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

#1406 RIP Austerity, the American Rescue Plan and the End of Reaganism

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

Jay Tomlinson

Politics, News Commentary, News

4.53.4K Ratings

🗓️ 24 March 2021

⏱️ 67 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Air Date 3/23/2021

Today we take a look at the American Rescue Plan and discuss what it does, where it falls short and whether it could signal the end of an era.

Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Transcript

MEMBERSHIP, Gift Memberships and Donations! (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content)

MERCHANDISE!

REFER-O-MATIC! Sign up, share widely, get rewards. It's that easy!

CHECK OUT OUR BOOKSHOP!


EPISODE SPONSORS: Unf*cking the Republic

Want to advertise/sponsor the show? Details -> advertisecast.com/BestoftheLeft


SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: Biden's 'American Rescue Plan' May Ultimately Be Seen as the End of the Reagan Era Part 1 - The Bradcast - Air Date 3-11-21

President Biden today signed his American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion COVID rescue and relief package that history may someday regard as the long-overdue end of the four-decade old Reagan Era. Zero Republicans in the House or Senate voted for it.

Ch. 2: In Rejection of Austerity, Democrats Push Forward Landmark $1.9 Trillion Relief Package - Democracy Now! - Air Date 3-10-21

We speak with economist Stephanie Kelton, author of "The Deficit Myth," about how the bill could help cut child poverty in half and provide a historic economic boost to the poorest people in the United States.

Ch. 3: End of Conservative Era? - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 3-15-21

Are we leaving Reagan and Nixon behind for a new FDR era? Is America waking up to the horrors of Reagan and Nixon?

Ch. 4: Biden's 'American Rescue Plan' May Ultimately Be Seen as the End of the Reagan Era Part 2 - The Bradcast - Air Date 3-11-21

President Biden today signed his American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion COVID rescue and relief package that history may someday regard as the long-overdue end of the four-decade old Reagan Era. Zero Republicans in the House or Senate voted for it.

Ch. 5: Help Is On the Way - OFF-KILTER with Rebecca Vallas - Air Date 3-12-21

To break down the major income-boosting elements in the ARP Act, and a look at what families can expect to receive in economic relief— Seth Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and a former advisor to President Obama for tax policy.

Ch. 6: The End of Trickle-Down Economics Joe Stiglitz on the "Transformational" $1.9T American Rescue Plan - Democracy Now! - Air Date 3-12-21

Biden has signed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, Democrats are hailing as the largest anti-poverty bill in a generation. “This is transformational,” says economist Joseph Stiglitz. “It says, 'We are actually going to live up to our aspirations"

Ch. 7: What's In Biden's Relief Bill - The Majority Report w Sam Seder - Air Date 3-13-21

Highlighting the change in political philosophy that this relief bill demonstrates as well as understanding the 'stickiness' of good policy that helps people

Ch. 8: Prof. Richard Wolff Imagining a Real American Rescue - The Zero Hour with RJ Eskow - Air Date 3-11-21

Prof. Richard Wolff explains that this relief bill is not a giant giveaway, it's a small downpayment on returning what is owed to the poor and working classes for the upward redistribution of wealth over the past 50 years

Ch. 9: Stimulate This Beyotch - Unf*cking the Republic - Air Date 3-19-21

An analysis of the outcome of the relief bill and what it says about our country's ability to govern itself thoughtfully. And alsop swearing.


MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S)

Ch. 10: No, the relief bill won't cause inflation (with Austan Goolsbee) - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 3-9-21

Moderate Democrats and Republicans alike repeated one common criticism—that infusing so much money into the economy would cause inflation. Austan Goolsbee, past Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, explains why those fears are misplaced.

Ch. 11: Prof. Richard Wolff Imagining a Real American Rescue Part 2 - The Zero Hour with RJ Eskow - Air Date 3-11-21

Prof. Richard Wolff explains concierge doctors and the privatization of everything.


VOICEMAILS

Ch. 12: Universal earned income benefits - Scott

Ch. 13: No Payments to Families with Children - Rich


FINAL COMMENTS

Ch. 14: Final comments on child welfare programs and perverse incentives


EDUCATE YOURSELF & SHARE

The goal is "Improved Medicare for All" and we must keep pushing for it, but if you need help right now, you should know...

NY Times: "The American Rescue Plan [...] would increase government subsidies to health insurers for covering recently laid-off workers and those who purchase their own coverage."

NY Times: "The first step of the federal upgrade should be ready by April 1: Healthcare.gov, where people sign up for insurance in 36 states, will start showing prices that reflect the new policy."

Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman


MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions):

  • Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr
  • Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
  • Activism Music: This Fickle World by Theo Bard
  • Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent

SHOW IMAGE:

Image Description: In foreground, a gravestone with the words "R.I.P. Reaganism" and in the background, part of a stimulus check from the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Credit: Composite design & text by Amanda Hoffman. Grave image (Pixabay), Stimulus check image (Pixabay)

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

SUPPORT THE SHOW

Listen Anywhere!

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

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

During today's episode, I'm going to be telling you about and playing a clip from a new

0:06.8

podcast.

0:07.8

I think you should check out.

0:08.8

It's called Uneffing the Republic, but they don't say effing.

0:12.8

So here may I show when I brace you for what you shall hear from them.

0:17.7

And now, welcome to today's episode of the award-winning Best of the Left podcast in

0:22.4

which we shall learn about the American Rescue Plan and discuss what it does, where it falls

0:27.9

short and whether it could signal the end of an era.

0:31.7

Clips today are from the Bradcast Democracy Now, the Tom Hartman program, Off-Kilter,

0:37.6

the majority report, the zero hour Uneffing the Republic, there will be swearing, and

0:43.8

pitchfork economics.

0:51.7

Ron Claim said we want to move as fast as possible.

0:54.9

We will hold our celebration of the signing on Friday as planned with Congressional leaders,

1:02.0

presumably that will only be Democratic Congressional leaders since no Republicans in either

1:09.3

Chamber voted in favor of the bill.

1:12.7

Despite some of them going on to Twitter on Wednesday to sing its praises.

1:16.7

Of course they did.

1:18.5

Because if they had voted in favor of it, so don't be fooled, zero, zero Republicans voted

1:25.6

for what is now not just a stimulus bill, but a landmark recovery relief and stimulus

1:31.9

bill that is structured wildly differently from anything before it in modern times, pumping

1:38.2

a huge amount of money where it's actually needed, including mostly to the poor and the

1:44.8

working class who have struggled the most over the past year, not to mention the past,

...

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.