Your Neighbor on the Left Podcast

You’ve heard the line: Obama gave Iran “pallets of cash.” It’s a great sound bite… if you don’t care whether it’s true. In this installment of Back Porch Files we dig into what the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action actually did, where the money in the story really came from, and why the viral version floating around the internet leaves out about 90% of the facts.

Visit the podcast website at https://www.neighborontheleft.com 

This week's episode is all about the new war with Iran. We'll take a look at the issues and discrepancies with the narrative and address what things Joe and Jane American should be focussing on in the coming days. Also in this episode: The possible Executive Order on Elections, pending Democrat led congressional investigation, and the USA's history of success - or lack thereof - when trying to effect regime change.

Visit the podcas...

A nearly blind refugee in Buffalo was arrested after becoming disoriented while using a curtain rod as a walking stick. After pleading to minor charges, he was released from immigration custody and dropped off five miles from home — with no notification to his family or attorney. Days later, he was found dead. This episode examines the details of his case, the circumstances surrounding his release, and the broader pattern of troubl...

The Supreme Court just struck down Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs — yes, that Supreme Court, with the conservative majority and three Trump appointees. In this episode, we take a look at what the Court actually ruled, which justices sided where, and why this wasn’t about trade policy as much as it was about limits on executive power. We’ll talk about the companies lining up to sue for refunds, why you probably won’t see prices dr...

In this week's Back Porch Files, I take on one of the most common — and most misleading — phrases in modern political conversation: “Both sides...” You’ve heard it. Maybe you’ve said it. But what happens when that mindset becomes an excuse to disengage, ignore facts, or avoid calling out behavior that clearly crosses the line? From media coverage to everyday conversations with friends and neighbors, we’ll dig into how false equival...

There are many phrases that will be used to describe the Trump administration to history. The Science Denial Presidency will certainly be among them. Case in point: The latest move to roll back major climate regulations — and the scientific backlash that followed almost immediately. We break down the claims used to justify the decision, what climate experts are actually saying, and why a federal judge’s ruling about secret, closed-...

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s recent appearance before Congress was supposed to provide clarity about the Department of Justice, the Epstein files, and whether powerful figures are being held to the same standards as everyone else. Instead, viewers got a spectacle of deflections, sweeping claims, glowing praise for Donald Trump, and a familiar pattern of non-answers that left lawmakers — and the public — with more frustration than f...

This week, we're taking a look at a recent report from the Cato Institute, a Libertarian think-tank, titled "Immigrants’ Recent Effects on Government Budgets: 1994–2023." Contrary to prevalent narratives, the data reveals that immigrants have been a substantial fiscal asset, contributing more in taxes than they receive in benefits. We explore how these findings challenge common perceptions and discuss the implications for immigrati...

In this episode, we delve into President Trump’s recent remarks advocating for the federal “takeover” of state-run elections—a proposition that starkly contradicts constitutional provisions. We also examine Steve Bannon’s incendiary call for ICE agents to be present at polling places during the upcoming midterms, a move that raises serious legal and ethical concerns. We’ll discuss the federal laws that prohibit such actions, the hi...

The Department of Justice has finally released what it called “the rest” of the Epstein files — millions of pages that were supposed to deliver clarity, accountability, and sunlight. Instead, the release has raised as many questions as it answered, especially about how allegations were investigated, why key explanations are still missing, and why senior officials have been so evasive when Donald Trump’s name comes up. In this episo...

In only the first month of 2026, the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti shocked the nation and sparked widespread outrage over federal immigration enforcement. But they were not the only ones who died. In the same weeks, at least six other people lost their lives in ICE custody — men from Honduras, Cambodia, Mexico, and Nicaragua whose names made few headlines. This episode looks beyond the viral videos and high-profile cases to ...

   In this episode, we take a hard look at the killing of Alex Pretti and the Trump administration’s immediate, coordinated response — a response that came before any meaningful investigation could possibly have been completed. We take a look at the false narrative immediately put forward by the Administration, the stunning hypocrisy of the MAGA movement’s double standards, and the potential cost of nonexistent investigations, ICE’...

World leaders came to Davos, Switzerland expecting economic policy, global cooperation, and maybe a little diplomatic reassurance. What they got instead was Donald Trump riffing his way through history that never happened, countries he seemed to confuse, lies he’s already been corrected on, and grievances that had absolutely nothing to do with the room he was in. In this episode, we walk through Trump’s Davos speech line by line — ...

A lot of people think they already know what ICE can and cannot do. Many don't. In this episode, we slow everything down and walk through the real rules governing ICE encounters: in public, in vehicles, at home, and at work. We break down what “probable cause” actually means, why “looking foreign” is not evidence, when agents need real warrants, and how speech — even profanity — is protected under the Constitution. Using real Supre...

What happens when Congress issues a subpoena — and someone powerful simply ignores it? In this episode, we step back from the daily chaos to examine the defiance of congressional subpoenas by Bill and Hillary Clinton in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, and what it says about the slow erosion of congressional authority. We break down what subpoena power actually is, how Congress is supposed to enforce it, and why that enforcement ...

The shooting death of Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent didn’t just spark protests — it exposed a deeper crisis in how power is exercised and defended in America. In this episode, we examine the incident itself, the administration’s premature justification, and the alarming trend of law enforcement acting without adequate oversight. We also take a hard look at how political leadership bends narratives t...

   As this year comes to a close, it felt right to do something a little different. No outrage. No doomscrolling. No reminder of why your eye twitches when cable news comes on. Instead, this episode is a full hour devoted entirely to the good stuff — the stories that quietly reminded us, again and again, that decency didn’t take the year off.    If you’re exhausted, discouraged, or just need proof that 2025 wasn’t only chaos and no...

While most of the country was trying to unplug, slow down, and get through Christmas with a minimum amount of family drama, Donald Trump spent the holiday season doing what he does best—turning a moment meant for warmth and reflection into a showcase of confusion, exaggeration, and emotional vacancy. In this episode, we take a serious but unsparing look at Trump’s strange Christmas season: from wildly inflated claims about snake de...

In moments of national tragedy, the presidency isn’t supposed to me about policy or politics—it’s instead supposed to embody empathy, restraint, and the ability to steady a grieving country. In this episode, we examine how past presidents have risen to that responsibility, from the aftermath of the Challenger and Columbia shuttle disasters to mass shootings and acts of terror, and why those moments mattered. Then, the stark contras...