#1375 The Militia Movement is Having a Moment (Throwback)

Original Air Date: 10–16-2020 Transcript Today we take a look at the history and origins of the American militia movement right up to the recent plot to kidnap the Governor of Michigan, the likelihood of more violence and the high probability that they will show up at polling places on Election Day. 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 [email protected] Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads! Join our Discord community! Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! Join our Discord community! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: FBI Foils Right-Wing Plot to Kidnap Michigan Gov. Months After Trump Urged "Liberation" of State - Democracy Now! - Air Date 10-9-20 Just months after President Trump tweeted for his supporters to "LIBERATE MICHIGAN!" the FBI has foiled an alleged plot to kidnap and take hostage Democratic Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer. Ch. 2: Ohio has long history with militias; 2020 saw a surge in activity - WBNS 10TV - Air Date 10-9-20 A group of men plotting to kidnap the governor of Michigan met in Dublin. Ch. 3: Rise of Violent Militias Prompts National Fears After Foiled Kidnapping Plot - The Takeaway - Air Date 10-12-20 Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, and Daryl Johnson, owner of DT Analytics and former senior analyst at the Department of Homeland Security, discuss the implications for the upcoming election. Ch. 4: Mary McCord on Unlawful Militias - CounterSpin - Air Date 10-9-20 Mary McCord, a law professor at Georgetown University & legal director at the school's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection and an expert on unlawful militias that manage to be part of the political landscape while somehow escaping media. Ch. 5: Great Replacement Theory - RE-EDUCATION - Air Date 8-16-19 This theory has become mainstream. Ch. 6: Protests Put Spotlight on the Relationship Between Armed White Vigilantes, Militia Groups, and Law Enforcement - The Takeaway - Air Date 8-31-20 Armed vigilantes and militia groups are showing up to Black Lives Matter protests across the country. Ch. 7: Robert Evans Are We In a Second Civil War? - The Zero Hour with RJ Eskow - Air Date 10-13-20 Robert Evans explains what we need to do to avoid a second Civil War Ch. 8: Kathleen Belew Explains the Long History of the White Power Movement and its Global Plans for "Race War" - The Truth Report w. Chauncey DeVega - Air Date 5-26-19 Belew explains white supremacy is a cultural, social and political problem not just the pathology of a small number of people, what "white power" means, and how white supremacist and other right-wing foot soldiers preparing for various forms of "race war" Ch. 9: Did Trump's "Liberate Michigan" Result in Kidnapped Governor? - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 10-8-20 Donald Trump told his followers to "liberate Michigan". They answered by attempting to kidnap Governor Whitmer. SHOW IMAGE: "aIMG_0841" & "cIMG_1169b" & "01IMG_7336" by Becker1999 (Paul and Cathy), Flickr | License | Changes: Composite of 3 different images, cropped, added black background and red design    Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at [email protected]

Air Date 7/16/2025 It increasingly feels like we are completely past the era of legitimate differences in political philosophy and policy preferences. Now that the Republican governing style has been completely consumed by Trumpism, we've entered the era of scam politics which fits nicely with Trump's traditional retail scams, capitalism's continual reinvention of financial scams, and the new age of crypto scams. 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 [email protected] Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Weekly Roundup Mamdani and the Rebirth of Birtherism + Christofascism in the Big Bill - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 7-4-25 KP 2: Make America Uninsured Again Part 1- Today, Explained - Air Date 7-2-25 KP 3: Michael Galant on Sanctions & Immigration, LaToya Parker on Budgets Racial Impacts - CounterSpin - Air Date 6-20-25 KP 4: Why Gutting SNAP Makes the Economy Worse for Everyone (with Lily Roberts) - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 6-3-25 KP 5: The Big Beautiful Bill, Explained Part 1- Leeja Miller - Air Date 7-2-25 KP 6: Why Private Equity Is Buying Hospitals & Shutting Them Down - More Perfect Union - Air Date 6-26-25 KP 7: Mind-Boggling Trump Voters Suddenly Learn Hes Screwing Them Badly - THE DAILY BLAST - Air Date 6-30-25 KP 8: Trump Supporters SEETHE After Getting SCAMMED by His Meme Coin He Fed Us Part 1 - The Humanist Report - Air Date 1-20-25 (00:56:27) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On how desperation drives scams and how progressive populism can turn the tide A Pale Blue Dot of Anxiety: Why humans commit despicable acts (SOLVED #9 — 5-23-25) DEEPER DIVES (01:03:55) SECTION A: BIG BEAUTIFUL SCAM A1: Make America Uninsured Again Part 2 - Today, Explained - Air Date 7-2-25 A2: The Big Beautiful Bill, Explained Part 2 - Leeja Miller - Air Date 7-2-25 A3: Most Massive Transfer of Wealth Upward in American History John Nichols on Trump's Budget Law - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-7-25 A4: Why Gutting SNAP Makes the Economy Worse for Everyone (with Lily Roberts) Part 2 - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 6-3-25 A5: Trump Accounts A Drop in the Leaky Bucket Part 1 - UNFTR - Air Date 6-19-25 A6: GOP Budget Bill Would Make ICE Largest Federal Law Enforcement Agency in the History of the Nation - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-2-25 A7: Mind-Boggling Trump Voters Suddenly Learn Hes Screwing Them Badly Part 2 - THE DAILY BLAST - Air Date 6-30-25 A8: Why Gutting SNAP Makes the Economy Worse for Everyone (with Lily Roberts) Part 3 - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 6-3-25 A9: Trump Accounts A Drop in the Leaky Bucket Part 2 - UNFTR - Air Date 6-19-25 A10: GOP Budget Bill Would Make ICE Largest Federal Law Enforcement Agency in the History of the Nation Part 2 - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-2-25 A11: Weekly Roundup Mamdani and the Rebirth of Birtherism + Christofascism in the Big Bill Part 2 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 7-4-25 (02:39:46) SECTION B: TRUMPS PERSONAL SCAMS B1: STUNNING NEW DETAIL about Trumps Corruption $100K Watches, MAGA Bibles, Billion Dollar Crypto Scam Part 2 - Pod Save America - Air Date 7-5-25 B2: Vietnam Sidesteps Their Own Laws To Give Trump A MAJOR Bribe - Ring of Fire - Air Date 5-27-25 B3: Trump LOSES IT as ABC host Calls OUT MAJOR Scam - MeidasTouch - Air Date 6-2-25 B4: STUNNING NEW DETAIL about Trumps Corruption $100K Watches, MAGA Bibles, Billion Dollar Crypto Scam - Pod Save America - Air Date 7-5-25 B5: Trump Supporters SEETHE After Getting SCAMMED by His Meme Coin He Fed Us Part 2 - The Humanist Report - Air Date 1-20-25 (03:19:19) SECTION C: OTHER SCAMS C1: Economist's Scary Warning Trump's Tariff Are a SCAM to Make Billionaires Richer w/ Greg Palast - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 6-5-25 C2: EXPOSED 90 Deals In 90 Days Trump Scam IMPLODES Spectacularly - Secular Talk - Air Date 7-7-25 C3: Why the United States Is Really Losing to China (w/ Kishore Mahbubani) - Current Affairs - Air Date 7-2-25 C4: Hudson's Bay How Private Equity Destroyed North America's Oldest Brand - Spoke Media - Air Date 6-27-25 C5: Rule by Private Equity w Megan Greenwell Part 1 - Behind the News - Air Date 7-7-25 C6: Private Equitys Ruthless Takeover Of The Last Affordable Housing In America Part 1 - More Perfect Union - Air Date 9-18-25 C7: Rule by Private Equity w Megan Greenwell Part 2 - Behind the News - Air Date 7-7-25 C8: Private Equitys Ruthless Takeover Of The Last Affordable Housing In America Part 2 - More Perfect Union - Air Date 9-18-25 C9: Who Wins in Trumps Deregulation Spree - Robert Reich - Air Date 7-8-25 C10: Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) Man Goes to the U.S. South and Tells the Brutal Truth - Kanie Laing - Air Date 7-8-25 SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Composite of a high contrast image of Trump smirking and giving a thumbs up, over the outline of the US filled in with the flag, and the word SCAM over his chest. Credit: Composite design A. Hoffman. Elements from Pixabay. Trump, Scam, US | License   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at [email protected]

Air Date: 7–13-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: ⁃ The calculated, propaganda motives behind “Mar-a-Lago face” and bizarre MAGA hyper-femininity ⁃ How MAGA uses Kristi Noem’s “Border Barbie” vibes to attempt to soften its vicious immigration policy, and project victimization ⁃ How bad AI imagery is now the look of modern fascism ⁃ The cruelty of the White House X account - a propaganda machine of memes (run by Groypers) ⁃ The Right’s psychopathic treatment of immigrants, and bracing ourselves for what’s coming next ⁃ …and more in BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm (MEMBERS ONLY!) FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e REFERENCES: MAGA glam isn’t about beauty — it’s about politics - Vox The “Delicate, Beautiful, Tiny” Fascism of Kristi Noem - Mother Jones AI: The New Aesthetics of Fascism - New Socialist The Gleeful Cruelty of the White House X Account - The Atlantic The Right’s Cruelty to Immigrants Is Psychopathic - Current Affairs EXTRAS: @Novaramedia and @blindboyboatclub (The video on Trump and wrestling that Erin couldn’t recall during the show!) MEMBERS ONLY Systems are crumbling – but daily life continues. The dissonance is real - The Guardian TAKE ACTION: July 17th - National Day of Action - Good Trouble Lives On One Million Rising Trainings In a blue state? Help stop ICE overreach Use the 5 Calls app for scripts and to reach all your elected officials Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 Find your Indivisible group - or start one Write to the DNC Join our Discord Server Reach us via Signal: Bestoftheleft.01 Leave a message at 202-999-3991 Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening!  

Air Date 7/12/2025 The idea of the founders was to separate and balance the powers of the federal government and that, as Madison wrote, that ambition would counteract ambition. The problem we face now is that the ambition of the Supreme Court is to give as much power as possible to the executive branch because, ironically, they seem to be nostalgic for a king. 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 [email protected] Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Trump, the Imperial Presidency, and How the Bush & Biden Administrations Got Us Here w/ James Bovard - Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael - Air Date 7-2-25  KP 2: The Shadow Docket and How the Supreme Court Uses It - Bloomberg Law - Air Date 11-3-21  KP 3: SCOTUS Clears the Way for Trump's Lawlessness - Strict Scrutiny - Air Date 6-30-25  KP 4: Hot Shadow Docket Summer with Leah Litman Part 1 - Justice By Design - Air Date 6-20-25 KP 5: The Many Compromises of Elena Kagan - Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts - Air Date 6-21-25 KP 6: Trump-GOP’s Supreme Court Rubber Stamp w/ Elie Mystal - The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder Part 1 - Air Date 6-30-25 KP 7: Why Supreme Court Approved Trump's Mass Deportation to Foreign Concentration Camp Scheme - Thom Hartmann Progam - Air Date 6-25-25 (00:50:22) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR On the One Million Rising activist trainings from Indivisible.org DEEPER DIVES (00:56:04) SECTION A: SHADOWY & FUTURE RULINGS (01:25:26) SECTION B: THE IMPLICATIONS (01:50:55) SECTION C: THE GOP'S JUDGES (02:25:22) SECTION D: DICTATOR TRUMP (02:46:07) SECTION E: SORT OF POSITIVE I GUESS SHOW IMAGE CREDITS Description: Composite image of the conservative justices on the Supreme Court in front of a giant, elaborate gold frame with a painting of an angry-looking Trump in king/general regalia and tie. Credit: Composite design A. Hoffman. Elements: Portrait of Supreme Court Justices, Public Domain | Other elements from Pixabay. License   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson  

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. 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 [email protected] Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! Join our Discord community! 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 KP 5: Resisting "Cop City" in America's Most Surveilled, Unequal City w/ Micah Herskind Part 1 - This Is Hell! - Air Date 6-25-25 KP 6: Empire of AI: Karen Hao & Roger McNamee Expose Sam Altman, Musk & Big Tech - The Nerd Reich - Air Date 6-16-25 KP 7: Is AI Productivity Worth Our Humanity w/ Prof. Michael Sandel - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-26-25 (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 A1: Ray Brescia, The Private Is Political: Identity and Democracy in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism Part 1 - New Books in Political Science - Air Date 2-17-25 A2: The Shady World of Surveillance Pricing (Ft. Lina Khan) - Robert Reich - Air Date 6-10-25 A3: The Trump Administration Is Building a National Citizenship System - Trump's Terms - Air Date 6-30-25 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 B3: Trump About To Reward Elon Musk With ANOTHER Multibillion Dollar Contract - The Ring of Fire - Air Date 4-18-25 B4: Resisting "Cop City" in America's Most Surveilled, Unequal City w/ Micah Herskind Part 2 - This Is Hell! - Air Date 6-25-25 (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 C2: Ray Brescia, The Private Is Political: Identity and Democracy in the Age of Surveillance Capitalism Part 2 - New Books in Political Science - Air Date 2-17-25 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 D2: Empire of AI: Karen Hao & Roger McNamee Expose Sam Altman, Musk & Big Tech Part 2 - The Nerd Reich - Air Date 6-16-25 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 D5: Is AI Productivity Worth Our Humanity w/ Prof. Michael Sandel Part 2 - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-26-25 SHOW IMAGE CREDITS     Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at [email protected]

Air Date: 7–7-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Some advice on understanding how to identify imperfect allies vs. true opponents Good-faith critiques of (and agreements with) socialist NYU Professor Vivek Chibber’s views on identity politics on the Left Working Families Party head Maurice Mitchell’s ideas on “neoliberal identity” politics for those in the Left movement How Gov. Wes Moore rejected our political “charade” and what we should do instead …and more in BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm (MEMBERS ONLY!)   FOLLOW US ON: Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e   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 Use the 5 Calls app for scripts and to reach all your elected officials Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 Find your Indivisible group - or start one Write to the DNC   Join our Discord Server Reach us via Signal: Bestoftheleft.01 Leave a message at 202-999-3991  

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 Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email [email protected] Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: The bipartisan empire machine that runs the United States - Intercepted with Jeremy Scahill - Air Date 9-26-18 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. 4: Ghosts of Mossadegh: The Iran Cables, U.S. Empire, and the Arc of History - Intercepted with Jeremy Scahill - Air Date 11-20-19 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 Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Contact me directly at [email protected]

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. 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 [email protected] Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Join our Discord community! 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 KP 6: “We Fight for Working People with No Apology”: Zohran Mamdani Beats Cuomo in NYC Mayoral Primary - Democracy Now! - 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 Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Contact me directly at [email protected]

Air Date: 6–30-25 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Shifting the way we think and talk about the benefits of peaceful nonviolence at anti-fascist protests  The unlimited patience for capitalism vs. the knee-jerk “Impossible!” for left-wing ideas The centrists Democrats (and their consultants) missing the forest for the trees An antidote to decades of neoliberal approaches to policy (and we reject Ezra Klein’s “Abundance”)   FOLLOW US ON:  Bluesky Mastadon Instagram Facebook YouTube Nostr public key: npub1tjxxp0x5mcgl2svwhm39qf002st2zdrkz6yxmaxr6r2fh0pv49qq2pem0e   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)     TAKE ACTION: Use the 5 Calls app for scripts and to reach all your elected officials about stopping the Big Stupid Cruel Bill Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 July 17th - National Day of Action - Good Trouble Lives On Find your Indivisible group - or start one Write to the DNC   Join our Discord Server Reach us via Signal: Bestoftheleft.01 Leave a message at 202-999-3991   Produced by: Jay! Tomlinson Thanks for listening! Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Contact me directly at [email protected]  Review the show on Apple Podcasts!

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 [email protected] Full Show Notes Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube! BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!) Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience! Join our Discord community! KEY POINTS KP 1: Papers, Please: Hayes Flags New Police Tactic Trend in Trumps America - All In w Chris Hayes - Air Date 6-19-25 KP 2: David Gilbert of WIRED on Trump Demand for Ethnic Cleansing in U.S. - The BradCast - Air Date 6-17-25 KP 3: Trump, ICE, and the US War on Migrants - Red Flag Radio - Air Date 6-15-25 KP 4: Palantir Peter Thiel's Data-Mining Firm Helps DOGE Build Master Database to Surveil Immigrants - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-3-25 KP 5: Tanks On DCs Streets And A US Senator In Handcuffs - Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick - Air Date 6-14-25 KP 6: The Military Occupation of Los Angeles - and the USA - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 6-13-25 KP 7: Trump Deploys Troops Against LA Protesters. Plus, Journalists Under 'Less Lethal' Fire. - On the Media - Air Date 6-13-25 KP 8: Tanks On DCs Streets And A US Senator In Handcuffs Part 2 - 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 A1: Trump Deploys Troops Against LA Protesters. Plus, Journalists Under 'Less Lethal' Fire. Part 2 - On the Media - Air Date 6-13-25 A2: The Military Occupation of Los Angeles - and the USA Part 2 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 6-13-25 A3: Trump Can Command California National Guard for Now, Appeals Court Rules - Morning Joe - Air Date 6-13-25 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 A6: Trump Deploys Troops Against LA Protesters. Plus, Journalists Under 'Less Lethal' Fire. Part 2 - On the Media - Air Date 6-13-25 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 B1: Covering the Military Parade and a No Kings Rally on the Same Day - Consider This from NPR - Air Date 6-21-25 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 B4: David Gilbert of WIRED on Trump Demand for Ethnic Cleansing in U.S. Part 2 - The BradCast - Air Date 6-17-25 B5: How ICE Raids Are Terrorizing Farmworkers and Threatening the Food Supply - Breakthrough News - Air Date 6-21-25  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 B8: Trump is Close to Ending Democracy - How to Stop Him Before It's Too Late! - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 6-23-25 (03:05:41) SECTION C: IMMIGRATION CONTEXT C1: Michael Galant on Sanctions & Immigration, LaToya Parker on Budgets Racial Impacts - CounterSpin - Air Date 6-20-25 C2: Trump, ICE and the US War on Migrants Part 2 - Red Flag Radio - Air Date 6-15-25 C3: Private Prisons and Local Jails Are Ramping Up as ICE Detention Exceeds Capacity - Morning Edition - Air Date 6-6-25 C4: How White Fear Fuels The Age of Trump - The Truth Report - Air Date 6-13-25 (03:34:17) SECTION D: SURVEILLANCE D1: How Student Protesters and Immigrants Became Targets of Trumps Surveillance Tech - The Intercept Briefing - Air Date 5-30-25 D2: Trump's Plan To Surveil America - Leeja Miller - Air Date 6-3-25 D3: How Student Protesters and Immigrants Became Targets of Trumps Surveillance Tech Part 2 - The Intercept Briefing - Air Date 5-30-25 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   Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at [email protected]