#1759 Why Dictators Are Lunatics and Their Followers are Fools

<p><strong>Air Date 12/22/2025</strong></p> <p>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.</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/1759">Full Show Notes</a></p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><a href="https://www.bestoftheleft.com/20">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!)</a></strong><br /></span></p> <p><strong>Check out our new show, SOLVED! on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@BestOfTheLeft">YouTube</a>!</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/watch?v=53IHjehGrbQ">Worlds Most Peaceful Man Finally Wins Peace Prize - Weekly Weird News - Internet Today - Air Date 12-6-25</a></p> <p>KP 2: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/podcasts/post-reports/why-is-trump-so-obsessed-with-the-kennedy-center/"> Why Is Trump so Obsessed with the Kennedy Center? - Post Reports - Air Date 8-14-25</a></p> <p>KP 3: <a href="https://www.hoover.org/research/secret-life-dictators-frank-dikotter"> The Secret Life of Dictators with Frank Dikötter | Andrew Roberts | Hoover Institution Part 1 - The Secrets of Statecraft - Air Date 10-31-25</a></p> <p>KP 4: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i_Zw1Itv40">A Guide to Propaganda - Shawn Grenier | The Canvas - Air Date 1-29-23</a></p> <p>KP 5: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqXOLNnqoeA">How Dictators Really Control the World I Anne Applebaum Part 1 - Brad Carr - Air Date 9-18-25</a></p> <p>KP 6: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdMWDdTDKGc">On The Epstein Loop and Parallel Improvisation - Robert Arnold - Air Date 12-20-25</a></p> <hr /> <p><strong>(00:47:46) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR</strong></p> <p>On Trump's narcissism</p> <hr /> <p><strong>DEEPER DIVES</strong></p> <p><strong>(00:55:26) SECTION A: MADE UP AWARDS</strong></p> <p><strong>(01:18:24) SECTION B: MONUMENTS TO SELF</strong></p> <p><strong>(01:40:40) SECTION C: PROPAGANDA WORKS</strong></p> <p><strong>(02:08:56) SECTION D: DICTATORS ARE ALL THE SAME MAN</strong></p> <p><strong>(03:04:50) SECTION E: DICTATORSHIPS ALWAYS END</strong></p> <p><strong>HOW IMAGE CREDITS</strong></p> <p>Description: Cartoon image of Trump in the famous portrait of King Louis XIV, with a giant long curly wig, tights and robes.</p> <p>Credit: "<a href="https://pixabay.com/illustrations/donald-trump-louis-xiv-l%c3%a9tat-4270749/">donald-trump-louis-xiv-létat</a>" by heblo, Pixabay | <a href="https://pixabay.com/service/license-summary/">Pixabay License</a></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> <p>Like at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft</a></p> <p>Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com</p> <p> </p>