Monthly-ish Mix #11 The Loneliest Superpower: What America Gets for Pushing Everyone Away

Air Date: 7/25/2026

The Monthly-ish Mix™ is here to get you caught up on the news from June and July without being overwhelming! Organized around a single idea: the same politics that left America friendless abroad is keeping Americans apart at home. The war with Iran ends and America's word counts for less around the world, so Europe starts building its own software instead of buying ours, NATO war-games its own doubts, and China quietly steadies the world's oil markets, while Taiwan shows that real security comes from connection, not threats. At home, the administration revives the red scare, hands the Justice Department to the president's personal lawyer while judges face death threats, and turns the country's 250th birthday into a fight over who counts as American, and billionaires cash out while everyone argues. And the way back starts small: a psychologist's simple habit for a happier social life, organizers who treat loneliness as a political problem with a political cure, and a Michigan Senate campaign built on talking to people instead of donors.

Covering: June–July 2026

Full Show Notes

Be part of the show! Leave a voice message, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)

Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience!

Join our Discord community!

SECTION 1: A SUPERPOWER WITHOUT FRIENDS

(00:01:30) #1805 - Trump Giving Iran $300 Billion to End His Own War

1: The Iran Deal, Boy, I Don't Know - Takes by Jamelle Bouie - Air Date 6-18-26

2: J.D. Vance Iran Deal Fall Guy Part 1 - On the Media - Air Date 6-19-26

3: Trump Weakened U.S. Allies While Strengthening Iran Part 1 - UNFTR - Air Date 6-19-26

(00:26:23) #1810 - Post-American Europe: How to Lose Friends and Influence People to Protect Themselves Against You

4: TODAY: Europe Replaces ENTIRE American Software Stack - Google OUT, Microsoft OUT June 9 - House of El - Air Date 6-4-26

5: Would NATO Hold if Russia Tested Article 5? Lessons From a War Game | Berlin Briefing Podcast Part 1 - DW News - Air Date 7-17-26

6: China Quietly Saved the World Last Month Part 1 - Max Fisher - Air Date 7-17-26

(00:54:17) #1799 - The US and China Are Fighting Over Taiwan, Semiconductors, and Africa's Minerals

7: Can There Ever Really Be "one China?" - Vox - Air Date 5-28-26

8: Trump's FAILED Meeting With China's Xi Jinping Was Humiliating - Pod Save the World - Air Date 5-21-26

9: China Will Never Beat Taiwan, Here's Why - Maxinomics - Air Date 3-37-26

SECTION 2: DIVIDED ON PURPOSE

(01:23:27) #1809 - Democrats Seek a Blue Wave, Progressives Push Democratic Socialism, GOP Revive the Red Scare

10: The Red Scare Returns Trump Is Calling Us Communists -…