#1738 Escalations: Russia, Israel, And What We Are Allowed to Say About It

#1738 Escalations: Russia, Israel, And What We Are Allowed to Say About It

Author: Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics September 20, 2025 Duration: 3:28:50
Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
NewsCommentaryPolitics

Air Date 9/20/2025

The escalations are happening so fast now that even though this episode is about Russia increasing tensions by violating NATO airspace in Poland with drones and Israel intensifying their belligerence by bombing inside Qatar, those aren't even the most recent incidents now that Russian jets have entered NATO airspace in Estonia and Israel has launched a new attack on Gaza City while Netanyahu says he wants Israel to become like the doomed city-state of Sparta, which was weird.

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: Israel Bombs Qatar, Nepal Protests, Russian Drones Enter Polish Airspace - American Prestige - Air Date 9-12-25

KP 2: Qatar Today, Turkey Tomorrow - HasanAbi - Air Date 9-11-25

KP 3: Israels West Bank Annex Underway Jasper Nathaniel - The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder - Air Date 9-14-25

KP 4: UK Bans Palestine Action as 'Terror Group' - Mehdi & Owen on Censorship, Silencing of Pro-Palestinian Voices - Two Outspoken - Air Date 7-3-25

KP 5: Recognizing Palestine as a State Meaningful Farce Feat. Dana El Kurd - It Could Happen Here - Air Date 9-11-25

KP 6: Israel Bombs Hamas Leaders in Qatar - Pod Save the World - Air Date 9-9-25

KP 7: 'Putin Is Mocking' Trump, Polish Foreign Minister Says After Russian Drone Incursion - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 9-10-25

(00:58:31) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On Israel as the new Sparta

DEEPER DIVES

(01:03:11) SECTION A: RUSSIA

A1: Aftermath of Russian Drones Being Shot Down Over Poland - DW News - Air Date 9-10-25

A2: Putin Cozies Up To Modi And Xi - What A Day - Air Date 9-3-25

A3: AI and Drone Warfare in Ukraine, 'Trump Riviera' Gaza Plan, US Bombs Venezuelan Boat - American Prestige - Air Date 9-5-25

(01:27:06) SECTION B: QATAR BOMBING

B1: Israel Bombs Hamas Leaders in Qatar Part 2 - Pod Save the World - Air Date 9-9-25

B2: Qatar Today, Turkey Tomorrow Part 2 - HasanAbi - Air Date 9-11-25

B3: Israels Qatar Strike We Have to Be Careful When We Attack People - MSNBC Reports - Air Date 9-15-25

B4: Israel Bombs Hamas Leaders in Qatar Part 3 - Pod Save the World - Air Date 9-9-25

B5: After Bombing Qatar, Why Did Israel Strike Yemen - The Take - Air Date 9-15-25

(02:06:29) SECTION C: OTHER GAZA UPDATES

C1: Global Sumud Flotilla Vows to Keep Sailing to Gaza Israeli Drones Accused of Striking Two Boats - Democracy Now! - Air Date 9-11-25

C2: Israels Genocide Is Pure Cowardice w/ Jon Elmer - BreakThrough News - Air Date 9-15-25

C3: Recognizing Palestine as a State Meaningful Farce Feat. Dana El Kurd Part 2 - It Could Happen Here - Air Date 9-11-25

C4: AI and Drone Warfare in Ukraine, 'Trump Riviera' Gaza Plan, US Bombs Venezuelan Boat Part 2 - American Prestige - Air Date 9-5-25

C5: Israels Genocide Is Pure Cowardice W Jon Elmer Part 2 - BreakThrough News - Air Date 9-15-25

C6: Israels West Bank Annex Underway Jasper Nathaniel Part 2 - The Majority Report W Sam Seder - Air Date 9-14-25

(02:53:26) SECTION D: UK CRACKDOWN

D1: Is Direct Action for Palestine 'terrorism' The UK Says It Is - The Take - Air Date 7-10-25

D2: UK Bans Palestine Action as 'Terror Group' - Mehdi & Owen on Censorship, Silencing of Pro-Palestinian Voices Part 2 - Two Outspoken - Air Date 7-3-25

D3: Is Direct Action for Palestine 'terrorism' The UK Says It Is Part 2 - The Take - Air Date 7-10-25

D4: Protesters Defy Palestine Action Ban Theres No Way They Get Through Everyone - The Guardian - Air Date 9-7-25

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Photo of protestors holding signs that say "Ceasefire Now" and "Stop the Genocide"

Credit: "Free Palestine" by Can Pac Swire, Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0 | Changes: Cropped

 

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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For over fifteen years, Best of the Left-Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy has served as a vital, human-curated digest of voices from across the progressive spectrum. Instead of presenting a single opinion, each episode is built around a specific theme-from economic inequality to climate policy to cultural shifts-and weaves together insightful commentary from a diverse array of journalists, activists, and thinkers. This approach allows you to efficiently grasp the nuances of complex issues by hearing multiple expert angles in one sitting, all while discovering new commentators and sources you might not have encountered otherwise. The result is a richly layered analysis that algorithms simply cannot replicate, offering depth and context often missing from the daily news cycle. Since 2006, this award-winning podcast has cut through the noise, drawing from hundreds of independent and established sources to provide a coherent, thoughtful examination of the forces shaping our society and governments. Tuning in means joining a long-running conversation dedicated to understanding and advancing democratic principles, social justice, and a more equitable economy, all through the focused lens of leftist thought.
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