Reviews For KCRW's Left, Right & Center

This is one of the few broadcasts I can listen to on NPR. Respectful and balanced discussions. Rational points of view based on facts from both right and left.

It’s NPR light. Just read the titles of the shows. I tried. I really did.

But Green’s move to install 2 permanent panelists was a step backwards. And Green himself is a class below the former host. Just not as interesting or insightful as it used to be. But if you want to hear Mo quote the same polling results every week, you’re in for a treat. Reduced from 4 to 3, now from 3 to 2 due to the above reasons. Bring back the rotation and get some new centers. This lineup is tired and boring. Listen to Breaking Points instead.

I have been listening to this show for over a decade, and it really pales in comparison to what it once was - a fairly in-depth but respectful debate on the various positions of the American political spectrum. These days the hosts agree on more topics than not, which clearly does not reflect the state of American politics. Honestly, they should just rename the show to center left, center right, and center, as I definitely don’t hear a vigorous argument for either progressive or MAGA politics. Ultimately, while I think the hosts are all smart and well spoken - they have become too buddy-buddy to do justice to the show’s concept. Even when actual right or left wing points are brought up, the other hosts do not challenge these assertions. For example, once every month or so Sarah makes the assertion that COVID actually was caused by a lab leak and republicans are completely vindicated on this perspective, to which the other two hosts say nothing. In reality, the scientific consensus remains that COVID was a likely spillover event as all actual biological evidence points to this (with which some intelligences agencies agree), while some other intelligence agencies have a low to medium confidence that this was a lab leak due to suspicious circumstances and lack of evidence. My complaint in this is not that Sarah makes this assertion, but that these facts are never brought up in response! I think the show could be saved if they switched up the hosts more. For example, I loved the episode from a few months ago with Jason Johnson, who offered actual liberal pushback. I would love to hear more from further to the right as well. Until then, I don’t think the show is worthwhile and I recommend subscribing to something like the Tangle News newsletter instead. P.S. Bring back "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off"!

Well spoken but the right is not represented well. I was so excited to have a show that had representation on both sides and a centrist but the “right” is increasingly center aligned

with tired ideas ...for the record, I'm on the left and I don't believe in America's greatness. America, like all nation states, is a symptom of capital production... the bad d'Tocqueville jokes are just more proof that these are comfortable people for whom politics is mere amusement. While people are slaughtered in Gaza and drugging themselves to death in the Midwest, people like this make cute jokes about lawyers and secretly indulge in the Trump circus. DC is Hollywood for ugly people.

To those reviews asking “where’s the right” I’m guessing you haven’t listened long. Also, let’s be clear. “Right” doesn’t mean blind Trump support. I have been listening for about 9 months, and have found the discussions to be quite balanced, painfully so at times (in a good way). Sarah has some great perspectives on the right and provides excellent insight into the why’s. As a left leaning listener, I often find myself frustrated by her statements, but also grateful for some actual rationale behind the mindset. After all, that is the whole point, to get all sides. David is a great host and Moe provides intelligent insight for the left. It’s not always those three, but usually, and they really make a great trio. Of all the podcasts I listen to, this is one I I actually stop other things and listen to. I really love and appreciate this show.

Part of what made this show good in the past was the rotating cast of guests. The current format has ruined that. Switch the guests up or have some type of rotation because the current format is not working whatsoever.

“Liberation Day” is the executive unilaterally driving the world economy off a cliff and that is the 2nd you discuss this week?!?

This should be called “Left, Further Left, and All The Way Left.” The token Republican voice gleefully admits she doesn’t even vote Republican. I had hopes of finding a politically balanced show, but this ain’t it.

Love listening to this show - hosts cut through sensational side of news and have heathy dialogue. I lean left and has been HUGE getting perspective of the right that is so well articulated. This has often caused me to think about things in different light!! If you are sick of news commentary that feels dogmatic this is your show!! Keep up what you are doing this is great content to put into the world!!

The Bulwark reported on this the part where the lawyers are being told they cannot represent certain people or they’re having their security clearance being removed

The center is no longer represented David is a host who does not express his own perspective often enough. The topics these days are very meta (discussion about discussions about topics). They need to return to more concrete policy discussions with some politics. Right now this feels like a much weaker show than it was

I find it very telling that there are very many five stars and comparatively to all other four scores there are many one stars. I think that is a clear symptom of ideological conflict and its attention warrants attention of its own.

I love this show, truly one of my top shows during this divided period in history. One point: Sarah’s interpretation of Trevor Noah’s podcast clip about school integration, is lacking a lot of context! I listened to that entire episode and do NOT think that Noah meant integration was a mistake by any means!! Listen to the entire episode of “What Now” before making conclusions, please!

The left is definitely covered. The center seems to lie heavily left. Trump is only in office for 5 weeks. The right sounds like, it is ok bashing Trump. I voted for Biden and after very little reporting on the Biden White House and weak leadership. I voted for Trump. This is a podcast I like listing to.

This show has gone downhill. The panelists have become repetitive, offering little fresh insight. While it’s understandable that both left- and right-leaning perspectives should be represented, KCRW seems fixated on bringing back the same Zionist voice repeatedly. Sarah is not a true conservative; rather, she serves as an apologist for Israel, consistently using the platform to push that agenda while vilifying Arabs and Muslims. The discussions have lost their balance and depth, making the show far less engaging. It was much better when Josh was the host.

I don’t feel like the right’s side is fully covered on this episode because she calls ‘book banning bad’ when really the right’s view on this is that books aren’t being ‘banned’ at schools. They’re being removed from age inappropriate placement. The huge majority of the books in question have explicit sexual content that would NOT be appropriate for school libraries even if all LGBTQ parts of it were removed from consideration (parent don’t want pornographic books in school, gay or straight!) they’re normally not being ‘banned’ from libraries either, parents just challenge their placement in categories for youth when they should be in the *adult section only* if they have adult content.

I’m on the left and Sarah Isgur is a god to me. She is the best pundit in the podosphere right now, possibly tied with Ezra Klein. She makes incredibly good points with unflinching intellectual honesty. When a fact doesn’t fit into her argument or world view she acknowledges it without even blinking. She’s also fun to listen to. People that criticize her are nuts.

This used to be my favorite weekly political podcast and it simply isn’t good anymore. They fall into the same rhythms every week, cherry picking examples to support their arguments. Sarah is overly combative and Mo overly deferential. The talking points are lazy and lack depth and nuance. I am going to stop listening because I can’t go through another episode of back and forth that ends with David saying “take away, let’s stop with all the name calling.” Bring back rotating guests because these guys have just gotten lazy in their prep and repetitive in their discussions. Beyond boring, it is infuriating to listen to

This was a great episode! So refreshing to hear someone with a voice on the left side!

This used to be a nice well-balanced review of politics from three divergent but reasonable standpoints but the addition of Sarah has really taken this podcast in an obnoxious and toxic direction. Listen, if I wanted to listen to some rude, loudmouth spout off whatever the latest far-right wing talking points are, then I’d tune into Fox or some other mouthpiece of the hard right that has 0% interest in facts and 100% interest in crafting a pro-Republican narrative. That a guest with such disregard for reality is even invited on this show speaks poorly of “Left, Right & Center” but perhaps even more egregious is that Sarah is treated as if she were arguing in good faith. The deference given to her is flabbergasting. Such misinformation has no place on a legitimate news program and doubly so when the host and other guests are completely unwilling to call out and debunk Sarah’s never-ending slop trough of lies and right-wing workshopped talking points.

Update: 2/14/25 While the "cancel culture" debate is relevant, maybe shelf that topic for another time when there is not so much upheaval? As a listener, I tune in to more fully understand what is going on politically each week. I keep giving LRC a chance b/c I believe in trying to understand all sides. But I am disappointed more often than not. 2/23/24 Michaela is great! I hope she is on the pod much more often. 10/13/23 aannnddd she’s back. Glad to hear Mo pushing back, but Sarah cannot handle it - constantly interrupting him and talking to him like he’s 4. Wont be listening again. There are so many others who would do better than Sarah, this pod doesn’t need her snark and condescending righteousness. With all of the negative listener feedback re Sarah provided in these reviews, one would think LRC would want to find a replacement for Sarah. Apparently they don’t. Contrary to the pod’s name, LRC is just another media source that’s ok with giving more air time to one side. Update: 9/1/23 episode felt like the LRC I know and love. Mo and David were much livelier and engaged. The banter was respectful. —— For years LRC presented different perspectives that really got me thinking and challenged my beliefs. Now I can predict what each person is going to say. I’ve really tried to like this pod again but I cannot listen to Sarah Isgor any longer - her condescending tone to her fellow panelists is unprofessional and distracting. She’s the weakest link and she repeatedly compromises the quality of the pod. Mo and David are great, but seem to always let Sarah go on and on and on, long after she made her point. Mo’s and David’s counter arguments are always brief and to the point, but get totally overshadowed by Sarah’s need to dominate the podcast. Hopefully some changes will be made to strengthen LRC, as I see several people have similar complaints. For now, I’m looking for another pod that can fill the void.

I appreciate this podcast because of exactly what it speaks to doing, providing a platform for different points of view. My biggest issue with this podcast is Sarah and not necessarily because of her viewpoints. She should be able to voice what she has to say, I don’t need to agree, but her tone she speaks is only intended to put others on edge and defense. Liz never spoke this way, David doesn’t speak this way, Mo never speaks this way. Sarah’s tone is suited for 24 hour news networks and that is where it should stay. Everything she says sounds like she’s leaning through the phone and attacking the others. if she isn’t attacking, it’s constant condescension. Fix this please as the interactions are off-putting . 2/14: checked back in, cancel culture discussion was horrible and every point undermined the next. Isgur is unlistenable, still. Loved the Canadian slamming them in the end for sucking so much. I’d give that Canadian 5 stars.

I really appreciate the way this podcast discusses both sides of the issues in a fair and thoughtful way. I feel like all of the hosts are very respectful and willing to consider the other side’s points of view. I think that’s something that is very much more needed in our country, so thank you!

When and why did we allow intelligence & eloquence to be demonized? Just because you use bigger words does not mean you think you’re better than everyone else. Some of us just love the variety that language allows. Signed, A former book it kid

David Greene has ruined this show by posing as “the Center” with his leftist activist topic selection. Nearly 50% of the country voted for Trump, but the views of those people are NEVER represented.

Oh how I love to hear Dr. Johnson points especially on Dei. But I do enjoy this podcasts and it’s hosts and perspectives, even Sarah’s, she knows what she is saying and has the experience to back it up, even though her points get lost on me. But seriously Unprovoked? Since 1948, the provocation exists and the resistance exists, because refugees came unto a land not theirs and kicked Palestinians out. Every year since , every attack, every war, every settler is a provocation. Even before Oct 7, 2000 Palestinians killed since that January. Not Unprovoked ever.

Severe Washington brain, constant both-siderism from host and panel. In a time when the leading Republican candidate has called for overturning the constitution and that party’s leadership espouses dangerous conspiracy theories in service of him, the show manages to somehow laugh off those facts. I didn’t think anybody could be worse than Barro, but this is so much worse.

Tough to listen to. Sarah dog walks Mo. bring Jason Johnson on more often instead.

I didn’t appreciate Sarah’s comment that Mike Johnson had to interpret Trump’s verbage with special “ speech for the democratic elites”. She says she wants to have “open, collaborative discussions.” Her bias came through loud and clear. Not speech that leads to collaborative discussion.

Sarah’s constant interruptions of the other hosts (and occasional guests) are quite annoying. It would be nice if she could wait until they make their point I stead of hijacking & derailing the conversation before they finish.

The left substitute could not have been more deaf to hearing 'left right and center" went on and on about how he doesn't have to listen to what he deems "outrageous arguments" and when Sarah tries to point out that is what people said about a lot of the Covid information and then it largely turned out to be true, he doesn't address it and carries on? And then 'open to hearing' an argument against AA?? It's been heard BY THE SUPREME COURT AND ITS ILLEGAL BC YOU'RE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST SKIN COLOR. Soooo if you're open to hearing it I feel like you need ya ears checked. What an absolute idiot.

I love the idea of having three different perspectives talk about relevant topics. However that lady on the right gets kind of annoying because she likes to cherry pick a lot of her arguments, but I guess thats all apart of the fun of a diverse conversation.

She is a pathetic excuse for a podcaster

I’ve listened for a few years and this is the first time I’ve heard appreciable pushback on Ms Igers constant ‘bothisms’. Please more of Dr. Johnson. I do appreciate Mo, but their friendship mutes his pushback.

This episode is the best they have had in about a year. It really was interesting to listen to an actual discussion of DEI and racial content.

I love this show for delivering the talking points for all the sides. Many times I find myself boiling over some of these opinions and topics wondering why they aren’t focused on other things but this is exactly what we need as a society is seeing the perspective of the other side. Keep frustrating me LRC and keep talking on each of these viewpoints as this is the best path for a society!

You need Jason Johnson on the show more.

Loved Mr Johnson’s characterization of the plane crash tragedy and the horrific misinformation he spouts. Sarah, I value your views, but comparing this to what happens with school shootings is really inadequate.

This weeks substitute “Left” could not have missed the point more widely, really is there no show prep where this could have been addressed? David is still not a “Center”, but he tries. JH

I used to find that this show provided helpful perspectives from both sides of the aisle, but I’m sick of the bad faith arguments coming from Sara every week. No, democrats calling for gun control after yet another mass shooting is not the same as Trump saying that DEI caused the plane crash in the Potomac. Guns kill people and DEI does not, simple as that. I’ve enjoyed hearing from other conservative hosts who sit in, but Sara has bought in fully to misinformation nation and I can’t stand it anymore. Will be trying to find balanced news somewhere else.

I greatly value the civil and balanced conversations that are the core of LRC podcasts. This week’s guest, Jason Johnson, was so flagrantly disrespectful and blatantly dismissive of any opinions that differed from his own that I turned it off for the first time ever. His voice matters and is important, but does not belong on LRC

Used to love the show because it didn’t have people like Sara. She inter ups far too-often. Rants against whatabotism, then does it constantly

I enjoy the show on and off as much, but i am glad someone pushed back on Sarah’s viewpoints more. Her statement about there “always have been” laws against discrimination should have been called out more, but as the guest mentioned you don’t always need to talk that out for what it is.

I cannot believe that Sarah Isgur is on this week when it is well known that she is advising Robert Hurr. She is currently taking about lying in politics and she’s purposefully associated herself with a liar. Please get rid of her. Addendum: thank you for having Jason Johnson on who took on Isgur’s inanity.

Love the format and the cast. It’s refreshing to listen to a respectful and well balanced discussion of our political landscape. Should be longer. I would enjoy hearing more depth every week.

Current lineup hosts the conservative point of view delivered with an eye roll for every topic, and 2 guys that agree with 99% of whatever is said

In their efforts to be fair they minimize all the issues. How can you equate the Biden pardons with the Trump pardons? It’s ridiculous but Sarah Isgur has no problem white washing Trump’s actions. I cannot listen anymore.