Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics
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!
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!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 10, 2026 • 3h 13min
#1783 The Ideology of a Cancer Cell: AI, Surveillance, and Silicon Valley's Psychopath Problem
A sharp look at Silicon Valley's growth-at-all-costs mentality and how it echoes corporate psychopathy. Probes AI concentration, surveillance capitalism, and the risks of single firms controlling vital systems. Examines tech culture, from grind worship to PR networks shielding elites, and how platforms and investors shape dangerous incentives.
Apr 9, 2026 • 24min
SOLVED! SAMPLE! #37 - Solidarity Forever: Boycotts, Strikes, & the Labor Movement We Need
A lively dive into what makes boycotts actually work and why individual online outrage falls short. Discussion of REI workers calling for a coordinated boycott and how you can support collective action. Coverage of meatpacking strikes in Colorado and comparisons between U.S. and Canadian labor strategies. Ideas for strengthening and expanding the modern labor movement.
Apr 7, 2026 • 2h 29min
#1683 Oligarchy Unmasked: President Musk, the crackup of capitalism, and the MAGA meltdown (Throwback)
Carter-era commentator contrasts Jimmy Carter with later presidents. Left Anchor, a progressive historian, traces inequality, labor history, and organizing. Political podcaster analyzes the MAGA split over H‑1B visas and Musk’s role. An academic links apartheid-era South Africa to far‑right formation and Musk’s worldview. Another commentator maps right‑wing media’s rise from Limbaugh to today.
Apr 3, 2026 • 3h 7min
#1782 Cuba's Crisis: Trump's Deadly Embargo, Blackouts, and Dream of Regime Change
On-the-ground reporters and convoy participants, activists and journalists reporting from Cuba, describe humanitarian needs and life under blackout and blockade. They discuss the convoy’s aid — medicine, solar panels and generators — and the legal, historical and geopolitical forces behind the oil cutoff and U.S. policy toward Cuba. Firsthand testimonies highlight resilience amid shortages.
6 snips
Apr 1, 2026 • 3h 50min
#1781 Your Team Is a Hedge Fund Now: How Gambling and Billionaires Captured American Sports
Money and power have reshaped American sports into a playground for billionaires and private equity. Unregulated gambling and prediction markets are entwined with broadcasts and athlete investments. Leagues prioritize valuation and access to politicians over players and communities. Fans, independent reporters, and new labor wins push back against a captured sports culture.
Mar 31, 2026 • 23min
ALMOST SOLVED! SAMPLE! #1 - Liberation Theology & What Redemption Really Looks Like
A lively discussion of liberation theology and why faith communities matter for progressive organizing. They explore how religious texts get used for competing politics and the challenge of building secular alternatives to church networks. Conversation also touches on healing from political harm and practical ways to create inclusive community structures.
16 snips
Mar 28, 2026 • 3h 30min
#1780 Cynicism Is a Scab: Hope, Solidarity, and the Labor Fight That Never Stopped
Rutger Bregman, historian who argues humans are naturally cooperative; Kim Kelly, journalist and labor writer; members of the IWW and contemporary labor organizers. They explore why cynicism helps elites, how solidarity can be built as a structure, vivid strike logistics and community support, the case for teaching labor history, and the role of hope and moral ambition in sustaining long-term organizing.
5 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 4h 2min
#1779 Community After God: Why the Left Needs What Church Provided
Hear a clip from The Michael Brooks Show on liberation theology, tracing its roots in solidarity and social struggle. A Quaker representative explains silent, creedless meetings where non-theists find reflection and community. Short segments explore secular assemblies, atheopagan seasonal ritual, and how ritual and mutual aid can replace lost church infrastructure.
Mar 23, 2026 • 22min
SOLVED! SAMPLE! #36 - Bribery Jazz - Corruption is the Water We Swim In
They dig into the deep history of money shaping American politics and how corruption became routine. They unpack how hidden financial pressure, media consolidation, and elite networks create a sealed policy bubble. They coin colorful terms for subtle influence like unspent threats and explore global examples that might offer lessons for change.
Mar 19, 2026 • 3h 37min
#1778 AI, the Pentagon, Labor and Capitalism: The Fight Over Who Controls the Future
Tristan Harris (AI safety advocate), Yoshua Bengio (AI researcher), and labor experts like David Autor (economist) join defense and legal analysts. They debate AI alignment and corporate incentives. They unpack the Anthropic–Pentagon clash over surveillance and weapons. They explore how AI reshapes labor, historical parallels, and policy responses in short, punchy conversations.
