Left, Right & Center

KCRW

Left, Right & Center is KCRW’s weekly civilized yet provocative confrontation over politics, policy and pop culture.

KCRW 2020, 498771

Left, Right & Center is KCRW’s weekly civilized yet provocative confrontation over politics, policy and pop culture.

KCRW 2020, 498771

21hr 9min

Thumbnail for "Do debates have winners — or just losers?".

Did voters learn anything new from the Trump-Harris debate? Are live fact checks useful or fair? Plus, disinformation muddies the discourse on immigration.

September 13, 202450min 29sec48.48 MB

Thumbnail for "What’s the right way to cover a second Trump term?".

What should the media consider when covering Trump’s second term? Plus, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy discusses the loneliness epidemic.

November 29, 202450min 29sec48.48 MB

Thumbnail for "Voters feel less polarized post-Trump win, can Democratic Party follow suit?".

New polling shows Americans feel less divided post-election. Can Donald Trump “end all wars” this term? Plus, KCRW analyzes the future of the progressive agenda.

November 22, 202450min 30sec48.48 MB

Thumbnail for "A cabinet full of characters".

KCRW examines Donald Trump’s cabinet picks. Is the GOP misreading an immigration “mandate” from voters? Plus, is America just not ready for a woman president?

November 15, 202450min 34sec48.55 MB

Thumbnail for "What went right for Trump, what went wrong for Harris?".

KCRW analyzes Donald Trump’s presidential win. Did the Democrats play a losing hand? Plus, what can we expect under the leadership of a conservative government?

November 8, 202450min 34sec48.55 MB

Thumbnail for "Will late campaign gaffes trash either candidate’s chances?".

KCRW provides an election outlook with a week to go. Can the electorate stop being driven by hate? Plus, what was the Washington Post’s real mistake?

November 1, 202450min 34sec48.55 MB

Thumbnail for "Undecided voters and abortion rights could sway election".

The final campaign days are here. How are early voters affecting candidate strategies? Plus, the panel discusses how abortion rights may change the Nevada battleground.

October 25, 202450min 25sec48.41 MB

Thumbnail for "A hurricane of conspiracies".

The recent hurricanes unleashed a storm of conspiracies. Could Omaha voters decide the nation’s fate? Plus, an indie newsletter saved a politically divided marriage.

October 18, 202450min 34sec48.55 MB

$Thumbnail for "Gender, class … and fracking?".$

Does “working class” mean what it used to? Is fracking getting more attention than it deserves? Plus, KCRW examines what came out of one culture war in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

October 11, 202455min 19sec53.11 MB

Thumbnail for "Cordial VP debate was a throwback to a bygone era ".

Can civility influence voters in the Trump era? Has Biden’s policy in the Middle East backfired? Plus, the United States hits a bleak milestone on executions.

October 4, 202450min 34sec48.55 MB

Thumbnail for "Where does modern conservatism leave Trump ahead of Nov. election? ".

What is a “never Trump” Republican? Both Trump and Harris are trying to win over swing and Centrist voters. Plus, conflict in the Middle East turns to Lebanon.

September 27, 202450min 29sec48.48 MB

Thumbnail for "Where does Brazil’s X ban leave free speech in US? ".

The U.S. continues to take a firm stance on China. When does censorship go too far? Plus, California’s gas inventory may hurt its neighboring state, Nevada.

September 20, 202451min 54sec49.83 MB

Thumbnail for "How has ‘Make America Great Again’ evolved in Trump era?".

What does “MAGA” mean in 2024? Trump and Harris clash on poverty policy. Plus, KCRW discusses opponents of free school lunch programs.

September 6, 202450min 25sec48.42 MB

Thumbnail for "Can Democrats' shift toward patriotism win them the election?".

Harris’ economic plan takes on price gouging. Where does Democratic “freedom” messaging leave Republicans? And the panel looks back at political freakouts.

August 30, 202450min 29sec48.47 MB

Thumbnail for "Are Democrats more unified after DNC?".

Will shifts in the Democratic agenda leave progressives out in the cold? KCRW discusses the DNC. Plus, can labor laws for minors balance safety and opportunity?

August 23, 202450min 30sec48.48 MB

Thumbnail for "Will a lack of detailed policy hurt Harris?".

August 16, 202450min 29sec48.48 MB

Thumbnail for "Is Tim Walz the right choice as Kamala Harris’ running mate?".

August 9, 202450min 29sec48.48 MB

Thumbnail for "Trump’s comment on Harris’ race: Calculated or ‘weird?’ ".

Democrats called Trump “weird” due to his remarks at the NABJ conference. U.S. policy is changing in the Middle East, and Chicago is preparing for a migrant surge.

August 2, 202450min 29sec48.47 MB

Thumbnail for "Despite lost time, can Kamala Harris gain ground on Trump? ".

Joe Biden is out, Kamala Harris is in. What is next for Harris as she contends for the White House? Plus, how might age verification laws change online privacy?

July 26, 202450min 29sec48.48 MB

Thumbnail for "Is Trump’s GOP departing from traditional conservatism?".

After surviving an assassination attempt, Donald Trump shared a new message of unity at the RNC. Does this signal a change in his GOP vision?

July 19, 202450min 33sec48.53 MB

Thumbnail for "Did Biden’s NATO presser save his candidacy?".

Where does the Biden campaign stand following the NATO summit? The RNC debuts a new party platform. Plus, Alabama faces questions about forced prison labor.

July 12, 202450min 29sec48.47 MB

Thumbnail for "What’s the long-term impact of SCOTUS’ presidential immunity ruling?".

Will SCOTUS’ immunity ruling increase election stakes? Several states are bringing religion into education. LA’s mayor is pushing for a mask ban at protests.

July 5, 202450min 30sec48.48 MB

Thumbnail for "No spinning this one: Analyzing Trump, Biden debate performances".

KCRW discusses key moments in this week’s historic presidential debate. Plus, a Seattle community revisits the role of police officers in schools following a shooting.

June 28, 202450min 30sec48.48 MB

Thumbnail for "Will presidential candidates fare better than what polling suggests?".

What does polling get wrong about voters’ concerns? A new measure in North Dakota sets age limits for Congress members. Plus, KCRW previews next week’s presidential debate.

June 21, 202450min 30sec48.49 MB

Thumbnail for "Are Trump’s claims for political revenge more than rhetoric?".

Are Trump’s campaign promises a cause for concern? KCRW also discusses activism in journalism and the role of school vouchers in closing achievement gaps.

June 14, 202450min 28sec48.46 MB

Do debates have winners — or just losers?

September 13, 202450min 29sec

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump met for the first time in Pennsylvania at the presidential debate on Tuesday. ABC moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis, notably live fact-checked both candidates on topics of immigration, the economy, and foreign policy. Harris was pushed to address her shift on fracking and gun buybacks. Meanwhile, Trump was put on the spot about his plan to end the war in Ukraine. The Left, Right, and Center panel examines where the candidates stand in voter’s minds post-debate. Were either able to sway undecided voters?

Justice is a foundational tenet of America — does anyone believe in it anymore? A judge pushed the date of Trump’s sentencing — for falsifying business records — from mid-September to November 26. Trump’s lawyers had argued that the earlier sentencing could interfere with the presidential election. Was this special treatment because of who Trump is? Does the justice system have different rules for a president versus everyone else?

On Tuesday night, Trump reiterated unsubstantiated claims of migrant Haitian communities abducting pets in Springfield, Ohio. He similarly mentioned Venezuelan gangs taking over apartment complexes in Aurora, Colorado. Both stories have been debunked. The underlying concerns of gang violence in Colorado have always existed, but are now being used to spread racist rhetoric in the city. As part of our 50 states series, the panel asks: How can legislators respond to valid concerns without giving into dangerous disinformation?