Air Date: 9–20-25

Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss:

• Ch. 1 - The right-wing’s continued attempts at satire
• Ch. 2 - Manufactured outrage about male cheerleaders and sorority dances
• Ch. 3 - How political outsiders always adopt new tech, and how that ties to pushing back against misinformation
• Ch. 4 - Final thoughts on how when bad actors make gains, there is always a reaction
• SOLVED! BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm: The doctor exposing insurance companies’ worst behavior

FOLLOW US ON:

Bluesky

Mastadon

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube (This episode drops on YouTube on Friday - please share!)

Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e

REFERENCES:

America has turned dancing into a culture war - Vox

Why America Isn’t Rome (And Why That Matters) - The David Frum Show, The Atlantic

A public health expert keeps going viral on Instagram for delivering this very simple message - Vox

MEMBERS

She Exposed the Insurance Industry’s Worst Behavior. Now They’re Coming After Her. - The Current Affairs

EXTRAS

Some great public health campaigns

Also, Dumb Ways to Die campaign for Melbourne, Australia Metro Trains, which went viral worldwide.

TAKE ACTION:

No Kings National Day of Action - Oct. 18th

Free DC Project: FOR ALLIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY - Tell Congress to stand down the federal escalation

One Million Rising Trainings

In a blue state? Help stop ICE overreach

Use the 5 Calls app for scripts and to reach all your elected officials

Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

Find your Indivisible group - or start one

Write to the DNC

Join our Discord Server

Reach us via Signal:

Bestoftheleft.01

Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Produced by:

Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Air Date 9/16/2025

Between recent Labor Day rallies and Republican Town Hall meetings, we're seeing that resistance to Trump's deeply unpopular policies is alive and well. Plus we're going to look at some historical legacies of resistance movements that can both inform and inspire us today.

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 Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Full Show Notes

Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube!

BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)

KEY POINTS

KP 1: While We Were Out An Eye-opening Roundup of Everything We Missed or Wished We Had Over the Past Week - The Bradcast - Air Date 9-2-25

KP 2: How Labor Unions Shape Society Margaret Levi (re-release) - TED Talks Daily - Air Date 9-1-25

KP 3: This Is An Invasion - Pritzker, Trump, and the Union Coming Apart + Venezuelan Boat Attack - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 9-5-25

KP 4: What A Raucous Nebraska Town Hall Says About The Country's Mood - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 8-6-25

KP 5: Microsoft Is an Active Partner in the Genocide! Inside the Tech Worker Revolt for Palestine - Working People - Air Date 9-4-25

KP 6: Rules for Surviving Authoritarian Times - How to Fix It - Air Date 6-22-25

KP 7: We Are All D.C. Massive Protests Rock US Capital in Defiance of Trump - The Real News Network - Air Date 9-7-25

(00:53:35) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On what our history can tell us about our present political conflict

A Senator Just Unapologetically Declared the U.S. a White Homeland

DEEPER DIVES

(01:03:18) SECTION A: LABOR DAY

(01:36:45) SECTION B: PROTESTS

(02:08:57) SECTION C: STATE-LEVEL PUSHBACK

(02:39:21) SECTION D: LEGACIES OF RESISTANCE

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Photo from the Labor Day rally in Boston depicting Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren holding a “Workers” banner with other participants. Tall, vertical rally flags are held behind them that say “Justice”, “Solidarity,” “Fairness,” “Security,” and “Freedom”

Credit: Internal photo. “Boston Labor Day Rally” | Copyright 2025, Best of the Left, All rights reserved.