Left, Right & Center

KCRW

Left Right & Center is for listeners who feel like people on the other side of the political divide are on Mars. David Greene pieces together the big picture by inviting people from the left and the right to unpack their ideological differences, not to smooth them over, and look at what’s truly at stake. The show offers a rare kind of clarity. It doesn’t ask you to agree. It asks you to look more closely at what’s happening and to challenge your assumptions.

You might not always agree – you might even get angry – but you’ll know why you feel the way you do. No knee-jerk reactions or name calling. This show doesn’t promise easy answers or warm fuzzies; it promises more clarity for the chaotic political era we’re all living through.

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29 episodes
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Avg 49 min
English

Episodes 29

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Today · 49 min
Trump’s Media Ban Threatens The First Amendment
President Trump is at war with the press after he tried to ban three news outlets from the White House. When the president doesn’t like how he’s being covered, is he going too far to control the message?
Wednesday · 38 min
Introducing: Reaching Out
A story about fathers, sons, and the distance between.
September 18 · 50 min
Pressure Builds To Regulate AI Before It’s Too Late
AI is the future, but whether that future is bright or dystopian might depend on lawmakers. Top AI execs recently said they actually want guardrails for their industry. Trump and others said no, you need free rein.
September 11 · 49 min
Trump Bets On Himself To Win The Midterms
President Trump threw a convention to rally Republicans, but was it more to celebrate himself? Some in the GOP worry about the midterms if the president keeps stealing the spotlight.
September 4 · 50 min
Politicians Are Struggling To Keep Up With A.I. Backlash
President Trump says AI data centers are important for the economy and competition with China. But the revolt against data centers is here, and where lawmakers stand could cost them the midterms.
August 28 · 50 min
Trump Launches Economic War On Canada & Iran
President Trump launched an economic war on Iran and sparked a trade war with Canada. Trump hopes these get him some important victories, but they could also cost the GOP this November.
August 21 · 50 min
The Iran War Weighs On Troop Morale & Voters’ Patience
Six months into the Iran War, voters’ patience is wearing thin and so is the military’s morale. Is it enough for Republican lawmakers to say we need to see this through as a reason to keep them in Congress?
August 14 · 50 min
Let’s Make Sense Of Democrats’ Conflicting Primary Results
Are the midterms about progressives vs. moderates? Insurgents versus establishment? The real story might be “change,” but “change” looks different depending on the candidates.
August 7 · 50 min
The ‘Socialist’ Brand Helps Some Democrats…For Now
The Democratic Socialist movement is boosting progressive candidates during the primaries. But what happens during the generals where independent voters will be pivotal, and most say “socialism” is a dirty word?
July 31 · 50 min
Affordability Rules the Midterms. Trump Calls It 'Made Up'
Most voters this November say they care about one thing – fixing America’s affordability crisis. Which party has the most convincing pitch and will get your vote?
July 24 · 50 min
The Midterm Impact Of Progressives, Election Deniers & Iran
Progressives are battling establishment Dems in primaries. Party leaders on both sides think many will lose to Republicans in the fall, but should they be so sure?
July 17 · 50 min
How Should Lawmakers Balance Privacy and Transparency About Their Health?
Senator Mitch McConnell returned to the public eye after a weeks-long absence and after rumors about his health spread. What do politicians owe the public when they’re ailing or aging, and should they be expected to trade privacy for transparency with the people they represent?
July 10 · 50 min
Graham Platner Drops Out In Maine Senate Race
How did Graham Platner’s Senate campaign get so far despite the problems with his past? Plus, Trump embraces the image that he can get what he wants, even if it seems like corruption.
July 3 · 50 min
No, The Supreme Court Didn’t Make Trump Unilaterally More Powerful
Some say the Supreme Court gave the president unprecedented levels of power this term, but it’s way more complex than that. We look at how the justices redefined the powers of the presidency.
June 26 · 50 min
Who Speaks For The Parties? Dems and GOP Fight It Out
Democratic primaries this week tested the power of Zohran Mamdani to reshape his party. Meanwhile, President Trump’s power in the Republican Party was tested when he met with GOP Senators.
June 19 · 50 min
Is Anyone Happy With Trump’s Iran Deal?
President Trump says his peace deal with Iran is better than Obama’s, but some in his own party disagree. Plus, the White House is party crashing the planning for America’s 250th birthday, and a listener asks if Americans actually want a strong executive branch.
June 12 · 50 min
The World Cup Is Getting Outplayed By Politics
Sports have a chance to unite the world, but is the White House border policy pulling the welcome mat out from under World Cup visitors? Plus, Democratic voters in Maine picked Graham Platner to challenge Senator Susan Collins in November, and how fixing mail-in voting could help combat conspiracy theories.
June 5 · 50 min
Why Did Iowa Republicans Snub The Trump-Backed Candidate?
Iowa Republicans picked Zach Lahn over his Trump-backed opponent in the gubernatorial primary. Was this a rebuke of Trump? We debate whether the president’s tough immigration policies are needed to keep the country safe. Also, Trump’s Anti-Weaponization Fund seems to be dead, and a listener asks when A.I. political ads cross a line.
June 1 · 24 min
Introducing "Intention to Treat: Money and Misdiagnosis"
We bring you an episode of "Intention to Treat: The Race Equation." It's a new series from the New England Journal of Medicine that investigates how race-specific diagnostic tools harm Black patients and contribute to growing health inequities.
May 29 · 50 min
Senate Control Rides On Paxton, Texas’ Flawed GOP Pick
Senate control could ride on Texans’ pick for a GOP candidate impeached by his own party. The Pope warned about the dangers of AI, and we answered a listener frustrated with President Trump’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund.”

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