What are the implications for our divided country when a bullying president shakes down the news media to get his way?

In this episode of the Lean to the Left Podcast, John DeDakis, veteran journalist, former CNN editor, White House correspondent, novelist, and writing coach, explores the challenges of journalism in today’s fractured media landscape and the implications of Donald Trump's attempts to bully the media to his own ends.

👉 Topics include:

• The crisis of trust in mainstream media

• How Trump and bullying politicians have influenced journalism

• The rise of digital media and the internet’s double-edged sword

• Artificial Intelligence and its limits in creative storytelling

• DeDakis’ novel Enemies Domestic, inspired by today’s political climate

• Writing as a tool for healing grief and trauma

• Helping aspiring authors find their voice

DeDakis shares candid reflections on truth in reporting, holding power accountable, and why integrity and human touch still matter in an age of information overload.

📚 Learn more about John DeDakis and his books.

If you care about media integrity, politics, or the power of storytelling, this episode is a must-listen.

👍 Don’t forget to subscribe, hit the like button, and share your thoughts in the comments!

#Media #Politics #JohnDeDakis #LeanToTheLeft #Journalism #truthmatters

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction to the Lean To The Left Podcast

00:31 Introducing John DeDakis: Journalist and Author 01:47 Trump's Impact on America

03:33 The Role of Journalism Today

04:26 Challenges in Modern Media

07:38 Personal Experiences in Journalism

10:37 The Evolution of Journalism

15:23 The Influence of Social Media

16:15 The Impact of AI on Writing

16:54 Experimenting with AI in Creative Writing

18:26 The Ethical and Environmental Concerns of AI

20:03 Discussing 'Enemies Domestic'

22:18 Writing About Personal Grief

25:50 Helping Authors as a Manuscript Editor and Writing Coach

27:02 Current and Future Writing Projects

28:24 Where to Find John's Books

30:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In Defending Transgender Identity on the Lean to the Left Podcast, host Bob Gatty sits down with Amethysta Herrick, PhD, a transgender woman, scientist, and advocate, to discuss the growing wave of discriminatory legislation targeting transgender individuals.

Ami shares her remarkable story—from childhood struggles and suicide attempts to building a successful career as a scientist and executive, and ultimately transitioning to live authentically. She dives deep into the importance of identity, resilience, and the human experience, and discusses how Trump-era policies devastated the transgender community.

Ami also shares her mission with Purple Paw Clan, an organization dedicated to defending transgender rights and supporting those on their journey toward self-discovery and acceptance.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation to explore:

The personal and societal challenges of gender identity

The impact of anti-transgender legislation

The importance of advocacy and education

The story behind Purple Paw Clan and Team Water

💜 Support the cause: https://purplepawclan.com

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode to help amplify voices that need to be heard.

#TransRights #LeanToTheLeftPodcast #PurplePawClan

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome

00:10 Discriminatory Legislation Against Transgender People

00:56 Introducing Amethysta Herrick, PhD

01:56 Amethysta's Early Life and Academic Journey

03:46 Transitioning and Professional Life

05:03 Family Life and Personal Struggles

05:54 Exploring Gender Identity and Transition

07:28 Writing and Advocacy

13:51 Impact of Trump's Policies on Transgender Community

18:22 Conservative Upbringing and Personal Struggles

19:06 Trump's Executive Orders and Gender Affirming Care

19:43 Corporate Responses to Anti-DEI Policies

20:07 First Amendment and Hate Speech

22:10 The Story Behind Purple Paw Clan

27:30 Team Water Initiative

28:47 Conclusion and Contact Information

What was it like to serve as a Black federal employee during the most divisive presidency in modern American history? In this powerful episode of the Lean to the Left podcast, host Bob Gatty sits down with Deric Gilliard, activist, author, and retired federal public affairs advisor, to discuss his experiences promoting Trump administration policies.

Gilliard—whose career spanned five administrations from Clinton to Biden—shares stories from his new book, The Longest Four Years of My Life: A View from the Field by a Black Fed. He provides a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the dismantling of programs that supported Black communities, attacks on the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, and efforts to erase history at the Smithsonian.

📌 Key Topics Covered:

• The Trump administration’s elimination of thousands of federal jobs.

• Canceling Department of Education support programs.

• Weakening of Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.

• Stripping diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

• Attempts to rewrite history around slavery.

• Stark contrasts between Trump’s policies and Biden’s efforts to restore equity.

Deric also reflects on his earlier career, particularly during the Obama years, and shares how his work connected to Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of equality. His story is both a warning and a call to action for all Americans who care about democracy, justice, and truth.

👉 Don’t miss this insider perspective on the Trump years, race, and policy.

📖 Order The Longest Four Years of My Life on Amazon at https://amzn.to/4nfa7yP.

🎧 Subscribe to the Lean to the Left podcast for more conversations on politics, justice, and social change.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction and Trump's Promises to Black Americans

01:39 Deric Gillard's Background and Career

04:07 Experiences Under Different Administrations

06:06 Impact of Trump's Policies

11:25 COVID-19 and Trump's Leadership

15:10 Federal Workforce and Safety Nets

19:47 Trolling Trump on Social Media

20:10 Impact of Cutting Education Programs

21:11 Trump's Obsession with the Affordable Care Act

22:14 Obama's Legacy and Racial Backlash

25:15 Reflections on Working for Different Presidents

33:27 The Importance of Telehealth During COVID

34:24 Promoting Justice and Equality

35:31 Discussing the New Book

36:44 Upcoming Book Club Announcement