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 3min

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 "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

Thumbnail for "Will Americans believe in Biden’s ability to lead? ".

Is a Hunter Biden plea deal the best thing for his father’s campaign? Why has Joe Biden’s executive order upset pretty much everyone?

June 7, 202450min 29sec48.48 MB

Thumbnail for "With Trump’s trial over (for now), what’s next?".

KCRW examines the political response to Donald Trump’s guilty verdict. What impact will it have on undecided voters and the public’s faith in the judiciary?

May 31, 202450min 29sec48.48 MB

Thumbnail for "How AI and deepfakes could affect this election".

How much could AI and deepfakes threaten election integrity? Is round two of the border bill dead on arrival? Plus, KCRW looks at the effect of unpopular presidential candidates on down-ballot politicians.

May 24, 202450min 29sec48.47 MB

Thumbnail for "Will debates give Biden or Trump an edge? ".

What are the key takeaways from new election polling? Should Democrats be worried about protests at this summer’s convention?

May 17, 202451min 47sec49.71 MB

Thumbnail for "Why Netanyahu’s latest move is a threat to a free press".

Are threats to a free press signs of bigger issues in Israel? Did Kristi Noem risk a shot at becoming VP to troll the left? Plus, we discuss bias in political satire.

May 10, 202450min 29sec48.47 MB

Thumbnail for "Is the media focus on student protests missing the mark?".

Have media outlets gone overboard in their coverage of campus protests? What’s at stake in (another) legal battle between states and the White House?

May 3, 202450min 30sec48.48 MB

Thumbnail for "Foreign aid bill passes US House. What’s next for Speaker Johnson?".

Will the GOP be more unified following the passage of a new foreign aid bill? What could shifts in support for RFK mean for the election?

April 26, 202450min 29sec48.47 MB

Thumbnail for "Trump’s criminal trial takes center stage".

Is the media’s coverage adding to the difficulties of Donald Trump’s criminal case? Where does protest cross the line into hate speech?

April 19, 202450min 30sec48.49 MB

Thumbnail for "Trump’s abortion position? Leave it up to the states".

Is there anything about Trump’s abortion position for Joe Biden to capitalize on? Will Biden’s change of tune on Israel win him more supporters?

April 12, 202450min 29sec48.48 MB

Thumbnail for "Will congressional candidates suffer from voters’ fatigue with Biden, Trump?".

Could the presidential nominees hurt their congressional colleagues down the ballot? Plus, we examine the president’s response to an Easter controversy.

April 5, 202450min 29sec48.47 MB

Thumbnail for "What’s behind the recent wave of Congressional exits?".

Should a rise in Congressional retirements set off alarm bells? Are Democrats off base with their current platform? How will a new law impact campus free speech?

March 29, 202450min 29sec48.48 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?