Lean to the Left Expands Its Mission to Defend Democracy and Tell the Truth
By Bob Gatty
When I launched a small blog called Not Fake News back in 2017, I had one goal: push back against the tidal wave of lies, propaganda, and political manipulation that was infecting American life. The idea was simple—give people a place to find truth when “truth” suddenly felt optional.
In time, that mission grew. More writers joined me. More voices spoke up. And eventually, it became clear that the site needed a name that captured its unapologetic progressive identity.
That’s how Lean to the Left was born.
Today, Lean to the Left is no longer just a blog. It is:
• A political commentary platform
• A YouTube channel
• A podcast with over 803 episodes
• A book club (pending)
• A home for multiple contributing writers
• A community of readers, listeners, and viewers who care deeply about democracy
A Team Effort
What makes Lean to the Left truly special is that it’s not just one voice. Writers like C.J. Waldron, Mark M. Bello, Arthur Hill, Robert Thompson, Stacy Fitzgerald and others contribute powerful insights on the issues reshaping America.
It is a collaborative effort—real people speaking real truth in a moment that desperately needs it.
Why We’re Expanding Now
Democracy is under attack. Rights are being stripped away. Disinformation is everywhere. And millions of Americans feel like they’re drowning in chaos.
We’re here to help cut through that.
Our expanded mission includes:
More in-depth commentary
More expert interviews
More short-form videos
More coverage of Southern politics
More contributions from our talented writing team
A stronger presence across digital platforms
Lean to the Left is growing because the fight for truth is growing.
If You’re Tired of Spin, You’re in the Right Place
We don’t play both-sides games. We don’t appease extremists. We don’t water down the truth.
We confront it.
We analyze it.
We expose it.
And we help people understand what’s at stake.
Lean to the Left: Stay Informed. Speak Up. Join the Conversation.
If you share our concerns about freedom and what is happening to our country, and would like to be part of our community, please consider subscribing to Lean to the Left and our podcast. Please comment about and share our episodes to help us expand our reach.
For many years, Bob Gatty worked as a writer, editor, and communications consultant, based on the Washington, DC area with a focus on government and politics. He began at The Pittsburgh Courier, an African American weekly, covering crime and the courts. His salary was $55 per week before moving on to two local Pennsylvania dailies. At age 24, he began reporting for United Press International covering state politics in Pennsylvania and then New Jersey, where he was UPI’s state capitol bureau in Trenton.
Tempted by the allure of Washington, DC and big-time politics, at age 29 Bob became press secretary and chief of staff for two Congressmen – first Republican Edwin B. Forsythe, and then Democrat James J. Florio, who later became governor of New Jersey and until his recent death was a frequent podcast guest and co-host of Bob’s NFN Radio News podcast (now called Lean to the Left).
After seven years on Capitol Hill, Bob opened a communications business in Washington, first providing political media consulting to candidates and then freelance Washington coverage for business and trade magazines, plus creative communications services for trade and professional associations, including social media. This work involved articles and analyses of key governmental developments affecting businesses, such as the food and Health industries, retailing, and the environment.
His work as a communications consultant to trade and professional associations included launching and editing association publications, providing website content and social media assistance, and covering conferences and conventions.
Bob retired from G-Net Strategic Communications in 2016 and moved to Myrtle Beach, SC, where he launched his blog site, first called Not Fake News, now known as Lean to the Left.
Hijacked Nation
In August, 2020, Bob and co-author Chris Waldron, one of Lean to the Left's most loyal and prolific contributor, published "Hijacked Nation-Donald Trump's Attack on America's Greatness," a two-volume compilation of blogs regarding Trump's presidency and the consequences for our nation. A followup volume was published by Luna Global Media in September 2024. It is available at https://amzn.to/4ePrTF7 .
In all three volumes, blogs from Not Fake News and Lean to the Left create a virtual play-by-play of key actions of the Trump administration and Congress. For more information, please visit https://leantotheleft.net/books/, and visit Bob's Author's Page on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bob-Gatty/author/B08C7HWXZ5?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=4e603563-7251-4074-b54d-40800c4ce40a.
The Lean to the Left Podcast
The Lean to the Left podcast provides commentary and interviews with newsmakers and others with interesting stories to tell. Video and audio podcasts stream twice weekly on major channels. More info at https://podcast.leantotheleft.net.
The Lean to the Left YouTube Channel
You'll find all of the audio tracks for the Lean to the Left Podcast here plus original videos, including complete video versions of each podcast.
https://www.youtube.com/@LeantotheLeft.
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