Podcast
#331 Some take on banks while others lie to protect them (Economics)
Click here to show/hide the flash player.

Edition #331
Act 1: Obama takes on bankers – Daily Show
Act 2: Moyers on greed – Moyers’ Journal
Act 3: Economists being right isn’t enough – Counterspin
Act 4: Eliot Spitzer – Colbert Report
Act 5: Hasty freeze on budget – Rachel Maddow
Act 6: Obama needs to tell a bank regulation story – Political Scene
Act 7: The gang of five – Slate Magazine
Act 8: Austan Goolsbee on the budget drop – Daily Show
Act 9: Leaked memo on lying to protect banks – Young Turks
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
The Word – Manifest Density Economics – Colbert Report
Music:
Lost – Coldplay
![]()
Look what you’ve done – JET
![]()
Ain’t that unusual – Goo Goo Dolls
![]()
Candy everybody wants – 10,000 Maniacs
![]()
Sleeping in – The Postal Service
![]()
Story of a lonely guy – Blink 182
![]()
Cut it out – Anya Marina
![]()
Rescue me – Fontella Bass
![]()
Find source links and Digg this episode after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »
#330 Impending Mending or Coming Crash? (Economics)
Click here to show/hide the flash player.

Edition #330
Act 1: Financial inquiry report – Daily Show
Act 2: Another economic disaster coming – Young Turks
Act 3: Banker are America’s new thugs – Ring of Fire
Act 4: Bernie Madoff M.D. – Slate
Act 5: Matt Taibbi on Goldman Sachs – Colbert Report
Act 6: Obama starts to revamp economic team – Young Turks
Act 7: Regulation fundamentally works – Rachel Maddow
Act 8: David Walker’s plan for the economy – Daily Show
Act 9: Obama finally standing up to banks – Young Turks
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
Obama’s Bailout Fee: Is It Enough – Young Turks
Music:
Working class hero – Exit Clov
![]()
Jump jive and wail – Brian Setzer Orchestra
![]()
Say hey – Michael Franti & Spearhead
![]()
All will be well – The Gabe Dixon Band
![]()
The Bubble Machine – Leslie Bricusse (From Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory)
I stand corrected – Vampire Weekend
![]()
This is twice now – Lydia
![]()
I saved the world today – The Eurythmics
![]()
Find source links and Digg this episode after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »
#329 Welcome President Brown (Special Election)
Click here to show/hide the flash player.

Edition #329
Act 1: Recruiting a party with spine – Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me
Act 2: Balance of the Senate – It’s all politics
Act 3: You have the majority, now act like it – The Young Turks
Act 4: Caller says election was Thom’s fault – Thom Hartmann
Act 5: Dems must fight back – Colbert Report
Act 6: Ed Rendell on doing something – Rachel Maddow
Act 7: Brown election and the filibuster – On the Media
Act 8: Give them a reason to vote for you – The Young Turks
Act 9: Obama’s ballsy speech – Le Show
Act 10: What to do with less than 60 – Rachel Maddow
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
Brown win allows Jon Stewart to retire – Daily Show
Music:
Runnin down a dream – Tom Petty
![]()
And it spread – The Avett Brothers
![]()
Wake Up Little Suzie – Everly Brothers
![]()
Don’t look back in anger – Oasis
![]()
Happy – SIster Hazel
![]()
Finding something to do – Hellogoodbye
Piazza, New York Catcher – Belle & Sebastian
![]()
Sunday Bloody Sunday – U2
![]()
Slight figure of speech – The Avett Brothers
![]()
Find source links and Digg this episode after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »
#328 Corporations is people! (Supreme Court)
Click here to show/hide the flash player.

Edition #328
Act 1: Supreme court blows up politics – It’s All Politics
Act 2: Corporate personhood floodgates – Thom Hartmann
Act 3: The story of the case for corporate spending – On the Media
Act 4: Congress, brought to you by – Wait wait don’t tell me!
Act 5: Ever-living vampires – Thom Hartmann
Act 6: Constitutional amendment – The Progressive
Act 7: Supreme court makes buying politicians legal – The Young Turks
Act 8: Barney Frank on fighting SC decision – Rachel Maddow
Act 9: Nader on corporate personhood – Thom Hartmann
Act 10: Special Comment on worst decision ever – Countdown
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
Supreme Corp – Daily Show
Music:
God’s Radar – The Dixie Hummingbirds
![]()
Welcome to the machine – Pink Floyd
![]()
Tuesday’s gone – Lynyrd Skynyrd
![]()
Crash – The Primitives
![]()
Turtle (Bonobo Remix) – Pilote
![]()
Recorded live in Copenhagen – Theo Bard
Maple Leaf Rag – Scott Joplin
![]()
Drown – Smashing Pumpkins
![]()
Taking over me – Evanescence
![]()
Find source links and Digg this episode after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »
#327 Stealth Care is Mass Backwards (Healthcare)
Click here to show/hide the flash player.

Edition #327
Act 1: Stelth care reform – Daily Show
Act 2: Fixing the wrong healthcare problems – Ring of Fire
Act 3: Robert Knutter and Matt Taibbi on health reform Part 1 – Moyers’ Journal
Act 4: Limbaugh on healthcare costs – Young Turks
Act 5: Robert Knutter and Matt Taibbi on health reform Part 2 – Moyers’ Journal
Act 6: Michael Pollen interview – Daily Show
Act 7: Alan Grayson on health reform – Ring of Fire
Act 8: Health lobbyists rule the system – Young Turks
Act 9: Mass Backwards – Daily Show
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
Kathleen Sebelius – Colbert Report
Music:
This too shall pass – OKGO
![]()
Mushaboom – Feist
![]()
I’m Not over – Carolina Liar
![]()
I go blind – Hootie And The Blowfish
![]()
You can do it – No Doubt
![]()
All U can eat – Ben Folds
![]()
Sinnerman – Nina Simone
![]()
Pale Blue Eyes – The Velvet Underground
![]()
Find source links and Digg this episode after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »
Morning in America (Special Event)
Click here to show/hide the flash player.

Act 1: 2004 DNC Keynote Speech (Clip 1) (Clip 2)
Act 2: Announcing his candidacy
Act 3: Remake this country (Link)
Act 4: Signs of Hope & Change (Link)
Act 5: Yes We Can – Will.i.am (Link)
Act 6: ‘A more perfect Union’ speech on race in America (Link)
Act 7: We are the ones we’ve been waiting for – Will.i.am (Link)
Act 8: The American Promise (Link)
Act 9: Obama in Berlin
Act 10: 2008 DNC Acceptance speech (LInk)
Act 11: We have a lot of work to do (LInk)
Act 12: DC reactions to the victory (LInk)
Act 13: Interview with Jesse Jackson – NPR (Link)
Act 14: It’s a new day! – Will.i.am (Link)
Digg this episode after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »
#326 Underpants Bomb Fallout, choose your own pun (Foreign Policy)
Click here to show/hide the flash player.

Edition #326
Act 1: Yemen Sad Libs – Daily Show
Act 2: Kill first harshly interrogate later – Countdown
Act 3: Bush terror policies wrongly glorified – Rachel Maddow
Act 4: Missteps in the early days reporting on Yemen – On the Media
Act 5: Rove blames NCTC then backpedals – Young Turks
Act 6: Idiot lies about Obama’s response – Countdown
Act 7: Outright lies politicizing terrorism – Rachel Maddow
Act 8: Idiots with big balls – Daily Show
Act 9: Rudy says something unspeakably ignorant – Le Show
Act 10: Nonsense GOP response cause for despair – Rachel Maddow
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
Ideal or no deal – Colbert Report
Music:
Back in the high life again – Steve Winwood
![]()
Send in the clowns – The Simpsons
Whatcha say – Jason Derulo
![]()
Let go – Frou Frou
![]()
Sorry, blame it on me – Akon
![]()
American idiot – Green Day
![]()
Ridiculous Thoughts – The Cranberries
![]()
Big balls – AC/DC
Diamond – Klint
Find source links and Digg this episode after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »
#325 Where religion and ignorance meet (Religion)
Click here to show/hide the flash player.

Edition #325
Act 1: Conservapedia working on conservative bible – Colbert Report
Act 2: Hume on Woods and religion – Counterspin
Act 3: Interview on conservative bible – Colbert Report
Act 4: Exporting homophobia to Uganda – The Progressive
Act 5: Uganda be kidding me Part 2 – Rachel Maddow
Act 6: Christmas billboard stirs seasonally inappropriate emotions – The Onion
Act 7: Kill the gays law hits major news in US – Thom Hartmann
Act 8: Prayer effort seeks right-thinking from liberals – NPR
Act 9: Killing people to make magic potions Part 1 – Young Turks
Act 10: Christ returns to NBA – The Onion
Act 11: Killing people to make magic potions Part 2 – Young Turks
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
Uganda be kidding me Part 1
Music:
Blacking Out The Friction – Death Cab For Cutie
![]()
Redemption song – Bob Marley
![]()
God – The Dodos
![]()
Hate me – Blue October
![]()
Directions – Josh Rouse
![]()
Carol of the bells – United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus
![]()
Gods gonna cut you down – Johnny Cash
![]()
Like a prayer – Rufio
![]()
You’re wrong – NOFX
![]()
Jammin – Bob Marley
![]()
Find source links and Digg this episode after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »
#324 When you want to cry, laugh (Economics)
Click here to show/hide the flash player.

Edition #324
Act 1: Flight Delay – Daily Show
Act 2: Predicting economies Part 1 – This American Life
Act 3: Smiley-face dollar to boost economy – The Onion
Act 4: Predicting economies Part 2 – This American Life
Act 5: Andrew Ross Sorkin on Too Big to Fail – Daily Show
Act 6: Fed’s Dead with Bernie Sanders Part 1 – Colbert Report
Act 7: Norway returns to a pillage-based economy – The Onion
Act 8: Fed’s Dead with Bernie Sanders Part 2 – Colbert Report
Act 9: NY Times exposes terrible big bank scam – Young Turks
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
American Idle – Daily Show
Music:
Don’t you – Simple Minds
![]()
Once around the block – Badly Drawn Boy
![]()
Crazy – Seal
![]()
Making me nervous – Brad Sucks
![]()
Island in the sun – Weezer
![]()
Catch my disease – Ben Lee
![]()
La Noyée – Yann Tiersen
![]()
Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare – Matt and Kim
![]()
Find source links and Digg this episode after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »
#323 Obama moves Hopelessly forward in Afghanistan (Podcast)
Click here to show/hide the flash player.

Edition #323
Act 1: Rushing a decision on Afghanistan – Counterspin
Act 2: Obama mimics Bush on Afghanistan – The Progressive
Act 3: Bunker-buster averts doomed marriage – The Onion
Act 4: Report released on Afghanistan – Rachel Maddow
Act 5: Dan Rather on Afghanistan – Daily Show
Act 6: Jim Hightower discusses Obama’s war Part 1 – Ring of Fire
Act 7: Why aren’t there bigger protests – The Progressive
Act 8: Jim Hightower discusses Obama’s war Part 2 – Ring of Fire
Act 9: Moore and Feingold speak against escalation – Young Turks
Act 10: Lara Logan on Afghanistan – Colbert Report
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
Cenk debates war escalation – Countdown
Music:
Trouble me – 10,000 Maniacs
![]()
Choke – The Cardigans
![]()
Celebration Guns – Stars
![]()
Million faces – Paolo Nutini
![]()
Oh Lately It’s So Quiet – OK GO
![]()
Everybody’s gone to war – Nerina Pallot
![]()
Up against the wall – Peter Bjorn & John
![]()
Meteor Show – Owl City
![]()
Ain’t no reason – Brett Dennen
![]()
Find source links and Digg this episode after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »
#322 Reason to celebrate? (Podcast)
Click here to show/hide the flash player.

Edition #322
Act 1: Episode recap from The DC – Daily Show
Act 2: Lincoln conservative on healthcare – Counterspin
Act 3: GOP weakens health bill and then bash it – Young Turks
Act 4: Is GOP serious about fixing healthcare – Slate
Act 5: Open letter on free health clinics – Countdown
Act 6: Obama defends health bill from the left – NPR
Act 7: For he’s a jowly good fellow – Colbert Report
Act 8: Media misleads on opinions of health reform – Counterspin
Act 9: Devastating healthcare quotes from Obama – Young Turks
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
Idiot Democrats Think It’s Good News Their Voters are Pissed at Them – The Young Turks
Music:
Hero – Enrique Iglesias
![]()
I need to know – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
![]()
Why pretend – Mandi Perkins
![]()
Objection – Shakira
![]()
Fake Empire – The National
![]()
Serre-moi – Tryö
![]()
Haunting me – Oona Garthwaite
Everybody’s fool – Evanescence
![]()
Find source links and Digg this episode after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »
#321 Take 30,000 troops and call me in the morning (Podcast)
Click here to show/hide the flash player.

Edition #321
Act 1: Misleading polling on support for war – Counterspin
Act 2: I dare you not to notice – Le Show
Act 3: Special comment on war escalation – Countdown
Act 4: Afghanistan handed over to robots – The Onion
Act 5: Why escalation is not the answer – Thom Hartmann
Act 6: Obama unclear on chain of command – Colbert Report
Act 7: Cheney cries treason – Countdown
Act 8: War presidents – Rachel Maddow
Act 9: 30,000 – Daily Show
Act 10: Feingold & BBC on the Afghanistan war – Young Turks
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
30,000 extended video – Daily Show
Music:
Love is a battlefield – Pat Benatar
![]()
99 Red Balloons – Nena
![]()
Listen to your heart – Roxette
![]()
Mr. Roboto – Styx
![]()
War – Vince DiCola
![]()
Heat of the moment – Asia
![]()
Notorious – Duran Duran
![]()
I’m gonna be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
![]()
Break it down again – Tears for fears
![]()
Find source links and Digg this episode after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »
Best of the Left to return on December 30
Just a quick note to let those of you who do not listen to the final comments at the end of each episode know that the podcast is merely on break for the holidays and will return to it’s regular schedule on Dec. 30.
I regularly take time off from the show for winter holiday. This year’s break began early due to my business trip to attend the COP15 climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. I trust that this audience in particular will be more than understanding of the worthwhile nature of that trip and forgive the extended absence of the podcast.
While in Copenhagen I produced an episode of Earthbeat Radio very much in the style of the Best of the Left which chronicled the first couple of days of our attendance at the conference. Check out that show here.
I look forward to returning to the podcast after one full week of much-needed rest and relaxation (inevitably interspersed with all kinds of work behind the scenes for the show).
All the best,
Jay!
#320 Winter Holiday Extravaganza (Podcast)
Click here to show/hide the flash player.

Edition #320
Act 1: Athiest summer camp – The Young Turks
Act 2: God To Postpone Apocalypse – The Onion
Act 3: Adam and Eve Part 1 – This American Life
Act 4: Robert Wright on the three major religions – Colbert Report
Act 5: Adam and Eve Part 2 – This American Life
Act 6: Richard Dawkins new book – Thom Hartmann
Act 7: Bucket Of Rags This Year’s Must-Have Christmas Item – The Onion
Act 8: Schaeffer on hateful talk against Obama – Rachel Maddow
Act 9: Offending people talking about religion – The Young Turks
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
Kirk Cameron’s Plot Against “Origin of Species” – The Young Turks
Music:
Hello Mother, Hello Father – Alan Sherman
Nutcracker: Act 2: Chinese Tea – Denis de Coteau & San Francisco Ballet Orchestra
![]()
Nutcracker: Act 2: Waltz of the Flowers – Denis de Coteau & San Francisco Ballet Orchestra
![]()
Nutcracker: Act 1: Overture – Denis de Coteau & San Francisco Ballet Orchestra
![]()
Nutcracker: Act 1: March – Denis de Coteau & San Francisco Ballet Orchestra
![]()
Nutcracker: Act 2: The Merlitons – Denis de Coteau & San Francisco Ballet Orchestra
![]()
Nutcracker: Act 2: Trepak – Denis de Coteau & San Francisco Ballet Orchestra
![]()
Nutcracker: Act 2: Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy – Denis de Coteau & San Francisco Ballet Orchestra
![]()
Find source links and Digg this episode after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »
#319 1st world party, 3rd world clean up (Podcast)
Click here to show/hide the flash player.

Edition #319
Act 1: Aziz Ansari on Copenhagen – It’s getting ha in here
Act 2: Gore urges Obama to take lead on climate – NPR
Act 3: Al Gore – Daily Show
Act 4: Gore the wonky bore – Counterspin
Act 5: The Story of Cap and Trade – Annie Leonard
Act 6: Naomi Klein on climate debt Part 1 – Ring of Fire
Act 7: DOT to add walking lanes to highways – The Onion
Act 8: Naomi Klein on climate debt Part 2 – Ring of Fire
Act 9: News of the warm – Le Show
Bonus iPhone/iPod Touch App Content:
Act Now – Green.tv
Music:
Hold my hand – Hootie and the blowfish
![]()
Change your mind – Sister Hazel
![]()
If we make it through December – Merle Haggard
![]()
Cloud Nine – Ben Howard
![]()
Comptine D’un Autre Été: L’après Midi – Yann Tiersen
![]()
Classical Gas – Mason Williams
![]()
Walk beside me – Darrell Scott & Tim O’Brien
![]()
Got My Mind Set On You – George Harrison
![]()
Find source links and Digg this episode after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »





