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 "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 "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 "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

Thumbnail for "What’s driving the divide between Netanyahu and the White House?".

How will a continued offensive in Gaza affect Democratic support for Israel? Can SCOTUS clear up the lines between censorship and free speech?

March 22, 202450min 17sec48.28 MB

Trump’s comment on Harris’ race: Calculated or ‘weird?’

August 2, 202450min 29sec

Donald Trump made a visit to Chicago during the National Association for Black Journalists’ (NABJ) conference for a panel that included ABC Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott. When asked about presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ credentials, Trump said she “happened to turn Black” for political gain. Harris, who is the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica, called Trump’s remarks the “same old show,” emphasizing that the “American people deserve better.” The interaction brought headlines back to Trump when Harris’ campaign was gaining momentum. Was it “weird,” as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz put it, or was it the whole point? The panel discusses the culture of the 2024 presidential campaign.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to Washington D.C. to address Congress about rising tensions in the Middle East. Harris didn’t attend, but met with Netanyahu privately. Speaking with reporters afterward, she reiterated her support for Israel’s right to defend itself, but noted her concern for human suffering in Gaza. In a meeting with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, Netanyahu said Harris’ remarks could impact ceasefire talks. Following the meeting, a soccer field in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights was struck by Lebanese rockets, killing 12 people, mostly children. In the aftermath, Israel was accused of killing top Hezbollah and Hamas military leaders in Lebanon and Iran – stoking fears of a wider regional war. What is U.S. policy in the Middle East now, and how would it differ depending on who’s in the White House next year?

Ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago later this month, Republican Governor Greg Abbot warned the Windy City of the migrant surge Texas faced during the Republican National Convention. Illinois is preparing for border states like Texas to send asylum seekers their way, adding beds at city shelters and enforcing a 60-day stay limit. The panel discusses whether conversations around migrant busing are valid or a distraction from bipartisan efforts to cooperate. This week’s 50 states series tackles immigration in Illinois and the national response to migrant asylum seekers.