The Professional Left Podcast #874: Federal jobs and local economies are in chaos as Trump and Musk wreak havoc at USAID and beyond. Driftglass and Blue Gal break down how Republican propaganda keeps winning despite their awful job creation record, and why some Never Trumpers can't quit bashing Democrats.

The hosts dig into research showing Dems are way better at creating jobs (shocking, right?), while Republicans excel at... lying about it. From Trump's whiplash-inducing tariff decisions to his sketchy State Department picks, and from NASA scrubbing diversity mentions to protests at USAID - it's been quite a week at the Cornfield Resistance.

Links for this episode:

Pew Research on jobs: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/01/07/what-the-data-says-about-federal-workers/

Driftglass and Digby on the Bradcast 2/5/2025 https://bradblog.com/?p=15297

Driftglass and Blue Gal on The Cliff Schecter Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tb0TkDaY3M

Episode artwork by Bluegal

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Recorded February 6, 2025. It's not safe for work, but it is safe for democracy.

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An exploration of how the “DEI madness” conspiracy is really just the GOP’s latest excuse to scapegoat diversity while distracting from their own failures.

In this week's Professional Left Podcast, Driftglass and Blue Gal dive into the aftermath of a tragic midair collision over Washington, D.C., and the farcical responses from Trump’s administration. From blaming DEI hires to pointing fingers at everyone but himself, the fallout from the crash reveals the dangerous incompetence of Sean Duffy, Trump’s unqualified Transportation Secretary.

As the hosts dissect the chaotic response and Trump’s penchant for politicizing tragedy, they explore the contrast between Republican and Democratic leadership styles, with special attention to the powerful pushback from Democratic governors against Trump’s agenda. They also reflect on the moral and strategic challenges facing the Democratic Party as they navigate a long fight ahead—one that demands clarity, decisive action, and a refusal to compromise with fascists.

Plus, there's an appearance by a certain internet kitty with a love for forklifts!

Episode artwork by Bluegal via Bing AI

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Warning: This episode is not safe for work!

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In this episode, Driftglass and Blue Gal tackle claims that "the resistance is over" by drawing powerful parallels between current "resistance fatigue" narratives and similar premature declarations during the Bush era. They discuss Paul Krugman's revelatory piece about his departure from The New York Times, explore the real-world evidence of continued grassroots resistance, and explain why simplistic "everything button" solutions to defeating fascism don't exist. We also cover the latest developments in the Trump "administration."

Special announcement: Instead of our regular Thursday show, catch the hosts live on the Cliff Schecter show this Thursday, and on Progress Pondcast with Martin Longman and Brendan Skwire early next week.

Note: This episode contains adult language and is not safe for work.

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Link for this episode: Paul Krugman, "Departing The New York Times" https://contrarian.substack.com/p/departing-the-new-york-times

Recorded live from the Cornfield Resistance.

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Cover artwork by bluegal.bsky.social/BingAI

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