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Air Date 7/9/2025
It's an old joke that "military intelligence" is a good example of an oxymoron so I just asked an AI chatbot to finish a joke about what a military becomes when they implement artificial intelligence. It said, "an oxymoron squared - or as the generals call it, "strategically enhanced stupidity with a confidence interval of 95%" which is not funny but still managed to be pretty on point regarding the dangers of overconfidence that inevitably follows from the implementation of new technology.
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KEY POINTS
KP 1: Empire of AI w/ Karen Hao - Why Is This Happening - Air Date 6-3-25
KP 2: The REAL Reason Investors Are Going All In on Palantir - More Perfect Union - Air Date 6-24-25
KP 3: The New Military Industry Complex w Sam Biddle Part 1- Tech Won't Save Us - Air Date 6-5-25
KP 4: Jeff Hauser on DOGE After Musk, Katya Schwenk on Boeing Deal - CounterSpin - Air Date 6-6-25
(00:55:20) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
On the coming merger between big tech and the military
DEEPER DIVES
(01:00:39) SECTION A: SURVEILLANCE
A2: The Shady World of Surveillance Pricing (Ft. Lina Khan) - Robert Reich - Air Date 6-10-25
A4: Empire of AI w/ Karen Hao Part 2 - Why Is This Happening - Air Date 6-3-25
A5: Cool Science Radio - Air Date 1-16-25
(01:32:18) SECTION B: MILITARIZED CAPITALISM
B1: The New Military Industry Complex w/ Sam Biddle Part 2 - Tech Won't Save Us - Air Date 6-5-25
B2: Spotify Changed Everything but Here's the Truth About Daniel Ek - Gibsunday - Air Date 6-30-25
(02:01:38) SECTION C: COMPANIES VS REGULATION
C1: Brazil's Battle to Rein In Big Tech w/ Laís Martins Part 1 - Tech Won't Save Us - Air Date 6-19-25
C3: Brazil's Battle to Rein In Big Tech w/ Laís Martins Part 2 - Tech Won't Save Us - Air Date 6-19-25
(02:29:40) SECTION D: HUMAN DRAIN
D1: If AI Can Do Your Classwork, Why Go to College Part 1- The Gray Area - Air Date 6-30-25
D3: The Growing Environmental Impact of AI Data Centers Energy Demands - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 5-25-25
D4: If AI Can Do Your Classwork, Why Go to College Part 2 - The Gray Area - Air Date 6-30-25
SHOW IMAGE CREDITS
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Air Date: 7–7-25
Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss:
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REFERENCES:
The Left Needs to Learn the Difference Between Imperfect Allies and Our True Opponents - Films for Action
"America Has No Left Wing" with Vivek Chibber - Factually with Adam Conover
(Only between time codes 27:36-52:20)
Building Resilient Organizations: Toward Joy and Durable Power in a Time of Crisis - Convergence Magazine
The Left is Eating Itself - First Person from The New York Times
American Politics Only Pretends to Work - The New Republic
MEMBERS ONLY:
It's Nice to Be right - New York Magazine
"MAMDANI" via @astorwalk on Instagram
TAKE ACTION:
July 17th - National Day of Action - Good Trouble Lives On
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Original Air Date: 10-21-20
Today we take a look at some of the many zany foreign misadventures the United States has had over the past 100 years. And by "zany misadventures" I mean the naked pursuit of capitalism at any cost, the support of military coups and other undemocratic overthrows of foreign governments and wars for oil and resources in an unabashed attempt to keep America wealthy and the rest of the world less so - all while maintaining an anti-imperial, pro-democracy, pro-freedom, live-and-let-live poker face
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SHOW NOTES
Ch. 2: Empire Unhinged with Aslı Bâli & Aziz Rana - The Dig - Air Date 6-11-20
Ch. 3: American Empire Part 1 - Scene on Radio - Air Date 4-29-20
Ch. 5: 2020 Hindsight on Iraq - Open Source with Christopher Lydon - Air Date 1-9-20
Ch. 6: American Empire Part 2 - Scene on Radio - Air Date 4-29-20
Ch. 7: American Empire Part 3 - Scene on Radio - Air Date 4-29-20
Ch. 7: The Always Stumbling US Empire - Citations Needed - Air Date 10-25-17
Ch. 9: The Other 9/11: Part One - Making Contact - Air Date 9-3-13
Ch. 10: Empire Unhinged with Aslı Bâli & Aziz Rana Part 2 - The Dig - Air Date 6-11-20
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
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Air Date 7/2/2025
The militarization of Trump's deportation regime and response to protesters is the clearest example of his desire to implement a fully authoritarian government. Pure and simple.
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KEY POINTS
KP 1: America Hates The Left & We Need A Plan - Olurinatti - Air Date 12-8-24
KP 2: America Has No Left Wing with Vivek Chibber - Factually! with Adam Conover - Air Date 6-18-25
KP 3: What's 'Left' in America?: The Moral Apathy of Liberal Optimism - Cheyenne Lin - Air Date 9-2-24
KP 4: Ralph Nader's Message to Doomers: "Stop Making Excuses!" - Current Affairs - Air Date 6-22-25
KP 5: The Worst People in Politics Are LOSING IT Over Zohran Mamdani - Current Affairs - Air Date 6-25-25
(00:45:01) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
On how to fund the politics we need
DEEPER DIVES
(00:56:26) SECTION A: PROTESTS
(01:25:24) SECTION B: HISTORY & INFIGHTING
(02:01:22) SECTION C: SUBVERSION & THE RIGHT
(02:38:02) SECTION D: ORGANIZING
(03:24:46) SECTION E: THEORY
SHOW IMAGE CREDITS
Description: Photo of a grid of multi-colored Zohran Mamdani political posters that say "Zohran For Mayor" and a photo of Zohran.
Credit: "Zohran for Mayor" by Eden, Janine and Jim, Flickr | License: CC BY 2.0 Changes: Cropped and expanded background
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
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Air Date: 6–30-25
Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss:
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REFERENCES:
Trump's Manufactured Crisis and the Urgency of Strategic Nonviolence - In These Times
A Song of "Full Self-Driving": Elon Isn't Tony Stark. He's Michael Scott. - The Bulwark
They Always Call You Unrealistic - Current Affairs
The Gobs of Money and Lack of Vision at the Heart of Centrism - In These Times
Red Tape Isn't the Only Reason America Can't Build - The Atlantic
SOLVED! SONG! Concepts: Human Intelligence * Song: Artificial Intelligence: "Make Some Enemies" inspired directly by SOLVED! #13: "How to Make Enemies and Influence People" (June 30, 2025)
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Produced by:
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Air Date 6/28/2025
The militarization of Trump's deportation regime and response to protesters is the clearest example of his desire to implement a fully authoritarian government. Pure and simple.
Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
Full Show Notes
Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube!
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KEY POINTS
KP 3: Trump, ICE, and the US War on Migrants - Red Flag Radio - Air Date 6-15-25
KP 5: Tanks On DCs Streets And A US Senator In Handcuffs - Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 6-14-25
(01:00:15) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
On protesting with a theory of change
DEEPER DIVES
(01:07:52) SECTION A: LA PROTESTS AND CIVIL UNREST
A4: ICE Raids Continue As LA Fights Back - The Insurgents - Air Date 6-13-25
A5: A Medical Perspective On Protest Safety - It Could Happen Here - Air Date 6-23-25
A7: A Medical Perspective On Protest Safety Part 2 - It Could Happen Here - Air Date 6-23-25
(02:01:45) SECTION B: FASCIST PLAYBOOK
B2: Protests in LA Posse Comitatus is Long Over. - UNFTR - Air Date 6-14-25
B3: The Brainless Propaganda of Stephen Miller - Current Affairs - Air Date 6-25-25
B6: Protests in LA Posse Comitatus is Long Over. Part 2 - UNFTR - Air Date 6-14-25
B7: The Brainless Propaganda of Stephen Miller Part 2 - Current Affairs - Air Date 6-25-25
(03:05:41) SECTION C: IMMIGRATION CONTEXT
C2: Trump, ICE and the US War on Migrants Part 2 - Red Flag Radio - Air Date 6-15-25
C4: How White Fear Fuels The Age of Trump - The Truth Report - Air Date 6-13-25
(03:34:17) SECTION D: SURVEILLANCE
D2: Trump's Plan To Surveil America - Leeja Miller - Air Date 6-3-25
D4: Trump's Plan To Surveil America Part 2 - Leeja Miller - Air Date 6-3-25
SHOW IMAGE CREDITS
Description: Photo of a protest sign held in the air depicting a colorful drawing of a happy brown-skinned family surrounded by flowers. The text "No more detention" is at the top and "No more deportations. Abolish I.C.E." is at the bottom.
Credit: "Abolish ICE protest" by Master Stever Rapport, Flickr | License: CC BY 2.0 Changes: Cropped and expanded background
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Air Date: 6-25-2025
We thought we were going to have an episode about the war Israel is conducting ready for you last week but then they started another war. So, it would have felt odd to release an Israel episode without the latest major updates including Iran. I can only imagine what will happen between the time I speak these words and when you hear them that will make this episode feel out of date.
What Happens When Bereaved Israelis and Palestinians Share Their Pain? Listening from the HeartBe part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on the infamous Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com
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KEY POINTS
KP 1: Why Is The Media Coverage of Israel vs Iran So Skewed? - Zeteo - Air 6-16-25
KP 3: The REAL Reason Israel Attacked Iran - uncivilized - Air Date 6-18-25
(00:40:25.) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
On the Parents Circle efforts for reconcilliation
DEEPER DIVES
(00:49:45) SECTION A: STARVATION
A2: When Hunger Is a Weapon - Front Burner - Air Date 6-3-25
A4: Mara Kronenfeld on Israel's Aid Blockade - CounterSpin - Air Date 5-16-25
(01:42:13) SECTION B: GAZA
B1: The Israeli Government's True Goal in Gaza - On Point - Air Date 6-5-25
B3: The State of the Gaza Negotiations and Ongoing Israeli Massacres - Drop Site News - Air Date 6-3-25
(02:08:26) SECTION C: NETANYAHU
C1: Israel Allies With ISIS - To STARVE Gaza to Death - Owen Jones - Air Date 6-10-25
C2: Israeli Forces Open Fire at New Gaza "Aid" Site, as Netanyahu Rejects Ceasefire Deal Part 2 - Drop Site News - Air Date 5-27
(02:30:42) SECTION D: Historical & Media Context
D1: Blowback: How Israel Helped Create Hamas - The Intercept - Air Date 2-20-18
D2: How Israel, the Media, & the West Set the Stage for Gaza's Genocide - Zeteo - Air Date 6-10-25
(02:48:16) SECTION E: WAR WITH IRAN
E2: Will the US Join the War With Iran? w/ Akbar Shahid Ahmed - American Prestige - Air Date 6-18-25
E3: Israel Attacks Iran w/ Séamus Malekafzali - American Prestige - Air Date 6-13-25
(03:13:15) SECTION F: PROTESTS
F1: LIVE Interview From Gaza Flotilla as Threats Escalate - Empire Files - Air Date 6-4-25
F2: Piers Morgan's DISGUSTING Attack On Greta Thunberg - Novara Media - Air Date 6-9-25
F3: The Grassroots Movements to Break the Siege on Gaza - Drop Site News - Air Date 6-10-25
F4: Why Sisi Won't Lift the Gaza Blockade - Middle East Eye - Air Date 6-11-25
SHOW IMAGE CREDITS
Description:Photo of a person holding a protest sign out their car window that says "Never again to anyone" with barbed wire across the text.
Credit: "2014/08/16 #BlocktheBoat for Gaza" by Daniel Arauz, Flickr | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Cropped
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
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Air Date: 6–23-25
Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss:
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REFERENCES:
Donald Trump and the '80s Aesthetic - Jacobin
The 1980s Are Back, and Not in a Good Way - The New York Times
Trump's Big Fail: Making America the 1980s Again - Mother Jones
Trump is What Happens When You Give a Landlord Power - Current Affairs
EXTRAS:
"Wrestling is Drag" - Smartypants Dropout.tv
https://youtube.com/shorts/zw9bNgKogUI
TAKE ACTION:
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July 17th - National Day of Action - Good Trouble Lives On
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Leave a message at 202-999-3991
Produced by:
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Air Date 6/21/2025
The Monthly-ish Mix™ is here to get you caught up on recent news without being overwhelming! This month, we're focusing on the way authoritarian movements operate across multiple fronts simultaneously to reshape society.
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PART 1: ECONOMIC CONTROL
(00:01:20) #1707 Tariffied: Exposing Trump's Artless Deal
(00:26:46) #1713 Yes, GOP Policies Really Are That Bad: Trump's Corruption and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
(00:49:50) #1716 The Fight for Workers: Oligarchy and its Bipartisan Enablers
PART 2: INFORMATION CONTROL
(01:12:17) #1711 How It Started, How It's Going: Assessing the Flooded Zone Full of Shit
(01:34:36) #1714 Trump's Anti-Knowledge Agenda is Inviting the Next Authoritarian Dark Age
PART 3: SOCIAL CONTROL
(02:12:57) #1710 The past is never dead. It's not even past. Race, Religion, Culture and the Stories we Tell
(02:30:51) #1712 Eugenics Redux: A Gilded Age Ideology Brought Back for the Second Gilded Age
(02:53:26) #1715 The Weaponization of Antisemitism and Counterproductive Violence
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Air Date 6/18/2025
Critics of capitalism like us often advocate for the system to come to an end and be replaced with another that aligns better with human needs and continued existence. Well, it's possible that the system is close to having run its course and will be making way for something different. Unfortunately, the natural course of capitalism is to concentrate wealth and, by extension, power so that's what's happened and we're now getting close to basically reinventing feudalism. So, wrong direction.
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KEY POINTS
KP 1: The End of Capitalism: What comes next is worse. Part 1 - Unf*cking The Republic - Air Date 4-18-25
KP 3: Musk vs. Trump Quinn Slobodian on the Risks of Billionaire Rule - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-6-25
KP 5: Capitalism's Critics w John Cassidy - Behind the News - Air Date 6-5-25
KP 8: Shawn Fain's Radical Plan For 2028 - The Majority Report - Air Date 7-20-25
(01:00:31) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
On how to snowball progressive policies
DEEPER DIVES
(01:10:12) SECTION A: NEO-LIBERALISM
A4: The End of American Empire (w/ Richard Wolff) - Current Affairs - Air Date 6-3-25
A6: The End of American Empire (w/ Richard Wolff) Part 2 - Current Affairs - Air Date 6-3-25
(02:06:40) SECTION B: CORPORATE DEMOCRATS
B1: How the Democrats Abandoned Workers - Confronting Capitalism - Air Date 5-7-25
B2: The End of Capitalism: What comes next is worse. Part 2 - Unf*cking The Republic - Air Date 4-18-25
B3: Abundance Gang Wants To Crush Unions - The Majority Report - Air Date 6-7-25
B4: How the Democrats Abandoned Workers Part 2 - Confronting Capitalism - Air Date 5-7-25
B5: Abundance Gang Wants To Crush Unions Part 2 - The Majority Report - Air Date 6-7-25
(02:57:58) SECTION C: LABOR AND RESISTANCE
C1: An update on the longest ongoing strike in the US - Working People - Air Date 5-28-25
C3: Arizona Dems Say NO To Billionaire-Bought Primaries - The Majority Report - Air Date 6-11-25
C4: An update on the longest ongoing strike in the US Part 2 - Working People - Air Date 5-28-25
SHOW IMAGE CREDITS
Description: Photo of a handmade protest sign held in the air that says "CAPITALISM IS KILLING US"
Credit: "ClimateStrike-210924-4-1140371" by Mark Dixon, Flickr | License: CC BY 2.0 | Changes: Cropped
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