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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
Democracy
Democratic Party
Ice
Fascism
United States
Neoliberalism
Elon Musk
Racism
Trump
Israel
Public Health
Authoritarianism
Immigration
Climate Change
Wealth Inequality
Gaza
Artificial Intelligence

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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Artwork for Best of the Left

Latest Episodes

Air Date: 8/19/2026

Today we trace the corporate capture of ideas themselves. What began as a brief legal incentive granting fourteen years of exclusive rights to a creation has become a system that kept a pandemic vaccine from reaching poorer coun... more

Air Date: 8/16/2026

Today we look at what Toni Morrison called "sanctioned ignorance," the deliberate manufacture of a version of the past that keeps citizens from connecting the dots between what their government did then and what it's doing now. ... more

Air Date: 8/12/2026

Today we follow the latest in Western Hemisphere imperialism. American presidents from Theodore Roosevelt to Donald Trump have invoked the Monroe Doctrine and its claim on the whole hemisphere to justify coups, sanctions, and no... more

Air Date: 8/8/2026

Today we examine the mass deportation machine that's been intentionally designed to inflict suffering, from the conditions inside immigration jails to the reckless actions of ICE agents, and the systematic dismantling of accounta... more

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Recent Guests

Jesse/Elizabeth Shaw
Attorney representing immigrant clients in the U.S.
Humanitas Legal Group
Episode: #1813 Suffering is the Strategy: ICE, Mass Deportation, and Demographic Engineering
Olga Perez
Guatemalan mother detained in detention and her children who advocated on her behalf
Detained immigrant in the Perez family case
Episode: #1813 Suffering is the Strategy: ICE, Mass Deportation, and Demographic Engineering
Beto Coral
Colombian immigrant involved in advocacy around deportation cases and First Amendment rights
Advocate/activist
Episode: #1813 Suffering is the Strategy: ICE, Mass Deportation, and Demographic Engineering
Samuel Moyn
Author and Professor, Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Episode: #1811 Country for Old Men: Gerontocracy By Design and the Democracy Problem
Abdul El-Sayed
Public health advocate and progressive politician
DSA-aligned progressive in Michigan
Episode: #1809 Democrats Seek a Blue Wave, Progressives Push Democratic Socialism, GOP Revive the Red Scare
Francesca Hong
Assemblywoman, Wisconsin
Wisconsin State Legislature
Episode: #1809 Democrats Seek a Blue Wave, Progressives Push Democratic Socialism, GOP Revive the Red Scare
Melat Kiros
DSA-aligned candidate, Colorado
Democratic Socialists of America
Episode: #1809 Democrats Seek a Blue Wave, Progressives Push Democratic Socialism, GOP Revive the Red Scare
Ian Millheiser
Senior correspondent at Vox who covers the Supreme Court
Vox
Episode: #1634 Abortion as the Tip of the Iceberg (Throwback)
Kevin Williams
VP of Digital Products at Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Planned Parenthood
Episode: #1634 Abortion as the Tip of the Iceberg (Throwback)

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
  • 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 Statesa month 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 States2 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 States2 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
    3 months ago
  • 5.3.26

    Excellent podcast, love this podcast, thank you for all that you do!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    midwestBlue
    United States4 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
#181
Argentina/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#2
Argentina/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#14
Argentina/News
Apple Podcasts
#203
Brazil/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#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.
#1796 1.8 Billion for the Mob and a Kill List for Dissent: Trump's payout fund and counterterrorism strategy, decoded
Q: What is the core concern about the anti-weaponization fund?
It could channel billions of taxpayer dollars to Trump allies or rioters with minimal public oversight, under a shadowy five-member board, and may bypass Congress and courts, risking civil liberties and accountability.
#1789 Boomcession: Why the Economy Looks Great on Paper and Hurts in Real Life
Q: How do focus groups reflect voters' economic concerns in the context of the Iran war and inflation?
Focus groups show broad anxiety about living costs and inflation, with voters feeling that Trump's policies have not delivered on promises to lower prices, and that the war is distracting attention from domestic economic needs.
#1770 Getting in the Fight Against ICE and Authoritarianism
Q: What can everyday people do to resist ICE and protect their communities?
People can form resistance groups, call their representatives, and take part in local actions to fight against ICE's practices.
#1770 Getting in the Fight Against ICE and Authoritarianism
Q: What role do faith communities play in the fight against authoritarianism?
Faith communities can use their moral authority to speak against power abuses, reminding people of the commandment to love.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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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How many listeners does Best of the Left get?

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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. The Bitchuation Room

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. Jesse/Elizabeth Shaw
2. Olga Perez
3. Beto Coral
4. Samuel Moyn
5. Abdul El-Sayed
6. Francesca Hong
7. Melat Kiros
8. Ian Millheiser

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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