SOLVED! SAMPLE! #25 - Trump's "State Capitalism" is Just a Grift, NOT Socialism

SOLVED! SAMPLE! #25 - Trump's "State Capitalism" is Just a Grift, NOT Socialism

Author: Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics October 21, 2025 Duration: 19:24

Air Date: 10–14-25

Today, Jay!, Amanda, Deon, and Erin discuss:

  • Ch. 1 - The cartoonish conservative and libertarian responses to Trump's state capitalism

  • Ch. 2 - Trump's interest in sovereign wealth funds, and the lie the right sells its supporters about getting money back

  • Ch. 3 - The left spectrum of reactions to Trump's state capitalism

  • Ch. 4 - Why Trump is definitely, 100%, not in any way a socialist

  • SOLVED! BACKSTAGE: Beyond the Algorithm: Ayn Rand's nearly psychotic opposition to altruism

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REFERENCES:

The Danger of Trump Seizing Private Companies - Time magazine

Trump's "State Capitalism … a Hybrid Between Socialism and Capitalism" Won't Make America Great Again - Cato Institute

Trump Is Embracing 'Daddy State' Economics - Reason

Trump's brand of US capitalism faces 'socialist' backlash from conservatives - BBC

Trump, national-capitalism at bay - Heterodox

Don't Let Trump Define What State Capitalism Can Be - The New Republic

What State Capitalism Can Do—and What It Can't - The American Prospect

Unfortunately, Donald Trump is Not a Socialist - Current Affairs

EXTRAS

Were the Nazis Socialists? - Britannica

r/AskHistorians: "Is Nazism right wing or left wing?"

Interview with Hitler - Interviews (Anthology 1859-1993)

BACKSTAGE

I've spent my entire career studying stress—the No. 1 cure for it might 'surprise' you - CNBC

Leonard Peikoff - Wikipedia


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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