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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
ICE
Fascism
Neoliberalism
Public Health
Racism
Democracy
Israel
Trump
Climate Change
Immigration
Authoritarianism
Venezuela
Gaza
Artificial Intelligence
Civil Rights

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: 9/9/2026

Today we look at the strategies being deployed by the Trump administration and their enablers to undermine the midterm elections and what it actually takes to fight back. The lawyers fighting in court against the efforts to destr... more

Re-Air Date: 8/5/26

Original Air Date: 4/24/26

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

• Ch. 1 - Why victims of crime are underserved and actually prefer rehabilitative, root-case approaches to justice

• Ch. 2 - How cashless bail refo... more

Air Date: 9/2/2026

Today we look at how public health is being gutted by a system that took ordinary parental worry and organized, radicalized and monetized it into an anti-science "wellness" movement large enough to seize real political power.

F... more

Air Date: 8/29/2026

Today we examine what happens when the state wants to decide whether a person reproduces. A century ago, American courts sanctioned the forced sterilization of women deemed unfit to reproduce. 60 years ago, a communist dictator ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Jessica Rivera
Epidemiologist featured in TED Talks Daily segment on rebuilding trust in science
Episode: #1820 Science and Public Health Under Attack by Our Own Government
Peter Hotez
Vaccine scientist and public health expert, discusses anti-science ecosystem and vaccine safety history
Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine (implied by context)
Episode: #1820 Science and Public Health Under Attack by Our Own Government
Viet R. Trinh
Professor of crime, surveillance, and policing
Ohio State University
Episode: #1818 Flock Cameras, ICE, and the Surveillance State Targeting Everyone
Chad Marlow
Senior Policy Counsel at the ACLU, privacy and surveillance expert
ACLU
Episode: #1818 Flock Cameras, ICE, and the Surveillance State Targeting Everyone
Johann Rockström
Director, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Potsdam Institute
Episode: #1817 Worse on Purpose: Trump is Killing Our Response to the Climate Emergency
Twila Moon
Glaciologist; lead editor of the Arctic Report Card
National Snow and Ice Data Center / University of Colorado Boulder
Episode: #1817 Worse on Purpose: Trump is Killing Our Response to the Climate Emergency
Craig Milton
Owner of a live music venue and sanctuary
Craig Milton / Summerland BC community
Episode: #1817 Worse on Purpose: Trump is Killing Our Response to the Climate Emergency
Tom Stokesberry
Lead Public Information Officer
California Interagency Incident Management Team 7
Episode: #1817 Worse on Purpose: Trump is Killing Our Response to the Climate Emergency
Adam Reader
Professor of Rock (commentary host)
Podcast guest
Episode: #1816 IP'd to Death: How Intellectual Property Law Went from a Protection to a Weapon

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
    a month 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 States2 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 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 States3 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
    4 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
#42
Colombia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#84
Argentina/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#160
Colombia/News
Apple Podcasts
#166
Russia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#245
Israel/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#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.
#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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Social Media Reach

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. Ralph Nader Radio Hour
3. The Hartmann Report
4. The MeidasTouch Podcast
5. The Intercept Briefing

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. Jessica Rivera
2. Peter Hotez
3. Viet R. Trinh
4. Chad Marlow
5. Johann Rockström
6. Twila Moon
7. Craig Milton
8. Tom Stokesberry

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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