Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democr
Latest Episodes
Bonus Sample: The human condition since the Christianization of Europe
Air Date: 9-8-23 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Erin and Deon discuss: - The need for good structures of society, not scripture - Jesus is too liberal for Christians - Amateur anthropology - Technology and huma
#1581 Indicted Authoritarianism Up For Debate: GOP presidential candidates debate the future of the party just in case Donald Trump is found guilty of any of his many crimes and somehow manages to lose the GOP primary or is barred from office.
Air Date 9/6/2023 The first GOP presidential debate happened without the frontrunner, Donald Trump, being present for the event but rather hanging over the proceedings like a specter. Meanwhile, Trump
#1580 Bet Your Life: Sports betting is opening new and expensive ways to waste your time and destroy your mental health. The impacts of gambling are straining the legitimacy of sports and how they're reported by ESPN and beyond.
Air Date 9/3/2023 Sports gambling through smartphones has become widely available and wildly addictive but the effects are being felt beyond the individual gambler's bank account and anxiety levels. P
#TBT #1152 Rise of the Oligarchs Like the Ones Taking Clarence Thomas on Trips: From the Libertarians of the Chicago School and the Push for Market Fundamentalism to the Megadonors Pulling the Strings of Politicians Today (Money in Politics) (Thr
Original Air Date: 12/15/2017 The history and current state of rich people seeking to undermine democratic rule by the people in favor of oligarchy for the rich Be part of the show! Leave us a messag
#1506 Native Landback for a Healthier Society and Environment (Repost)
Original Air Date 8/10/2022 Origins of the European colonial land-grab, the need for the #Landback movement, and the benefits to society and the environment in the context of the climate crisis to re
#1504 Neurodiversity is Strength: Autism, ADHD and Beyond (Repost)
Original Air Date 8/2/2022 Explaining neurodiversity and why it should be seen as a strength and benefit to society when accommodated properly rather than a problem to be solved or, worse, ignored. Au
#TBT #1209 How to Debate Your Values: Being part of the solution in an age of hyper-polarization as we enter a new election cycle (Throwback)
Original Air Date 9-11-2018 Strategies to, and reasons why we need to, have better political conversations. As the first GOP debate signals the beginning of a new election cycle with the country divid
#1579 Positive masculinity is a process. Many boys hear more about what they shouldn't say, how they shouldn't act, but without a strong alternative example which opens the door for the purveyors of toxic masculinity like Andrew Tate to fill the gap
Air Date 8/23/2023 For decades, we have rightly been focused on dialing back endemic misogyny and poking holes in the patriarchy in the hopes of a new normal of gender relations emerging that would be
#1578 A.I. is a big tech airplane with a 10% chance of crashing, should society fly it? ChatGPT was only the starter pistol but it has shown the sloppiness of these companies and the need for regulate artificial intelligence for the public good.
Air Date 8/20/2023 Big tech is currently scrambling to bring untested A.I. products to market, over-promising, under-delivering, and working hard obscure and ignore any possible downsides for society.
#TBT #1323 Maui Fire and Power to the People: The Future of Public Ownership and Local Control (Throwback)
Original Air Date 12-7-2019 In the context of the devastating fire on Maui, we are replaying this throwback episode to look at the reaction to decades of the fetishization of privatization in the form