#1759 Why Dictators Are Lunatics and Their Followers are Fools

#1759 Why Dictators Are Lunatics and Their Followers are Fools

Author: Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics December 22, 2025 Duration: 3:31:18

Air Date 12/22/2025

It's said that mockery is one of the most effective weapons against dictators. I guess it depends on your goal, but still, there's truth there. And the good thing in that regard is that they are so very mockable. No really nice, likable, non-clownish people make themselves dictators and so the people who do are, without exception, absolutely ridiculous lunatics who deserve all the mockery and disdain in the world.

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 Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Full Show Notes

In honor of our 20th birthday, we're giving new Members 20% OFF FOR THE LIFETIME OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP...this includes Gift Memberships! (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)

Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube!

Join our Discord community!


KEY POINTS

KP 1: Worlds Most Peaceful Man Finally Wins Peace Prize - Weekly Weird News - Internet Today - Air Date 12-6-25

KP 2: Why Is Trump so Obsessed with the Kennedy Center? - Post Reports - Air Date 8-14-25

KP 3: The Secret Life of Dictators with Frank Dikötter | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution Part 1 - The Secrets of Statecraft - Air Date 10-31-25

KP 4: A Guide to Propaganda - Shawn Grenier | The Canvas - Air Date 1-29-23

KP 5: How Dictators Really Control the World I Anne Applebaum Part 1 - Brad Carr - Air Date 9-18-25

KP 6: On The Epstein Loop and Parallel Improvisation - Robert Arnold - Air Date 12-20-25


(00:47:46) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On Trump's narcissism


DEEPER DIVES

(00:55:26) SECTION A: MADE UP AWARDS

(01:18:24) SECTION B: MONUMENTS TO SELF

(01:40:40) SECTION C: PROPAGANDA WORKS

(02:08:56) SECTION D: DICTATORS ARE ALL THE SAME MAN

(03:04:50) SECTION E: DICTATORSHIPS ALWAYS END

HOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Cartoon image of Trump in the famous portrait of King Louis XIV, with a giant long curly wig, tights and robes.

Credit: "donald-trump-louis-xiv-létat" by heblo, Pixabay | Pixabay License

 

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere!

Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

 


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
Podcast Episodes
#1773 How Big Tech Captured Attention, Kids, and Democracy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:26:08
Air Date: 2/23/2026 Today we examine how the platforms that monetize your attention are merging with state power. We'll hear how TikTok's new owners include Trump ally Larry Ellison, how DHS sent hundreds of subpoenas to…
#1770 Getting in the Fight Against ICE and Authoritarianism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:07:38
Air Date 2/10/2026 Today we explore what effective resistance actually looks like. We'll hear why Jamelle Bouie says the panic of those in power signals that opposition is working, what abolitionists teach us about fight…
#1128 Confronting Fascism in the Land of Free Speech (Throwback) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:58
Original Air Date: 8-25-2017 Today we look at the constant struggle between the freedom to speak and the necessary limits placed on that freedom due to the rights of others to not be substantially harmed by that speech B…
SOLVED! #32 - How the Left is Always Right Too Soon (With Receipts) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:47
Air Date: 01-28-26 Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss: Ch 1 - Why it's not actually "fun" to be right too early (despite being called 'insufferable') Ch 2 - The political elites and neoliberals who are frantical…