Leftist YouTubers

Bad Faith with Briahna Joy Gray

This YouTube and podcast show features Briahna Joy Gray, an American political commentator, lawyer, and political consultant who served as the national press secretary for the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign. Gray is a contributing editor for Current Affairs, and was a senior politics editor for The Intercept.

Belle of the Ranch

Belle of the Ranch discusses news, politics, and education from a Southern leftist point of view for those who are tired of a lack of common sense.

Ben Burgis

Give Them an Argument (GTAA) podcast and YouTube show host Ben Burgis is a philosophy professor, Jacobin magazine columnist, and author of several books. He’s debated right-wingers ranging from Charlie Kirk to Walter Block, appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience, and been called a “glib c*nt” by Gavin McInnes. Past GTAA guests have included Slavoj Žižek, Ana Kasparian, Richard Wolff, Glenn Greenwald, Sam Seder, Emma Vigeland, Jesse Singal, Norman Finkelstein, Thaddeus Russell, Bhaskar Sunkara, Nathan Robinson, David Pizarro, Tamler Sommers, Matt Christman, Amber Frost, and Touré Reed.

Benjamin Dixon

Cautiously idealistic yet reasonably pragmatic, and as hopeful for the future as he may be, Benjamin Dixon isn't afraid to tackle the issues of today. The outspoken host of The Benjamin Dixon Show and author of "God Is Not a Republican" shares news and commentary from a progressive perspective that cuts through the BS and calls out politics, people, and policies as he views it.

The Bitchuation Room with Francesca Fiorentini

Journalist, progressive political activist, and comedian Francesca Fiorentini hosts this weekly progressive speakeasy featuring new comedians, organizers, and experts weighing n on a wide range of pressing issues.

Brian Tyler Cohen

Brian Tyler Cohen is one of the most-viewed independent progressive political hosts on YouTube. He publishes daily breaking news clips followed by in-depth commentary, and features interviews with top political figures (including President Biden, Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, AOC, Elizabeth Warren, Jamie Raskin, Pete Buttigieg, Jen Psaki, Rachel Maddow, Nancy Pelosi, and many more); weekly video podcasts for a deep-dive into the week’s most important stories; legal analysis on “The Legal Breakdown” with Glenn Kirschner and voting rights news on “Democracy Watch” with Marc Elias; and live-streams of major events, from debates to election results. Cohen is not truly a progressive, but a left-leaning Democrat with a substantial platform.

Brittany Page

Brittany Page brings her passion for learning and teaching to YouTube, with new videos released weekly. These highlight her favorite topics in psychology, activism, public policy, and politics. A self-proclaimed lifelong learner, Brittany seeks to reinforce the importance of changing one’s mind when the evidence changes or when our understanding of the evidence changes.

Current Affairs with Nathan Robinson

This is the official video content channel of Current Affairs magazine, hosted by co-founder and editor, Nathan J. Robinson. In addition to the Current Affairs magazine, podcast, and YouTube platforms, Robinson is the author of many books, the latest of which was co-authored by Noam Chomsky.

David Pakman

The David Pakman Show (TDPS) started as a radio show called Midweek Politics in the basement of community radio station WXOJ’s studio in Northampton, Massachusetts. Today, it is one of the most-listened-to independent progressive podcasts and one of the most-viewed progressive political channels on YouTube. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, David holds an MBA from Bentley University and a bachelor’s degree in economics and communication from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

Empire Files with Abby Martin

Empire Files is an independent documentary and interview series hosted by journalist and activist Abby Martin reporting on war and inequality.

F.D Signifier

A powerful emerging voice in the Black leftist community, F.D. Signifier releases video essays on Black movies and media, and Black culture.

Gary’s Economics with Gary Stevenson

Max here. Gary Stevenson is one of my personal favorites. I’m not sure he would consider himself a “leftist” per se, but he’s one of the leading international voices on the subject of inequality. He’s an unlikely source because he made a fortune as a trader and comes from a hardscrabble part of London. But that’s what makes him beautiful. This trader turned author and economist is gaining a huge following by shutting down elites because he knows how they think and how they operate. As his bio says, “Inequality Economist. Former Trader. Other Economists make predictions, but my ones are actually right.”

Hasan Piker

Hasan Piker is a Turkish-American political streamer and YouTuber, and the nephew of Cenk Uygur, founder of The Young Turks (TYT) network. While he frequently does reaction videos and other miscellaneous content, he’s also well known for his political advocacy of socialism.

The Humanist Report with Mike Figueredo

This channel disseminates sociopolitical and religious news stories supplemented with progressive commentary.

Laura Flanders & Friends

This weekly half hour news and public affairs program features solutions-oriented journalism focusing on systemic change and social justice. Hosted by award-winning journalist Laura Flanders, the channel amplifies the voices of grassroots leaders, artists, and activists working to create a more equitable world—with a focus on the future. 

Leeja Miller

Leeja Miller is a lawyer. She thinks you deserve to understand the law and how it’s affecting the world around you. Lawyers love to gatekeep this shit in their ivory towers. That’s not what she’s about. Join her every Monday and Wednesday afternoon on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts for Why, America?—where she digs into the stories behind the headlines for a no-BS look at what’s actually going on in American politics.

Left Reckoning

The Michael Brooks Show crew Matt Lech and David Griscom work to cover and build a strong, popular, working-class rooted, no-BS socialist left. The show has a special focus on the international struggle and Texas, the South, and the West.

The Majority Report with Sam Seder

Sam Seder is a former actor and longtime progressive commentator who was affiliated with Air America and MSNBC before launching The Majority Report (TMR), which airs daily and features co-host Emma Vigeland, formerly of TYT.

Marc Lamont Hill

Along with a full library of speeches, commentaries, interviews, and lectures from award-winning journalist and scholar Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, this channel also provides his latest news updates, political analysis, cultural commentary, and more.

MeidasTouch Network

MeidasTouch Network (MTN) was founded by three brothers Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas as a pro-democracy news network. It quickly established itself as one of the most viewed and visited news networks in the world. MeidasTouch is independently owned and operated. Be sure to check out Max’s videos on the MeidasTouch channel!

Muckrake Podcast

The Muckrake Podcast is a political podcast that promises to dig deeper. Political analysts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman tackle the news of the day, but go beyond the stale and tired narratives to provide historical context and alternative perspectives, all to bring a little order to chaotic times.

Olurinatti

Olayemi Olurin is a movement lawyer, political commentator, writer, and abolitionist thinker. Olurin is Bahamian Nigerian, and was born and raised in Nassau, The Bahamas, where she lived until she moved to America in 2008. She received her JD from St. John’s University School of Law and her BA from Ohio University where she studied Political Science, African American Studies; and Law, Justice & Culture. She releases essays monthly on olurinatti, where she critically analyzes different issues of our time. She hosts Olurinatti The Show, where she releases full-length, documentary-style videos exploring issues seriously, as well as her Iconic Interview Series, and her podcast Olay & Friends, which is also available on Spotify.

Owen Jones

This is the left-wing journalist, author, commentator, and activist's platform to discuss issues and causes that are otherwise ignored, to debate and discuss alternatives to the way the world is run, to challenge the powerful, and to try and have a laugh, too.

Politics Girl

Leigh McGowan launched PoliticsGirl as a way to help people reconnect with politics. She started her YouTube channel in 2015 as a way to inform and inspire because she said, “when you understand you care, and when you care you vote.” After watching the fallout from the Trump years, Leigh relaunched the project on TikTok in September of 2020 doing rants in her kitchen as a way to engage the younger generation whose participation, she believed, was essential to the future of the country. Leigh is now on TikTok, X, Threads, and Instagram as @IAmPoliticsGirl and PoliticsGirl on YouTube and Meta. With more than 4 million followers across platforms, her rants now have hundreds of millions of views and she’s supported by everyone from leading politicians and celebrities to a deep cross-section of the American public.

Pondering Politics

This is Jessiah Eberlan's channel, a self-professed American politics geek who wants more progressive policy, more ruthless Democrats, more defeated Republicans.

The Rational National

Hosted by David Doel, The Rational National features independent political commentary and media criticism on news and culture, with an occasional comedic tinge. David comes from a background working in broadcast news, ran for political office as a Canadian Green Party candidate, and hosted an AM radio show in downtown Toronto. This channel breaks down the latest political news, exposes media misinformation from all sides, and works to push society forward in a way that centers human rights and equality.

Second Thought

Created by JT Chapman, co-host of The Deprogram and First Thought, Second Thought is a channel devoted to education and analysis of current events from a socialist perspective.

Secular Talk with Kyle Kulinski

Secular Talk focuses on critiquing both the political right and Democratic establishment, while advocating for social democratic policies and promoting a secular worldview. Host Kyle Kulinski also co-hosts the podcast Krystal Kyle & Friends with his wife, political commentator Krystal Ball.

The Serf Times

This channel features comedic commentary on the latest U.S. and Canadian news and happenings across politics and pop culture.

Some More News

Comedian Cody Johnston hosts this always fair, always well researched, but most importantly, always entertaining take on the topical news of the week. Some More News dives into the world’s weekly events with a mix of wit, dread, hope, and compassion.

Status Coup News

Status Coup News is an independent news network that reports on the ground across the country—what they call the United Corporations of America—on the important stories the corporate media exists to cover up. Funded by working people, rather than billionaires, it exposes and covers corruption, worker exploitation and workers fighting back, protest movements, environmental injustice, and the progressive movement. Its mission is simple: to give the microphone back to the people. Led by veteran independent journalist Jordan Chariton, Status Coup shows up in the trenches to put a spotlight on the stories mainstream media ignored and abandoned long ago.

Stephanie Miller: Political Voices Network

Funny, quirky, honest—Political Voices Network is the exclusive home for The Stephanie Miller Show, where she shares her take on the day’s news, events, and other noteworthy topics.

Straight White American Jesus

Straight White American Jesus (SWAJ) features an in-depth examination of the culture and politics of Christian Nationalism and the Religious Right by two ex-evangelical ministers-turned-religion professors: Dan Miller and Bradley Onishi. Three times per week they break down the most important topics, events, and histories at the intersection of religion and politics through a research-based approach. If you have ever wondered what social and historical forces formed the Religious Right, led white Christians to usher Donald Trump into the White House, how and why J6 was fueled by religious fervor, and what comes next for a nation threatened by Christian nationalism, this is for you.

Thom Hartmann

Thom Hartmann has been the nation’s #1 progressive talk show host for more than a decade, sharing his latest views and opinions on U.S. politics, plus other fascinating subjects, including cutting-edge science reports.

The Vanguard

Leftist and liberals beware. You do not want to be on the wrong side of Zac and Gavin. The self-proclaimed conscience of the left, they've carved an important niche as the chief bullshit callers of the online left.

Zeteo

Founded by journalist Mehdi Hasan, Zeteo has a strong bias for the truth and an unwavering belief in the media’s responsibility to the public. It features unfiltered news, and bold opinions.

Zoe Baker

Zoe Baker is a trans woman (she/her) who talks about the theory and history of anarchism, feminism, and Marxism. She's the author of "Means and Ends: The Revolutionary Practice of Anarchism in Europe and the United States," and holds a PhD on the history of anarchism.