The Lean to the Left Podcast

Two recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions may have far greater consequences than most Americans realize. One gives presidents significantly more authority over independent federal agencies. The other removes limits on coordinated campaign spending, allowing political parties and candidates to work together with far fewer restrictions. Individually, each ruling is important. Taken together, they may...

What does South Carolina Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dr. Jermaine Johnson want to do if elected governor? In this 4-minute highlight reel, Johnson outlines his plans to improve roads, strengthen public schools, expand healthcare access, reform taxes, address affordable housing, regulate AI data centers, and tackle other key issues facing South Carolina. 🎥 Hear the full exclusive interview on...

South Carolina Democratic nominee for governor Dr. Jermaine Johnson discusses his plans for addressing key issues, including roads, schools, healthcare, taxes and more, in an exclusive interview with Lean to the Left. To bring voters into the discussion, this conversation is driven by questions submitted through social media, giving South Carolina citizens a chance to ask Johnson about the issues...

In this episode of Lean to the Left, host Bob Gatty talks with podcasting expert Michelle Glogovac, founder of MLG Collective, author of How to Get on Podcasts, and host of multiple successful podcasts including Read the Damn Book, Kitchen Briefs, and Beyond the Campaign. Michelle explains why podcasting continues to grow despite intense competition, how independent podcasters can compete with maj...

With the free press and democracy under attack, Marcel Reid has spent years fighting to protect whistleblowers, journalists, and the public's right to know the truth. A former ACORN whistleblower, Reid now organizes the annual Whistleblower Summit for Civil and Human Rights and advocates for those who risk everything to expose corruption, waste, fraud, and abuse. In this powerful conversation, Rei...

Alarming questions about the security of U.S. elections involving so-called "ghost voters" and allegations of Russian interference are raised in this episode of Lean to the Left. Investigative journalist Alison Greene discusses her work examining Florida voter registration records and explains why the evidence she uncovered deserves immediate public attention and further independent review. Greene...

Did Republicans benefit from election irregularities in key battleground states? According to the nonpartisan Election Truth Alliance (ETA), statistical analyses in Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and other states identified patterns that warrant further investigation. In this episode of Lean to the Left, Bob Gatty speaks with ETA Executive Director Lilli McGregor about the organization's fi...

Is a historic Democratic upset coming in the deep South? Can a Democrat really flip South Carolina’s deeply red 7th Congressional District? Retired Navy Command Master Chief and small business owner John Vincent says yes — and he explains why in this explosive interview with Lean to the Left host Bob Gatty. Vincent, who is challenging MAGA Republican Congressman Russell Fry, argues that Fry’s unwa...

Can a Republican candidate who is against Trump and rejects MAGA politics still win in deep red South Carolina? Marine veteran and congressional candidate Sam Gibbons says yes. In this revealing conversation with Bob Gatty on Lean to the Left, Gibbons explains why he’s challenging longtime Congressman Joe Wilson in South Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District — and why he believes Donald Trump has...

What really happened in the Jeffrey Epstein case — and why do so many Americans believe the full truth is still being hidden? Investigative journalist Nick Bryant joins the Lean to the Left podcast to discuss his 15 years-long investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, alleged government cover-ups, trafficking victims, blackmail claims, and why he says “the cover-up never ended.” Bryant helped bring worl...

Why are Americans going broke trying to stay healthy? The real question is why is healthcare in America so expensive in the first place — and who profits from it? On this episode of the Lean to the Left podcast, Bob Gatty talks with Dr. Adam Cunningham, founder of Sylk Health, about the hidden costs of healthcare, the medical debt crisis, and why millions of Americans are struggling to afford trea...

Why is healthcare in America so expensive — and why do insurance companies seem to control so much of the system? On this episode of the Lean to the Left podcast, orthopedic surgeon and author Dr. Erica Rowe Urquhart joins Bob Gatty to expose what she calls the “hidden cause” of America’s healthcare crisis. Drawing on two decades of frontline medical experience, Dr. Urquhart explains how insurance...

US Healthcare Crisis: Why are Americans sicker—and dying younger—despite spending more on healthcare than any country in the world? In this eye-opening episode of Lean to the Left, Bob Gatty interviews physician and author Steven Bezruchka, whose new book Born Sick in the USA exposes the real reasons behind America’s declining health. 👉 It’s not just healthcare. 👉 It’s inequality. 👉 It’s early...

What if aliens could fix America’s biggest problems? In this episode of Lean to the Left, host Bob Gatty conducts a fascinating interview with author Paul McGrath about his mind-bending sci-fi series Terran Incognito—including his latest book Left Is Right. McGrath uses alien characters to tackle real-world issues like: Gun violence in America Militia extremism Human trafficking Political division...

Is the FBI being used to target political dissent in America? Is Trump creating a police state in America? In this revealing interview, retired FBI agent Eric Robinson joins Lean to the Left to expose what’s really happening inside federal law enforcement—and how political pressure may be shaping investigations. Robinson, who served 24 years in the FBI—including work tied to January 6 cases—offers...

What if Elections are Rigged Before You Even Vote? We're not talking about Trump's actions designed to curtail voting from non-supporters or the Democrats' efforts to increase voting from their likely supporters. We're talking about the system itself. On this episode of Lean to the Left, host Bob Gatty speaks with entrepreneur and reform advocate Tom Joseph to explore a bold, outside-the-box solut...

Is the South really as “red” as it seems—or is something shifting beneath the surface? Can Democrats actually win in red states with the right strategy? In this powerful episode of Dixie Dems, host Bob Gatty is joined by co-hosts Arthur Hill (North Carolina Democratic Party leader) and Robert Thompson (Georgia-based podcaster) to explore the evolving political landscape across the South. 🎙️ Specia...

Millions of Americans are marching in “No Kings” rallies across the country—and for good reason. In this commentary, Bob Gatty breaks down the growing gap between Donald Trump’s campaign promises and today’s reality, including a new conflict with Iran that has already cost American lives. This isn’t just politics—it’s about accountability, democracy, and the future of the country. 👉 Subscribe to...

Richard Nixon came within a gnats eyelash of being impeached over the Watergate scandal, but ended up resigning instead. Despite some of his positive achievements, he is generally considered a bad president. But what about Trump? Is he worse? In this episode of Lean to the Left, host Bob Gatty is joined by novelist and podcaster Laura VanWormer, creator of the serialized audio fiction podcast Clas...

Guantanamo Bay was once described as housing the “worst of the worst.” But what if that's a lie? In this episode of the Lean to the Left Podcast, host Bob Gatty is joined by human rights attorney Joshua Colangelo-Bryan, special counsel at Human Rights First and author of "Through the Gates of Hell: American Injustice at Guantanamo Bay". Joshua has spent more than two decades challenging the injust...

In this episode of the Lean to the Left Podcast, host Bob Gatty talks with environmental health lawyer, professor, and author Susan Kaplan about how states are leading the way on environmental health policy. Drawing from her book, A Healthy Union: How States Can Lead on Environmental Health, Kaplan explains how state-level innovation has produced effective, evidence-based policies that protect pub...

Welcome to Dixie Dems, the monthly roundtable from the Lean to the Left Podcast focused on progressive politics across the South. Host Bob Gatty (South Carolina) is joined by Arthur Hill, Vice Chair of the Brunswick County (NC) Democratic Party, and Robert Thompson, a bold progressive voice from Georgia. Our special guest this episode is Robin Biro—a South Carolina native, Army Ranger veteran, for...

South Carolina is a hotbed of political corruption, but Mullins McCleod, Democratic candidate for governor, says he's fighting against it and the Palmetto State could be on the brink of transformation. In this episode of the Lean to the Left Podcast, McLeod, a Charleston attorney, also addresses his May disturbing the peace arrest when he was found walking the streets at night shirtless, and polic...

In this episode of the Lean to the Left Podcast, host Bob Gatty sits down with Michael Brownstein, co-author of "Somebody Should Do Something", to explore how individual actions—often dismissed as insignificant—can ignite meaningful, systemic social change. At a time when Americans feel overwhelmed by climate change, racial injustice, economic inequality, and threats to democracy, Brownstein chall...

What is the impact of the USAID shutdown as thee United States abruptly walked away from global humanitarian aid? In this episode of the Lean to the Left Podcast, host Bob Gatty speaks with former senior USAID official Clifford Brown about the far-reaching consequences of the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Brown, who lef...