (02:05:43) SECTION B: SOCIAL ASPECTS (02:47:46) SECTION C: LABOR AND EDUCATION (03:46:34) SECTION D: DATA CENTERS SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: AI-generated image of robot hands holding up a small globe against a desolate dessert background. Credit: “” via geralt, Pixabay | Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at
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#1744 Sell Outs, Shills, and Scandals: Saudi Arabia and Israel are buying the credibility they can't earn honestly
10/15/2025
#1744 Sell Outs, Shills, and Scandals: Saudi Arabia and Israel are buying the credibility they can't earn honestly
Air Date 10/15/2025 It's said that money can't buy a variety of things like peace, happiness, loyalty, and, relevant for today; integrity and trust. But in a world in which impressions (a very multilayered word, in this case) can be bought and sold on the open market and an audience's loyalty to influencers, entertainers, and athletes can be leveraged in an attempt to transfer the credibility from the talented to the tyrannical... you better believe places like Saudi Arabia and Israel are going to try. 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 Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! KEY POINTS KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:48:45) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Explaining that influencers are just infomercial hosts DEEPER DIVES (00:55:11) SECTION A: SELL OUTS & SHILLS (01:35:50) SECTION B: INFLUENCERS (01:58:52) SECTION C: SAUDI ARABIA BUYING SOFT & HARD POWER SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Composite image of a microphone in a spotlight against a red curtain with burlap sacks overflowing with money at the base with the Israeli and Saudi Arabian flags on them. Credit: Internal composite design. Multiple images from Pixabay | Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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SOLVED! SAMPLE! #24 - Attacking the Medium is the Message: Trump’s Media Oligarchs and the Assault on Free Speech
10/14/2025
SOLVED! SAMPLE! #24 - Attacking the Medium is the Message: Trump’s Media Oligarchs and the Assault on Free Speech
Air Date: 10–5-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Ch. 1 - The state of American media consolidation Ch. 2 - The debate over free speech and the how the history of the right proves they have never been in favor of it. Ch. 3 - The Trump administrations latest aggressive anti-free speech moves, and the Jimmy Kimmel suspension Ch. 4 - A look at how independent media was absorbed in the early days of Putin’s regime, and the dire importance of not complying in advance Ch. 5 - A perspective on why the Trump administration will lose the war on free speech, and some other hopeful notes SOLVED! BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm: Ezra Klein’s bizarre interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates FOLLOW US ON: (This full episode premieres on YouTube on Friday - please share!) Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: - The New Republic - The New York Times - The New York Times - The New York Times - The New York Times - The New Yorker - New York Magazine EXTRAS (by Malvina Reynolds) **Carsie Blanton and ~450 other unarmed humanitarians from more than 40 countries have been abducted by Israeli forces from the Global Sumud Flotilla. Call your members of Congress: BACKSTAGE (The New York Times) TAKE ACTION:
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