Best Of The Left - The Best Of Progressive And Liberal Talk

Air Date 4/8/2020 Today, Amanda and I discuss the extremely counterintuitive practice of Negative Visualization and how it could be one of the most powerful tools to help you feel better about your circumstances and the state of the world during the pandemic crisis. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) EPISODE SPONSORS: Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Discussing the book “A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy” and the practice of Negative Visualization   Ch. 2: Take it like a Stoic coping in the time of coronavirus - Ideas - Air Date 4-3-20   Ch. 3: Discussing how stoicism has impacted us personally MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions): Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr  Middle - American Moon Bicycle Closer - American Moon Bicycle Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by

Air Date 4/4/2020 Today we take a look at many of the economic angles of the COVID-19 pandemic including the role of the shock doctrine in the wake of the coronavirus, calls for a socially just economic recovery, calls for the elderly to be turned into Soylent Green and the biggest Reverse Robin Hood bailout of all time. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) EPISODE SPONSORS: Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: “Coronavirus Capitalism” Naomi Klein’s Case for Transformative Change Amid Coronavirus Pandemic - Democracy Now - Air Date 3-19-20 Author, activist and journalist Naomi Klein says the coronavirus crisis, like earlier ones, could be a catalyst to shower aid on the wealthiest interests in society, including those most responsible for our current vulnerabilities. Ch. 2: Prof. Richard Wolff on Pandemic Economics - The Zero Hour - Air Date 3-20-20 Prof. Richard Wolff explains th

Air Date: 4-1-20 Today, Amanda and I discuss the silent, ever-present taxation that is robbing all of us of our normal levels of mental energy during the pandemic. Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Support the show via Patreon Listen on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | +more Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Facebook!

Air Date 6/11/2019 Today we take a look at Modern Monetary Theory and the neoclassical economics it is looking to replace. It’s very important to understand the logistical and political mechanisms by which money for progressive policy priorities would be appropriated by Congress and the debate over MMT gets to the core of those issues and seeks to change the paradigm we use to think about government spending. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) EPISODE SPONSORS: Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Debunking the Deficit Hysteria with Stephanie Kelton Part 1 - Why Is This Happening? with Chris Hayes - Air Date 5-6-19 There’s a pattern to the Republicans’ selective concern about increasing the deficit, and it all depends on who holds the power. When you look at the behavior of people in politics, they don’t really care about the national debt as much as they like to ta Ch. 2: What

Air Date 3/26/2020 Today we take a look at the toll the pandemic is taking on mental health and offer a wide range of coping mechanisms to help get everyone through. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) EPISODE SPONSORS: Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Trumps Dumbest Statements on the Pandemic - The Majority Report with Sam Seder - Air Date 3-18-20 Sam breaks down the failure of the Trump admin. Ch. 2: A Slight Temporary Relief - Social Distance - Air Date 3-18-20 Lori Gottlieb of "Dear Therapist" talks us through how to stay sane. Ch. 3: Coping with Coronavirus Life - The Love, Happiness and Success Podcast with Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby - Air Date 3-16-20 Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby shares some therapeutic practices to get through the pandemic. Ch. 4: Tips for surviving isolation! (Tinder Update) - The Last Post - Air Date 3-20-20 Tinder in an age of Coronavirus. Dating, Jane Austen st

Air Date 3/20/2020 Today we take a look at the social safety net we need in the face of Coronavirus and the forces preventing us from having it. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) EPISODE SPONSORS: Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Janine Jackson takes a quick look at recent coverage of the coronavirus - CounterSpin - Air Date 3-13-20 Some suddenly realize that we need a real social safety net Ch. 2: Lack of Paid Sick Leave Makes It Difficult for Many Workers to Comply with CDC Advice to Stay Home - Democracy Now - Air Date 3-12-20 Labor Department data says that one in four workers have no access to paid sick leave, including two-thirds of lowest earners. The U.S. is one of the only wealthy countries that does not require employers to offer its workers paid sick leave. Ch. 3: Naomi Klein and Jeremy Scahill Discuss Coronavirus - Intercepted with Jeremy Scahill - Air Date 3-17

Air Date 3/14/2020 Today, Amanda and I discuss the emotional toll of dealing with a pandemic, some facts about how math works in cases of exponential growth, the unfortunate truth about what we should all be doing right now, the predictable amorality of the health insurance and Pharma companies, the unconscionable propaganda from Trump and his supporters and the aspects of humanity that are revealed when tested. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) EPISODE SPONSORS: Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Our BAD week Ch. 2: Italy on the Brink? What Would It Take For That To Happen Here? - Coronavirus Daily Briefing - Air Date 3-9-20 Ch. 3: Individualistic advice in a time of need for social cohesion Ch. 4: Young and unafraid of the pandemic? Good for you. Now stop killing people Ch. 5: Wendell Potter reminds us that the health insurance companies are going to try to screw us over wh

Air Date 3/10/2020 Today we take a look at Democratic Socialism and how to explain it because socialism and the freedoms it provides are a lot more American than we tend to think.  Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) EPISODE SPONSORS: Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Democratic Socialism Explained with Spencer Cox - Washington State Indivisible Podcast - Air Date 5-16-19 Spencer Cox discusses what democratic socialism means in action. Ch. 2: Move Over Socialism Democrats Need to Reclaim the Word "Freedom" - Thom Hartmann - Air Date 3-18-19 Among Democrats, there is a big debate about the word Socialism but should Democrats be talking about the word freedom instead? Ch. 3: Bernie Sanders' Socialism is As American as The Post Office - The Benjamin Dixon Show - Air Date 1-23-20 Ben Dixon breaks down a clip from MSNBC and what they get wrong about democratic socialism. Ch. 4: Jac

Air Date 3/7/2020 Today we take a look at the Coronavirus through the lens of the systems it is affecting including the incompetence of a government that doesn't believe in governing, the dangers of the lack of universal access to medical care and the interdependency of our economies regardless of the inevitable racism that flares up in times of panic. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) EPISODE SPONSORS: Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: “Pence is Not a Medical Expert” Is the Trump Admin Ready to Stop a U.S. Coronavirus Pandemic? - Democracy Now - Air Date 2-27-20 We speak with Laurie Garrett, former senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations and a Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer. She is the author of several books, including “Betrayal of Trust: The Collapse of Global Public Health.” Ch. 2: Hayes On Dangers Of Incompetent Admin Trying To Lead Us

Air Date 3/3/2020 Today we take a look at the election through the lens of billionaire politics, from the candidates in both parties to the heads of media organizations to the way a pro-billionaire mentality trickles down to the establishment class on the media and Democratic Party. And what has all of this money been able to buy in terms of opposition research and narrative building against Bernie Sanders? Red-baiting at its most naked and pathetic. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 MEMBERSHIP ON PATREON (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) EPISODE SPONSORS: Clean Choice Energy SHOP AMAZON: Amazon USA | Amazon CA | Amazon UK SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: Bernie Sanders’ Rise Prompts Media Meltdown, Establishment Panic: A Closer Look - Late Night with Seth Meyers - Air Date 2-25-20 Seth takes a closer look at some pundits and members of the Democratic establishment panicking after Bernie Sanders won the Nevada caucus in a landslide. Ch. 2: Janine Jackson takes a quick look at recent coverage of