The Lean to the Left Podcast

Congress appears ready to pass legislation ending a federal government requirement that potential new drugs must be tested on animals before they can be approved for use on humans, and our Lean to the Left podcast guest has been working to win approval of that bill.Marty Irby is executive director at Animal Wellness Action and Senior Vice President at the Center for a Humane Economy and helped shepherd the FDA Modernization Act, which contains a provision removing that requirement, through the U.S. House of Representatives last month. Companion legislation is expected to win approval in the Senate.According to Irby, the regulation requiring animal testing for new drugs was established in 1937, and that since then developments in science and technology now provide alternatives that are less costly and more effective. Irby points out in our interview that there is an island off the coast of South Carolina where monkeys are bred by the federal government for use in animal testing. He questions why the government is in the business of providing monkeys to the pharmaceutical industry, a process that is funded with tax dollars. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) represents that area of SC and was a leading sponsor of the legislation in the House to end the animal testing requirement.During our interview, Irby also talks about legislation he's pushing that would ban the breeding and use of tiger cubs for money-making photo ops at zoos and other tourist attractions, noting that once those tigers are little more than six weeks old they often are simply killed.Another bill he's advocating would end mink farming in the U.S., as he says those animals have been found to spread strains of the Covid 19 virus. Currently, according to Irby, there are about 60 mink farmers remaining and the large majority of pelts they produce are sold in China. So essentially, he contends, Americans risk contracting Covid 19 so wealthy people in China can wear mink coats.Irby has worked on Capitol Hill, is a top lobbyist, and even has been recognized by Queen Elizabeth II for working to reduce violence in the training of horses. In November 2019, he was recognized by President Trump at the signing of the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act that he helped get passed.Marty grew up on a South Alabama farm with horses, cattle, and other animals and eventually became president of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association. It was then that he shifted his attention to animal protection and joined efforts to eliminate cruel training practices in the equine world.If the humane treatment of animals concerns you, take a listen to this episode, which was recorded just before the House approved its version of the FDA Modernization Act.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today we welcome Storm Cunningham, whose work involves helping to rebuild, restore, and revitalize communities that need a little bit of help.Storm is executive director of Reconomics Institute, the Society of Revitalization & Resilience Professionals, which is dedicated to improving the process of improving places.He’s an author of three books: The Restoration Economy, reWealth! And Reconomics, the Path to Resilient Prosperity. Storm also is editor of Revitalization: The Journal of Urban, Rural & Environmental Resilience.Storm advises mayors, governors, members of U.S. Congress, and executives of foundations, non-profits and corporations. In these confidential roles, he stays in the background so his clients can take full credit when they launch leading-edge policies and initiatives.The bottom line is that Storm’s work helps to improve communities, and that’s a benefit to residents and businesses alike, providing a much brighter future than previously might have been possible.Storm, welcome to Lean to the Left.1.You have a lot going on. Can you give us a thumbnail about the work you’re doing and how communities are benefiting?2.I know you have a new service coming soon. Rising Places. Can you tell us about that?3.In our pre-show call, you said that your objective is to revitalize, improve quality of life, boost economy, and jobs in a way that’s inclusive, rather than top down focusing on big redevelopments…Please explain.4.You made the comment that a lot of places have a shared vision as to what they want to achieve, but don’t seem to get anywhere. Is that where you guys come in?5.Do you help communities obtain funding and other resources for revitalization projects? Arrange partnerships with resources in the private sector?6.What are some examples of communities that you’ve worked with and assisted?7.We know that our economy is changing, and that’s affecting peoples’ livelihoods…energy for example. The drive to reduce reliance on fossil fuel directly affects coal miners and others who work in that industry. What can be done to help them?8.I know you’re a public speaker and that you run workshops, etc. Tell us about that.9.What’s next for you?10.How can people get in touch?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

It was a Monday evening when Robert Chelsea was driving to his Los Angeles home when his car overheated. He pulled to the side of the freeway to wait for help when a drunk driver slammed into his car, which exploded on impact. Robert was in a coma for six months and hospitalized for 18 months with severe burns covering the majority of his face and body. Facial tissue, including his lips were burned off. He has endured more than 30 surgeries. In July 2019, after years of tests and physical and psychological evaluations, and a longer than usual wait for a donor, Robert underwent a 16-hour full face transplant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. At 64, he became the first Black patient, and the oldest in the world, to receive a full-face transplant. Today, as he seeks to raise money to help pay for that surgery, Robert also operates the Robert Chelsea Foundation which is dedicated to increasing awareness of the benefits of the donation of organs, limbs, bone marrow and certain stem cells.We will talk about all of that today.Here are some questions we asked Robert:1.You’ve had one of the toughest experiences imaginable. Please tell us what happened.2.I can’t imagine the pain you must have endured…3.Before your accident, what was your life like? What did you do? How did that change?4.What was it like after your surgery, when you looked in the mirror at your new face?5.Did you have family support?6.How did you cover the cost? 7.Tell us about the Robert Chelsea Foundation and what you do there.8.How can people help?9.You say that you’re looking for additional platforms to discuss the importance of becoming organ donors, to speak and share your story. What do you have in mind?10.You also said you hope to become a “gateway” of support and comfort to potential donor families. What’s the plan for this?11.You close your email with this quote: "God places flowers upon each of our door steps, sometimes we must be that flower." Explain.Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Education expert Erika Twani says the role of public schools is an important factor in the battle to reduce school shootings and crime in America as she advocates an increase in "relational learning", including teaching life skills, to help improve outcomes for many students.Author of Becoming Einstein’s Teacher: Awakening the Genius in Your Students, and co-founder and CEO of Learning One to One, Twani explores ways to foster human achievement through education. Before co-founding Learning One to One, Erika was Microsoft’s education industry director for Multi-Country Americas. She is today's guest on the Lean to the Left podcast."We must respect the benefits that every child has," says Twani, who points out that in most schools today students spend thousands of hours learning how to follow instructions. "But when they are adults, there are no instructions to follow so they get lost. What's next is crime because they have no other option. That's why it is so important for us to be teaching life skills." That, in a nutshell, is what "relational learning" is all about. Her philosophy is to simplify complex concepts and make them useful for everyone, starting with children. To do so, she uses insights and skills from her 20+ years of experience working with corporate technology companies shaping products and services for worldwide scalability. Twani has advised government officials and education leaders around the world on the use of technology in education, and has worked with public and private schools to guide the practical use of relational learning. She led Learning One to One into five countries in the first year alone, touching the lives of more than 100,000 students.In this episode of the Lean to the Left podcast, Twani notes that many school shootings are caused by individuals who are lashing out after being bullied in school, and so, she contends, such shootings could be avoided if schools would do more to control bullying and increase self esteem of vulnerable students who often turn into shooters.She says that rather than banning books about such topics as race and sexuality, educators should work on developing critical thinking skills so that students, who already have instant access to information, can think for themselves and be prepared for life.Moreover, Twani suggests that instead of banning abortion, which often involves teenage girls with unplanned pregnancies, a better step would be to reduce pregnancies in the first place -- such as providing condoms in school. In Colorado, she says, this has reduced teen pregnancies by 40 percent and abortions by 42 percent.Take a listen to the interview.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today we’ll focus on the dangerous state of our nation, spawned by Donald Trump and embraced by way too many Republicans. First, I’ll narrate a Lean to the Left.net blog written by CJ Waldron entitled “A Clear and Present Danger.” Then, will come my blog, “The Trump-Spawned Darkness is Spreading.”But first, some housekeeping. Don’t forget to follow Lean to the Left at podcast.leantotheleft.net, and, you can reach me at [email protected]. You can also follow us on social media…Facebook at The Lean to the Left Podcast. Twitter at LeantotheLeft1. YouTube at Not Fake News. If you would take a minute to give us a review, that would be great. There are lots of podcast links on our webpage, podcast.leantotheleft.net, where you’ll also find our upcoming interview schedule and links to all of our podcasts.Meanwhile, special thanks to The Ramminger Group for sponsoring this episode and for providing the music track. The Ramminger Group provides content and marketing consulting services to responsible businesses and nonprofits. Let them help tell your story. Visit rammingergroup.comNow, for “A Clear and Present Danger, written by CJ Waldron on Lean to the left.net.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare with the Madison Policy Forum, has just returned from Ukraine where strategies and tactics that he developed as a combat soldier in the U.S. Army, are being used by the Ukrainian military against Russian invaders.On the Lean to the Left podcast, Spencer says those tactics helped defeat Russia's attempt to capture Kiev and topple the Ukrainian government, and he discusses the lack of motivation of Russian soldiers who are reluctant to fight, even shooting themselves in the foot and slicing their vehicle tires to avoid combat.The author of the new book, “Connected Soldiers: Life, Leadership, and Social Connections in Modern War,” Spencer has provided the Ukrainian military with a step-by-step guide for succeeding in urban combat. The first step, he says, is "don't get killed." His book is available July 1, and his second book, “Understanding Urban Warfare,” will be available in September.Spencer is an internationally recognized expert and advisor on urban warfare and other military related topics. He served over 25 years in the active Army, including two combat deployments to Iraq as both an Infantry Platoon Leader and Company commander.In this episode, Spencer discusses how internet connectivity is affecting soldiers who are away from home facing combat. It's an insider's view of how the ability to use FaceTime and other digital resources to stay connected with family back home can interfere with unit cohesion and morale.Here are questions Spencer discusses in this episode:1. You’re a recognized expert in urban warfare. Is that why you were in Ukraine? Are you working as an advisor there? 2. You’ve published a “mini-manual for the urban defender.” It’s published in the Ukrainian language…I presume it’s come in handy there?3. On CNN, you said that the use of many layers of barriers being used by the Ukranian forces in their cities “can hold off the best army in the world, and Russia’s not the best.” Explain what you were talking about.4. You also told Ali Velshi that “the will to fight is everything.” How is that coming into play in Ukraine?5. You said that even a generally unprofessional force like the Ukrainian fighters “can turn every street into a meat grinder” for Russian troops who are less motivated, just by following a few simple steps. What are those steps?6. You told Velshi in March, “It’s going to be really bad for Russia. It’s going to be a bloodbath.” Do you still believe that?7. Let’s talk about “Connected Soldiers,” your new book. Gen. David Petraeus, former commander of the surge in Iraq, U.S. Central Command, and coalition forces in Afghanistan, said this about it:"Connected Soldiers provides a wonderfully stimulating, thoughtful, and thought-provoking examination of how the increase in connectivity between those on the frontlines and those on the home front affects the all-important bonds between our soldiers carrying out tough missions overseas.”Please explain.8. On your website, you said that in 2003 when as a second lieutenant you parachuted into Iraq leading a platoon of infantry soldiers into battle, that you learned how important unit cohesion was to survival, both physically and mentally. You said cohesion developed between soldiers when they spent downtime together and shared experiences.But when you returned to Iraq five years later, you found that rather than bonding and discussing trauma as a group, soldiers spent downtime separately, on computers, communicating with family back home. You began to believe that the internet was a threat to unit cohesion. But what happened when you returned home, and your wife was deployed?How does your book address all of this? 9. Do the same issues apply to non-military families in their daily lives? People are so busy these days…both parents working, sometimes on shifts where they barely see each other. How can they cope?Listen to the interview:Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer, is a vicious, lethal cancer that affects about 10,00 Americans every year. But the federal government's funding for research into this disease is insufficient, so patients themselves and a small foundation are raising money to help find a cure.Last month, Janice Meyer and her husband, Dean, with the help of the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, sponsored a 5K fundraising event that attracted more than 500 participants and raised more than $75,000 for this effort. It was the third such event sponsored by Meyer, who was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma in 2018.Altogether, she and her husband have raised and personally contributed nearly $400,000 for this research, and they are determined to reach the $500,000 mark. In fact, the Meyers personally provided over 400 barbecue sandwiches for participants in the 5K Quack Out. Later this summer, Jonathan Whiting, 60, who's wife, Laurie, died from the disease, plans to swim the 21-mile English Channel. The swim, called "21 Miles of Hope," has a goal of raising more than $100,000 by year's end.There are many other such initiatives. Last year, we traveled virtually with Dave Fleischer, whose daughter, Sarah, was taken by the disease, as he traveled across the nation on a "Journey of Hope" to raise awareness and funding for cholangiocarcinoma research. He raised more than $105,000 for that effort. In this episode of The Lean to the Left Podcast, we hear from Janice Meyer about her journey with the disease, how she's working to help find a cure while battling the cancer herself, and from Meredith Shirrell, who leads the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation's fundraising efforts."The National Cancer Institute estimates that cholangiocarcinoma will be the third deadliest cancer in the U.S.," says Shirrell on the podcast. "The Foundation's mission is to find a cure and improve patients' quality of life."This year, the Foundation has funded 11 research fellowship awards for cholangiocarcinoma research, Shirrell says, trying to fill the gap left because of insufficient federal funding. In 2020, the National Institutes of Health financed 291 liver cancer research projects with about $130 million, but only 12 were specific to cholangiocarcinoma with just 3.4 percent of those dollars, or about $3.9 million.So, volunteer fundraisers -- often patients themselves -- join with the Foundation to fill the gap -- to help provide the money needed to find a cure for the disease that is all but certain to claim their own lives.Coming up July 24-30 is another Foundation-sponsored event called "Moving for the Cure," which allows participants in any area, of any age, and of any athletic ability to raise money through an athletic event of their choosing. Participants can choose to run, bike, walk, play a game of volleyball, host a dance party, or rollerblade. Move with friends and family or move on your own! It's a great way to help find a cure and have fun at the same time.All of this, says Meyer, provides hope for the patients."When you first get that diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma your hope is sucked out of you the second you go online and start researching," she says. "The statistics are staggering and terrifying. I knew early on I was in for the fight of my life."Take a listen...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

The Dixie Dems are back…we began this series last month and because of the great response, we decided to keep it going. So my pals, Robert Thompson from Georgia and Arthur Hill from North Carolina, are with me to talk about politics in the land of Dixie. This episode includes updates on politics in South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina, and a lengthy discussion about whether Democratic voters in South Carolina should vote in the Republican primary in an effort to skew the election in favor of Rep. Tom Rice (R), who voted to impeach Donald Trump, and is being challenged by Trump-backing candidates, including Russell Fry, whom Trump endorsed.Then, there's talk about such lowlifes as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who says Bill Gates wants people to eat hamburgers made in a "peach tree dish," with video of Greene making this highly intelligent remark. We cover other GOP controversies, too, such as the report in Iowa that some elementary schools are putting kitty litter pans in bathrooms for children are confused about their identity.Because of the recent mass shootings, we discuss gun issues and what types of legislation might be needed, and the influence of the gun lobby on the likelihood that anything of significance will ultimately pass.There's plenty of silliness along the way, so if you like politics and you enjoy silly banter, then this episode is for you.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

For Congress to enact meaningful gun legislation in response to the mass shootings that are plaguing America, "some level of profile in courage" will be needed by lawmakers who traditionally have been beholden to the gun lobby."Sometimes principle is more important than your political career, but I'm not sure how many people think of it like that who are current members of Congress, unfortunately," said Mike Lawlor, author of Connecticut's 23-year-old red flag law that he estimates has saved thousands of lives since its enactment. "It's just the reality."Lawlor made his comments on The Lean to the Left Podcast co-hosted with legal thriller author Mark M. Bello. He is associate professor of Criminal Justice at the University of New Haven, is a nationally recognized expert on criminal justice reform. "The problem in the Republican Party," Lawlor said, is "fear of retaliation from what they call the base," which is "just getting in the way, and sooner or later they will have to deal with that bigger problem, and guns are just the symptom of it."Lawlor's comments comes as a new poll by CBS News and YouGov showed that 44 percent of Republicans believe mass shootings are inevitable in a "free society", while 85 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of Independents said mass shootings are preventable "if we really tried."All of this, of course, follows a string of mass shootings that have prompted Congress to consider various gun control related proposals, including incentives to states to enact red flag laws similar to Connecticut's. However, the CBS/YouGov poll indicates that respondents from both parties believe it is unlikely that Congress will "pass any laws in the next few months that will make significant changes to gun policy."A total of 66 percent of Democrats, 72 percent of Independents, and 71 percent of Republicans indicated they feel that way and they have good reason. Unfortunately, money talks in Washington, apparently much louder than the anguished cries of children who are being terrorized by a gunman in school or the loved ones of victims shot in a racist attack in a supermarket.According to the Brady Campaign, the National Rifle Association spent $3.22 million to benefit the political campaigns of senators who oppose gun safety legislation. In 2020, they spent $2.20 million. These senators refuse to support common-sense gun reform, like expanding Brady Background Checks and banning assault weapons. You can find the list of leading recipients of NRA money here. Meanwhile, Lawlor points out that the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling soon in a New York gun rights case that could expand the scope of protections the Second Amendment affords individual gun owners who want to carry a gun outside of their residents.According to the Brennan Center, The biggest ques­tion in New York State Rifle & Pistol Asso­ci­ation v. Bruen may not be whether a major­ity of justices strike down the state’s century-old hand­gun licens­ing require­ment but how far that major­ity goes in signal­ing that other licens­ing meas­ures created by govern­ment offi­cials are now consti­tu­tion­ally suspect."The proliferation of guns in this country could become more extreme depending on what happens, and all we know for sure is that will lead to more and more firearm deaths, suicides, accidents, homicides, and you know at some point, the pain will be unsustainable."On the podcast, Lawlor details the Connecticut red flag law, how it works, how it has prevented shootings and death, as well as other steps that state has taken to restrict the proliferation of firearms.Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

On May 15, the Southern Baptist Convention finally acknowledged what our guest today has already experienced – that pastors and other church employees have sexually abused parishioners and that the church covered up those claims for years.Now our guest, Sandy Phillips Kirkham, was not a member of the Southern Baptists when she was sexually abused by her youth pastor. She was a member of another protestant denomination, which shows that such practices go beyond religious boundaries.She recounts her story in Let Me Prey Upon You, a memoir that reveals how a charismatic youth minister preyed upon her, betrayed her in the most vile way, and shattered her faith, leaving her broken and separated from the church she once loved. Sandy is here with author/attorney Mark M. Bello and me today to discuss this tragic situation.Sandy previously told her own story on both the Lean to the Left and Justice Counts podcasts, but Mark and I wanted to invite her back to get her thoughts about these latest revelations regarding the Southern Baptists. A list of hundreds of pastors and other church-affiliated personnel accused of sexual abuse has just been released by church officials. The list had previously been kept secret by the church.Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

June is Gay Pride Month and so I thought it would be great to bring back one of my favorite previous guests, Jeff Batton, author of Grinnin’ Like a Jackass Eatin’ Briars. Jeff first was our guest on Lean to the Left in January. His memoir details his lifelong struggle with homosexuality, a struggle that prompted him to become a missionary serving the poor and even to get married and have kids. But he eventually recognized and accepted his truth, and he shares that with us today in "Looking for the Joy."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

The inability of Congress to take meaningful action to control guns is a tragedy that continues to result in the deaths of innocent people, including little children.That's the view of Baltimore novelist Amy Bernstein as expressed on The Lean to the Left Podcast."So many of us are so upset, so saddened. Our politicians have failed us completely," she says, blaming "the do-nothing party" (Republicans) as well as the Democrats for lacking the courage to tackle the issue head-on.Pointing out that so many Americans buy into the argument that their right to own a gun is more important than the lives of innocent children, she says, "The empathy deficit in this country is horrifying I don't know how people can sleep at night."Referring to the current rush by states to enact restrictive abortion laws, and to the expected overturn by the Supreme Court of Roe v. Wade, Bernstein comments:"How do you explain that you want to protect a non-viable fetal embryo and call that life and you cannot protect a seven year-old who's gunned down in her class seat?""If men biologically carried fetuses, this is not where we would be," she adds.A prolific writer, Bernstein's novels include The Potrero Complex, The Nighthawkers, Dreams of Song Times, and Fran, The Second Time Around. She is an award-winning journalist, speechwriter, playwright, and certified nonfiction book coach. The interview begins with revealing discussions about her work, the details of creating and producing novels, with valuable advice for beginning writers of both fiction and non-fiction books. She reveals where her plot ideas come from and some of the challenges she experience along the way.Then, at about 17 minutes into the 35-minute interview, the topic turns to those current issues that we all are dealing with today."This is a country that's heading in the wrong direction," she says.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Preserving a sustainable planet is in jeopardy and religious and political dogma stand in the way of progress for all of mankind, says long-time business executive and author Kit Webster."We're heading headlong into a future in which reality is going to impose itself on us as opposed to our controlling our approach into a new reality," says Webster, author of "Capitalism is Past its Sell-by Date."Burgeoning population growth and continuous unbridled consumption mean that the earth's natural resources of water, fish, top soil are rapidly being diminished, and that political leaders must recognize that fact and take responsible action.Webster says the best way to reduce the expansion of the world's population "is to educate women...to control their fertility." But, he adds, "politics and religion are going to get in the way all over the world" because of opposition by conservatives and some religions to abortion and even contraception."But these are huge problems," says Webster.The battle against climate change, which has increased on popularity and strength with the Biden administration, is an important contribution to sustainability of the world's natural resources, but it is not enough, Webster contends.Are political leaders being responsible or irresponsible in dealing with issues of sustainability? "Irresponsible with a capital I," he replied.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Think you have it tough living in a country with $4 gas and a baby formula shortage? How would you like living someplace where when the power goes out, the electric company asks you for money for gas so they can send their repair truck…and then to help pay for the parts to fix the transformer?I kid you not. That’s what happens in Kenya, where adventure novelist Steve Braker lives, and trust me, his is a fascinating story.Braker is author of five novels that focus on various aspects of life in Kenya that Steve believes should be more exposed to the world, issues like slavery and sexual exploitation of young girls, illegal poaching of tusks for ivory, treasure hunting, and much more.Steve, born in Cornwall, England, is an adventurer and has lived in East Africa since 2000. He’s spent weeks on boats sailing the coastlines and it’s there that the idea of writing thrillers began to build…and now that his kids have all left to work and study in the UK, he’s jumped into writing with a vengeance.During the episode, Steve discusses his concern for the environment, specifically the ocean environment, and the need to stop its pollution with plastics. His adopted home, Kenya, is significantly affected by climate change, but does little to contribute to this worldwide problem because as a developing country, it has no manufacturing facilities and relies largely on sources of renewable energy, such as geothermal and solar.Would you expect such a country to be in the forefront of such issues as gun control? In Kenya, he says, no guns are allowed except for police and those in the military. The interview is a fascinating look into life in Kenya through the eyes of an author who sails the handmade boats he builds, explores the underwater glories of the sea, and spends virtually every waking moment appreciating his experiences -- even if the power does run out in the middle of a podcast interview and he has to help pay to get it fixed.Take a listenBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

The federal government's lack of action that has allowed Abbott Laboratories to gain a stranglehold on the baby formula business is a key reason behind the current shortages that are driving parents mad and jeopardizing the health of little kids.That's the contention of Paul Cienfuegos, who has spent most of his adult life working to take away the power he believes has been ceded by government to America's corporations, much to the detriment of "we the people."The author of "How Dare We? Courageous Practices to Reclaim Our Power as Citizens," Cienfuegos says on The Lean to the Left Podcast, that current policies that allow virtual self regulation of such companies constitute a scandal that needs to be addressed.“Why did we the people, through our government agencies, allow the monopolization of baby formula production in the United States?" he asks open the podcast. "We have four corporations controlling the entire baby formula industry, and one of them violated all sorts of cleanliness laws in their factory and the federal government shut them down a while ago because they actually caused the death of two children and the harm of a number of other children. So they were shut down until they could clean up the factory and get the bacteria out of the assembly line. “But it took months for that action to be taken, which Cienfuegos attributes to his contention that the “corporate leaders in the food and drug industry” actually run the Food and Drug Administration. “All of the regulatory agencies we have,” he says, “are designed to shield corporations from the public.” Corporate leaders, he says, “are at the table writing the regulations. The whole thing is a scandal.”Noting that only nine people at the FDA are in charge of regulating the baby formula industry, he says “every single federal agency is underfunded and understaffed,” and it’s by design.On May 16, the FDA reached an agreement with /Abbott on steps needed to reopen its plant, and said it expected production to restart in about two weeks. The plant has been closed since February after several babies who had consumed its formula became ill and two died.On the podcast, Cienfuegos outlines strategies employed by Community Rights US, an organization he founded, that since 1999 have helped more than 200 communities in a dozen states pass local laws reigning in corporate power. Those steps are also described in his book.“The state and the federal government have the authority to overrule what local governments want to do to protect peoples’ health, safety and welfare," he says. "So we pass laws that strip state and local governments of that authority, which is illegal currently, but we do it anyway to force into the public conversation an understanding that what you think is going on is not what’s going on."Cienfuegos ticks off a litany of corporate rights, including "personhood" and property rights, that allow companies to force harmful actions on a community, which his organization seeks to limit or eliminate. “You gain an understanding that corporations do not have a right to cause harm,” he says. “So what are you going to do about it?”Listen to the podcast:Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Think it's possible to always have a lawyer available to help with legal issues at a cost less than a cappuccino a week at Starbucks?Check out this interview as novelist/attorney Mark Bello and I speak with Tara Paustenbach, who with a background in sales/marketing, has partnered with Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. since 1998. She recruits, trains and develops Associates across the U.S. and Canada to market the company’s products -- LegalShield and ID Shield for home and business. For Pre-Paid Legal, she has served as Regional Manager and Regional Vice President in Southern California, and most recently as Regional Vice President in Texas, helping to develop people for leadership positions. Tara is passionate about Pre-paid legal services and we will soon find out why. By the way, during the Covid crisis, Tara has worked from home and managed to raise and homeschool her 14 year-old son. So, she’s been wearing a lot of hats!We interviewed Tara for the Justice Counts podcast, which I co-host with Bello, and I sharewith you now.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today, we’re talking about Republican politics with two blog narrations from LeantotheLeft.net. The first, which I wrote, is headlined: “GOP: Beware of Radical Socialists & Communists,” and the second, by columnist CJ Waldron, asks the question, “Will the GOP Obstruct Justice?”But first, here’s a reminder that you can follow us at podcast.leantotheleft.net, and, you can reach me at [email protected]. And you can follow us on social media…Facebook at The Lean to the Left Podcast. Twitter at LeantotheLeft1. Instagram at Not Fake News. Also, if you enjoy this episode, please give a review on any of the podcast links you’ll find on our webpage, podcast.leantotheleft.net.Our thanks to The Ramminger Group for sponsoring this episode. The Ramminger Group provides content and marketing consulting services to responsible businesses and nonprofits. Let them help your story. Visit rammingergroup.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today I’m sharing with you an episode that focuses on prison and sentencing reform that I co-hosted for the Justice Counts podcast with thriller author/attorney Mark M. Bello. Nicole D. Porter manages The Sentencing Project’s state and local advocacy efforts on sentencing reform, voting rights, and confronting racial disparities in the criminal legal system.Named a “New Civil Rights Leader” by Essence Magazine for her work challenging mass incarceration, Porter joined the Sentencing Project in 2009 and her advocacy and findings have supported criminal legal reforms in such states as Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, California, Texas, and the District of Columbia.Porter’s areas of expertise include research and grassroots support around challenging racial disparities, felony disenfranchisement, in addition to prison closures and prison reuse. She’s authored articles on the collateral impacts of justice involvement on communities of color and how current social movements are challenging mass incarceration. The former director of the Texas ACLU’s Prison & Jail Accountability Project, Porter graduated from Johns Hopkins University and holds a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin. Some episode highlights:Porter calls for elimination of mandatory sentences for many crimes, including those involving drug offenses.She calls for reallocation of resources, including the closing of many prisons, with a focus on rehabilitation.She contends that many older inmates are no longer dangerous, and thus, should be released.She believes that because thousands of inmates that were subjected to mandatory sentences received unfairly harsh sentences, and because deplorable conditions in many prisons violate inmates' rights, that "reparations" are justified. Those payments would be used for community programs to prevent crime from occurring.Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today on the Lean to the Left podcast we’re talking politics, and with me are two long-time political analysts and activists from North Carolina and Georgia.As most of you know, I’m now based in South Carolina, moving here from Maryland a few years ago, and have since been involved in local Democratic politics – an uphill battle, if ever there was one.But joining me on in this episode are Arthur Hill, from North Carolina, and Robert Thompson, from Georgia. I guess you could call us the "Dixie Dems", except that two of the three of us are NOT native southerners. Arthur Hill is communications chair of the Brunswick County, North Carolina, Democratic party, who recently wrote a book on the history of St. James, his hometown since 2014. Before he moved to the Tarheel State, he was a public relations professional and freelance writer in Washington, DC. As I did, back in the day, Arthur also worked on Capitol Hill.Robert Thompson works in technology based in Atlanta, holding various IT positions dating back to 1998. He founded Peach News Now and its opinion podcast, "Got Damn Liberals", because he was tired of telling news stories to other reporters who kept telling him "that's not news." A native of South Georgia, he’s actually a “true” Dixie Dem.So, while it’s crazy in South Carolina with a Republican Congressman having to defend his vote to impeach Donald Trump against several rightwing candidates, one of whom was endorsed by Trump, I think it’s even wackier in Georgia and North Carolina. At least SC doesn't have a Madison Cawthorn or a Marjorie Taylor Green! Now, with this apparent Roe v Wade decision that’s been reported, it’s probably going to get even worse.The discussion unwraps the draft abortion ruling and the political implications, ranges into the argument over what can and cannot be taught in schools, Republican candidate misadventures, Trump's influence, and much more. There's lots of insight, but plenty of laughs along the way, as well.In fact, the three of us enjoyed the conversation so much we're planning on making this a regular monthly feature on the podcast.Take a listen:Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today, we’re talking about the leaked Supreme Court ruling that apparently will wipe out Roe v. Wade, the long-standing decision protecting a woman’s right to an abortion.I’ll be narrating three blogs on the subject from our Lean to the Left.net blog site, the first outlining why Trump, through his Supreme Court justices, is giving Democrats a winning issue going into the November election; the second, by Mark M. Bello, entitled RIP Reproductive Rights?, and the third by CJ Waldron, “Abortion & Other Things Not Mentioned in the Constitution.” But first, here’s a reminder that you can follow us at podcast.leantotheleft.net, and, you can reach me at [email protected]. And you can follow us on social media…Facebook at The Lean to the Left Podcast. Twitter at LeantotheLeft1. Instagram at Not Fake News. Also, if you enjoyed this episode, please give a review on any of the podcast links you’ll find on our webpage, podcast.leantotheleft.net.And here’s a shout out to Nashville blues musician and songwriter Scott Ramminger for providing our music bed for the Lean to the Left podcast. You can catch up with Scott at ScottRamminger.com.Now, for the first of three commentaries: Trump’s Justices: Disdain for Women, Gift for Dems,” by Bob Gatty…Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Sheri Few, firebrand leader against teaching the implications of racial history and comprehensive sex education in school, says teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT) "is from the pit of Hell and is meant to destroy lives."Founder and president of US Parents Involved in Education, Few ran unsuccessfully for office three times in South Carolina, and now is doing a media blitz claiming that discussions of CRT-related issues is rooted in Marxism and part of a Communist plot, supported by liberals, to "collapse our form of government and change it into a Marxist air even Communist form of government."Co-hosting the episode is children’s author and Lean to the Left contributing writer Dr. Pamela Gurley, who challenges Few on her goal to "Make America America Again", a slogan she used in her unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for Congress.“The last president brought out what America really looked like.” “You are trying to go back to a time that benefited you, a White woman, that did not benefit someone like me, a Black woman,” says Dr. Gurley.SHOW NOTES2:06 Critical Race Theory, distortion of history and what it means when it comes to education. FEW -- “I oppose critical race theory that, in its roots, is Marxist. So critical theory came out of the Marxist Frankfurt School in Germany many decades ago. There’s several critical theories, not just critical race theory. There’s Critical Queer Theory, Critical, Critical Gender Theory, Critical Feminist Theory…the intent was to criticize the society and culture by identifying all these different groups.”3:08 Cultural Marxism FEW -- “They identified different groups of people, put them against one another in order to cause division. The end goal would be to collapse our form of government and change it into a Marxist or even Communist form of government.”5:18 – Plot to turn American government into Communist government? FEW -- “Absolutely. We’ve seen an entire generation steeped in socialism.” “If we don’t wake up and stop the indoctrination of children and get back to teaching core academics…children are failing academically and it gets worse and worse every year, and in the meantime, what do they want to do? They want to teach social emotional learning, critical race theory. All of these are things that really have no business in the classroom.”6:26 – Get rid of Medicare, Medicaid and Obamacare? FEW -- “Yes, I’m sorry, I believe that. I believe that it started with the War on Poverty and LBJ and we’ve just progressed more and more until we get to the point where it’s all universal medicine.” Says Social Security falls into the same category.8:40 –Race in Florida Math Books FEW --“We should not be indoctrinating children with math problems because people disagree on that topic…if it’s a controversial issue, it shouldn’t be in a math problem.”11:11 – Teaching patriotism FEW -- “Children are not even taught to love their country any more. We’re the only country in the world that doesn’t teach their children to be patriotic. Instead our children are taught that we are oppressors, and that we have stolen from the Indians and all of this nonsense.”11:47 – New Documentary Film FEW -- “It’s called “Truth and Lies in American Education.” Website: https://Truthandliesfilm.US . This is an important expose.”13:35 – Oppressing American Indians FEW -- “There were some bad situations like the Trail of Tears, but it wasn’t all bad. We came and our goal was to evangelize when we came to this country... So, we were able to help Indians in a lot of ways.”14:48 – The Sexualization of Children FEW -- “It has been in the classroom for decades, but it’s just getting worse and worse.” Discusses parents’ lawsuit in Ludlow County, MA, accusing teachers of trying to groom children into thinking of themselves as transgender. 21:40 – Abstinence Until Marriage FEW – “I have written four, maybe five, abstinence-until-marriage curricula. Since it (sex ed) is in the schools, I think it’s a better approach than teaching children how to put condoms on bananas and that kind of stuff that was happening 20 years ago. Now it’s far worse than that.”25:21 – Parental Responsibility FEW – Good parents and grandparents don’t prop their kids up in front of the television and let them watch all these ridiculous shows that are against their values.”26:26 – Parental Options FEW – “Every parent should be made aware before those classes are taught and have the opportunity to review the curriculum, and, if they object to the content, they ought to have the opportunity to opt their child out.”29:08 – What did your campaign slogan “Make America America Again” Mean? FEW – “To get back to when we loved our country and we were proud to be American, and we were a melting pot, and we were united, and where people wanted to be American, when immigrants would come here and go through all that it takes so that they could become an American citizen.” “My mother stayed home and raised her children instead of sending them

What's the image that comes to mind when you think of a woman in her 70s? And if you're approaching that age, or living in that life decade, what's your mindset? For Ruth Yunker, a twice-divorced Californian, it's all about "aging vivaciously."On this episode of The Lean to the Left Podcast, Yunker, a yoga-fit mother of two talks about her struggle with alcoholism, subsequent sobriety, and her lifestyle today that, she says, is bringing much happiness.What's her secret for aging vivaciously?"It's an inside job," she says. "Find your little magical miracle every single day," whether it's the first cup of coffee of the day or even simply catching all the green lights on the way to work. Pay attention to making your own goddamned joy."Is she lonely living alone?"I got divorced the second time and never looked back," she says. "I walk in the house and I don't have to look down at my feet to see if there's a cat, a baby, or my husband's shoes. I just walk in and I don't trip."Ruth talks about her love for nice clothes and fancy hats...and cats. Keys to her happiness, she said, are her 21 years of sobriety, yoga, "a good plastic surgeon," and "fun with fashion.""Don't cry in the corner of your couch," she says. "It ruins your face."Yunker has written three books -- two about her travels to Paris, and her latest, "Baby I'm the Boss of Me, My Journey to Ageless." It's about aging with courage, humor, and personal power."This podcast episode is truly funny, and for those of us in our sunset years, certainly uplifting. It's worth a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

I had a bad dream last night. It's 2025 and an obsessed right-wing Republican from Florida by the name of Rick Scott is now president of the United States. All hell has broken loose.Take a listen...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Our guest today is Christopher Pearson and the topic is passing the National Popular Vote bill that would guarantee the presidency to the candidate with the most popular votes. Pearson is a Vermont State Senator and worked on his 1998 campaign, then his Congressional office. He’s been with National Popular Vote where is secretary on the Board of Directors.We’ve all seen the problems with the current Electoral College system, made even worse with the Donald Trump’s shenanigans to use it to retain power, despite his election defeat. And, in 2020, while Joe Biden won by more than 7 million votes, because of the Electoral College, a switch of only 23,000 votes in three states could have given the election to Trump.“That’s dangerous. That’s a real threat to our whole system,” says Pearson on the podcast.The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, if passed by enough states, would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Compact ensures that every vote, in every state, will matter in every presidential election. It is a state-based approach that preserves the Electoral College, state control of elections, and the power of the states to control how the President is elected.The National Popular Vote bill has been enacted by 16 jurisdictions possessing 195 electoral votes, including four small states (DE, HI, RI, VT), eight medium-sized states (CO, CT, MD, MA, NJ, NM, OR, WA), three big states (CA, IL, NY), and the District of Columbia. The bill, which will take effect when enacted by states with 75 more electoral votes, has passed at least one chamber in nine additional states with 88 more electoral votes (AR, AZ, ME, MI, MN, NC, NV, OK, VA). A total of 3,522 state legislators from all 50 states have endorsed it. The shortcomings of the current system of electing the President stem from “winner-take-all” laws that have been enacted by state legislatures in 48 states. These laws award all of a state’s electoral votes to the candidate receiving the most popular votes in each state.Because of these state winner-take-all statutes, presidential candidates have no reason to pay attention to the issues of concern to voters in states where the statewide outcome is a foregone conclusion. In 2012, all of the 253 general-election campaign events were in just 12 states, and two-thirds were in just four (Ohio, Florida, Virginia, and Iowa). Thirty-eight states were ignored.“In politics, what matters is influence,” says Pearson. “Where you get influence in the current system of electing a president is not be being a small state, not by being a big state, it’s by being a battleground state. If you look at where they spend money in a campaign, in a general election, they spend over two-thirds of their resources, money and time, in usually eight states. In fact, in 2012, it was four states.” The rest of the country is “completely taken for granted,” Pearson contends, while the issues that are important to voters in those toss-up battleground states “take on huge influence in the country.”The National Popular Vote interstate compact will go into effect when enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes—that is, enough to elect a President (270 of 538). At that time, every voter in the country will acquire a direct vote for a group of at least 270 presidential electors supporting their choice for President. All of this group of 270+ presidential electors will be supporters of the candidate who received the most popular votes in all 50 states and DC—thus making that candidate President. In contrast, under the current system, a voter has a direct voice in electing only the small number of presidential electors to which their state is entitled. Under NPV, every voter directly elects 270+ electors, Pearson explains on the podcast.“National Popular Vote is a key reform to the way we elect a president,” Pearson says. “For people that believe every vote should be equal, if you get the most votes, you should win the election and the candidates should be inspired to go everywhere and see voters, not just a handful of battleground states. That’s what National Popular Vote’s doing, we’re over 70 percent of the way there and it’s a very exciting and important reform.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Too many outside influencers are trying to tell colleges and universities what they should and should not teach. At least 16 states are considering or have already signed into law bills that punish teachers for discussing critical race theory or similar topics.Bob Atkins, a higher education strategy consultant, is with us today to discuss how limiting students’ academic options are detrimental to their future, and how schools should hold their ground against external voices and agendas."It’s the stuff of demagogues, it’s the stuff of the populace, it’s the stuff of the guys who run Russia," he says. "The idea is I can make stuff up as long as it appeals to my constituency that’s consistent with my ideology. It’s very dangerous stuff, and it really does undermine the foundations of our society in ways that are difficult to quantify. It’s part of what drives these spikes between Americans that needn’t be there. We agree on a lot of the substantive issues, but these fantasy issues really can divide us up." Atkins says that the impact of these external political pressures on institutions of higher education primarily affects budgets, which are being cut. "That’s the first line of defense," he says. "There’s a belief that higher education is too expensive and that by cutting funding that will lower the cost of education,” but, he explains, that’s the opposite of what happens.“When the state cuts funding, the institutions raise tuitions. So all they’re really doing is shifting the burden of paying for college from the citizenry at large to specifically students and their parents.”As states try to restrict budgets based on what is being taught on campus, Atkins warns, “Now we’re getting very close to book burning. Everybody has a favorite book they want to burn.”In this episode, Atkins discusses ways that colleges and universities can resist those outside political pressures and strategies that can be used to develop academic curriculum that meets the needs of students while holding down costs.Atkins is the author of “Start, Stop, or Grow?: A Data-Informed Approach To Academic Program Evaluation And Management.” He is the CEO and founder of Gray Associates Inc., a strategy consulting firm focused on higher education. The firm helps education clients develop fact-based institutional and marketing strategies that maximize outcomes for students, the school, and its constituencies. In leading Gray’s education industry software and services development, Atkins consults with college presidents, CAOs, CFOs and CMOs on program assessment, institutional strategy, pricing and location selection. He received an MBA, with honors, from Harvard Business School, and a BA, magna cum laude, from Harvard College.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Donald Trump's followers are being carted off to jail for participating in the January 6, 2021 violent attack intended to block the electoral college vote finalizing Joe Biden's election and relegating the orange blowhard to the trash heap of history. But what about those who sent those loyal followers on this fools' errand -- Trump and his son, Don Jr.? Should they not suffer the same fate? Should they be charged with conspiracy or even treason?That’s where we’re headed on today’s podcast…But first, here’s a reminder that you can follow us at podcast.leantotheleft.net, and, you can reach me at [email protected]. And you can follow us on social media…Facebook at The Lean to the Left Podcast. Twitter at LeantotheLeft1. Instagram at Not Fake News. Also, if you enjoyed this episode, please give a review on any of the podcast links you’ll find on our webpage, podcast.leantotheleft.net.And here’s a shout out to Nashville blues musician and songwriter Scott Ramminger for providing our music bed for the Lean to the Left podcast. You can catch up with Scott at ScottRamminger.com.Now, for the rest of the story…Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Last month former President Donald Trump urged his supporters to “lay down their lives” to fight against critical race theory, as he worked to whip up support for what probably will be an attempt to regain the White House.Using CRT, the study of institutional racism in the legal system, as a whipping boy is a favorite ploy of right-wing Republicans trying to control what can be taught in public schools across the nation…attempting to prohibit teachers from telling the truth about the role racism has played in our country’s history.Today we have two college professors from South Carolina with us to discuss this controversy and its role in public discourse today. In South Carolina, they are in the eye of the storm.Jeremy Holland is a sociology professor at Horry-Georgetown Technical College. His research interests include social movements, economics, discourse analysis, and political ideology. Chris Waldron is an adjunct English professor at Horry-Georgetown Tech, and for almost 30 years he was an English and Special Education teacher in Schenectady, NY.On the podcast, these educators warn of the dangers of censoring academic discussion of controversial contemporary social issues, and the implications of political interference on teachers' ability to do their jobs. Both Jeremy and Chris are frequent contributors to the Lean to the Left.net blog.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today we’re with James A. Ross, author of the book, "Hunting Teddy Roosevelt", a historical novel that veers into TR’s African adventures and an assassination attempt. There is this line from the book: “Roosevelt is not only hunting in Africa, he’s being hunted.” And then…On the podcast, Ross talks about Roosevelt, a true progressive who was responsible for the 40-hour work week, backed the establishment of labor unions, and led trustbusting efforts against corporate conglomerates. Did all of that lead to the assassination attempt described in "Hunting Teddy Roosevelt"? Ross has some thoughts on that.Ross has been a Peace Corps volunteer in the Congo, a Congressional staffer and a Wall Street lawyer. "Hunting Teddy Roosevelt" won the Independent Press Distinguished Favorite Award for historical fiction and the American Fiction Award in the Adventure/Historical category. It was a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Award and the American Book Festival Award for historical fiction. Ross’s debut mystery novel, COLDWATER REVENGE also won numerous prestigious awards, and his short fiction has appeared in numerous literary journals and his short story, Aux Secours, was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He is a frequent story teller and gives live performances, and his on-line stories, newsletter sign-up and more can be found on his website: https://jamesrossauthor.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

With the war in Ukraine continuing to rage and President Biden just challenging the energy companies to stop sitting on profits and produce oil to ease pricing pressure to consumers, you have to wonder what the impact will be on the battle to curtail greenhouse gases in the fight against climate change.Frank Dalene, author of Decarbonize the World, A Market-Based Solution to the Climate Crisis, in this episode of the Lean to the Left podcast, expresses concern that animosity caused by Russia's attack on Ukraine will prevent worldwide cooperation that is needed to effectively reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions."We only have one atmosphere," he says, noting that every industrialized nation must take effective action if the worldwide dangers of climate change are to be mitigated.Dalene is president/CEO of luxury home builder Telemark Inc., an early adopter of green technologies, and reveals on the show that he's building a new "proof of concept" addition to his home on Long Island that will be 100 percent free of fossil fuels. The structure floats on a slab of six-inch dense foam, uses groundwater for cooling, and hot air from the roof to generate hot water. He describes the structure in some detail and says it is a "living laboratory" for engineering houses in the future. Dalene is the founder of the Hamptons Green Alliance, where more information about this initiative can be found.While Dalene advocates the use of electric vehicles (EV) and the Biden administration's plan to build the necessary infrastructure to support their use, such as charging stations, he points out that the use of solar to power homes should accompany the growth in EVs.In addition, Dalene describes on the podcast a new system that he has developed to determine the greenhouse gas impact of specific products and services. He is working with federal officials and lawmakers to gain the necessary governmental support to make this system a reality.For a fascinating discussion about energy, the environment, and the fight against climate change, take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Many of the Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee were disgusting in their disrespectful treatment of President Biden’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. At the same time, Justice Clarence Thomas is now under the January 6th Committee microscope because of his wife, Ginny’s, overt effort supporting Donald Trump’s try to overturn the 2020 election.In this episode, I narrate two Lean to the Let.net blogs on those topics, one by CJ Waldron on the Thomas fiasco and the other by Mark M. Bello, focusing on Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s treatment of Judge Brown.But first, here’s a reminder that you can follow us at podcast.leantotheleft.net, and, you can reach me at [email protected]. And you can follow us on social media…Facebook at The Lean to the Left Podcast. Twitter at LeantotheLeft1. Instagram at Not Fake News. Also, if you enjoyed this episode, please give a review on any of the podcast links you’ll find on our webpage, podcast.leantotheleft.net.And here’s a shout out to Nashville blues musician and songwriter Scott Ramminger for providing our music bed for the Lean to the Left podcast. You can catch up with Scott at ScottRamminger.com.Now, first, here’s “What a Hypocrite!” by Mark M. Bello.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today we’re with University of Houston history professor Bob Buzzanco to discuss some of the historical context with respect to the vicious attack by Russia on Ukraine, and what he thinks is required to reach an agreement to stop the bloodshed.Professor Buzzanco, who also co-hosts the Green and Red Podcast, describes himself, among other things, as a historian, writer, agitator, professor, and Sicilian. He has an extensive record of publications and speaking out on U.S. foreign policy, the arms race, NATO, U.S. armed conflict and wars, and U.S. relations with the Soviet Union and Russia. He is also an award winning author of numerous books and essays on the Cold War, the Vietnam War, U.S. military intervention, the military-industrial complex, and the military budget. A review of his social media pages reveals that he’s no fan of the military industrial complex.Regarding the Russian attack on Ukraine, Buzzanco contends that it’s important to understand the history of U.S.-supported NATO expansion since the fall of the Soviet Union and Putin’s determination to restore his country to its place as a world leader.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Alester Linton-Pryor is an African-American woman from New York City who is now spending every waking moment of what is supposed to be retirement trying to overtake the rightwing Republicans who dominate her region in South Carolina.As chair of the Horry County (SC) Democratic Party (HCDP), Linton-Pryor leads a determined band of volunteers who share her concerns about the major social issues of today and are working to elect Democrats in an area where using that very word can get you snubbed, or worse.On this episode of the Lean to the Left podcast, Linton-Pryor talks about the challenges she and other Democrats face in her ruby red area, but says she is confident that gains can be made if voters simply will be effectively informed about the benefits President Biden and Democrats in Congress have provided.She points to the $1.9 trillion relief package the president pushed through Congress to help Americans through the economic disaster caused by the Covid 19 pandemic, and stresses the new jobs it is creating and the financial assistance it has provided. Likewise, the massive infrastructure law that Biden shepherded through Congress will also provide major benefits, including good paying jobs.At the same time, she recognizes the difficulties that the President and Democratic leaders have encountered in the 50-50 Senate, where voting rights bills and the broad Build Back Better program have stalled, largely because of Republican opposition.Linton-Pryor takes no prisoners in this interview, stressing that it is the Democratic Party that is fighting for voting rights, equal rights for all, child care, health care, education, and is opposing efforts to restrict what can be taught in schools and to interfere with a woman's right to choose what should happen to her own body.For those who are involved with HCDP, the interview will provide a glimpse into what drives this leader and what she hopes to achieve. For those who do not, it offers insight into the challenges faced by determined progressive leaders who are bucking the odds in GOP-controlled areas.Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today we’re speaking with an author, a mom, a fighter. She’s dealt with a lot, but with great courage she’s used her novels to try to achieve a better world. Her name is Juliet Rose and she’s the fifth in a series of guests to recognize Women’s History Month.Juliet lives in the mountains of Georgia and says she first knew she wanted to be a writer when she was 11 years old. She’s had some tough times…losing her mom at that young age…and then her own four-year-old daughter from cancer.She is the epitome of courage, of someone who grabbed adversity, looked it in the eye, and succeeded."You've got to put your feet out of the bed and moment by moment you just keep pitching forward and eventually you find that movement without struggle," she says.Juliet is now the author of three books with a fourth coming out in May. Her novels all deal with social issues that are important to her and her characters are built around issues like the over-incarceration of people, challenges facing LGBTQ+ individuals, equality and fairness, animal rights, and more.During the episode, Juliet talks about the process of writing a novel, character development, research, translating life experiences to her works, but she also delves into some of the political and social issues facing our country today. Action by Republicans across the nation to restrict voting and make it harder for some people to exercise their right to vote angers Juliet Rose."It's all about money," she says. "To control the money, you have to control the people. They are looking at the money trail as a pot of gold."There is a lot more where that came from. Take a listen...You can learn more about Juliet at authorjulietrose.com.Also, our thanks to Nashville blues musician and saxman Scott Ramminger for the music bed for Lean to the Left. Learn more about Scott at https://ScottRamminger.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Now it's time for some straight talk about politics, in fact, mostly South Carolina and Georgia politics where things are always interesting with such players as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Stacy Abrams, Sen. Lindsey Graham and Rep. Tom Rice, the right-winger who voted to impeach Trump.Our guest is Robert Thompson, host of the Got Damn Liberals podcast, which largely covers Georgia politics but strays across state lines more often than not. Robert is an astute observer of politics in the South, especially his home state of Georgia.Our discussion hits on everything from President Biden's nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court to MTG, Stacy Abrams, Rice and Trump's vendetta against him, critical race theory and much, much more.Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

A draconian GOP manifesto that would raise taxes and potentially end key social programs is a roadmap for what Republicans may be planning if they win control of Congress and the Presidency.One of the most powerful Republican senators in the nation, Rick Scott of Florida, is pushing a sweeping plan that, if passed, would raise taxes on working Americans by $1 trillion and potentially wipe out Social Security, Medicare and even veterans' benefits.Scott is chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which raises money and provides campaign support for GOP senatorial candidates and thus has great influence within the GOP, including strong support by twice impeached former president Donald Trump.While Scott's plan was immediately denounced by Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Democrats in Congress and the White House, it should not be ignored as it can be expected to emerge in some form if Republicans return to power. His 11-point Plan to Rescue America is a roadmap for embedding Christianity and conservative ideology into official government policy for decades to come. Listen for more...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month in March, we’re presenting the fourth in a series of guests to mark that occasion -- women who may be unheralded and not all that famous, but who are making significant contributions to society.Today’s guest is Kelsey Walker and our topic is abortion. Since she was a teenager, Kelsey’s been a warrior for reproductive rights and then had her own experience with abortion. She and her husband learned that their unborn child, whom they named Hope, had the fatal version of osteogenesis imperfecta, or "brittle bone disease." In other words, virtually every bone in Kelsey's baby was broken -- inside her womb.There was no choice but to have an abortion, and onerous state laws not only made this difficult, but resulted in psychological trauma that affects Kelsey to this day.From the trauma of that experience, she wrote a memoir, “Face Everything and Rise,” and now she’s founded a nonprofit, “From the Green Desk” to coach and provide group therapy for women who’ve had abortions, lost pregnancies, or children.By doing this, she says she hopes to eliminate the painful “silent scream” that results from these losses. And along the way, she actively protests against the raft of onerous anti-abortion laws that are being enacted.Kelsey's story is one of courage, and yes, "Hope." Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month in March, we’re presenting the third of several guests to mark that occasion -- women who may be unheralded and not all that famous, but who are making significant contributions to society.Today’s guest is Ashlyn Brierre, co-founder of Grand Strand Action Together, or GSAT, a nonprofit community organization devoted to providing education, outreach, and advocacy opportunities to South Carolina’s coast.Ashlyn’s instagram bio says she’s a yinzer, twin mom, cat mom, plant mom, bad feminist, bad socialist, and organizer. On Twitter, she adds that she’s a “commie hillbilly.” She’s an incredibly busy mom with a hell of a lot to say and do. And she pulls no punches. For example, she posted this on Instagram about the CDC.“My 1.5 year-old twins really are thrilled that the @CDCgov has basically said “fuck it” – they’re so thankful that such an organization has their best interests (and all children under 5!) at heart.”Ashlyn, welcome to Lean to the Left…---Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Hey guys, welcome to another episode of Lean to the Left, presenting no-holds-barred progressive commentary and newsmaker interviews. I’m your host, Bob Gatty.At Lean to the Left you’ll find insight into today’s news, plus analysis…with focus on social issues that affect all of us. You’ll never know who’ll show up at Lean to the Left.Today we’re talking about Donald Trump, Sen. Lindsey Graham and more of the Republican motley crew who are making wacked out suggestions about what to do about Putin and his attacks on Ukraine.But before we get started, here’s a reminder that you can follow us at podcast.leantotheleft.net, and, you can reach me at [email protected]. And you can follow us on social media…Facebook at The Lean to the Left Podcast. Twitter at The Real Not Fake News. Instagram at Not Fake News. Also, if you enjoyed this episode, please give a review on Apple Podcasts or any of the podcast links you’ll find on our website, podcast.leantotheleft.net.And here’s a shout out to Nashville blues musician and songwriter Scott Ramminger for providing our music bed for the Lean to the Left podcast. You can catch up with Scott at ScottRamminger.com.Now, for today’s show…a narration of our latest blog on Lean to the left.net. It’s called Republican Looney Tunes.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Our guest today is a young Millennial, Leesa Danzek, who was an extremely active Republican but now is trying to turn a ruby red area of South Carolina blue. Leesa explains what factors influenced her transformation and what she hopes to accomplish, and along the way has some pointed comments about the Republican Party, its positions on such issues as abortion and racial equality.She talks about the future and the role she hopes to play in creating a better, more welcoming place for all Americans, regardless of race, age, political persuasion, or sexual orientation.Leesa is another in a series of guests commemorating Women’s History Month.But first, here’s a reminder that you can follow us on our website, https://podcast.leantotheleft.net and, you can reach me at [email protected], if you enjoyed this episode, please give a review on Apple Podcasts or any of the podcast links you’ll find on our website, podcast.leantotheleft.net.And here’s a shout out to Nashville blues musician and songwriter Scott Ramminger for providing our music bed for the Lean to the Left podcast. You can catch up with Scott at ScottRamminger.com.And don’t forget to connect with us on social media. Facebook at The Lean to the Left Podcast. Twitter at The Real Not Fake News. Instagram at Not Fake News. You can also support our show and help us keep going by clicking on the Donate tab at the top of the page, where you’ll find links to “Buy Me a Cup of Coffee” and also PayPal.Now, for today’s show… Take a listen…Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

As we look ahead to Women’s History Month in March, we’re presenting the first of several guests to mark that occasion -- women who may be unheralded and not all that famous, but who are making significant contributions to society.Today’s guest is Donna Wayles, a teacher, author, speaker, and domestic violence survivor who’s written a new book, “I’ll Pray for You, A Christian Woman’s Guide to Surviving Domestic Violence.”Donna teaches technology and pre-engineering at a Title 1 middle school. She coached an award-winning cybersecurity team until Covid lockdowns and immigration issues put the team on hold. She’ll share with us why her ultra-conservative views have moderated a good deal because of her experiences in the education system. Here are some questions Donna covers in the episode:1.Tell us about your book and where the name came from.2.Why did you write it?3.Were you afraid your husband would retaliate?4.You indicated that you’ve become more moderate…less conservative…in your political views. Why?5.What problems did you encounter as an educator?6.You indicated that you’d also like to discuss immigration. From what standpoint?7.Did the presidency of Donald Trump affect your political views?8.What message would you like to express to women who are in abusive domestic situations?9.What resources are available to those who might be in trouble?10.How can people get your book…Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Ever think what it would be like if things were reversed and it was Joe Biden who was colluding with foreign powers and Donald Trump who was the good guy, victimized by Biden and his gang of crooks? Take a listen…Everything is upside down in Michael Goodwin’s new book, Vice Versa. In this retelling of the 2020 election, China supposedly backs Joe Biden, as does Fox News.In Vice Versa, all the other mainstream media hates Biden and is doing everything they can to help Donald Trump and that nasty word, “collusion,” rears its ugly head. But this time it’s Biden who’s accused of colluding with China, not Trump with Russia.And as if that was not topsy turvy enough, in Michael Goodwin’s world, the police are killing unarmed white people, resulting in riots of white protesters.Brightly written and immensely entertaining, Vice Versa is Goodwin’s fourth novel. He spends his weekdays in a finance job and weekends writing. He conceived of Vice Versa as he watched the Russian collusion story gradually unravel. He wondered what the reaction would have been if the Biden campaign had been falsely accused of something similar. On the show, Goodwin and host Bob Gatty get into a political discussion about President Biden, the factors that caused his election, and some of the key issues at play today. Talk turns to the divisions that currently affect our nation and some of the hopes this author has for healing them.Take a listen...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

In many states across the nation there are right-wing sponsored efforts to stop public school teachers from discussing the racist history of our country with their students, an effort that has caught fire in many districts with some parents protesting the teaching of "critical race theory" to their kids.That is happening in South Carolina, where at least six bills are under consideration, all aiming to ban teaching an accurate account of the role that racism has played in the history of the United States. The obvious objective is to deny the racist reality of present-day U.S. society by distorting the history that students learn in the state’s public schools and banning curriculum that seeks to explain how racism has shaped U.S. society since its inception. The South Carolina bills are part of a wider campaign currently being waged by far-right politicians across the country — a sweeping racist attack against public education, academic freedom, and freedom of speech.That is the focus of a new episode of the Lean to the Left podcast, featuring Josh Malkin, a Public Interest and Government Fellow with the American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina. Josh is deeply committed to advocating for racial and educational equity and protecting the rights of children. In that context, he is helping to lead the fight against those Republican-sponsored anti-truth and censorship bills now before the South Carolina state legislature – all of them prompted by the red-flag issue of critical race theory.If you live in South Carolina and would like to share your views about these bills with your state legislators, here's what you can do:Call your representatives and inform them you stand against House Bills 4325, 4343, 4392, 4605, and 4799. If you would like to testify in Columbia, email [email protected] to let her know you would like to testify at the next possible meeting on the bills mentioned above. The Chairwoman has said multiple times that everyone who wants to testify will be heard, so folks who receive a rejection should let Josh know at [email protected] you wish to testify via Zoom, a sign on letter requesting Zoom testimony is available here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWYcp3Q_rzv-4vK1wnz-Tmjp6aUEqELsjNg0C8x-fyNCgd-g/viewformFor businesses/non profits, a sign on letter to oppose bills H. 4605 and H. 4799, which involve imposition on creation of corporate culture is available here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScGvQ1eNYw-G8EgXhScY064Gkb0Pw1SpDLGaIX1UrQYjPjXqA/viewform. More information about the "anti-truth" bills and our coalition, Truth in Ed SC, can be found: https://www.protruthsc.org/. Josh is available to answer additional questions at [email protected] a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Joe Biden can't seen to catch a break. Even many Democrats and Independents are now expressing disappointment because he hasn't accomplished everything he promised, even though he's only been in office a little more than one year -- and despite stubborn opposition from the Trump dominated Republican Party. Chris Waldron of Not Fake News has some thoughts about that -- and a warning. Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today, Mark Bello and I are with Carrie Kohan. Carrie is a national child advocate and spokesperson who has forced the change of several laws in Canada relating to child abuse, and has written a book called the Five Lessons of Life. In addition to forcing the government to change an entire body of Canadian law, Carrie founded Project Guardian and Mad Mothers Against Pedophiles (MMAP) in 1998. What MADD did for drinking and driving, Carrie wanted to do for pedophilia and the protection of children, by educating the public and change the laws.When Carrie began her journey as a child advocate, pedophilia was a taboo subject. No one wanted to acknowledge or talk about it. As a lobbyist and advocate, she was instrumental in changing 14 laws in Canada that now protect children from harm.Her legacies include Amber Alert, the Provincial and National Sex Offender Registries, the Child Protection Act (which regulates online sexual exploitation), amendments to the divorce act and immigration laws. She is the namesake of the "Carrie's Guardian Angel Law" which requires a 20-year minimum sentence for serial predators and pedophiles.On the show, Carrie reveals how all of these achievements have taken place, even though into adulthood she was virtually illiterate. And, she talks about what set her on the path to combat pedophilia -- how she fended off with a kitchen knife a man who was trying to abduct her baby daughter.Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Dr. Tracy Pearson, a regular Court TV guest, in this episode blasts politicians in red states for skewing election laws to disadvantage minorities and others unlikely to support them, as well as Sen. Ted Cruz for complaining that President Biden's plan to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court amounts to racism against White men. Dr. Pearson says she likes to make sense out of the noise.” Her passion is helping others understand what they didn’t understand before, and then change their perspective. With two doctorates, one in education and the other in law, she’s an expert in a lot of things, including investigations and assessment of investigations – including workplaces. In fact, she recently conducted a study on implicit/unconscious bias in workplace investigations. On the podcast, she discusses that study and some remarkable findings that demonstrate pro-company bias by those charged with investigating workplace complaints. On the show, we discuss a wide range of issues that all fall under the heading of justice, whether it’s social justice or legal justice. We talk about California Gov. Gavin Newsome’s refusal to grant parole to former Manson family member Leslie Van Houten, about the murder verdicts in the racially charged Rittenhouse and Ahmaud Arbery cases, as well as Republican efforts to stymie voting, the promised nomination by President Biden of a Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court, and much more. Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

With Donald Trump continuing to claim that he literally is above the law because he was President and has used that assertion to avoid punishment for his many transgressions, we have a Justice Department that seems to be MIA – missing in action when it comes to prosecuting the twice impeached Trump. Writer Chris Waldron discusses those developments in twin blogs on Not Fake News.biz, which I’ll now narrate.Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Our guest is Martin Henson, executive director of the BMEN Foundation whose mission is to mobilize and support all Black men and address issues many confront every day.BMen is based in Boston and was established as a response to the “Me Too” movement as increasing numbers of women came forward to reveal instances of sexual abuse against them.But it’s grown far beyond that, with counseling sessions to help Black men who face stigma and other life challenges.Our interview with Henson explores all of that and also his views about Republican efforts to restrict voting that are aimed at minority voters and the failure of Congress to enact voting reforms.However, Henson is quick to caution listeners not to judge President Biden too harshly, pointing out the disastrous presidency of Donald Trump.Here are some of the questions we explore in the episode with Martin Henson:1.Some of the key areas identified on your website include addressing stigma, education and advocacy, collaboration, problem solving, respect and community. Tell us about what you’re doing in these areas – and why they’re important.2.The website says BMEN is an “inclusive group” – what does that mean?3.What services and activities do you provide?4.Is the foundation politically active?5.Foundation implies funding – where does your funding come from?6.What are your overall goals and objectives?7.What are your thoughts about the voting restrictions being enacted in response to Trump’s “Big Lie” about the election?8.What is your reaction to the failure of Congress – and specifically Biden and the Democrats – to get voting reform legislation passed and signed into law?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

There’s a horrible, deadly cancer that not many people know about. It’s called Cholangiocarcinoma. We learn a lot about that today from a father who lost his daughter to this disease, and from a patient who continues in a fight for her life. Last summer Dave Fleischer crisscrossed America to draw attention to the battle against the rare and deadly cancer, Cholangiocarcinoma, which claimed the life of his daughter, Sarah, at age 35.On his trip, supported by the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, Fleischer visited hospitals and healthcare institutions that specialize in research and treatment of the disease, and met with patients, caregivers and healthcare providers who were important in Sarah's life.One of those patients, known as Warriors, with whom Dave met was Janice Meyer, who has been battling the deadly bile duct cancer since her diagnosis in 2018. Janice also is with us today and shares the story of her battle against the disease and her efforts to raise awareness about the need for research to find medications to help patients and, eventually, a cure.One of her initiatives is the 3rd Annual Quack Out Cholangio 5k to Crush Bile Duct Cancer, to be held May 14, 2022 at Midnight Oil Brewery, 674 Pencader Dr., Newark, DE 19702. Participation fee is $25 for those who register by April 14. The fee until May 12 is $30, and $35 the day of the race. More info: https://raceroster.com/events/2022/55023/3rd-annual-quack-out-cholangio-5k-to-crush-bile-duct-cancerFebruary is Cholangiocarcinoma Awareness Month and Feb. 12 is World Cholangiocarcinoma Day, and so I invited Dave and Janice to join us and discuss the ongoing battle to find a cure for what is now considered a terminal disease.Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

It's like we're in an amusement park fun house where everything is distorted and weird, and where up is down and down is up. That apparently is Republican politics today. Consider this past week.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Did you ever think about how data – statistical information – could be used to foster racism and discrimination? I have to tell you, that really never crossed my mind. Until I interviewed Maya Ford, founder of Houston-based FordMomentum! Check this out from the Houston Business Journal:"For the better part of her communications career, Maya Ford was usually the only person of color in the office, which means she was typically the only person to ask for data regarding minority communities."That needed to change, and Ford was willing to do whatever it took to make it happen. So, in 2016, she cashed out all $42,000 of her retirement at 38 years old to launch FordMomentum, a Houston-based communications firm focused on data-driven outcomes that represent communities of color."Now, FordMomentum! is transforming the way data is collected and used, ultimately reshaping communities."During the episode, we discuss how science and data aren't always objective and can be used to push harmful agendas. Maya says her company is dismantling many ways racism and hatred can leak into science and data, and that's important to both businesses that are serious about marketing to minority communities, and to the equitable distribution of resources by government.In the episode, Maya also has some choice words for Republican politicians in states that are enacting new laws aimed at making it more difficult for members of minority communities to vote, and for Congress for failing to enact new voter protection laws. "It's despicable," she says.It's an informative and engaging episode. Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.