The Lean to the Left Podcast

Today is International Women’s Day and we’re calling on Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act and for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to stop playing footsie with the National Rifle Association. His action in holding up the extension of this important law because of a new provision aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers is simply unconscionable. Listen t...

Today we’re going to talk about Donald Trump’s new call-in show on Faux News, “Ask Dr. Donald.” The president says he may have a natural ability to absorb detailed scientific information, like about the coronavirus, so we should all feel better to know we’re in such capable hands. This is an exclusive scoop from Not Fake News. You won’t read or hear about it anywhere else, so listen up! Become a s...

Today we’re talking about a guy in South Carolina…a Democrat…who is taking on Donald Trump’s favorite lapdog, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and has a great shot of unseating the 25-year veteran of Capitol Hill. So this is the cliff note version of Jaime Harrison…son of a 16-year-old unwed mother…who graduated from Yale University…held a powerful job in the U.S. House of Representatives…and is now…according...

Today we’re talking about the Coronavirus, how President Trump is downplaying the seriousness of it, even suggesting on Fox News that people who have it can go to work, or just sit around and wait for it to go away. Meanwhile, the experts in his own administration are issuing prevention advice to people, including staying home and NOT going to work. And, a major health technology conference, that...

Apparently based on recommendations from right wing commentator Brit Hume, Fox News reportedly is in negotiation to purchase the porn website, #SexyVixenVinyl. "Brit is all over that site and we highly value his judgement," said a #FoxNews insider who asked not to be named so she could speak candidly about internal corporate discussions. "I also like that site. It's where I get a lot of ideas for...

Not Fake News writer Chris Waldron  says Donald Trump…having tamed the legislative branch of the government to his liking…is now turning to the judiciary…even trying to intimidate justices of the United States Supreme Court. Republicans in Congress have already given him a free pass though their sham impeachment trial., Waldron points out, so why shouldn’t he expect the same treatment from the jud...

Today, I’m wondering if you’re as sick of Senator Lindsey Graham as I am. The way he kowtows to President Trump, how he defends him no matter what…and that’s after he said…not so long ago…that Trump wasn’t fit to be president. Now, Graham is facing a touch challenge in South Carolina from a well-financed young African American Yale grad who’s really taking him on. That’s what this commentary is ab...

As we all know, the corona virus is now spreading the U.S. and is causing untold havoc…not only by sickening … even killing people…but having a severe impact upon our economy…and perhaps even…our way of life. Early on President Trump predicted it would be gone by April as the weather warms…and now he’s claiming Democrats and the media are in cahoots, trying to scare people and using this spreading...

With Super Tuesday just a couple days away, Not Fake News writer Stacy Fitzgerald, an outstanding communications pro based in northern Virginia, discusses why she supports Senator Elizabeth Warren for the Democratic presidential nomination. It's the seventh in a series of podcasts by NFN writers who have presented their assessments of the race for the nomination. In her piece, Stacy explains that...

Sixth in a series. My journey to decision has been wild and circuitous as my thinking has changed several times after seeing nearly all of the major candidates in person and considering every factor in play. I started out backing former Vice President Joe Biden, and after all is said and done, I've come back. It's Joe. Early on, when the debate stage was so crowded you needed a scorecard to tell w...

NFN writer Stacie Pearman backs former Vice President Joe Biden for President saying he's the best shot to defeat Donald Trump. Fifth of a series by NFN writers about their choices. As a Democrat, replacing Donald Trump with another Democrat is my number one priority. A huge number of my fellow Democrats agree with me. Most also agree that the African American voter is the most important Democrati...

NFN writer Joe Picatello backs Sen. Bernie Sanders for President and explains that it's because of his kids. Fourth of a series by NFN writers about their choices. When my 20-year old daughter and my 18- year old son recognize a candidate’s name, (feel the Bern), I remember the sayings “Out of the mouth of babes” and “Our kids are our future”.The only other name they know and cannot tolerate, is o...

NFN writer Susan Hutchinson backs Sen. Bernie Sanders for President and explains why. Third of a series by NFN writers about their choices. I first became aware of Sen. Bernie Sanders when he ran for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2016. Unfortunately, that nomination went to Hillary Clinton, for whom I, begrudgingly, voted because I realized that anything else would be a vote for Donald...

NFN writer Chris Waldron backs Pete Buttigieg for President and explains why. Second of a series by NFN writers about their choices. With the average age of the top tier candidates being 75, Pete Buttigieg, at the tender age of 37, represents a fresh face on the political frontier. While some may argue that having a leader with little or no political experience is exactly like our current presiden...

NFN writer Lauren Kligman backs Elizabeth Warren for President and explains why. First of a series by NFN writers about their choices. My vote is Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Well, let me backup, I will vote blue no matter what person is chosen to be the Democrat nomination. But my number one choice is Elizabeth Warren. Why did I land on Elizabeth Warren? Listen for more...Become a supporter of this pod...

As the presidential election looms large, several scenarios could play out as the results roll in. None would be good for democracy. Already we are seeing Russian interference on both sides. While Bernie Sanders (DS-VT) is calling for Russia to stay out of American elections, Trump is denying the evidence of his own intelligence community that Russia is interfering on his behalf. What is the motiv...

As Sen. Bernie Sanders surges in the Democratic presidential sweepstakes, many centrist Democrats are worried that the nomination of the avowed socialist-democrat will all but guarantee the re-election of President Donald Trump and doom down-ballot candidates across the nation. For some the specter of past election wipeouts of perceived extremist candidates -- Barry Goldwater at the hands of LBJ a...

The economy is humming along nicely. Unemployment is down and the stock market is up. All indicators see no end in sight to this 11-year joy ride. So, of course, Trump and his supporters constantly tout his economic accomplishments, while belittling the tremendous strides President Obama made to right the sinking ship he inherited from George W. Bush during the Great Recession. Listen for more...B...

On February 16, 2018, Robert Schentrup lost his sister, Carmen, when she was murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL -- shot four times by a gunman in her classroom who was armed with a weapon of war. Today, Robert and his mom, April Schentrup, are working with the Brady Campaign in its effort to convince lawmakers across the country and in Washington, DC to support common...

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to roll back an Obama-era regulation that among its benefits protects kids from brain damage even before they are born. The regulation involved is designed to limit harmful pollutants, like mercury, from power plants. The Trump administration wants it watered down to help the coal industry, even though that could put our health at risk. Ironicall...

Some 1,100 former officials of the U.S. Justice Department have sent an open letter urging Attorney General William P. Barr to resign and warning that President Trump's use of that department as his own personal hit squad, enabled by Barr, threatens to lead the U.S. into autocracy."Governments that use the enormous power of law enforcement to punish their enemies and reward their allies are not co...

A 74-year-old Canadian recently wrote in a Huffington Post article that he and his 64-year-old wife have decided that climate change is unstoppable, so the best they can do is to move someplace where they will be least affected so they can live out their remaining days in peace. But what about those who are younger and the generations to follow? Is it any wonder today's young voters aggressively e...

Who is the "manly man?" Donald Trump, the big mean spirited blowhard name caller, or the shorter (in stature) but potentially dangerous Democratic candidate, Michael Bloomberg, or the gay Pete Buttigieg, who has surged to become a serious contender for his party's presidential nomination? For more...Listen...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-...

Check out the latest edition of The Bob & Jackie Show, recorded on Valentine's Day, that explores the somewhat wacky version of the English language spoken by many native residents of Pittsburgh, PA.The city is home to some of the most wonderful people in the world -- kind, caring, friendly, warm, generous -- but they also have their own special way of talking. What's "yunz?" Or "slippy", or "aarn...

Thwarted by Congress for the funds he demanded to build his vanity wall along the southern border, President Trump is ripping off some $7.2 billion from the Pentagon's budget this year to build 900 miles of wall before the November presidential election. Listen for more...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support. Learn more...