#1705 Threatened Social Safety Nets Are Foundational to Healthy Societies

<p class="p1"><strong>Air Date 4/22/2025</strong></p> <p class="p1"><em>George W. Bush proposed privatizing Social Security and didn't succeed. But, as with appointing Justices that would eventually overturn Roe V. Wade, groundwork was being laid as part of a multi-decade effort that would, they hoped, pay off in the future. So don't be surprised when they come for your earned benefits programs just as they came for the fundamental right to bodily autonomy.</em></p> <p class="p1">Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email <a href="mailto:Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com">Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com</a></p> <p class="p1"><a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1705">Full Show Notes</a> | <a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1705_transcripts">Transcript</a></p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/support" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BestOfTheLeft.com/Support</a> (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)</strong></p> <p><strong><a href="https://discord.gg/dhyZE3WMJn" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Join our Discord community</a>!</strong></p> <hr /> <p><strong>KEY POINTS</strong></p> <p>KP 1: <a href="https://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-few-people-know-about-the-program-that-saved-america-meg-jacobs"> What few people know about the program that saved America - Meg Jacobs - TED-Ed - Air Date 6-17-21</a></p> <p>KP 2: <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-is-coming-for-social-security-and-he-has-a-new-big-lie-to-justify-it-233604165620"> Trump is coming for Social Security. And he has a new 'Big Lie' to justify it. - All In with Chris Hayes - Air Date 5-5-25</a></p> <p>KP 3: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/02/10/1230610858/what-doge-could-mean-for-medicare-and-medicaid"> What DOGE could mean for Medicare and Medicaid? - Consider This - Air Date 2-10-25</a></p> <p>KP 4: <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/food-banks-feel-the-pain-from-higher-prices-and-cuts-to-government-programs"> Food banks feel the pain from higher prices and cuts to government programs - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 4-10-25</a></p> <p>KP 5: <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/important-hhs-services-will-grind-to-a-halt-with-cuts-former-secretary-sebelius-says"> Important HHS services _will grind to a halt_ with cuts, former Secretary Sebelius says - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 4-2-25</a></p> <p>KP 6: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZERJ0kDNEy0">Trumps Butchering Social Security to Feed His Starving Billionaires w/ Alex Lawson - The Hartmann Report - Air Date 3-12-25</a></p> <p>KP 7: <a href="https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2025/04/01/the-federal-workforce-feels-tormented-federal-employees-on-the-consequences-of-losing-their-jobs"> 'The federal workforce feels tormented': Federal employees on the consequences of losing their jobs Part 1 - On Point - Air Date 4-1-25</a></p> <p>KP 8: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interview-tim-faust-on-defending-medicaid/id1570782388?i=1000701543568"> INTERVIEW: Tim Faust on Defending Medicaid - The Worst of All Possible Worlds Part 1 - Air Date 3-31-25</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(00:51:58) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR</strong></p> <p>On the false moral arguments for cutting social safety nets</p> <hr /> <p><strong>DEEPER DIVES</strong></p> <p><strong>(01:02:18) SECTION A: SOCIAL SECURITY</strong></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(01:51:24) SECTION B: GENERAL CUTS</strong></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(02:34:52) SECTION C: MEDICAID & HHS</strong></p> <hr /> <p class="p1"><strong>SHOW IMAGE</strong></p> <p class="p1">Description: Photo of a homemade protest sign that says "Hands Off My Social Security" from the Hands Off nationwide rallies.</p> <p class="p1">Credit: Private permission photo</p> <p> </p> <p>Listen Anywhere! <a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/listen">BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen</a> Listen Anywhere!</p>