#1747 Racism in the United States, it turns out, is a problem

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

Jay Tomlinson

Marx, Political, Feminism, Jacobin, Left, Hightower, Politics, Counterspin, News, News Commentary, Maddow, Hartmann, Democracynow, Antiracism, Marxism, Socialism, Capitalism, Ezra, Liberal, Intercepted, Hayes, Progressive, Intercept, Intersectionality, Wolff

4.6 • 3.4K Ratings

🗓️ 28 October 2025

⏱️ 190 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Air Date 10/28/2025

As we were looking for episode topics, I came across an article making the case that racism is a real problem in the country and that there were lots of recent examples that proved the point. And I was like, "Racism? In the US?! In Trump's Republican Party?? That doesn't sound like the country I've heard of." (sarcasm) But then we looked into it and it turns out racism is everywhere and also quite bad. (true)

Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email [email protected]

Full Show Notes

Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube!

BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)

Join our Discord community!

KEY POINTS

KP 1: Will Supreme Court Gut Voting Rights Act Weaken Electoral Power of Black Americans? - Democracy Now! - Air Date 10-16-25

KP 2: 'Kids Telling Edgy Jokes’? Hayes SHREDS Vance’s Defense of Racist GOP Group Chat - All In W/ Chris Hayes - Air Date 10-15-25

KP 3: Capitol Police INVESTIGATING SWASTIKA FLAG Found in REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMANS DC Office! - Jesse Dollemore - Air Date 10-16-25

KP 4: Racism Is the Policy: Here's 10 Months of Receipts - The Keith Boykin Channel - Air Date 10-15-25

KP 5: TheGrio Daily, Michael Harriot - Systemic Racism Explained - Air Date 4-22-24

KP 6: The Racist Origins of US Law - PBS Origins - Air Date 8-6-20

KP 7: ‘A Very Dangerous Theory:’ MAGA’s Mask-off Racist Vision of America - Velshi - Air Date 9-7-25

(00:50:25) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On how you CANNOT purchase your happiness with the misery of others

DEEPER DIVES

(00:56:12) SECTION A: HISTORICAL CONTEXT

(01:36:52) SECTION B: WHITE LASH

(02:04:02) SECTION C: SYSTEMIC RACISM

(02:50:39) SECTION D: TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: 1970s poster that says “Racism Chains Both” with an image of a black person’s hand and a white person’s hand both in connected shackles.

Credit: “Racism chains both Hugo Gellert artist” via Library of Congress Public Domain Archive

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere!

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Welcome to this episode of the award-winning Best of the Left podcast.
0:06.9	As we were looking for episode topics, I came across an article making the case that racism
0:11.9	is a real problem in the country and that there were lots of examples that actually
0:16.9	prove the point. And I was like, racism in the United States?
0:21.5	In Trump's Republican Party?
0:23.4	That doesn't sound like the country I've heard of.
0:26.7	Sarcasm.
0:27.6	But we looked into it anyway, and it turns out that racism is actually everywhere
0:32.1	and is also quite bad.
0:34.2	For those looking for a quick overview,
0:36.0	the sources providing our top takes in about 50 minutes
0:38.6	today includes Democracy Now, All In with Chris Hayes, Jesse Dolomore, the Keith Boykin
0:44.3	channel, The Griot Daily, PBS Origins, and Velshi.
0:49.3	Then, in the additional deeper dives half of the show, there will be more in four sections.
0:53.5	Section A,
0:54.5	historical context, followed by Section B, White Lash, Section C, Systemic Racism, and Section
1:01.2	D, the Trump administration. But first, a reminder to check out our new show solved on the
1:06.6	Best of the Left YouTube channel. We're really proud of the show we're making, and you're going to get
1:10.0	real value out of it. And you checking it out actually helps us find new viewers on YouTube.
1:14.8	So thanks in advance for all of your views, likes, subscribes, and comments.
1:18.8	That's all on the Best of Left YouTube channel linked in the show notes. And now, on to the show.
1:24.0	The Supreme Court appeared on to the show.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 1 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

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.