#1749 Democracy: In Theory, In Practice, and Under Threat

<p><strong>Air Date 11/4/2025</strong></p> <p>Elections are always coming up, some sooner than others, so we thought we would take a look at the state of our democracy and what we must do to maintain it in the face of the greatest direct assault on our institutions we've seen in our 250 year history.</p> <p>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 <a href="mailto:Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com">Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/1749">Full Show Notes</a></p> <p><strong>Check out our new show, SOLVED! on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@BestOfTheLeft">YouTube</a>!</strong></p> <p><strong><strong><a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/support" rel="noopener" target="_blank">BestOfTheLeft.com/Support</a> (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)</strong></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://www.youtube.com/shorts/vAAcpKPge8Y">Trump 2028? - Takes™ by Jamelle Bouie - Air Date 10-29-25</a></p> <p>KP 2: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4HxgFNrHK8">Why Im Voting YES On Prop 50 - Robert Reich - Air Date 10-28-25</a></p> <p>KP 3: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQUmjjs4CNQ">Trumps 'Crowd Control' Plan For Midterm Election Is Real - The Majority Report W/ Sam Seder - Air Date 10-27-25</a></p> <p>KP 4: <a href="https://youtu.be/TiZbOACdXqs">Exposing Trumps 2026 Election Mastermind Part 1 - Democracy Docket - Air Date 10-22-25</a></p> <p>KP 5: <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-s-predictable-bad-faith-on-election-security-gives-his-opponents-an-advantage-250753093806"> Trump's Predictable Bad Faith on Election Security Gives His Opponents an Advantage - The Rachel Maddow Show - Air Date 10-28-25</a></p> <p>KP 6: <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/-they-re-spending-more-than-i-d-tax-them-mamdani-slams-mega-donors-funding-cuomo-250864197906"> 'They're Spending More Than I'd Tax Them': Mamdani Slams Mega-donors Funding Cuomo - All In with Chris Hayes - Air Date 10-28-25</a></p> <p>KP 7: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsZlG9mksG8">What If Zohran Loses? Part 1 - Zaid Tabani - Air Date 10-29-25</a></p> <p>KP 8: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGBQwCsIhn0">My Message to Muslim New Yorkers — and Everyone Who Calls This City Home. - Zohran Mamdani for NYC - Air Date 10-24-25</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(00:49:12) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR</strong></p> <p>On the willingness to sound the alarm</p> <hr /> <p><strong>DEEPER DIVES</strong></p> <p><strong>(00:58:05) SECTION A: MAGA POLITICS</strong></p> <p><strong>(01:25:25) SECTION B: GENERAL POLITICS</strong></p> <p><strong>(02:01:21) SECTION C: PROGRESSIVE POLITICIANS</strong></p> <p><strong>(02:25:17) SECTION D: ZOHRAN MAMDANI</strong></p> <p><strong>SHOW IMAGE CREDITS</strong></p> <p>Description: Close up photo of a "I voted early!" sicker from the City of New York Board of Elections</p> <p>Credit: "<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/edenpictures/54883126094">I voted early!</a>" by Eden, Janine and Jim | <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.en">CC BY 4.0</a> | Changes: Heavily cropped, slight increased saturation and decreased contrast</p> <p> </p> <p>Produced by Jay! Tomlinson</p> <p>Visit us at <a href="http://www.bestoftheleft.com/">BestOfTheLeft.com</a></p> <p>Listen Anywhere! <a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/listen">BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen</a> Listen Anywhere!</p> <p>Follow BotL: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/bestoftheleft.bsky.social">Bluesky</a> | <a href="https://mastodon.social/@bestoftheleft">Mastodon</a> | <a href="https://www.threads.net/@bestoftheleft">Threads</a> | <a href="https://x.com/BestOfTheLeft">X</a></p>