Welcome everyone to the best of a left podcast, a quick note before we begin it that we are in the absolute final days of the climate ride fundraiser.

This is a campaign that we began running a few months ago. We ran a couple of months. We ended up raising only about half of what we were striving for and with the thought that, okay, well, let's put that to bed and come back to it.

Honestly, I think I waited a little too long, but we are in the final days now. We have about $2,000 left to raise. And so I'm asking, you know, one last plea here on the show. I'll be sending out panicked emails over this coming week.

But just to lay all the cards on the table, this has been the most difficult fundraiser I have ever done for this organization.

I could go in a hundred different directions as to why that might be. But the most obvious is that we're in a very different political world than we were a year and a half ago. The last time I did one of these.

And so for people for all of their own individual reasons have been reallocating their funds and their their priorities in all kinds of different ways.

And I can only assume that that is having some sort of impact. I have in the past raised more money in less time than I've been able to do this time.

So if you've been sitting on the sidelines and you thought, you know, I could chip into that, but it's probably fine. It probably doesn't need me. Probably got a bunch of people chip it in.

The bottom line is it has been rough. It's been really hard to get donations flowing this time around. And so we're going to see if we can get it in under the wire.

But that's how things have been. So again, just to remind you the last time, this climate right organization is a great organization that helps raise money itself for other worthy causes.

So I've been working with them for years, mostly because cycling is something I do. So instead of doing, you know, 5K runs and things like that, I can do what I do cycle and help raise money for a good organization that way.

So it just blends very well with my own personality and my hobbies and interest in going on these sort of adventurous and educational trips that also coincide with raising awareness and advocating for climate activism, but also bicycle advocacy and expanding our self powered transportation networks and things like that.

So that's what's going on. This is my one last plea to you to chip into that. And really what it comes down to is that I think this is worthwhile. And so I am putting my reputation on this show on the line saying, I think it's worth you donating to, you know, if I didn't think it was worth it, I would never sign up for these rides.

So if you appreciate this show, appreciate the work I do have some degree of faith in my judgment, that is what I am basing my request on. If you fall into any of those categories, please consider donating. There's a link in the show notes that you can access on your device, click right through to my donation page.

Or of course, we go to bestiplef.com. There's a link right there. I'll take you to my climate ride donation page. This may be the last time you hear me talk about it, we'll find out in about a week if I hit the goal.

And now welcome to this episode of the award winning best of left podcast that's going to be a little different than anything I've done before and a bit backwards.

It's got a lot of the commentary up front and most of the clips toward the end. And it's because I received a call from a conservative listener about the gun debate discussing where we agree and disagree. And initially, you know, I thought I would do a normal show and respond to her at the end as usual. But to side just change up a bit. So today's entire episode is dedicated to a back and forth sort of conversation between Caitlin's voicemail and my responses to it complete with just as many clips as usual featuring the David Pakman show.

The S. Recline show, the Bradcast, science versus the real news, a progressive faith sermon, speak out with 10 wise and on the media. But first, let's get started with Caitlin's voicemail.

Hi, Jay. My name is Caitlin. I'm a right wing conservative and no, I'm not racist or evil. I might even be your neighbor. My husband hunts with an AR 15 and I've owned an AK 47 for I don't know how long.

I listen to best of the left to be aware of all points of view and thank you for your podcast. I'm generally able to find common ground on these issues presented. However, not so much over the gun issue, but by finding common ground, we can save lives.

First off, I would like to say that I find the description of my husband, his parents, my parents and myself as racists with a fetish, as highly offensive and taginistic and ignorant.

As responsible gun owners, we share your empathy for victims of gun crimes. There is not enough being done to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. In fact, through the Fast and Furious program, guns were actually intentionally given to criminals.

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