The Lean to the Left Podcast

Today we’re going to take on a topic that some might consider a little bit daring. We’re going to have a talk with a guy named Jack Kammer, who calls himself “The Counter-Feminist Social Worker.”Jack’s an author and podcaster, among other things, and from the looks of it, he’s all about defending the rights of men and boys against various forms of discrimination.What? You might be saying about now – men being discriminated against in favor of women? It’s really the other way around, buddy. Nevertheless, Jack has made a career of defending men and men’s rights, so I thought it would be interesting to hear what he has to say and figure out where he’s coming from.During the show, Jack answers questions like this:1.What is a counter-feminist, anyway?2.In this era of the #MeToo movement, isn’t this idea that men are the victims a little bit wacky?3.And what about the disparity in income levels, with women earning just 82 percent of what men typically earn for doing the same job? 4.You say there is a “double-whammy of racism and sexism operating against Black men.” What’s that all about?5.Isn’t your view just a touch misogynistic?6.Are you saying women are sexist?7.You talk about female supremacy and its power structure…what’s that about?8.Isn’t this a lot like talking about “White people’s race issues”?9.What’s the Lace Curtain? How did it impact your book Good Will Toward Men?”10.What got you started on this crusade, anyway?11.What kind of a relationship do you have personally with women? Are you married?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Traces of dangerous “forever chemicals” have been found in many water systems across the country, chemicals that come from many common sources but that could be extremely dangerous to our health. Both state officials and the feds are looking into the situation, but activists feel not enough is being done. So, today we’re taking a look at efforts to eliminate these "forever" chemicals from our drinking water. They come from substances that have been used in manufacturing many products – Teflon coating, and carpet, for example -- for years, and that are used in foam to fight fires.The chemicals at issue are per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or P-FAS, and they have been linked to various cancers, endocrine disruption and other serious and life-threatening health conditions.Our guest in this episode, Cheryl Cail, is one of the leaders of a national coalition that is pushing the federal government, and her home state of South Carolina, to take immediate steps to set mandatory limits of P-FAS and to clean up our drinking water supplies."You just have to know one thing," she says. "This is not something that should be in the water. We should not be consuming it. It needs to be addressed. It needs to not be coming through our tap water. It should not be in the environment so things like using sludge that has high levels of PFAS to put on farm crops, that's going to go into the ground. It's going to go into the food that's grown and by virtue of eating that food, we're going to be ingesting it."To learn more about this serious issue and what you can do, take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

There are increasing numbers of women now running for public office, and that’s a good thing. But what about the consultants who work to get them elected? We’re about to talk with a couple of young progressives who are cracking that glass ceiling.They are Zee Cohen-Sanchez and Amani Wells-Onyioha of the new campaign advisory company, Sole Strategies. We’ll talk about why more women need to be represented in politics –as candidates and as strategists who help them get elected.A woman-owned and run business, Sole Strategies was created to help flip seats across the country and has quickly made an impact on the political landscape, grossing over a million in revenue in its first year. Zee, the company’s founder, and Amani, operations director, have been the engine behind this breakthrough startup and continue to disrupt the status quo of campaigning. Zee is executive director of the firm and has worked on several people-powered campaigns in the last decade, helping flip seats across the county. After Bernie Sanders' 2016 campaign, she committed to helping truly progressive candidates …. who don't accept corporate money … win seats across the nation.Amani is operations director. Her job is to keep the Sole Strategies boat afloat. Working behind the scenes with Zee, she makes sure operations run as smoothly and efficiently as possible.Discovering her passion for politics during her time in undergrad, it’s been Amani’s dream to see progressives get elected throughout the country and see real change in America. They have plenty to say about politics today and the increasing role of women. Check it out.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

It’s the classic conundrum; is the glass half full or half empty? If it’s half full, you are said to be an optimist. If it’s half empty, you’re a pessimist. When it comes to describing the Biden administration, Republicans are always seeing a half empty glass.Check out this commentary by CJ Waldron on https://notfakenews.bizBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Social justice attorney Mark M. Bello, author of the legal thriller Betrayal High, the story of a fictional school shooting, offers ideas on steps that should be taken to eliminate such tragedies as the shooting in Michigan that claimed four lives and now has a 15-year-old boy awaiting trial for murder, and his parents charged with contributing to those murders. Narrations from Bello's commentary at NotFakeNews.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

It’s the holiday season and temptations abound, for many of us playing havoc with our efforts to lose weight and get more healthy. What if you could do that and get paid at the same time? No kidding!Today we welcome David Roddenberry, who will tell us how to actually make money by losing weight. David’s co-founder of HealthyWage, and while they have a year-around program, right now they’re running a holiday-stay strong challenge that sounds pretty cool.HealthyWage is a wellness gamification company … I never knew there was such a thing…that’s already paid pound losers over $6 million in 2021 alone, and $55 million since its inception.How does it work? What’s involved?David answers these questions and more: 1.Is this a contest, or do people get money for every pound they lose?2.Does offering a healthy jackpot actually get people to shirk temptation and lose or maintain their weight?3.How do people weigh-in online?4.How does this work with New Year’s resolutions? 5.Isn’t there some kind of connection with health and fitness expert Jillian Michaels? How does that work?6.Is this for individuals, only, or are their programs at work, etc.?7.If HealthyWage pays out all of this money to pound losers, how do you guys make money?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Ever wonder about whether some of the stuff that’s in the common household products that you use every day might be harmful to your health? Well…some of them are. Stay tuned.Today, we’re with Samuel Goodman, an author, speaker and scientist who uses his education and experience to bring the confluence of science and engineering to important issues of public policy. But today we’re going to talk about common household products and what harmful chemicals and additives consumers need to know about. We thought that would be a good topic to discuss as we’re heading into the holidays and people are considering buying gifts for their families and friends.Some of these things that we’re buying every day contain some fairly harmful additives and Dr. Goodman knows about all of that.So, listen up!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

There’s a war brewing. It’s a battle of ideologies and the trenches are social media. Through various sites, those on the far right are pushing race hatred as they spew outlandish, and often unsubstantiated claims. The aim is to start a race war, writes Chris Waldron of NotFakeNews.biz.Take a listen...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Dr. Kimya Nuru Dennis, founder of 365 Diversity, is an activist, sociologist and criminologist, educator, and researcher who helps businesses, non-profits, schools, and other organizations overcome disparities and improve diversity.In this episode, she discusses such topics as Black male suicide and its causes, racism in the workplace, education, healthcare and other settings, and offers her thoughts regarding what individuals and entities can do to overcome this and improve societal relations.Dr. Dennis pulls no punches in her comments and is worth a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

November 26 was Native American Heritage Day, a time for America to honor and celebrate Native American and Alaska Natives’ countless contributions to our nation, to recognize the wrongs of the past, and make certain that the rights and dignity of our country’s first people are upheld. Thus, there is no better time than now for the Waccamaw Indian People of South Carolina to be officially recognized as a federal Indian tribe, making them eligible for all of the benefits accorded the 574 Tribal Nations in America.It is time for these "invisible" people to take their rightful place among those Tribal Nations and be positioned to benefit from many of the provisions contained in President Biden’s newly signed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which invests over $3 billion in Native health services among other benefits. Listen to the complete story...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Hey what would you think if you knew your doc had a side hustle? Think that would be a good idea?Dr. John Shufeldt is an emergency physician who advises fellow physicians how to do exactly that -- how to become an entrepreneur and develop a new business while also practicing medicine.In this episode, Dr. Shufeldt explains how, in a time when physician burnout is a big problem, having a side gig can be a good thing for doctors.Dr. Shufeldt is author of Entrepreneur Rx: The Physician’s Guide To Starting A Business. So, he’s encouraging his fellow docs to start a side gig.I want to know from Dr. Shufeldt how having a side gig would, in any way, benefit a doctor’s patients. After all, docs are supposed to be dedicated to helping people heal. How can they do that if they’re worried about their side gig’s bottom line, or some deadline, while they’re doing brain surgery, for example? Dr. Shufeldt answers that question and also discusses these, among others:•Why do you say that being an entrepreneur has made you a better physician?•What leads to physician burnout and how does it affect our healthcare system?•How has COVID added to the burnout problem? •Patients might say they prefer that their doctors focus on caring for them rather than worrying about some side gig. Why are they wrong?•What are some traits that physicians and entrepreneurs have in common, and how do those traits improve patient care?In the episode, Dr. Shufeldt also discusses how discouraging it is for physicians to be faced with treating deathly ill unvaccinated Covid patients, knowing that the "easy fix" of the vaccine could have saved their lives.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

The justice system in America must be fixed. And it won't be until systematic racism is eliminated from law enforcement and the courts. Listen to this commentary written by CJ Waldron at https://NotFakeNews.biz about the Kyle Rittenhouse and Ahmaud Arbery trials as narrated by Bob Gatty.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Are you a veteran? Have interesting stories that you could share for posterity? Know a veteran who you’d like to honor? Take a listen and find out how.We’re delighted to present Monica Mohindra, acting director of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.We’re a little late for Veterans Day, but then we need to be celebrating and honoring our veterans every day of the year.Monica is the wife of a Navy veteran who comes from a long line of veterans and is dedicated to sharing – and preserving for future generations – the stories of those who have served in our military – including women.Women have served in uniform in all branches of the U.S. military since World War II. From nurses, to code breakers, to pilots, to surgeons, to mechanics, to frontline warriors and everything in between, women veterans have done it all.In this episode, Monica explains:* What the Veterans History Project is all about* What's included there now* How you can contribute* Why it's important to share these stories* How to view and learn from the Veterans History Project* How it helps families and those suffering from PTSDTake a listen...In the photo: Four soldiers and flags during a ceremony honoring a fallen soldier. August 25, 2004. Lee Lane Collection, Veterans History Project, Library of Congress, AFC2001/001/47372.ViAlP7kwDCYwH4hmgHSVBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

In typical Republican fashion, the current run-up in inflation is being met with glee as some of their most cynical and irresponsible politicians are gloating that Americans' concerns about higher prices for food and gas are "a gold mine for us."Listen to the podcast:Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Gas prices…you think they’re high now? Just wait. Energy expert Jack Kerfoot predicts a national average price of $5 per gallon before too long. But then, he says, things will get better and action by President Biden and largely the Democrats will help.Congress has finally passed major infrastructure legislation and with its significant provisions to attack climate change, it’s been signed into law.The White House says the plan will “strengthen our nation’s resilience to extreme weather and climate change while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding access to clean drinking water, building up a clean power grid, and more.”Meanwhile, a second bill, the so-called social spending and climate reconciliation bill, still faces a challenge in the Senate, with stubborn opposition from Sen. Joe Manchin, the West Virginia Democrat, who’s opposed virtually every proposed provision that would impact the coal industry.Today, we’re with Jack Kerfoot, an energy expert who’s been our guest a couple of times on the topic of renewable energy and climate change. He’s a scientist, energy expert and author of "FUELING AMERICA: An Insider's Journey." He is the principal at JL Energy Services and blogs on his website, Our Energy Conundrum, at www.jackkerfoot.com, most recently tracking states and what they are doing to attack climate change.Kerfoot predicts $5 per gallon gasoline within a year, but predicts those prices will decline as electric vehicles become mainstream reducing the demand for oil. The future for the U.S., he says, is bright as renewable energy sources replace fossil fuel and reduce harmful greenhouse gases.If you care about climate change, our environment, and the future, take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

If you're waiting for Washington to fix healthcare in this country, healthcare entrepreneur and innovator Jeff Margolis has this advice: Don't bother.Appearing on the latest episode of The Lean to the Left Podcast, Margolis discusses how information technology, innovation, and personal responsibility can all come together and result in a better, more equitable, and less costly healthcare system for America.Over his 30-year career, Margolis is known for successfully applying technologies to address the complex problems facing the healthcare industry. He was involved in developing language about health improvement for individuals that eventually was included in the Affordable Care Act.He’s also the Forbes Books author of “Not Just in Sickness … But Also in Health: Moving Beyond Sickcare to Health Optimization for All.”During the podcast, Margolis answers these questions:How would you sum up the way healthcare is handled in the U.S.?Does it matter that the current political divide may keep the Biden administration from passing any significant healthcare legislation? Why or why not?In what ways has COVID-19 revealed the problems with our system?You say that it’s possible to improve our healthcare system and at the same time reduce costs. What steps need to be taken to accomplish that?It's Medicare Open Enrollment period. Which is better for most people -- traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage? Why?What are some of the inequities in healthcare and how can they be addressed?What can individuals do to help improve the healthcare system?Take a listen:Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

The Medicare open enrollment period ends on December 7, so if you’re a senior and on Medicare, you should listen up:Thanks for joining us today on the Lean to the Left podcast.If you’re a senior wondering what to do about supplemental Medicare coverage, that’s the topic of today’s program. It can be a confusing decision with so many different offerings and options, so its important to have the facts.So, for help, we’re turning to Chris Orestis, president of Retirement Genius, an expert on financial health, long term care, and retirement issues. He’s author of two books, “Help on the Way” and “A Survival Guide to Aging” and has a third book, “Retire Like a Genius” on the way. He’s been speaking for two-decades across the country about senior finance and the secrets to aging with financial and physical health and dignity.Take a listen, either for yourself, or to pass on to your loved ones who might need help.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

In this episode, Not Fake News writer Chris Waldron imagines a nightmare 2024 scenario, with Donald Trump's election defeat leading to a Constitutional crisis for America. It's downright scary. Narrated by Bob Gatty.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Finally, the House of Representatives has passed the sweeping infrastructure bill promised by President Biden, and nutcase GOP Rep. Marjory Taylor Greene (MTG) of Georgia says it's all part of "Biden's Communist takeover of America." Greene needs to be sent to the looney bin, but in the meantime she might want to listen to this episode of The Lean to the Left Podcast, which features a young American Communist who talks about what Communism is all about and what it would involve for the U.S. She might actually learn something, if that is possible.Our guest is Jamarr Jabari, a 29-year-old member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, or the Communist party in the United States, and he talks about his hopes for social revolution in the U.S. Jabari, who subscribes to the idea that capitalism should be replaced with full-fledged socialism in the United States and that private home and land ownership should be eliminated, is a passionate community organizer and committed to pushing for sweeping governmental policies that will benefit the average working person, rather than the well-to-do.In our interview, Jabari pulls no punches. He says both the Democratic and Republican parties simply sell out to powerful corporate interests, although he agrees that Democratic policies and actions generally are preferred over the Republicans'He hosts a podcast called the Jabari VOC Podcast and his Facebook page says he’s a Marxist, Leninist, and PanAfricanist. He calls people Comrade on his podcast. So, I guess that proves he's a Communist. If you are curious about the ideas, goals, and plans of those who would eliminate the capitalistic system in the U.S., take a listen to this interview. It will be more informative than listening to the wacko comments from MTG.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Will national Democrats, shocked by their repudiation in Virginia and even New Jersey, stop bickering, show some spine, and get President Biden's Build Back Better social safety net spending program through Congress?Based on the first analyses from the June 2 elections for governor in those states, which went to Biden in 2020, they damn well better give the people what they voted for when they elected Biden.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

National Democrats are frittering away a huge opportunity to provide the American people with the social improvements for which they voted when they elected Joe Biden, and worse, they are opening the door to a return of Donald Trump and his GOP.Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Karen Martinez is not rich or famous. She’s not a political expert, nor is she a best-selling author, or TV star.But Karen Martinez is a truly special human being, and that is why she is our guest on this episode of The Lean to the Left Podcast.For many years, Karen has been a foster mom, taking care of other peoples’ kids she’s worked with the biological parents of those kids, too, so they could finally care for their children themselves. And she did this while holding down a fulltime job and being a mom and a wife in her own life.But one day things changed for Karen and her husband. They adopted one of their foster children as their own, and now they are fulltime parents once again. Fostering, however, apparently is in Karen’s DNA because she’s at it again. Only this time, it’s for dogs.Here’s the story. Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

It’s Halloween time, and it’s important to make certain our kids are safe when they go out trick or treating. But certainly, every day is that time, because as parents we must protect our kids from those who would do them harm -- like sexual predators and bullies. Today, we’re with Bob Kahn, a retired deputy sheriff in Nevada and former elementary school teacher who has authored eight children’s books about safety in an increasingly dangerous world. The “Stranger Danger” program he created for schools and community service organizations has been credited in foiling over 40 attempted abductions by strangers. We’re going explore issues of “good touch, bad touch” and what that’s all about, and we’re going to take a look at the ever serious problem of bullying.Robert has given over 20,000 presentations covering 15 topics on children’s safety issues. He also was an instructor for D.A.R.E., a program that gives children the life skills they need to avoid involvement with drugs, gangs, and violence. He holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Phoenix and a B.S. in education from the University of Nevada, Reno.Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

If President Biden and Democrats in Congress have any hope of enacting comprehensive, meaningful voting rights legislation, they have no choice but to end the filibuster. It's time for Democrats to stop pussyfooting around and play some hardball.Last week Republicans blocked action for the third time this year on voting rights legislation, making it clear that unless the filibuster is killed, there will be zero chance of passing the Freedom to Vote Act, intended to counter imposition of new voting restrictions in GOP states in response to Donald Trump's "Big Lie" that the 2020 election was "stolen" from him.Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

It’s almost World Series time and the playoffs are still going on, so we’re going to talk a little ball today. Yep…that’s right…baseball.Our guest is Jordan Skopp, who among other things is leading a fight to get rid of a longtime baseball rule that prevents fans who are injured by batted balls to receive compensation in court, no matter how badly they are hurt.Well, you might say, that fans are accepting the risk when they buy those tickets so they can have the best view or have a great chance of getting a ball for a souvenir. I do!But Jordan thinks it’s wrong that fans can’t sue for damages if they are hurt, and he’s leading a drive called Foul Ball Safety Now and is writing a book on the topic.Take a listen...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

As President Biden seeks to reverse actions by the Trump administration that jeopardized America's fight against the consequences of climate change, one powerful member of his own party is throwing up roadblocks that could be equally devastating.The principal opponent of a major piece of Biden's climate agenda is Sen Joe Manchin III, the West Virginia Democrat who is determined to protect coal miners and the coal industry, regardless of its impact on the environment and the industry's contributions to greenhouse gases, a major factor in climate change.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 with Sandy Phillips Kirkham, who when she was 17 years old, was raped by her pastor, a young, married man who callously took advantage of her admiration of him, and desire for his attention. His name was Jeff Coulier.The first time took place in the pastor’s house, in his bed, and that is how she lost her virginity.She had given this “man of God” her trust and he violated that trust, just as he violated her. And he was worried about washing the bloody sheets before his wife came home. That was just the beginning of Sandy’s trauma of betrayal.After many years, Sandy decided it was time to confront that past if she was to heal. She writes, “With the healing came my need and passion to speak out about clergy abuse.” She works with The Hope of Survivors ministry and is on the board of the Council on Child Abuse. She’s spoken to many groups and churches on the topic of prevention and has met several courageous survivors. And so, she wrote a wonderful, riveting book in which she tells her story. It’s a story of lies, manipulation, coercion, and abuse, but it’s also a story of courage, resilience, and bravery. The name of her book is “Let Me Prey Upon You.”Sandy, thanks for joining us today on Lean to the Left.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

When you spread misinformation that results in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, why isn’t that a crime? When you attempt to overthrow a legitimately elected president, why aren’t you held accountable?In any other country, writes Not Fake News' CJ Waldron, you would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, yet in these United States you are more likely to face much harsher punishment for selling loose cigarettes or trying to pass off a phony twenty dollar bill. Instead of a slap on the wrist, or in some cases, a pat on the back, these individuals need to face the harsh penalties that befit their actions. They need to be charged with war crimes.Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Despite the clear evidence that Donald John Trump tried to engineer a coup to overturn President Biden's election, Republicans continue their obeisance to the disgraced former president -- even those who just wish he would go away.The Hill reported today that most Senate Republicans do not want Trump to run again for the presidency. But not surprisingly, their reasons are purely political and have little or nothing to do with Trump's inciting the January 6th insurrection, or his effort to bully his own Justice Department into aiding and abetting his attempted coup.None of that, apparently, matters. Their only concern is Trump's potential impact on their own political futures.Listen to the whole story...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

You have homeowner’s insurance and a hurricane hits. The winds and rains come. There is damage to your home. But you know the storm will blow over and you have coverage, so no worries, right?You could be very wrong.Today Mark Bello and I are with William F. “Chip” Merlin, Jr., founder and president of the Merlin Law Group.Chip has dedicated his practice to representing insurance policyholders in disputes with insurance companies nationwide.Chip was noted as the “Babe Ruth of Hurricane lawyers” in the Asbury Park Press for his work on behalf of 23 municipalities and hundreds of policyholders following Superstorm Sandy. The Tampa Bay Times dubbed him “the Master of Disaster” for his nationwide catastrophe work and helping policy holders following Hurricane Katrina.Chip also is the author of the book entitled “Pay UP! – Preventing a Disaster with Your Own Insurance Company.” His motto is “Justice for Policyholders,” as he and his firm work to help people get the recovery they deserve from bad faith insurance companies.So, today Mark Bello and I will talk with Chip about being prepared to fight with your insurance company after a disaster.Chip, I hope it never comes to that, but can you set the stage for us a little bit?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

How do you feel about all of those online ads that pop up whenever you’re online or on social media? Are they helpful? Are they intrusive? Are they generally just a nuisance? Do they make you want to toss your phone against the wall?Do you feel like they’re invading your privacy? One minute you’re searching for info on a new blender and a half hour later ads for blenders pop up when you’re reading the news online. How does that happen?Dr. Don Vaughn, who is with us today, is head of product at a digital information company called Invisibly, and he’s got the answers. They’ve just done a survey about consumer attitudes about these issues, so I figured he’d be the go-to source to help us understand all of this…and how we unwittingly contribute to this advertising trend.Plus, he says that Invisibly has come up with a way for regular people like you and me to make money from these ads. Really?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

The U.S. Supreme Court has just launched its new term and thanks to the defeated and twice impeached former president Donald Trump, our country could be in big trouble.Trump stacked the court with three right-wing justices, giving conservatives a 6-3 majority, and now they are in a position to set a very difficult, and in my view, harmful course for the future.Mark M. Bello, host of the Justice Counts podcast and author of a gripping series of legal thrillers ripped from the headlines, outlines all of this in a new blog on Not Fake News.biz.Here’s Mark with his commentary. Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

There are some 600,000 so-called “dreamers” in this country and many more waiting to obtain that special status currently afforded the children of illegal immigrants, brought to the U.S., often as infants, and who Donald Trump tried to send back to the country of their birth.The Biden administration has just announced a new rule to protect those recipients of protection under the 2012 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, or DACA.Reacting to a decision by federal district judge Andrew Hanen in Texas in July, which ruled that the (DACA) policy violated federal law, the Department of Homeland Security said its new rule will "preserve and fortify" the DACA program by addressing objections to how it was implemented.Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urged Congress to include immigration reform in the reconciliation bill currently being debated and "provide the Dreamers the legal status they need and deserve."The Texas federal district court ruling left the program's benefits intact for DACA recipients who have been unable to obtain legal status after being brought to the U.S. as children, but it blocked future applications by some 50,000 young immigrants who need the protection. The Biden administration has appealed that decision as it seeks a pathway to citizen for Dreamers in Congress.Today we’re speaking with Tahmina Watson, a Seattle-based immigration attorney whose law firm focuses exclusively on U.S. immigration and naturalization law.Tahmina is an experienced and passionate attorney who focuses on employment-based, family-based and investor immigration law. She hosts a radio show turned podcast, “Tahmina Talks Immigration”, on which she discusses immigration news updates and interviews immigrants and people who are making an impact.She’s also the author of the book, “The Startup Visa: Key to Job Growth & Economy Prosperity in America, which advocates for a new visa category for entrepreneurs and startup founders. Joining me on the podcast is legal thriller author Mark M. Bello, who has just published a new book, Betrayal at the Border.So with that, Tahmina Watson, have these DACA folks not made a huge contribution to this country in the years that they’ve been here?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today we’re with Mark M. Bello, host of the Justice Counts podcast and author of a gripping series of legal thrillers ripped from the headlines.A retired social justice attorney, Mark has just finished his seventh book in his “Betrayal” series. It’s called Betrayal at the Border in which he tackles two cases that strike at the heart of our nation’s contentious immigration debate.Mark has an uncanny knack for homing in on an issue in the news and turning it into a page-turning novel, always providing insight while entertaining the reader at the same time. Betrayal at the Border is no different.I might add that Mark also is an occasional host of this podcast, always providing great depth to our interviews.So, Mark, welcome to Lean to the Left. Today, you’re the featured guest, so let’s get started.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

If you’re a senior paying exorbitant prices for prescription drugs, the news out of Washington is not very good.That’s because legislation that would help lower those drug prices appears to be stuck, apparently the victim of intense lobbying by the pharmaceutical industry, which reportedly has lured a number of Democratic legislators into its camp. And there is very little, if any Republican support.So, the forecast for this proposal, a priority of President Biden, is mostly cloudy at best. Today, we’re with Chris Orestis, president of Retirement Genius, an expert on financial health, long term care, and retirement issues. Considered a political insider and senior issues advocate, Chris is a former Washington, D.C. lobbyist who has worked at the White House and for the Senate Majority Leader on Capitol Hill.He’s author of two books, “Help on the Way” and “A Survival Guide to Aging” and has a third book, “Retire Like a Genius” on the way. He’s been speaking for two-decades across the country about senior finance and the secrets to aging with financial and physical health and dignity.Chris lays out for us how a small group of lawmakers are doing the bidding of Big Pharma and blocking legislation that would provide prescription drug price relief, and steps seniors can take to help reduce their own Rx expenditures.Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Following up on our most recent episode, Killer Drugs during which we spoke with a South Carolina man who has seen three family members die from overdoses of drugs apparently spiked with carfentanil, today we’re with Dr. Bill O’Connor, who treats such patients.Dr. O’Connor is a family physician and works at the Little River Medical Center in South Carolina, a community health facility, that serves everyone – including the homeless, migrant farm workers, and others with little or no financial resources.He tells me that currently there are 140 people currently on Medication Assisted Treatment for opioid use disorder in his medical center. We’re going to learn more about that problem and how it’s affecting peoples’ lives. And, we’ll also learn about community health facilities and their need for financial support.“Opioid use disorder is pretty evil,” Dr. O’Connor says. “It gets to the point where it isn’t a personal choice. You are driven.”Welcome, Dr. O’Connor, to Lean to the Left.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Buster Hatcher is a 73-year-old man who lives in South Carolina. Within the last three months, three members of his family have died from drug overdoses that Hatcher blames on Carfentanil, a powerful derivative of fentanyl, a synthetic narcotic analgesic produced from morphine. It’s 10,000- times more potent than morphine and it’s not approved for use in humans in any capacity. It’s typically used in veterinary medicine to sedate large animals – like elephants.For the past few years carfentanil has been used to cut heroin, and in some cases it’s killing its unsuspecting victims almost instantly.Listen to a human side to this story.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Medical workers protesting vaccination and mask requirements is mind boggling. Doctors advising patients against masks is unthinkable.Whatever happened to the Hippocratic oath?Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

What does MAGA really mean? Where did it come from? Check out this commentary by CJ Waldron from https://notfakenews.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today we’re with Samuel Goodman, an author, speaker, and scientist who uses his education and experience to bring the confluence of science and engineering to important issues of public policy, like climate change.Who is this guy? Is he just another climate change nerd? Or does he have something important to say? We’re about to find out.Dr. Goodman has a phD in chemical engineering and has just written a new book, “Beyond Carbon Neutral – How We Fix the Climate Crisis Now.” Climate change, he says, “is the defining challenge of our age”. At best, he says, “It threatens to disrupt everything about our society, while at worst it could destroy everything we’ve worked to build.”“Beyond Carbon Neutral” lays out a complete strategy for reversing climate change by presenting three key areas of activity that are essential to averting catastrophe. Is that hyperbole, or fact? Let’s find out.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Smelling blood, the Republican Party is readying a midterm election salvo blasting President Biden for mandating vaccinations, and the Republican National Committee is now trying to fundraise with emotional appeals on that issue.But not all Republicans are playing that cynical game.Take a listen...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Holland, a sociology professor at Horry Georgetown Technical College in Conway, SC, discusses an effort by The Debt Collective and others to eliminate the onerous burden of student debt that millions of Americans are struggling with each day.Dr. Holland contends that such an action could be taken without increasing the tax burden on most Americans, proposing that the cost should be covered with higher taxes on the top one percent in our society.Agree or disagree, it's a fascinating discussion, so check it out.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Will our nation ever come together again as it did following the attacks of September 11, 2001? And who are the final casualties of that tragic day? Take a listen to two pieces of commentary from Bob Gatty and CJ Waldron of Not Fake News.biz.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

President Biden has stopped pussyfooting around with Covid 19 and took tough action to stop the spread of the deadly virus. It's about time.He said said Americans who refuse to get Covid-19 shots are causing "a lot of damage," are "keeping us from turning the corner," and cannot be permitted to "stand in the way." It's about time. Take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Women’s right to control their own bodies is under attack like never before now that the Trump-stacked U.S. Supreme Court has sanctioned a draconian Texas law that creates a system of vigilante injustice for women seeking an abortion. The law posts a $10,000 bounty on women, clinicians, doctors, even cab drivers who in any way help a woman in Texas terminate her pregnancy, no matter the cause And the Supreme Court, now dominated by conservatives and three justices appointed by Donald Trump said, hey, that’s just fine, folks.Now, it looks like several other Republican-controlled states are planning to copy that Texas law, including Arkansas, Florida, South Dakota, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Ohio, and South Carolina. In fact, the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports access to reproductive health, predicts that about a quarter of states will introduce legislation mirroring Texas’ abortion ban.At the same time, the Supreme Court is preparing to hear a case in Which Mississippi has asked it to overrule Roe v. Wade, the decision that established a woman’s right to an abortion. Countering that, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to call for a vote on legislation to cement the right to an abortion into federal law.But remember this. Republicans in the Senate will likely block any such legislation with their favorite tool, the filibuster. Attorney General Merrick Garland, meanwhile, says the Justice Department will “continue to protect those seeking to obtain or provide reproductive health services.” Whatever that means. Democrats in Congress aren’t so sure, so those serving on the House Judiciary Committee have urged Garland to criminally prosecute those who try to enforce the Texas law.All of this is background to introduce our guest, Vicki Ringer, public affairs director for Planned parenthood Votes South Atlantic, who is preparing to help fight any effort in South Carolina to pass a Texas copycat abortion law.There, state Sen. Larry Grooms is readying such legislation. He sponsored a “fetal heartbeat” bill that just recently was affirmed as unconstitutional by a U.S. Court of Appeals.Take a listen to our interview, during which Vicki Ringer warns that the attack on abortion could be just the opening salvo by many of its opponents. Listen, learn...and take action.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Imagine living in a place where religious fanatics make the rules. Imagine a place where women’s rights are suppressed and they are told what they can do with their bodies. Add to that a government that says it represents the people, but suppresses the votes of those who disagree with them, while a fanatical former leader threatens anyone who disagrees with him.Any idea where that is? Take a listen to find out. (Or just look at the image with this episode!)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Today we’re with Morris Pearl. He’s a rich guy. A millionaire, probably many times over. But get this, he thinks rich people like him should pay higher taxes.Why, pray tell does he think that? Why, in fact, has he even co-authored a book that calls for “lessening inequality by taxing rich people?” The book is called “Tax the Rich! How Lies, Loopholes, and Lobbyists Make the Rich Even Richer.” Who is this guy?In his book, he writes, “I plan to do everything I can to ensure we tax people like me as substantially and effectively as possible. Because I don’t want to be a rich man in a poor country. It’s just that simple.”Morris Pearl chairs a group called Patriotic Millionaires, a group of hundreds of high-net-worth Americans who are committed to making all Americans, including themselves, better off by building a more prosperous, stable, and inclusive nation. The group’s president and founder, Erica Payne, is co-author of the book.Mr. Pearl is former managing director at BlackRock, one of the largest investment firms in the world, and he’s worth a lot of money.So, take a listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

This episode is narration of Chris Waldron's commentary on NotFakeNews.biz, "Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot."The term Whiskey Tango Foxtrot derives from a military term describing circumstances gone completely awry (what the f*ck). This would certainly apply to the state of our country at this present time. With half the population believing lies over facts, a pandemic that has a means of prevention that almost 50 percent of the country won’t accept, rampant wildfires, a stifling heat wave, catastrophic flooding and powerful hurricanes spurred on by climate change, and a whacko wannabe despot stirring the pot at every turn, this is definitely a WTF moment in our history.The thing is, if this continues, we are going to destroy ourselves as a nation, Chris says. Check it out.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

Our nation has been experiencing the impact of extreme weather conditions…fires in California…extreme heat and drought in the West…and now Hurricane Ida ripping through Louisiana and other southern states…and who knows what else is in store for us.After all, the Earth just experienced its hottest month on record.The other day, climate scientists released a new report on the roasting of the planet. It was a dramatic reminder of the need to slash the use of fossil fuels just as soon as humanly possible. We really can’t wait another 30 years or so to get this done, they say.So today we’re speaking with our go-to energy expert, Jack Kerfoot, about all of this. About what is needed, the consequences of inaction, and how President Biden’s infrastructure plan will play into it all.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.

In this episode, Lean to the Left rips Biden's critics, especially the Republicans, a new one for jumping all over the president for the evacuation of Afghanistan.Bottom line: He got us out of that ugly war as promised, and he deserves credit, not incoming flak.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lean-to-the-left-podcast--4719048/support.