Democrats Are Not "The Left" (w/Ted Rall)

🦩 This episode originally aired on May 14, 2025. Get new episodes early at patreon.com/CurrentAffairs

Ted Rall is one of the most influential political cartoonists on the left today. In his new book “What’s Left: Radical Solutions for Radical Problems," he presents a manifesto for left-wing politics in 2025, blending incisive analysis with his political cartoons.

Rall outlines what it means to be a leftist in an era where the Democratic Party has abandoned progressive ideals. He argues that the left must focus on real, substantive demands — from healthcare and the defense budget to a livable wage, offering both a critique of the past and a vision for what the future could hold if we organize around principles that actually improve people's lives.

0:00-7:04 A Manifesto for the Left

7:04-11:49 Defining Core Leftist Values

11:49-19:20 The Power of Simplifying Complex Ideas

19:20-27:48 Liberals vs. Leftists

27:48-41:17 Key Priorities for the Left

41:17-46:58 The Broad Appeal of Left-Wing Ideas

🎨 Buy Ted's Book: https://rall.com/2025/05/01/book-ted-rall-whats-left

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🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs

🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/