The Lean to the Left Podcast

We’re all living with the Covid 19 pandemic in one way or another, and whether we realize it or not, it’s having an impact on our lives, in addition to just our physical health.Studies show that one in every three survivors of the virus experience mental health conditions, the majority being anxiety and mood disorders. And it’s not just those who actually have experienced the virus directly who experience mental health issues because of it.Clinical psychologist Avantika Dixit, who founded an organization called Woke Hero, says that with anxiety and depression on the increase, it’s critically important to inspire people to take action to protect their own mental health.To explore this further, NFN Radio News spoke with Avantika from India, where she lives and works. So please excuse occasional audio glitches which were the result of a sometimes iffy internet connection. Take a listen to ‘Mental Health in the Age of Covid” with Avantika Dixit from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Dave and Linda Fleischer are ready to hit the road for a Journey of Hope in memory of their daughter, Sarah, who passed away in 2018 from a horrible cancer, cholangiocarcinoma.Today, they embark on what, for Dave, will be a 15,000 mile road trip across the nation and back to help raise money to support research into this disease and during which they hope to spread awareness and bring hope to patients, caregivers, and others along the way.The road trip, in a car with a specially designed wrap promoting cholangiocarcinoma awareness, will feature visits to 15 towns named Hope, stops at various hospitals and healthcare institutions that specialize in research and treatment of the disease, and get-togethers with other patients, caregivers and healthcare providers who were important in Sarah's life.Cholangiocarcinoma starts in the bile duct and is an incredibly deadly cancer, which afflicts about 8,000 people in the United States each year. Most of its victims are 65 or older, but Sarah was only 30 when she was diagnosed. She passed away at age 35.And so, as they also commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, Fleischer is embarking on a 15,000 mile journey up and down and across the 48 contiguous United States.Linda will be with Dave for the first 10 days of the trip, and then he will be on his own – except for the thousands of well-wishers and supporters he is bound to meet along the way.“I intend to honor the memory of my daughter, Sarah,” says Dave. “Sarah would have loved to do this trip with me.” The journey is scheduled to end June 29 or July 1, depending on circumstances.The trip is being supported by the Foundation, which has made the specially designed Honda SUV available for the journey. Sponsors are Incyte, Ken Garff Honda, QED Therapeutics, Servier, Taiho Oncology, Welch’s Fruit Snacks and Zymeworks.And now, let’s talk with Dave Fleisher as he gets set for the Journey of Hope.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

There’s an insurrection taking place in America. It was not just limited to a single day when, on January 6th supporters of the losing candidate, Donald Trump, egged on by social media and roused into a frenzy by a series of speeches, launched an assault against the Capitol, and against Democracy. It began years before and continues to this very day as Republicans continue to attempt to re-write history and push the Big Lie about a stolen election.Not Fake News.biz contributing writer Chris Waldron takes a look at all of this in this commentary. Take a listen to “The Ongoing Insurrection” from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

It’s amazing to me how unoriginal Republicans typically are. I guess there’s a reason why most creative people are Democrats – or at least it seems that way.Anyway, what brought that insightful thought to mind is the recent blitz by Trumpsters claiming that President Biden’s administration is simply filled with chaos – that they don’t know what they’re doing and that’s why the gas stations were closed and why immigrants are still trying to get into the U.S. along the border with Mexico.Holy cow! As the famous baseball broadcaster Harry Caray used to say. That’s incredible.First off, it was the Trump administration that was riven with chaos. He went through government appointees like it was nothing, firing many via Twitter. He was impeached twice because of election chaos the first time around and because of insurrection chaos the second time around.His denial of the pandemic led to healthcare chaos. And it took the election of Joe Biden to get that straightened out and shots in peoples arms.And now, the Republican Party itself is filled with chaos – who’s on first? Nobody knows.We take a look at all of this in this commentary from Not Fake News.biz. So take a listen to “Republicans Call Chaos: They Should Know.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

In this episode of NFN Radio News, former New Jersey Governor Jim Florio and host Bob Gatty speak with Kiki Jamieson, president of The Fund for New Jersey, which supports good public policy decision-making on the issues most important to the people of the state and the region.Increasingly, non-profit organizations across the nation play ever more important roles with respect to the development of public policy, and Dr. Jamieson’s organization is no exception. We discuss with her why that is and why organizations like The Fund for New Jersey play such a valuable role.Then, we hone in on several key issues like immigration and school funding, with which Dr. Jamieson has considerable expertise. The Fund for New Jersey's mission is to help educate voters about such important issues so they can make informed decisions.Take a listen to "Helping the Public Raise its Voice."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Looks to me like the Republican right-wing nutcases that targeted Rep. Liz Cheney, a true Conservative, because she refused to shut up about Trump’s Big Lie are going to have some competition going forward.Cheney has Trump in her proverbial gunsights and has no intention of letting up, and now there’s a fledgling movement by some Republicans with some sense that actually could end up in a third political party.That’s the topic of today’s podcast, so take a listen to “The GOP: Confronting the Big Lie” from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

The Republicans, led by Donald Trump, keep complaining about cancel culture this and cancel culture that.When pressure is on to remove statues honoring racists from the confederacy, Republican white supremicists cry cancel culture.When QAnon Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene was stripped of her House committee assignments, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan said it was all about “cancel culture.” I’m not sure what culture Jordan was saying was being cancelled, though, unless it was the QAnon and conspiracy theory culture, and if so, I say it should be cancelled!As NPR wrote recently, “The phrase is so pervasive that it's arguably background noise in American politics now — just part of the wallpaper, a pair of words you might easily (or, depending on your feelings, happily) breeze past every day without paying it any attention.”But now, it is the Republicans who are guilty of cancel culture, as Not Fake News writer CJ Waldron contends in this commentary, which I’ll narrate. Take a listen to “The GOP’s Own ‘Cancel Culture’ from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

It seems to me that the Republican Party is determined to send itself into oblivion as it is allowing the defeated and discredited former president, Donald Trump, to call the shots.The latest example is the determination of right wing House Republicans to remove Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) as chair of the House Republican Conference, the party’s third most powerful leadership position, and replace here with Trump acolyte Rep. Elise Stefanik, of New York.Even though this is a matter for Republicans in the House of Representatives to decide, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has expressed his opposition to Cheney and says the GOP simply can’t live without Trump.So, take a listen to “GOP: The ‘Batshit Crazy’ Political Party”, today’s commentary from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

As we’ve been stuck at home during this long pandemic, a lot of us have experienced changes in our mental outlook, in our moods – if for no other reason than simply being frustrated and bored.’There’s a research company called the NPD group that actually has looked at all of this and found that a whole bunch of us have turned to snacking as a way to fill the voids created by sadness, boredom, stress, and other moods.In fact, NPD reports that the average U.S. consumer ate more than 37 percent more snack foods and treats while feeling sad or depressed during the pandemidc than they did in 2019.That’s incredible, and it can’t be good for us from a nutritional health standpoint.So for this episode of the NFN Radio News podcast, I’m talking with Darren Seifer, NPD food and beverage industry analyst, a guy who makes it his business to track trends like this so the food companies know how to respond.Take a listen to “Snacking Through the Pandemic” from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Why is it that some Republicans insist on denying the reality of racism? Why is it that there are still those who apparently believe slavery wasn’t all that bad? How can that be?Now, there are at least two GOP state legislators who are saying that the “Three-Fifths Compromise,” which counted slaves as three-fifths of a person back in 1787, really was a good thing for Blacks.Really? Sounds like another big GOP lie to me.So, that’s the topic of today’s podcast written by Not Fake News writer Stacy Fitzgerald. Take a listen to “The Big Lie of the Three-Fifths Compromise” from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Am I crazy, or do you agree with me?It’s my opinion, that the Republican Party’s continued buy-in to Donald Trump’s claims that he was cheated out of the presidency can only end in their undoing.Yes, his hold on most members of the GOP is unquestioned, despite his defeat, and he is continuing his quest to remain the titular head of the party.But we all know what happens when something is built on a lie. It generally falls apart.That’s the topic of today’s podcast. Take a listen to “The Big Lie and the Sad Truth” from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Mark M. Bello is a trial lawyer and prolific author of headline inspired legal thrillers, the most recent of which is Supreme Betrayal, a gripping novel about a Supreme Court nominee who is a sexual predator.He's the latest guest on today's podcast.In our conversation, Bello discusses his books, of course, but also the conflicts of police violence and he need for reform, some of the consequences of the Trump presidency, continued efforts to take away Constitutionally guaranteed rights, and much, much more.I’m also pleased to report that Mark will be a frequent contributor to our Not Fake News.biz blog site, and his first contribution, "Another Young Black Man," which is focused on police killings such as that of George Floyd and Daunte Wright, is now on line. So take a listen to our interview with attorney and author Mark M. Bello.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Some of us thought, at least I did, that when America elected its first Black president with Barack Obama that racism in our country was at least beginning to wane.But then came the election of 2016 and Donald J. Trump, who made it seem OK for the millions of Americans who harbored racist attitudes that had actually hardened during the Obama years to come out of the closet, so to speak.Trump, a world class racist in his own right, made it OK to be racist again.Now, the Republican Party is dealing with that, and many have chosen either to ignore the reality of racism within their own ranks, or to pretend it doesn’t even exist.Apparently, Sen. Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the U.S. Senate, is in that last group. At least that what he said on TV the other night.Take a listen to Steve Hamelman’s piece from Not Fake News.biz. It’s called “American Racism: Republican Denial Continues.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that Republicans have little or nothing to offer, other than obstructionism and self preservation.Their determination to block the House-passed voting rights bill that seeks to ensure that every American is able to cast a ballot, even as Republican-controlled states pass restrictive laws, is an example of that focus on self preservation.They appear to becoming desperate. The more success President Biden has, and the better he is received by the American people, the more they resort to all manner of lies and deflection.The run up to Biden’s address to Congress April 28 is a great example, and then the aftermath, even more so.And then, today, it was reported by CBS News that 89 percent of speech watchers thought he was presidential and the same number said he was caring. 84 percent said he was inspiring and 80 percent said he was bold. And, overall, 85 percent of Americans who watched approved of his speech, while only 15 percent disapproved.Meanwhile, Americans have more money in their pockets because of Biden and they are beginning to emerge from the scourge of the pandemic. And much more has been promised.With that in mind, it’s no wonder Republicans are running scared.Take a listen to “Biden Goes Big: Republicans Act Like Toddlers” from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Remember the song from the ‘60s, “Secret Agent Man” with Johnny Rivers? The opening chorus went like this…I can’t sing, so I’ll just read the lyrics…you’re welcome…There's a man who leads a life of dangerTo everyone he meets he stays a strangerOh, with every move he makes another chance he takesThe odds are he won't live to see tomorrowSecret Agent ManSecret Agent ManWell, looks like Russia has its own secret agent right here in the United States, and for four years he occupied the highest, most powerful seat in the land.His name was Donald J. Trump, and he had a lot of help from certain segments of the media in accomplishing his mission on behalf of Vladimir Putin.Take a listen to “Putin’s Man in America” from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today we’re speaking with Lisa Skinner, a behavior expert in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementia. Lisa has been a community counselor, a regional director of senior care facilities, a trainer, speaker and private adviser helping thousands of families and caregivers understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. She holds a degree in Human Behavior.In our conversation, Lisa offers counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease, using some real-life examples to help increase understanding. Lisa is the author of the two-times best selling book, “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” available on Amazon, and she regularly writes a blog under the same title on Facebook.So, take a listen…Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

I have two commentaries for you today from Not Fake News focused on the aftermath of the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.First, writer Stacy Fitzgerald points out that Chauvin’s conviction amounted to “accountability”, but not really “justice.” Had justice been served, she writes, Floyd would still be alive. However, she points out that much was different in this case from others involving police killings of Black people suspected of minor offenses. And, she says, there were several heroes who helped hold Chauvin accountable for his actions.Then, we’ll turn to C.J. Walderon’s piece in which he asks if America safer now in the aftermath of that verdict, in which he says justice was served.So take a listen, first to “At Last…Accountability” by Stacy Fitzgerald and then “Is America Safer Now?” by C.J. Waldron. Both from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

It was just reported that the feds have stopped a shipment of over 170,000 counterfeit N95 masks from China, masks that actually are putting the health of many American healthcare workers and other frontline personnel at risk.According to the report, Customs and Border Protection officers on April 7 intercepted the shipment of 171,460 masks at Houston Seaport. They carried the logo of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, but a check with the agency found that the shipment was not licensed.They were fake, and they were headed to White Plains, NY.Paul Hickey is co-founder and president of Utah-based PuraVita Medical, a manufacturer of medical grade face masks for the healthcare industry and the general public. He’s been leading a mission to inform the American public that their lives are at risk by using these fake masks from China, 60 percent of which fail to meet the specs on the box, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The feds’ action to confiscate those 170,000 counterfeit N95 masks are just the tip of the iceberg, says Hickey, adding that some 20 U.S.-based mask manufacturers have banded together to convince the Biden administration and Congress to take strong action against Chinese companies that are dumping those masks in the U.S.Hickey explains all of this in this episode of NFN Radio News. Take a listen to our interview with Paul…and if you stay to the end, he has a special offer just for you.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Thanks to the Trump administration, the intelligence community is in disarray. The cooperation that we once shared with other agencies throughout the world has been shattered. This lack of a reliable intelligence network has left America open to another 9/11 style attack, cautions Not Fake News contributing writer C.J. Waldron.Take a listen to “Are We Headed for Another 9/11” from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Ever want to get a law passed or even just changed, but you have no idea how to go about it? Best selling author John Thibault has developed an "app" for that, well sort of.Thibault, who is our guest on this episode, explains how his I Lobby platform makes it possible for the everyday person to generate support for an idea for a new law or a law change and to actually have a chance for success.Thibault's book, "How to Change a Law," walks the reader through that process and makes a real contribution to our participatory democracy.Take a listen...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

I want to tell you about our latest episode of Tempo and the Times, our sister podcast, in which we take a look at the news media today and some of the issues surrounding it.Our guest on the podcast is Guy Reel, a veteran journalist and now college journalism professor, who talks about the good old days when grizzled, hard-drinking reporters sat around the newsroom comparing notes about their stories and then headed out to the nearest bar to continue after work.The goal of many was to ferret out the facts and the truth and if that meant exposing wrong doing, so be it.But today, Reel says, times have changed. Newsrooms have thinned out, the rattle of typewriters and teletype machines have been replaced with the quiet tapping on computer keyboards, and a big focus is on gaining social media followers and recognition.Reel talks about the impact of fake news and about the new crop of reporters that he’s teaching, and has some interesting observations.Here’s more from my commentary today at Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Hey guys, thanks for checking in on the NFN Radio News podcast, brought to you by Not Fake News.biz. I’m Bob Gatty, editor and publisher of Not Fake News. What is an "angry mob?" It depends upon whose version of the truth you accept: Donald Trump's and his enablers', or those who understand the facts.In just the past year, let alone the totality of the Trump administration, we’ve had all too many examples of angry mobs acting and reacting to events, not the least of which was the January 6th attack on the Capitol as Trump supporters protested Joe Biden’s election.Perhaps these actions by angry mobs are simply a symptom of our broken nation. Consider that we had a brutal murder play out on camera in front of millions of viewers, but the perp could go free. And, we had an election where losers are now trying to fix future elections. In this podcast, I’ll present two blogs by C.J. Waldron on Not Fake News.biz. First, will be “The Angry Mob,” followed by “Our Broken America”.So take a listen … from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Hey guys, thanks for dropping by the NFN Radio News podcast, where we talk a little politics with a little lean to the left, and where we interview interesting guests who can add to our dialogue.Today we have with us Kim Curry, author of The Death of Fairness, a book that explores the aftermath of the 1986 decision by the Federal Communications Commission to rescind the Fairness Doctrine. With that action, broadcasters no longer are required to present “contrasting points of view” on their airwaves, and Curry believes that’s one reason why our nation is so politically and socially divided today.So welcome, Kim. Thanks for joining us today. Tell us a little about yourself, Kim, and about The Death of Fairness.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Earth Day 2021 is two weeks from today, April 22, so I thought it would be a great idea to look at some of the major developments that are taking place that will help to conserve our environment and protect our planet.One such development is the utilization of wind energy, something that Donald Trump belittled, saying windmills kill birds and can cause cancer.But President Biden, unlike Trump, recognizes the importance of our society moving away from reliance on fossil fuels and is willing to embrace technologies that can provide clean, renewable energy, and that includes wind power.And so, late last month he announced a major push to expand offshore wind, something that Europe has done for three decades now. We explored the potential and implications of this in our companion Tempo and the Times podcast, which streams starting tomorrow. That podcast is the debut episode of former New Jersey Governor Jim Florio as guest host with Scott Ramminger and me, and we interview a top expert in wind energy who is leading a special initiative designed to help the U.S. achieve its offshore wind potential.So take a listen to this preview from Not Fake News.biz. You can listen to the entire podcast starting tomorrow on all major podcast channels. Just go to Tempo and the Times and you’ll find it. So take a listen to Harnessing the Ocean’s Wind, Power for America from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Can’t tell you when I’ve laughed harder than this morning when I read that Mitch McConnell is threatening big business because some companies have had the nerve to stand up against election fraud and fakery.Who’s he kidding? Republicans are actually going to cross corporations who they’ve been serving for centuries and upon whom they depend for financial largesse for their campaigns?It really was pretty funny.Oh yea, also what was funny is how McConnell and Trump are using the term “woke” to describe how nasty Democrats are. They simply sound stupid.So take a listen to my take on all of this in today’s commentary from Not Fake News.biz. Check out “Repubs Angry at Corporations: What a Twist!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

The decision by Major League Baseball to take the July All-Star Game away from the city of Atlanta is causing reverberations, both on Capitol Hill and in Trumpland where the defeated former president was true to form, making veiled threats against those who cross him.But MLB’s decision was the right one. They did it because the state’s governor, Brian Kemp, signed a new law designed specifically to make it harder for people to vote. The law targets people who are likely to vote for Democrats. I.E., African Americans.The thing is that Georgia’s new voter suppression law is just part of what’s going on around the nation today as GOP politicians react to losing the Presidency and control of the U.S. Senate, and to Donald Trump’s unconstitutional challenge to the 2020 election that he lost in a landslide to Joe Biden.If Georgia voters don’t like it, they need to know who to blame. Trump. And the Republican butt kissers who helped him spread his Big Lie about the election being stolen.That’s our topic for today so listen to “The Trump Big Lie Fallout Continues” From Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

You know the old saying, Money Talks and Bullshit walks.Well, today Major League Baseball hit the state of Georgia where it hurts. In the freaking pocket book. They did it because the state’s governor just signed a new law designed specifically to make it harder for people to vote. The law targets people who are likely to vote for Democrats. I.E., African Americans.What did MLB do? They yanked the July Allstar Game from the city of Atlanta, that’s what they did. Now, those Republican politicians and Gov. Kemp can just suck it up, because what they have done is not only racist and despicable, but it cost the state millions of dollars and a ton of publicity and prestige that comes along with hosting the annual classic.But that law is just part of what’s going on around the nation today as GOP politicians react to losing the Presidency and control of the U.S. Senate, and to Donald Trump’s unconstitutional challenge to the 2020 election that he lost in a landslide to Joe Biden.That’s our topic for today so listen to “Voting Restrictions: What are They Afraid of?” From Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Former New Jersey Gov. Jim Florio will co-host on Tempo and the Times, a podcast that explores the collision of popular culture with news, politics, and business.Tempo and the Times was launched in February by Bob Gatty, Myrtle Beach, SC, editor and publisher of Not Fake News, who was Florio’s Congressional office chief of staff from 1976-78, and musician/writer Scott Ramminger, Nashville, TN. It is hosted on Spreaker and available on most major podcast streaming services.It's a "sister" podcast to NFN Radio News.Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today, you’re going to hear from Chief Harold Hatcher of the Waccamaw Indian People, a small tribe of Native Americans that is indigenous to South Carolina.Better known as Buster, Chief Hatcher is fighting against what he calls “document genocide,” actions by people in power that he believes have served to deny his people many of their rights.He’s been waging a battle to convince the federal government to recognize the Waccamaws as an official Indian tribe, something the state of South Carolina did several years ago. But documentation requirements make this virtually impossible.The result is that the Waccamaws are unable to benefit from many of the same rights accorded to federal recognized tribes, including such basic things as religious practices and even the ability to profit from the sale of jewelry that they make. Take a listen to this conversation with Chief Hatcher. He talks about what it was like growing up in the South as an Indian, neither White nor Black, and about his tribe’s traditions and ongoing fight for recognition.Take a listen to “Fighting Against Documentry Genocide” from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

It was a beautiful spring evening March 24 when some 50 students, educators, and others gathered on the lawn at Coastal Carolina University to express solidarity with their Asian brothers and sisters who have been so tragically targeted since the Covid 19 pandemic struck America just about one year ago.Prompted by the murders of eight people at three Asian spas in Atlanta, including six Asian women, the vigil was led by two professors from the school’s Social Justice Research Initiative and Women's and Gender Studies, and supported by Grand Strand Action Together (GSAT). Leading the event were Deborah Perkins, associate professor of sociology and founder and director of the Social Justice Research Initiative, and Jaime McCauley, assistant professor of sociology at CCU and program director of the Social Justice Research Initiative.Here are their comments:Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Ex-Reagan cabinet member John R. Block talks about his experiences serving under Ronald Reagan, how he got there from the one-room school house where it all began, and what he thinks about politics and the Republican Party post-Donald Trump. Check it out.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today, I want to talk about guns and needless, tragic deaths. Why is it that we as a nation must continually suffer through more gun violence?Why is it that when mass shootings occur, regardless of whether it’s little school children, people praying in church, going to a concert, or even just to the spa or the grocery store that nothing ever happens?The anti-gun people clamor for action and raise money for their campaigns. The pro-gun people say don’t talk about it now, emotions are too high, and restrictions are unconstitutional.The politicians offer condolences, claim their hearts are broken with sadness, say their thoughts and prayers are with the victims.But nothing happens.The House of Representatives has passed legislation that would help, strengthening background checks to keep guns away from dangerous people, and closing loopholes. But the Senate, where Republicans still have enormous power even though they no longer have the majority, is still the roadblock.Meanwhile, nothing happens, and it won’t until the next tragedy occurs. And then, we’ll go through all of this all over again.In this commentary from Not Fake News.biz, we take a look at all of this. So,here’s “Shootings: Will Light Ever Shine Through the Darkness?”. Take a listen. From Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

March is Women’s History Month, a month when the achievements and contributions of women are recognized and honored.It would be a great time to do something, too, about the violence that many women face in their own personal relationships, at home, or even when a date goes bad.The same can be said for males, too, when a personal relationship with a partner evolves into violence.That’s why Congress is working on the Violence Against Women Act, and why it needs to be signed into law. But the Republicans are up to their old tricks and It doesn’t look like they have any plans to respond in any way.In this commentary from Not Fake News.biz, we take a look at all of this. So,here’s “Protect Gun Rights, Bash Gays: GOP Priorities”. Take a listen. From Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Constantly over the past year, Donald Trump blamed China for sending the Covid 19 pandemic to the United States as he tried to deflect from his own responsibility for the tragic consequences of the pandemic.And on top of that, sensing that he’d struck a nerve with his already xenophobic followers, Trump began blaming China for everything he could, every chance he had – even his own defeat.We all know that words have consequences, and the consequences of Trump’s hateful rhetoric are now being felt in the Asian American community in our country. The vicious shootings that occurred this week in Atlanta are probably just the latest example.In this commentary from Not Fake News.biz, we take a look at all of this. So,here’s “The Tragic Consequences of Race-Baiting Violence”. Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

When Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump last November, one of the first thoughts that went through my mind was that the battle against the environment that Trump waged for four years would be over.That the U.S. would once again join the fight against climate change, that Biden would pull back Trump’s most egregious executive orders that tried to wipe out efforts by the Obama administration to protect our air and our water.So, it was heartening to see some of the first public comments made by Biden’s new EPA administrator, Michael Regan, who said the agency will do exactly that.Here’s my take on that as published on Not Fake News.biz.Here’s “Protecting the Environment is Back at EPA”. Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today’s podcast will present two commentaries written by Chris Waldron of Not Fake News.biz.In the first, “Gerrymandering, Voter Suppression and the Big Lie,” Chris points out that those are the three key elements of the Republican Party’s current game plan as they seek to regain the presidency, and retake control of the House and the Senate.These three tactics, he maintains, threaten the very democracy that we all hold so dear.In Part 2, “Sexual harassment: Trump vs. Cuomo,” Waldron takes a look at differences between our two political parties in dealing with big shots who get themselves in hot water for one form of sexual misconduct or another.For a party that pretends to be God-fearing and all of that, Republicans simply turn a blind eye when their fearful leader brags about his sexual escapades, while Democrats face the facts and don’t cut and run when asked about what should happen to Cuomo. So take a listen, first to “Gerrymandering, Voter Suppression and the Big Lie,’ and then “Sexual Harassment: Trump vs. Cuomo,” from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

So the Republicans have been whining about cancel culture, saying that’s why a publisher decided to stop producing some Dr. Seuss books because of racist imagery.They spent their time doing that even as Democrats were pushing through Covid-19 relief that will go a long way towards helping our nation dig recover from the devastation of the pandemic.It was just another irresponsible effort to direct attention away from their failure to respond to the needs of Americans by focusing on another Trumped-up excuse that actually means nothing.I say the Republicans are guilty of their own version of “cancel culture,” although this one actually has consequences – negative consequences for the American people.So take a listen to “The GOP and its ‘Cancel Culture’ from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today we’re going to talk about how various governors across the country have gotten themselves into trouble in one form or another, the latest and most controversial, perhaps, being Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York.Not Fake News.biz writer Chris Waldron takes a close look at the various factors involving Cuomo and three other governors in today’s episode, which I’ll narrate.So take a listen to “Governors Under Fire” by C.J. Waldron of Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today we’re going to talk about how education – or the lack thereof – may have played a role in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol as insurrectionists tried to stop the election certification of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.Not Fake News.biz writer Chris Waldron, who is a college English professor, takes a close look at the various factors that influenced the insurrectionists in this fascinating commentary, which I’ll narrate.So take a listen to “Education and the Insurrection” by C.J. Waldron of Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Here's our new :30 spot promoting our NFN Radio News podcast. Take a listen, and share if you like!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today we’re going to talk about how the QAnon prediction that their messiah, Donald Trump, would miraculously be sworn in as president yesterday, March 4, just didn’t come to pass.It was so sad, seeing all those poor, misguided people being so disappointed. But alas, I’m sure they’ll have another fake day to look forward to.All that’s from a piece called “You’ve Been Q’ed” on Not Fake News.biz by professor Chris Waldron, one of our most prolific and insightful commentators. Then, after that, I’ll launch into some commentary by Susan Hutchinson, also from Not Fake News.biz, “GOP Transgender Ignorance on Full Display.”It’s all about how Republican disdain for the LGBTQ+ community was so evident as the House passed the Equality Act this past week banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.It’s a terrific piece, and that will be Part 2 of our podcast today. But first, let’s check out “You’ve Been Q’ed” by Chris Waldron from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today we’re going to talk about technology – all the “smart” stuff that most of us use, like our phones and our fancy watches that can tell us our heart beat, count our steps, and can even rat on our spouses or partners if they are someplace other than where they say.Our guest is Dr. Don Vaughn, a neuroscientist who works for a new company called Invisibly, which is looking to turn the internet and big social media companies upside down. Get this: they say they’ve developed a way that regular people like you and me can actually get paid for the use of our own data, instead of companies like Google and Facebook.Invisibly has done some polling, too, and they’re turning that industry upside down, too, and their results have been remarkable – just by ditching the old way of doing things and getting with the way things are today.So if you use a personal computer, have a smartphone or smart TV, or any similar device and if you want to know what’s coming, take a listen to this interview with Dr. Don Vaughn…presented by Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

It was just reported this evening, March 3, that the U.S. House of Representatives will not be in session tomorrow March 4. Why is that big news? Why should you care?Because tomorrow is the day that the QAnon crazies believe Donald Trump will return and be inaugurated as the true president of the United States, and federal law enforcement agencies are bracing for another possible riot at the Capitol.These people are just nuts, but they’ve been whipped up by Trump and continue to believe his lies. That’s just part of today’s commentary from Not Fake News.biz. We’ll also tell you about the 13 stupidest people who were among the 300 arrested so far for storming the capitol January 6.You won’t want to miss that. It’s pretty funny stuff, and it comes straight from the Washington Post.So take a listen to “The Geniuses of the Insurrection” from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Donald Trump made it clear at the Conservative Political Action Conference Sunday that he has no intention of going away, and that he intends to be fully engaged in the Republican Party.While decrying his defeat do to a “rigged” election, he repeated his demands for election changes – changes that go to the heart of challenging our democratic process.I took a look at that in commentary on Not Fake News.biz titled “Trump’s Lies and a Dangerous Truth.”This podcast will also present “Trump by the Numbers,” commentary by Chris Waldron of Not Fake News that discusses how the defeated president has always boasted about his numbers, but now with prosecutors looking into his taxes and financial shenanigans, numbers may end up being his roadmap to the clink.It’s a pretty perceptive piece.So take a listen, first to “Trump’s Lies and a Dangerous Truth,” and then Chris Waldron’s piece, “Trump by the Numbers.” It’s all from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

I’ve been away on a brief vacation for the last few days, so it’s been a little quiet here at NFN Radio News. But now, I’m back, so here goes with double-header commentary from Not Fake News.First up will be “The Battle for the Soul of the GOP,” with commentary on Donald Trump’s determination to hang on to the Republican Party and growing opposition from reformers who want to see him gone.Then, I’ll bring you “Hanging onto Donald Trump,” my thoughts about those who just can’t let go of the disgraced former president and actually expect him to return to power.So here goes. It’s all from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

I have a special guest today and I think you’ll enjoy listening to her. When Peg Howell was 25 years old, she was the first woman to be the “company man” on an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico.Yep, that’s what they called her. She was the person in charge, so she was the “company man.”She reveals what it was like to be one of the last two people left on the rig’s platform after all of the workers had been evacuated during a hurricane. It’s a pretty harrowing story that comes up in the latter part of the episode.Today, Peg is the spokesperson for a group called SODA, which stands for Stop Offshore Drilling in the Atlantic. She’s helped lead the battle to prevent offshore drilling, something she once did for a living, because of the environmental devastation it can cause.In the episode, Peg reveals how her views were changed and how the battle has been going, a battle she’s now waging under her third president.So, take a listen to “No Drilling in the Atlantic!” from Not Fake News.biz.Also, check out our companion podcast, “Tempo and the Times”, created with my old buddy Scott Ramminger to explore the intersection of music, art, and popular culture with news and politics. We launched Friday, February 19 with an introductory episode that explains what you can expect from this new offering, which will include some cool and interesting guests and will stream every Friday starting March 12.Our first guest will be Susan Anders, a talented Nashville musician who’ll talk about her musical adventures, including her new album, 13 Women, which looks to the past to explore the engaging stories of 13 women, some well-known, some not, who have made extraordinary contributions to history and our modern world.March is Women’s History Month, so this is a perfect way to recognize that – and to kick off our new show. So, take a listen to our introductory episode, featuring Scott and me as we talk about what’s to come on Tempo and the Times. By the way, you can find that show on just about any podcast streaming service, including Spreaker, or by visiting www.tempoandthetimes.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

I’ve been telling you guys all week about a new podcast that I’ve been cooking up with my old buddy Scott Ramminger, which explores the intersection of music, art, and popular culture with news and politics. Well, here it is. It’s called Tempo and the Times, and we launch today with an introductory episode that explains what you can expect from this new effort to get into trouble.We've lined up some very cool and interesting guests, for our show, which is planned to stream weekly as a companion to this podcast, which was launched a few months ago.Our first guest on March 12 will be Susan Anders, a talented Nashville musician who’ll talk about her musical adventures, including her new album, 13 Women, which looks to the past to explore the engaging stories of 13 women, some well-known, some not, who have made extraordinary contributions to history and our modern world.March is Women’s History Month, so this is a perfect way to recognize that – and to kick off our new show. So, Take a listen to our introductory episode, featuring Scott and me as we talk about what’s to come on Tempo and the Times. By the way, you can find that show on just about any podcast streaming service, including Spreaker, or by visiting www.tempoandthetimes.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

I know it’s not nice to speak ill of the dead, but I have to say that I shed no tears yesterday when I learned that Rush Limbaugh had died.Yes, I feel sorry for his family and friends, but that’s the extent of it because Limbaugh was one of the most disgusting, despicable influencers of public opinion ever to be given airtime.And the fact that Donald Trump listened to him and paid homage to him made it even worse. I couldn’t stand him and certainly am shedding no tears that he’s gone. Not Fake News writer Chris Waldron takes a look at this in “The Blustering Hero of Hypocrisy Bites the Dust”, and in a minute I’ll narrate his commentary published today on Not Fake News.But first, here’s a reminder about something I announced the other day.My old buddy Scott Ramminger and I are cooking up a new podcast that explores the intersection of music, art, and popular culture with news and politics. Scott and I are finalizing contract negotiations with the "Not Fake News Network" and so we are prohibited by an ironclad non-disclosure agreement that not even Rudy Giuliani could break from providing further details.However, I can say that it is going to be both interesting and entertaining.I can also reveal that we've lined up some very cool and interesting guests, for our show, which is planned to stream weekly as a companion to this podcast, which was launched a few months ago.Our new effort to get into trouble will launch march 12. We’ll reveal more information tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 19. So, stay tuned...Meanwhile, Take a listen to “The Blustering Hero of Hypocrisy Bites the Dust”, by Chris Waldron on Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

It’s a shame what’s happening to the Republican Party, which is apparently in a quandary as to who they are and what they stand for.There’s been plenty of coverage and analysis of all of this, but it’s clear that many believe the GOP has lost its way and the recent impeachment trial of Donald Trump, charged with inciting a mob to attack our Congress, just brought new attention to all of this.Right wing nutcases, conspiracy theorists, QAnon adherants and those who believe Donald Trump is the Messiah appear to have taken over what once was a proud political party that believed in the rule of law, the constitution, minimal government intervention, low taxes, and the like.Now, it seems like their mantra is to stand for whatever Trump tells them to stand for. Not Fake News writer Chris Waldron has looked at all of this, and I’ll narrate his commentary published today in just a minute.But first, here’s a reminder about something I announced the other day.My old buddy Scott Ramminger and I are cooking up a new podcast that explores the intersection of music, art, and popular culture with news and politics. Scott and I are finalizing contract negotiations with the "Not Fake News Network" and so we are prohibited by an ironclad non-disclosure agreement that not even Rudy Giuliani could break from providing further details.However, I can say that it is going to be both interesting and entertaining.I can also reveal that we've lined up some very cool and interesting guests, for our show, which is planned to stream weekly as a companion to this podcast, which was launched a few months ago.Our new effort to get into trouble will launch early in March. We’ll reveal more information on Friday, Feb. 19. So, stay tuned...Meanwhile, Take a listen to “The Soul of the Republican Party”, by Chris Waldron on Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Yesterday, the Senate declined to convict former president Donald Trump on charges of inciting the deadly insurrection that occurred at the U.S. Capitol on January 6.They acquitted him, however, with seven of the 50 Republican senators joining all Democrats in voting to convict Trump, but falling 10 short of the 2/3 majority needed for conviction.After the trial was over, Republican leader Mitch McConnell castigated Trump for encouraging the mob attack and suggested he should pay the price in court. He sounded like a Democrat making the case for conviction, but that was right after he had voted to let Trump off the hook, which means he still has political life.What about that? I’ll talk about that in just a minute.But before we get to that, here’s a reminder about something I announced the other day.My old buddy Scott Ramminger and I are cooking up a new podcast that explores the intersection of music, art, and popular culture with news and politics. Scott and I are finalizing contract negotiations with the "Not Fake News Network" and so we are prohibited by an ironclad non-disclosure agreement from providing further details.However, I can say that it is going to be both interesting and entertaining.I can also reveal that we've lined up some very cool and interesting guests, for our show, which is planned to stream weekly as a companion to this podcast, which was launched a few months ago.Our new effort to get into trouble will launch early in March. So, stay tuned...Meanwhile, here’s my commentary. Take a listen to “McConnell Blew It”, from Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.