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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
Elon Musk
Democracy
Neoliberalism
Democratic Party
Authoritarianism
Trump
Fascism
Israel
Republican Party
ICE
Racism
Project 2025
Education
Climate Change
Public Health
Immigration
Gaza

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1622Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPoliticsNews Commentary

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Artwork for Best of the Left

Latest Episodes

Air Date: 5/20/2026

Today we examine how the Trump administration is quietly reshaping its unpopular immigration crackdown by moving enforcement out of public view. Plus, we explain how anti-immigration politics is spreading through the post-coloni... more

Air Date: 5/15/2026

Today we examine what it would actually take to claw back democracy from billionaire capture — and why some people think it's more possible than it looks. We'll hear about California's proposed billionaire wealth tax, AOC's visi... more

Air Date: 5/12/2026

Today we examine the redistricting scramble unleashed by the Supreme Court's gutting of the Voting Rights Act. We'll hear how Southern states moved within days to crack majority-Black districts, how Tennessee banned public input... more

Air Date: 5–9-2026

Today we examine how political violence has always been woven into the fabric of American life and who gets to decide what counts as violence in the first place. We'll hear about presidential assassinations, the assassination of ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Jeff Sharlet
Author/commentator; discussed anti-Christian framing and political violence
Independent commentator
Episode: #1790 Assassin Nation: How Political Violence Got Normalized And How To Reverse It
Muhammad Al-Aryan
Economist, analyst referenced in the discussion
University of [contextually inferred] / public policy seminar
Episode: #1789 Boomcession: Why the Economy Looks Great on Paper and Hurts in Real Life
Dave Wasserman
Election analyst/author featured in discussion
The Cook Political Report
Episode: #1789 Boomcession: Why the Economy Looks Great on Paper and Hurts in Real Life
Peter Magyar
Opposition leader, founder of the Tisza party (Respect and Freedom)
Tisza Party / Opposition coalition
Episode: #1786 Defeating Viktor Orbán in Hungary and the Authoritarian Playbook Worldwide
Craig Whitlock
Washington Post investigative reporter who helped bring Afghanistan Papers to light
The Washington Post
Episode: #1329 Our Longest War Has Been a Lie All Along (The Afghanistan Papers) (Throwback)
Steven Miles
Executive Director of Win Without War, advocate for peaceful foreign policy
Win Without War
Episode: #1329 Our Longest War Has Been a Lie All Along (The Afghanistan Papers) (Throwback)
Lillian Guerra
Professor of Cuban and Caribbean History at the University of Florida
University of Florida
Episode: #1782 Cuba's Crisis: Trump's Deadly Embargo, Blackouts, and Dream of Regime Change
Christopher Sabatini
Senior Research Fellow for Latin America at Chatham House
Chatham House
Episode: #1782 Cuba's Crisis: Trump's Deadly Embargo, Blackouts, and Dream of Regime Change
Liz Oliva Fernández
Journalist at The Belly of the Beast
The Belly of the Beast
Episode: #1782 Cuba's Crisis: Trump's Deadly Embargo, Blackouts, and Dream of Regime Change

Host

Jay
Host who curates and presents various leftist perspectives, facilitating discussions on critical political and social issues.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 3.9k ratings
  • 9.14.25

    I love this this podcast of a compilation of great clips of good info/analysis as well as introducing us to what may be new outlets we didn’t know about and can add them to our listening/reading resources. Thank you! love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    midwestBlue
    United States8 months ago
  • 7.14.25

    Excellent guests, very informative. you dive deeper into subject matter than others bringing up new info and I appreciate that. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    midwestBlue
    United States10 months ago
  • Excellently Curated Program. I love getting all the different perspectives from all over the liberal and progressive media sphere.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Bauld G. Kobra
    a year ago
  • Must have

    I have listened to this podcast for years. I always felt it gave me a fuller understanding of the issues. But these days I find Best of the Left an essential listen just to make sense of the times we are in

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gfcsp
    United Statesa year ago
  • Okay I guess.

    They talk about conservatives not being able to grasp different variations or groups and that not everyone has to be processed in good or bad. Then proceed to classify all conservatives as bad which is hypocritical. I listen to podcasts on both sides because I honestly believe that truth is something that doesn’t exist within the political spectrum anymore so you need to be very open to intelligence gathering. I have noticed in all of my listening though and I find this to be quite intriguing is... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Roan7107
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Many express that it is an essential resource for understanding complex social and political issues, emphasizing the effort put into producing high-quality episodes.
There are mixed sentiments regarding the podcast's political slant, with some noting its strong leftist bias, while others value its focus on social justice and advocacy.
Listeners appreciate the expert curation of diverse progressive voices and the enriching content that challenges mainstream narratives.
Some listeners have criticized audio quality and the pacing of the discussions, but overall, the feedback highlights a commitment to informative and engaging content.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#136
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#169
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#82
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#54
Colombia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#192
Brazil/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#210
Colombia/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#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.
#1128 Confronting Fascism in the Land of Free Speech (Throwback)
Q: Do you agree or disagree?
Lee Rowland expresses hesitation in fully agreeing with the critique of First Amendment prioritization, emphasizing historical perspectives on civil rights.
#1768 The End of an Era: The International Rules-Based Order Gives Way to Trump's Might-Makes-Right Plutocracy
Q: What implications does the shift towards a transactional foreign policy hold for global stability?
It could lead to increased tensions as nations prioritize self-interest over cooperation, potentially igniting new conflicts around the world.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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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?

The content focuses on progressive politics, culture, and economic policies, presenting expertly curated discussions that bring together diverse leftist perspectives. Episodes often tackle critical social issues, encompassing everything from authoritarianism and state violence to wealth inequality and public health. This podcast aims to provide listeners with insights that challenge mainstream narratives, highlight the implications of governmental actions, and mobilize grassroots movements among communities while fostering informed activism.

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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. Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer
3. Democracy Now! Audio
4. The Hartmann Report
5. Gaslit Nation

How many episodes of Best of the Left are there?

Best of the Left launched 20 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for 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. Jeff Sharlet
2. Muhammad Al-Aryan
3. Dave Wasserman
4. Peter Magyar
5. Craig Whitlock
6. Steven Miles
7. Lillian Guerra
8. Christopher Sabatini

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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