Your Neighbor on the Left Podcast

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...

Today is the legal deadline for the release of the Epstein files — documents the federal government has spent years keeping out of public view. In this episode, we walk through why this date matters, what the law actually requires, and how the Trump administration has spent months promising transparency while quietly laying the groundwork for delays, redactions, and half-measures. We break down the back-and-forth from the White Hou...

Following the shocking deaths of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, public grief barely had time to settle before it was weaponized for a moronic political attack. We take a look at what we actually know about the case, why speculation in the aftermath of violence is so dangerous, and how Donald Trump’s disgusting response fits a long, disturbing pattern of exploiting tragedy for personal and political gain. ...

In this edition of Back Porch Files, we dive into the unsettling alliance between Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and his ideological North Star, Pastor Doug Wilson of Moscow, Idaho. Wilson — a Christian nationalist who has defended slavery, rejected women’s political rights, and preached patriarchal rule — has become one of Hegseth’s most-admired figures. And that devotion isn’t just creepy; it’s dangerous. We unpack who Wilson ...

In this episode, we dig into the racism so many people pretend not to see — the latest example being the relentless, targeted attacks Donald Trump has launched at Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and the broader Somali immigrant community. We walk through the history of Trump’s rhetoric, the conspiracies he knowingly amplifies, the “send her back” moments he encourages, and the way these narratives are swallowed whole by supporters who ins...

Trump says the D.C. shooting proves his immigration policies were too soft. Reality says the shooter was already vetted half to death, might’ve been radicalized here, and that the administration is using the tragedy as a political permission slip to target mostly non-white immigrants. In this episode, we dig into the numbers Trump doesn’t advertise, the racial double standard in his version of “public safety,” and why the outrage m...

In this episode, we break down the explosive revelations surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s alleged “kill them all” directive—an order tied to the September 2nd maritime strike that left unarmed survivors in the water dead. We explore the Trump administration’s escalating campaign of lethal strikes in the Caribbean, the legal and moral red lines these actions cross, and the mounting bipartisan backlash demanding answers. ...

In this episode, we dive into the increasingly exhausting cycle of President Trump’s repetitive bluster—highlighted by his Thanksgiving turkey-pardon speech, where he once again turned a lighthearted national tradition into a political sideshow. From jabs at a governor, to jabs at the NY Times, it was another week of the same blather. How is anyone—not just critics, but even his own supporters—not completely worn out by the same ol...

In this episode of Your Neighbor on the Left, we take a deep, slightly cathartic dive into the rise and fall of Marjorie Taylor Greene—one of the loudest, most chaotic voices in modern American politics. From her conspiracy-laced entrance into Congress to her headline-grabbing outbursts, culture-war crusades, and ultimately the bitter feud that ended her career, we trace how Greene went from MAGA’s golden child to a political cauti...

One of the most alarming political moments of the year: President Trump’s Truth Social posts accusing six Democratic lawmakers of “seditious behavior … punishable by death” after they released a video reminding military service members of their legal obligation to refuse unlawful orders. This episode cuts through the noise to explain why the lawmakers’ message was not only legal but essential, why Trump’s reaction was dangerous, an...

As newly released Epstein files and emails trigger fresh political shockwaves, this episode unravels the increasingly tangled story of Donald Trump’s shifting explanations, the House GOP’s efforts to block transparency, and the contradictions coming from his own administration. We walk through Trump’s evolving relationship with Epstein, the significance of the latest document dumps, Pam Bondi’s conflicting statements, Megyn Kelly’s...

Fox Nation has named Melania Trump “Patriot of the Year” — and somehow, that says everything about where we are as a country. In this week's supplemental installment Back Porch Files, we take a closer look at what “patriotism” even means anymore, and why it’s become less about love of country and more about loyalty to a brand. Because while some people get trophies for simply standing in the right spot, there are real Americans out...

In this episode of Your Neighbor on the Left, we dig into President Trump’s threat to cut federal funding to New York City and even revoke Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s U.S. citizenship — a move that reveals a disturbing blend of racism, political vengeance, and outright authoritarian fantasy. We break down why the president has zero legal power to revoke citizenship or defund a city out of spite, what this moment says about Trump’s hosti...

A surprising Blue Wave swept the November 4th elections — and in this episode, we unpack what happened, why it happened, and what it means moving forward. From unexpected Democratic gains across the country to Trump’s meltdown over all of it, particularly New York City’s historic mayoral race, we break down the reactions, the rhetoric, and what this election could signal for 2026.

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When Donald Trump blasted Seth Meyers on Truth Social — accusing the comedian of breaking the law just for making fun of him — it wasn’t just another tantrum. It was a teachable moment about what “fairness” in broadcasting actually means. In this episode of Your Neighbor on the Left, we unpack the long-gone Fairness Doctrine, the still-standing Equal-Time Rule, and the difference between political balance and bruised egos. Along th...

In this week's Back Porch Files, we take just a short jaunt down the road to Lancaster County and the Elizabethtown school district. While the plumbing system that handles the sewage in one of the schools there is failing - as in sewage in the classrooms - the only "filth" being discussed in school board meetings is the kind that is imagined by some parents to be in library books. In an epic case of misplaced priorities, we outline...

When the Pentagon announced it had accepted a $130 million “anonymous donation” to help pay U.S. troops during the government shutdown, the story sounded like a feel-good headline — until you start asking questions. Who gives nine figures to the Department of Defense and wants to stay hidden? Can the military legally accept that money? And what does it say about an administration so comfortable sidestepping Congress and the Constit...

Across America, powerful voices insist that Christianity is under siege. But is that faith being threatened — or simply being challenged to live up to its own ideals? In this installment of Back Porch Files, we explore how fear and politics have warped the meaning of “religious freedom,” and why authentic faith doesn’t crumble in the face of diversity — it shines through it.

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Politico recently gained access to over 2900 pages of chat logs belonging to a number of prominent members of various Young Republican organizations. Filled with hateful epithets and being downplayed by J.D. Vance, it signals a disturbing side of if the GOP and a harbinger of what it might look like when these "kids" are in positions of power down the road. Also on the agenda, the recent NO KINGS protests, the House blocking a new ...