Today’s episode is going to be a little more unstructured than usual because we have a very special guest. He is a renowned political journalist and staff writer for Esquire, where he writes the popular blog "Politics with Charles P. Pierce." He's known for his sharp political commentary, incisive humor, and encyclopedic knowledge of American politics and history. He previously wrote for outlets including The Boston Globe, Grantland, and Sports Illustrated. He is also the author o...

In Episode 894, "The Shipping News," we explore Pope Francis's passing, compare Easter messages from presidents past and present, and examine how "Mr. Fix The Economy On Day One" is actually doing with tariffs and trade wars. We reveal alarming economic indicators, presidential gaslighting about grocery prices, and share some outrageous local political news. Join us as we connect the dots between Trump's promises and the reality hitting American farmers, workers, and consumers. Stay in Touch!...

This week, we're examining the disturbing parallels between past and present as we approach the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. We'll explore how the extremist rhetoric that drove Timothy McVeigh has found new life in today's political landscape. We dive into the Republican propaganda machine's decades-long strategy of relentlessly blaming liberals for everything—from Newt Gingrich's exploitation of tragedies to the current rewriting of January 6th as patriotic heroism. We'll s...

In this week's episode, we examine the disturbing realities of Trump's America in 2025, where Supreme Court rulings are ignored, critics face politically motivated investigations, and erratic tariff policies create economic chaos. We connect these developments to warnings we shared a year ago about the rise of fascism, reminding listeners that what's happening now was entirely predictable. (Kamala Harris said she wasn't gonna say "I told you so" as she DID.). As we document the administration...

In this week's episode, we dive into why Republicans keep winning the messaging war despite their policies hurting average Americans. We explore how stories consistently triumph over facts in political discourse and why Democrats' reliance on statistics isn't working. From "The Inspector General" to parables in the Bible, we examine how powerful narratives shape public perception more effectively than cold, hard facts. We also break down the absurdity of Trump's tariffs, the mainstream media'...

Time to dive into Donald Trump's tantrum-driven manufacturing policy and catastrophic tariff regime. We follow the destructive path of his administration as it systematically dismantles Biden's successful manufacturing initiatives - from shutting down EV charging stations to threatening billions in loans for electric vehicle factories. We explain how manufacturing jobs create a powerful multiplier effect (each job creates nine other jobs), and how Trump's policies are now subtracting jobs fro...

In this week's episode, we break down Trump's chaotic new trade war and its immediate devastating impact on the markets. We draw parallels between this administration's trade "liberation" and the Bush-era Iraq War disaster, examining: The fallout from Trump's sweeping tariff announcements that wiped $1.65 trillion from the US stock market in minutesThe mass layoffs hitting public health agencies, senior services, and cultural institutionsHow Elon Musk's DOGE (Department of Government Efficien...

AKA There Is No Trump without Newt. In episode 888 of The Professional Left Podcast, hosts driftglass and Blue Gal dive into the political landscape of April 1st, 2025, where April Fools Day is effectively canceled at the Cornfield Resistance due to the real Fool occupying the Oval Office. The hosts examine how Republicans have weaponized language over decades, tracing the destructive path from Newt Gingrich's slash-and-burn politics through Rush Limbaugh's hate radio to Trump's preside...

Tulsi Gabbard's memory seems as selective as Alberto Gonzales's infamous "I don't recall" testimony from 2007. Imagine a Director of National Intelligence who can't remember being part of a classified Signal chat from just yesterday. She's also not good at lying, which is a requirement included in her job description as Trump's DNI. From the Bush-era playbook of political corruption to Trump's current circus of catastrophic mismanagement, we trace the alarming pattern of Republica...

In this week's episode, we dive deep into the world of narrative storytelling and spectacular political incompetence. What happens when an entire administration accidentally texts its top-secret military plans to a reporter? Welcome to the "Idiot Plot," a storytelling concept in which the entire plot is driven by everyone involved being profoundly stupid. We'll break down the Trump administration's Signal app security disaster, take a deep dive into Glenn Greenwald's media metamorphosis, and ...

In this fiery episode, we turn the tables on the right-wing outrage machine by exploring what actual cancel culture looks like under the current administration. We dive into the Pentagon's removal of webpages about minorities who served in the military, including Ira Hayes, the Native American Marine who helped raise the flag at Iwo Jima. We play a game of "Do You Remember?" highlighting the hypocrisy of those who decried "cancel culture" just a few years ago but are now actively erasing hist...

Happy 20th Blogiversary to Driftglass! We celebrate by bringing on board a new fake sponsor. Cryptocurrency that is modeled on our chatty, slightly annoying cat, Bosco. $Bosco will make all your dreams come true! Glitter paws and crypto minds $Bosco’s here leaving doubts behind Cash your dreams in feline flair $Bosco Coin taking you everywhere!!! [Chorus] $Bosco Coin boogie, let’s ignite Dancing through the blockchain night Purrs of fortune in the air $Bosco’s groove ...

We're back with a fresh episode exploring what we call the media's "favorite drug" - their addiction to centrism and both-siderism! We'll take you behind the scenes of Chuck Todd's bitter departure from NBC, examine the rehabilitation tour of certain political figures, and discuss why MSNBC is hemorrhaging viewers. Plus, we'll dive into some troubling developments in the early months of Trump's second administration and share our thoughts on politicians desperately courting that mythical "mid...

We're back with our latest episode, examining how the rope of crony corruption binds our politics asymmetrically - a pattern we've been observing for over twenty years in American politics and media. The heart of our conversation explores how right-wing media continues to dominate local airwaves while progressive voices face constant scrutiny and advertising challenges. I'll take you back to 2005 to show how little has changed - or how much worse it's gotten. In other news, FAFO hits federal ...

In this episode of The Professional Left Podcast for March 6, 2025, driftglass and I dive into several breaking news stories that have us asking "Are you KIDDING?" Elon Musk's government email addressPeter Navarro's outlandish claim about CanadaPresident Diarrhea Mouth can’t help leaving a huge door open for those suing to stop DOGERepublican senators secured a special hotline from Musk.Missouri Republicans propose 100% tax credits for you’ll never guessAnd Driftglass makes an insightful comp...

In our latest episode, we dissect how prominent news outlets like the Associated Press are sanitizing Trump's increasingly unhinged behavior, literally editing out his most bizarre moments from official transcripts. From the shocking Oval Office encounter with Zelensky to the ongoing media capitulation, we show how journalism is failing in real time. We explore the deep shame many Americans feel as our country becomes increasingly aligned with authoritarian regimes, sharing insights from unex...

In this episode of The Professional Left Podcast, we dive into the Trump administration's continuing assault on American democracy and institutions. We start with our "News Roundup," covering the DOGE cuts, government firings, and acts of resistance within federal agencies. We also discuss Trump's controversial "Gold Card" citizenship program, the shocking U.S. vote against a U.N. resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the purge of top military leadership, and the numerous legal ...

Sorry folks, DG is getting over a sniffle and is coughing too much to podcast today. See you Thursday! Support the show

Episode 878 of The Professional Left Podcast examines how the Republican party built a "democracy-destroying machine" over 50 years, and why attempts by Never Trumpers to reform it from within consistently fail. The hosts analyze a recent Bari Weiss column as a case study of how conservative critics must attack Democrats and marginalized groups to establish credibility with the MAGA base. They discuss recent developments including Trump's attacks on Zelenskyy, Nikki Haley's "evolving" (revolv...

It's time to explore "Resistance Theater" through two powerful World War II-era films: "Passage to Marseilles" (1944) and "Pimpernel Smith" (1941). These classic propaganda films draw fascinating parallels to current events, and it's worth examining how MAGA forces are attempting to erase and rewrite history through modern tactics. From book banning at military bases to corporate attempts to appease Trump, this episode analyzes how resistance to fascism remains relevant today. The episode inc...