The Professional Left Podcast with Driftglass and Blue Gal

This week we're celebrating Blue Gal's birthday while diving deep into Trump's latest meltdown over the Epstein files. We break down how the former reality TV star is now turning his trademark attack style on his own MAGA base as they demand answers about his promised disclosures that never materialized. Remember: when MAGA tries to change the subject, there's only one question that matters - what about Trump covering up the Epstein files? This podcast is not safe for work and is recorded liv...

Transcribed - Published: 16 July 2025

Join us this week as we explore the slow-motion collapse of expertise and institutions in America through the lens of Isaac Asimov's classic science fiction story "Nightfall." We examine how the MAGA mob's assault on knowledge mirrors the fictional planet Lagash, where civilization periodically burns itself down in fear of what it doesn't understand. We're witnessing a Cultural Revolution-style purge of expertise - except this time, the things being feared are lies manufactured by Fox News an...

Transcribed - Published: 11 July 2025

We dive into the Republican party's latest identity crisis as their own media machine turns on itself. We explore how decades of conspiracy theories and manufactured outrage have created a base that demands their leaders deliver on impossible promises—and what happens when reality finally catches up. We examine the MAGA movement's relationship with truth, the cult-like devotion that prevents accountability, and how certain recent developments have exposed the gears of the right-wing propagand...

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2025

We're visiting America in the ICU on her 249th birthday, hoping the old girl still has some fight left in her. A sad day as Trump's disastrous bill passes the House. We are still fighting. This week, we explore the dark matter of American politics - that invisible force that explains why so many voters can't see what's right in front of them. Spoiler alert: it's not really dark at all. We examine the original No Kings manifesto and ask some pointed questions about which "dark mat...

Transcribed - Published: 4 July 2025

Hat tip to John Fetter-Manchin (copyright Driftglass), we're grudgingly back from our beach vacation (okay, we never actually left the Cornfield Resistance) to bring you the political chaos that just won't quit. This week, we dive into the summer breakup season hitting Washington hard. From senators throwing tantrums and storming out over Trump's latest budget disaster... to billionaire Twitter feuds that read like celebrity gossip... to Trump supporters getting a harsh reality check about wh...

Transcribed - Published: 1 July 2025

We had severe technical difficulties with our audio with Charlie Pierce (thanks for your time, Charlie!) so that interview had to be scrapped. But the show must go on! So this evening we recorded a podcast just the two of us. Bluegal's opinion of Republicans has changed. Someone FINALLY says, "Liberals were right all along," buuuuut... Enjoy this more spontaneous-than-usual show. Stay in Touch! Email: [email protected]: proleftpod.comSuppor...

Transcribed - Published: 27 June 2025

This week, we examine Trump's pathological relationship with Fox News and how his morning TV viewing sessions led directly to bombing Iran. We trace the disturbing line from Fox pundits praising Israeli strikes to Trump launching his own attacks—strikes that Rolling Stone reports were "based on vibes" rather than intelligence. We explore how a president who spent years tweeting that Obama would "play the Iran card" has now done exactly that himself, abandoning his "no foreign wars" promise th...

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2025

We're back from the Cornfield Resistance with another episode examining the eerie echoes of 2003 as familiar faces dust off their war-hungry talking points for another Middle Eastern adventure. We dive into the fascinating split happening in MAGA-land between isolationists and hawks, plus how certain unrepentant ghouls somehow found their way back onto our screens. There's also a delightful trip through our spam folder and the usual Trump chaos, including his latest "two weeks" promise. Oh, a...

Transcribed - Published: 20 June 2025

Anyone else notice the growing cracks in the MAGA coalition as supporters openly question whether they've been played? We dive into the spectacular failures that defined this week in MAGA-land. From Trump's embarrassingly sparse tank parade that drew more protesters (Yay, No Kings Marches!) than supporters, to the horrific Minnesota political assassinations that exposed how quickly the right-wing propaganda machine can pivot from one set of lies to another, especially when reality and facts g...

Transcribed - Published: 18 June 2025

NOTE: The shocking news of Senator Alex Padilla being forcibly removed and handcuffed at a Kristi Noem press conference simply for trying to ask questions as an elected official? We cover that in the news round-up. In this week's episode, we take a brief break from documenting Republican authoritarianism to explore the 1948 film noir masterpiece "The Big Clock," but quickly return to the fascist dumpster fire by introducing you to Bo Loudon, an 18-year-old MAGA influencer ...

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2025

We dive into the chaos on the right as their messaging machine encounters serious technical difficulties. While they're busy thrashing between conflicting loyalties and scrambling for the next official lie, we explore how power always finds someone else to blame and why Rebecca Solnit's brilliant "she made him do it" theory seems to explain everything in politics these days. Plus, we celebrate a spicy email from our friends at Penzey's and remind everyone that paper straws and pronouns are NO...

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2025

We're back from the Cornfield Resistance with the messiest billionaire breakup of the century—complete with explosive social media threats and some very familiar names getting dragged into very damning files. We're watching Pride Month get weaponized, civil rights heroes getting erased from naval vessels, and Republican voters acting shocked when the leopards they voted for start eating their own faces. Plus: billionaire-funded "centrist" PACs, AI writing coaches at major newspapers, and why ...

Transcribed - Published: 6 June 2025

We're talking about Trump's "Move Fast and Break Things" presidency - from Tulsi Gabbard wanting to turn intelligence briefings into Fox News shows, to Elon Musk's deadly DOGE disaster that's killed hundreds of thousands worldwide. Senator Joni Ernst delivers peak Republican callousness by dismissing Medicaid death concerns with "We're all gonna die!" while strolling through a cemetery. Plus, we show you what honest economic reporting would look like versus the both-sides garbage we actually ...

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2025

This week, we take you back to the "Before Time" - specifically 2011 - to trace the toxic road that led us to where we are today. We revisit the birther movement, explore how "Conservatism cannot fail; conservatism can only be failed" evolved into "Trump cannot fail; Trump can only be failed," and examine what happens when an entire political movement becomes nothing more than loyalty to one man. We discuss the courts blocking Trump's tariffs (and then unblocking them), judges using 26 exclam...

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2025

This week, we’re diagnosing a political condition we’re all feeling — what we’re calling Political Cabin Fever. It’s not hopelessness, it’s exhaustion, and if you're part of the Democratic Base, we bet you know exactly what we mean. We remember before-time examples of MAGA from Archie Bunker to Bill Hicks to RoboCop, and we talk about how liberals like us have been sounding the alarm for decades while elite opinion-havers closed their eyes. Plus, we take a look at the Rahmbo revival tour (Why...

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2025

We're serving up some hard-won advice about winning elections - and it's not pretty. While our Never Trump allies and high-paid consultants keep screaming the same tired strategies at Democratic politicians, we're here with a bolder approach inspired by David Bowie's wisdom about language and a certain scene from "Better Call Saul." We dive deep into what undecided and independent voters actually want (spoiler: it's not what you think), examine the post-election interviews that reveal the unc...

Transcribed - Published: 23 May 2025

This week on The Professional Left: Weather woes! Driftglass and Blue Gal welcome some special guests - tornado refugees (the two younger kids!) - as severe weather interrupts podcast preparations.A "No Fair Remembering Stuff" segment takes us back to 2008's bizarre tire pressure inflation controversy - and why it matters as a "telling detail" in the trajectory of Republican politics.Science Fiction University returns with a look at a particular time travel novel and its eerie parallels to cu...

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2025

Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. America and all the ships at sea! Flash! Those audio chatterboxes they call "The Professional Left Podcast" are taking to the airwaves tonight with a retrospective that'll curl your permanent wave! From the swanky studios of downtown Springfield, Illinois, to your very own listening device comes "Nine Hundred Episodes in Sixty Minutes" — a piping hot sample platter of American political whoop-de-do spanning fifteen years of ballot box bedlam and legacy media failure...

Transcribed - Published: 16 May 2025

This week on The Professional Left, we're asking the question that's suddenly on everyone's mind: "Does motivated reasoning have any limits?" When a president accepts a $400 million jet as a "gift" from Qatar and his administration floats suspending habeas corpus, are we finally reaching a tipping point? We'll explore why even some of the most devoted right-wing voices are squirming uncomfortably as Trump's corruption moves from the shadows into broad daylight. Is this his "Katrina moment," o...

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2025

In our 898th episode, we examine a puzzling question: why has political persuasion become seemingly impossible in America today? We explore how the landscape has fundamentally shifted beyond mere policy disagreements into something that looks surprisingly like religious conflict. We connect historical patterns of how religious movements evolve and rewrite their narratives to what we're witnessing in contemporary politics. Drawing parallels between ancient religious transformations and today's...

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2025

In this episode of The Professional Left Podcast, we return from our break to tackle the media's misuse of political vocabulary and how a certain pundit twists language to avoid placing blame where it belongs. We break down a prominent columnist's appearance on PBS that perfectly illustrates this problem, while examining how his myth of the "Sensible Center" continues to poison our discourse. Our news roundup covers troubling developments from the Trump administration alongside a few rays of ...

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2025

We discuss Chicago politics as 26-year-old progressive influencer Kat Abughazaleh challenges veteran Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who may be announcing her retirement after 14 terms in Congress. Then we take a look at Trump's latest projection scheme as his DOJ targets ActBlue while conveniently ignoring WinRed's shady operations. Both sides don't! Only one for-profit fundraising platform skims millions off donations; we connect the dots on how money flows through our political syst...

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2025

Today’s episode is going to be a little more unstructured than usual because we have a very special guest. He is a renowned political journalist and staff writer for Esquire, where he writes the popular blog "Politics with Charles P. Pierce." He's known for his sharp political commentary, incisive humor, and encyclopedic knowledge of American politics and history. He previously wrote for outlets including The Boston Globe, Grantland, and Sports Illustrated. He is also the author o...

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

In Episode 894, "The Shipping News," we explore Pope Francis's passing, compare Easter messages from presidents past and present, and examine how "Mr. Fix The Economy On Day One" is actually doing with tariffs and trade wars. We reveal alarming economic indicators, presidential gaslighting about grocery prices, and share some outrageous local political news. Join us as we connect the dots between Trump's promises and the reality hitting American farmers, workers, and consumers. Stay in Touch!...

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2025

This week, we're examining the disturbing parallels between past and present as we approach the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. We'll explore how the extremist rhetoric that drove Timothy McVeigh has found new life in today's political landscape. We dive into the Republican propaganda machine's decades-long strategy of relentlessly blaming liberals for everything—from Newt Gingrich's exploitation of tragedies to the current rewriting of January 6th as patriotic heroism. We'll s...

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2025

In this week's episode, we examine the disturbing realities of Trump's America in 2025, where Supreme Court rulings are ignored, critics face politically motivated investigations, and erratic tariff policies create economic chaos. We connect these developments to warnings we shared a year ago about the rise of fascism, reminding listeners that what's happening now was entirely predictable. (Kamala Harris said she wasn't gonna say "I told you so" as she DID.). As we document the administration...

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2025

In this week's episode, we dive into why Republicans keep winning the messaging war despite their policies hurting average Americans. We explore how stories consistently triumph over facts in political discourse and why Democrats' reliance on statistics isn't working. From "The Inspector General" to parables in the Bible, we examine how powerful narratives shape public perception more effectively than cold, hard facts. We also break down the absurdity of Trump's tariffs, the mainstream media'...

Transcribed - Published: 11 April 2025

Time to dive into Donald Trump's tantrum-driven manufacturing policy and catastrophic tariff regime. We follow the destructive path of his administration as it systematically dismantles Biden's successful manufacturing initiatives - from shutting down EV charging stations to threatening billions in loans for electric vehicle factories. We explain how manufacturing jobs create a powerful multiplier effect (each job creates nine other jobs), and how Trump's policies are now subtracting jobs fro...

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2025

In this week's episode, we break down Trump's chaotic new trade war and its immediate devastating impact on the markets. We draw parallels between this administration's trade "liberation" and the Bush-era Iraq War disaster, examining: The fallout from Trump's sweeping tariff announcements that wiped $1.65 trillion from the US stock market in minutesThe mass layoffs hitting public health agencies, senior services, and cultural institutionsHow Elon Musk's DOGE (Department of Government Efficien...

Transcribed - Published: 4 April 2025

AKA There Is No Trump without Newt. In episode 888 of The Professional Left Podcast, hosts driftglass and Blue Gal dive into the political landscape of April 1st, 2025, where April Fools Day is effectively canceled at the Cornfield Resistance due to the real Fool occupying the Oval Office. The hosts examine how Republicans have weaponized language over decades, tracing the destructive path from Newt Gingrich's slash-and-burn politics through Rush Limbaugh's hate radio to Trump's preside...

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2025

Tulsi Gabbard's memory seems as selective as Alberto Gonzales's infamous "I don't recall" testimony from 2007. Imagine a Director of National Intelligence who can't remember being part of a classified Signal chat from just yesterday. She's also not good at lying, which is a requirement included in her job description as Trump's DNI. From the Bush-era playbook of political corruption to Trump's current circus of catastrophic mismanagement, we trace the alarming pattern of Republica...

Transcribed - Published: 28 March 2025

In this week's episode, we dive deep into the world of narrative storytelling and spectacular political incompetence. What happens when an entire administration accidentally texts its top-secret military plans to a reporter? Welcome to the "Idiot Plot," a storytelling concept in which the entire plot is driven by everyone involved being profoundly stupid. We'll break down the Trump administration's Signal app security disaster, take a deep dive into Glenn Greenwald's media metamorphosis, and ...

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2025

In this fiery episode, we turn the tables on the right-wing outrage machine by exploring what actual cancel culture looks like under the current administration. We dive into the Pentagon's removal of webpages about minorities who served in the military, including Ira Hayes, the Native American Marine who helped raise the flag at Iwo Jima. We play a game of "Do You Remember?" highlighting the hypocrisy of those who decried "cancel culture" just a few years ago but are now actively erasing hist...

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2025

Happy 20th Blogiversary to Driftglass! We celebrate by bringing on board a new fake sponsor. Cryptocurrency that is modeled on our chatty, slightly annoying cat, Bosco. $Bosco will make all your dreams come true! Glitter paws and crypto minds $Bosco’s here leaving doubts behind Cash your dreams in feline flair $Bosco Coin taking you everywhere!!! [Chorus] $Bosco Coin boogie, let’s ignite Dancing through the blockchain night Purrs of fortune in the air $Bosco’s groove ...

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2025

We're back with a fresh episode exploring what we call the media's "favorite drug" - their addiction to centrism and both-siderism! We'll take you behind the scenes of Chuck Todd's bitter departure from NBC, examine the rehabilitation tour of certain political figures, and discuss why MSNBC is hemorrhaging viewers. Plus, we'll dive into some troubling developments in the early months of Trump's second administration and share our thoughts on politicians desperately courting that mythical "mid...

Transcribed - Published: 14 March 2025

We're back with our latest episode, examining how the rope of crony corruption binds our politics asymmetrically - a pattern we've been observing for over twenty years in American politics and media. The heart of our conversation explores how right-wing media continues to dominate local airwaves while progressive voices face constant scrutiny and advertising challenges. I'll take you back to 2005 to show how little has changed - or how much worse it's gotten. In other news, FAFO hits federal ...

Transcribed - Published: 12 March 2025

In this episode of The Professional Left Podcast for March 6, 2025, driftglass and I dive into several breaking news stories that have us asking "Are you KIDDING?" Elon Musk's government email addressPeter Navarro's outlandish claim about CanadaPresident Diarrhea Mouth can’t help leaving a huge door open for those suing to stop DOGERepublican senators secured a special hotline from Musk.Missouri Republicans propose 100% tax credits for you’ll never guessAnd Driftglass makes an insightful comp...

Transcribed - Published: 7 March 2025

In our latest episode, we dissect how prominent news outlets like the Associated Press are sanitizing Trump's increasingly unhinged behavior, literally editing out his most bizarre moments from official transcripts. From the shocking Oval Office encounter with Zelensky to the ongoing media capitulation, we show how journalism is failing in real time. We explore the deep shame many Americans feel as our country becomes increasingly aligned with authoritarian regimes, sharing insights from unex...

Transcribed - Published: 5 March 2025

In this episode of The Professional Left Podcast, we dive into the Trump administration's continuing assault on American democracy and institutions. We start with our "News Roundup," covering the DOGE cuts, government firings, and acts of resistance within federal agencies. We also discuss Trump's controversial "Gold Card" citizenship program, the shocking U.S. vote against a U.N. resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the purge of top military leadership, and the numerous legal ...

Transcribed - Published: 27 February 2025

Sorry folks, DG is getting over a sniffle and is coughing too much to podcast today. See you Thursday! Support the show

Transcribed - Published: 25 February 2025

Episode 878 of The Professional Left Podcast examines how the Republican party built a "democracy-destroying machine" over 50 years, and why attempts by Never Trumpers to reform it from within consistently fail. The hosts analyze a recent Bari Weiss column as a case study of how conservative critics must attack Democrats and marginalized groups to establish credibility with the MAGA base. They discuss recent developments including Trump's attacks on Zelenskyy, Nikki Haley's "evolving" (revolv...

Transcribed - Published: 21 February 2025

It's time to explore "Resistance Theater" through two powerful World War II-era films: "Passage to Marseilles" (1944) and "Pimpernel Smith" (1941). These classic propaganda films draw fascinating parallels to current events, and it's worth examining how MAGA forces are attempting to erase and rewrite history through modern tactics. From book banning at military bases to corporate attempts to appease Trump, this episode analyzes how resistance to fascism remains relevant today. The episode inc...

Transcribed - Published: 19 February 2025

Content warning: Contains strong language and adult themes. Not safe for work or children. In this spicy episode, Blue Gal and Driftglass explore the history and strategic importance of profanity in political discourse. They particularly focus on how the mainstream media's obsession with "civility" has been weaponized against progressives. They trace this phenomenon from David Broder's pearl-clutching about "vituperative" liberal bloggers to today's both-sides coverage of Trump's attacks on t...

Transcribed - Published: 14 February 2025

In this episode of The Professional Left Podcast, hosts Blue Gal and Driftglass discuss the impact of Trump's recent federal funding freeze on American farmers, particularly those who supported him in the 2024 election. They examine multiple news reports from across the country showing how farmers are facing financial hardship after Trump halted various USDA programs, including conservation projects and foreign food aid initiatives. The hosts analyze the viral story of Skylar Holden, a young ...

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2025

The Professional Left Podcast #874: Federal jobs and local economies are in chaos as Trump and Musk wreak havoc at USAID and beyond. Driftglass and Blue Gal break down how Republican propaganda keeps winning despite their awful job creation record, and why some Never Trumpers can't quit bashing Democrats. The hosts dig into research showing Dems are way better at creating jobs (shocking, right?), while Republicans excel at... lying about it. From Trump's whiplash-inducing tariff decisio...

Transcribed - Published: 7 February 2025

An exploration of how the “DEI madness” conspiracy is really just the GOP’s latest excuse to scapegoat diversity while distracting from their own failures.In this week's Professional Left Podcast, Driftglass and Blue Gal dive into the aftermath of a tragic midair collision over Washington, D.C., and the farcical responses from Trump’s administration. From blaming DEI hires to pointing fingers at everyone but himself, the fallout from the crash reveals the dangerous incompetence of Sean Duffy,...

Transcribed - Published: 31 January 2025

In this episode, Driftglass and Blue Gal tackle claims that "the resistance is over" by drawing powerful parallels between current "resistance fatigue" narratives and similar premature declarations during the Bush era. They discuss Paul Krugman's revelatory piece about his departure from The New York Times, explore the real-world evidence of continued grassroots resistance, and explain why simplistic "everything button" solutions to defeating fascism don't exist. We also cover the latest deve...

Transcribed - Published: 29 January 2025

Three badass women—Jasmine Crockett, AOC, and Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde—speak truth to power.Then we're on to Trump's unconscionable January 6th pardons, dissecting the psychology of "I'm, an independent!" voters and marveling at the mind-bending mental gymnastics of the MAGA world. From there, to media cowardice and Project 2025 nightmares.Big love to our ride-or-die listeners who keep this podcast alive through your support. Your monthly Patreon pledges and virtual espresso shots fuel our ...

Transcribed - Published: 24 January 2025

Tune in Wednesday 1/22-- we're on the Bob Cesca Show and Driftglass will be on the BradCast! And we'll have more politics on Thursday, not that this show isn't political! A dive into propaganda in science fiction, particularly those instances where aliens take over the world to the advantage of the privileged. What?Links for this episode: Ray Nelson, "Eight O'Clock In the Morning" available via the Internet Archive (free registration required) https://archive.org/details/sciencefi...

Transcribed - Published: 22 January 2025

We all know something has died. It's time for a wake, and then... onward toward life. More at proleftpod.com Recorded live from the Cornfield Resistance. Podcast artwork by Driftglass. Support the podcast at proleftpod.com or become a patron at patreon.com/proleftpod. Write us via the USPS! The Professional Left Podcast PO Box 9133 Springfield IL 62791Support the show

Transcribed - Published: 17 January 2025