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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#1810 Post-American Europe: How to Lose Friends and Influence People to Protect Themselves Against You
07/23/2026
#1810 Post-American Europe: How to Lose Friends and Influence People to Protect Themselves Against You
Air Date: 7/22/2026 Today we look at how three things Europe thought were features turned out to be leverage that could be held against them: American military protection, Silicon Valley software, and cheap Chinese goods. From a French government office running Linux to a secret European defense coalition that bypasses Washington, Europe is quietly swapping out the old architecture rather than dismantling it, one operating system migration and one secret war game at a time. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: TODAY: Europe Replaces ENTIRE American Software Stack - Google OUT, Microsoft OUT June 9 - House of El - Air Date 6-4-26 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcQy1zaflbw KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:54:13) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Why Europe Quitting US Big Tech Proves the Left Was Right DEEPER DIVES (01:04:56) SECTION A: CAN EUROPE STAND ALONE A1: A2: A3: A4: A5: (01:51:44) SECTION B: THE CHINA FACTOR B1: B2: B3: (02:13:12) SECTION C: THE TECH SOVEREIGNTY PLAYBOOK C1: C2: C3: C4: C5: (02:58:38) SECTION D: BUILDING EUROPEAN ALTERNATIVES D1: D2: D3: D4: Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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#1809 Democrats Seek a Blue Wave, Progressives Push Democratic Socialism, GOP Revive the Red Scare
07/19/2026
#1809 Democrats Seek a Blue Wave, Progressives Push Democratic Socialism, GOP Revive the Red Scare
Air Date: 7/18/2026 Today we examine recent primary elections and how the political smear of crying 'socialism' has been dusted off and aimed at a new generation of candidates. What's changed is that the people being smeared are actually winning elections, and the more the establishment called them dangerous, the stronger their numbers got. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: Democratic Socialist Electoral Victories and the Implications for American Politics Part 1 - Rev Left Radio - Air Date 7-12-26 KP 6: (00:48:08) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR The Democrats Are Losing Because They Chose Wall St. Over Workers DEEPER DIVES (00:59:58) SECTION A: WHO THEY ARE A1: A2: Stop Trump's Project 2025 Scheme to Kill Science; Guest Dr. Colette Delawalla of Stand Up for Science Part 1 - The BradCast - Air Date 6-24-26 A3: How Colorado Spooked the Establishment with David Sirota - The Majority Report - Air Date 7-4-26 A4: A5: A6: A7: (02:00:45) SECTION B: WHAT THEY BELIEVE B1: B2: B3: B4: (02:27:27) SECTION C: MONEY, POWER, AND THE RECKONING C1: C2: C3: (02:57:37) SECTION D: CRITIQUES AND THE PATH FORWARD D1: D2: D3: D4: D5: D6: D7: Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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#1634 Abortion as the Tip of the Iceberg (Throwback)
07/15/2026
#1634 Abortion as the Tip of the Iceberg (Throwback)
Re-Air Date: 7-14-2026 Original Air Date: 6-7-2024 Banning abortion is wildly unpopular and also one of the primary motivators for the group most strongly supporting the Republican Party and Donald Trump, the Christian Right, which has transformed both the party and politicians into extremists made in their own image, threatening the lives and health of millions and sacrificing democracy in the process. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (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: KP 8: (56:09) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the abuse produced by abortion restrictions DEEPER DIVES (01:01:35) SECTION A: CRIMINALIZING ABORTION A1: A2: A3: (01:20:04) SECTION B: ABORTION EXTREMISM OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY B1: B2: (01:35:45) SECTION C: ABORTION IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM C1: C2: C3: (01:52:57) SECTION D: WHAT IS THERE TO DO? D1: D2: D3: D4: MUSIC () SHOW IMAGE: Description: A person dressed in a red cape and white conical bonnet with a red sash over their nose and mouth (referencing the Handmaid's Tale) stands outside the U.S. Supreme Court at dusk holding a cardboard sign with the words "This is NOT fiction." Credit: by Tyler Merbler, Flickr | License: | Changes: Cropped Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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#1808 Billionaires vs. Democracy: They're Not Coming For Your Job, They're Coming For Your Government (And The Entire Economy)
07/11/2026
#1808 Billionaires vs. Democracy: They're Not Coming For Your Job, They're Coming For Your Government (And The Entire Economy)
Air Date: 7/10/2026 Today we look at what it means to live in an economy that has quietly split in two with a soaring stock market driven by AI on one side, a collapsing job market on the other, and the subtle shift in the right to own things, from your music and movies to your car's software, which all underlie the slide toward technofeudalism. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: (01:06:28) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Humanity Is About to Be Optimized Out of Existence for the Sake of Profit DEEPER DIVES (01:06:46) SECTION A: THE RISING LEFT A1: A2: A3: A4: A5: (01:49:40) SECTION B: EVERYDAY EXTRACTION B1: B2: B3: B4: B5: B6: (02:51:16) SECTION C: THE RIGGED MACHINE C1: C2: C3: C4: C5: (03:36:27) SECTION D: THE RULING CLASS WORLDVIEW D1: D2: D3: D4: Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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#1807 What the World Cup Exposes: Identity, Colonialism, and Racism in 2026
07/07/2026
#1807 What the World Cup Exposes: Identity, Colonialism, and Racism in 2026
Air Date: 7/7/2026 Today we use the 2026 World Cup to pull everything that runs under the game up into the light. Nearly a quarter of the players are representing a country other than the one they were born in, praised as national heroes when they score but scorned as foreigners when they lose. The history of colonialism built the machinery that turns immigrants into targets, and the results are playing out live around this year's tournament, in the towns that throw their arms open and the borders that slam shut, in who a country will claim and who it leaves outside. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: KP 7: KP 8: (00:59:27) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR The World Cup Exposes How Racism Is a Tool, Not a Belief DEEPER DIVES (01:11:20) SECTION A: COLONIALISM'S LONG GAME A1: A2: A3: A4: A5: (01:44:54) SECTION B: DIASPORA AND DUAL IDENTITY B1: B2: B3: (02:08:22) SECTION C: THE CUP ON THE GROUND C1: C2: C3: C4: C5: C6: C7: C8: (03:00:05) SECTION D: RACE, MYTHOLOGY, AND IDEOLOGY D1: D2: D3: D4: Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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#1806 America at 250: The Declaration, the Constitution, and our Crisis of Democracy
07/04/2026
#1806 America at 250: The Declaration, the Constitution, and our Crisis of Democracy
Air Date: 7/4/2026 Today we examine what America has celebrated for 250 years and what it keeps refusing to look at. The Declaration promised government by the consent of the governed, but the Constitution protected slavery, concentrated power in elites, and left the definition of "the people" deliberately vague. Every generation inherits that same unresolved contradiction and has to address it for themselves. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:52:07) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR America's Birthday Lie: The Constitution Didn't Promise Democracy DEEPER DIVES (01:10:03) SECTION A: FOUNDING IDEAS A1: A2: A3: A4: A5: (01:47:48) SECTION B: RACE & RECKONING B1: B2: B3: (02:21:00) SECTION C: PRESENT CRISIS C1: C2: C3: C4: (03:01:39) SECTION D: CAPTURE & RENOVATION D1: D2: D3: D4: D5: The Declaration of Independence and Conditions for Democratic Flourishing Part 2 - Stanford Legal - Air Date 6-23-26 Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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#1805 Trump Giving Iran $300 Billion to End His Own War
07/02/2026
#1805 Trump Giving Iran $300 Billion to End His Own War
Air Date: 7/1/2026 Today we examine how four months of American bombardment accomplished what decades of diplomacy never could, making Iran, still run by oppressive theocrats, a regional superpower. An Iranian woman told a reporter she endured the bombing hoping it would topple the regime. Instead, it entrenched it. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:54:18) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Trump's Iran War Gave the Regime Everything It Wanted DEEPER DIVES (01:07:37) SECTION A: THE DEAL ITSELF A1: A2: A3: A4: (01:43:52) SECTION B: THE STRATEGIC LOSS B1: B2: (01:58:52) SECTION C: VOICES FROM THE REGION C1: C2: C3: C4: (02:28:09) SECTION D: WHEN THE STRONGMAN FAILS D1: D2: D3: D4: D5: D6: Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | | Like at Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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#1804 Elon Musk, the First Trillionaire, and the Broken System That Made Him
06/28/2026
#1804 Elon Musk, the First Trillionaire, and the Broken System That Made Him
Air Date: 6/27/2026 Today we trace how one man went from receiving a $278 million government grant to becoming the world's first trillionaire who spent .025% of his wealth to get Trump elected, then used his position to slash programs that help people while stoking race riots overseas. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:57:37) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR The System That Made Musk a Trillionaire Is the Real Villain DEEPER DIVES (01:15:26) SECTION A: THE TRILLIONAIRE AND WHAT HE REVEALS A1: A2: A3: A4: (01:49:20) SECTION B: THE HUMAN COST OF CONCENTRATED POWER B1: B2: B3: (02:12:31) SECTION C: THE SPACEX IPO HEIST C1: C2: (02:28:50) SECTION D: BELFAST HOW MUSK FUELS RACIAL VIOLENCE ABROAD D1: D2: D3: D4: (03:00:30) SECTION E: THE RECKONING BILLIONAIRE RHETORIC AND THE CASE FOR TAXING WEALTH E1: E2: E3: E4: E5: 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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#1803 Monthly-ish Mix: Manufactured Legitimacy and the Fight to Reclaim It
06/25/2026
#1803 Monthly-ish Mix: Manufactured Legitimacy and the Fight to Reclaim It
Air Date: 6/24/2026 The Monthly-ish Mix™ is here to get you caught up on recent news without being overwhelming! If you've been pulling back from the news for your own sanity, this one's built for you — a quick recap and reference guide to the past month or two, organized around a single idea: when power can't earn legitimacy, it manufactures it. The performance. Spectacle, religion, and health branding standing in for real consent: Trump collecting a FIFA "peace prize," Christian nationalism worn as a costume the actual church refuses to bless, and RFK Jr. dressing up a gutted vaccine agenda as "moderate," scapegoating immigrants as he goes, while the USAID cuts run up a body count. The machinery. The infrastructure that keeps the performance going while real consent drains away underneath: a legal system bent toward self-dealing and a $1.8 billion slush fund, billionaire money rewriting the rules since Citizens United, an AI gold rush sold as inevitable before anyone voted on it, and an economy booming on paper while the ground shifts under everyone's feet. The vacuum and the reclaiming. What rushes in when legitimacy collapses, from normalized political violence to a manifesto born of that collapse — and then the democratic answer: why the rupture hasn't come, why revolutions tend to devour themselves, and why the slower work wins. Nonviolent movements draw eleven times the participation, and the ballot box the Supreme Court is fighting hardest to narrow is the same one that just turned out 78% of Hungary to remove Orbán. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! SECTION 1: THE PERFORMANCE OF LEGITIMACY (00:01:31) 1: 2: 3: (00:23:20) 4: 5: 6: (00:46:03) 7: 8: 9: SECTION 2: THE MACHINERY & THE LEAK (01:13:10) 10: 11: 12: (01:34:00) 13: 14: 15: (02:04:29) 16: 17: 18: (02:33:22) 19: 20: 21: (02:58:12) 22: 23: SECTION 3: THE VACUUM & THE RECLAIMING (03:15:42) 24: 25: 26: (03:42:14) 27: 28: 29: (04:14:56) 30: 31: 32: 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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#1802 Department of Injustice: Revenge Prosecutions, Judges Threatened, and Incompetence All the Way Down
06/20/2026
#1802 Department of Injustice: Revenge Prosecutions, Judges Threatened, and Incompetence All the Way Down
Air Date: 6–20-2026 Today we explore how political revenge became official government policy. The Department of Justice has dropped fraud cases while opening vindictive investigations into Trump's critics. Judges who rule against him face death threats at home with no federal protection and thousands of DOJ lawyers have walked out the door, leaving the agency hollowed out by loyalty tests and bent toward retribution. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: KP 7: (00:53:44) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Trump Built a One-Way Ratchet to Tyranny. Here's How We Break It. DEEPER DIVES (01:06:27) SECTION A: A DEPARTMENT OF REVENGE A1: A2: A3: (01:25:33) SECTION B: MALICIOUS PROSECUTIONS B1: B2: B3: B4: (02:00:59) SECTION C: WEAPONIZED DEPARTMENT C1: C2: C3: C4: C5: C6: (02:44:07) SECTION D: HOLLOWED OUT D1: D2: 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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#1801 Counterfeit Populism: Trump, the 2026 Primaries, and the Era That's Ending (Transcript)
06/18/2026
#1801 Counterfeit Populism: Trump, the 2026 Primaries, and the Era That's Ending (Transcript)
Air Date: 6/17/2026 Today we trace a pattern that repeated across half a dozen states this primary season: working-class candidates running on the cost of living beat the opponents party leadership hand-picked and funded. It looks like ordinary election news, but it's more pieces of a larger shift already underway; away from a politics of left against right and toward a new era of the elite vs working people. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: (00:49:39) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Counterfeit Populism Is Dying DEEPER DIVES (01:05:26) SECTION A: READING THE PRIMARY MAP A1: A2: A3: A4: A5: (01:45:20) SECTION B: THE PLATNER RECKONING B1: B2: B3: B4: B5: (02:30:13) SECTION C: THE TEXAS SENATE FIGHT C1: C2: C3: (02:56:11) SECTION D: DEFENDING THE VOTE & THE LONG VIEW D1: D2: D3: D4: 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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#1800 How Capitalism Created Loneliness and How To Joyfully Organize Our Way to Community
06/12/2026
#1800 How Capitalism Created Loneliness and How To Joyfully Organize Our Way to Community
Air Date: 6/12/2026 Today we examine how America caused a loneliness epidemic by tearing down the places where people used to find each other, how big tech is offering AI as a lackluster substitute for connection, and how people are building the opposite of loneliness with block parties, labor unions, and community gardens. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:49:32) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Why the Left Needs to Have More Fun to Build Real Power DEEPER DIVES (00:59:32) SECTION A: THE LONELINESS WE LIVE IN A1: A2: A3: A4: (01:29:54) SECTION B: AI COMPANION MACHINE B1: B2: B3: B4: B5: (02:18:26) SECTION C: REFRACTIONS AND REACH-OUTS C1: C2: C3: C4: C5: (02:58:25) SECTION D: BUILDING IT BACK D1: D2: D3: D4: D5: D6: D7: 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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#1799 The US and China Are Fighting Over Taiwan, Semiconductors, and Africa's Minerals
06/10/2026
#1799 The US and China Are Fighting Over Taiwan, Semiconductors, and Africa's Minerals
Air Date: 6/10/2026 Today we explore how Taiwan's own people are stuck between the US and China. Fewer and fewer of them want to rejoin China but their faith in America is sinking just as fast as Trump treats them as a bargaining chip. Their own leaders are split on how to respond. And the place that makes most of the world's advanced chips has almost no seat at the table where its future is being decided. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:53:26) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR The Stories Nations Tell Will Destroy Us_ China, Taiwan, and Trump DEEPER DIVES (01:04:39) SECTION A: THE MAKING OF TAIWAN A1: A2: (01:24:47) SECTION B: THE MULTIPOLAR WORLDVIEW B1: B2: B3: (01:52:00) SECTION C: TAIWAN IN THE CROSSHAIRS C1: C2: (02:09:55) SECTION D: THE SUMMIT AND ITS FALLOUT D1: D2: D3: D4: (02:39:44) SECTION E: THE RESOURCE WAR AND AFRICA E1: E2: 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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#1798 FIFA Sportswashing Fascism: The World Cup from Mussolini to Trump
06/06/2026
#1798 FIFA Sportswashing Fascism: The World Cup from Mussolini to Trump
Air Date: 6–5-2026 Today we explore sportswashing past and present, from fascist dictators who first weaponized the World Cup to FIFA's modern extractivism model of corrupt capitalism, and why workers, unions, and fans are now organizing to reclaim the game from those profiting off it. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:45:01) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR FIFA, Trump, and the Patriotism Scam They're Running on America DEEPER DIVES (01:01:55) SECTION A: TRUMP'S PLAYBOOK A1: A2: (01:14:02) SECTION B: FASCIST ORIGINS B1: B2: B3: B4: (01:55:31) SECTION C: GREED MACHINE C1: C2: C3: (02:19:47) SECTION D: PUSHBACK D1: D2: D3: D4: 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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#1797 AI Spent $540 Billion to Make You Lonelier: Betting Against Jobs, Art, and Community
06/03/2026
#1797 AI Spent $540 Billion to Make You Lonelier: Betting Against Jobs, Art, and Community
Air Date: 6–3-2026 Today we examine the AI industry's economic house of cards, the ideology Silicon Valley uses to sell a broken product, and the very real human costs being paid by workers, the lonely, and communities bulldozed for data centers nobody asked for. Direct Download Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:51:20) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR AI Is a Drug and We're All Self-Medicating DEEPER DIVES (01:09:29) SECTION A: THE BUBBLE ECONOMICS A1: A2: A3: (01:37:24) SECTION B: IDEOLOGY OF THE TECH ELITE B1: B2: B3: B4: B5: (02:21:29) SECTION C: THE HUMAN COST C1: C2: C3: C4: (02:50:10) SECTION D: RESISTANCE & HOW TO FIGHT BACK D1: D2: D3: D4: 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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#1796 1.8 Billion for the Mob and a Kill List for Dissent: Trump's payout fund and counterterrorism strategy, decoded
05/30/2026
#1796 1.8 Billion for the Mob and a Kill List for Dissent: Trump's payout fund and counterterrorism strategy, decoded
Air Date: 5–30-2026 Today we examine how Trump turned a sham lawsuit into a $1.8 billion reward fund for his political allies who attacked the Capitol on January 6th while implementing a counterterrorism strategy that erases right-wing extremism from the threat landscape, refocuses on left-wing violence that hardly exists and threatens to "find and kill" those they deem enemies. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: KP 7: KP 8: (00:53:15) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Trump's $1.8B Slush Fund & the Corruption We Saw Coming DEEPER DIVES (01:11:48) SECTION A: ANATOMY OF THE HEIST A1: A2: A3: (01:34:28) SECTION B: THE BIGGER PATTERN B1: B2: B3: (01:57:06) SECTION C: ENEMIES OF THE STATE C1: C2: C3: C4: C5: 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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#1795 You Say You Want A Revolution: Successful Revolutions are the Boring Ones
05/27/2026
#1795 You Say You Want A Revolution: Successful Revolutions are the Boring Ones
Air Date: 5–26-2026 Today we examine what separates successful revolutions from failed ones, ask why so many revolutions of the 2010s fell short, understand how revolutionary energy gets neutralized, and explore the strategic case for nonviolent resistance. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: (00:54:11) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Why the Left Keeps Losing to the Right DEEPER DIVES (01:13:12) SECTION A: ANATOMY OF FAILURE A1: A2: A3: A4: (01:54:11) SECTION B: REVISITING THE RECORD B1: B2: B3: B4: (02:32:02) SECTION C: THE CURRENT MOMENT C1: C2: C3: C4: C5: (03:25:38) SECTION D: STRATEGY AND PRACTICE D1: D2: D3: 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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#1794 From MAHA to Measles: RFK's Public Health Purge Will Make America Sick Again
05/24/2026
#1794 From MAHA to Measles: RFK's Public Health Purge Will Make America Sick Again
Air Date: 5–23-2026 Today we examine the real-world cost of dismantling America's public health infrastructure, the dangerous pseudoscience driving RFK Jr.'s health agenda, and the contradictions fracturing the MAHA movement from within.And now on to the show Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: KP 7: (00:54:35) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR RFK's Public Health Descruction is Easier than the Rebuilding We'll have to do Later DEEPER DIVES (01:05:28) SECTION A: THE DAMAGE DONE A1: A2: A3: A4: A5: A6: (01:47:09) SECTION B: IDEOLOGY AND THE MISINFORMATION MACHINE B1: B2: (02:06:42) SECTION C: INSIDE THE MAHA COALITION C1: C2: C3: (02:36:04) SECTION D: HOW A COUNTRY BECOMES "UNDERBABIED" D1: D2: D3: Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | |
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#1793 Anti-Immigrant Brutality Costs Countries More Than Their Morals: ICE, Mass Deportation, and the Global Far-Right
05/21/2026
#1793 Anti-Immigrant Brutality Costs Countries More Than Their Morals: ICE, Mass Deportation, and the Global Far-Right
Air Date: 5/20/2026 Today we examine how the Trump administration is quietly reshaping its unpopular immigration crackdown by moving enforcement out of public view. Plus, we explain how anti-immigration politics is spreading through the post-colonial world, highlighting how it's reshaping political parties and public debate in the UK, Canada, and Australia. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:53:33) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR How ICE Hands Billions to Trump's Donors DEEPER DIVES (01:05:43) SECTION A: THE RESET IS THEATER A1: A2: A3: A4: A5: A6: (01:42:03) SECTION B: DUE PROCESS DISMANTLED B1: B2: B3: B4: (02:08:29) SECTION C: THE GLOBAL FAR-RIGHT PLAYBOOK C1: C2: C3: C4: C5: C6: C7: (03:06:00) SECTION D: STAKES AND RESISTANCE D1: D2: D3: D4: 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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#1792 Capitalist Class Warfare: AI, Billionaire Capture, and the How to Fight Back
05/16/2026
#1792 Capitalist Class Warfare: AI, Billionaire Capture, and the How to Fight Back
Air Date: 5/15/2026 Today we examine what it would actually take to claw back democracy from billionaire capture — and why some people think it's more possible than it looks. We'll hear about California's proposed billionaire wealth tax, AOC's vision for change that doesn't depend on positional power, and why Peter Thiel's new "AI Tribunal of Truth" may have accidentally revealed exactly what the ruling class fears most. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:47:44) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Who Owns the Upside? DEEPER DIVES (00:59:03) SECTION A: TECH POWER, SURVEILLANCE, AND THE END OF TRUTH A1: A2: A3: (01:23:24) SECTION B: BEZOS, AMAZON, AND THE HUMAN COST B1: B2: (01:32:00) SECTION C: HOW THE TAX CODE BUILT THE ARISTOCRACY C1: C2: C3: C4: (02:08:11) SECTION D: IDEOLOGY OF CAPITAL D1: D2: D3: (02:34:00) SECTION E: MARKETS IN THE MIND E1: E2: (02:55:22) SECTION F: BUBBLE, BACKLASH, AND THE WAY FORWARD F1: F2: 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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#1791 Jim Crow 2.0 — SCOTUS Kills the Voting Rights Act and Unleashes the Gerrymandering War
05/13/2026
#1791 Jim Crow 2.0 — SCOTUS Kills the Voting Rights Act and Unleashes the Gerrymandering War
Air Date: 5/12/2026 Today we examine the redistricting scramble unleashed by the Supreme Court's gutting of the Voting Rights Act. We'll hear how Southern states moved within days to crack majority-Black districts, how Tennessee banned public input to rush through new maps, and why every governor's race, state legislative seat, and secretary of state contest in 2026 is now a redistricting fight. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: KP 7: KP 8: (00:53:57) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR How One Senate Rule Is Destroying Voting Rights DEEPER DIVES (01:05:18) SECTION A: THE RULING & THE LAW A1: A2: A3: (01:24:35) SECTION B: HOW WE GOT HERE B1: B2: B3: B4: (02:02:53) SECTION C: THE STATES SCRAMBLE C1: C2: C3: C4: C5: C6: (02:43:06) SECTION D: WHAT COMES NEXT D1: D2: D3: D4: 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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#1790 Assassin Nation: How Political Violence Got Normalized And How To Reverse It
05/10/2026
#1790 Assassin Nation: How Political Violence Got Normalized And How To Reverse It
Air Date: 5–9-2026 Today we examine how political violence has always been woven into the fabric of American life and who gets to decide what counts as violence in the first place. We'll hear about presidential assassinations, the assassination of Fred Hampton, the MOVE bombing in Philadelphia, and the long history of state-sanctioned violence. And I'll discuss the only real way to bend the curve back away from endemic violence in the US. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop and for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:50:50) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Why Billionaires Now Fear Civil War DEEPER DIVES (01:04:57) SECTION A: THE FRAMING WARS A1: A2: A3: A4: (01:32:09) SECTION B: THE LONG AMERICAN TRADITION B1: B2: B3: (01:52:52) SECTION C: STATE VIOLENCE AND ANTI-BLACKNESS C1: C2: (02:12:44) SECTION D: THE RIGHT-WING ENGINE D1: D2: D3: (02:36:23) SECTION E: THE SYSTEM AND WHAT COMES NEXT E1: E2: E3: 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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#1789 Boomcession: Why the Economy Looks Great on Paper and Hurts in Real Life
05/06/2026
#1789 Boomcession: Why the Economy Looks Great on Paper and Hurts in Real Life
Air Date: 05-06-2026 Today we examine how the U.S. war on Iran is producing an economic crisis with echoes of the 1970s stagflation era which explains why Trump is now less popular on inflation than Jimmy Carter. We'll also be exploring various element of the structure of our economy, including how GDP became a deeply misleading measure of welfare, why consumer spending increasingly goes toward things people don't want to buy, and how gambling and junk fees are literally counted as economic growth. Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: KP 7: (00:56:48) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Trump's Iran War Is Crashing the Economy And It's Time To Get Ready DEEPER DIVES (01:05:14) SECTION A: THE PUMP AND THE WAR (01:28:41) SECTION B: LIES, SPIN, AND THE ROARING ECONOMY (02:00:33) SECTION C: THE BOOMCESSION (02:39:10) SECTION D: WHAT THIS COSTS REAL PEOPLE Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | | Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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#1788 Monthly-ish Mix: The America That Almost Was—Empire Abroad, Control at Home, and the Long Arc of Resistance
05/01/2026
#1788 Monthly-ish Mix: The America That Almost Was—Empire Abroad, Control at Home, and the Long Arc of Resistance
Air Date: 05/01/2026 The Monthly-ish Mix™ is here to get you caught up on recent news without being overwhelming! This month we open with Jesse Jackson's death as a reckoning with the multiracial coalition America chose not to build, trace the American playbook from the 1953 Iran coup to Cuba to the current war on Iran, examine how the same logic of control operates at home through AI monopolies, sports money, and captured courts, and close with the religious and labor traditions that have always driven change — plus Orbán's defeat in Hungary as proof that authoritarian projects don't last forever. Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! PART 1: AMERICA, CONTESTED (00:01:19) (00:23:12) PART 2: THE AMERICAN WAY (00:45:27) (01:06:48) (01:29:45) PART 3: CONTROLLING THE GAME (01:51:40) (02:15:29) 02:29:38) (02:51:36) PART 4: HISTORY’S ENGINE (03:17:49) (03:43:07) (04:09:26) Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: | |
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#1787 The American President vs The American Pope: Leo XIV, Trump, and the MAGA-Catholic Rift
04/29/2026
#1787 The American President vs The American Pope: Leo XIV, Trump, and the MAGA-Catholic Rift
Air Date: 4–29-2026 Today we explore the extraordinary clash between Pope Leo XIV and the Trump White House — a feud involving military threats, medieval papal history, and an American-born pope who refuses to back down. We'll hear why analysts say MAGA's religiosity is pure aesthetic, and what that hollowness means for the millions of Americans still taking their faith seriously. Check out our new show, SOLVED! on Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: Did Trump Officials Threaten the Vatican' The Avignon Papacy Warning Explained - SWAJ with Brad Onishi and Dan Miller - Air Date 4-11-26 KP 7: (00:47:36) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Pope Leo vs. Trump: The Catholic Opening Democrats Are Blowing DEEPER DIVES (00:56:09) SECTION A: TRUMP AND COMPANY'S LOVE/HATE PAPAL RELATIONSHIP (01:39:29) SECTION B: ANTI CATHOLIC SENTIMENT IN AMERICA (02:05:17) SECTION C: THE POPE VS THE TRUMP (02:49:26) SECTION D: SOME MISC HISTORICAL CONTEXT SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Composite image of Pope Leo XIV and Trump against the background of Trump’s AI image of himself as Jesus. Credit: Internal design. Components: 1. “” by Edgar Beltran, The Pillar via Wikimedia Commons | | Changes: Transparent background | 2. “” by Gage Skidmore, Flickr | | Changes: Transparent background | 3. Trump as Jesus, AI image, Truth Social, Public Domain
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#1786 Defeating Viktor Orbán in Hungary and the Authoritarian Playbook Worldwide
04/24/2026
#1786 Defeating Viktor Orbán in Hungary and the Authoritarian Playbook Worldwide
Air Date: 4/24/2026 Today we explore how Viktor Orban spent 16 years transforming Hungary into a blueprint for 21st-century autocracy, how that blueprint traveled directly to the United States and what Hungary's stunning defeat of Orban can teach Americans about fighting back against authoritarianism. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle , or email Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: KP 7: (00:48:33) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Trumpism Won't End With Trump, Here's What Comes Next DEEPER DIVES (00:56:57) SECTION A: ORIGINS (01:37:50) SECTION B: TACTICS (02:03:08) SECTION C: INTERNATIONAL SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Photo of Hungary’s out-going president Victor Orban standing with Trump in the White House while both display a thumbs-up. A “REJECTED” stamp is on Orban and a voting checkbox with an “X” in it is above him. A voting checkbox with a question mark in it is over Trump. Credit: Internal design. Component images: Photo Credit: “President Victor Orban and President Trump”, White House Instagram, Nov. 7, 2025 | Public Domain Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Follow BotL: | | |
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#1329 Our Longest War Has Been a Lie All Along (The Afghanistan Papers) (Throwback)
04/21/2026
#1329 Our Longest War Has Been a Lie All Along (The Afghanistan Papers) (Throwback)
Re-Air Date: 4-21-2026 Original Air Date: 1–18-2020 Today we take a look at The Afghanistan Papers which reveal in stark detail much of what the anti-war movement has known or strongly suspected since the beginning. Going beyond the scope of The Pentagon Papers of the Vietnam War era, The Afghanistan Papers feature interviews and documentation from top-ranking officials admitting from the start that they had no idea what they were doing in Afghanistan. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle , 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: SHOW IMAGE: / / Changes: Zoomed in and cropped Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at Listen Anywhere! Listen Anywhere!
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SOLVED! SAMPLE! #38 - Keepin’ it Class-y: How Class Structure and Wealth Inequality Keep Us Stuck
04/20/2026
SOLVED! SAMPLE! #38 - Keepin’ it Class-y: How Class Structure and Wealth Inequality Keep Us Stuck
Air Date: 4-8-26 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Ch. 1 - The history of the war on poverty in the U.S. Ch. 2 - How the wealthiest 9.9% are keeping the rest of us down with their heads in the sand Ch. 3 - The history and revival of the workers’ education movement SOLVED! BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm (Members Only!): How your class impacts your tastes. on our new system! FOLLOW US ON: (This episode premieres on YouTube on Friday - please subscribe and share!) REFERENCES - The Nation - Sage Journals - The Atlantic - The Nation BACKSTAGE - Thinking Sociologically EXTRAS: Best of the Left # BOOK: by Mariame Kaba (Buying through this link supports indie book stores and this show!) TAKE ACTION: - May 1st - No Work. No School. No Shopping.
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#1785 Iran and the Chain Reaction: The War Nobody Thought Through (Or, Bomb First, Think Never)
04/18/2026
#1785 Iran and the Chain Reaction: The War Nobody Thought Through (Or, Bomb First, Think Never)
Air Date: 4/17/2026 Today we examine how the U.S. war with Iran has exposed the deep structural rot at the heart of American power, the global economic catastrophe quietly building beneath the surface, and the cuts felt at home in order to pay for it all. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle , or email Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: KP 7: KP 8: KP 9: (00:52:25) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Eisenhower Warned Us: Trump's $1.5T Military Budget Is Gutting America DEEPER DIVES (01:03:57) SECTION A: LEBANON UNDER ATTACK (01:29:29) SECTION B: THE WORLD DEDOLLARISES (01:49:40) SECTION C: WORLD ECONOMY IN PERIL (02:21:45) SECTION D: THE MORAL ROT OF WAR PROFITEERING (02:46:42) SECTION E: THE DAMAGE OUR MILITARY DOES (03:06:15) SECTION F: MAKING CHINA GREAT AGAIN SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: A composite image showing a satellite image of the Straight of Hormuz behind a screenshot of Trump’s post that says “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again….” Credit: Internal composite design. Image: “Satellite image of the Strait of Hormuz.” by Jacques Descloitres, NASA | Public Domain
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#1784 Who Gets to Be American, Who Gets to Vote, and Who Decides
04/14/2026
#1784 Who Gets to Be American, Who Gets to Vote, and Who Decides
Air Date: 4/14/2026 Today we examine the legal battles shaking the foundations of American citizenship and voting rights as Trump's legal team uses the courts as a weapon against democratic participation — and how advocates are fighting back. We'll hear about the three-D playbook of deceive, disrupt, and deny used by authoritarians and being deployed by Trump ahead of the midterms, and what ordinary people can do right now to protect their votes before November. Be part of the show! Leave a , message us on Signal at the handle , or email Check out our new show, SOLVED! on ! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) ! TOP TAKES KP 1: KP 2: KP 3: KP 4: KP 5: KP 6: (00:52:29) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Conservatives' Judicial Originalism Isn't Principle — It's a 40-Year Political Project DEEPER DIVES (01:07:20) SECTION A: BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP (01:39:42) SECTION B: ELECTION INTERFERENCE (02:03:37) SECTION C: MAIL-IN VOTING SHOW IMAGE CREDITS 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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