Welcome to this episode of the award-winning Best of the Left podcast. Today we explore

sports washing, past and present, from fascist dictators who first weaponized the World

Cup to FIFA's modern extractivism model of corrupt capitalism, and why workers, unions, and fans are

now organizing to reclaim the game from those profiting

off it. For those looking for a quick overview, the sources providing our top takes in about

45 minutes today include Chris Janssen reports, counterspin, power plays, the blazing musket,

and Midas Touch. Then in the additional deeper dives half of the show, there will be more in four sections.

Section A, Trump's sports-washing playbook,

Section B, Origins, the Fascist History of the World Cup,

Section C, the FIFA Greed Machine,

and Section D, Pushback, Travel Bands, Boycotts, and Reclaiming the Game.

And now, on to the show.

Right now, President Trump is at the Kennedy Center where he was just awarded FIFA's inaugural

Peace Prize during the final draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the top soccer tournament, set to take place next summer across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

But as the traditionally apolitical FIFA organization rolls out the red carpet for teams and fans from around the world, the president is expanding restrictions on travel to the U.S. and doubling down on his

anti-immigrant rhetoric. MSN. Now White House reporter, Akela Gardner, is at the Kennedy Center

for us. Simone Sanders Townsend is back with me. Akela, what's happening inside right now?

Well, Chris, today's World Cup draw has all the bells and whistles of an awards show.

We've already seen Kevin Hart and Heidi Kloom take the stage as well as Tom Brady.

And as you mentioned just moments ago, President Trump received FIFA's first ever peace prize

as he publicly campaigns to get another award, the Nobel Priest Prize next

year for his efforts in helping to broker peace deals around the world, although he's notably

...