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Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics
Trump Administration
Donald Trump
Capitalism
United States
Democratic Party
Neoliberalism
Fascism
Democracy
ICE
Trump
Climate Change
Authoritarianism
Venezuela
Artificial Intelligence
Civil Rights
Israel
White Supremacy
Wealth Inequality
Education
Public Health

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 eac... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1622Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

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Latest Episodes

Publish Date: 10-11-2026 Original Air Date: 9-16-2014

Today we dig through the archives to give context to the news that the Pentagon plans to execute the Fort Hood shooter by firing squad, the first U.S. military execution in more than 60 years.

more

Air Date: 10/7/2026

Today we trace the "Exxon Knew" story through a decade of our own archive, because that history is what the Supreme Court is weighing in Suncor v. Boulder in their first case this term. Exxon's scientists confirmed the climate s... more

Air Date: 10/3/2026

Today we examine the mechanisms of complicity. We're not all complicit in the worst atrocities but we are complicit in something so it's good to know how it works. Good people go along with bad ideas and thoughtful people allow ... more

Air Date: 9/30/2026

Today we look at the legacy of Occupy Wall Street, which was in full swing 15 years ago and changed how the country talks about inequality and the 1%. In the meantime, the cumulative wealth of the 1% in the US has roughly triple... more

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Recent Guests

Christie Offenbacher
Co-author discussing Occupy origin myths and critique of the narrative
New Catalyst article
Episode: #1825 We Are Still the 99%: Occupy Wall Street's Unfinished Business, 15 Years Later
Viet Trinh
Professor at Ohio State University specializing in crime, surveillance, and policing
Ohio State University
Episode: Monthly-ish Mix #12 The Great American Heist
Paul Hesberg
Senior Research Ecologist Emeritus at the US Forest Service; Professor of Fire and Landscape Ecology
US Forest Service, University of Washington
Episode: Monthly-ish Mix #12 The Great American Heist
Ruth Milkman
Sociologist, co-author of research on Occupy's planning and impact
CUNY, The New Labor History
Episode: #1823 Deep Cuts: Occupy Wall Street in Real Time, 15 Years Later
Glenn Greenwald
Author and journalist, expert on immunity and impunity in elite America
Salon, The Intercept (as applicable)
Episode: #1823 Deep Cuts: Occupy Wall Street in Real Time, 15 Years Later
Robin Hahnel
Economist, Portland State University, proponent of participatory economics
Portland State University
Episode: #1823 Deep Cuts: Occupy Wall Street in Real Time, 15 Years Later
Rania Khalek
Beirut-based journalist, Breakthrough News contributor
Breakthrough News
Episode: #1822 The State Media Playbook: The FCC and Billionaires Are Waging a War on the Free Press
Jamil Jaffer
Director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University
Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University
Episode: #1822 The State Media Playbook: The FCC and Billionaires Are Waging a War on the Free Press
Eoin Higgins
Journalist and author of Owned
Breakthrough News
Episode: #1822 The State Media Playbook: The FCC and Billionaires Are Waging a War on the Free Press

Host

Jay
Host of Best of the Left podcast; leads discussion and synthesis of diverse sources.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 3.9k ratings
  • Gives extraordinary depth and context to essential topics. They pull the best andultiple perspectives from an amazing breadth of sources. 6 stars.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    skeptic
    2 months ago
  • 7.11.26

    Still loving this podcast! Great info and not in a 2 minute slurp. the pod is long enough to go in-depth and I want that and I need that. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    midwestBlue
    United States3 months ago
  • Support this podcast!!

    So much interesting information in one podcast!! Great job informing the masses, keep it up.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    It's_all_me
    United States3 months ago
  • Love you guys.

    Please keep doing what you do for as long as you can. You guys are a national treasure.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jas_8998
    United States4 months ago
  • Episodes 1787-1790 only play advert before episode but do not play actual episode. Using Podcast Addict to play.

    Podcast Addict
    2
    Deltapogee
    5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Praise for strong curation and variety of perspectives on issues.
Listeners praise deep-dive, in-depth analysis and broad sourcing.
Positive feedback on impact and importance of coverage for understanding current events.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#106
Colombia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#205
Argentina/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#223
Indonesia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#1821 Election Sabotage, Voting System Vulnerabilities, and the Defense of the 2026 Midterms
Q: How are Democrats preparing to defend against election interference?
Democrats have formed task forces with legal and governance experts, focusing on protecting election infrastructure, litigating to obtain voter rolls, and mobilizing grassroots action to ensure turnout and protect ballots.
#1821 Election Sabotage, Voting System Vulnerabilities, and the Defense of the 2026 Midterms
Q: What is the most likely impact of Trump's executive orders on voting by mail?
Legal analysis suggests most likely outcome is that mail voting remains available as before, since orders have faced blockades and the courts are anticipated to limit their implementation, leaving the practical effect limited in 2026.
#1818 Flock Cameras, ICE, and the Surveillance State Targeting Everyone
Q: What is Flock actually doing with its cameras and data?
The guests explain that Flock operates ALPR cameras deployed via contracts with local agencies, creating a broad network that records vehicles and, in some configurations, people. They emphasize that data can be shared with other agencies and even private entities, raising concerns about civil liberties and improper use.
#1816 IP'd to Death: How Intellectual Property Law Went from a Protection to a Weapon
Q: What does the current IP regime mean for ordinary creators?
It concentrates power in large corporations, reduces access to medicines and information, and often requires expensive legal battles that most individuals cannot afford, effectively tilting the playing field.
#1809 Democrats Seek a Blue Wave, Progressives Push Democratic Socialism, GOP Revive the Red Scare
Q: What does the DSA want to achieve in the current cycle?
They want Medicare for All, strong unions, universal childcare, and a ban on corporate money in politics framed as a 10-point Contract with the American People that candidates can publicly sign and campaign on.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Best of the Left

What is Best of the Left about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Curated discussions dive into progressive politics, economics, and democracy, often weaving in immigration, civil rights, and media perspectives. Episodes frequently center on policy reform, democratic accountability, wealth inequality, and the role of power structures in society, while integrating voices from activists, academics, and journalists. A standout is the meticulous sourcing from diverse outlets and the willingness to challenge dominant narratives, making it a go-to for listeners seeking broad, left-leaning context with in-depth analysis. Potential guests and sponsors may find value in the show's strong focus on systemic change, civic engagement, and cross-disciplinary debates that appeal to policy wonks and activists alike.

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Which podcasts are similar to Best of the Left?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Best of the Left:

1. Unf*cking The Republic
2. The Majority Report with Sam Seder
3. The Intercept Briefing
4. Democracy Now! Audio
5. Jacobin Radio

How many episodes of Best of the Left are there?

Best of the Left launched 21 years ago and published 1622 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Best of the Left?

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What guests have appeared on Best of the Left?

Recent guests on Best of the Left include:

1. Christie Offenbacher
2. Viet Trinh
3. Paul Hesberg
4. Ruth Milkman
5. Glenn Greenwald
6. Robin Hahnel
7. Rania Khalek
8. Jamil Jaffer

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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