Your Neighbor on the Left Podcast

Back Porch Files: Lies, Damn Lies, and (MAGA) Statistics

In this week's selection from Back Porch Files, we dive into how the Trump administration — and its orbit of imitators — have turned statistics into a political weapon. From Trump’s “record-breaking” popularity polls and imaginary tariff profits, to JD Vance’s distortions about political violence and RFK Jr.’s Tylenol-autism conspiracy math, it’s a master class in how to lie with numbers. We’ll break down how these false statistics spread, why people believe them, and what it’s doing to public trust in facts themselves. Numbers don’t lie — but people sure do.
As always, check out podcast related links on Link Tree at https://linktr.ee/NeighborOnTheLeft
 

Afternoon at the Improv: Pam Bondi's Visit to Congress

In this week's episode, we discuss the performance art piece that was Attorney General Pam Bondi's testimony before the House Oversight Committee this past week. Long on snark, short on information, it was an example of everything that is wrong with how these Congressional hearings are organized, as well as a perfect example of the dodge-and-deflect administration that Bondi represents. Also, we talk about court rulings keeping troops out of Chicago, Trump's failed campaign to secure a Nobel, and a takedown of Jay Jones, nominee for AG of Virginia - and yes, he's a Democrat!
As always, check out podcast related links on Link Tree at https://linktr.ee/NeighborOnTheLeft

Back Porch Files: What is NSPM-7 and Why Should You Care?

On September 25, 2025, the Trump administration posted the National Security Presidential Memorandum on Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence to the White House website. Also known as NSPM-7, this document - signed and released without the bombastic fanfare the Trump administration usually employs - details new guidelines for dealing with domestic terrorism. However, its framing and, more crucially, its ambiguity, could be a blueprint for direct violations of the constitutional rights of average citizens, with surveillance, investigation, and disruption based solely on a person's ideology. This episode lays out the details and possible pitfalls involved. This is definitely a memo you don't want to ignore.
As always, check out podcast related links on Link Tree at https://linktr.ee/NeighborOnTheLeft

MAGA Self Sabotage: How Trump Policies Hurt His Base

If you've ever heard the phrase, "Voting against your own interests," this is the episode for you. This week, Your Neighbor on the Left gives you a rundown of how the current administration's past deeds, current initiatives, and planned projects hurt everyone, in particular the folks that voted them in. We also take a look at The current shutdown misinformation, Trump's seemingly new-found love for Project 2025, and a five point plan to overhaul Congress and truly make them a force for their constituents.
As always, check out podcast related links on Link Tree at https://linktr.ee/NeighborOnTheLeft

Back Porch Files: Strange Priorities

In this week’s installment of Back Porch Files, we dig into the bizarre and dangerous priorities of the current administration. Five mass shootings in just over a week and barely a whisper from the White House, yet there’s talk of sending troops into Portland against the state’s wishes. The DOJ is busy indicting James Comey in a Truth Social request for settling a vendetta. Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth lectured military leaders about “real masculinity” while railing against the so-called “enemy within.” And to top it off, billions in law enforcement and counterterrorism funding have been cut from blue states. It’s hypocrisy on full display—and it’s taking the country down a perilous road.
As always, check out podcast related links on Link Tree at https://linktr.ee/NeighborOnTheLeft

Settling Scores: Trump, Comey, and the Poltics of Payback

On September 25th, a Trump Truth Social post directed at AG Pam Bondi set forth a list of folks who the President wants her to deal with. Just a few days later, James Comey, former FBI director, whose name was on that list, is indicted on federal charges. From the public hit list to the firing of the Virginia AG who wouldn't play ball and the hiring of a Trump crony with questionable qualifications to fill in the position, the story reads like a lost episode of House of cards. Your Neighbor on the Left breaks down the details of what could the biggest story of the year. Also, a look at Trump's climate change fiction and a shady UAE arrangement.
As always, check out podcast related links on Link Tree at https://linktr.ee/NeighborOnTheLeft

Back Porch Files: From Rant to Indictment in Five Days

Listen in as we unpack the Trump administration's brazen weaponization of the justice system, from an explosive Truth Social rant pressuring AG Pam Bondi, to an actual indictment just five days later. We expose the hypocrisy—What were "witch hunts" under Biden, is now turning the DOJ into a personal grudge-settler. Drawing parallels to Nixon's enemies list and other presidential abuses, this episode reveals how thin-skinned vendettas are eroding the rule of law.
As always, check out podcast related links on Link Tree at https://linktr.ee/NeighborOnTheLeft
 

Five Rants: A Very Busy Week in Political Podcasting

In a diversion from the usual format, this week Your Neighbor on the Left picks five topics from a very busy week in a year of busy weeks. We look at Tylenol misinformation from HHS, the Right's fascination with pronatalism, Tom Homan's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week, JD Vance's violent lie, and ICE unmasked in California. Our longest episode to date, chock-full of facts, stats, and opinions on some stories that should have everyone's attention.
As always, check out podcast related links on Link Tree at https://linktr.ee/NeighborOnTheLeft

Back Porch Files: The Flickering Flame of Free Speech Under Fire

In this urgent episode of Back Porch Files from Your Neighbor on the Left, host Don Spieles dives into the embattled state of free speech in America. From the Founding Fathers’ vision to today’s headlines, we explore why protecting even the most controversial voices is crucial to democracy. Sparked by the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, we unpack how political violence is being used to justify censorship, from late-night TV hosts being pulled off the air to social media posts labeled as "celebrations." With hypocrisy on both sides and government pressure mounting, we ask: Can free speech survive in a divided nation? Join us for a candid look at the stakes, the history, and the path forward to preserve this bedrock right for all.
As always, check out podcast related links on Link Tree at https://linktr.ee/NeighborOnTheLeft

Outliers in Bloodshed: America’s Unique Violence Problem

In this episode, we dive into the heart of America's violence crisis, exploring why the U.S. far surpasses other modern democracies in homicides and violent crime, with a prison population that dwarfs global peers. From the impact of our gun culture and toxic political rhetoric to the surprising role of media priorities, we unpack the complex factors fueling this epidemic. A look at the demographics of crime, debunking some myths about perpetrators, as well as theories from historians and sociologists on America's unique relationship with violence. A serious, unflinching look at a problem we can no longer ignore, this episode challenges listeners to confront the hard truths and demand solutions for a safer future.
As always, check out podcast related links on Link Tree at https://linktr.ee/NeighborOnTheLeft