meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

#1211 Corporate Monopoly and Political Power

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

Jay Tomlinson

Politics, News Commentary, News

4.53.4K Ratings

🗓️ 18 September 2018

⏱️ 76 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Air Date: 9/18/2018

Today we take a look at the current state of the centuries-old fight against the monopolization of economic and political power and how these forces threaten the very concept of democracy.

Be part of the show! Leave a message at 202-999-3991

Episode Sponsors: Newsvoice

Support Best of the Left on Patreon!

SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: America was Birthed in Opposition to Corporate Monopoly - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date 01-03-18

Why are libertarians trying to change the proud tradition of Americans fighting against corporate monopolies!?

Ch. 2: How platform monopolies are threatening democracy Part 1 - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 12-14-17

Dr. Taylor Owen delivers a lecture in which he argues the reality of the internet is now largely one of control, by four platform companies — Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple and their impact on democracy is deeply troubling.

Ch. 3: Media Monopoly… or Democracy? - Jim @HightowerNews - Air Date 8-16-18

Monopolies are not merely un-American, they’re virulently anti-American, suppressing our fundamental values of fairness and opportunity for all.

Ch. 4: How platform monopolies are threatening democracy Part 2 - Ideas from CBC - Air Date 12-14-17

Dr. Taylor Owen delivers a lecture in which he argues the reality of the internet is now largely one of control, by four platform companies — Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple and their impact on democracy is deeply troubling.

Ch. 5: Stacy Mitchell and Joe Maxwell on how monopoly capitalism turns into monopoly power - @theLFshow w: @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date 4-4-18

Stacy Mitchell and Joe Maxwell join us at the Progressive Caucus Strategy Summit in Baltimore. Monopoly capitalism, they say, translates to monopolized power.

Ch. 6: Undoing the damage of digital monopolies - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date 9-16-17

Franklin Foer, author of World Without Mind: The Existential Threat of Big Tech, on how the Big Four, Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon are attempting to dominate every aspect of our lives and minds.

Ch. 7: Corey Pein on Silicon Valley tech culture and their anti-democratic tendencies - @ThisIsHellRadio - Air Date 4-21-18

Writer Corey Pein explores the world left behind by Silicon Valley tech culture. Corey is author of “Live Work Work Work Die: A Journey into the Savage Heart of Silicon Valley” from Metropolitan Books.

Ch. 8: Confronting the question of the functioning of democracy in the face of tech monopolies - Weekly Economics - Air Date 6-23-18

There are troubling signs that the new data-driven economy is inheriting all the same problems as the old one: power imbalances, monopolies and a lack of accountability.

Ch. 9: THE MIDTERMS MINUTE- Florida’s Battleground Races! - Best of the Left Activism

Take action! Click the title and/or scroll down for quick links and resources from this segment.

VOICEMAILS

Ch. 10: Suggestions of conservative podcasts to listen to? - Ruth from Connecticut

Ch. 11: What can I do about Kavanaugh? - Alan from Connecticut

Ch. 12: Better to tell personal stories when debating politics - Lygia from Brazil

Ch. 13: Final comments on reasonable conservative talk shows and anecdotes in politics

THE MIDTERMS MINUTE:

REGISTER TO VOTE: RocktheVote.org

CONFIRM VOTER REGISTRATION: RocktheVote.org/voting-information

VOTER ID INFO/HELP: VoteRiders & 866ourvote.org

Get Involved:

Swing Left (Help flip districts from anywhere)

Red to Blue (DCCC program to flip seats)

When We All Vote (Michelle Obama’s initiative)

Voter Circle (friend-to-friend outreach tool)

Volunteer for Democrats

Abroad? Phone bank for Democrats

Let America Vote (voting rights focus)

Justice Democrats “Justice Dialer”

Brand New Congress GOTV Dialer

National Democratic Redistricting Committee

Easily donate to candidates with DownTicket.com on your mobile browser.

“15 Ways to Help a Campaign Win Their Election” (Political Charge)

FLORIDA'S BATTLEGROUNDS:

Florida Democratic Party

Important Dates: Must be registered by Tuesday, Oct. 9th. Most absentee ballot requests must be made in person 6 days before election day (some counties online). Absentee ballots must be received by 7pm on election day. Early voting begins Oct. 27th-Nov. 3rd. *More details on voting in Florida*

U.S. SENATE

Must Retain Seat: Bill Nelson(D - incumbent)

U.S. HOUSE

FL-15: Kristen Carlson

Swing Left FL-15

FL-16: David Shapiro

Red to Blue FL-16

FL-18: Lauren Baer

Swing Left FL-18 | Red to Blue FL-18

FL-26: Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

Swing Left FL-26 | Red to Blue FL-26

FL-27: Donna Shalala FL-27

(No Swing Left or Red to Blue page available for FL-27)

GOVERNOR:

GOV: Andrew Gillum

Researched & Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman, Sources: Ballotpedia; NBC News; Swing Left

MUSIC:

Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr

Contrarian - Sketchbook (Blue Dot Sessions)
Cloud Line - K4 (Blue Dot Sessions)
Turning to You - Landsman Duets (Blue Dot Sessions)
Flower - Pecan Grove (Blue Dot Sessions)
Curio - Vacant Distillery (Blue Dot Sessions)
When in the West - Landsman Duets (Blue Dot Sessions)
These Times - The Pine Barrens (Blue Dot Sessions)

Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent

Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Support the show via Patreon

Listen on iTunes | Stitcher| Spotify| Alexa Devices| +more

Check out the BotL iOS/AndroidApp in the App Stores!

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunesand Stitcher!

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Today's episode is sponsored by News Voice.

0:05.8

As we talk about frequently, including in today's episode, media consolidation poses an enormous

0:11.2

danger to democracy and everyone is better off when we all make an effort to get our news

0:16.3

and information from as many sources as possible.

0:19.6

And News Voice has come up with a new solution to this problem.

0:23.1

News Voice is a website, an app for iOS and Android, which you can access for free by going

0:28.0

to newsvoice.com slash best.

0:31.2

It gives you a personalized news feed by aggregating a mix of mainstream media sources, international

0:36.6

sources, and independent media sources.

0:39.5

The whole site is fueled by crowd sourcing.

0:41.8

You can upvote stories, you think are important so other people will see them, you can add stories

0:46.2

to the site, or you can add a source that's missing for a story.

0:50.2

Check it out for yourself by downloading the app for free by going to newsvoice.com slash

0:54.8

best.

0:55.8

Now, welcome to this episode of the award winning best of the left podcast in which we shall

0:59.7

learn about the danger the major tech monopolies posed to the foundations of our democracy.

1:05.3

Clips today come from the Tom Hartman program, ideas from the CBC, Gem Hightower, the Laura

1:10.7

Flanders show, The Ralph Nader Radio Hour, This Is Hell and Weekly Economics.

1:29.4

Norman.

1:30.4

And no, Columbus, Florida, am I saying that right, Norman?

1:34.2

Yeah, in the comments, no shoes, no shirt, in the comments.

1:37.8

I love it.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Jay Tomlinson, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Jay Tomlinson and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.