#1748 Patriotism in Peril: Democracy, the Military, and the Fight Over What America Means

#1748 Patriotism in Peril: Democracy, the Military, and the Fight Over What America Means

Author: Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics November 2, 2025 Duration: 3:41:05

Air Date 11/02/2025

A lot of people on the left aren't feeling the love for their country right now and that's understandable but we have some thoughts on more productive ways to channel those conflicting feelings toward a country that is currently falling far short of living up to its founding ideals.

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Full Show Notes

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: Democracy's Morticians Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt on 'How Democracies Die' Part 1 - Lawfare Archive - Air Date 5-1-18

KP 2: How Trump Changed the World with Anne Applebaum Part 1 - PoliticsJOE Podcast - Air Date 6-14-25

KP 3: Giving Up Is Unforgivable with Joyce Vance Part 1 - Stay Tuned with Preet - Air Date 10-23-25

KP 4: How to FIGHT Mob Boss Politics in America with Senator Andy Kim Part 1 - How to Fix It with John Avlon - Air Date 10-19-25

KP 5: Unitary Executive Meets Textualism Part 1 - #SistersInLaw - Air Date 10-11-23

KP 6: How Underdogs Build Power Stephanie Luce Part 1 - Future Hindsight - Air Date 10-23-25

KP 7: Reclaiming Patriotism From Trumps America with Ted Johnson Part 1 - How to Fix It with John Avlon - Air Date 4-27-25


(00:59:59) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On how the Left embraces the contradictions of the US


DEEPER DIVES

(01:10:45) SECTION A: SOCIETAL DRIVERS

(01:47:04) SECTION B: INSTITUTIONAL EROSION

(02:18:26) SECTION C: MILITARIZED LAWFARE

(02:41:12) SECTION D: PATRIOTISM AND NARRATIVE

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Composite image of the Declaration of Independence with three question marks on top filled with the image of the American flag.

Credit: Internal composite design. Images via Pixabay. | Pixabay License

 

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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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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