Your Neighbor on the Left Podcast

Trump says the D.C. shooting proves his immigration policies were too soft. Reality says the shooter was already vetted half to death, might’ve been radicalized here, and that the administration is using the tragedy as a political permission slip to target mostly non-white immigrants. In this episode, we dig into the numbers Trump doesn’t advertise, the racial double standard in his version of “pu...

In this episode, we break down the explosive revelations surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s alleged “kill them all” directive—an order tied to the September 2nd maritime strike that left unarmed survivors in the water dead. We explore the Trump administration’s escalating campaign of lethal strikes in the Caribbean, the legal and moral red lines these actions cross, and the mounting bipa...

In this episode, we dive into the increasingly exhausting cycle of President Trump’s repetitive bluster—highlighted by his Thanksgiving turkey-pardon speech, where he once again turned a lighthearted national tradition into a political sideshow. From jabs at a governor, to jabs at the NY Times, it was another week of the same blather. How is anyone—not just critics, but even his own supporters—not...

In this episode of Your Neighbor on the Left, we take a deep, slightly cathartic dive into the rise and fall of Marjorie Taylor Greene—one of the loudest, most chaotic voices in modern American politics. From her conspiracy-laced entrance into Congress to her headline-grabbing outbursts, culture-war crusades, and ultimately the bitter feud that ended her career, we trace how Greene went from MAGA’...

One of the most alarming political moments of the year: President Trump’s Truth Social posts accusing six Democratic lawmakers of “seditious behavior … punishable by death” after they released a video reminding military service members of their legal obligation to refuse unlawful orders. This episode cuts through the noise to explain why the lawmakers’ message was not only legal but essential, why...

As newly released Epstein files and emails trigger fresh political shockwaves, this episode unravels the increasingly tangled story of Donald Trump’s shifting explanations, the House GOP’s efforts to block transparency, and the contradictions coming from his own administration. We walk through Trump’s evolving relationship with Epstein, the significance of the latest document dumps, Pam Bondi’s co...

Fox Nation has named Melania Trump “Patriot of the Year” — and somehow, that says everything about where we are as a country. In this week's supplemental installment Back Porch Files, we take a closer look at what “patriotism” even means anymore, and why it’s become less about love of country and more about loyalty to a brand. Because while some people get trophies for simply standing in the right...

In this episode of Your Neighbor on the Left, we dig into President Trump’s threat to cut federal funding to New York City and even revoke Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s U.S. citizenship — a move that reveals a disturbing blend of racism, political vengeance, and outright authoritarian fantasy. We break down why the president has zero legal power to revoke citizenship or defund a city out of spite, what t...

A surprising Blue Wave swept the November 4th elections — and in this episode, we unpack what happened, why it happened, and what it means moving forward. From unexpected Democratic gains across the country to Trump’s meltdown over all of it, particularly New York City’s historic mayoral race, we break down the reactions, the rhetoric, and what this election could signal for 2026. As always, check...

When Donald Trump blasted Seth Meyers on Truth Social — accusing the comedian of breaking the law just for making fun of him — it wasn’t just another tantrum. It was a teachable moment about what “fairness” in broadcasting actually means. In this episode of Your Neighbor on the Left, we unpack the long-gone Fairness Doctrine, the still-standing Equal-Time Rule, and the difference between political...

In this week's Back Porch Files, we take just a short jaunt down the road to Lancaster County and the Elizabethtown school district. While the plumbing system that handles the sewage in one of the schools there is failing - as in sewage in the classrooms - the only "filth" being discussed in school board meetings is the kind that is imagined by some parents to be in library books. In an epic case...

When the Pentagon announced it had accepted a $130 million “anonymous donation” to help pay U.S. troops during the government shutdown, the story sounded like a feel-good headline — until you start asking questions. Who gives nine figures to the Department of Defense and wants to stay hidden? Can the military legally accept that money? And what does it say about an administration so comfortable si...

Across America, powerful voices insist that Christianity is under siege. But is that faith being threatened — or simply being challenged to live up to its own ideals? In this installment of Back Porch Files, we explore how fear and politics have warped the meaning of “religious freedom,” and why authentic faith doesn’t crumble in the face of diversity — it shines through it. As always, check out p...

Politico recently gained access to over 2900 pages of chat logs belonging to a number of prominent members of various Young Republican organizations. Filled with hateful epithets and being downplayed by J.D. Vance, it signals a disturbing side of if the GOP and a harbinger of what it might look like when these "kids" are in positions of power down the road. Also on the agenda, the recent NO KINGS...

In this week's selection from Back Porch Files, we dive into how the Trump administration — and its orbit of imitators — have turned statistics into a political weapon. From Trump’s “record-breaking” popularity polls and imaginary tariff profits, to JD Vance’s distortions about political violence and RFK Jr.’s Tylenol-autism conspiracy math, it’s a master class in how to lie with numbers. We’ll br...

In this week's episode, we discuss the performance art piece that was Attorney General Pam Bondi's testimony before the House Oversight Committee this past week. Long on snark, short on information, it was an example of everything that is wrong with how these Congressional hearings are organized, as well as a perfect example of the dodge-and-deflect administration that Bondi represents. Also, we t...

On September 25, 2025, the Trump administration posted the National Security Presidential Memorandum on Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence to the White House website. Also known as NSPM-7, this document - signed and released without the bombastic fanfare the Trump administration usually employs - details new guidelines for dealing with domestic terrorism. However, its f...

If you've ever heard the phrase, "Voting against your own interests," this is the episode for you. This week, Your Neighbor on the Left gives you a rundown of how the current administration's past deeds, current initiatives, and planned projects hurt everyone, in particular the folks that voted them in. We also take a look at The current shutdown misinformation, Trump's seemingly new-found love fo...

In this week’s installment of Back Porch Files, we dig into the bizarre and dangerous priorities of the current administration. Five mass shootings in just over a week and barely a whisper from the White House, yet there’s talk of sending troops into Portland against the state’s wishes. The DOJ is busy indicting James Comey in a Truth Social request for settling a vendetta. Donald Trump and Pete H...

On September 25th, a Trump Truth Social post directed at AG Pam Bondi set forth a list of folks who the President wants her to deal with. Just a few days later, James Comey, former FBI director, whose name was on that list, is indicted on federal charges. From the public hit list to the firing of the Virginia AG who wouldn't play ball and the hiring of a Trump crony with questionable qualification...

Listen in as we unpack the Trump administration's brazen weaponization of the justice system, from an explosive Truth Social rant pressuring AG Pam Bondi, to an actual indictment just five days later. We expose the hypocrisy—What were "witch hunts" under Biden, is now turning the DOJ into a personal grudge-settler. Drawing parallels to Nixon's enemies list and other presidential abuses, this episo...

In a diversion from the usual format, this week Your Neighbor on the Left picks five topics from a very busy week in a year of busy weeks. We look at Tylenol misinformation from HHS, the Right's fascination with pronatalism, Tom Homan's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week, JD Vance's violent lie, and ICE unmasked in California. Our longest episode to date, chock-full of facts, stats, and op...

In this urgent episode of Back Porch Files from Your Neighbor on the Left, host Don Spieles dives into the embattled state of free speech in America. From the Founding Fathers’ vision to today’s headlines, we explore why protecting even the most controversial voices is crucial to democracy. Sparked by the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, we unpack how political violence is being used to justi...

In this episode, we dive into the heart of America's violence crisis, exploring why the U.S. far surpasses other modern democracies in homicides and violent crime, with a prison population that dwarfs global peers. From the impact of our gun culture and toxic political rhetoric to the surprising role of media priorities, we unpack the complex factors fueling this epidemic. A look at the demographi...

Our country is as divided as it's been at any time since the Civil War. This was driven home on September 10th by the assassination of Charlie Kirk, on a Utah college campus. This short episode is merely one liberal's take on the tragic event, how it is being dealt with by the public at large, and how it bodes for the country moving forward.  As always, check out podcast related links on Link Tree...