Centered From Reality: Recent Episodes
centeredfromreality
Alex Kopytko is a centrist that wants to understand the extremes. He is concerned about where the United States is headed and through conversations with people from all sides of the political spectrum, he wants to know how Americans can limit the tribalism that is flourishing. As a ”skeptical Republican”, Alex thinks the country needs to come together and talk to one another before it could be too late. This podcast covers domestic politics, as well as political philosophy, and international issues.
Alex and Martin Benes discuss right-wing OnlyFans influencers like Savannah Cannon, who blend racist and misogynistic rhetoric with provocative posing to attract young men, and tie this to broader MAGA figures accused of abusing women, like Max Miller. They argue this reflects a Republican Party that has abandoned any pretense of "family values." Martin frames the dynamic using a doping analogy: the morally unscrupulous side, like performance-enhancing drug users staying ahead of testers, always outpaces those trying to counter it, since they're unconstrained by ethics. Alex extends this, contrasting the right's cynical embrace of OnlyFans influencers with the left's failed attempt to court a "He-Man" type candidate (Graham Platner) who resigned amid abuse allegations, suggesting the right has "morally and culturally moved on" while the left lags behind.
Alex opens with a quick riff on going to the movies before diving into Tucker Carlson's ten-point "manifesto" about his vision for America. He runs through each point — Fair, Sovereign, Productive, Beautiful, Healthy, Honest, Optimistic, Wise, Decent, and United — reacting to each in turn. His overall take: he doesn't think Tucker is actually running for president, but is instead building a political framework that JD Vance could eventually step into if he breaks from Trump.
Tucker's Ten Points — Alex's Take on Each:
- Fair — "Fair to me means he's saying they — we need to make it fair for us," which Alex reads as classic us-vs-them framing.
- Sovereign — On blaming Israel for pushing the U.S. into the Iran war, Alex says it "takes agency away from Trump and puts it all on Israel," calling Israel "a great boogeyman" but not the whole story.
- Productive — Alex says the anti-globalization, pro-manufacturing pitch "sounds like Trump's protectionism," adding flatly, "manufacturing is just not coming back."
- Beautiful — Alex is open to agreeing on ugly urban planning and brutalist architecture, joking Tucker could "make America beautiful again — not a bad campaign."
- Healthy — He's sympathetic to the anti-overmedication point but balks at "universal sobriety," saying it "sounds like you start locking up people for drinking."
- Honest — Alex is fully on board with releasing classified records: "I'd be down for JFK and just release it all at this point."
- Optimistic — On the pro-natalist "you must have children" stance, Alex says it "sounds like" Tucker's Christian nationalism and pushes back that "some people shouldn't have children."
- Wise — Alex is skeptical of Tucker preaching how "the world actually works" given Tucker's own claims about being visited by demons in his sleep.
- Decent — This is where Alex agrees most, saying "Department of War is fucking retarded" and that Israel "needs to stop," calling Netanyahu "an awful actor."
- United — Alex flatly disagrees with halting immigration, arguing immigrants are "doing jobs that a lot of people don't want."
In this episode, Alex opens with casual updates on weather, LAFC, the Leagues Cup, and Trump's "Patriot Games" youth sports event before shifting to politics. He then focuses on Wisconsin's Democratic gubernatorial primary, arguing that candidate Francesca Hong's democratic-socialist positioning, past comments on police and holidays, and struggles to clearly answer questions have made her a risky nominee against Republican Tom Tiffany. Alex contrasts her with Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed, noting that Wisconsin's own Democratic establishment, including Governor Tony Evers and Milwaukee's David Crowley, appears to be working against Hong ahead of Tuesday's primary. He closes with lighter notes on the Tatra Mountains and the Perseid meteor shower.
Alex examines several political and cultural debates, including “Burrito Gate,” a fight on the right over $20 burritos that he sees as reflecting a much larger divide over affordability, inflation, tariffs, and the cost of living. He also discusses Donald Trump’s brazenness around potential conflicts of interest and considers what Michigan’s Senate race reveals about the Democratic Party’s direction. Alex closes by examining troubling examples of AI systems acting beyond their instructions, arguing that greater transparency and safeguards are needed as the technology becomes increasingly autonomous.
Alex opens with a frustrated rant about Senate Republicans — particularly Bill Cassidy and Thom Tillis — for caving to Trump and supporting Todd Blanche's nomination for Attorney General. Alex and guest Martin Benes then shift to sports, criticizing Argentina's poor sportsmanship after the World Cup final and calling out players like Leandro Paredes and Valentín Barco. The two also dig into FIFA president Gianni Infantino's controversial ties to Trump and Mar-a-Lago, debate transfer rumors involving Rodri, Vinícius Júnior, and Nico Williams, and wrap up with predictions for the Champions League semifinals.
Steven Crowder released a video titled The Case for Fascism, and Alex sets out to systematically dismantle its arguments. Alex argues that Crowder fundamentally misunderstands the defining characteristics that make fascism uniquely dangerous and repeatedly conflates it with broader forms of right-wing authoritarianism. He also contends that Crowder demonstrates a weak grasp of history by selectively presenting examples such as Pinochet, Franco, and other military dictatorships while omitting crucial historical context, violent rises to power, atrocities, and the anti-democratic nature of their regimes. Throughout the episode, Alex fact-checks Crowder's claims, arguing that economic outcomes cannot justify repression and urging listeners to approach both fascism and communism with historical nuance rather than ideological apologetics.
In this episode, Alex recaps several of the day's political headlines, including allegations involving Rep. Max Miller, RFK Jr.'s cabinet diet, Mike Lindell's gubernatorial campaign, and Steven Crowder's defense of fascism, before turning to the episode's main topic. He examines reports that the CIA has established a new Cuba task force, compares the development to the lead-up to the Bay of Pigs, and explores whether the Trump administration's renewed focus on Cuba signals a broader strategy of political pressure and regime change, using political scientist John Kingdon's "policy window" framework to assess what could come next.
In this bonus episode, host Alex unpacks how comments from WNBA player Sophie Cunningham about transgender athletes quickly escalated into a broader political and media controversy, drawing in figures who had little direct involvement—including Caitlin Clark. Alex explores how modern sports conversations are increasingly shaped by culture wars, where even a player's decision to avoid taking a public stance becomes part of the debate.
Alex examines Russia's use of drones to deliberately hunt civilians in Ukraine—a tactic dubbed "human safari"—arguing that it represents a profoundly sadistic evolution of warfare in which operators can identify innocent people and choose to target them anyway. He warns that the same inexpensive, highly capable drone technology could fundamentally reshape terrorism, organized crime, street violence, and authoritarian surveillance, making remote, personalized intimidation and killing easier than ever before while eroding long-standing moral barriers to violence.
Alex sits down with Martin Benes, he is is a longtime coach, historian, and world traveler whose background in history and international affairs brings a comparative perspective to contemporary politics. They explore whether the political dynamics that fueled MAGA are now creating a similar populist movement on the American left, asking whether "the right has Budapest, and the left has Havana." Using Michigan's Democratic Senate primary as a case study, they debate whether frustration with the Democratic establishment is empowering candidates whose foreign policy and ideological instincts could ultimately weaken the party in general elections. Along the way, they compare figures like Tucker Carlson and Hasan Piker, discuss the dangers of political radicalization on both sides, and even rank the Trump family while examining the psychology behind Donald Trump's movement.
In this episode, Alex sits down with his uncle, geologist Dr. Robert Drake, to explore a career spent mapping the remote Andes, climbing 21,000-foot volcanoes, and helping reshape scientists' understanding of one of the world's great mountain ranges. They discuss Bob's expeditions with legendary volcanologist Wes Hildreth, the volcanic hazards they studied, and the discoveries that emerged from decades of fieldwork in Chile and Argentina. The conversation also reflects on the reunion Bob, Wes, and Judy Fierstein had planned to retrace their landmark 1984 expedition—a trip that never happened after Wes canceled at the last minute and passed away not long afterward. It's a story of scientific discovery, adventure, lifelong friendship, and the enduring legacy of one of the world's great volcanologists.
In this episode, Alex examines a wave of suspected Iranian cyberattacks targeting municipal water systems and argues they are a predictable consequence of escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. He criticizes President Trump's response, contending that blaming political opponents instead of addressing foreign cyber threats weakens deterrence and encourages future attacks. Alex also revisits the Trump administration's handling of the National Mall reflecting pool controversy, using it as another example of what he sees as politically motivated misinformation and misplaced blame.
Host Alex examines how a surge of migrants crossing from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta has reignited Europe's immigration debate, exploring the humanitarian crisis, the role of misinformation surrounding a Spanish court ruling, and the political fallout across the EU. He explains how the incident has renewed scrutiny of the Schengen Zone, with several European leaders calling for tighter border controls despite limited evidence that the migrants were traveling beyond Ceuta. Along the way, Alex reflects on the broader tension between free movement, national sovereignty, and the political power of immigration in Europe.
In this episode, Alex breaks down FIFA's investigation into Argentina following the World Cup before examining the much bigger battle unfolding behind the scenes over Gianni Infantino's plan to bring private investment into football's biggest tournaments. He explores why UEFA's unprecedented threat to boycott FIFA competitions could signal a growing political and financial divide between Europe and developing football nations. As the World Cup becomes increasingly commercialized, Alex asks whether FIFA is safeguarding the future of the game—or turning football into just another business.
This episode starts with a wide-ranging conversation about Taco Bell, Jelly Roll, Tom Hanks' career decline, and other pop culture tangents before shifting into the main event: Alex and Cole ranking Christopher Nolan's films. The discussion turns into a passionate debate over movies like Inception, Memento, Interstellar, The Dark Knight, and Oppenheimer, with both hosts defending some surprisingly unpopular rankings while exploring what makes Nolan's storytelling so compelling. They close by comparing Oppenheimer to The Odyssey, arguing that Nolan's greatest films are ultimately about the burden and regret that come with humanity's greatest achievements.
It is the doldrums of summer sports and Alex is stoked to watch the MLS All-Star Game for the distraction. But first, Alex talks about how Anthony Fauci spent decades insisting science should stay above politics. But after pleading the Fifth before a Republican-led Senate hearing filled with accusations about COVID, the former public health chief finds himself relying on politics—in the form of a presidential pardon—to protect him. He explores the irony of Fauci's fall from nonpartisan scientific authority to one of America's most polarizing political figures, and asks why Republicans are reviving one of their favorite COVID-era targets now.
Alex examines what Barry Weiss's decision to hire Ross Douthat says about the future of 60 Minutes. Rather than focusing on Douthat's conservative views, he explores whether a growing trend toward intellectualized "both-sides" journalism risks replacing the moral clarity and fearless reporting that made the program one of America's most respected news institutions.
Alex covers three main topics: FIFA's controversial proposal to sell minority stakes in a new commercial entity tied to the World Cup, arguing it would further privatize football while benefiting politically connected investors like the Kushners; the Trump administration's handling of the Iran conflict, contending it is reclassifying war casualties to avoid political and legal scrutiny; and the political implications of the "Streisand effect," where attempts to hide uncomfortable facts ultimately draw more attention to them. He also briefly discusses Trump's comments about journalists, Elon Musk's recent Economist interview, and shifting MAGA attitudes toward Ukraine and Volodymyr Zelensky.
Alex reacts to a Fox News interview featuring a Democratic Socialists of America spokesperson and argues that the movement's most radical proposals—such as abolishing prisons, borders, and the Senate—could become a political gift for Republicans. While he agrees with a few reform ideas, including criticisms of ICE and aspects of the Senate, he ultimately advocates for a more moderate approach, warning that political extremism on both the left and right risks alienating voters and undermining public trust.
Alex welcomes returning guest Cole Costello, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Montana, for a wide-ranging conversation spanning war, geopolitics, history, and economics. They discuss the Cold War, American hegemony, Argentina's political and economic development, and the future of the post-World War II international order before shifting to a broader critique of modern capitalism. Through Cole's "token economy" thought experiment, they debate whether markets truly measure contribution, the role of incentives, and what a society ought to value.
Alex delivers a wide-ranging Saturday afternoon commentary, blending humor, personal reflections, and political analysis. From joking about post-World Cup withdrawal and critiquing the White House Correspondents' Dinner to examining the transformations of JD Vance and comedian Tom Segura, Alex explores how success can sometimes lead people to reject the very identities that once made them relatable. He closes with a heartfelt discussion about the devastating wildfires across Spain and France, reflecting on their impact through the lens of his personal connection to Madrid and the growing challenges posed by climate change.
In this episode, Alex examines why the conflict with Iran is evolving into something far larger than a limited military operation—and why one question remains unresolved: if President Trump had an apparent off-ramp, why didn't he take it? He also explores how the economics of modern warfare, from cheap drones to expensive missile defenses and disrupted global shipping, may be exposing weaknesses the U.S. military has been slow to recognize.
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is more than an epic adventure—it's a story about what happens when you finally make it home and realize the world kept moving without you. Alex explores how a film rooted in ancient myth becomes a powerful meditation on memory, regret, and the passage of time while examining the Sea Peoples, the Bronze Age collapse, Nolan's casting choices, and why the film's emotional final act resonated so deeply with his own experience of returning to America after years living abroad.
Alex breaks down Spain's dominant World Cup victory over Argentina, arguing that character in defeat is just as important as excellence in victory. From Argentina's post-match conduct to Trump's awkward attempts to steal the spotlight, this episode explores why humility, sportsmanship, and leadership matter both on and off the field.
In this episode, Alex examines President Trump's latest White House speech announcing the release of declassified documents alleging Chinese interference in the 2020 election. Rather than presenting the announcement as a groundbreaking revelation, Alex explores it as another chapter in Trump's years-long effort to revisit the 2020 election and raise concerns about trust in America's electoral system ahead of the 2026 midterms.
While recognizing the importance of government transparency and election security, Alex questions the timing, framing, and potential political motivations behind the release of a large collection of partially redacted intelligence documents presented without broader context.
In the final installment of Alex's conversation with Martin Benes, a simple question about the popularity of Minions evolves into a thoughtful discussion about modern culture and the pursuit of constant entertainment. Using everything from "Oops! All Berries" cereal to soccer and streaming algorithms, Alex and Martin explore why the best experiences often come from balance rather than getting only the highlights. It's a fun, wide-ranging conversation that argues sometimes the "boring" parts are exactly what make the memorable moments matter.
In this episode, Alex reflects on the death of Senator Lindsey Graham and the complicated legacy he leaves behind. The discussion explores how one of America's strongest advocates for democracy abroad became one of Donald Trump's closest political allies, asking whether Graham's unwavering support for Ukraine reflected a lingering commitment to principles he had compromised at home.
In part two of their conversation, Alex is joined by Martin Benes for a wide-ranging discussion on the Democratic Party's identity crisis and where it goes from here. Together, they debate centrism versus progressivism, the rise of populism, controversial Democratic candidates, Obama's political legacy, and why the party continues to struggle with messaging. They also touch on Trump's Reflecting Pool controversy.
Alex is joined by Martin Benes to break down the FIFA World Cup, from the USA's controversial red card reversal to why the U.S. still isn't ready to compete with the world's best. They discuss how the tournament has temporarily improved America's image abroad, the crucial role of immigrants in international soccer, and whether Europe's obsession with ranch dressing is a compliment—or a judgement.
Argentina may be winning on the field, but off it, the headlines are far less celebratory. In this episode, Alex unpacks reports of an FBI inquiry into the Argentine Football Association's U.S. financial dealings, the millions of dollars under scrutiny, and why the investigation is raising new questions about governance, transparency, and the business behind the beautiful game.
In this episode, Alex welcomes returning guest Cole Costello, PhD candidate at the University of Montana, for a conversation that takes a different approach to the World Cup. Instead of debating favorites and championship odds, Alex and Cole each rank their top five World Cup teams based entirely on vibes—highlighting everything from underdog stories and fascinating history to national pride, cultural identity, and even great jerseys. The conversation explores how the World Cup serves as more than a sporting event, creating opportunities to learn about different cultures, histories, and people from around the globe.
Alex breaks down the increasingly tense on-air feud between Alexi Lalas and Zlatan Ibrahimović, arguing that it's about far more than soccer. Using their clashes as a case study, he explores how American exceptionalism, political polarization, and a growing refusal to listen have fueled frustration among many of America's closest allies. The result is a sharp, often funny look at why a seemingly trivial sports-media beef may actually reveal something important about America's place in the world today.
Alex examines the Trump-Iran MOU point by point and argues that the agreement is a political and strategic failure. From sanctions relief and frozen assets to a proposed $300 billion reconstruction package, Alex explains why many Republicans are questioning the deal and why he believes it closely resembles policies conservatives once criticized under the Obama administration. The episode offers a detailed breakdown of the agreement and its potential political consequences.
In this episode, Alex welcomes back longtime friend and former Chapman University roommate Cole Costello, a PhD candidate at the University of Montana with years of experience living in Orange County. The conversation begins with a critique of World Cup commentator Alexi Lalas before shifting into a broader discussion of Irvine, Orange County's unique culture, and why the region can feel both incredibly comfortable and strangely soulless. Alex and Cole then tackle California politics, including the Los Angeles mayoral race, Karen Bass's political resilience, and reality TV star Spencer Pratt's unlikely candidacy, using the race as a lens to explore the disconnect between national political narratives and local voter preferences. The episode culminates in a discussion of the "Graham Plattner dilemma," examining whether voters should overlook serious character concerns in pursuit of preferred policy outcomes.
Alex breaks down the emerging U.S.-Iran peace deal and explains why, after four months of war, the outcome looks remarkably similar to the status quo that existed before the conflict began. He examines why the agreement leaves Iran's missile program and regional proxies largely untouched, why Israel may view the result as a costly strategic setback despite the damage inflicted on Iran, and why none of the major players can convincingly claim victory. Finally, Alex explores the broader implications of the war—from the vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz to what the conflict reveals about the limits of American power and the future of global trade.
Alex welcomes Cole Costello back to the podcast for a conversation that begins with a decaying theater in rural Montana and expands into a broader discussion about America's forgotten communities. Cole argues that many small towns are living among the remnants of a once-functioning past that no longer has the resources, political attention, or economic investment needed to be restored. Along the way, Alex and Cole explore how this reality connects to modern populist politics, rural decline, infrastructure, railroads, agriculture, China's rapid development, the rise of data centers, and growing economic inequality. The result is a thought-provoking look at what happens when entire regions feel left behind—and what that means for America's future.
This episode dives into the upcoming UFC event at the White House and why it looks less like a historic spectacle and more like a logistical headache. Alex breaks down the challenges of hosting a major combat sports event outdoors—from weather and production concerns to security complications—and explores what the event says about the growing overlap between politics, entertainment, and public spectacle.
In this episode, host Alex explores the extraordinary week that saw Elon Musk become the world's first trillionaire while simultaneously facing criticism for his role in amplifying political tensions online. Alex examines SpaceX's record-breaking IPO, Musk's growing influence over public discourse, and the ambitious vision driving investors to back his space and AI empire. The episode also takes a closer look at the government funding and taxpayer support that helped launch Musk's companies, raising important questions about power, influence, and who benefits when public investment fuels private fortunes.
In this episode, Alex explores the intersection of soccer and politics through Iraq's remarkable return to the World Cup after a four-decade absence. Alex examines how Iraq's qualification journey reflects the country's broader recovery from decades of war, instability, and regional turmoil, while also discussing the recent detention of Iraqi team members upon arriving in the United States.
In this episode, Alex examines the infamous "Disgrace of Gijón" from the 1982 World Cup in Spain and why it remains one of the most fascinating examples of game theory in sports. Alex explores how FIFA's tournament structure created incentives that made competition irrational once West Germany took an early lead against Austria, ultimately leaving Algeria as the victim of a flawed system. The discussion goes beyond soccer to explore what this controversial match can teach us about politics, institutions, and the unintended consequences of poorly designed incentives.
In this episode, Alex unpacks the controversies surrounding Graham Platner, focusing on allegations, personal history, and questions about credibility that could make him a liability in a key Maine race. Alex argues that while Platner may be a product of his military experience and personal struggles, the accumulation of red flags raises concerns about his viability as a candidate. More broadly, he warns against a “race to the bottom” in politics, where moral and character concerns are increasingly dismissed in favor of raw electability or partisan advantage.
In this episode, Alex welcomes back regular guest Cole Costello for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with pop culture absurdities and quickly descends into the dark corners of modern horror. The two rank their favorite horror films of the 21st century, debate everything from Barbarian and Hereditary to The Lighthouse and The Hateful Eight, and explore why folk horror, psychological dread, and the unknown continue to captivate audiences. Along the way, they dive into Robert Eggers, Blood Meridian, and the timeless question: what actually makes something scary?
Alex examines President Trump's decision to appoint Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence and why critics see the move as a potential national security risk. The episode explores concerns that placing a loyal political ally with no intelligence experience atop the nation's intelligence apparatus could blur the line between national security and domestic politics, transforming the DNI from a coordinator of foreign intelligence into a tool for pursuing political grievances. Alex unpacks what this appointment could mean for election oversight, intelligence declassification, and the growing debate over whether America's intelligence agencies could be drawn deeper into domestic political battles.
Alex breaks down the explosive shakeup at CBS News, where Bari Weiss's overhaul of 60 Minutes has triggered a newsroom revolt and raised questions about the future of one of America's most trusted institutions. From the firing of veteran journalists to Scott Pelley's remarkable public confrontation with Weiss's new executive producer, Alex examines whether this is a necessary reinvention—or the "DOGE-ing" of American journalism. Along the way, he explores what happens when powerful institutions are remade from the inside and why one veteran reporter decided to say the quiet part out loud.
In this episode, host Alex Kopytko welcomes back recurring guest and history PhD student Cole Costello for a wide-ranging conversation on politics, culture, sports, and the stories we tell ourselves about all three. The two discuss the Great American Fair, celebrity politics, the ongoing debate around public figures and their personal views, and whether modern media focuses on the right controversies. They also dive into Chuck Klosterman's ideas about football, exploring why America's most popular sport is unlike any other and what its structure reveals about human nature and society.
In this episode, Alex breaks down the shocking Texas Republican primary where Donald Trump-backed Ken Paxton crushed longtime Senator John Cornyn despite years of corruption scandals, impeachment, and legal controversy. Alex explains why the race left him feeling four emotions at once: schadenfreude watching Cornyn’s political humiliation, anger that Republican voters embraced Paxton anyway, excitement because Democrats may now have a real chance in Texas, and anxiety over what could happen if the general election turns chaotic or contested. The episode explores how Trump’s grip on the GOP continues to reshape American politics — even when the candidate is the Texas Attorney General facing accusations of abusing his own office.
In this episode, Alex explores why Real Madrid is beginning to resemble less of a football club and more of a political institution. Using ideas from institutional theory and populist politics, he breaks down the growing legitimacy crisis surrounding Florentino Pérez and the emergence of Enrique Riquelme as an outsider challenger positioning himself against an increasingly insulated establishment. The conversation looks at how performance decline, ownership debates, and elite power structures are turning a football election into something that feels much closer to a political movement.
In this episode, Alex dives into the unraveling ceasefire between the US, Iran, Israel, and Hezbollah as fresh airstrikes and mounting civilian casualties push the Middle East closer to a wider regional war. From American “self-defense strikes” near the Strait of Hormuz to Israel’s escalating campaign in Lebanon, Alex breaks down the political maneuvering, the human cost, and the fragile diplomacy struggling to hold everything together. Plus: why oil markets, global politics, and one of the world’s most volatile regions are now more connected than ever.
In this episode, Alex breaks down the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire that was supposed to last two weeks and somehow turned into a geopolitical game of chicken with the global economy hanging in the balance. As Trump pushes Gulf nations toward the Abraham Accords while teasing a possible Iran deal, even his own allies are warning that the agreement could resemble the Obama-era deal he once condemned. From oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz to White House infighting and nuclear brinkmanship, Alex unpacks how America may have stumbled from “maximum pressure” into negotiating simply to keep negotiating.
Alex breaks down the surprising resignation of Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence — officially over her husband’s cancer diagnosis, but amid growing tensions with Donald Trump over Iran and military intervention. The episode explores how Gabbard, an anti-interventionist outsider, became increasingly sidelined inside an administration that openly dismissed her intelligence assessments, including Trump’s blunt response to her claim that Iran “is not building a nuclear weapon”: “I don’t care what she said.” Along the way, Alex examines the politicization of the intelligence community, the irony of Gabbard’s role in Venezuela policy, and what her tenure reveals about the fragility of America’s post-9/11 intelligence system.
In this episode, Alex unpacks one of the strangest regime-change stories imaginable: the reported Israeli-backed plan to reinstall former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during the opening days of the war with Iran. Why would Israel and the U.S. gamble on a man once known for Holocaust denial, anti-American rhetoric, and calls to “wipe Israel off the map”? Alex explores the theory that Ahmadinejad may not have been chosen despite his extremism—but because he could be controlled, leveraged, or used as an asset in a larger geopolitical gamble that quickly spiraled out of control.
In this episode, Alex opens with the escalating tensions surrounding Cuba, including the newly unsealed U.S. indictment charging former Cuban leader Raúl Castro with murder and conspiracy over the 1996 shoot down of Brothers to the Rescue planes that killed four people. The charges arrive amid growing speculation about instability inside Cuba, reports of drone strike warnings in the Florida Keys, and renewed discussion about whether the island is entering a rare window for possible regime change. Later, Alex is joined by Cole Costello for a wide-ranging conversation covering the surprisingly deep cultural divide between Lowe’s and Home Depot, the uniquely miserable experience of cruise ships, and the eternal hope of praying for rain.
In this episode of Centered From Reality, host Alex Kopetko is joined by recurring guest Cole Costello, future historian and PhD candidate out of Montana, to break down the internet backlash surrounding Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey. While both agree that the “woke” outrage over casting and historical accuracy is mostly overblown, Alex and Cole do find themselves increasingly confused by the movie’s bizarre, focus-group-feeling cast lineup — especially when compared to older epics like Troy. The conversation expands into Hollywood trends, modern horror movies, strange music rabbit holes, and an extended ranking of their favorite Stephen King books.
In this episode, Alex breaks down Senator Bill Cassidy losing his Louisiana primary and argues it’s the result of trying to balance criticism of Donald Trump with later attempts to win back MAGA support. He also dives into Trump’s reported plan for a massive compensation fund for allies investigated during the Biden administration, warning it could normalize political loyalty over accountability. Along the way, Alex mixes sharp political commentary with humor, touching on everything from Real Madrid frustrations to the chaos of modern Republican politics.
In this Sunday episode, Alex sits down with historian and returning guest Cole Costello for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with aging, bad backs, and Montana’s official “Day of Prayer for Rain” before evolving into a thoughtful discussion about American identity ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary. The two reflect on patriotism, historical memory, holidays, labor traditions, and the tension between celebrating America’s ideals while confronting its contradictions and failures. Along the way, they also debate ham, fireworks, pagan holidays, constitutional reform, and the state of modern politics in a candid and often humorous exchange.
Alex spends the episode informally ranking members of Trump’s cabinet from “most dangerous” to “least concerning,” arguing that the administration contains far more extreme or reckless figures than competent or stabilizing ones. He repeatedly contrasts ideological loyalists and media personalities — including JD Vance, Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Kash Patel — with a much smaller group he views as merely ineffective or relatively sane. By the end, he emphasizes that his own rankings produced more officials in the “most dangerous” tier than in the moderate or benign categories, which he presents as evidence of how unstable and ideologically driven he believes the administration has become.
In this casual Friday episode, Alex humorously rants about Kimberly Guilfoyle attending the ribbon cutting of a new McDonald’s in Athens, Greece, calling the moment both surreal and unintentionally hilarious. Using the story as a jumping-off point, Alex reflects on American culture abroad, his own experiences traveling in Greece, and why promoting fast food in a country known for its fresh local cuisine feels especially absurd. Beyond the McDonald’s story, Alex also touches on rising tensions involving Taiwan and China, political shakeups in the UK, an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the latest developments in the war in Ukraine, blending global headlines with sharp political commentary and personal observations.
In this episode, Alex breaks down Florentino Pérez’s extraordinary press conference and what it reveals about power, control, and perception at Real Madrid. He draws parallels between Pérez’s leadership style and political figures who increasingly frame criticism as conspiracy, using institutional control and media narratives to protect their authority. Alex argues that when leaders — in football or politics — start to believe that every setback is part of a coordinated attack, it distorts decision-making and erodes accountability. Ultimately, it’s a cautionary story about what happens when a powerful institution begins to see opposition not as feedback, but as evidence of enemies in the shadows.
Alex breaks down the controversy surrounding Kari Lake’s potential appointment as U.S. ambassador to Jamaica, tracing the move back to her turbulent tenure overseeing Voice of America and the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Through sharp political analysis and a dose of irony, Alex explores how loyalty has increasingly become the defining currency in modern political appointments—often outweighing institutional experience or diplomatic expertise. The episode examines what this nomination says about America’s evolving approach to governance, diplomacy, and the rewards system inside Washington.
Alex breaks down the deepening crisis inside the UK Labour government, as resignations, public pressure, and electoral collapse leave Sir Keir Starmer fighting to survive politically. With Labour MPs split between demanding his resignation and warning against a leadership contest, Starmer is starting to give off unmistakable Joe Biden vibes: insisting he’s staying while much of his own party quietly wonders how long that can last. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage and Reform UK are looming over the chaos, capitalising on Labour’s instability as Britain heads into an increasingly volatile political moment.
In this episode, Alex breaks down Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s bizarre sponsored road trip series and why critics are calling it one of the most tone-deaf stories of Trump 2.0. From nonprofit funding tied to major transportation corporations to the glaring irony of celebrating America’s national parks while protections and funding for public lands are being cut, the episode explores how governing increasingly feels like influencer content. Alex unpacks the ethics concerns, political hypocrisy, and growing disconnect between Washington spectacle and everyday Americans struggling with rising costs.
On this episode of Centered From Reality, host Alex Kopytko dives into America’s renewed obsession with UFOs, government transparency, and why mysterious Pentagon disclosures seem far easier for politicians to release than something like the Epstein files. Alex explores the latest UAP document dump, breaks down theories like the Fermi Paradox and the Dark Forest Theory, and argues that UFO disclosures are politically convenient because they generate endless attention without ever requiring definitive answers or accountability. Blending skepticism, humor, conspiracy culture, and X-Files nostalgia, the episode examines why UFOs remain the perfect modern mystery.
In this episode, Alex announces the launch of the Centered From Reality Substack and outlines plans to expand the show with newsletters, bonus content, and more direct audience interaction. He then dives into a mix of sports and current events, including Real Madrid locker room turmoil, public health concerns tied to a hantavirus outbreak discussion, and broader questions about preparedness and risk perception. The bulk of the episode focuses on escalating U.S. redistricting battles following recent Supreme Court decisions, with Tennessee’s new congressional map serving as a key example of shifting voting power and legal conflict. The episode closes with skepticism about a proposed Russia–Ukraine ceasefire and a broader reflection on how multiple major systems—political, health, and cultural—are all under increasing strain at the same time.
Alex and Martin Benes begin the episode by reacting to reports of a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, joking about cruises as chaotic floating cities filled with illness, strange behavior, and underreported crimes tied to murky international laws. The discussion then shifts to European football, where Alex vents about internal tensions at Real Madrid and the hosts debate who to support in the UEFA Champions League, touching on clubs including Arsenal F.C., Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain F.C., FC Bayern Munich, and FC Barcelona. Near the end, they discuss prediction-market platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, comparing them to Rat Race and criticizing the way geopolitical crises are increasingly treated like gambling events. The episode closes with recommendations for Rat Race and Widows Bay, described as “Twin Peaks meets The Shining.”
In this episode, Alex breaks down the growing gap between the massive hype surrounding the 2026 World Cup and the surprisingly weak hotel bookings across U.S. host cities. Despite more than 5 million tickets sold and projections of huge international crowds, many hotels are reporting bookings below even normal summer levels. Alex dives into the reasons behind the slowdown—from visa concerns to America’s global image problem—and asks whether the U.S. is truly ready to host the world’s biggest sporting event.
In part two of their conversation, Alex sits down with Martin Benes to unpack what some call today’s “ketamine culture”—a growing sense of detachment shaping politics, media, and public perception. The conversation dives into Trump’s foreign policy, rising tensions with Iran, and the broader disconnect between political leaders and everyday Americans. They also explore fractures within the MAGA movement, media narratives, and the idea of a “YOLO presidency” driven more by impulse than strategy. Along the way, they mix sharp analysis with humor while looking ahead to what all of this could mean for the future of U.S. politics.
In this episode, Alex sits down with Martin Benes to unpack the rise of the “looksmaxxing” trend, a movement rooted in online subcultures that pushes self-improvement into obsessive and often unhealthy extremes . They contrast the chaotic, extreme influencer persona of Clavicular—who embodies the movement’s more dangerous, experimental edge—with biohacker Bryan Johnson, whose highly controlled lifestyle still reflects a more structured (if intense) version of optimization. The conversation expands into how “maxxing” culture has spiraled into a catch-all internet buzzword, arguing it reflects a broader shift toward reductive, performative self-improvement. Ultimately, they frame the trend as a distorted offshoot of wellness culture that prioritizes aesthetics and metrics over actual health.
In this episode, Alex unpacks The Atlantic article “The Yolo Presidency” by Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer, exploring the idea that Donald Trump may view himself as a “world-historical individual” in the sense of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel—a mindset that could explain his high-risk decisions and focus on legacy, with comparisons to figures like Alexander the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte. Alex also opens with global updates, covering tensions with Iran, new tariffs on the E.U., sanctions on Cuba, and economic strain affecting industries like airlines and oil transit. The episode then dives into a dispute over presidential war powers, as Trump argues a cease-fire with Iran pauses the War Powers Resolution clock, while critics contend ongoing military actions still count as hostilities requiring congressional approval. Growing skepticism from some Republicans, alongside unified Democratic criticism, highlights a potential shift toward Congress reasserting authority, while underscoring a legal gray area that could enable executive overreach amid continued congressional inaction.
Alex opens the episode with an unexpected pairing—national parks and NBA blowouts—before turning to a Supreme Court decision that could fundamentally weaken the Voting Rights Act. He breaks down Justice Samuel Alito’s argument that the law has fulfilled its purpose in a changed America, and notes that he finds himself torn on parts of the Court’s reasoning, even as he grapples with its implications.
The episode traces how decades of rulings—beginning with Shelby County v. Holder—have steadily chipped away at the Voting Rights Act, and what that erosion means for minority representation today. The decision, he explains, appears to permit political gerrymandering while rejecting racial gerrymandering—what amounts, in practice, to a distinction without a difference. Featuring sharp warnings from dissenting justices and voting rights advocates, the podcast examines whether the United States is closing the chapter on a civil rights cornerstone or reopening old wounds.
This episode covers the indictment of former FBI director James Comey over a beach photo showing seashells arranged as “86 47,” which the Justice Department claims could be interpreted as a threat against President Trump. Alex walks through Comey’s response, the legal arguments around free speech, and the broader political context, including past efforts to prosecute him and criticism of the DOJ’s independence. The episode ultimately explores concerns that even weak cases may be used to chill political expression and signal a shift in how federal power is being used.
Alex opens the podcast by reacting with disbelief to public responses to an attempted assassination, arguing that labeling Donald Trump a threat to democracy does not justify violence. He then discusses reporting about a proposed redesign of U.S. passports that could feature Trump, noting how unusual this would be and exploring its political symbolism. Finally, Alex shifts to global affairs, analyzing the United Arab Emirates decision to leave OPEC, explaining the geopolitical tensions behind it and its potential impact on oil markets and regional alliances.
Alex begins with a head-scratching moment: a once-blacklisted foreign elite welcomed back into Washington. But that strange reunion is just the opening scene. What follows is a deeper, darker story—one where deportation no longer means going home, but being sent somewhere else entirely. As Alex unravels the rise of third-country deportations, a picture emerges of a system driven less by law than by leverage, where global deals reshape the fate of migrants—and fear becomes part of the strategy.
Alex, the host, breaks down a bizarre political pitch involving Paolo Zampolli, who has urged both Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino to replace Iran with Italy in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite Italy failing to qualify. The episode explores Zampolli’s arguments about Italy’s “four World Cup titles,” FIFA’s insistence that qualified teams should still play, and the broader diplomatic tensions surrounding Iran’s participation, including political undertones involving Giorgia Meloni. It also analyzes surprising ticket data for the U.S. World Cup opener versus Iran vs. New Zealand, raising concerns about pricing, demand, and the U.S. team’s drawing power.
Alex unpacks a charged cultural dispute over Guernica by Pablo Picasso, as Madrid clashes with Basque leaders over whether the iconic anti-war painting should be moved from Museo Reina Sofía—raising deeper questions about who “owns” national symbols. He then breaks down Spain’s push, led by Pedro Sánchez, to suspend the EU–Israel agreement and why much of Europe isn’t backing it. Finally, Alex covers the shocking bullring incident in Seville where matador José Antonio Morante de la Puebla was seriously gored mid-performance, turning a comeback into a crisis.
Alex breaks down the Trump administration’s potential $500 million bailout of Spirit Airlines, a company already in its second bankruptcy in two years and facing rising fuel costs tied to the war in Iran. The episode highlights the striking irony: policies that helped drive up jet fuel prices may now force the government to step in and rescue the fallout. It also zooms out to examine a broader shift, as the administration pours over $10 billion into private companies in the name of national security. The result is a growing debate over whether this is a smart strategy—or a risky cycle of intervention and consequence.
Alex examines how the Strait of Hormuz is becoming a real-world stress test for both global energy systems and cryptocurrency as geopolitical tensions disrupt shipping and leave hundreds of vessels stranded. He highlights a chaotic mix of crypto scams and an emerging Iranian policy requiring transit fees in Bitcoin, USDT, or yuan, blurring the line between fraud and official trade infrastructure. He also breaks down growing fragility in global energy markets, where shrinking oil shipment buffers, tight Asian inventories, and reduced refinery output are building pressure despite stable Western fuel prices. Without a reopening of the Strait, he warns these combined stresses could quickly escalate into a wider energy crisis.
The episode opens with Alex unpacking The Atlantic’s allegations that Kash Patel had a pattern of heavy drinking that raised concerns about his judgment and conduct in professional settings—claims he’s now forcefully denying in a lawsuit against the magazine. From there, the numbers tell a brutal story for Donald Trump: Democrats are cruising toward a likely House takeover and even flirting with a Senate upset, thanks to steady polling, special election wins, and a deeply underwater approval rating. Meanwhile, Trump’s White House doubles as a UFC-adjacent policy lab, where Joe Rogan can text his way into psychedelic drug policy—while also publicly blasting the president over war. It’s a portrait of modern politics where lawsuits, statistical waves, and text-message policymaking all collide in one very strange news cycle.
A bold new UK law is attempting the ultimate slow fade—phasing out smoking by banning anyone born after 2008 from ever buying cigarettes, effectively turning Marlboros into a relic for future history classes. Hosted by Alex, the episode unpacks how this public health gamble aims to cut addiction, ease pressure on the NHS, and tighten rules on vaping while expanding smoke-free zones. But critics warn the strategy could backfire, pushing users toward black markets or back to traditional tobacco. Either way, for the next generation, the rebellious “cigarette outside the bar” might be replaced with… well, they’ll have to get creative.
Alex breaks down the latest Iran war confusion—from seized ships to “maybe” peace talks—while asking the bigger question: who is the U.S. actually negotiating with inside a fractured Iranian regime. He walks through the internal power struggle, calling it a literal “jungle of power,” where diplomats and hardliners are fighting each other as much as they’re fighting the West. He also dives into the emerging “Mythos” AI breakthrough—an ultra-powerful model reportedly capable of finding and exploiting thousands of software vulnerabilities, so dangerous it’s being withheld from the public—which is already sparking global security fears and an AI arms race.
Alex kicks things off with a slightly unhinged rant about Real Madrid blowing a wild Champions League tie to Bayern Munich—before pivoting to a bigger point: sports and politics run on the same emotional logic. People don’t just root for their team—they root against the other side’s fans, because they hate the idea of those people getting what they want. From there, the episode dives into California’s chaotic governor race, where a fractured Democratic field—now reshuffled by Eric Swalwell dropping out—and the state’s jungle primary mean the outcome is less about ideology and more about math, with even the possibility of a Republican sneaking through under the right conditions.
On this episode, Alex connects the dots between pop culture and political absurdity, starting with Karol G making history as the first Latina to headline Coachella—a moment that doubled as both a cultural milestone and a subtle political statement about identity and belonging. From there, the conversation spirals into the internet’s favorite running joke: JD Vance as a Grim Reaper figure who seemingly dooms every event he touches—though notably, he did not attend Karol G’s set, perhaps explaining why it went so well. Finally, Alex imagines a chaotic bipartisan fever dream where Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ro Khanna form an alliance, proving that in modern politics, anything is possible—except JD Vance having a normal week.
In this episode, Alex breaks down rising global tensions as Donald Trump threatens a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after failed nuclear talks with Iran. He then dives into the stunning electoral defeat of Viktor Orbán by Péter Magyar, exploring what it means for Europe, Russia, and the global far-right. Alex closes by asking whether this marks a turning point for nationalist movements—or just a temporary setback.
In this episode, Alex and Cole Costello unpack the complicated legacy of Cesar Chavez, whose reputation has recently been shaken by serious allegations of sexual abuse involving women and minors that have led to canceled celebrations and the removal of his name from public spaces. The conversation explores both Chavez’s historic impact on farmworker rights and the growing criticism of his personal conduct, ultimately centering on a broader question: how to reconcile meaningful achievements with deeply flawed individuals. By the end, the discussion lands on the idea that sometimes it’s necessary to separate a figure’s contributions from their personal life—even if that process is uncomfortable and unresolved.
In this episode, Alex unpacks “Avignongate,” a growing clash between Washington and Rome as Donald Trump’s political movement collides with the moral authority of Pope Leo XIV. What starts as a disputed diplomatic meeting opens into a deeper conflict over war, faith, and the rise of Christian nationalism—echoing the Avignon Papacy and the Western Schism, when political power fractured the Church itself. At its core, the episode asks a bigger question: who gets to define morality in the modern world—a superpower wielding military force, or a global church claiming authority beyond nations? And what happens when those two answers fundamentally disagree?
In this episode, Alex and guest Cole Costello explore the strange political moment where some Democrats find themselves aligned with right-wing figures like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, both of whom have broken with Donald Trump over rhetoric critics describe as genocidal. They situate this within a broader “MAGA civil war,” where anti-war or isolationist conservatives are clashing with Trump loyalists, complicating traditional left–right political alignments. The conversation also turns to Peter Meijer, whose recent shift toward MAGA politics reflects wider consolidation and radicalization within the Republican Party. Finally, Alex and Cole discuss anarchism, what it means to be on the left, and why Cuba remains an important reference point for debates about anti-imperialism, socialism, and state power.
In part two of his conversation with Cole Costello, Alex opens with a simple but revealing question — if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you go? Cole quickly lands on Australia, which sets the stage for a deeper discussion as Alex begins to challenge that choice. What follows is a thoughtful back-and-forth about what really makes travel meaningful. Alex argues that language and cultural differences are essential to the experience, while Cole sees it a bit differently, questioning whether those factors matter as much. Their conversation then turns to Australia itself, exploring the interesting paradox it presents — a place that can feel temporally close, yet geographically remote. They reflect on how that distance has shaped Australia into something culturally distinct, even “weird” in its own way. Despite seeming similar to Europe on paper, its isolation has led to a very different cultural evolution.
In this episode, Alex reacts to Donald Trump’s Easter rant referencing the Strait of Hormuz, unpacking the geopolitical implications and the tone of his remarks. Alex draws comparisons to Game of Thrones, suggesting Trump’s rhetoric echoes the instability of a “mad king” archetype, fueling concern among critics. The episode also explores growing public chatter around the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution as a framework for addressing presidential fitness. Overall, Alex frames the moment as a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over leadership, rhetoric, and constitutional safeguards.
Alex sits down with Cole Costello, a PhD candidate at the University of Montana, to unpack the idea of “political pilgrims” and how ideology shapes where people go—and what they see. The conversation dives into the state of left-wing politics in the U.S., from online spaces to real-world activism, using figures like Hasan Piker as a case study. They explore the recent controversy around Piker’s trip to Cuba, where he joined a leftist convoy that drew backlash for perceived performative activism amid the country’s economic crisis. From streamers to scholars, the episode examines whether modern political movements are building solidarity—or just new kinds of spectacle.
In this episode, Alex breaks down Europe’s rush toward energy bailouts as the Iran war drives oil and LNG prices sky-high, with governments like Italy spending hundreds of millions to shield consumers. But as he explains, these interventions may backfire—distorting markets, worsening global shortages, and shifting the burden onto poorer countries while doing little to fix the underlying supply crisis. Then Alex talks about how Donald Trump undermined his own push for war with Iran by framing federal spending as a choice between defense and programs like child care—at the worst possible political moment. With polls from CNN and CBS News showing overwhelming opposition to both the war and its costs, Alex highlights how Americans simply aren’t buying the trade-off.
Alex breaks down Donald Trump’s sudden firing of Pam Bondi, unpacking the real reason behind it—her failure to successfully target his political opponents despite a controversial record in office. He examines the implications of replacing her with former personal lawyer Todd Blanche and what it signals about loyalty, power, and instability inside the administration. The episode ultimately argues that in this political climate, even unwavering loyalty may not be enough to survive.
In this episode, Alex takes listeners to Venezuela at a moment of surreal transition — Maduro is gone, Americans are back, and the country teeters between fear and cautious optimism. From freed political prisoners and grassroots organizers in La Vega to billionaire investors at the Caracas Country Club, we explore the sharp contrasts shaping daily life. Amid economic uncertainty, political maneuvering, and global distractions like the war in Iran, Venezuelans are grappling with trauma, hope, and the urgent push for change.
Alex breaks down Donald Trump’s prime-time Iran address, arguing it felt less like a coherent war update and more like a 19-minute Truth Social post brought to life. He highlights the lack of clear objectives, repeated talking points, and rising skepticism—even within Trump’s own party—about what the strategy actually is. The episode also digs into the speech’s tone and delivery, raising questions about Trump’s grasp of the conflict and whether something felt off in how he presented it. Ultimately, Alex frames the address as a mix of political messaging, uncertainty, and a conflict with no clear end in sight.
Alex breaks down a rapidly escalating global crisis as U.S. allies across Europe refuse deeper involvement in the Iran war, exposing growing fractures in NATO. As energy prices surge worldwide—from Europe to South Korea—leaders warn of a crisis that could rival the 1970s oil shock or even COVID-level disruption. With mixed signals from Washington and escalation looming, Alex asks the central question: is it too late to TACO—or is the world already locked into a much bigger conflict?
In this episode, host Alex previews Donald Trump’s highly anticipated primetime speech, framing it as a potential turning point in U.S. foreign policy amid rising global tensions. Alex argues this won’t just be a victory speech—it’s likely to signal a deeper shift in how the U.S. approaches its allies, especially NATO.
Alex breaks down the stunning halt of Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project, after a judge ruled construction can’t continue without congressional approval—months after the historic East Wing was already demolished. What sounds like a fight over a ballroom quickly turns into a deeper look at how power, process, and oversight collide. Alex explores how it took nearly nine months for the system to respond—and what it means when institutions move slower than the actions they’re supposed to check.
Alex breaks down how Pete Hegseth is framing the Iran war not just in military terms, but as something close to a divinely guided mission—complete with calls for Americans to pray “in the name of Jesus Christ.” The episode explores how his rhetoric, including references to “God’s providence” and even Crusader language like “Deus vult,” blurs the line between faith and warfare. Alex also examines the backlash from religious leaders and what it means when the world’s most powerful military is tied to a sense of holy purpose. He ends with the question — when leaders say “God is on our side”… what exactly does that mean for everyone else?
In this episode, Alex explores how Donald Trump has left his mark everywhere in government—and not just figuratively. From dollar bills to battleships, Trump has emblazoned his name and face on federal buildings, coins, national park passes, and even baby investment accounts. Love it or loathe it, the Trump brand is now part of the U.S. government—and Alex argues this personal takeover undermines democratic norms, blurs the line between public service and self-promotion, and why it’s crucial for democrats to remove his name from public institutions.
In this bonus segment, Alex and Martin Benes have an interesting conversation about the contrast between ephemeral, fleeting moments in life, travel, and relationships versus stability and longterm growth. The two talk about travel tales, life, and more. They are split.
In this episode, Alex gives a mini lesson on the economics of purchasing price parity (PPP) and how it is a useful (albeit imperfect) tool to compare the economics, GDP, and currency values of different countries. He uses the example of the Economist's "Big Mac Index" and talks about how Trump's tariffs are not doing what he promised they would do. Confidence in the US dollar is dropping and it is reflective in the price of Big Macs.
Alex starts by talking about a troubling scandal in Florida between Ron DeSantis, political allies, and private security firms to build Alligator Alcatraz. Then Alex talks about how the Make America Healthy Again movement is losing the plot. He talks about a rise in tanning and sunscreen conspiracies, reversing taxes on tanning beds, and an effort to "Make Coca-Cola Great Again."
In this episode, Alex talks about how Donald Trump seems to be a soccer fan and why the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a useful smokescreen for Trumpism. Trump seems to see hosting the World Cup as a weapon of soft power. Alex also talks about FIFA, anger in Europe, and why its president is buddying up to authoritarian leaders.
In this episode, talks about why you need a permit to drink beer in parts of India, why xAI’s Grok is falling in love with Hitler, and about new Epstein/Trump conspiracies.
In this episode, Alex talks about Tulsi Gabbard flipping on everything after the strikes in Iran. He also talks about Zohran Mamdani’s massive rise and whether he will help democrats or drag the party deeper into the wilderness. Then he talks about whether JD Vance memes and pictures of weed pipes can get you detained and sent back to your country. Finally, he talks about the Supreme Court’s 11th hour decisions that include limits on nationwide injunctions, IDs to view porn, cuts to Planned Parenthood, and more. He asks his listeners, is SCOTUS bending the knee to Trump?
In this episode, Alex starts with a recap, going over the events that have occurred between Iran, Israel, and the United States over the last days. He talks about the so-called “ceasefire” and whether it will hold. He also talks about recent, preliminary, reports that show that the strikes may not have destroyed enough enriched uranium. Trump has told his base that the strikes were successful and Alex worries that Trump will now ignore intelligence that says the contrary. Could this change the course of the war and lead to unexpected consequences?
In this episode, Alex gives his initial reaction to the Trump Administration carrying out a large strike on three facilities in Iran that have been linked to enriching uranium to a level close to making a nuclear weapon. Alex is torn because he thinks that this may have been the right move, but the people that did it are careless and make have other motives. He also worries about the escalation this could bring and whether Israel tries to make this a regime change war.
In this episode, Alex talks about the recent escalation between Iran, Israel, and the United States. He also talks about how pizza delivery rates to the Pentagon probably don’t, but could, foreshadow a war. Alex argues either way that wars are easy to start and hard to end.
In this episode, Alex talks about Spain's housing issues associated with over-tourism and short term rentals. Squirt guns have come to symbolize the anger locals have. Next, Alex talks about how Spain's far-right is taking advantage of a corruption scandal to attack the Spanish system. Finally, Alex reacts to Trump's sleepy parade.
In this episode, Alex is torn on what he feels about FIFA’s Club World Cup. This is a new experiment that FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, hopes will expand the international soccer market and make FIFA more money. Alex talks about how players are exhausted and not excited about the cup, sponsors have pulled out, and Saudi money is infused in the broadcasting. Alex also notes that the cup is in the United States and the specter of Trump’s immigration crackdowns lurks over it.
Alex talks about Israel striking Iran and he worries that Iran is actually closer to a nuclear weapon than before, even though he thinks Israel is pushing Iran further in that direction. He also talks about Trump officially announcing the end of FEMA. Alex also talks about RFK Jr. appointing Dr. Robert Malone as one of eight new members of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. He fired the old 17 and is placing them with conspiracy cranks.
In this episode, Alex talks about why Trump deploying the military into Los Angeles is meant to create a pretext to crack down on local power in blue states. This is intended to cripple local politics, federalize law enforcement, and potentially find ways to keep republicans in power if it is threatened.
In this episode, fresh off of Spain’s loss to Portugal, Alex does a brief episode talking about the riots in Los Angeles and why he thinks that the deportations were just a gateway drug into something deeper and that Trump/Stephen Miller are going after LA for a reason.
In this episode, Alex talks about how democracies such as Poland, the United States, Germany, Romania, and more, are facing an issue every election that makes reform and progress difficult. Basically, every election is now marketed as “existential” and this rhetoric makes it hard for pragmatic, incumbent leaders to get enough time to actually put forward long term policies. Alex talks about the doom spiral between populist elections, centrist oppositions, and the recent presidential election in Poland. Alex also talks about the Trump-Musk feud and why he thinks Musk has more to lose.
In this episode, Alex has part two of his conversation with Martin Benes. This part focuses on foreign policy, cracks in the Putin-Trump relationship, why confusion drives Trump’s foreign policies, and much more. Also, Alex talks about why Kilmar Abrego Garcia is returning to the US and Germany building up its military to be the largest in Europe.
In this episode, Alex sits down with Martin Benes. In this recent iteration of their podcast series together they talk Champions League Soccer, how Xenon Gas got some wealthy tourists to the top of Everest in peak time, and the state of democracy. They focus on Biden’s capacity to be president, Elon vs Trump, and much more.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about the chaos in Paris and other French cities that has occurred over the last few days after Paris Saint-Germain won its first UCL. Alex talks about the phenomenon that occurs when a fanbase’s team wins a championship. Later, Alex talks about the rise of antisemitism in the United States, the horrific attack last Sunday in Boulder, and why globalizing the intifada is dangerous.
In this episode of the Sunday Scaries, Alex embraces the heat and rants about PSG beating Inter Milan in the Champion’s League Final. Then Alex talks about Ukraine’s historic strike inside of Siberia that happened today. He wonders if this strike will force Russia to negotiate or call for a brutal response. Finally, Alex talks about TACO, “Trump Always Chickens Out.” It seems like Wall Street has finally realized that Trump always backs out of tariffs. Now financiers are buying the dip and making profits off of the inevitable rally. Alex talks about why it is dangerous to have a situation in which the elites profit off of the president’s predictable instability.
Ukraine and Russia have exchanged prisoners after the meeting in Istanbul, but there are horrific reports of torture, brainwashing, and of Ukrainian soldiers forgetting about their lives in Ukraine. At the same time, Trump is in a (social media) war of words with Putin and Russia is now producing hundreds of drones a day. Alex talks about his worries.
In this episode, Alex talks about the Trump Administration’s war on Harvard University. The administration has removed its tax-exempt status, is looking to vet the social media of international students, and has cut billions in grants and funding. Alex argues that this is shameful because part of America’s success has been attracting the best and brightest from around the world.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about why he thinks we are doomed. Tucker Carlson and others are giving weight to a new conspiracy about the “geophysical event” that combines climate denialism, anti-elitism, government skepticism, QAnon, and more. The event sounds like it is out of a Hollywood, apocalypse movie. Next, Trump is mad at Bruce Springsteen after comments he made at a concert in England and he is threatening to investigate the Boss. Alex talks about Trump’s intimidation that is chilling for free speech. Finally, Alex talks about the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” that the House passed in the early morning. Many don’t know what is in the bill, but it is clear that it will cut taxes for the wealthy, cut benefits for those in need, and spike deficits even more.
In this episode, Alex first reacts to the news that Joe Biden has an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Then he talks about the hearings the Supreme Court held on Thursday around Trump’s executive order to overturn birthright citizenship. It seems like the justices don’t find the administration’s argument valid, but there is a debate over whether national injunctions should be used in matters like this. Alex dives into injunctions and why they are controversial and also important to prevent harm.
In this episode, Alex takes a deep dive into why Trump has recently threatened 100% tariffs on movies that are not filmed in the United States. He thinks this entire fiasco is a perfect metaphor surrounding why Trump thinks reviving dying industries and areas is important. Alex also talks about Moody's downgrading the U.S. credit rating.
In this episode, Alex talks about why Trump’s trip to the Gulf States to meet with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Syria, shows that his foreign policy goals will be transactional and immoral. Next, Grok, the AI chatbot produced by Elon Musk’s xAI, seems to be obsessed with South Africa and conspiracies about “white genocide.” Many are wondering if this is intentional. Finally, Stephen Miller thinks that the “emergency” at the Southern Border is enough for the administration to suspend Habeas Corpus. Alex argues that only Congress can suspend this action and also worries that people like Miller see this as a window of opportunity to suspend government overreach.
In this episode, Alex talks about how he is always disillusioned when he’s heard people on the right say that Trump is shielded from being a corrupt president because of his net worth. These people say that Trump isn’t worried about money and will fight for the American people. Alex argues that this is all BS and he has the proof — a $400 million plane (gift) from Qatar, a crypto scheme, hotel deals, and more show that Trump is openly corrupt and doesn’t care.
In this Mother’s Day episode of the Sunday Scaries, Alex starts by talking about Casey Means, Trump’s pick to be the U.S. Surgeon General. Means is part of the MAHA movement, is a friend of RFK Jr., expresses vaccine skepticism, has no experience running a public health organization, and didn’t even finish her residency to practice medicine. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about the Narva Scenario (out of Estonia) which would be a nightmare for NATO. He then poses the question — is Putin preparing to strike a NATO country?
In this episode, Alex talks about why Trump has appointed the Fox News host and former lawyer, Jeanine Pirro, to the the attorney for Washington D.C. Many think she is unqualified but Alex thinks she is technically qualified but also radical and dangerous. Later, Alex talks about Robert Prevost becoming the first Pope to be from the United States. Pope Leo XIV has triggered MAGA and some think the picking of an American Pope signals that most of the world sees that America is in decline.
In this episode, Alex focuses on Israel’s new troubling plan for Gaza, but he also zooms out and talks about why there is a Trumpian shadow looming over this. We are finding out that Trumpian diplomacy involves big promises, failing to deliver on those promises, losing interest, and emboldening the bad guy. We have seen that in Israel and Ukraine so far.
In this episode, Alex talks about how Darren Beattie, a senior official at the Department of State has used government data to create a list of people in the agency that have been in contact with public figures critical of Trump/MAGA. Alex talks about how Beattie’s actions mirror those of Elon Musk when he green lit the “Twitter Files.”
Mike Waltz has been demoted from National Security Advisor to the Ambassador to the United Nations. Alex gets over his Schadenfreude to talk about why Waltz was probably the most reasonable person we will get and why this demotion is a perfect metaphor for why the Trump Administration is engulfed in chaos.
Some are applauding Trump’s recent mineral deal with Ukraine but Alex argues that it is not only exploitative of Ukrainian resources during a tough time, but it also will limit the country from embracing green technology. Alex then talks about the economy, stagnation, contractions, and why Trump will always blame Biden.
In this episode, Alex reminds listeners that Project 2025 exists alongside the chaos of DOGE. As Elon Musk is distancing himself from Trump, it is time for Project 2025 to make things worse. He talks about Schedule F ruining the civil service, AmeriCorps cuts that may rock civil society, worrying cuts to climate research, and more.
In this episode, Alex goes over a myriad series of events happening around that world that trouble him, especially as the State Department is making cuts and Pete Hegseth is drunk texting war plans.
In this episode, Alex watches the sunset and talks about the sun setting on stability and norms as the Pentagon is in dysfunction.
In this episode, Alex sits in his car (again) with a beautiful and positive view while he talks about some dark events going on around the world. First, it looks like Donald Trump and Marco Rubio want to force Ukraine to make a peace deal with Russia ASAP or they will clean their hands of all parts of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Later, Alex talks about why countries like Costa Rica and Nicaragua are about to see an immigration/humanitarian crisis. This is because migrants seeking asylum in the US are being deterred by the deportations and hostility to foreigners and are heading south.
In this episode, Alex focuses on the Trump Administration needing to convince the public that its mass deportation campaign is happening. Though it has deported high profile individuals, deportations are down from 2024. Congress is likely to pass a bill that would nearly double ICE’s budget over the next decade and it looks like the entity wants to deport way more people. The acting ICE director has said that they want to privatize some aspects of deportations and compared the reforms to Amazon Prime but “with people.”
In this episode, Alex talks about Katy Perry (and others) going into “space” for about ten minutes. Then he talks about the prices, heat, traffic, and payment plans that plagued this year's Coachella events. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about why the Trump Administration is on a collision course with the Supreme Court. A district court ordered the administration to return Abrego Garcia, the man wrongfully deported to CECOT in El Salvador. But after Trump met with President Bukele in the Oval Office, the administration has decided to side with Bukele and is not pursuing his release and return. Alex worries that Trump is defying the courts and is setting a dangerous precedent.
In this “car podcast”, Alex sits in his car after a run and talks about Trump’s weird obsession over white genocide in South Africa. Trump cut off aid to South Africa but granted special refugee status to white, Afrikaner, South Africans. The problem with all of this is that the South African government is not taking land from Afrikaners and is not killing them. Alex talks about how this is a false theory that has empowered white nationalists in South Africa and around the world. It seems like Trump likes the concept because it appeals to his grievance-based politics.
Alex thinks that the lack of a clear plan involving Trump’s tariffs is part of the plan. He also talks about how there are parallels between the QAnon movement and Trump’s base denying the flaws of his chaotic tariff regime. Both seem to trust the man over logic and whatever shared reality is left. Alex brings up these topics because on the day his “Liberation Day” tariffs were set to go into effect, he paused a majority of tariffs for 90 days (though he has kept the 125% tariffs on China and the base 10% tariff on everyone else). Alex speculates as to why this is happening and whether Trump has a plan or is just trusting his instinct. Unfortunately, Trumpism leaves enough holes and there are propagandists that can help fill the gaps.
In this episode, Alex is worried about the FBI. Groups like the Base are growing and mobilizing as Kash Patel is no longer focused on them. The Base has gone global and is calling for the creation of an ethno-state in Ukraine and is hoping they can de-stabilize peace talks. Putin is now backing them and hoping they can help to cause chaos. The Neo-Nazi movement called The Base has called on people from around the world to attack Ukrainian sites of interest, this movement is from the US and the current FBI is no longer prosecuting these people. Alex only worries. He also gives some updates out of Ukraine.
In this episode, Alex focuses on how Trump’s trade war could help China course correct after its COVID-19 failures and internally focus on decoupling from the West. He also talks about how Trump is already botching his tariff message because he can’t commit to durable investment in US firms since he is focusing on short term negotiations with some of the trading partners. For the tariffs to “work” Trump must commit to a durable strategy and not just threaten countries to renegotiate while tanking the US economy.
In this episode, Alex talks about the stock market taking a dive over Trump’s tariffs (the worst since March 2020) as anxiety deepens and China retaliates. He also talks about why the radical conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer is returning to the Oval Office to convince Trump to fire National Security Council officials that she has deemed “disloyal.” Finally, France is set to have a democratic dilemma as Marine Le Pen, the far-right politician and front-runner for the 2027 election, has been barred from running for five years over fraud and misusing EU funds. Alex ponders if it is healthy for the courts to bar someone from running for office in a democratic system.
In this episode, Alex has a little hope as Susan Crawford beat Brad Schimel in the Wisconsin judiciary race. He thinks this was a referendum on Elon Musk, but he isn’t sure if this is a sign that Republicans will face a tough battle in the midterms. Alex also talks about the “administrative error” that led to the Trump Administration deporting a man under protected status in the United States. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about how Liberation Day has finally arrived and Trump has help up his promise to do universal tariffs for most countries and higher tariffs for certain offenders. Alex wonders if Trump’s economic stupidities could help mobilize voters against him, he asks the simple question — could an economic disaster actually save our republic?
In this episode, Alex, a Packers fan and avid Cheesehead, is mad that Elon Musk is highly involved in the Wisconsin Supreme Court Election between a Trump-endorsed candidate, and an Obama-endorsed candidate. This will be the most expensive state judge race of all time. Alex talks about how it seems apparent that you can go to jail for giving someone water in a voting line in Georgia, but Musk can do a $1 million sweepstakes to get people to vote in Wisconisn.
In this episode, Alex is suffering from the Sunday Scaries so he decides to a service for his listeners and make that issue worse. He talks about Trump saying he is serious about running for a third term (though the logistics are complex and nearly impossible), he also talks about how Liberation Day (the day Trump has promised to fully enact all of the tariffs) is coming on April 2nd, and why the situation in Myanmar is worsening. As Myanmar’s authoritarian, military junta has called for aid after the earthquake, it has already started bombing areas that were heavily hit. Alex talks about how Myanmar now faces an earthquake on top of a violent civil war.
After mainly going after unsympathetic characters in Turkey, President Erdoğan has crossed the rubicon and jailed his main political opponent ahead of the 2028 presidential election. Alex talks about why this is troubling, why Turkish Democracy is crumbing, and how MAGA is using this same playbook.
In this episode, Alex rants about a myriad of topics related to the economy, Klarna teaming up with Door Dash to finance food delivery, JD visiting Greenland, why the process is the threat, and why Kristi Noem sucks.
In this episode, Alex talks about why he is starting to take Trump’s rhetoric involving Greenland more seriously. As JD and Usha Vance are set to visit Greenland, Alex worries that Greenland is Trump’s Crimea. He worries that Trump will use international security, minority opinion, and strategic necessity as pretexts to try and take the Danish territory.
In this episode, Alex worries about the concept of a dual state in an ossified or illiberal democratic system that is trying to still sell the guise of normalcy. Then he talks about the Signal group chat scandal that has unfolded over the last 24 hours. It seems likely that top cabinet officials in the Trump Administration accidentally added a journalist to their group chat. This wasn’t any group chat, they talked about classified information and leaked military operational information to someone that was not permitted to see it.
In this episode, Alex starts by mentioning that at the time of the recording, Trump had a (not-so-perfect) phone call with Putin. Putin rejected the ceasefire but said he was willing to put a hold on the destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure. There are a lot of caveats to this and Alex does not think it sounds like Putin wants peace. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about why the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has ended, why it was destined to fail, and what is next for this region as civilians have started to die again. Alex also talks about the US escalating attacks on the Houthi Rebels in Yemen.
In this episode, Alex starts by ranting about airports, travel, and his need to get back to Europe soon. Then he reacts to a well-written article by Elliot Cohen in the Atlantic that talks about why invading Canada is a bad idea and has failed in the past. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about how Spain’s economy has been the envy of Europe but that may change as it is being pressured to bolster its military spending towards NATO security. Spain has put the lowest percentage of GDP towards NATO defense spending and there may be growing pains if it plans to bolster its spending.
In this episode, Alex talks about how some Senate Democrats voted with Republicans to avoid a government shutdown. Alex is furious at Democrats like Chuck Schumer and spends the episode talking about how the Democrats are not equipped to handle this moment. He also argues that Democrats should start taking pages from the “Never-Trump” playbook and actually challenge Republicans before all of the damage is done. Sometimes, if you are in the wilderness for too long, you get very lost…
In this episode, Alex starts by reflecting on the COVID-19 Pandemic, five years after the first lockdowns. He reflects on his contradictory thoughts on what policymakers did right and wrong, and his time in Spain seeing a different policy perspective. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about Trump’s reciprocal trade war with the European Union. It started with tariffs on European steel and aluminum, then tariffs on American whiskey, which led to Trump threatening tariffs on European alcohol. Trade wars can spiral out of control and this seems to be the case, as now France is threatening retaliation. Alex talks about how the worst part is that tariffs on American whiskey and almonds may damage these industries and hurt the economies of states like Tennessee and California.
In this episode, Alex is getting over his head cold but has a lot to say about current events. He celebrates Real Madrid’s victory against Atletico Madrid, lambasts Gavin Newsom for having a podcast that is trying to be “the left wing Joe Rogan”, and reacts to a clip of the White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, gaslighting the public about why tariffs are good for the consumer. For the rest of the episode, Alex dives into the specifics of the negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine over a ceasefire deal. He is pessimistic that this will work, thinks Russia could exploit its vagueness, and it could lead to a frozen conflict that will benefit Russia.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about how a potential ceasefire deal has been reached between Ukraine and the United States. Now the pressure is on Russia to agree to the 30-day ceasefire. Next, Alex mentions that the House will be voting today to prevent a government shutdown. Speaker Johnson still faces some internal opposition ahead of the vote. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about how the Trump Administration is going after left-wing antisemitism because it is left-wing rhetoric and not because the administration actually wants to combat hateful rhetoric. Alex uses examples such as MAGA defending and protecting people that have used racist/antisemitic rhetoric on their side, but now threatening to deport activists that are being label terrorists. Alex talks about the troubling situation with Mahmoud Khalil’s detention. He also talks about the administration defending Colombia University. He thinks MAGA is using antisemitism as a pretext to limit the free speech of its opponents.
In this episode, Alex talks about three days of sectarian violence in Syria that have led to over 1,300 people being killed. Many of these tragedies seem to be related to revenge killings of the Alawite population that was supporting Assad. Alex then talks about fears of a recession as the stock market had another bad day. He wonders why Trump seems to have accepted that an economic crisis is coming. Alex later talks about DOGE embracing an AI model to do the work of the federal employees that have been fired. He worries that this could be a bad idea since the Trump Administration has deregulated AI.
In this episode, Alex starts by wondering if the end of DOGE is near. After a heated cabinet meeting, Trump has said that government cuts should be done with a scalpel and not a hatchet. Only time will tell if that is true because the Department of Defense has removed over 20,000 archival photos and data that mention historical black figures, woman of color, and gay veterans. Ironically, the DoD accidentally removed photos of the Enola Gay (the plane that bombed Hiroshima). While this is satirical, Alex thinks there is something dark about the government erasing some parts of the historical record. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about Russia attacking infrastructure and towns with ballistic missiles and drones. Since the United States paused aid and intelligence sharing, it appears that Russia is upping the attacks and taking advantage of the situation.
In this episode, Alex talks about why the Trump tariffs are a sham (if he really thought they worked he wouldn’t go back on them). He also talks about Hungary joining DOGE efforts to go after USAID funding and why this seems like an authoritarian crackdown. Alex also brings up Hungary getting isolated from the EU and why the EU seems to be fracturing.
In this episode, Alex gives his reaction and analysis to Trump’s address to Congress last night. He talks about how this address both bored him and worried him to his core. The speech was hyperpartisan, vengeful, dishonest, and also the longest in modern presidential history. Alex is finally convinced that Trump will never be able to be the president for all Americans and also is shocked by how much control Trump has over the party and the country. As many Americans struggle with higher cost of living prices, Trump mainly focused on lies and culture war issues. Of course, Republicans gave him a standing ovation on almost everything (including tariffs).
In this short episode, Alex reacts to the USDA Secretary talking about how it is great that Americans are reacting to high egg prices by wanting to buy chickens to raise and lay eggs. Alex argues this is against microeconomics and will lead to higher prices all around. Alex also talks about the miracle of egg production and why the industrialization led to the situation we are experiencing with bird-flu and other issues. Republicans have stopped talking about egg prices as much because it is becoming clear that the issue may be hard to reverse.
In this episode, Alex talks about Marco Rubio (Little Marco to some) shrinking into his chair during the heated Oval Office bullying of President Zelensky. Then, for the rest of the episode, Alex asks his listeners if the Trump Administration is just trying to fuck everything up at this point. The stock market plummeted today as Trump promised new tariffs on Mexico, China, and Canada. Alex talks about how Canada can respond and why it will mobilize our neighbors to the north. Later, He also talks about Trump’s promise to create a cryptocurrency strategic reserve. Is this a scam? Is crypto stable enough for this? Do enough Americans even own crypto?
In this episode, an angry Alex reacts to Trump and Vance bullying President Zelensky at the White House as it seems clear that the United States doesn’t care about helping Ukraine anymore.
In this quick episode, Alex talks about the spreading measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico that has killed one school-aged child and has infected hundreds. Heath and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. has downplayed the outbreak has vaccine skepticism is on the rise. Alex roasts the Make America Healthy Again movement and argues that it is contradictory at best and dangerous at worst.
In this episode, Alex mainly focuses on Amazon purchasing the creative rights to the James Bond franchise. He is mad because the Broccoli family served as strict but important gatekeepers for the Bond franchise; they were long term protectors for the Bond series and how it evolved over the decades. Now Amazon will be able to change anything it wants and expand the Bond universe. Alex thinks it could now follow other struggling franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, and Lord of the Rings.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about why he isn’t surprised that Dan Bongino has been tapped to be the Deputy Director of the FBI. Bongino is unhinged, distrusts the FBI, is an election denier, and is a loyal podcast host that loves Donald Trump. Next, Alex gives an update on the German elections that happened Sunday. Finally, it has been three years since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the United States has finally made a total shift to neutralize culpability on the global stage. Alex talks about a troubling UN vote, why it matters, and why Trump is falling for Putin’s trap.
In this episode, Martin Benes returns to the podcast for part two of their conversation. The episode is foreign affairs focused. They talk about the German elections, Trump’s chaotic global nationalism, why the American Right likes El Salvador, what is next for Ukraine, and much much more!
In this episode, Alex brings back friend of the pod, Martin Benes, to talk about the hostile government takeover that is happening. They talk about the recent wave of firings in the federal government, Elon Musk becoming a living meme, whether voters will turn on the Trump-Musk alliance, and why this purge isn’t about efficiency. They also talk about the legacy of Mitch McConnell, Steve Bannon’s criticism of DOGE, and much more!
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about Mitch McConnell’s legacy, whether there is a need for moderate Republicans anymore, and why CPAC has become an absolute clown show. For the rest of the episode, Alex takes a deep dive into the federal elections that will take place in Germany on Sunday. These elections could be historic, not because the Christian Democratic Union (center right) is expected to win the most seats, but because the Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) may get 20% of the vote. This is insane considering that this party went from a fringe, far-right party a decade ago, to (potentially) the second most popular in Germany. Alex talks about the party’s contradictions; it has a semi-moderate leader but also has ties to Neo-Nazis and holocaust downplaying politicians. It also is listed by German authorities as an extremist organization. Alex talks about Germany’s extremism firewall in which establishment parties won’t form a coalition with groups that are seen as dangerous or far-right. Is this antidemocratic if an antidemocratic party wins seats through democratic means?
In this episode, Alex worries that the United States is handing Russia and Putin everything they want, as Trump’s diplomatic envoy met with its Russian counterparts in Riyadh earlier today. Ukraine was left out of the negotiations as the Trump team allowed its Russian counterparts to parrot propagandist talking points and many in Europe worry that the American side already gave Putin everything he’s wanted. Alex worries that the United States has switched sides as Europe is divided on how to respond and Trump is now blaming Ukraine for starting the war.
In this special, President’s Day episode, Alex speaks with Grayson Forsberg and they talk about everything. As they rate drinks ranging from an Aperol Spritz to High Noons, they cover weird Instagram algorithms, the flaws of our two party system, foreign policy blunders, their next reality show, and much more.
In this episode, seven attorneys in New York City have resigned after the Acting Deputy Attorney General, Emil Bove, asked them to drop Eric Adams’ corruption charges. There are ethical violations associated with this action as it looks like Bove wants to reward Adams with a pardon if he advances the Trump agenda. Alex also talks about the fall of Eric Adams and a Russian drone striking the protective shield at the reactor in Chernobyl. He ends by talking about Trump’s obsession with toilets.
In this quick episode, Alex reacts to JD Vance’s performance at the Munich Security Conference on Friday. Steaming with hypocrisy, Vance roasts European leaders for denying elections, limiting free speech, and threatening democracy. Alex can’t believe how much Vance has changed as Russian television networks have praised Vance’s rhetoric.
In this episode, Alex talks about the Associated Press getting barred from White House Press Briefings after calling the Gulf of America the “Gulf of Mexico.” Alex then talks about how Trump is going to struggle to explain to Americans why he is doing the proper economic policies for the country as prices continue to increase. Finally, it looks like Kash Patel is going to get confirmed to be the next director of the FBI. The comes as there are accusations that he is already influencing the recent firings in the bureau even though he is a civilian and has not been confirmed to any political position.
In this episode, Alex welcomes in a winter storm late Wednesday night as he laments the confirmation of Tulsi Gabbard, questions if there are any moderate Republicans left in the Senate, and then is troubled by the news that Trump had a conversation with Putin over Ukraine. It looks like the Trump Administration will look to quickly end the war, while also normalizing Putin, ignoring Ukrainian demands, and turning its back on NATO.
In this episode, Alex talks about how a nineteen year old hacker and cyber expert named online as "Big Balls" has been granted access to wide ranging facets of the federal government (without proper vetting). He also talks about the strange Monarch to Prime Minister dynamics between Elon Musk and Trump and why it looks a showdown is coming between the courts and Trump as he has defied some of their rulings. Also, the Gulf of Mexico has officially been renamed to the Gulf of America... Eggs will be cheaper now!
In this episode, Alex takes a needed break from American politics and turns to talking about Spain and Greece. It is bad news in Greece, as the island of Santorini is in a state of emergency, after over 7,000 small earthquakes have hit the island within a week. Over 12,000 people have fled the island and locals fear what the future of tourism may look like. Talking about Spain, Alex thinks the Spanish government is doing things that the American government should emulate. The Spanish government is testing out a 37.5 hour work week that would apply to retail, agriculture, and hospitality workers. The government is also embracing tourism while looking to regulate short term rentals so that the local population can actually afford rent.
In this episode, Alex discusses a press conference with Donald Trump where he ranted about his plans for Gaza. Even though he may have properly diagnosed failures to find peace, Alex worries that Trump is emboldening the far-right in Israel by talking about temporarily removing Palestinians from Gaza (and using military force to do so) so they can turn Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Alex thinks that Trump could actually use his influence to try and rebuild Gaza, but he worries that selfish entities are circling around this moment.
As Elon Musk, along with young engineers without security clearances, has holed himself up in the Eisenhower Building, it looks like he has been able to gut programs, get access to Treasury Department accounts, and freeze grants. All of this has been done without hearings, oversight, or debate; Congress should stand up to these actions since Musk is unelected and Congress has the power of the purse. However, it seems like a constitutional crisis is brewing as the courts may be the only means to stop these seemingly illegal actions and Republican lawmakers seem unable to stand up to what is occurring at lightning speed. After watching what has been going on with USAID and other programs in the federal government, Alex worries that by the time the courts challenge Trump and Elon, the damage may already be irreversible.
In this episode, Alex talks everything related to Trump, tariffs, and trade wars. The crisis has been temporarily averted, but Alex worries that more is coming and Trump’s isolationist tendencies will turn “America First” into “America Alone.”
In this episode, Alex talks about the tragic collision at Reagan National Airport in DC. He argues that a network/system of failures led to this tragedy and it is clear that there isn’t one thing to point the blame on. However, Trump has blamed DEI and the Biden Administration; Alex thinks the right has its own form of DEI. Next, Alex gives some analysis surrounding the confirmation hearings of RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Kash Patel. He hopes that one of these three will not be confirmed and gets into why each one of them has a uniquely bad qualifications. Finally, it looks like the Trump Administration has found a place to send the deported immigrants. Trump plans to use a holding facility in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, to put up to 30,000 criminal migrants in until they can be sent to another country. It doesn’t take much creativity to think about how this “out of sight, out of mind” policy could turn into a legal black hole and an humanitarian crisis.
In this episode, Alex talks about the chaos that has occurred in Washington D.C., and around the country, as the Trump Administration released a memo on Monday that temporarily froze all funding towards federal grants and other large programs. Since this memo was released, the Trump Administration has scaled many of these freezes back. However, Alex talks about the Project 2025 side of this and why he thinks that the chaos is the point.
In this episode, Alex poses to his audience whether Donald Trump’s current administration is imposing a “Neo-Monroe Doctrine” on the Americas. Whether it is Trump’s spat with Colombia or the massive deportation campaign that has begun in the United States, it seems like Trump thinks he has an “international bully pulpit” that can be used to intimidate other countries while also using domestic issues to do so.
In part two of his conversation with Martin Benes, Alex and Martin talk about why it is chilling that Trump has removed security protection for Anthony Fauci, Mike Pompeo, and John Bolton. They talk about this is the worst time for Trump to send a message like this as he has pardoned violent criminals, shown militias that he has their backs, and has radicalized some in his movement against people like Fauci.
In the first part of Alex’s conversation with Martin Benes, the two allow reality to take the driver’s seat as they talk about everything that has happened over the last week. They talk pardons, J6, hiring freezes in the government, performative deportation, foreign policy blunders, and some desires for people to realize this is bad. They also reflect on John Boehner smoking stooges with Barack Obama.
In this episode, Alex gives a few quick updates. Trump has purged around 17 inspectors general in the federal government. They are seen as important, nonpartisan watchdogs. Also, Alex talks about how the Lab-Leak Theory is back in the news, after a CIA report has been released stating that it was the most likely cause for the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In this episode, Alex laments that Roseanne Barr is featured in a rap song and can’t believe that Trump has only been president for a few days. Then he spends the podcast talking about how Marco Rubio has made some bold (and dangerous) policy decisions in the State Department, how Eric Adams has made an (unsurprising shift towards MAGA), and why it is chilling that Trump has removed security protection for Anthony Fauci, Mike Pompeo, and John Bolton.
In this episode, Alex tries his best to keep everyone updated on what is going on in the Trump 2.0 Administration. Trump has sent troops to the border, practically threatened disloyal government workers, reassigned nonpartisan national security experts to non related departments, and has rescinded the ability of thousands of approved refugees to come to the country. At the same time, Israel is involved in a new conflict in the West Bank as Marco Rubio is heading to Panama after Trump’s conspiracies over control of the Panama Canal. Alex also talks about the Stargate Project. The Trump Administration is looking to give over $100 billion to OpenAI and Oracle to help build data facilities for AI. These events come as Trump is looking to deregulate the AI field and compete with China.
In this episode, after taking a week off of podcasting, Alex tries to make sense of what has happened over the last 24 hours. Since the second inauguration of Donald Trump, he has renamed the Gulf of Mexico, pardoned over 1500 J6 insurrectionists, declared an emergency at the Southern Border, frozen hiring in the federal government, and so much more. Alex argues that the country has changed since 2017, as the Overton Window has surged rightwards. He thinks that we are no longer the frog in boiling water, the frog is dead, it has been cooked, and the water has mostly evaporated.
In this episode, Alex talks about loneliness and how it can radicalize our politics. Then he talks about some of the crazy theories around the LA fires that try to blame everything from DEI hires to our involvement in Ukraine. Alex thinks that these fires are going to get worse and finger pointing will get in the way of finding public policy solutions. Later, Alex talks about how Elon Musk has headed to Europe to try to put pressure on European governments. After he helped Trump get elected, it seems like he wants to find the same success in Europe. Finally, Alex reacts to an interview Biden did with USA Today and is enraged that he still thinks he could have won the election. He also talks about how Biden failed to realize the moment, failed to recognize that the two parties were facing a political realignment, and that he was a late regime president right before a big change.
In this episode, Alex focuses on the tragedy and destruction caused by the multiple fires in the Los Angeles area. Dry conditions, rough terrain, the Santa Ana winds, and infrastructural issues have led to historic fires that have destroyed houses and historical locations in the area. Alex talks about the politics of this issue, first hand accounts from friends, and how climate change is clearly driving this issue even if some politicians want to blame California’s leadership.
In this episode, Alex talks about Mark Zuckerberg doing a complete 180 in regards to how Meta will deal with disinformation and fact checking. It seems like he is also bending the knee to Trump after calculating the situation. Later, Alex talks about the performative rhetoric of Trump entertaining the ideas of buying (or taking) Greenland, renaming the Gulf of Mexico, Annexing Canada, and taking back the Panama Canal.
In this episode, Alex reflects on January 6th on its four year anniversary. He truly believes that the “coup makers” have won and that most of Trump’s allies, foreign leaders, and the opposition will need to memory hole J6 because everyone will need to do business with the Commander-In-Chief. Alex talks about how it seems like a lot of people just want their views justified and not challenged through social media. He also talks about how right-wing misinformation perfectly helped retcon a tragic day in US history. He worries that by 2028, Donald Trump will be completely normalized, with J6 retconned into the void.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about why he found the movie Anora to be one of the best he’d seen in years. Then he talks about how the country has gone from bowling alone to partying alone. As loneliness has become a public health issue in the United States, it seems like Americans aren’t socializing as much, are partying less, and are doing less risky behavior. Alex thinks this is a unique problem in the US and is troubling. Finally, Alex talks about Spain losing its faith in Latin American markets as the European Union is looking to ratify a large deal with Mercosur that would allow free trade between the two economic blocs. Alex gives the pros and cons.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about how he is sold on Peloton after a nice ride through the Dolomites, then he mentions that Anora is the best movie he has seen in years. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about tragic and insane events that have occurred within the first two days of 2025. He worries that this year may be a wild year with a lot of chaos to come. He talks about the tragic attack in New Orleans and how some Republicans are demagoguing this issue to focus on transforming the FBI and cracking down on immigration. He also talks about the Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside of a Trump property in Las Vegas.
In this 2024 recap episode, Alex decides to highlight why culture clearly leads our society, and politics is clearly downstream from culture. Oxford coined “brain rot” as the word of the year and Alex thinks that this word is a proper way to unpack 2024. He looks at a new conspiracy about fogs spreading diseases (called Fogvid-24), the Hawk Tua phenomenon (and the coin that ruined her 15 minutes of fame), the drone mass hysteria (maybe people just looked at the stars for once), why people are fascinated with the Costco Guys, and more. He also talks about the MAGA circular firing squad between the “tech bros” and nativists, and reflects on how time is moving too fast.
In this weekend episode, Alex starts by talking about a few of Trump’s new cabinet appointees such as Doug Burgum and Chris Wright. Then he talks about what is next for Jack Smith as the investigation winds down and Smith has said his team will resign soon. Alex hopes that Smith can release a final report and give it to Merrick Garland so that the nation can at least have an historical record of what has occurred. For the remainder of the episode, Alex talks about a horrific series of events that happened in Amsterdam before, during, and after a football match between the local team and Tel Aviv’s team. Amsterdam declared a state of emergency after Palestianian protestors clashed with Israelis and the events turned violent. Some say this was reminiscent of 19th century pogroms, other argue this was a toxic cocktail of antisemitism and islamaphobia.
In this episode, Alex talks about two recent choices Donald Trump has made for cabinet level officials in his upcoming administration — Matt Gaetz (Attorney General) and Tulsi Gabbard (Director of National Intelligence). Alex highlights the importance of these two rolls and argues that these two choices are not only wrong, but also dangerous for our country. He gives examples of both individual’s rhetoric and believes that these picks were chosen by design. Alex worries more about Gabbard than Gaetz, but finds them both to pose significant threats to how information is analyzed.
In this episode, Alex talks about the breakdown in Haiti after another Prime Minster has been replaced by Haiti's transitional presidential council (TPC). Alex talks about how the TPC, which is mainly driven by external influence, faces threats from unified gangs in Haiti that want a seat at the table of a new government. Alex also talks about the recent grounding of American airlines to Haiti after three airlines were fired on yesterday after trying to land in Haiti’s capitol. Finally, Alex looks at Trump’s recent cabinet picks, the Associated Press notes that “In the last few hours, Trump has announced John Ratcliffe as CIA Director, Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense and Kristi Noem as head of Homeland Security.” Alex hopes this is a joke, but knows that this is very well not one.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how the Trump 2.0 cabinet is like the Velociraptors in Jurassic Park — they’ve figured out how to open the doors and now they are a danger. The training wheels are off and now they are ready to ride. Alex is also irritated that Trump is rewarding the bad behavior of people like Elise Stefanik with nominations to key positions. For the second part of the episode, Alex talks with his good friend Cole Costello about the election. They discuss what it means for labor movements, whether a new guilded age is coming, and much more!
Alex calls this his “favorite podcast he’s recorded with a guest.” In this episode, he sits down for part two of the interview with María Tribe (over Zoom) to discuss what a European thinks about waking up to a second Donald Trump presidency. There is a quote from the movie, No Country for Old Men, that Alex uses to drive the discussion around norms and how the Democrats should respond to this era — “If the rules that you follow led you to this point, then of what use were they?” For the episode, Alex and María use that quote to talk about Trump, how the left can mobilize to be better at politics, and how the republic isn’t dead (just) yet. They also get into issues regarding gay rights, how the trans movement changes Democratic strategies, and whether María would like to visit the United States as a person in the LGBTQ+ community. This episode is not to be missed!
In this episode, Alex sits down (over Zoom) to talk to one of his best friends from Spain, María Tribe. The intention was to focus the episode on the election of Donald Trump; however, the two get talking about María’s parents getting married in Iran, how the country has changed, and how a society can progress during oppressive times. Alex and María also spend a lot of time talking about the tragic and unprecedented floods in Valencia, Catalunya, and other parts. They talk about how different political parties want to blame others without addressing public safety or climate change. They also talk about how this relates to federal disaster responses in the United States.
In this episode, Alex has had a few days to unpack the election results and assess how to move forward. Alex holds no punches, he critisizes the Democratic message, the elitism of some members of the party, Joe Biden’s arrogance, Kamala’s interviews, and much more. He also talks about how incumbency has been an issues for leaders all over the world. Alex also wonders if Democrats should keep holding the higher ground if they keep failing to win elections. Finally, Alex talks about some potential people that could be part of Trump’s next administration.
In this episode, Alex reacts to the projected victory for Donald Trump in the United States. He will be the second person in American history to win non-consecutive terms. Alex discusses the senate numbers, the presidential numbers, and why the Democratic Party needs to take a long and hard look into the mirror of its existence. He also worries that as Europe wakes up to these results, the future of stability is at stake.
In this episode, Alex watches the final quarter of Monday Night Football, sips on a beer, and stairs in the void that is the 2024 election. In less than 24 hours, early results will start coming in and Alex gives his final takeaways and predictions. He focuses on an interesting survey from Ann Selzer out of Iowa, Jon Ralston’s final prediction that Kamala Harris wins Nevada, and why Arizona is seeing heavy/early Republican turnout. Alex also worries that some Republicans are convinced that Trump can’t lose.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about a Digital Guilded Age. Then he transitions to talking about Jill Stein and the American Green Party. Stein has been popular with angry progressives that cannot vote for either party; however, commentators think she is a spoiler that may help Trump. Alex debunks the candidacy of Stein, the Green Parties of Europe have condemned Stein, calling her a threat. Alex also looks into the money, many GOP PACs have been funding her ads in swing states. Next, Alex talks about Gen Z discovering the Access Hollywood tape of Trump bragging about harassing women. He also talks about the gender divide for the 2024 election and how it looks more divided than in 2016. Finally, Alex covers Trump’s comments on Liz Cheney. He said that she is a warhawk and should be put into a situation where nine guns are trained on her. Republicans have called the statement a criticism of her foreign policies, critics think this describes a firing squad.
In this episode, Alex is fired up. He is tired of election text messages from Sam Brown in Nevada and GOTV people showing up at his house early on weekends. He also learns that Des Moines, Iowa, hasn’t Trick-R-Treated since 1938, and instead the kids have gone the night before. However, weather forced the town to allow the kids to go out on Halloween once again. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about Elon Musks’s potentially illegal monetary involvement in the elections happening in swing states. He also talks about how the FTC chair, Lina Khan, has become a polarizing figure in the Democratic Party and helps highlight the divide between the left and the center. He wonders if this could impact the election.
In this episode, Alex covers the historic flooding that occurred over the past few days in the Spanish provinces of Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalucía. Over a hundred have been killed as unique rain storms flooded the region with unprecedented levels after years of drought. Next, Alex dives into everything relating to the Madison Square Garden Trump Rally. He relates it to the historic Nazi rally, talks about the comments at the rally, worries about the future of bipartisanship, and then focuses on the election.
In this episode, Alex tries to utilize the skills related to Trump’s “weave.” He talks about a recent New York Times interview with General Kelly, in which the former chief of staff calls Trump a fascist. Alex relates this revelation to other moments where Trump has wished his generals to be more like Hitler’s, has disparaged veterans, and recently said he wouldn’t pay $60,000 for the funeral of a soldier because she was Mexican. Alex then weaves over to updates in Ukraine. North Korea has sent troops to train in Russia as experts worry the world is getting closer to a larger conflict that could bring in countries like the United States. All of this is relevant to Alex as he asks his listeners — as the world seems to be on the brink of a larger conflict, do you want someone back into power that doesn’t understand the military, serving a higher power, or the honor it brings to someone?
In this episode, Alex hopes that with three weeks to go until the election, he can still make the case against Trump even more clear. He talks about how a producer of the Apprentice is apologizing for creating the mythos of “Trump the Businessman.” He also talks about Trump’s increasingly troubling and fascistic rhetoric. Also, he talks about David Duke endorsing Jill Stein.
On this beautiful, fall, Indigenous People’s Day, Alex sits out on his back patio and records a podcast that encompasses all of his worries leading up to the presidential election. As the race has tightened (almost a tie according to a NBC News Poll), Alex argues that Harris has not been able to distinguish herself enough from Biden and hasn’t made a good enough case for her economic agenda. With only 21 days to go, Alex is concerned. Later, Alex talks about Indigenous People’s Day and Colombus Day, he argues that our nation should instead compromise and celebrate “Explorers’ Day.” This would be a day that acknowledges the humans throughout our history, for good and bad, that have left the comfortable for the unknown, and have changed humanity along the way.
In this episode, Alex shares an anecdote about walking into a restaurant that was full of people that had just come from the Trump Rally. He talks about how the vibe was similar to sports fans going to the bar next to a stadium after the game ended. Later, Alex goes into the recent interviews that both Trump and Harris did over the last week. For the remainder of the episode, Alex looks into the Hurricane of Disinformation that has been spreading on X and other platforms following the tragic aftermath of the recent hurricanes. He looks at everything from Alex Jones claiming that the deep state is controlling the weather to Trump claiming that FEMA is holding up aid to make sure Republicans can’t vote in the upcoming election.
In this episode, Alex starts by pondering why it is so hard for Republicans to pronounce Kamala Harris’ name correctly. Then he gets into a new election law that was put fourth by Georgia’s Electoral Board in September. While it is not legally wrong, it could delay some counting of total ballots that could provide adequate time for election deniers to spew disinformation. Trump thrives in chaos and Alex worries if this eleventh hour change could bring said chaos. Finally, Alex talks about Hurricane Helene and breaks down the extent of damage and tragedy brought to the southeast by the storm. He talks about the failures of requiring flood insurance in most of the regions impacted, how this storm could impact voting in NW North Carolina, and more.
In this episode, Alex provides some analysis and recap on the vice presidential debate between JD Vance and Tim Walz. As Alex breaks down the different segments, he argues that the debate felt more like a throwback to 2008 rather than 2020. While he acknowledges that Vance polished Trump’s lies, he thinks that there was some middle ground established and Walz was able to thrive in it.
In this episode, Alex rushes to get his thoughts out before making some shrimp tacos. He starts by sharing his thoughts on the alleged “online” affair between the New York Magazine journalist Olivia Nuzzi and RFK Jr. Alex thinks that the coverage has been too focused on her and not enough on RFK Jr., who has a record of unethical behavior. Next, Alex focuses on Hurricane Helene and how this summer has been unprecedented regarding hurricanes and damage. With more establishments being impacted by hurricane damage, the public policy world is going to need to evolve. Finally, Alex talks about Trump releasing a series of limited watches that range from $100k to $500. Alex talks about the attention economy, why Trump is doing this, and why he is shocked that Trump’s grift continues to work.
In this episode, Alex starts with a rant on Katy Perry. Then he gives a brief update on the federal charges launched at Mayor Eric Adams. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about Vladamir Putin threatening the use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine if the west supplies it with long range missiles. He also talks about the tragic and likely unjust execution of Marcellus Williams by the justice system in Missouri.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about the horrific candidate in North Carolina’s gubernatorial race, Mark Robinson. Next, Alex reacts to a recent interview with Donald Trump. In the interview, Trump said that he would not run in 2028 if he loses in 2024. Finally, Alex breaks down the recent back and fourth attacks in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah following the pager attacks last week. Israel’s attacks in Lebanon have been the worst since the 2006 war.
In this episode, Alex looks out into the rain and reflects on the news of the day. First, the rapper Sean Combs (Diddy, Puff Daddy, etc) was indicted by the Southern District of New York. US Attorney in the district, Damien Williams, outlined the charges, they include racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and interstate transportation for prostitution. Next, Alex laments Scientific American endorsing Kamala Harris because he doesn’t like the precedent it sets. Then Alex talks about Trump’s war with Taylor Swift, JD Vance’s crusade to look like an a**hole, and how Kamala Harris is now leading in some swing states. Finally, Alex breaks down the pager bomb attacks that rocked Lebanon yesterday. He worries that this is relude to a larger Israeli operation in Lebanon. For months Israel has been growing increasingly frustrated at Hezbollah over rocket attacks in the northern Israel. Now it looks like diplomacy has failed.
In this episode, Alex starts by lamenting his career choices while TikTok influencers are doing better than ever. Next, Alex gets to the serious news talking about the second assassination attempt on Donald Trump within two months. Alex breaks down the logistics, politics, and outcry around this event. He doesn’t think it is good that Trump is blaming the rhetoric of Democrats for the attempt while he is also getting more radicalized. Finally, Alex takes a deep dive into Laura Loomer. She is a white nationalist and conspiracy theorist who’s proximity to Donald Trump is worrying some campaign staffers and Republican lawmakers. Alex wonders if the end is coming for the movement as Trump seems to be increasingly unhinged and close to extremists.
In this episode, Alex starts by ranting about how the kids aren’t alright these days. Then he gets into the post-debate news cycle, polling shows that a lot of voters think Harris won the debate but Alex encourages people to be cautious and not celebrate yet. The race is still close and there is a lot of time. Later, Alex talks about whether Trump will do a second debate, why he claims to have won the debate, and whether the moderators did a fair job. Alex also talks about Elon Musk and Megyn Kelly attacking Taylor Swift for endorsing Harris. He thinks they just look small and petty. Finally, Alex finally reacts to the interview between Tucker Carlson and Darryl Cooper. Cooper is a pseudo historian with no background that Tucker claims is the greatest in the world. Cooper claims that Winston Churchill was the real villain of World War 2 and that the Nazis killed a lot of people due to logistical issues and a lack of supplies to give to POWs. Alex argues that Tucker is trying to create an alternative narrative for right-wing isolationism. He also talks about how podcast historians can be dangerous.
In this episode, Alex does a full recep of the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. He argues that Harris did not win the debate, but she did perform better than Trump who lied non-stop but seemed calm and collected. Alex wonders if this debate changed any minds. It seems like her positive message may have appealed to moderates, but with a close election, most people have already made up their minds.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about Liz Cheney endorsing Kamala Harris. Then he shares the final part of his interview with Cole Costello. They talk about the darker and more nefarious side of Americana — the domestic and historic shared culture of the United States. America’s early history is littered with strange mysticism, nationalism, and individualism. Aside from its own legends and myths, it also has involved different groups of people doing their own thing and wanted to be isolated in the process. Regional and ideological isolationism can lead to an early America that has one not knowing what kind of people are in the town over from them. Cole talks about the second wave of this phenomenon and they relate this concept to modern politics, division, and more. Cole argues that some of the nostalgia that Americans feel today can stem from this hard to define yet easy to understand concept of Americana culture.
For the first part of this episode, Alex gives some updates on events happening in the world. He talks about Trump on Lex Fridman and the Hawk Tuah girl starting a podcast called “Talk Tuah.” Then Alex provides some updates and analysis regarding the War in Ukraine and how Russia is responding to the recent incursion. Then, for the majority of the episode, the second part of Alex’s conversation with Cole Costello is played. Cole enligthens Alex on what his PhD candidacy is on and they talk about Irish labor movements in Butte, Montana. Then they debate unions in the current era, capitalism, and more.
In this episode, Alex releases part one of his interview with Cole Costello, a PhD candidate at the University of Montana. In this first part, the two talk about why Cole thinks Pearl Jam is the Bruce Springsteen for Gen X in the west coast. He also helps Alex understand grunge music. The two also talk about how the NFL is getting greedy and lazy at the same time, they base this conversation on the NFL putting games in Brazil and other foreign countries. Alex then educates Cole on the RFK Jr. controversies and the weird behavior that led up to his endorsement of Trump.
In this episode, Alex starts with some NFL/cultural commentary. First, he is confused about why Green Bay and Philadelphia are playing their first game in Brazil, in a stadium that doesn’t allow green, in a country that loves other sports. Next, the San Francisco 49ers have a rookie wide receiver that was shot and seriously injured in SF on Saturday. Alex relates this issue to gun violence and crime in cities like SF. Later, Alex reacts to the Kamala Harris interview on CNN. He thinks she did the bare minimum and didn’t make any mistakes; however, he is also not impressed with CNN or the interview questions. Finally, Alex argues that Trump Derangement Syndrome is real and is one of the things that has helped keep Trump in the public eye and has bolstered his political situation.
In this episode, Alex starts with an NPR report from the Arlington National Cemetery. Apparently, Trump campaign officials tried to film in parts of the cemetery that were off limits and it led to an altercation between campaign staff and cemetery staff members. Alex thinks this is a political move to film the graves of certain soldiers that died during the fall of Kabul three years earlier. Next, Alex analyzes a new piece in the Atlantic that goes into how Kash Patel, a former Trump official, could play a dangerous and crucial role in a Trump 2.0 administration. Finally, Alex looks into how a recent Israeli operation in the West Bank, that is occupied by Israel, shows that the conflict is increasingly out of control. He also talks about why one side may prefer a temporary ceasefire while the other wants a permanent one.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about how the RFK Jr. saga continues. Just as he endorsed Donald Trump and Tulsi Gabbard followed (Alex rants about that too), an old article has resurfaced that described RFK Jr. using a chainsaw to cut off the head of a beached whale before transporting it back to his house after a family vacation in Massachusetts. For the rest of the episode, Alex breaks down the recent arrest in Paris of Pavel Durov. He is the founder and CEO of Telegram. It is one of the most decentralized and unmoderated messaging platforms on the internet. Many countries have said Telegram violated their laws over reporting misconduct and illicit activity (including drug trafficking and the usage of illegal child images). Alex tries to wade through the chaos of this story and understand why some are angry about the arrest of Durov and why others think it was necessary.
In this episode, Alex starts out light by laughing about Mike Lindell (or Mike Pillow) going in a disguise to the DNC and arguing with 12 year olds. For most of the episode, Alex does a reaction and analysis to the DNC in Chicago. Alex thinks the energy was genuine and also talks about the Republicans that spoke at the event, why he is disappointed that a Palestinian didn’t speak, and what is next. Finally, RFK Jr has endorsed Donald Trump and dropped out of the race. Alex reacts.
In this episode, Alex laments the end of summer. The olympics are over, preseason football is the best show in town, and it is getting dark before 8pm. After pouring out a shot for the summer, Alex gives a brief recap of day one of the DNC in Chicago. He talks about Biden’s speech, protests outside the event, and what he expects to happen in the days to come. Next, Alex talks about how he thinks the right is misunderstanding why Democrats are so excited that Kamala Harris is the nominee. Finally, Alex looks at Kamala Harris’ economic platform that involves price caps on grocceries, a 25,000 dollar down payment for first time home-buyers, no taxes on tips, and price caps on prescription drug costs. Alex doesn’t agree with the economics of some of these ideas, but he argues that the platform is more about guiding the candidate’s policies.
In this episode, Alex starts by arguing that the Republican attacks on Tim Walz for being a socialist are missing the point. Walz could actually have national appeal because he is a progressive, labor and economic populist from the midwest. He can potentially appeal to families and blue collar Americans that vote based on wages and the economy and don’t care for the culture war. Walz could be the vaccine for Trump’s faux populism. Later, Alex talks about how Iran is sending mixed signals on how it will respond to Israel’s assassination of a Hamas official deep in Tehran. With more ceasefire talks happening in Doha, it seems like Iran is either waiting for an outcome or showing the world that it is weaker than expected.
In soccer you can score an “own goal”, this means you can score on yourself. In politics, you can also score on yourself and it seems like the Trump campaign is struggling to stay afloat since Kamala Harris became the presumptive nominee. In this episode, Alex talks about Trump pissing off labor unions, his new racist conspiracies, his obsession with Hannibal Lecter (the late, great), his delusions about crowds, and more. Later, Alex dissects the GOP’s 2024 platform. It provides 20 promises and Alex analyzes each one and reacts to whether they are promises or pure lies.
In this episode, Alex starts on a happy note by discussing his new fascination with the Faroe Islands and why he wants to not only be an armchair expert on them, but also travel there (very) soon. Next, Alex talks about the fires near Athens, Greece and what they may mean for the future of climate struggles in Europe. Finally, Alex gives a full background and analysis on the Ukrainian incursion into Russian territory. There are pros and cons to these actions and Alex breaks them all down.
In this episode, Alex wants to put a focus on why JD Vance has turned from “Never-Trump” to “Red-Pilled” New Right. Alex argues that a lot of people are unaware of Curtis Yarvin and the “Dark Enlightenment” movement that has become increasingly popular amongst tech-bros in Silicon Valley. This is a post-liberal, monarchist movement that is both anti-elite and pro-elite. The movement finds democracy to be tired and outdated, and also finds central control (and decentralization?) to be crucial. Alex argues that while this movement is parallel to fascism, it is unique and different. Unfortunately, it is growing untapped, and many are not aware of its downfalls.
In this episode, Alex reacts to Kamala Harris choosing Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. The “Coach Taylor” of gubernatorial politics is both kind, impressive, caring for the needy, and cool. This is a guy you would drink some beers with. However, Alex worries that he may be labeled as too progressive. This argument may not be accurate, but the right will run with it.
In this episode, Alex covers a plethora of topics. He starts by reacting to a troubling video out of Virginia City, Nevada. In the viral video, a black man is intimidated by a group of older white locals and then they harass and laugh at him after telling him there is a hanging tree in his backyard. Next, Alex talks about Trump’s recent rally in Georgia — he attacked its popular governor, ranted about the 2020 election, and praised Putin. Later, Alex talks about the anger in JD Vance and what his former Yale Law School friend thinks happened to him. Further in the episode, Alex plays the audio of RFK Jr. admitting to dumping a dead bear cub in Central Park after he wanted to skin in, but ran out of time, and thought he could leave it there. Finally, as the stock market has dropped over the last 24 hours, Alex looks at why this is happening. Is it a recession? The AI bubble bursting? Or struggles with the Japanese Yen?
In this quasi-emergency pod, Alex expresses concerns about the Israel-Hamas humanitarian nightmare spilling into a regional war. After weeks of growing shared rocket attacks between Israel and Hezbollah, growing political assassinations, and threats of retaliation from Iran, it looks like there is a growing crisis in Lebanon. Yesterday, more than a dozen countries told their citizens to leave Beirut as flights have been cancelled and there are worries of Iran attacking Israel and Israel retaliating. Later, Alex talks about how Donald Trump won’t debate Kamala Harris on ABC, now he wants a debate on Fox News. Alex argues that Harris should call his bluff and go on Fox News.
In this episode, Alex gives a full breakdown and background on the recent election in Venezuela. Most reports show that the opposition movement, unified under María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia, won close to 80% of the vote. However, the authoritarian and entrenched regime of Nicolás Maduro declared victory, only with 51% of the vote (which is telling for an autocracy). Now the Venezuelan people are angry, María Corina is in hiding, and Alex (amongst others) worries that the worst is yet to come while the clock is also ticking on Maduro’s time in power.
In this episode, Alex ponders why only Mexican Beer seems to come with a lime, then he dives into more substantive issues. It feels awfully similar to the summer of 2016 — Trump is reverting back to his divisive and animalistic rhetoric as the country is warming up to an historic candidate running against him. Specifically, Alex focuses on Trump’s comments around Kamala Harris being a biracial woman. Later, Alex looks into the recent prisoner sway between Russia and Germany/the United States. He argues that prisoner negotiations are never perfect, and while he is glad people like Paul Whelan are home, he worries this has emboldened Putin to keep taking hostages. Finally, Alex reflects on Gov. Josh Shapiro and why he would be the best VP choice.
In this episode, Alex focuses on the lead-up and opening day of the Paris Summer Olympics. It seems like the universe, mother nature, and some Parisians really do not want the games to take place. From Arson attacks on major French railways to the River Seine not passing Olympic water quality standards to a very bloated opening ceremony, Alex argues that these games seem to be a perfect microcosm of our current geopolitical and cultural moment. Alex also briefly talks about JD Vance’s early issues as the VP nominee, Bibi Netanyahu’s lie-riddled address to Congress, and why Biden’s address to the nation was just mediocre.
In this episode, Alex starts by arguing that terms like “DEI hire”, “DEI candidate”, etc., are just ways for certain right-wing politicians to downplay a person’s achievements. By calling Kamala Harris and others a “DEI hire”, certain politicians can send racist dogwhistles to their base. Next, Alex looks into the failures and institutional failures of the Secret Service over the last decade. This is precient as Congress has called for bipartisan investigations into its failures in the lead-up to the failed assassination attempt of Donald Trump. Reports show personnel shortages, misconduct, and rot have led to a serious of failures leading back to the Obama Administration up to today. Finally, Alex looks at how Kamala Harris must prove herself, why this moment could be perfect, and how Republicans may be reconsidering JD Vance.
In this episode, Alex sits out in the 102 degree heat to react to the recent news surrounding Joe Biden announcing he will not seek re-election. As Alex reads Biden’s statement, he is both understanding of the decision but also feels deep sympathy for Biden. Biden spent his entire career fighting for the Democratic party and now he feels like it turned on him. Alex reflects on Biden’s legacy and then looks ahead. While Joe Biden has endorsed Kamala Harris, delegates are not required to support her and it could be a messy convention.
In this emergency episode, Alex reacts to an ever-changing and complicated cyber-event that is focused around CrowdStrike. According to the BBC, “A raft of global institutions - including major banks, media outlets and airlines - have reported a mass IT outage, affecting their ability to offer services. Several airlines have grounded flights around the world and many more are reporting delays.” Alex looks into the cupability of this organization, he also scrutinizes companies like Crowdstrike that pushed an update that caused servers and workstations to blue screen and loop. Basically, this is an organizational failure of the highest level and now the world waits to see what happens next.
In this episode, Alex reacts to Trump’s nomination speech and is fascinated by it. It seems like the Trump team placed a unity message at the beginning of the event and then quickly returned to deportations and election denialism. Then Alex takes some time to ponder why a lot of Silicon Valley “tech bros” and venture capitalists are formally endorsing Donald Trump. Alex argues that it is because of Artificial Intelligence and how these people do not want the government regulating its development.
In this episode, Alex reflects on the last three days of the RNC. At first, he thinks that the speeches were somewhat boring compared to the previous nominating conventions, but then he realizes that the movement is no longer externally radical — it is internal and calm. He also argues that there is a new spiritual allegiance to Trump following the assassination attempt and this has brought calls for unity, not unity towards both parties but unity behind Trump. Finally, Alex talks about how Biden had another bad day. He not only tested positive for COVID-19, but also is facing charges from Democrats like Adam Schiff to step down.
In this episode, Alex starts by trying to get through an excruciating Star Spangled Banner performance at the Home Run Derby by Ingrid Andress. Andress has apologized, claimed she was drunk, and is checking into rehab. Alex wonders what will come in the United States (and should we check into rehab?), where he thinks this iteration of the Star Spangled Banner is a perfect analogy for everything going wrong in American politics. He talks about the drunken chaos at the RNC, Matt Gaetz trolling Kevin McCarthy, and Rudy Giuliani falling down. Later, Alex gets into actual news. He talks about the Bob Menendez convictions and why it is good for Democrats, why JD Vance may turn off even more women, and why Joe Biden is getting more isolated and Trumpian after his Lester Holt interview. Finally, Alex looks at some substance from the RNC and worries that while violent retaliation is a growing threat (according to the FBI), the GOP has become an isolationist party with no moral compass.
In this episode, Alex has a lot to talk about. He covers Governor Josh Shapiro’s responsible statements after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Alex discusses more details around the shooter, why the shooter’s party allegiance doesn’t matter, and why the next few weeks will be telling. Later, the classified documents case out of Mar-a-Lago has been dismissed due to a flimsy legal argument and now Jack Smith will have to appeal it. Finally, Alex reacts to JD Vance becoming Trump’s VP nominee. The man that once called Trump an American Hitler is now a close Trump loyalist and the intellectual champion of the MAGA movement. Alex is bummed and kinda nauseous after all of the week’s events (and it is only Monday).
In this emergency podcast, Alex reacts to the breaking news surrounding an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Trump is safe, but Alex reacts to the political and sociological issues surrounding this event and why it may reshape politics, lead to an era of violence, and change the dynmamics for the 2024 election.
In this episode, Alex focuses on why he thinks the dam may finally be breaking for Biden and his campaign future. Polls show that New York state may be closer than anyone hoped and fundraising for the re-election campaign may be drying up as more Democratic Senators are now coming out against Biden. Also, a piece by Tim Alberta in The Atlantic highlights why Trump’s campaign team consider Biden an electoral gift. Of course, Alex rants about soccer a bit as well.
In this episode, Alex starts by worrying about how the United States doesn’t appear ready to host a FIFA World Cup in a few years. As he has been watching both the Euro Cup and the American Cup, Alex has noticed that the Fox Soccer crew has not only had bad (and dumb) takes, but also just seems lackluster in understanding the nuances of the game. He cites an article in the Guardian that explains it all. For the rest of the episode, Alex looks at how recent elections in the UK and France can send useful messages to Democrats/centrist movements in the world (especially the United States). In both the UK and France, the far-right was held back by moderated left-leaning parties and uniquely built coalitions that served as bulwarks against extremism. Alex worries that as Joe Biden and his allies are struggling to have tough conversations around his ability to run for four more years, some of the political dynamics in Europe can serve as both warnings and advice.
In this episode, Alex decides to rain on everyone’s Fourth of July parade by talking about the recent Supreme Court decision in Trump v the United States. This was the case surrounding presidential immunity that Trump’s legal team had pushed through district and appellate courts before it finally was heard by SCOTUS. This decision went 6-3 (with all conservative judges supporting the case), and while it strayed from granting the president absolute immunity, it blurred the lines for future presidential actions and granted the president almost absolute immunity. Alex worries that this convoluted decision doesn’t directly define official and unofficial actions and will make it hard for courts to try a sitting president for illegal actions. He argues that this decision may indefinitely delay the January 6th case and could make Trump above the law. Later, Alex gives updates on the growing push for Joe Biden to step down.
In this episode, Alex focuses on three recent Supreme Court decisions that will arguably give government agencies less decisionmaking powers. These decisions will also give power back to the courts and to powerful private entitites that know how to evade litigation. Alex argues that this was all part of a long term plan from groups like the Federalist Society that wanted to dismantle the administrative state. Alex links these decisions to the Chevron decision in 1984. Later, Alex talks about a new social media trend called “flying raw” or “rawdogging flights.” Basically, some young men have gone viral for taking long flights without any entertainment. They just watch the flight map.
In this episode, Alex not only analyzes the Trump/Biden debate, but also provides serious commentary/concerns around whether President Biden can truly counter the web of lies that are spewed by someone like Trump. Alex is beyond worried.
In this quick episode, Alex gets ready for his lunch run while catching everyone up on some of the week’s political events; he apologizes for being away the last week. Later, Alex makes some predictions ahead of the debate tonight between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about why he is angry — certain Republicans are willing to call Donald Trump an existential threat to democracy, but at the same time, some powerful Republicans compare Joe Biden to Trump. He argues that this will make it so that some anti-Trump voters may see no point in voting. He talks a lot about a Tom Nichols piece around this issue. Later, Alex laughs and cries about Donald Trump finally returning to the captiol for his birthday, three years after January 6th. (Republican) Congress welcomed him with open arms, while wanting to rename certain national waters in his name, and took part in the humilation ritual that the current party needs to participate in. Alex laments the attendance of people like Mitch McConnell. Finally, a recent headline made it sound like Donald Trump joked about making Bitcoin made in America. Alex looks into the real story — Bitcoin mining executives met with Trump in Florida, behind closed doors, to push him to embrace mining in America. These entities see Trump as a vessell to push their policies while undermining regulations, environmentalism, and current federal stances on AI. These same entities are working to help Trump get reelected to further their views on crypto supremacy.
In this episode, Alex focuses on the good and bad results from the European Parliament (EP) elections that took place last week. The EP elections include 27 European countries and over 400 million people are eligible to vote making these elections the second biggest in the world after India. Alex notes that while the results varied country-to-country, a common trend was that the far-right did well, the left did okay, and incumbents and establishment parties lost seats. Alex focuses on France and Germany where the governing coalitions struggled and the far-right gained seats. With the US elections coming in several months, some wonder if these elections may foreshadow our own.
In this episode, Alex starts by letting his listeners know that he has decided to take part in the Taco Bell 50k/Ultramarathon in Denver, Colorado in October. This event requires 10 stops at Taco Bell (to eat specific meal items) along the 31 mile course. Next, Alex responds to Hunter Biden being found guilty on all three felonies around lying on a firearm application. The Republican response has been lackluster and Alex worries that a common shared understanding of justice has eroded in the United States. Finally, Alex reacts to Trump’s rally in Las Vegas when he goes off the teleprompter to rant about electrocution, sharks, and batteries submerged in the sea.
In this episode, Alex starts by reacting to some clips from Colin Cowherd’s well articulated and funny criticism of Trump’s view of America. Next, Alex analyzes Mexico’s presidential election that happened last week. It was historic because Mexico elected its first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum. She is the hand-picked successor of the outgoing president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and is part of his Morena Party. Many international democratic watchdogs worry that Sheinbaum will continue AMLO’s illiberal policies and erode democarcy at a time in which Mexico is highly polarized. Finally, Alex discusses a breaking story regarding the IDF rescuing 4 hostages in Gaza but killing close to 210 Palestinians.
In this episode, Alex starts by congratulating Real Madrid on another Champion’s League Victory and then praises Colin Cowherd for providing sports listeners with a coherent criticism of Donald Trump following his guilty verdict. For the rest of the episode, Alex dives into the troubling situation in a little-known place, Narva, Estonia. It is mainly made up of ethnic Russians and is only a bridge away from the Russian border. Military experts and NATO officials worry that Putin may annex Narva to try to test the legitimacy of Article V of NATO’s Washington Treaty which guarantees a mutual military response when a NATO member is threatened. Estonia is a member of the organization and Alex worries this is a catch-22 and a worrying hypothetical, especially if Donald Trump is reelected — will NATO respond militarily to Russia over a small Estonian city with Russian ties, or will it kowtow to Russia and delegitimize the entire treaty in minutes? Alex argues that this all rests on the 2024 election and whether Donald Trump is reelected. In the United States, foreign policy is downstream from domestic politics…
In this quick episode, Alex reacts to the recent events that unfolded inside of the Manhattan court room where Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts. He was found guilty for falsifying business records, which is a class E felony and could lead to fines, probation, or up to four years in prison. Alex doesn’t think Trump will end up in prison but thinks only time will tell. He talks about how the voting base will react, whether this will hurt Trump, and how his election team is already in reaction mode. Justice won, but Alex argues the country will witness in real time whether Trump can become a convicted felon and still become president of the United States.
In this episode, Alex laments the fact that extremism and poltics have impacted the distance running community via gaslighting and posts. Then Alex dives into the tragedies and horrid situations unfolding in Rafah as Spain, Norway, and Ireland have recognized Palestine as a state in the international community. He argues that only the United States can help to convince Israel that Palestine must be a state and bolstered to rebuild while ridding it of Hamas. Finally, Alex is further worried about the state of orange juice. Climate change and rising costs are impacting orange exportation in Brazil and Florida to the point in which OJ may no longer exist and alternatives may be needed.
In this episode, Alex discusses how the Republican party is slowly starting to greenlight political extremism and by doing so, is eroding law and order and faith in institutions. He starts by talking about a new Trump conspiracy that argues that the FBI was trying to assassinate Donald Trump when it raided Mar-a-Lago to retrieve classified documents. While this conspiracy falls flat when one looks at any evidence or facts, the narrative is dangerous and tells loyal Trump supporters that the government is out to get them and that the justice department is a political entity. Next, Alex looks at what Governor Abbott has done in Texas. He pardoned a man named Daniel Perry who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for murdering another man, Garrett Foster, during a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020. Even though the Texas judicial system found Perry guilty of murder, Abbott sent a message to vigilantes around the country — as long as political violence is committed against our perceived enemies, we will use the law to protect you. Finally, Alex dives into the Samuel Alito controversy regarding revolutionary flags displayed outside of two of his houses following January 6th. Both flags had historical origins but had been hijaked by people involved in the “stop the steal movement” and QAnon. Justice Alito may here a SCOTUS case that involves J6 and presidential immunity…
In this short reaction episode, Alex is furious at himself for thinking that Nikki Haley would do the right thing. Instead, Nikki Haley has said that she will vote for Donald Trump because Joe Biden has been a terrible and “catastrophic” president. Alex doesn’t know how Haley can square the circle making this argument, she spent the remaining weeks of her presidential campaign attacking Trump and saying he was unfit to be president. Alex argues that Haley falls into the superficial category of Trump critics — those that will do it as long as it helps their media attention and doesn’t hurt their future aspirations.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s president, died in a helicoper crash in bad weather on Sunday. This event will likely cause political infighting and electoral chaos as Iran’s aging Ali Khamenei was likely looking to groom Raisi into his position down the road. Iran’s constitution requires an election within 50 days and it is likely to be neither free nor fair. Next, an International Criminal Court prosecutor has recommended arrest warrants for Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defense minister, and Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’s leader. Alex thinks this is a fairly good move but discusses opposition and outcomes. Finally, Alex dives into the recent revelations about Bird Flu (N5H1) spreading to dairy cattle in the United States. He goes over the state, local, and federal issues that have occurred in tracking and testing this outbreak and what the larger ramifications could be.
In this episode, Alex explains why he has enjoyed recording the podcasts outdoors, though this is only solidifying his phobia of birds. Then Alex spends the majority of the episode lamenting the fact that both political parties in the United States have moved away from supporting unfettered free trade and are moving towards protectionism. Last Tuesday, President Biden announced the US would put tariffs on many Chinese sectors, including 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Alex notes that Biden is only building off of what President Trump did during his presidency and argues that tariffs and protectionism may be good for short term political wins, but will hurt the economy and the American consumer. Later, Alex gives his thoughts on the Kansas City Chiefs’ kicker Harrison Butker, who made headlines after some controversial and unpopular comments about gay rights, women, and more.
In this episode, Alex focuses on Ukraine and Zelensky’s new dilemma — his 5 year term is over on May 20 but due to the war, he can’t hold elections. Alex understands why elections can’t be held while martial law is in place, but he also worries that this will help Russian propagandists spew disinformation that challenges Ukraine’s image as a democratic country. Later, Alex briefly touches on Aaron Rodgers’ recent appearance on Tucker Carlson’s show. Aaron Rodgers has reached his finally form as he not only questioned the election results on the show, but also called Putin an interesting and thoughtful figure. Sadly, it seems like Aaron Rodgers is another useful idiot for Putin’s propaganda campaign against Democracy.
In this episode, Alex sits in his old room in Madrid and reflects on how anti-establishment talking points on Biden and others have become international. He talks about how the same talking points are being used from the US to Spain to Italy and beyond. Later, Alex takes a deep dive into Biden’s issues going into the election. Apparently Trump and Biden will debate twice, once in June and once in September. Alex also talks about Biden’s dilemma involving providing lethal weapons to Israel and whether the Israeli destruction in Gaza will hurt Biden in the election. Alex ends by talking about Jerry Seinfeld’s speech at a commencement ceremony at Duke University.
In this episode, Alex sits in a park in Madrid, Spain, where he reflects on why returning to Madrid always is bittersweet and brings back a lot of nostalgia. For the majority of the episode, Alex talks about Michael Cohen’s testimony in the Manhattan hush-money trial; he argues that Cohen is both the least trustworthy witness but also the most likely. Alex also talks about another troubling figure in the Trump Universe — Johnny McEntee. He is a Trump loyalist, former administration member, and future thought leader that some call the deputy-president. McEntee put out a disturbing TikTok that sums up the cruel elements of the MAGA movement. In the video, he bragged (and found joy) in finding ways to give unhoused people fake money so that they will spend it and end up in jail. Alex argues that this deranged puritanism, mixed with Trump’s rhetoric about vermin and “real Americans”, can lead to a dark place.
In this episode, Alex sits on a Greek beach and reflects on the state of the world and his travel adventures. He starts with some comparisons between Greece and the United States. Then he gets into Stormy Daniels’ stormy testimony in Manhattan that detailed the horrid situation of having sex with Donald Trump. Alex is also irritated about the state of the other Trump cases and worries that the Manhattan case may be the only one that sees a trial. Later, Alex talks about RFK Jr. having actual brainworms and shares his thoughts on the college protests and civil unrest. Life’s a beach and Alex is just ranting in the sand.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about some troubling revelations after the first few days of Trump’s hush money payment trial in New York. David Pecker, the former editor for the National Enquirer, admitted to working with Trump and Michael Cohen in a catch-and-kill-scheme to cover up news stories that could hurt Trump. Also, Pecker admitted to putting out false stories and narratives prior to the 2016 election that attacked Trump’s opponents and rivals. Alex wonders about how some of these stories could have tarnished other candidates and influenced some people’s voting preferences. Alex also argues that this is fairly unprecedented — a national publication is being paid by a political figure to serve as its propganda arm. Later, Alex reacts to an article in the Atlantic that talks about how training for a distance running race is helping younger Millenials and older Gen Zers find control during a period of chaos and uncertainty. While he doesn’t agree with everything, Alex does note that many younger adults are having a quarter life crisis that could be occurring due to previous indicators of adulthood (such as housing, marriage, careers) becoming less standard.
In this episode, Alex gives his thoughts on Israel taking the bait and striking back at Iran. He also talks about his road trip last weekend and how he forced himself to listen to a very troubling conversation between Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan. Later, Alex discusses the recently passed foreign aid package that went through the House and Senate and now will be signed by President Biden. The bill is a mixed bag, while it provides aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, it also bolsters a TikTok ban and reauthorizes FISA. Alex is surprised that Speaker Mike Johnson found his moral fortitude.
In this episode, Alex starts by sharing his thoughts on the future of Van Life, why he really enjoyed the new Civil War Movie, and why he thinks the Trump hush money trial that starts tomorrow will be total chaos. For the remainder of the episode, Alex dives into the troubling events happening in the Middle East between Israel and Iran. In early April, Israel targeted an Iranian embassy in Damascus. This attack killed two Iranian generals as well as other officials. Now in retaliation, Iran sent over 300 missiles and drones into Israel. This set a troubling new precedent because before this attack, Iran had relied on its regional proxies to target Israel. Alex argues that the shadow war between the two countries is over and fears of direct retaliation are becoming more likely. Alex also talks about why this was a strategic blunder for Iran and has bought Israel time.
In this episode, Alex starts with a rant about his experience earlier today in a Costco parking lot. He argues that his experience highlights the collective issues the United States faces as a society. Later, Alex talks about the death of OJ Simpson and how his defense during his murder trial was a harbinger for things to come in the post-truth, Trump era. Finally, Alex worries that Russia wants to turn the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv into a “grey zone” or uninhabitable city. Russia has been using glide bombs that can avoid Ukrainian air defenses and right now, Ukraine has no answer to them. As a Russian offensive is thought to be taking place over the summer, Alex worries about the future of Ukraine as the West is divided.
In this episode, Alex gives some updates on life and then gets into how the Arizona Supreme Court is making Arizona 1864 again. The court upheld a 1864 law that would practically ban all abortions in the state. Next, Alex looks into new economic data that could be problematic for Biden's campaign - inflation is not going down and the Federal Reserve may decide not to cut interest rates. Finally, Alex looks into the new and troubling revelations around a Trump campaign ally who threatened violence and rape. As information around this incident is becoming public, Alex argues that violence and anger towards women are both major features of fascism.
In this episode, Alex starts with the troubling and tragic news out of Gaza. It has been reported that an Israeli drone killed World Central Kitchen (WCK) aid workers that were trying to get aid to the starving Palestinian population inside of Gaza. The WCK is now pausing operations in Gaza (as the situation is only worsening) and many western leaders, including Joe Biden, are furious. Later, Alex looks into an interesting case out of Chicago. An undocumented immigrant defended himself using a firearm during the looting in June of 2020, and now a federal judge has dismissed his charges. The judge is arguing that in some cases, an undocumented immigrant, does have the right to bare arms. This case will be challenged, but could set a very interesting precedent. It is also jumbling the brains of many conservatives that support the right to bare arms, but also are anti-immigration and are hawkish about the border. Finally, Alex isn’t surprised to find out that some allies of Donald Trump think that he has a right to a third term (in 2028) even if he wins in 2024. Some MAGA legal writers are arguing that the 22nd Amendment wouldn’t apply to Trump.
In this episode, Alex starts by reacting to Trump’s new grift that involves selling a $60 bible that is called the “God Bless the USA Bible,” it is inspired by the country singer Lee Greenwood’s song “God Bless the USA.” The bible also includes the bill of rights, national anthem, and more, and completely melds politics with religion. Later, Alex breaks down the current security dilemma that is unfolding in Haiti as anarchy is currently unfolding even in historically stable parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince. In 2021, Haiti’s president was assasinated, and since this event, gangs have used this power vaccum to seize power, delegitimize the unelected leader in power, polarize the population, wreck havoc on civil society, and hold a mirror up to the corrupt politics of the country. As foreign governments try to find solutions to the issue, policing has been replaced with mob violence and vigilantism. Alex goes through the last thirty years of Haitian politics and struggle to try to understand how the situation can be alleviated.
In this episode, Alex sits down with his returning guest, Jon, to talk about a plethora of topics. In this long episode, they chat about TikTok bans, Ukraine, a waning US role in the world, the shooting in Moscow, security dilemmas, meaning vs. political partisanship, and why the Biden-Trump election is a disaster no matter what happens.
In this episode, Alex starts with some thoughts on decisionmaking and randomness. Next, he goes over a bombshell New York Times article that talks about how Jared Kushner and Richard Grenell (Trump’s former Ambassador to Germany) have been working with the Albanian and Serbian government to build luxury hotels and residential units on government land using the influence they built during their time in the Trump Administration. Finally, Alex talks about Kanye West and what his recent number one song tells him about trying to decouple the artist from the art.
After a bit of a hiatus, Alex returns ready to talk about the growing darkness at Trump rallies and why the media has failed to cover his rallies over the years as they have increasingly become more extreme and illiberal. He worries that the left and mainstream media have ignored some of Trump’s growing threats and danger even as his base has become more accepting of them. Next, Alex talks about the Ohio Rally where Trump salutes the J6 “hostages” and then says there will be a bloodbath if he loses to Biden. Later, Alex talks about the House of Representatives passing a bill that would force the sale of TikTok (or ban the app if a sale can’t happen). The bill is now in the Senate, but Donald Trump is calling Republican Senators and urging them to vote against it as President Biden has said he will sign the bill into law. Alex goes over both sides of this argument and feels that TikTok is a problematic app but he does not like the precedent of banning/forcing the sale of one app while not setting specified criteria for other companies as well.
In this episode, Alex provides his analysis of President Joe Biden’’s State of the Union speech, as well as GOP Representative, Katie Britt’s, insane response. Alex gives Biden a B+ and thinks Britt is far from an Oscar for her performance. He argues that the SOTU is officially dead and instead, both parties have their own State of their Own Party that directly opposes the other. Alex analyzes both and tries to provide remedies for the partisan rot.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about the unanimous, 9-0 decision that the Supreme Court just released regarding the Anderson v Griswold case in Colorado that barred Donald Trump from being on the ballot in the state’s ballot for the national election. Though the court agreed that Colorado could not barr Trump from the ballot for a national election, Alex argues that it seems like this is a 5-4 decision masquerading as a 9-0 decision. All four of the women on the court (including a Trump appointee) disagreed with how far the other five wanted to go in the decision. It seems like the courts are now setting a precedent regarding section three of the fourtneeth amendment that will limit future cases regarding insurrectionist behavaior under this amendment. Finally, Alex looks at how Google’s AI chatbot, Gemini, appears to be generating skewed responses and images that are incorrect and show bias. Some on the right are calling Gemini woke.
In this episode, Alex starts by debunking the idea that Donald Trump is an isolationist in foreign policy. He argues that Trump is actually quite involved in foreign policy, he just doesn’t agree with the current alliance-based system. Next, Alex dives into the economic changes happening in the United States’ skiing industries. After boom or bust seasons based on snowpack, large corporations like Vail Resorts ended up learning that they could charge different prices to different customers and make record profits. This led to overselling the Epic Pass (at a decent price), while also rising the average cost of day tickets. In a good season, this can lead to chaos and overcrowding (but profits), and in bad seasons, the passholders still feel obligated to ski. Basically, the ski industry has been able to increase output and demand (which is difficult in economics). Alex argues that this is why skiing feels less accessible than ever before but also more accessible at the same time. At the same time, price discrimination seems to be a new trend in the US economy and shows how the ski industry, the airline industry, and restaurants can make profits. Finally, Alex talks about how the Supreme Court has decided to hear Trump’s immunity case. It seems like SCOTUS is trying to stall a trial and it will help Trump in the election.
In this episode, Alex talks about how the warning calls directed towards the Biden 2024 Campaign are now coming from inside of the party, as well as outside of it. The Michigan Primary has wrapped up and Biden won the vote of 81% of Democrats; however, turnout was down and the “uncommitted” vote came in second with 13.3% of the vote. At the same time, Donald Trump saw higher turnout, even though he only got a bit over 68% against Nikki Haley’s 26%. In a state as crucial as Michigan, Alex worries that the Biden Campaign should be worried about the left’s fracturing politics and the internal opposition to his own presidency that exists within the party.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about how Taco Bell may be the last great unifier in the United States and how cartwheels are a dangerous abomination. Then he gets into an interesting case surrounding Air Canada, a chatbot that gave a customer false information, and a Canadian court ruling that the airline was responsible for the chatbot’s behavior. Alex argues this is a landmark case. Finally, Alex talks about the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that the embryos used in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) are a life and harming these embryos is equivalent to taking a life. The GOP is all over the place on responding to this issue and Alex thinks the hypocrisy and ignorance is insane.
In this episode, Alex talks the death of Alexei Navalny and about his legacy. He discusses why he was such an important opposition figure to Putin that held a mirror up to the Kremlin’s moral hypocrisy. Alex also talks about why Navalny was a complex and controversial figure, and while he was an imperfect opposition figure, he was necessary to unify Russians against Putin’s kleptocratic regime. Later, Alex talks about Tucker Carlson’s insane compliments about Russian infrastructure and supermarkets. He asks why question — is Tucker a useful idiot or a fellow traveler? Or could be be a bit of both?
In this episode, Alex starts with a dark rant about the origins of Valentine’s Day. Then he hesitantly celebrates the results of a special election held in New York following the expulsion of George Santos. In the special election, Tom Suozzi (the Democrat) beat Mazi Pilip (the Republican) in a crucial seat that could help Democrats take back the house in the 2024 election. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about the Enhanced Games. The games have been funded by venture capitalists like Peter Thiel and are arguing that the Olympics is flawed and that performance enhancing drugs should be embraced, not banned. The games also are solely funded through private organizations with questionable motives. Alex finds that the games showcase a nightmarish intersection between ethical issues, anarcho-capitalism, flawed science, reactionary politics, and skepticism of international non-profits.
In this episode, Alex covers Tucker Carlson’s journey to interview Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Nikki Haley’s loss to “None of the Above” in Nevada’s Primary, and the GOP’s bad week in the House and Senate!
In this episode, Alex focuses on the allure that many countries are facing — tradeoffs between security and liberty. The issue has been even more pronounced in a lot of Latin America where failed goverments and rising gang violence have driven the populace to demand security and economic stability. Alex looks at President Nayib Bukele in El Salvador and how he has locked up thousands of potential gang members without due process. The country is safer and the economy is doing better, but Alex worries that these tradeoffs may be appealing in the short term but could help entrench a wannabe-autocrat like Bukele in the longer term.
In this episode, Alex starts by going through some clips from a recent Tucker Carlson event where he twists himself into a myriad of logical pretzels that he would have been ashamed of several years ago. Next, Alex briefly talks about how the European Union has agreed on giving Ukraine 50 billion euros in aid over the next four years. The EU was even able to get Viktor Orban to fold on his opposition. Finally, Alex dives into the primary/caucus chaos that is unfolding in Nevada less than a week out from its primary and caucus. Basically, there is a Republican primary on February 6th and a Republican caucus on February 8th; the problem is that Nikki Haley is only on the primary ballot and Donald Trump is only in the caucus a few days later. Alex argues this may cause more confusion ahead of the 2024 election and also shows the internal division in the current GOP.
In this episode, Alex starts by wishing he never heard a new anti-woke rap song that features Ben Shapiro. Then he gets into the recent deaths of three American soldiers in an isolated part of Jordan that the US military has been using for years. Alex argues that this can be seen as an important moment — the United States should look at its policies towards Iran and its proxies and realize that both deterrence and diplomacy are not working. Finally, Alex argues that Fascism always needs support from the capitalists and monopolists, and visa versa. Last week at Davos, Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, started to warm up to a Trump 2.0 Administration. He argued similar talking points that were used by elites to justify Mussolini in the 1930s — the economy was good, immigration was quelled, the world was stable, and the trains ran on time. Alex wishes we could learn more from history.
In this episode, Alex takes a break from politics to get into one of his passions — ART! It was reported over the last few days that a painting by Gustav Klimt, that had been lost since 1925 and assumed destroyed, had been found in Vienna. The painting is called “Portrait of Fräulein Lieser” and belonged to a wealthy Jewish family in Vienna. Alex talks about how the painting will be auctioned off based on agreements made from the Washington Principles. This agreement was designed to return Nazi-looted art to the descendants of those it was taken from. Alex rants about why looting and destruction of great works of art breaks his heart and discusses why movements like fascism and communism are devoid of emotion and warmth.
In this episode, Alex takes the first part of the episode to explain his political positions and the moral conundrums he faces when trying to tell others his political identity. Later, Alex gives an update on the breakdown in law and order in Ecuador, and then dives right into the Ukraine-Russia War. He laments the fact that congress is still holding up more aid to Ukraine but questions the Biden Administration’s focus on “defending democracy” abroad. Alex argues that after the War in Iraq, many Americans are skeptical of defending American values abroad and it seems like Biden is walking into a political quagmire. Finally, the Russians claim that Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian plane that was carrying over 60 Ukrainian prisonners of war (POWs) that were meant to be swapped with Russian POWs. The Russians claim that they warned the Ukrainian military but Ukraine argues that there wasn’t a warning and this looks like a misinformation campaign to gain sympathy for Russia.
In this episode, Alex starts by deeply questioning the dynamics of highway traffic. Then he reacts to a troubling and racist clip of Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk. Kirk says that he would be a bit concerned if his airplane pilot was black. Next, Alex looks into a new culture war brewing out of Washington DC. In this iteration, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wants to investigate the nicotine pouch company ZYN. There are concerns that its health effects are unknown and that it is appealing to high school age kids. Of course, the right is now posing with ZYN pouches and his overreacting. Alex argues that it is the role of government to regulate products like ZYN, but he also doesn’t think it should be banned for adults. Later, Alex discusses how the Saudi Arabian government is now allowing non-muslim diplomats (visiting Riyadh) to buy alcohol in a single liquor store in the capitol. It seems like this is less about liberalizing the country and more about trying to bring in more tourists. Finally, Alex looks at the Democratic numbers out of New Hampshire where Joe Biden won over 66% against Dean Phillip’s 19.7%.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about an interesting debate between Ben Shapiro and Destiny on the Lex Fridman podcast. He reacts to Shapiro arguing that public education is hard to address without first addressing issues with the modern American family. Next, Alex reacts to Donald Trump beating Nikki Haley in New Hampshire and discusses why he thinks Haley's road to 2024 is close to ending. Finally, Alex focuses on the idea of "gray swan events" involving climate change. Zoe Schlanger discussed this idea in the Atlantic and it inspired Alex to cover how public policy may be impacted by the rise of more extreme weather events. Gray swan events will be a public policy nightmare because they are technically possible but have not yet occurred in history. This makes predictions and modeling impossible and puts governments in a reactive mode towards rising climate crises.
In this episode, Alex starts by reflecting on the recent Packers loss to the Niners and how it brought him towards an existential moment on time, the ephemeral moments of life, and why experiences cannot always be transitory. Next, Alex talks about how Ron DeSantis has dropped out of the 2024 primary and has endorsed Donald Trump. Alex provides an autopsy into why DeSantis had one of the worst campaigns in recent memory and also wonders if the Florida governor will ever succeed in politics again. Later, Alex argues that Nikki Haley will not do as well as she hopes in New Hampshire and the window has almost closed on any opposition to Donald Trump’s GOP nomination. Finally, Alex highlights some good news — a Malaria vaccine is going to be administered in Cameroon and this should help halt the spread of a disease that kills almost 500,000 children (under the age of five) in the continent every year.
In this episode, Alex starts by worrying that a new series of court cases that have reached the Supreme Court may upend a decision known as Chevron USA v Natural Resources Defence Council. This decision granted executive agencies enough deference to make their own decisions and oveturning it could upend the administrative state. Next, Alex recommends a new book that discusses how the Claremont Institution and others have created a new generation of conservatives that not only support MAGA but are indoctrinated in it. Finally, Alex talks about the Iranian strikes on militant groups inside of Pakistan. Rightfully so, the Pakistani government is furious and some worry this is yet another sign of the region getting closer to a larger conflict.
In this second part of Alex’s conversation with Drew Knepley, the two turn to the Middle East to talk about what is going on between Israel and Gaza. They also talk about whether the Israel/Hamas conflict, along with the US strikes on the Houthis, could lead to a larger conflict in the Middle East. Drew and Alex also talk about the complexity of the Israel-Palestine conflict, the broken politics inside of Israel, how it has become a wedge issue on the American Left, and more. They also touch on antisemitism and free speech on college campuses.
In this episode, Alex sits down with Drew Knepley, the cohost of their old show “The Tonic Accord.” In this first part released today, Drew and Alex talk about the Iowa Caucus, why this is a facade, and what may come next in New Hampshire. They also talk about the state of the GOP, how President Biden can appeal to moderates, why Nikki Haley could be important to Trump, and why democracy is no longer a useful case to vote for Biden.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how Chris Christie was caught on a hot mic bashing the other candidates and saying that Nikki Haley had not chance. As Christie dropped out, many thought he would endorse Haley and his supporters would go to her, this may not be as likely. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about how the United States and the United Kingdom finally responded to the Yemeni located, Houthi Rebels, that have been attacking ships in the Red Sea for over a month. The two countries carried out more than 60 sea and aerial attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen hoping to get the terrorist group to budge. Alex argues that this is a volatile moment because it looks like the Israel-Hamas war could expand. He also looks into how Iran’s funding of proxies around the region may have backfired as the Houthis could finally make Iran’s shadow war on the west a real war.
In this episode, Alex gives a range of updates regarding the situation in Gaza. At the time of the recording, South Africa has put fourth a case to the UN’s International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide. As the death toll in Gaza has passed 23,000 people (mainly civillians), international calls for a ceasefire are increasing and scrutiny towards Israel is mounting. Alex also looks into why South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) sympathizes with the Palestinian cause and also has open diplomatic relations with Hamas. The issue is nuanced because the ANC was seen as a terrorist group itself during the Apartheid years in South Africa, and it looked to Palestinian resistance for hope. Finally, Alex looks into how the dire situation in Gaza is a political situation that Israel must address. It is getting more difficult to think that Israel is just trying to fight Hamas when 85% of Gazans have been relocated and the World Heath Organization says that 80% of the world’s starving people are in Gaza. Alex argues that the Israeli private sector must return to facilitating the transfer of goods to aid groups to reach Gazans; this happened before October 7th with moderate success.
In this episode, Alex talks about Trump’s 2016 comments when he noted that “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters, okay?” It looks like this idea of Trump being able to get away with anything has reached the extreme extension of that remark. In a Washington D.C. court, Trump’s attorney’s are arguing that he is immune from indictment unless he is impeached and convicted by the senate. The judge overseeing the case posed a hypothetical about Trump ordering Seal Team Six to kill his political opponents; his attorneys eventually agreed that Trump would be immune from punishment unless impeached/convicted. Alex goes over the absurdity of this argument and how it could erode any executive accountability left. In this episode, Alex also talks about a new Taylor Swift conspiracy theory — Jesse Waters on Fox News is peddling the idea that she is a psy-op for the CIA and military.
In this episode, Alex gives his reactions and analysis to the 2024 Republican Primary Debate in Iowa between Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley. Alex leaves the debate thinking it would have been better as a drinking game than anything suitable for analysis. He argues that both candidates have no hope and appear to be debating gas tax policies and attacking one another on the deck of the Titanic. It is absurd to see how the two barely mention the political realities of their party as Donald Trump’s inevitability grows.
In this episode, Alex starts by reacting Elise Stefanik’s recent interview on Meet the Press. In the interview, Representative Stefanik retcons the events of January 6th and calls the convicted insurrectionists “hostages.” Next, Alex looks into how a breakdown in the rule of law in Ecuador has led to its president declaring a national emergency. Since 2020, Ecuador (and many other countries in the region) has seen an influx in drug trafficking, violence, cartel activity, and political assassinations. Now it looks like Ecuador has it an inflection point as the central government’s monopoly on violence is breaking down and martial law is going to be imposed. Finally, Alex reacts to the recent Boeing 737-9 MAX airplane incident that occurred on a flight headed from Oregon to California. Alex argues that once again Boeing has pursued profits and shareholder success over safety and regulation.
In this episode, Alex starts out angry. He talks about both Michelle and Barack Obama are now sounding the alarm on 2024 and worry about the outcome of the election. Alex argues that the Democratic Establishment has been too late to respond and is still inept and resolving these issues; it now seems like it is too late to pivot, even as Obama has met with Biden to recommend some changes. Next, Alex looks at a new House Democrats report that provides evidence of Trump bringing in millions of dollars from foreign governments and organizations. All of this is happening as House Republicans continue their fishing expedition (impeachment inquiry) into Joe Biden. It seems like Trump can dodge actual evidence while Biden can’t evade false attacks from any side. Finally, Alex looks into some troubling reports out of Illinois. Breaking from tradition, Trump hasn’t signed an Illinois pledge that states that a candidate for president will not engage in an attempt to overthrown the government. Trump campaign spokespeople say this is because he will win, but what happens if he doesn’t win?
In this episode, Alex mainly focuses on the events of January 6th three years later. He takes an emotional, and somewhat dark, approach to reflecting on how much everything has changed since the initial events. Alex argues that our democracy and institutions cannot function correctly if a wannabe insurrection attempt goes unpunished.
In this episode, Alex starts by giving some updates around more carnage in the Middle East. He also provides new reports that highlight the Islamic State being involved in the terror attacks that killed over 100 in Iran. Next, Alex argues that the 2024 GOP primary race is a Potemkin Village, meaning that the entire race is a facade, considering that Trump is almost certain to be the winner. Next, the New York Times has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft. The lawsuit highlights the growing conflict between journalism and artificial intelligence. Alex believes that AI is not inevitable, but can be useful; however, he also argues that the politics of inevitability should be treated with skepticism and organizations like the New York Times should challenge the growth of OpenAI and other companies. Finally, Alex reacts to the recent release of documents surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and his atrocious actions involving underaged girls.
In this episode, Alex looks at how four events could dramatically escalate conflicts around the Middle East. Of course there is the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza after October 7th and the rising violence in the Red Sea. However, Alex relates these events to two recent ones. He talks about the killing of a high-ranking Hamas official in Lebanon as the UN warns of rising violence in the area. He also discusses the recent terrorist attack in Iran that killed over 100 people during the anniversary of Qasem Soleimani’s death. This attack hit the soul of the Iranian regime and will see cascading effects. Alex worries that all of these events show that the world is at an inflection point as the risk of a larger conflict is growing. Alex hopes that there is enough good, pragmatic, leadership in the world to prevent an escalatory moment that could lead to a regional crisis at best, and a global conflict at the worst.
In this first episode of 2024, Alex looks into the Atlanta trial of the rapper Young Thug and five co-defendants. This trial is noteworthy because prosecutors are using some lyrics from Young Thug’s songs as evidence of his drug trafficking and gang activity. Alex breaks down why his feels this precedent is controversial and could backfire. He also looks at how racial bias could be involved due to the public’s bias towards rap music. Next, Alex reacts to Harvard’s president, Claudine Gay, stepping down. She finally has left her position after her disasterous testimony on Capitol Hill involving free speech and antisemitism on college campuses. She also appears to have plagiarized some of her academic works. Finally, Alex gives a bleak update on the events occurring in Ukraine and Russia. It seems like Putin is looking to go scorched earth as his military has ramped up strikes on cities ranging from Kyiv to Kharkiv. Ukraine has also hit towns inside of Russia, killing hundreds.
In this New Year’s Eve episode, Alex sits down with his good buddy Jon Friesen to look ahead to 2024 and reflect on 2023. They talk about the state of the world, the war in Ukraine, the tragic death toll in Gaza, and the 2024 election. They also talk about the cultural issues growing in the United States and why they worry things are only getting worse.
In this episode, Alex starts with a unique and tone deaf apology to the Jewish Community from the rapper, formerly known as Kanye West. Ye has apologized for his unintential harm to the community, Alex personally thinks that the timing is perfect for trying to promote his new album while evading his irresponsible rhetoric. Next, Alex reacts to Nikki Haley saying she would pardon Donald Trump and why this again evades the rule of law. Alex then talks about Trump being barred from the 2024 primary ballot in Maine (pending appeal) and talks about what could be next. Finally, it looks like Russia is ramping up its aerial raids in Ukraine and Alex argues that this is the time recognize that Ukraine needs help.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about Trump’s heartfelt holiday greeting in which he tells his politial enemies to rot in hell. Next, Alex reacts to Nikki Haley’s inability to answer a direct question about slavery’s influece on the start of the American Civil War. It seems like she is trying to not anger the MAGA base and also doesn’t want to sound woke. Alex argues that she is a weaker candidate than she thought and cannot play both sides on this or talk about “states rights.” Finally, Alex looks into an interesting legal paper on how the US president could use emergency powers to transfer frozen Russian assets to Ukraine. Alex breaks down the pros and cons of these actions.
In this episode on the night before Christmas, Alex talks about the holidays and a recent article in the Atlantic he liked by Arthur C. Brooks. The article talks about how it is important to have fun during the holidays, but it is also important to make some time for meditative thought on this time of year and what it means. Later, Alex breaks down a Mediaite article on the 75 most influention people in the news for 2023. He does not agree with most of the picks. Alex also gives some updates on Trump being barred from the ballot in Colorado.
In this episode, Alex starts by giving some updates on the Shakespearean fall of Rudy Giuliani, who has now filed for bankruptcy after being order to pay hundreds of millions of dollars for defaming two Georgia election workers. Next, Alex looks into how Javier Milei’s radical economic policies in Argentina may make the country a public policy nightmare. Alex talks about austerity measures vs stimulus policies and argues that Argentina is about to become a fascinating place. Finally, Alex talks about a tragic shooting at a university in Prague.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about his worries surrounding a probable merger between the once-powerful US Steel and Nippon Steel, Japan’s largest steelmaker. He discusses why this isn’t only bad for the US economy and the symbolism of American industrialization, but it also could be problematic for national security reasons. Next, Alex looks at a new New York Times/Sienna Poll that shows that President Biden is losing support amongst younger voters to Donald Trump. It seems like the chaos in domestic and foreign politics has caused a shift away from Biden. Later, Alex goes through an interesting Atlantic piece by George Conway that discusses why the Colorado Supreme Court decision barring Trump from its ballot may have some legitimacy based on the failure of its dissenters to argue a feasible reason for not supporting it. Finally, Alex goes over the controversial map in Alex Garland’s upcoming movie “Civil War.”
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about how the Colorado Supreme Court has disqualified Donald Trump from the 2024 Colorado ballot due to Section 3 of the 14th Amendement. The court wrote “a majority of the court holds that Trump is disqualified from holding the office of president under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.” The rationale is that Trump’s connection to the January 6th insurrection barrs him from being on the 2024 ballot. Alex discusses why he thinks this will be overturned and he also thinks that Trump is a political problem that the courts cannot try to solve. For the remainder of the episode, Alex gives his 2024 predictions that are mainly centered around foreign policy and how a changing hegemonic order may impact issues ranging from Israel-Palestine to Ukraine to Africa and more.
In this episode, Alex talks about entering a Walmart for the first time in years in order to buy a Christmas sweater. Inside of the story, Alex describes his experience and what it tells him about the United States. Next, Alex reacts to Donald Trump’s new comments about immigration. The former president said on Saturday that immigrants are poisoning the blood of the American population. This comments sound like they came directly out of Mein Kampf and Alex argues that Trump has reached his final form, in a very dark place. Finally, many container vessels are pausing operations in the Suez Canal after the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have been attacking ships passing into the Red Sea. Alex discusses how these events will impact the world economy and could lead to a broader conflict.
In this episode, Alex notes that some IDF reports out of Gaza show that three hostages were accidentally killed by the IDF forces as they entered parts of Northern Gaza. This tragedy highlights how chaotic and tragic the entire situation is becoming. Next, Alex reluctantly shares his thoughts surrounding the backlash that the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and Penn are receiving after struggling to completely condemn calls for genocide. Alex looks at both sides of the issue and does believe that these presidents identified some key issues surrounding when to protect speech and when to punish action. Finally, it looks like Kevin McCarthy is leaving the house before the end of his term. Alex lays into McCarthy and argues that he is one of the main people that allowed Trump’s influence over the GOP to remain.
In this episode, Alex decides to break down what is happening with the house impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. Alex records this episode as the house has announced a formal inquiry which will drag the investigation deep into 2024. Alex thinks this a complete witch hunt and deflection campaign. He argues that typically in an inquiry, politicians have evidence of wrongdoing and then open up an investigation to prove to Congress why the president should be impeached. In this case, House Republicans are on a fishing expedition to find anything useful to ruin Biden’s career and equate his corruption to Trump’s.
In this episode, Alex starts by ranting about the suffering he is experiencing after an Olivia Rodrigo song has been stuck in his head since Monday. Next, Alex wonders what happens when a narrow media ecosystem collides with mainstream media culture for the 2024 election (hint he thinks it won’t end well). For the rest of the episode, Alex gives an update on Venezuela’s thoughts on annexing Guyana and why he thinks Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has allowed other autocrats to think they can get away with violating international law. Alex also talks about why House Republicans are looking for ways to justify cutting off aid to Ukraine and why the border funding fight is the perfect place. Finally, Alex talks about a troubling abortion situation in Texas where Attorney General Ken Paxton has blocked a woman, Kate Cox’s, emergency need for an abortion. Her doctors have argued that the baby is unlikely to survive for long outside of her body and that it could harm Cox as well.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about Vivek Ramaswamy’s new bathroom-related scandal that happened during an X conversation with Alex Jones, Andrew Tate, Elon Musk, and others. Next, Alex breaks down the ending of COP28 in Dubai. The latest iteratation of the Conference of Parties (COP) ended with the parties involved setting a new floor in the effort to move away from fossil fuels; however, Alex is skeptical that some groups went unrepresented and that there are loopholes for the fossil fuel industry. Alex rants about how new and creative solutions such as climate reparations should be considered. Finally, Alex looks at the dire situation in Gaza — the United Nations has passed a vote calling for a ceasefire while the World Health Organization has warned of the looming disease-related crisis on the ground.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about the former House Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, and the breaking news around him resigning at the end of the year. Then Alex rants about odd statements from Biden. He also is furious and saddened by a new shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Finally, for the remainder of the episode, Alex breaks down the fourth GOP Presidential Debate with the four remaining candidates. He laments that the debate means nothing but usefully tells its viewers a lot.
In this episode, Alex talks about troubled George Santos doing Cameo holiday greetings and affirmations. Then he talks about how “rizz” , an online slang meaning charm or charisma, has been made Oxford English Dictionary’s word of the year. Later, Alex talks about an olive oil scandal in Spain and Italy that highlights how global prices and climate change have impacted Spain and Italy’s olive exporting. Finally, Alex looks into how Hamas may have funded October 7th using a fast-growing crypto network called Tron as well as insider knowledge to short sell Israeli stocks.
In this episode, Alex mainly takes a dive into recent events happening in Gaza. Israel has ramped up its attacks again as the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, warns that more civillian casulaties could lead to a strategic failure in Gaza that could hurt Israel. Alex also looks into the moral and ethical dilemma Israel faces. Finally, Alex analyzes a recent referendum that occurred in Venezuela where 95% of particpants voting yes for practically annexing Guyana due to oil interests.
In this episode, Alex starts by reacting to a podcast he listened to that discusses Trump’s personality changes from 2016 to now. It seems like desperation and darkness have consumed him. Next, Alex looks into how external and internal factors are making it so that Ukraine is struggling against Russia and the likelyhood of Russia getting some concessions is increasing. Alex argues that complacency, internal stagnation, and Russia’s recovering war machine will make Ukraine’s agenda more and more difficult. Also, the spectre of Trump 2.0 looms on the horizon. Finally, Alex laments the fact that the QAnon Shaman is running for office.
In this episode, Alex starts by expressing his hesitations around George Santos getting expelled from the House of Representatives. Since Santos has not been found guilty of a crime (yet), Alex argues that this could set a bad precedent considering how polarized congress has become. Next, Alex shares his thoughts after watching the entire Red State/Blue State debate between Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis. With Sean Hannity moderating the debate, Alex argues that the debate was less about policy and economics, and more about making California look bad. Finally, it looks like the hostage swap/temporary ceasefire between Hamas and Israel has ended after both sides claim the other violated the agreement. New violence has been reported.
In this episode, Alex reacts to the TikTok sensation that is Gail Lewis, the Walmart employee from Illinois that signed off after ten years of duty. Alex genuinely enjoys this video and talks about why it actually is what America needs right now. Next, Alex takes a deep dive into Henry Kissinger, who died at the age of 100 on Wednesday night. He argues that Kissinger was a complicated and (maybe) morally corrupt figure that was highly involved in almost every layer of the Cold War. Finally, Alex talks about a fascinating situation unfolding on the Finnish-Russian border. The Finnish government has shut down the border for two weeks due to fears of Russia sending migrants and asylum seekers into Finland to cause political instability. Finland is the latest country to join NATO.
In this episode, Alex covers everything that is visible in the podcast name. He takes a dark tone to start and talks about why it is tough to believe in progress when everything seems to degrade over time. Then he gets into the current events. Does the Koch Network’s endorsement of Nikki Haley mean anything when Trump is up 40 points? Does it mean anything to analyze expensive cities when wealth disparity is not budging and only war and chaos can change the rankings?
In this Saturday episode, Alex reacts to Derek Chauvin getting stabbed in an Arizona Prison. He talks about how George Floyd’s killer is clearly a bad apple but he has been convicted and is serving time. Therefore, he should be protected while he serves his time in prison. Later, Alex talks about a knife attack in Dublin, Ireland outside of a school that hurt several children and adults. The stabbing led to an online rumor that the attacker was a recent immigrant. This information led to violent protests and destruction by far-right groups that oppose immigration.
In this episode, Alex starts by lamenting the recent comments put fourth by Peter Meijer, one of the only Republican Congressmen to impeach Trump after January 6th. Meijer is now running for the senate in Michigan and has changed his tone on Trump. Alex breaks down why this is disappointing and probably not going to work. Next, Geert Wilders, a far-right Dutch politician, and his Party for Freedom, shocked Dutch voters. The PVV won the most seats in parliament and now must form a coalition. Wilders is an islamaphobic leader with a lot of baggage and a lot of problems. Later, Alex talks about the maiden voyage that never happened of a cruise that was supposed to sail the world for three years. Reports state that people arrived in Istanbul to depart on the cruise, but the company eventually stated that it didn’t have the boat and the cruise was cancelled. Some people had sold their businesses and homes to go on this cruise. Finally, Alex rants about Turkey Trots and why they perfectly highlight the contrast of excess and purity in American culture.
In this episode, Alex starts by reluctabtly revisiting Elon Musk’s recent retweet (re-X) of an antisemetic post doubling down on the Great Replacement Theory. In an interview with Jake Tapper, Ron DeSantis defends Musk while stating that he was unaware of the X statement. Alex questions this line of thought as DeSantis defends Musk. Next, Alex breaks down what is next in the Republican presidential primary process. He argues that Nikki Haley is likely going to be the runner-up to Donald Trump but he is hesitant to think that she has any chance of dethroning him. Finally, Alex quickly talks about recent events between Israel and Hamas. There appears to be a hostage swap that has been agreed upon and now many wonder, what is next?
In this episode, Alex starts by giving a movie recommendation and talking about why he dislikes Black Friday. Then he talks about Argentina’s new president-elect, Javier Milei. Milei is a unique, anarcho-capitalist with dangerous views that are all covered up by his flamboyant and entertaining personality. Alex laughs and cries about what his future in Argentina may hold. Finally, Alex talks about Sam Altman’s firing at OpenAI and what it means in the “Open Civil War of AI” between tech capitalists and utilitarians. It seems like Altman’s firing could just help Microsoft gain influence over a troubling and powerful new technology.
In this episode, Alex talks about how there have been over 40 attacks on US Troops in Syria since October 7th. He relates this to theories on why the world is becoming more violent again and what can be done. Alex also talks about a troubling Bin Laden Tik Tok Phenomenon in which younger progressives are taking his words seriously and retconning his atrocious actions. Finally, Alex talks about David Cameron's return to British politics and why he is surprised.
In this episode, Alex starts by going over Elon Musk’s recent support of an antisemitic tweet that supported the great replacement theory. Later, Alex talks about House Speaker Mike Johnson’s troubling comments from October 3rd on how the US is morally broken and may face destruction for our collective sin.
In this episode, Alex discusses a Tucker Carlson video and photo of him joining protesters in Madrid. Tucker claims that the left is trying a coup to seize power. Alex dives into what is ACTUALLY happening in Spain. In July, the right-wing parties won the most seats in a national election; however, they only won a plurality and not enough for a majority. Now the center-left is trying to form a majority government by making concessions to Catalan, separatist parties. Many in Spain are angry that the left is potentially granting amnesty to separatists in return for political power. Alex argues that both parties would do this and this is less of a coup and more of a partisan breakdown. Later, Alex reacts to a troubling Axios article that highlights how Trump allies are already conducting loyalty tests to find bureacrats that can be planted in the government to aid Trump if he wins in 2024.
In this episode, Alex goes into why he thinks that the media and politicians should focus less on Trump’s gaffes (i.e. Obama is president, Biden will start WW2, etc.) and more on the rhetoric that is being masked below the surface. Alex voices his concerns for a Trump 2.0 administration. Trump has called his political opponents vermin, says the true threat to the country comes from within, has voiced the idea of mass deportation campaigns, and wants “patriotic education” brought back to schools that are coupled with immigrants taking a loyalty test.
In this episode, Alex breaks down the interview between Bill Maher and Ted Cruz, he finds Ted Cruz to be morally vague and politically confusing. Next, Alex talks about the chaos in the House of Representatives as Mike Johnson is attempting to pass an unorthodox CR to keep the government open. The policies will not give funding to Ukraine or Israel. Alex also talks about a Latinx bill in the house and why he thinks the house is not a serious body anymore. Later, Alex talks about the term genocide in the context of the war in Gaza. He argues that he term is fairly vague and complicated. While Alex does not think Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, he does think that there is still massive violence and potential war crimes.
In this Sunday episode, Alex starts by updating listeners about some events happening around the world that they may have missed. For the remainder of the episode, Alex talks about rising extremism in the United Kingdom. He also discusses how the Tory Government has a Home Secretary that is not condemning xenophobia and islamaphobia while also criticising any pro-Palestine protestors as hate groups.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about his irritation with some people on the left and how they may sit out the 2024 election because they are angry with Joe Biden over his response to the terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7th. Alex argues that Trump 2.0 would be much worse than any Biden presidency and the cognitive dissonance is painful to experience. Next, Saudi Arabia and Iran have opened up conversations around the events in Gaza and Alex worries that this could have been avoided. For the rest of the episode, Alex focuses on Italy. He talks about the worries of an “Italian Guantánamo Bay” in Albania that the far-right Italian government could be used for political reasons to expel migrants. He also looks into how the Meloni government wants to pass reforms that could change the Italian system in some good, but mainly bad ways.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing some decent news — Israel has agreed to allow four hour humanitarian pauses inside of Northern Gaza. He also discusses why the Biden Administration can’t seem to do anything right during this war. Next, Alex goes into the third Republican Presidential Debate which was a disaster, lacking in substance, and seemingly pointless. Finally, Alex gives some highlights from Trump’s recent rally in Florida (that happened during the debate), and he talks about why it seems like Trump is becoming increasingly inevitable.
In this episode, Alex goes over a troubling interaction between Senator Josh Hawley and Alejandro Mayorkas that reflects the senator’s poor judgement and necessity to “own the libs.” Next, Alex talks about a supervolcano in Italy that is becoming more active and could threaten almost a million people if it erupts. Finally, Alex discusses a recent Quinnipiac poll that highlights the fact that younger Democrats do not support Israel’s response to Hamas’ attack, don’t support aid to Israel, and do not support Biden’s response. Alex worries this could be troubling news for Biden’s campaign and chances of reelection.
In this episode, Alex talks about why he thinks Daylight Savings Time should be permanent in the United States. He goes into the economic, health-related, and societal reasons as to why this would be beneficial. He also rants about the age old battle between Night Owls and Morning People.
In this episode, Alex reacts to a Jared Kushner interview that makes him face palm. Then he Alex talks about a troubling rise in antisemtism around the world and fears of new forms of pogroms. Next, Alex discusses why he supports a humanitarian pause but also why a ceasfire would only allow Hamas to build back up and continue attacking. Finally, Alex goes over the interview between The Economist and Ukraine’s top general. He argues that the war has reached a stalemate without an technological breakthroughs.
After being away on vacation, Alex returns for an episode reacting to some recent world events. He starts by sharing his thoughts on the new House Speaker, Mike Johnson. Alex argues that Johnson, an election denier and far-right congressmen, may be the worst option. Later, Alex talks about Yemen’s Houthi rebels entering the war (backed by Iran) to fire rockets at Israel. He also talks about why he doesn’t support a ceasefire but does support more pressure on the Israeli government and a halt in indiscriminate bombings that are killing thousands of civilians. There are also international alliances that could make the conflict even more dire to the globe.
In this episode, Alex argues that Vivek Ramaswamy reminds him of that student in a Poly Sci 101 class that would argue with the professor no matter what. He spends the episode reacting to a very interesting interview that the Young Turks gave to Vivek. Alex highlights portions of the interview that help listeners understand why Vivek Ramaswamy is not ready to be president but could be good as Donald Trump’s Press Secretary!
In this episode, Alex starts by recommending a great documentary on the January 6th defendants and plays an atrocious clip of Jesse Waters unable to differentiate Hamas from Palestinians. Alex then delivers good news about a recent election in Poland in which the illiberal Law and Justice Party won the most votes but lost its majority government. The Law and Justice Party wanted to turn the Polish system into a Viktor Orban-esque system so this is good news. Later, Alex talks about the Qatar conundrum — the United States has a flawed but necessary relationship with Qatar but it is becoming more difficult due to Qatari links and funding to numerous terror groups including Hamas. Finally, Alex looks in the rise in global espionage against the United States and how many threats are coming from smaller powers like Egypt. There seems to be a resurgence of smaller countries that are relying on spycraft regimes.
In this episode, Alex takes a deep dive into the chaos happening (mainly) on the Republican side of the House of Representatives. Alex discusses what will happen next, why it is not surprising that Jim Jordan could not build a useful coalition, and why he worries that the house will be useless for quite some time because it seems like the Republicans in the house not vehemently hate one another.
In this episode, Alex shares hesitant optimism after learning that Jim Jordan is no longer attempting to be the speaker of the house after a failed third vote. Next, Israel’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant, told a parliamentary group about a three-step plan to establish a “new security reality” involving the war against Hamas and how to treat Gaza. Alex goes through each point and expresses worries that this plan could take years and years and could only backfire. He argues that democracies are still treating the war on terror as if it is a traditional war and this is the wrong way to approach it. Next, Alex gives an analysis of Joe Biden’s address last night from the Oval Office. The speech was important and again highlights Biden’s moral clarity in defending freedom, open societies, and holding autocrats accountable. Finally, a new pepper has passed the Carolina Reaper was the hottest pepper in the world. This pepper is called Pepper X and is 2.7 million on the Scoville Heat Units system.
In this episode, Alex gives a brief update on escalating tensions in the Middle East but notes that he will save strong opinions until more information is released. Then, for the remainder of the episode, Alex gives an update into the Fulton Country, Georgia case against Trump that involves him, 17 others, and the 2020 election. Sidney Powell, his insane former lawyer, has pleaded guilty to her involvement in the case and is likely to help prosecutors as part of her plea deal. Alex discusses how this could lead to a cascading turn of events as more defendents could flip.
In this episode, Alex talks about the embarassing saga that Jim Jordan faces as he tries and fails to get enough votes to be the speaker of the house. Then, for the rest of the episode, Alex looks into how social media’s demand dynamic, political polarization, and the different silos of media ecosystems have created a problematic situation for people that want to understand what is happening in Israel and Gaza. Alex talks about the tragic hospital attack in Gaza, Netanyahu’s existential comments, why self preservation is dangerous, and why the facts don’t matter anymore.
In this emergency pod, Alex breaks down the embarassing vote in the House of Representatives in which Jim Jordan could not get enough votes and twenty people in his own party voted no. Alex argues this is the worst time for the house to have no speaker as the country faces a shut down and two wars.
In this episode, Alex starts by going over some updates on the tragic events occurring in Israel and Gaza. Fear and chaos are looming in Gaza as the Israeli government has told over 1.1 million people in Gaza to leave before a likely invasion begins. Alex argues that it is highly unlikely that Gazans would be able to flee the cities and worries that tragedy and destruction is looming. Later, he talks about how some worry that Hezbollah (currently located in Lebanon) is waiting for an invasion into Gaza and then will fight Israel from the north. Alex worries this could be a trap and could also lead to a bigger conflict due to Iranian, Qatari, Syrian, and Iraqi support for Hezbollah. Finally, Alex discusses his growing anger with certain factions of the far-left, progressive left, and intersectional left. There seems to be a segment of the intersectional, progressive left that is anti-Israel to the point that it is buying into Hamas propaganda and is almost defending Hamas. Alex argues that this highlights the contradictions of modern progressivism and is really alarming.
In this episode, Alex starts with an update on the growing violence and conflict between Israel and Hamas. Reports show that there are Americans among the hostages, Americans have been killed, and as Israel has escalated its response, Hamas has started killing hostages. Alex also reacts to some of the horrific defenders of Hamas that he has seen on social media. Later, Alex goes into why Jim Jordan would be a dangerous house speaker, and why he doesn’t understand why people like Nancy Mace seem to think he is the best man for the job. For the rest of the episode, Alex goes into David Frum’s 2019 warning — “IF LIBERALS DON’T ENFORCE BORDERS, FASCISTS WILL.” This theme can be related to other issues such as crime as well. Luckily, Democratic leaders, including the president, seem to understand that the rise in crime and border chaos are not just Fox News scare tactics, and it is time to start addressing the elephant in the room.
In this episode, Alex starts by going over what some are calling a bedbug infestation in Paris. Alex goes over whether this infestation is an overreaction, or a problem of travel and globalization. For the rest of the episode, Alex gives updates on the events in Israel and Gaza. Hamas as threatened to start executing hostages as Israel is preparing for what looks like a massive strike or offensive into Gaza. Alex also discusses the Iranian connection to the attacks as it looks like Iran was at least aware and green-lit the attacks.
In this episode, Alex breaks down the recent terrorist attacks conducted inside of Israel by the terrorist group Hamas. Over the weekend, Israel experienced unprecedented attacks by Hamas that (as of now) left over 700 Israelis dead and a large, but unknown, number of civilians taken as hostages. Alex notes that a lot of the deaths were civilians and even some included students at festivals. Some are calling this attack Israel’s 9/11 and Alex finds it hard to disagree with this description. Unfortunately, but understandably, Israel has responded with brutal attacks on Palestinian territories and some worry the worst is yet to come as strikes have been reported in Lebanon as well. For most of the episode, Alex talks about how Israel and Palestine have reached this point and why Hamas should be blamed but the policies of Netanyahu must be questioned.
In this episode Alex takes a deep dive into all of the chaos happening in the House of Representatives and beyond, he argues that this is a complete circuis and is not a good harbinger of things to come for American Democracy. Alex looks at how Republicans are getting petty, moving Nancy Pelosi out of her current office. He also looks into how Steve Bannon’s alternative universe has made people like Matt Gaetz stars and how Donald Trump could be the next house speaker. Alex finishes the episode with some clips from the Bulwark Podcast that look into how the circuis looks a lot like late-era Rome, and how the chaos could turn off moderate voters. BUT, will moderates vote for Biden or stay home?
In this emergency pod, Alex discusses how the Matt Gaetz revolt to oust Kevin McCarthy from his speakership role succeeded. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted with a 216-210 vote and how the Republican side in the house is in shock and shut down. Alex gives his thoughts into what his next and why this was a self-inflicted wound for the Republican side.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how Donald Trump is back in court in New York for a civil fraud trial involving the Trump Organization. It seems like Trump will take this case seriously because it brings into question the efficacy of his name and business. Next, RFK Jr. could be running as an independent or even a libertarian. Alex notes that RFK Jr. has put out an ad telling his supporters that there will be an announcement in Pennsylvania on October 9. Some commentators think his annoucement could hurt Biden, others think it could hurt Trump. Alex argues that it would be more likely to hurt Trump due to the views of the average RFK Jr. supporter, but he also thinks it may be a wash. Later, Alex discusses how the SCOTUS is back in session and will be hearing some important cases that may overturn the Chevron deference doctrine. He argues that some of these cases may change the role of federal agencies in society and could lead to less stability and flexibility in government. Finally, Alex gives an update on the chaos happening in congress. It looks like there will be a vote to oust Kevin McCarthy and there’s a chance he may lose!
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about how the looming government shut down was averted at the 11th hour once again. In an interesting turn of events, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy chose compromising/working with Democrats over letting his far-right party members shut down the government. Alex argues that this is good news for the country but may be bad news for McCarthy if he wants to remain the Speaker of the House. Next, Alex quickly goes over a new series of interviews conducted by Sarah Longwell in her focus groups with two-time Trump voters. Many of the people in the focus groups either do not want a woman president or do not think the country is ready for one. Later, Alex talks about a troubling election in Slovakia that happened in late-September. In the election, Robert Fico, the country’s corrupt, former prime minister, has won the plurality and is likely going to be prime minister once again. He has allied himself with pro-Russian leaders in the region and Alex worries that there will be a democratic backslide in Slovakia. Finally, Alex dives into the right’s new culture war against Taylor Swift.
In this episode of the Sunday Countdown, Alex discusses the people that may end up being Trump’s vice presidential picks. It seems clear that he must pick a woman or a minority, or both, due to his need to appeal to woman and minority groups in the general election. Alex outlines 8 potential picks to be his VP and these picks range from semi-sane to completely crazy and/or dangerous.
In this episode, Alex focuses on New Jersey’s Democratic Senator, Bob Menendez. While some of the indictments against him sound like a 1980s B movie (hiding gold bricks, wads of cash in his clothing, truck smuggling), Alex argues that the bigger issues. The bigger issues can be put into two categories — the ongoing threat Menendez poses to American national security, and how he is becoming Trumpian in doubling down on his actions. Alex discusses why Menendez should resign immediately due to the potential that he’s a compromised Egyptian asset. Also, it is odd that Republicans are now defending Menendez in their crusade to claim all federal law enforcement activity is political.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how the US could be headed to a government shut down on October 1. The Republican-led house tried to pass one more bill yet radical house Republicans voted against it once again. Alex wonders why McCarthy doesn’t call the bluffs of people like Matt Gaetz because even though they have a motion to vacate the chair, there isn’t an alternative to McCarthy. Next, Alex is in awe after watching Trump’s rally in Michigan at a non-union factory. The media and Trump-supporters said he would maybe go to a UAW factory in supporter of unions and unfortunately some people still think he did. Alex argues that Trump just gave a normal union busting speech at this event and it highlights his faux-populism. Finally, Dianne Feinstein, California’s senior senator, died at 90. Alex discusses her legacy and notes that she is an excellent study into one happens when someone holds onto power for too long.
In this special debate recap episode, Alex breaks down the second round of the 2024 Republican Presidential debate that was hosted on Fox Business. Alex argues that this debate was better run and more telling than the first. He also goes into the entirety of the debate and breaks down the pros and cons of each candidate. The episode ends with a ranking of each candidate and how far each one could (potentially) go.
In this episode, Alex laughs and cries over the Democratic Senator, Bob Menendez, who has been indicted on three charges — committing bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion. Menendez has used some unique arguments to defend himself as he searched online how much a gold kilo was worth and hid stacks of cash in his clothing. It is time for Menendez to resign and it sounds like many Democrats agree. For the rest of the episode, Alex expresses his concerns around the news. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has said she is drafting a declaration of war against Mexican Cartels. Alex argues that this rhetoric is widespread on the right and will only lead to more polarization and violence in Mexico. He also argues that a war on the cartels could create a power vaccuum that could make the issue worse and only divide relations between the United States and Mexico. Alex also notes that Mexico is now the top trading partner with the United States after passing China and the relationship should be repaired, not destroyed.
In this episode, Alex covers a myriad of topics! He starts by reflecting on his complex nostalgia since his time working in Spain. Then he gets into a recent blunder in Canada where a parliament member inadvertently had the crowd celebrate a 98 year old Ukrainian veteran that turned out to be a fighter for a Nazi regime. Later, Alex celebrates the potential, tentative deal that could end the Writer’s Strike in Hollywood. Finally, Alex takes a deep dive into why the civil service is important why MAGA allies are looking to intellectualize Trump-era lies that can help them gut the civil service to retain power.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about why he thinks both President Biden and Donald Trump should participate in debates and why he thinks it is crucial for democracy. Then Alex takes a deep dive into some fairly interesting events happening between Armenia and Azerbaijan. According to reports, Armenia has pulled out its forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh region which houses over 100,000 ethnic Armenians inside of Azerbaijan. After decades of violence and vile rhetoric, this is somewhat surprising. Alex argues that there is nothing to celebrate and a campaign of “re-integration” inside of Azerbaijan could be beginning.
In this episode, Alex talks about how Anne Applebaum turned out to be correct about Poland potentially becoming a thorn in Ukraine’s side. As of yesterday, the Polish government has announced that it will continue to honor its current weapons agreements with Ukraine, but it will not send more weapons than agreed. All of this is because of the Black Sea blockade that President Putin has created. Since Ukraine can’t ship its grain from the ports on the Black Sea, it has transported the grain through countries like Poland. Unfortunately, Ukrainian grain is lower priced and has ended up getting stuck in Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia; this has led to a drop in prices and protests from local farmers. Alex discusses how this may create ripples throughout the Polish-Ukranian alliance.
In this episode, Alex discusses how the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada has led to a freeze in diplomatic and economic relations between India and Canada. Credible intelligence released by the Canadian Government links the killing to forces associated with the Indian Government. Now, the United States and the United Kingdom must walk a tight rope in foreign policy as Canada wants to hold India accountable for its democratic crackdowns at home and abroad.
In this episode, Alex starts by going over some other clips from Donald Trump’s chaotic interview on Meet the Press. Later, Alex expresses his concerns around Trump’s Truth Social post that sends an ominous warning to Jewish Americans that voted for Democrats — “Let’s hope you learned from you mistake and make better choices moving forward! Happy New Year!” It seems like Trump has constantled attacked Jewish Americans that vote Democrat and has peddled conspiracies about them having dual loyalities. Alex dives into this history of this rhetoric and why it can fuel troubling results. Alex also rants about Italian Fascism for a bit.
In this episode, Alex reflects on the ideals of American Exceptionalism and why he thinks it has made some of us immune to our own internal weaknesses. Later, Alex goes into Donald Trump’s recent interview on Meet the Press. Alex ponders why mainstream outlets still run these interviews and how some journalists struggle to maintain credibility as they fight Trump’s firehose of flasehoods.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing the tragic devastation following a magnitude 6.8 earthquake that rocked the Atlas Mountains near Marrakech, Morocco, on Friday night. At the time of the recording, over 2000 people have died, historic parts of Marrakech have been destroyed, and it will be difficult to get aid to some of the rural mountain villages that were heavily impacted. Next, Alex talks about how X and Elon Musk are in more trouble. Musk has rallied behind a movement on X that blames the Anti-Defamation League for X struggles. The movement was mainly started by white nationalists and Alex argues that it explains why many critics think that X has become a cesspool of disinformation and hate. Later, Alex argues that Article 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, which says an elected official is disqualified from office is they violated their oath to the Constitution, is a false hope for preventing Donald Trump from being re-elected. Finally, Alex discusses how climate activists need to find a new approach.
In this episode, Alex starts by expressing his worries around an increasingly strong alliance between Russia, North Korea, and Russia. He worries that as the United States and Russia have pulled out of nuclear accountability treaties like New Start, Russia and China may attempt to strengthen their arsenals. North Korea could be a perfect playground for these nations. For the rest of the episode, Alex discusses how Enrique Tarrio, the former chairman of the Proud Boys, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison after his seditious actions leading up to January 6th. Alex breaks down why seditious-conspiracy charges can be easier to prosecute than treason charges. He also talks about why this form of accountability is crucial.
In the second part of Alex’s conversation with María Tribe, the two focus on the corruption, racism, and sexism that is prevalent in Soccer’s insitutions such as FIFA, the Spanish Federation, and other countries. María also reflects on her time playing semi-professional soccer in Spain and discusses there being a lack of strong influences for women and also she talks about the ignorance she experienced from others. In the end, the two talk about pop culture, Barbie, American Politics, and how there must be centrism and discourse in politics.
In the first part of this two hour conversation with María Tribe, Alex’s close friend from Spain that has played semi-professional soccer, the two cover a wide range of topics. They discuss the Barbie movie and its relationship with masculinity, equality versus equity versus negative equity and how it impacts feminism. The two also talk about how traditional values, right-wing monarchism, and the ghosts from the Spanish Civil War have haunted sports such as soccer in Spain. Alex and María also talk about how Spain’s oppressive reaction to Catolonian independence movements divided society and pushed groups deeper into their political corners. The two think that society is getting to a point where conversation is getting more and more difficult.
Beach rock legend and Margaritaville Tycoon, Jimmy Buffett, died on Friday night at the age of 76. Alex puts out his thoughts on how Buffett impacted his life and millions of others. Alex reflects on his night at a small bar where everyone came together around his death. He also argues that Buffett basically helped the average American feel content with checking out from their lives for a bit and acting like a true “beach bum.” Buffett made the Average Joe feel like everything was alright. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about how intense rainfall on Friday night caused mud-like pools at the Burning Man Festival in Nevada. This weather event has stranded thousands at the event and many of its festivities have been postponed or cancelled.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how an emerging variant of COVID-19 is leading to a new panic (and conspiracies) about lockdowns, election interference,and government control. Next, Alex goes into the new frontlines of the culture war - the Biden Administration may start recommending people only drink two beers per week. Much like gas stoves, pizza ovens, and water pressure, this topic has fueled an insane reaction from the American Right. Alex plays a video of Ted Cruz acting brave, drinking a beer, telling Biden to “kiss my ass”, and telling people to keep drinking beer. It seems like the right has run out of governing ideas and now is focused on absurd culture war issues. For the rest of the episode, Alex looks into the inevitable impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. Will it hurt Republicans? Is it merely political? All signs point to it backfiring.
After a recent shooting in Jacksonville, DeSantis was booed at a press conference, some blamed his rhetoric, others have cited Senator Rick Scott’s divisive video from a few months ago. Alex talks about whether political rhetoric can fuel the flames, whether gun violence is the deeper threat, and how some solely blame the rhetoric because the elephant in the room is that we have too many guns in society. In the end, it feels like politics are blinding the population to the reality that the gun issue is imbedded in US culture.
In this episode, Alex teases an upcoming episode that will air next week with one of his best friends from Spain, Maria Tribe. She breaks down the controversies happening in Spain over sheer inequity and sexism involving women’s soccer, even after the team just won its first World Cup! Basically, the head of Spain’s soccer federation is facing calls to resign (as well as possible prosecution) after he blatantly kissed a star player (on the lips and in front of the cameras) following Spain’s victory in the World Cup. Through a memo sent by Maria, she helps Alex understand why this incident is telling about the state of women’s sports even in countries that appear to be liberal and progressive. Even if this was not sexual assault, it normalizes a culture that must evolve. By the way, Maria will be back next week for the full interview!
In this episode, Alex starts with a pallet-cleansor. He notes that the singer of “Rich Men North of Richmond”, Oliver Anthony, has tried to distance himself from the right, that has adopted his song as their anthem. Anthony has noted that he is not on the right and his song is a criticism of both sides and should not be demagogued. For the rest of the episode, Alex deep dives into foreign policy. First, the Canadian government has discussed a game plan in response to what could happen if Donald Trump becomes president in 2025. Canada worries that the United States could deep dive into right-wing governance and it could jeopardize its relationships. Next, Alex talks about how the BRICS alliance (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) is trying to expand its membership as an alternative to the western model. However, Alex argues that it will see issues and threats to its growth. Also, Alex talks about how President Biden has actually bolstered democratic alliances and is working to make democracies safer around the world. Finally, Alex breaks down some parts from the Tucker Carlson - Viktor Orbán interview.
Every Sunday, Alex will be doing a new companion podcast (on this same stream) called The Sunday Countdown. This series will do a top ten countdown with a given theme that relates to geopolitics, domestic politics or foreign policy. The theme of each episode will usually stem from a pop culture category. In this first installment, Alex breaks down the James Bond series and finds the ten best Bond movies that have a plot centered in relevant geopolitics and pop culture. It should be noted that this countdown is not his “Top Ten Bond Movies”, this countdown is the top ten Bond films with the most relevant political backdrops or storylines.
In this episode, Alex breaks down the counterprograming that was the Trump-Tucker Interview that premiered during the Fox News 2024 debate. Through clips and analysis, Alex argues that Trump is running off of the fumes of projection, vitrial, and something very derranged.
In this episode, Alex conducts an in-depth analysis of the first 2024 GOP Presidential Debate. He discusses how every candidate responded to every question and also focuses on their reactions to the other candidates. Alex focuses on how the GOP is completely divided and numerous candidates vehemently disagree with one another.
In this episode, Alex argues that Yevgeny Prigozhin's ghost will haunt Putin for a long time. According to reports from the Associated Press, “Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was listed as a passenger on a plane that crashed Wednesday near Russia's Tver region, northwest of Moscow.” Alex breaks down why these events are fascinating inside of Russia, but also paint a troubling picture around what is happening outside of the country. For example, prior to his death, Prigozhin was calling for more aid towards his forces in the Sahel region of Africa. It seems like the Wagner Group is struggling in Russia, but could be gaining support inside of the African Continent.
In this episode, Alex focuses on why the GOP should be irritated about Ron DeSantis’s failing presidential campaign. He starts by going into new leaked memos from donors that highlight how DeSantis should attack others but defend Trump in the debates. Alex argues that this tactic is horrible and will make DeSantis look even weaker than before. For the rest of the episode, Alex conducts an autopsy of what went wrong and wonders what will happen in the general election — a lot of establishment Republicans turned on Trump and went all in for DeSantis.
In this episode, Alex takes listeners on a tour through the political and criminal chaos occurring in Latin America; he discusses how a good amount of these problems stem from the war on drugs, the rising influence of cartels from Colombia and Mexico, and how drug policy reform must stem from the United States and other actors in the region. Alex also notes that since the Colombian Peace referendum in 2016, former FARC members received amnesty; however, many bad actors on the left and the right have been involved in coup attempts in Venezuela and assassinations in Haiti and Ecuador. While Republcians want to militarize the southern border, Alex thinks reasonable drug policy reform is needed. Later, Alex looks into the new song “Rich Men North of Richmond.” It is blowing up in right-wing media and Alex argues that it is a faux populist hit that misses the mark but touches on important issues.
In this episode, Alex finally dives into why Saudi Arabia, under MBS, is getting involved in every sports league from the PGA Tour to Formula 1 and European Soccer. The country is also paying hundreds of millions to bring soccer stars like Karim Benzema and Christiano Ronaldo to play in the kingdom. Alex argues that this is bad for the historic culture of some of the sports and it is a way for MBS to try and liberalize Saudi Arabia while sportswashing its horrendous human rights record. Later in the episode, Alex gives an update on the state of democracy in Latin America; countries ranging from Mexico to Nicaragua to Brazil are seeing authoritarian crackdowns. Now, Ecuador is falling into chaos and martial law as a presidential candidate that invesgiated corruption was assassinated. Twenty years ago, the future of Latin America was looking bright; however, the current situation is looking more and more grim.
In this episode, Alex breaks down the Iowa State Fair and argues that it is a perfect microcosm for the state of the Republican Party. Alex uses videos and clips to argue that Trump is a force that the others cannot go against, and most of other candidates seem like they are going into the “has run for president” category. It is a shame because polls show that a significant portion of Iowan voters would entertain the idea of someone other than Trump.
In this episode, Alex is disappointed with Joe Rogan. Rogan has gone further down the rabbit hole and now seems to push conspiracies that he should do more research on. In this case, Rogan agrees that election fraud may have stolen the Arizona Gubernatorial election from Kari Lake (even though like 6 lawsuits say otherwise). Next, David Weiss has been appointed as the Special Counsel to investigate Hunter Biden and his tax evasion, gun related lies, and foreign connections. Alex thinks this is good news, but some think this is just camouflage to distract the public from the Joe-Hunter connection. Finally, Alex goes into Trump’s record of intimidating witnesses and judges are is concerned about where the actions may lead.
In this episode, Alex talks about how GOP voters have gotten to know Ron DeSantis and REALLY don’t like him. He is dropping further in the polls and Alex wonders when his time may finally be up. Next, Alex gets into some sports topics that can be related to politics and culture. He discusses the pending demise of the Pac-12 conference as more teams have left for bigger and wealthier conferences. Later, Alex discusses the right’s reaction to the US Women’s National Team losing to Sweden in the World Cup. Many commentators blame wokeness on the loss. Alex argues that this is absurd and the party has become solely focused on culture wars.
In this episode, Alex talks about how PragerU’s “selective curriculum” may be coming to a Florida K-12 school near you. The state of Florida has sanctioned public schools to use PragerU material (while also banning AP African American courses). Alex notes that this is all insane, while Florida leadership is banning “woke ideologies” it is allowing right-wing advocacy groups like PragerU to retcon history and promote American Exceptionalism. For the rest of the episode, Alex goes into how ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, is talking about sending forces into Niger if the democratically elected government is not restored. The drums of war are banging as the Russian-Wagner forces now control several militaries in the Sahel and diplomatic talks have failed. Alex worries that this could be a new proxy issue in the Ukrainian invasion/war.
In this episode, Alex finally dives into a topic that he has wanted to cover for a long time. He goes into the New Right, how the movement is really based on the Old Right, and why these views not only criticize democracy, but also challenge the underpinnings of our society. Alex goes into the Managerial class critiques from James Burnham, the rantings of Pat Buchanan, the monarchism of Curtis Yarvin, and the blatant neo-fascism and Greek love of the Bronze Age Pervert. Liberal Democracies have not seen a philisophical challege in a long time, and now it seems like the enemy is at the gates.
In this episode, Alex discusses how a desperate Ron DeSantis, with dropping poll numbers, is willing to debate Gavin Newsom. This will be interesting as this will be a battle between the governors of two states with very different ideologies. For the rest of the episode, Alex provides his anaysis and reaction to Christopher Nolan’s new film, Oppenheimer. Alex goes into its themes including the creator’s burden and how creation through science can be a brutal game balancing regret with power. He also goes into the poltics of the time, why the movie almost made him cry, and how the international community should take artificial intelligence more seriously.
In this episode, Alex starts by going into his hesitations around the credibility of Devon Archer, a former business associate of Hunter Biden that is going to testify about the Hunter/Joe connection. Alex thinks that this is all projection to downplay the seriousness of Donald Trump’s actions as president (though Hunter Biden clearly seems to be a criminal). For the rest of the episode, Alex discusses a controversial agreement between the European Union and Tunisia. The agreement has been endorsed by right-wing European leaders out of Italy and the Netherlands, and Tunisia is thrilled to get financial aid in return for border security and national stability. The agreement is controversial because the Tunisian government has cracked down on human rights and has politicized the immigration crisis. This conversation leads Alex into a discussion around why Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s Prime Minister, wants this deal to pass and why she is a controversial leader. She is a far-right politician that has both moderated her views and doubled down on some of her worst.
In this episode, Alex starts by going over the content he has recently been consuming. Then he goes into his thoughts on Ron DeSantis and why DeSantis really is a missed opportunity. Later, Alex talks about the coup in Niger that has officially been acknowledged and now African countries are sanctioning Niger. Also, Russia is holding out of the Black Sea Grain Deal and Alex has a theory about why that may be. Finally, Alex analyzes the recent UFO hearings featuring Retired Air Force Maj. David Grusch. At first, the hearings are convincing but with more research, they feel like a game of telephone that loses credibility quickly. While aliens may exist, it seems like this may be the wrong example.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how the Florida Board of Education’s new K-12 curriculum is propagandizing history (especially slavery). It is downplaying the uniqueness of American slavery to promote American exceptionalism. Next, Alex plays a press conference that Senator Mitch McConnell gave. In the video, McConnell noticeably freezes for over 19 seconds and is taken back to his office. Later in the episode, there has been another coup in the Sahel Region of Africa. The area is known as Africa’s “Coup Belt” and the recent coup attempt has occurred in Niger, which has been known as a bastion of democracy and fair elections in the region. There are worries that this coup (if accurately portrayed) could make the fight against jihadism and radicalism more difficult. Finally, it looks like Spain’s national elections had better (or less terrible) results than expected. Alex looks at how the far-right party, Vox, did worse than expected and now the center-left and center-right are deadlocked in a coalition-building game of chicken.
In this episode, Alex (a big fan) takes a deep dive into the recent controversy (or non-troversy) involving Jason Aldean and his new song “Try That in a Small Town.” The song is a strong criticism of the BLM protests, the left, and more. While Alex may not agree with Aldean on every issue, he thinks the song is expected and is receiving unnecessary backlash. Alex discusses the double standards of how there are countless pop and rap songs that get overly political. He also gets into some of his criticism of Aldean — mainly Alex thinks that he didn’t need to fight fire with fire and could have taken a more positive (high) road.
There is a far-right party in Germany called the Alternative for Democracy (AFD) and it is surging in rural and former East German regions. In the national elections in 2021, AFD had close to 10% of support. Alex is worried that the country could be in a conundrum because current polls show that AFD has over 20% of support for a general election. While the other parties could freeze the AFD out of coalition politics, it is now hard to justify doing so when 1/5 of the population may support this extreme party that supports tryanny, illiberal politics, and strong anti-immigration policies. Later in the podcast, Alex goes into recent events happening in Darfur, which is in Western Sudan. New reports paint a troubling and disturbing picture — it looks like the Darfur genocide could be happening once again. Alex discusses how the groups involved in the 2003-2005 events are still existant in the conflict. He also looks into how the breakdown in Sudan is going to get much worse and solutions are limited.
In this episode, Alex takes a tour through the Blaze event featuring Tucker Carlson that went live from the 2023 Family Leadership Summit. This is one of the largest Christian, and conservative, conferences in the United States and Alex breaks down all of the craziness and how it will impact foreign policy (and some domestic). Alex looks at how Vivek Ramaswamy is running on fumes such as faith, freedom, and family; however, he also is lying about January 6th and thinks that woke corporations have created all of our woes. Next, Alex looks at how Mike Pence was roasted at the summit by Tucker Carlson because he supports Ukraine. Finally, Alex goes to a CNN interview between Jake Tapper and Ron DeSantis.
In this episode, Alex focuses mainly on Ukraine but he starts with a new RFK Jr. conspiracy about how the COVID pandemic “may” have been targeted to kill certain communities and spare the Chinese and Jewish communities. For the rest of the episode, Alex dives into some troubling (and verified) reports out of Ukraine around a new gulag system that is locking up pro-Ukranian people and instilling terror in Ukraine and Russia. Alex also goes through reports that discuss how over 20,000 Ukraine children have gone missing since the war started. Some children have been erased from Ukrainian systems and have been brought to Russia to be adopted and mixed into the Russia culture. Alex is heartbroken and discusses how these events may constitute cultural genocide of the Ukraine people.
In this episode, Alex starts by going over a fairly ridiculous report about an RFK Jr. campaign dinner. Apparently, different individuals at the group disagreed over the importance of climate change and one of the individuals ended up getting enraged and farting to emphasize his point that climate change is a hoax. This seems to be a literal example of how the RFK Jr. campaign is pulling together a strange and diverse group of grifters and this campaign may have hit its peak as it implodes due to hot gas. Next, Alex goes over an interesting news story surrounding the upcoming Barbie movie. The movie has been banned in Vietnam because the there is a scene that depicts the South China Sea with the “nine-dash-line.” This line is recognized by China and violates the sovereign waters of many countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia. Alex goes into the details of why this matters. Later, Alex gives an update on Tommy Tuberville. The senator is still blocking Eric Smith from leading the Marine Corps. This could lead to hundreds of impacts to lower postions and staffing issues. Tuberville is doing this because he thinks the Pentagon is woke since it is paying for servicewomen to travel to get abortions. Finally, Alex talks about sleep, his struggles with sleep, why he thinks melatonin is useless, and how a new report on Melatonin seems to show a national issue due to rising overdoses amongst children.
In this Saturday special, Alex goes into another issue that keeps him up at night. Alex firmly believes that Donald Trump has a decent chance of becoming president once again. However, there is now an intellectual side of the MAGA movement that includes think-tanks, media organizations, and actual policies to go along with America First politics. It seems like the right is focused on making Trump’s second term more effective and less chaotic. Alex argues that this is horrible. He goes into Schedule F and how its legal theory could purge the civil service in a second Trump administration. Then he goes into the strange dynamics that occur in authoritarianism and fascism. There seems to be a contradiction between freedom and control; however, many fascists claim to be using authoritarian powers to bring freedom to their base. It does seem like the right is moving in that direction and Alex worries that a second Trump term could be really horrendous.
In this episode, the so-called “whistleblower” or informant that some GOP members have said went missing has turned up. It is a guy named Gal Luft and he is quite unique and has a life that sounds like he would fit well into a James Bond movie. Luft claims to have informed the government about Hunter Biden and potentially Joe Biden having ties with the Chinese government. Luft is now somewhere. He was arrested in Cyprus and is now running from the law after working with the Chinese government and dealing weapons to Libya. He also helped Iran evade US sanctions. Alex breaks down all of the conspiracies around the Biden family and thinks most are contradictory. Later, Alex talks about how we are in the bad vibes economy and there are looming strikes at UPS. Also, Hollywood actors are now also on strike along with the writers. Finally, Alex talks about the GOP 2024 race and discusses how some candidates are trying to give financial incentives to donors so that they can make it to the debates. Alex wonders if this is legal.
In this episode, Alex feels obligated to cover a range of topics. He starts by discussing a recent and difficult conversation he had with someone recently about race, class, and the future. Next, Alex takes his listeners on a tour that stops at every stop of the craziness that is now the GOP. He looks at Senator Tuberville denying white nationalists are racist, George Santos comparing himself to Rosa Parks, and Mike Lindell blaming everyone else but himself for the collapse of MyPillow. Finally, Alex describes the situation between Turkey and NATO. Turkey is not supporting a bid to let Sweden join NATO, why now?
In this episode, Alex talks about an actual Hunter Biden scandal that could hurt the Biden Administration. Then he goes into reports that the United States will supply cluster munition to Ukraine. Cluster munitions are banned in many countries and are controversial due to their ability to threaten civilians. Unexploded cluster munitions, or duds, can be a serious threat to the safety of civillians. Alex is concerned about this decision and worries that it could divide the United States and its allies, it also may cause some form of an escalation.
In this episode, Alex starts by going over why he thinks the US needs to redefine what it means to be patriotic because it seems like it is another term that has become politisized. Next, he talks about a new ad from Ron DeSantis that embrases an anti-LGBTQ+ crusade and attacks Trump for being “pro-LGBTQ+.” Alex discusses how absurd the ad is and also notes how divisive and extreme it is. Later in the podcast, the White House was evacuated after a white powder was found. The powder turned out to be cocaine and now there are more questions than answers about why it was found in a part of the West Wing open to guests. Finally, Alex breaks down the coalition system in Spain and notes that the left is tearing itself apart as former coalitions are falling apart and the right is trying to take advantage of this schism. It is possible that for the first time in almost three decades, the Partido Popular (the center-right party), and Partido Socialista Obrero Español (the center-left party), could lose influence.
In this episode, Alex starts by going over a new government report that highlights the logistical failures of both the Trump Administration and Biden Administration in pulling out of Afghanistan. Next, Alex talks about why the right is fixated on birthright citizenship. Specifically, many 2024 candidates are talking about repealing birthright citizenship. Alex argues this could be dangerous and is in contrast to the American experience. Finally, Alex breaks down an interseting US Army fact sheet from 1945 that highlights the threat of Fascism. The fact sheet eerily serves as a time capsule into the current democratic crises going on in the world.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about how a realignment in our politics may have been sped up by what some call “a hinge moment.” Basically, some people have the tools to prosper in a changing economy while others feel the wind is blowing in their face. Next, Brazil’s electoral court has actually barred Jair Bolsonaro from running for office until 2030. This is a big deal considering the United States was unable to hold Trump accountable after January 6th and his election disinformation. Finally, Alex looks into the Supreme Court’s recent decisions. SCOTUS axed Biden’s Student Loand Forgiveness program and it also axed affirmative action. Alex shares his complex views on both.
In this episode, Alex starts with a clip of Senator Rick Scott’s stupid travel advisory where he tells people traveling to Florida that the “free state of Florida” will not allow communists and socialists to travel there. Alex laughs at the absurdity of this video. He also starts with a worrying clip where 2024 presidential nominee Francis Suarez says in an interview that he does not know who the Uyghurs are. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about the Wagner Groups growing influence in Africa and how it may change after the clashes between the mercenary group and the Russian government. He also talks about how a recent restaurant bombing in Ukraine by Russian forces highlights the tragedies of living in Ukraine during this war. Finally, Alex also goes over some new polling that shows Donald Trump beating Joe Biden in a hypothetical 2024 general election.
In this episode, Alex is exhausted with how disengenous most political figures have become. He starts by going over the released recording of Donald Trump discussing the classified documents involving Iran. It does not look good for Trump as he openly contradicts the legal arguments he has been using. Next, Alex is angry but not surprised about how Marjorie Tayloer Green and Elise Stefanik want to expunge Donald Trump’s impeachments. Now, Kevin McCarthy has said he agrees with expunging these impeachments. Alex does not think this will do anything but it can gaslight the average American voter. Later, Alex notes that Jesse Waters is going to take Tucker Carlson’s slot and it looks like the company has given up on trying to be bold. Finally, an Atlantic article argues that RFK Jr. is the first MAGA Democrat; Alex reacts and agrees. He also breaks down why he thinks RFK Jr. is complex and fascinating (though he would never support this current version).
In this episode, Alex starts by telling his listeners that he is worried about the growing woke backlash and why he thinks Trump could win some confused voters by default. He plays some new speeches where Trump promises to ban birthright citizenship and another speech where Trump wants to use the federal government to limit communists and leftists from entering the country. Next, Alex looks into the recent revelations out of Russia. The Wagner Group turned around and in a deal brokered with Belarus, its leader, Yevegeny Prigozhin, will be exiled and his soldiers absorbed into the Russia military. Alex argues that Putin is scared and his regime is cracking. Once again, he has made martrys out of his rivals and this time, Prigozhin has a populist force behind him — it is no longer about the man. Finally, Alex goes back to the United States to discuss how SCOTUS has been favorable to Biden recently. One decision has affirmed that immigration is the domain of the federal government, the other will investigate the gerrymandered districts in Louisiana.
In this episode, Alex starts by getting into how recent affairs are getting in Russia. It truly looks like a breakdown of stability could be coming. Then Alex gets into his defense on why Dr. Peter Hotez should not feel obligated to debate RFK JR. who mainly peddles in a myriad of conspiracies that only compile as time goes on. Alex then goes into the issues that Joe Biden may face in the 2024 election, these include Cornell West, the “No Labels Party” (which cannot disclose anything), and the potential that RFK Jr. runs as a third party. Finally, Alex looks into Adam Schiff’s roasting of John Durham during his hearing and why the Durham Report has been effective for both sides but ineffective for the truth. Ironically, Schiff has been censured by the House of Representatives yet George Santos runs strong.
Alex is back with his second podcast of the day. In this emergency pod, Alex breaks down recent stories coming out of Russia in which the Kremlin has warned that the Wagner Group, headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, is attempting a coup. While a coup does not seem likely, it does look like relations between both sides have broken down and internal fighting may occur. Alex goes into his thoughts about what could be next.
In this episode, Alex starts by going through his fascination over the public fascination of the Titan submersible tragedy. He goes through the tragedy, the ironies of the catastrophy, and why it appears like this fiasco could have been prevented. Next, Alex talks about new reports that discuss how Germany is going to increase its military spending to meet NATO’s goal of 2% of GDP. It seems like Germany is changing due to rising security threats from the War in Ukraine and worries towards China. Alex then discusses a new report that (potentially) names three scientists from the Wuhan Insitute of Virology that could be patient zeroes for getting COVID-19. If these reports are true, this could prove that the virus came from a lab and not nature; however, Alex is sceptical. Finally, new revelations from ProPublica shine a light on more ethical violations in the Supreme Court. This time, these allegations involve Justice Samuel Alito taking trips to Alaska with a billionaire named Paul Singer. Alex worries that the court truly has a legitimacy crisis and Justice Roberts must do something about it.
In this special episode, Alex reunites with his friend, and former co-host on the Tonic Accord Podcast, Drew Knepley. It has been almost two years since they last recorded a podcast together and they discuss many of the political issues facing the United States. They talk about the new political divide which could be less right/left and more anywhere people versus somewhere people. They also talk about the right’s LGBTQ panic, Trump’s indictment, Hunter Biden’s issues, the 2024 election, RFK Jr., Hunter Biden, and the horseshoe effect impacting politics. It seems like a lot has changed since the two recorded in 2021.
In this episode, Alex starts by expressing his concerns about the candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. RFK Jr. is seeming more and more like a fifth column inside of the Democratic Party that could be bad for Biden and worse for Democracy. Next, Alex discusses his fear of submarines and then goes into how he is troubled that the Bud Light boycott has been successful. He goes into why this boycott has worked and why he is worried about the precedent it will set. Finally, Alex looks into a California commission that has studied reparations. He discusses why he thinks reparations for the descendents of slaves are well-intentioned but may neglect to solve a bigger issue in the United States — class anger and division.
In this episode, Alex starts by sharing his thoughts on why Vivek Ramaswamy and why he is a unique candidate that has interesting domestic views but atrocious views involving Ukraine. Alex wonders if Ramaswamy is running to be president or to be part of a Trump cabinet. Next, the Fox News chyron called Biden a “wannabe dictator” that was going after his political rival (Donald Trump). Alex wonders why this was no immediately taken down and how this happened. He notes that this is a perfect summarization of how Fox News has created fear and division. Finally, he talks about reports of a Chinese military base in Cuba. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is concerned that the Chinese may be using the base to intercept American transmissions since Florida is only about 100 miles away. Alex notes that the United States had the chance to bring Cuba to the table, instead Trump pushed Cuba towards China and now an opportunity may have been missed.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing why Chris Christie is important for this debate cycle and must get on the stage. He plays part of Christie’s CNN Town Hall where he explains why he broke from Trump over the election lies. Christie discusses how there is no evidence and that Trump used the power of the presidency to erode trust. Next, Alex talks about the death of Cormack McCarthy, a drop in inflation, and why a new AI Beatles song terrifies him. For the rest of the episode, Alex goes into what the MAGA movement has become and why he thinks it is a rare political movement in the United States. He talks about how Trumpism seems to indulge the id and primordial tribalism of its followers and has unsealed something deep and dark that lives in all of us. Alex notes that this form of populism has been prevalent in Europe for decades, but usually US politics is attached to consensus and honoring the rule of law. Instead, Trumpism sees violence through power and places Trump as the avatar for indulgence and breaking from the status quo. As Trump has called for retribution (again), Alex worries that things could get quite dark if Trump comes back into power.
In this episode, Alex sits in his car during his lunch break and listens to a huge thunderstorm come in while he talks. He discusses Trump’s appearence in a Miami court, which starts on Tuesday. Trump has plead not guilty and is also struggling to get a good attorney with national security experience. Alex shares his thoughts on the potential for violence, Judge Cannon, and more! Finally, Alex tells the audience why the new live-action Disney movies scare him.
In this episode, Alex starts by going over how Fox News hosts like Jesse Watters are using the COVID lies playbook to politisize the smoke from wildfires in Canada and downplay the impact of climate change. Once again, Fox News is politisizing an unnecessary issue. Next, Alex discusses how New Hampshire’s governor, Chris Sununu, has said he will not run for president in 2024. Sununu changed his mind, admitting that all efforts must be made to stop Trump from becoming president. Also, Chris Christie and Mike Pence are in the race. Alex notes that Mike “Milquetoast” Pence has no hope, and while Christie does not either, he has an agenda and a goal to attack Trump. Later in the podcast, Alex talks about Jack Smith’s indictment of Donald Trump over his mishandling and coverup of classified documents. While the coverup seems to be part of the issue, Alex is more concered about the national security fiasco that Trump has created. Finally, Alex looks into who blew up the Kakhovka dam in Southern Ukraine and discusses how the Ukrainian counter-offensive is going.
In this “Driving Through” episode, Alex and Cole drive through Utah, riffing about their recent experience in Zion National Park and why it seems like national parks are getting too busy and chaotic. Does the government make more parks? Does it abolish them? They also talk about their fascination with Utah, Mike Pence running for president, and why RFK Jr. may be a thorn in Joe Biden’s side.
In this new installment of Alex’s “Driving Through” series, he is in the car with Cole Costello. Cole literally takes the driver’s seat. He is a frequent guest, has a history graduate degree, and is a history expert living in Los Angeles. As they drive through Nevada’s Great Basin, they discuss why mining movements are important for labor, why socialism has been misconceived (Alex pushes back), and why democracy is failing (they can’t find one defintion that works). The two discuss how late-era Rome provides a mirror into America’s failures (as ideology becomes isolated, parties alientate the other). They also talk about the Lovelock caves (and REAL legends of giants), why autocracy is appealing (because people don’t trust the other), why Trump is eroding our institutions, and how religious fundamentalism led to radical individualism (think the Dutch and British imperialism). The two also touch on Cleopatra, social identity, reparations, and why Joe Biden has been better than expected (though he still shouldn’t run again).
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing/celebrating the news that the House of Representatives passed the Biden-McCarthy debt resolution. However, over 70 Republicans and almost 50 Democrats voted against it. Donald Trump also has come out against the bill. Next, Alex talks about the drone strikes in residential buildings in Moscow and what it means for the war. Later, Tara Reade, a woman that accused Joe Biden of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s, is now moving to Russia to get citizenship. Alex things she is a fraud and liar. Finally, Alex reacts to Novak Djokovic’s comments regarding ethnic Serbs living in Kosovo. Once again, Djokovic has been controversial and is pissing off the tennis community.
In this episode, Alex starts by brushing over the election in Turkey that went into a runoff on Sunday. Unfortunately, Erdogan won once again and is now going to enter into his third decade as the leader of Turkey. Alex questions whether the election was truly fair, but either way he knows that it will be bad for democracy and bad news for secularism. Next, Alex dances in a small puddle of Schadenfreude because Texas’ Attorney General, Ken Paxton, was impeached for violating numerous policies involving a powerful real estate developer. Moderate Republicans even voted to impeach Paxton as MAGA Republicans are threatening those that voted to impeach him. As the impeachment now moves to the senate for the trial, Alex is worried that Paxton could still survive. Finally, Alex is surprised but happy that Joe Biden and Kevin McCarthy ended up striking a deal over the debt ceiling debacle. After all the chaos and looming deadline, the deal is actually not bad for either side and has some moderate spending cuts along with sustained programs that Biden pushed forward in the Inflation Reduction Act. Alex argues that the agreement was good for the center of American politics but could be bad for the Republicans.
In this episode, Alex talks about his concerns surrounding a cross-border raid into the Russian border region of Belgorod. The details are still murky, but it looks like different paramilitary, nationalist legions wanted to destablize Russian forces, liberate villages, and take Russian reserves off of the front lines. According to the Econonomist, the fighting included “an illegal crossing from Ukraine into Belgorod, a Russian region on the border, by tanks and infantry fighting vehicles; the death of at least one border guard; farm buildings on fire; a downed helicopter; traffic jams of fleeing locals; and the reported evacuation of a nuclear-arms facility several kilometers into Russian territory.” Alex discusses how it appeaars that most of these fighters were far-right Russian nationalists that have been working with the Ukrainian government. Alex is concerned that some of these paramilitary groups have white supremacist and far-right ideologies and want to topple the Putin Regime so that they can make Russia a mono-ethnic state. Alex argues that while the Ukrainian government and this forces have shared interests right now, once the war settles down there may be a new power vacuum created in Russia that could cause chaos and violence.
In this episode, Alex starts by wondering why Russia just signed a deal with Belarus to store nuclear weapons there. Next, he looks into atrocious reports of racism towards Real Madrid’s star, Vinicius Jr. As Spain wants to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Morocco, many are concerned that racism at football matches is prevalent, and the Spanish football league, La Liga, can’t do anything about it. Alex then gets into the hyperlocalized social media app Nextdoor. He discusses how recent news events have shown that local elections have been influenced by misinformation that has been spread and supported on Nextdoor. He looks into solutions and how the app is bringing illiberalism to local politics. Finally, Alex takes a deep dive into Ron DeSantis and why he is not a good alternative to Donald Trump. It seems like both Trump and DeSantis have harnessed a dangerous form of populism and DeSantis is not a viable alternative to anyone.
In this last minute episode, Alex does an emergency episode reacting to Ron DeSantis’ chaotic presidential campaign announcement that just finished on Twitter Spaces. It was a disaster and Alex thinks this shows how incompetent DeSantis is.
In this episode, Alex focuses the events of the podcast on three politicians. He starts by going over why he thinks RFK Jr. is not a strong candidate and would not be a good president. Alex plays a recent interview where RFK Jr. shows that his views on vaccination could be a problem if a global health crisis occurred. It seems like his distrust in government instititions could backfire. Next, it looks like Ron DeSantis is going to officially announce his presidency next week. Alex still wonders who will vote for DeSantis — he has no appeal, no backbone, and has alienated both Trump supporters and Never-Trumpers. Finally, Alex looks into new revelations around Dianne Feinstein. A new interview is very troubling where she seems unaware that she was not in the senate over the last few months. She also claims she was working and voting the whole time.
In this episode, Alex starts with Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow. Lindell is now asking for people to buy MyPillow stock after he spent over $40 million dollars of his own money to challenge the 2020 election. Next, Alex goes into the Durham Report and why it is a fascinating report. Alex thinks it is an underwhelming document that shows procedural issues inside of the FBI; however, many Trump-allies and Republicans seem to think that this is one of the most important documents that exposes government corruption. David Frum says it best in an article in The Atlantic, he says the report provides “an excuse and escape to Republicans and conservatives who want to protect Trump without outright defending him. Durham tells the story of Trump-Russia while deleting both Trump and Russia.” Finally, Alex looks into another situation that has Netflix on the brink in Egypt. A new Netflix docu-series on Cleopatra has sparked outrage in Egypt, Alex wants to know why and digs into the history of cultural appropriation and western control of Egypt’s history. The Egyptian people may be frustrated with this new documentary because once again, it takes agency away from the Egyptian people and allows an American filmmaker to apply their own politics to a sensitive cultural issue.
In this episode, Alex talks about a new lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani. In this new controversy, he has been excused of sexual acts towards employees, sexual assault, blackmail, antisemetic language, heavy drinking, viagra-popping acts, and a pardon peddling scheme with Donald Trump. Once again, America’s Mayor is drunken and viagra-riddled shell of himself. Also, Trump could be implicated in this case. Next, Alex discusses how the new Republican led investigation/conspiracy into Joe Biden is coming up short. Now it sounds like the House Oversight Committee has lost the whistleblower that was meant to testify against Biden; some in the Republican media are peddling conspiracies about these whistlblowers getting taken out. Alex notes that this is another disasterous wild goose hunt to frame the Bidens and normalize Trump’s actions. Finally, Alex goes over a leaked memo from an anonymous Google employee that talks about how the barriers of entry into developing LLM A.I. programs has been lowered. This may mean that companies like Google and Microsoft may not be able to hold on a monopoly over the technology. Is a decentralized AI economy good or bad for the world?
In this episode, Alex starts with some thoughts about Lindsay Graham and how he is a perfect case study into the GOP’s fall towards Trumpism. Then he talks about why diversity of opinion is important for a political party, and why the GOP may be stuck in homogeneity. Next, Alex discusses a recent attack at the office of a Democratic Congressman in Virginia. The perpetrator attacked two staffers with a baseball bat and caused mass damage and chaos. Alex notes that the man who attacked the staffers is crazy, had said delusional things about the CIA, and seemed to despise the government. Finally, it looks like a recent election in Thailand may be good for democracy. Alex mentions that this is the first time a progressive, opposition party, has done well in Thailand since the military coup in 2014. While these results were good in Thailand, the Thai elites and the military may still be able to control the outcome.
In this episode, Alex discusses the current debt ceiling crisis from multiple different angles. First, he worries that Joe Biden is engaged in a dangerous game of 4D chicken with Kevin McCarthy. It seems like McCarthy is willing to crash the economy because he knows that if he works with Biden, the crazies in his party will use a no-confidence vote to get rid of him. Game theory can be dangerous if one party has nothing to lose. Next, Alex looks at how some Democrats are looking at a clause in the 14th Amendment that could argue that this debt ceiling fight is unconstitutional. Finally, Alex analyzes Donald Trump’s comments about the debt ceiling.
In this episode, Alex starts by breaking down CNN’s Town Hall with Donald Trump which turned out to be a complete disaster. Alex asks his audience — what was the point of this town hall? In the 70 minute event, Trump made jokes about sexual assault victims, said he would pardon J6 members, couldn’t commit to supporting Ukraine, and basically said he would not accept the election results if he lost. Next, Alex looks at how chaos may be looming at the southern border. The COVID-era Title 42 is set to expire at midnight on May 11th and it looks like there may be uncertainity at the border. Finally, Alex worries that Syria’s murderous leader, Bashar al-Assad is being welcomed back into the international community as many countries have recognized that he is going to remain Syria’s president for years to come. Alex discusses how this brings up a moral dilemma — should nation’s continue to sanction and isolate a pariah country, even when it still remains?
In this episode, Alex starts by analyzing a new Fox News interview with Tulsi Gabbard who has truly become a right-wing useful idiot. In this case, she attacks the trans community as having delusions and living fantasies. Next, Alex looks into the curious cases of Donald Trump and George Santos. Both are facing legal issues and federal investigations. Also, both have been fraudsters and conmen, involved in endless chicanery and lies. It looks like both would have gotten away with their actions if they didn’t run for office and get caught in the political limelight. Later, Alex worries that the CNN Town Hall with Donald Trump will be a mess and it will be hard to keep up with Trump’s lies. Finally, Alex talks about the upcoming presidential election in Turkey and why it is important for global liberalism, democracy, and NATO.
In this episode, Alex talks about Tucker Carlson announcing that he will do a show on Twitter. At the same time, Carlson’s lawyers appear to be going after Fox News and will challenge his no compete contract that keeps him on contract with the network until 2025. It looks like things are going to get ugly between the two parties. Next, Alex goes into some worrying poll numbers from an ABC News/Washington Post poll. The poll shows that Trump may have a six point lead on Biden, it also shows that Biden’s approval numbers have declined, and that a vast amount of Americans question his ability to continue doing the job. Alex rants for a good amount of time about the “X Factors” going into the presidential election. Finally, Alex touches over new reports regarding George Santos. Apparently he is being charged by federal prosecutors.
In this episode, Alex starts by speculating about whether Tucker Carlson will challenge Fox News. He also discusses how some new leaks actually may help Carlson and could hurt Fox News. Next, Alex looks at the death (or maybe murder) of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway a week ago. Alex argues that this case is not black and white. Later, Alex dives into the previous weekend of mass shootings in the United States that put the country to over 202 mass shootings in 2023. Finally, Alex rants about a new Chinese movie called Born to Fly. Some worry that the movie could normalize a war between the United States and China. The Economist notes that “ ‘Born to Fly’ is ‘Top Gun’ with added nationalist grievance and no sex. If it is a hit in China’s cinemas, it should alarm the world like a beaten drum.”
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about the Writer’s Guild strike that is impacting Hollywood and has caused numerous shows to go dark. Next, Alex asks the audience — should there be more requirements to be President of the United States? There have been constitutional amendments for term limits, could there be some added requirements if an individual wants to hold the highest elected office in the United States? Alex notes that the election of Trump would have confounded the founding fathers whom believed the system would only allow the most virtuous to hold elected office. Later, Alex talks about a new GOP-led investigation into President Biden. The accusations come from a whistblower that claims Biden was involved in a bribery scheme with a foreign power. Of course, there are no details and even some Republicans admit the details are vague. Finally, Alex reports on two mass shootings that have occurred in Serbia on consecutive days. The government is quickly responding; however, Serbia has a large amount ofmilitary-grade weapons left over from the wars in the 1990s.
In this episode, Alex starts by going over a recent rant from the right-wing podcaster Steven Crowder. Crowder seems to imply that he does not support no-fault divorce laws and Alex worries that no-fault laws may be the next target in the right’s culture war. Next, Alex looks into a recent drone attack that occurred outside the Kremlin. Russia has blamed the United States and Ukraine, it also is now looking to escalate the conflict and wants to eliminate the Kyiv government. Alex argues that this was likely a false flag event and gives reasons why Russia would do this. Finally, Alex looks into a recent trend of regional bank failures and discusses whether this is a worrying trend or just a phenomenon happening to a few outliers. Also, as the debt ceiling crisis looms, Alex worries that the Democrats and Republicans are playing with fire.
In this episode, Alex is happy that Kevin McCarthy defended Ukraine during a press conference in Ukraine. This tells Alex that there is some hope. Next, Alex looks at how CNN will be holding a town hall with Donald Trump next week. It seems like the media did not learn from past failures and is willing to give Trump airtime. Alex worries that it is looking like 2016 all over again. Normalizing Trump is dangerous and it will help him. Finally, Alex rants about Governor Greg Abbott’s vile comments after a tragedy in which a family of five was shot outside their home in Texas. Abbott focused on the immigration status of the victims in a vile attempt to inject politics into the tragedy.
In this episode, Alex starts by playing the RNC attack ad on President Biden that was completely generated with artificial intelligence. He quotes sources that worry that by the 2024 election, artificial intelligence will heavily impact the results and how people vote. Next, Alex looks into Nikki Haley’s recent shots at Ron DeSantis that revolve around Disney. Haley says that Disney should just move to South Carolina because it would be more than welcome there. Later, Alex talks about Mike Pence testifying before the grand jury for the 2020 election chaos. The special counsel, led by Jack Smith, appears to be coming to an end. Finally, Alex looks into recent Chinese initiatives that look to bring harmony, regional diplomacy, and economic cooperation to different parts of the world. Alex worries that China hopes to challenge the west and is looking to push its “civilizational society” on liberal parts of the world.
In this episode, Alex talks about word salads, Tucker Carlson’s martyrdom, why a third party could spoil democracy, and how an ex-Fugees rapper was involved in a multi-national conspiracy.
- Alex starts by covering two recent word salads produced by key political figures. One salad was made by Kamala Harris who again tried to give a philisophical speech about the moment we are living in, and instead confused everyone. The second salad was made by Tucker Carlson who finally spoke out after his ousting at Fox News. After a few days of reflection, Alex discusses why he thinks the firing of Fox News was a bad idea both politically and financially for Fox News.
- Next, Alex analyzes Biden’s announcement to run for reelection in 2024 and why he thinks Biden could beat Trump. However, Alex worries that “No Labels” a third party option could prove to be a spoiler for Democrats and democracy, because the group has made unfair comparisons to Trump and Biden. Because there are more moderates remaining in the Democratic Party, Alex argues that “No Labels” would just take votes from Biden.
- Finally, the former-rapper, Pras Michel, was found guilty in an international influence case. The case sounds like a political thriller involving Malyasia, China, and the United States. The scheme tried to influnce two presidential administrations (Trump and Obama) and it involved testimonies from Leonardo DiCaprio and Jeff Sessions.
In this episode, Alex starts with an update on the chaos going on in Sudan; recent reports show that the Wagner Group has been highly involved with helping the paramilitary fight the military. Next on the episode, Alex is excited to announce that both Fox News and CNN had chaotic days. First, Tucker Carlson is out at Fox News; Alex argues that Tucker was fired as the sacrifical lamb for all of Fox’s current issues. Second, Don Lemon was fired from CNN and he is not happy. Alex thinks that Tucker will do just fine without Fox; however, Lemon is likely done. Finally, Alex talks about AI generated songs, how AI generated music may involve the uncanny valley of audio, and why there are many issues with this form of “music.”
In this Saturday episode, Alex catches up on some topics he could not get to during the week. He starts by going through an odd video that Marco Rubio (Little Marco) put out on Twitter. Rubio seems to blame others for his own state’s fuel crisis and says that “they” are not doing enough. Next, Alex argues that governors should focus on the issues in their own states instead of nationalizing their issues and going on political rhetoric tours. He notes that Governor Gavin Newsom should focus on using his supermajority in California to solve the state’s many issues. Instead, Newsom has been going around the country attacking Republican states where he has no influence. Later, Alex goes into the moral dilemmas that many Americans feel about gun ownership in a heavily armed society. Finally, Alex argues that centrists are misunderstood. As a centrist himself, he argues that centrism is not a political ideology that is a midpoint between two extremes. Instead, centrism is more of a practical way to engage in politics and use nuance and pragmatism to be open-minded.
In this episode, Alex covers a range of topics that focus on domestic politics. First, he looks into Ron DeSantis’ new battle with Disney, and why he is once again losing it. Alex also looks into how donors and Republicans in Congress are turning on DeSantis and going towards Trump or even people like Glenn Youngkin. It seems like DeSantis has a real problem as many donors find his recent actions to be too radical and divisive. Alex argues that DeSantis needed to be an establishment alternative to Trump, not a more extreme version. Next, Alex responds to the breaking news around the Supreme Court protecting access to mifepristone, a widely used abortion drug. Later, Alex looks into a racist, violent, and unsettling recording that was leaked in Oklahoma. The recording features a sheriff, deputies, and a county commissioner. The recording includes plans to attack a local newspaper, plans to threaten a district attorney, and it features the public officials reflecting on the days when public lynchings were acceptable. Finally, Alex reflects on the culture of paranoia and rage that has made no one safe from gun violence in the United States.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing his concerns around Trump running AGAIN in 2028. He goes through different opinions around this issue and why it makes sense since Trump is morally corrupt, struggles to move on after losses, and has nothing better to do. Alex also notes that the Republicans should have convicted him during the impeachment back in 2021. Next, it looks like Robert Kennedy Jr. is running for president on the Democratic side. Alex discusses why he is saddened about RFK Jr.’s fall from grace, why his vaccine views are dangerous, and why he is more appealing to the right than the left. Finally, Alex finally shares his thoughts on Dianne Feinstein and why it is insane that Senate Democrats are defending her and turning criticism towards her remaining in the senate into attacks on her gender and age.
In this episode, Alex starts by going through Tucker Carlson’s new interview with Elon Musk. He focuses on the parts about artificial intelligence and how Elon Musk has plans to create a more open and uncensored AI Chatbot. Next, Alex is somewhat disappointed to learn that Fox News has settled its defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems. Fox News has already lost credibility and its reputation is in shambles; however, Alex wishes that people like Tucker Carlson had to testify under oath. Finally, Alex dives into the recent violence and devastation in Sudan as two militarized factions are fighting over power.
In this episode, Alex focuses on three of the different people (likely) running against Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. He looks at how Tim Scott has announced his exploration campaign to consider running for president. Alex thinks that Scott could never win and is merely trying out to be Trump’s VP. He then looks at how Nikki Haley is killing it at fundraising so far and is effectively appealing to women; Haley also is chipping away at DeSantis support and is starting to attack Trump. Alex also looks at how Ron DeSantis has been influential in passing another controversial bill, this time it is a radical anti-immigration bill that will send shockwaves of fear through the migrant community. The bill is similar to the abortion ban and the “Don’t Say Gay” bill as it limits freedoms and targets citizens in the process. Alex wonders why DeSantis is trying to pass these messaging bills.
In this episode, Alex starts with breaking news regarding the arrest of an individual associated with the leak of classified Pentagon documents. Next, Alex goes through some highlights from a recent Tucker Carlson interview with Donald Trump. Unsurprisingly, Trump is more deranged than ever and Tucker just sits back and shows that he is back in Trump’s good graces. Later in the episode, Alex goes into the ProPublica report that exposed problematic gifts, trips, and adventures between Clarence Thomas and Harlan Crow. Alex goes into who Crow is, why Thomas, a Supreme Court Justice, should not take these gifts, and why judges need more ethics oversight. Finally, Alex looks a chaotic string of lawsuits in New York City. Trump has sued Michael Cohen, Alvin Bragg has sued Jim Jordan, and everything is just entertaining to watch.
In this episode, Alex starts by ranting about airline etiquette and why he is done giving up a seat for someone. For the next segment, Alex goes into a tale of two decisions involving an abortion pill called Mifepristone; it is responsible for almost half of abortions in the United States. One judge, the conservative one from Texas, has denied the FDA and has said the drug should be banned. The other judge, a liberal in Washington, has said the federal government should maintain support for the drug. Alex discusses the contradictions of a conservative judge challenging the FDA for approving something and why this precedent is bad for other ideologically charged drugs. Later, Alex looks into the Florida bill that has passed that Florida Senate and would ban most forms of abortion at only six weeks. It seems like DeSantis has gone too far and most Floridians support access to abortion, even most Republicans. Finally, Alex goes into a new story about how the US Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation has released a plan that looks at two different scenarios for how to cut water usage if the levels in Lakes Mead and Powell continue to drop. Basically, the federal government is looking to cut water usage in the West because states have been slow to do so. Cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Phoenix, will all be impacted. Alex believes this will begin a new legal battle between states and the federal government.
In this episode, Alex starts by going through a Fox News video where Martha MacCallum clashes with Brian Kilmeade over guns and some of her arguments actually make a lot of sense. Next, Alex gets into the recent shooting in Kentucky and why he is getting more and more irritated with lawmakers that constantly say nothing can be done. For the rest of the episode, Alex goes into the recent intelligence leaks that have the United States and its allies scrambling for answers. The leaks are not only bad for the United States and its national security, they are also detrimental to Ukraine and could give Russia information on how to change its strategies. Alex also worries that the data leak could harm our intelligence gathering practices and help Russia go around them. Finally, another American journalist has been detained by Russia. In this case, it is a Wall Street Journal reporter named Evan Gershkovich. Alex discusses how the United States has designated him as wrongfully detained and this will allow the government to get more funding and it will get more attention to this situation.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing why Tennessee has recently been in the spotlight for political chaos. This week, there was an explusion of two Democrats from the state’s House of Representatives for breaking the rules and speaking out against policies related to the recent school shooting near Nashville. While three Democrats came together in solidarity, the two black members were part of the expulsion and the white member survived the vote. Alex gives some takeaways on why this whole thing is a mess. For the rest of the episode, he looks into why he is concerned about decentralized violence, sectarian chaos, and looming threats of institutional breakdowns that could lead to minority oppression, coups, and voter intimidation. Alex notes that the Constitutional Sheriff Movement is a far-right movement that argues that sheriffs have power over state and federal government policies and can use their own interpretation of the constitution. This movement’s founder was a board member of the Oath Keepers and there are growing worries that this movement is illiberal, nativist, and extreme.
In this episode, Alex talks about the recent Mayoral election in Chicago where the progressive candidate, Brandon Johnson, defeated the centrist Paul Vallas. Johnson had 51.42% of the vote to 48.58% for Vallas. Alex discusses how the city is deeply divided and it will be interesting to see how Johnson handles crime, as well as other issues in the windy city.
In this episode, Alex starts by looking at how pro-Trump protests in New York City have been called “underwhelming.” Following his arraignment, Trump is now heading to Florida for an evening “event.” For the rest of the episode, Alex looks into a growing global rice crisis. He looks into the Green Revolution of the 20th century which emphasized efficiency, higher crop yields, global trade, and mass production. While the Green Revolution helped reduce famines in places like China and India, the usage of pesticides and fertilizers, as well as deforestation and methan production, led to other issues. Alex discusses how the mass production of rice is now backfiring as demand is increasing while yields are decreasing. Also, rice is proving to be a resource demanding crop that could intensify climate change concerns. Alex argues that governments must incentivize growing local grains that are better suited for various environments.
In this episode, Alex starts by reacting to a cringy 60 Minutes interview that features Marjorie Taylor Greene was feature on. Next, he looks into the 2024 Republican Primary contenders. The Former Governor of Arkansas, Asa Hutchinson, has announced his candidacy; however, Alex does not think that there is any chance that Hutchinson, a critical anti-Trumper, could win. Alex also looks into why Ron DeSantis looks weak and problematic. He recently said he would oppose extraditing Trump to New York. While he must appease the Trump base, Alex thinks this makes him look weak and like someone that is threatening the fundamentals of the American federal system. Also, DeSantis is not polling well and the indictment only seems to be helping Trump. As Trump has arrived in New York City for the indictment events, Alex wonders if chaos will follow. Finally, Alex looks into the strange death of a far-right Russian blogger who went by the name of Vladlen Tatarsky. He supported the war in Ukraine but was critical of the Putin Government’s lack of aggression. Reuters reports that “Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky was killed in a bomb attack in a St Petersburg cafe on Sunday in which some 30 other people were wounded.” Alex discusses whether the attack was by internal factions, the Kremlin, or by pro-Ukrainian groups either inside or outside of Russia.
In this episode, Alex is fired up and talks about the two biggest news events of our time — Donald Trump and Gwyneth Paltrow. Trump was indicted by the Manhattan grand jury and made history as the first sitting or former president to be indicted. Alex is conflicted on this case and gives examples as to why. Also, Gwyneth Paltrow was found to be innocent in the fascinating and absurd Utah Ski Accident Case of 2016. Finally, Alex discusses why it would be smart for Ron DeSantis to wait until 2028 to run.
In this episode, Alex starts by defending David Pakman who has been brutally attacked by bad faith actors for his true (albeit cold) comments about how thoughts and prayers won’t stop a school shooting. Alex is angry about these attacks on Pakman because the right, which was once against cancel culture, is now trying to cancel Pakman in bad faith. Please support his work by subscribing on Youtube and buying a membership! Later in the show, Alex goes into how some Republican states are looking to limit college voting by passing laws that ban the use of student IDs to vote. Finally, Alex discusses why Chris Christie will not beat Trump in the Republican Primary. Christie may run in 2024, but he has no chance.
In this episode, Alex glances out in the blizzard and thinks he’s ready for the winter chaos to continue. As he stares into the blizzard, he talks about Mammoth Meatballs that were made in Australia to demonstrate the efficacy of lab-grown meat. Then he talks about the recent and tragic shooting at a elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee. Since the shooting happened at a Christian school, and the shooter appeared to be a transgender 28 year old, the Right-Wing propaganda machine has gone into full hysteria against the Transgender Community. Alex goes over some of the hateful blaming and worries that this will lead to more violence and harm against the community. Later, Alex looks into the protests in Israel and how they have forced Benjamin Netanyahu to delay some of the more radical judicial reforms. On a positive note, it seems like the Israeli people are not willing to accept Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition. Finally, Alex discusses a new report about growing threats of terrorism in Northern Ireland. He implies that the Brexit chaos, anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, sectarian tensions, and more, are all causing this growing crisis.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing why he is fascinated by the Gwyneth Paltrow trial over a ski incident in Utah. Then he talks about Trump’s recent rally in Waco, Texas. Trump gave a raged filled speech close to the anniversary of the standoff between the Branch Davidians and Law Enforcement. This was a strange venue due to the event’s symbolism related to anti-government violence. Finally, Alex looks into TikTok and the new Congressional hearings that were quite hostile to the company. He also discusses whether TikTok is a national security risk, whether Biden should ban it or force the company to sell, and much more!
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing new reports out of Russia regarding Putin threatening to place tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Next, Alex looks into the normalization of the alt-right in Austria and why its far-right, Freedom Party, is looking to do well in the upcoming elections. Alex notes that Austria is an interesting case study into how a country has attempted to balance east and west, yet the Invasion of Ukraine has made this more difficult. Finally, Alex looks into how deep fakes may be flying out of the uncanny valley and may come to an election near you. He discusses how deep fakes are becoming more of a threat for elections, propaganda, and disinformation. He also worries that the next October surprise may really be an October lie from a fake video of someone like Biden or Trump. Alex ends by playing (and then reacting) to a deep fake of President Biden calling for a military draft.
In this episode, Alex starts with a clip from Tucker Carlson that is once again a great example of deflection. Next, Congressman James Comer has self-exposed himself to a lot of hypocrisy. The chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee admitted a lot in a recent interview with the New York Times. Alex discusses how this only makes him look like a partisan fool, which is fitting for the guy who is pushing for accountability. Later, Alex goes into the recent issues in Israel. He discusses the historic levels of violence between Palestianians and Israelis, why the United States has had a rare moment of criticism towards Israel, and why recent reforms in the Knesset show that Bibi Netanyahu’s new hardline governing coalition is looking to erode the courts and give more power to extremist minorities. As thousands have taken to the streets to protest these illiberal reforms, Alex worries that Netanyahu must moderate his views or it will make Israel vulnerable. Finally, Alex reacts to a new and insane take from Michael Knowles.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how the GOP is trying to undermine the New York investigation into Donald Trump after there have been growing talks about him getting charged. He also talks about how Ron DeSantis cannot commit to a stance on many issues and is constantly seeming more weak and indecisive. For the rest of the episode, Alex reflects on the Iraq War and the War on Terror, 20 years later. He argues that as the United States started to struggle in Iraq, it started to look for internal scapegoats. As the war got more costly and vague, the threat of the other became more radicalzied, internalized, and malleable. Alex discusses why he thinks that the current partisanship, populism, and xenophobia, have all stemmed from the war.
In this episode, Alex sits down with Cole Costello, a friend and history student/ future PhD candidate, who is focused on historical memory, the indigenous history of California, labor movements in the American West, and the history of rail cars in Los Angeles. In this conversation, the two mainly talk about how Los Angeles used to have a vast rail car system that connected numerous parts of the city and created an environment that helped different classes move around the city. Cole dives into why the gas powered car eventually defeated these rail cars and also why the rail cars no longer exist. The two also get into the complex history of the West, why historical memory is important, what societal decline looks like, and how eminent domain policies have impacted Los Angeles. The two even discuss some politics and Cole’s favorite music.
On Saturday, Donald Trump told his supporters that he expects to get arrested on Tuesday for this alleged hush-money scheme that involved payments to a porn star. Alex reacts and worries that Trump is trying to agitate his base and is using similar rhetoric to the events leading up to January 6th. Later, Alex looks into a troubling video that Trump put out where he blames America’s problems on itself, talks about purging American institutions, and provides content that is worthy of Kremlin propaganda.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how Mike Pence finally did the bare minimum over the weekend. At an elite media dinner, Pence finally condemned what happened on January 6th, said history would hold Trump accountable, and seemed to critisize Tucker Carlson for trying to whitewash 1/6. Alex laughs at Pence’s late and cowardly stance. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about the collapse of three banks over the last week. These banks were Silicon Valley Bank, Silvergate (an institution heavily exposed to cryptocurrency), and Signature Bank in New York. While reports show that 89% of $200 billion of deposits at SVB were not insured (the FDIC only insures up to $250,000), the Fed and the Biden administration promised that all depositers would have access to their funds by this week. Alex discusses his concerns about this precedent. While this was not technically a bailout, and there are reasonable arguments about why these tech start-ups needed access to their money, Alex things banks like SVB were under-regulated and allowed to act carelessly. He goes into moral hazard, loostening of the Dodd Frank Act, and why interest rate hikes could have made this issue worse.
In this short episode, Alex starts by playing a 2003 interview with Tucker Carlson on CSPAN. Carlson calls out Bill O’Reilly and predicts that O’Reilly can’t play a character on TV forever. In a sense, Carlson is describing his future and providing a portal into his own future on Fox News. Alex then discusses why he is perplexed by Tucker’s transormation. He argues that Tucker did not change for the funny since he was one of the only journalists at the time that came from money and did not really need any more. Alex also discusses why Tucker may have been radicalized by his own life experiences living in elite, liberal areas. He also argues that Tucker may not survive this moment on Fox News because there are other commentators, on other news programs, that actually believe the lies and may attack him.
In this episode, Alex starts by going over the chaotic weather in California. Then he discusses how Silicon Valley Bank, “among the top 20 American commercial banks, with $209 billion in total assets at the end of last year” has failed after a bank run and a capital crisis that made it the second largest failure of a financial institution in history. Alex questions whether this is a one-off event or the beginning of a financial crisis. For the remainder of the episode, Alex goes into how the kidnapping of four Americans, and the murder of two of them, in Mexico has sparked hawish rhetoric towards Mexico. Now Republicans, some that oppose military force in Ukraine, want to consider using an Authorization for the Use of Emergency Force (AUMF) to be able to attack cartel-owned drug labs. While this AUMF will look different from those used to invade Iraq in 2001, Alex worries that this AUMF will start a new war on drugs that could backfire. Dan Crenshaw, one of the Republicans pushing for this AUMF, says it would be different than the AUMF of 2001 and would look more like how the United States helped Colombia in the 1980s and 1990s.
In this episode, Alex talks about new revelations related to Tucker Carlson. This time, texts show that while he privately despised Donald Trump, he continued to tout conspiracies and support for the former president. Next, Alex looks into the reasons why Turkey has been blocking Finland and Sweden’s attempts to join NATO. It seems like for political and strategic reasons, Turkey is continuing to stall these actions. Finally, Alex goes into different theories regarding who blew up the Nord Stream pipelines and why. Some speculate it was the United States, others think it was Ukraine, and some argue it was Russia. Alex notes that this is another example of the fog of war eroding certainty during a conflict.
In this episode, Alex sits down with Jon for their best conversation yet! Jon is a reoccuring guest and former member of the armed forces who currently works for the government in the West Coast. The two have a wide-ranging conversation that delves into why Ron Desantis may be more dangerous than Trump, why the GOP has moved away from conservative principles and towards reactionary authoritarianism, and why Florida is only a model of hope if you agree with DeSantis. Alex argues this is because of the “Flight 93 Moment” that happened prior to Trump’s electoral victory in 2016. Basically, many Republicans value fighting the left and demonizing the opposition as a way to justify their drift away from conservative values. The two also discuss American distrust in politics, whether January 6th was an actual riot, whether a true coup could occur, and why January 6th could be the beginning and not the end.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing the insanity at CPAC and why the conference should really be called TPAC (for Trump). He also notes that the straw polls that gave Trump over 60% of support, should not be taken completely seriously at an event that is pretty much a Trump brownnosing event. Next, Alex discusses the brutal and “hell-like” situation that is unfolding in the city of Bakhmut, Ukraine. Russian forces, aided by the Wagner Group, have surrounded the city in multiple directions and a majority of the city has been decimated. There are reports of a coming Ukrainian withdrawl; however, Russian forces have experienced an arms shortage and have started using the shovels that they dug the trenches with as weapons. In general, the situation has turned into a violent and tragic form of trench warfare. Finally, Alex goes into Yevgeny Prigozhin. He is a shadowy criminal and oligarch that founded the Wagner Group and the Internet Research Agency. As his mercenary forces have fought in Ukraine, he has continued to critisize and blame the Russian Ministry of Defense for some of the failures in Ukraine. Alex discusses some reports that argue how Prigozhin could try and become the next leader of Russia as the Russian elites have constantly critisized Putin due to what they deem as inaction in Ukraine.
In this episode, Alex starts by looking into how Matt Gaetz accidentally used Chinese propaganda to defend defunding Ukraine. He is called out by almost everyone, but Alex still discusses why these actions could hurt the pro-Ukrainian cause. Next, Alex looks into a study that has circulated the media. It is a flawed study that discredits the use of masks during the COVID Pandemic. Alex provides his own perspective into why he thinks masks don’t work, but then agrees that this study is flawed and problematic. Finally, he goes his into thoughts regarding some sort of an amnesty agreement around the pandemic. It seems like a lot of people did stupid shit with good intentions. Whether it regarded masks, schools, vaccines, or lockdowns, it seems like people need a reset of some sort.
In this episode, Alex starts by celebrating some good news. In Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, the incumbent mayor, will not get reelected. In fact, she will not even make the second round in April because she came in third place with only 17.1% of the vote. Alex dives into why she was a bad politician, abrasive leader, and created too much noise while not focusing enough on working with others to stop violent crime. Later, Alex goes into whether Ron DeSantis or Donald Trump are more dangerous. Alex argues that DeSantis is more dangerous and more authoritarian; he has this stance because it seems like DeSantis is a more competent and angry version of Trump. DeSantis also seems to be obsessed with stopping “wokeism”, this could lead to troubling and authoritarian policies. Finally, Alex talks about the recent presidential election in Nigeria. New and transparent voting systems were supposed to make the election fair and free; however, only a quarter of the eligible population voted and many Nigerians distrust the results.
In this episode, Alex discusses that the Supreme Court will finally hear the Student Loan Forgiveness case. Many think that the court will not uphold it due to its previous decisions around COVID-related issues and emergency actions. Next, Alex goes into the Roald Dahl controversy where sensitivity readers have rewritten multiple parts of his books. While Alex thinks that Dahl has some problematic views and is an outdated figure, he thinks that many of these edits are aesthetic and not about serious issues of hate. He thinks that sensitivity readers are vandalizing these works and setting a troubling precedent. Later, Alex goes into someone who is spewing hate in 2023 and is rightfully being canceled. This is Scott Adams, the cartoonist responsible for Dilbert. He went on a very troubling rant that basically told his viewers that Black Americans do not like White Americans and that White Americans should avoid them. Alex finds this rant to encourage segregation and distrust of other races. Finally, Alex discusses the troubling relationship between the Murdochs, Fox News, and Paul Ryan.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how Ron DeSantis, the small goverment conservative has finally punished Disney for being “too woke. He discusses how Florida is not only where woke goes to die, but also where government intervention in your life goes to thrive. Next, Alex does a deep dive into the War in Ukraine from a myriad of angles. He starts by going into Putin’s comments about the invasion being existential to the Russian people. Putin also has called out NATO, signalling that he sees this conflict as bigger than just Ukraine. Also, there are reports surfacing that describe how the Kremlin plans to “absorb” Belarus by 2030 into a larger Russian union. Alex thinks this is more of an annexation that simple absorption. Alex also notes that China has finally released its peace plan which is more of an appeasement plan that is lacking in details and seems to ignore Putin’s atrocities. Finally, Alex looks into how South Africa has started to neglect its approach to human rights, is buddying up with Russia and China, and is focused on nationalism over diplomacy.
In this Sunday episode, Alex goes into a new report out of the Wall Street Journal that discusses that “The U.S. Energy Department has concluded that the Covid pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak, according to a classified intelligence report recently provided to the White House and key members of Congress.” While some may see this as vindication that the virus absolutely originated in a lab, Alex discusses why this news is more complicated. He notes that only the FBI and Department of Energy have sided with the lab over nature. Finally, Alex goes into why the Lab Leak Hypothesis seems to challenge Occam’s Razor.
In this episode, Alex starts by ranting about the extreme weather hitting everywhere from the Tahoe area to Southern California. He has to drive into the chaotic traffic of a blizzard tomorrow and hopes things go okay. Next, Alex goes into one of his brief history talks about what happened to Franco’s Spain after he won the Spanish Civil War (hint — people suffered). Later, Alex goes into new revelations around Kevin McCarthy providing Tucker Carlson with exclusive access to over 40,000 hours of surveillance footage from January 6th. He notes that it is clear that McCarthy is afraid of Fox News and that the network is the one running the GOP. Finally, Alex goes into the chaos and tragedy in East Palestine, Ohio, after the train derailment earlier in the month. Studies are showing that over 40,000 aquatic animals have died as citizens are reporting troubling symptoms and the EPA is being challenged on its report. Alex also discusses how the area has become a partisan proxy war between the left and the right; as the people suffer, politicians and news media networks are grifting for their own gain.
In this episode, Alex ponders what decision Aaron Rodgers will make as he has emerged from his darkness retreat. Then Alex discusses how Mexico has finally defunded/reformed an independent election agency that was crucial in allowing democratic elections take place in Mexico after decades of autocracy. It seems like AMLO, Mexico’s semi-autocratic president, wants to make the 2024 election neither free nor fair. Next, Alex discusses why he thinks the MAGA movement does not support aiding Ukraine. It seems like Trump and his fellow lawmakers do not see Putin as the problem. If Ukraine wins, it is a victory for democracy, right when the MAGA movement is trying to erode democracy and establish something else. Finally, Alex ponders whether we should fear ChatGPT or the companies that have created these chatbots.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing Jimmy Carter and why he is a fascinating man. He then discusses why Jimmy Carter helped legalize homebrewing which led to a craft beer boom that many enjoy today. Next, Alex rants about his continuing anger towards Netflix and discusses why the organization is going backwards. For the remainder of the episode, Alex looks into new comments from Dmitry Medvedev on why Russia will collapse if it loses the war. Alex also goes into why Marjorie Taylor Greene’s new comments on national divorce and limiting voting are linked to bigotry and hate.
In this episode, Alex starts by going into troubling pro-Russian protests that are occurring in Moldova. There were already concerns that Russia would intervene in Moldova, now pro-Russian parties and Kremlin rhetoric are dividing the country along ethnic and cultural lines. Biden met with Moldova’s President, Maia Sandu, who has struggled to keep the country happy after rising fuel and food costs have turned her people against her. Alex notes that Sandu is pro-Ukraine and westward leaning and has warned of a potential Russian coup attempt or the use of violence to destabilize the country. Many worry that Moldova could be Putin’s next target. Next, Alex discusses President Biden’s trip to Kyiv and why it shows the world that the United States is committed to the conflict. However, Putin held his national speech on Tuesday and formally withdrew Russia from the New Start Nuclear Treaty with the United States. At the same time, China has blamed the US for fanning the flames in Ukraine and the State Department has warned that China may be getting closer to Russia. Some even worry that China may start sending aid to Russia. Finally, Alex breaks down an amazingly insane interview between Piers Morgan and George Santos. He discusses how Morgan perfectly exposes why Santos cannot be trusted.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing a tale of two unequal, but interesting controversies that have occurred over the weekend inside of CNN and Fox News. The Fox News scandal involves texts that show how executives and top show hosts (like Tucker Carlson) knew that Trump’s lies were bogus; however, they decided to still entertain the conspiracies because they did not want to anger their viewers. The CNN scandal involves Don Lemon being sexist and irritating when he mentioned that Nikki Haley was not in her prime. Alex questions which network will have more pushback for its controversy (hint — not Fox News). For the rest of the show, Alex goes into his thoughts on the differences between authoritarianism and fascism. He also discusses how modern fascism is more coded and moderated than the earlier versions. He worries that we are starting to see some on the right intermingle with modern fascist rhetoric and ideas. Finally, he relates this to Ron DeSantis’ actions in Florida where he has used the government to make policy decisions that seem antithetical to conservativism.
In this episode, Alex starts with another rant about his grievances towards Netflix and other streaming platforms. Netflix has announced that it is removing the entire Arrested Development library in March, even though the last two seasons were made by Netflix. Next, Alex looks into why the current Bird Flu, H5N1 epidemic, has lasted for almost two years and is more deadly and serious than previous epidemics. He also discusses how it has jumped to other mammals and is putting several wild and domesticated species at risk. While the epidemic is unlikely to infect a lot of humans, it could kill off large amounts of species and impact the entire ecosystem. For the remainder of the episode, Alex goes into a new report from Rolling Stone Magazine. The article discusses how aides of former president Donald Trump have said that he has expressed a desire to bring back firing squads and other formers of public executions. He mainly wants to expand the death penalty and use it to execute drug dealers and other criminals. Alex discusses that Trump has always been enamored with autocrats that use extra-judicial means to enact justice. He also discusses how Trump’s movement has always been driven by brutality.
In this article, Alex starts by going into a new low for Marjorie Taylor Greene where she completely downplayed the tragedy of Flight 93 on 9/11. Then he talks for a moment about the opening of a senate seat in California and why he wants Ro Khanna to run for the Senate. Later, Alex rants about George Santos and new allegations that he wrote bad checks to buy puppies from an Amish community in Pennsylvania. Apparently, George Santos is also considering a run for reelection; however, some House Republicans are plotting to get rid of him. For the remainder of the episode, Alex discusses how it seems that these three objects shot down over North America were not dangerous to the public, but also do not seem to be from China. Alex notes that many experts with National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, and the National Weather Service, do not believe these were weather balloons. Ultimately, Alex ponders reports out of Ukraine that describe the Russians using balloons to distract and confuse the Ukrainian military. This comes as a new offensive has begun, Moldova fears a Russian coup attempt is coming, and the US Department of State has told Americans to leave Russia immediately.
In this episode, Alex starts by going over Nikki Haley’s announcement that she is officially running for president. He plays her campaign ad/announcement ad and then ponders many things. He questions why she is running, whom she will appeal to, and whether she can even beat Liz Cheney or Mike Pence. Next, Alex discusses the train derailment that happened in East Palestine, Ohio, that led to dozens of cars falling off the tracks and the release of toxic chemicals that ended up burning into the area and the air. People were evacuated but have since returned to their homes. There are reports of pets showing illness and people complaining of burning eyes and other symptoms. Alex is worried that this issue not only shows regulation and infrastructure concerns but also may lead to a new “cancer cluster” in which the people of this area are negatively impacted by this disaster. Finally, Alex goes into the recent chaos around a recent “object” shot down over Lake Huron. As CNN has reported, this recent object over Huron marks“ the third day in a row that an unidentified object was shot down over North American airspace. An unidentified object was shot down over northern Canada on Saturday. On Friday, an unidentified object was shot down in Alaska airspace by a US F-22.” Alex goes into all the different theories, how the Pentagon has reacted, and why he is not convinced these are UFOs.
In this episode, Alex talks about the congressional hearings that are aimed at Twitter and free speech. Then he reflects on why he thinks the GOP is merely focused on projection instead of solutions. Finally, he goes into the recent events in Peru. Political turmoil has crippled the country as a false presidential narrative has spread like wildfire. Alex worries that Democracy and Peruvian stability are at stake.
In this episode, Alex goes into his thoughts after viewing a problematic, yet entertaining State of the Union address. He goes into how President Biden used some fascinating traps, how Republicans created an unnecessary optics problem, and why George Santos and Mitt Romney won't be best friends.
In this episode, Alex discusses his thoughts on the State of the Union address and why he is okay with a little chaos. Then he goes into the chaos around the Chinese Spy Balloon getting shot down. He is surprised that the reaction from the right has been so chaotic, disingenuous, and completely illogical. It shows time and time again, that the Republicans only want Biden to fail and don’t care about governance. Later, Alex goes into George Santos, and new issues that the freshman congressman may face, as he rocks an AR-15 pin to fit in with his new tribe. Finally, Alex goes into the devastating earthquake and its aftershock that occurred in Turkey and Syria. He discusses how this tragic act of nature will only lead to an emergency on top of existing emergencies.
In this Saturday special, Alex starts by laughing about how the NBA All-Star Game is going to be held in Salt Lake City. Usually, the game brings in people wanting to party for the weekend, Utah may be a hard sell for a party weekend. Next, Alex admits he was wrong — the Chinese balloon was shot down after the Biden Administration waited for it to fly over the Atlantic Ocean. He notes that politicians must look for answers but also must be patient and be sure to not escalate the situation. Finally, Alex discusses why democracy is dying in Georgia. Its former president, and a reformist for democracy, is currently dying in a Georgian prison on trumped-up charges. In an Atlantic article, Anne Applebaum notes that these forms of death were common in the Soviet Union, “The slow prison death was a Soviet specialty: not a murder, not an assassination, just a well-monitored, carefully controlled, long, drawn-out decline. Most of the people who died in Soviet prison camps were not executed; they were merely starved until their heart stopped beating.” Alex goes into why Georgia is on the brink.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing his irritation with the Former Governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan. After years of criticizing Trump, Hogan has now gone into the zone of moral dissonance and has said he would support the Republican candidate no matter what. Alex ponders this and wonders why this is happening because this will not help Hogan gain any support, he is closer to Biden than Trump on politics. Next, Alex goes into the Chinese Spy Balloon that was found 60,000 feet above Montana. He goes into what it means, why it hasn’t been shot down yet, and why he supports mutual surveillance if it stops conflicts. Finally, Alex looks into the state of populism (mainly right-wing populism) in Europe. He is skeptical, yet also optimistic, and thinks that it is slowly waning due to a myriad of factors. One example Alex discusses involves a recent presidential election in the Czech Republic where a moderate, institutionalist, beat the Trumpian populist.
In this episode, Alex starts with some troubling news about a groundhog from Canada that died right before he was to predict that winter was remaining for six more weeks. Alex rants about how Groundhog Day is a perfect metaphor for the GOP ignoring the looming threat of Trump 2024. Next, Alex goes through some of America’s most pressing issues, these include an amazingly funny interview between Jimmy Kimmel and Mike Lindell (who is in a claw machine), Ilhan Omar being removed from her committee for anti-semitism while the deciding vote was from an antisemitic guy named George Santos, and MTG being unable to hold a hearing. Later, Alex goes into the meeting between Kevin McCarthy and Joe Biden, why nothing happened, and why “strengthening social security” is a lie and it really means cutting social security to bring it back to solvency. Finally, Alex goes over his experience with ChatGPT and discusses why it won’t be taking over the United States yet. He also goes into how ChatGPT has created a problem in education and then has provided the solution, and why he thinks these intelligence platforms could be both beneficial and a problem.
In this episode, Alex discusses the most democratic and least democratic countries in the world, then he goes into his grievances with the new Netflix policy over password surveillance. He asks the question, “does Netflix hate its viewers and want them to leave!?” Next, Alex touches on Tom Brady and then goes into Matt Schlapp, the President of CPAC, who seems to be vehemently against “traditional family values.” Later, Alex goes into new revelations about how the Memphis police department managed to both over-police and under-police neighborhoods while failing to address the cultural issues inside of the department. Finally, Alex takes a deep dive into the Egyptian Coup of 2013, the country’s recent economic collapse, and why it all matters.
In this episode, Alex starts with a pallet cleanser. He goes into new revelations from the George Santos saga; apparently, Santos is stepping back from his committee positions until his “issues” are resolved. For the remainder of the episode, Alex goes over the atrocious, tragic, and brutal murder of Tyre Nichols. Nichols was beaten and killed by five police officers in early January. Alex goes over his thoughts on why racism is part of the issue, why systemic issues persist, why police reform may not be enough, and why accountability/oversight is still lacking in police departments across the United States. Alex also discusses his thoughts on the failures of body cams and why interactions between the police and the public must be reduced. Finally, Alex goes into some of the systemic issues that have allowed these incidences of brutality to persist. He discusses how victims of police brutality rarely get justice. Alex argues that this dilemma is caused by constitutional and legal barriers that are in the United States government, administration, and legal system. He goes over judicial deference, judicial review, and qualified immunity. All of these terms are related to granting public agencies the ability to self-investigate and regulate themselves under the view that agencies are better fit to interpret their own rules and policies.
In this end-of-week episode, Alex covers a plethora of topics. He starts by talking about some new grifts/lies from George Santos. Then he gets into a lawsuit against Fireball Whiskey. Next, he talks about economic trends that are promising out of Spain and how they may backfire. For the rest of the episode, he looks at Jeff Zients, Joe Biden’s new chief of staff. Alex argues that Zients is a corporatist that will go against the progress that Biden’s administration has accomplished. He goes into Zients’ long resume which leads to many contradictory actions. Finally, Alex looks into the recent chairperson election in the Republican National Committee. It was a circus; however, Ronna McDaniel held out and was re-elected. Alex compares McDaniel to Kevin McCarthy and notes that her struggles have just begun.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin may be the next big player in Russian politics. As Putin continues to struggle in Ukraine, Prigozhin is a master of creating “politics in a box” and funding ultra-nationalist groups (like the Wagner Group). It seems like Prigozhin is up to something. Next, Alex reflects on how Kobe Bryant died three years ago. Time is strange and the death of Bryant was the beginning of a tragic and chaotic 2020. Later, Alex goes into new revelations from the National Archives, CNN has reported that the National Archives are asking former presidents and vice presidents to check into their classified documents. Later, Alex discusses a troubling trend in France — according to new reports, the obesity rate has doubled to almost 17% of the population. This trend is occurring throughout Europe and is problematic for the future. Finally, Alex discusses a very chaotic and contradictory event that occurred between the police and activists in Atlanta, Georgia. He sides with the police after the city was only trying to create a more hospitable environment for all.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin may be the next big player in Russian politics. As Putin continues to struggle in Ukraine, Prigozhin is a master of creating “politics in a box” and funding ultra-nationalist groups (like the Wagner Group). It seems like Prigozhin is up to something. Next, Alex reflects on how Kobe Bryant died three years ago. Time is strange and the death of Bryant was the beginning of a tragic and chaotic 2020. Later, Alex goes into new revelations from the National Archives, CNN has reported that the National Archives are asking former presidents and vice presidents to check into their classified documents. Later, Alex discusses a troubling trend in France — according to new reports, the obesity rate has doubled to almost 17% of the population. This trend is occurring throughout Europe and is problematic for the future. Finally, Alex discusses a very chaotic and contradictory event that occurred between the police and activists in Atlanta, Georgia. He sides with the police after the city was only trying to create a more hospitable environment for all.
In this episode, Alex starts by looking into why Tucker Carlson is more worried about fearmongering around the M&M “spokescandies” and a Space Vagina instead of real issues. He breaks down why Tucker does what he does. Later, Alex focuses the rest of the episode on recent revelations associated with the War in Ukraine. He talks about Russian submarines spotted in Hawaii, what the US and Germany sending tanks to Ukraine means, and the implications of a military drill between South Africa, China, and Russia.
In this installment of Alex’s “Driving Through” series, Alex sits in the passenger seat as the car moves through the Great Salt Lake. He reflects on some horrors that occurred the night before in his hotel room, relates these events to the recent shootings, and discusses why extreme gun rights have become negative impacts on people’s individual liberties. Later, Alex discusses a report that the Chinese population has declined for the first time since the 1960s. This will lead to severe health system issues and high societal costs as a large, older population is growing. Alex also notes that this decline is just another issue in China, as the COVID protests and anger in younger populations are leading to a ticking time bomb. Finally, there are recent revelations about classified documents being found in Mike Pence’s residence in Indiana. Alex argues that the US has a classified documents problem that covers the entire political spectrum.
In this episode, Alex sits in the passenger seat as they drive through the interior of Wyoming. He starts by giving an update on when the podcast will be back. Then he rants about the scenery, and why he likes Wyoming. Later he gets into some thoughts on the moral bankruptcy of the GOP, the debt ceiling crisis, and some recent mass shootings. Wyoming really makes one reflect on everything.
*** apologies for the car noise and less-than-perfect audio quality.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how Joe Biden’s woes are getting worse; Merrick Garland has opened up a special counsel investigation into Biden’s mishandling of classified documents while he was vice president. Alex worries that this is a political nightmare that will allow moderate Republicans to defend Donald Trump. For the rest of the episode, Alex takes a deep dive into the issues in the Sahel. The region has seen a troubling mix of growing extremism (like the Islamic State), climate crises, and food insecurity. This mix of factors has created a socio-political climate that is perfect for coups, authoritarianism, and a cycle of violence. Alex goes into some of the examples in the region and why they could impact everyone.
In this episode, Alex starts by pondering why Donald Trump has become a recluse. Then he discusses why the Nassau County GOP has asked Robert Santos to resign, will be? No. Next, Alex discusses another airline nightmare. The Economist notes that “Domestic flights are gradually resuming in America hours after the Federal Aviation Administration canceled departures due to a fault in its computer systems.” Apparently, the F.A.A.’s “Notice to Air Missions” systems had failures and this caused cancellations and shutdowns. Later, Alex looks into the recent weather catastrophes in California. The state has gone from epic droughts to debilitating floods. These shifts are difficult for tangible public policies to get passed and highlight the issues that California will face. Finally, Alex takes a deep dive into Marjorie Taylor Greene’s attempt at rehabilitating her image. She is now trying to be moderate and is trying to cleanse any records of her time as a QAnon, anti-semite. Alex worries that her flexibility is working and shows new issues with McCarthy’s GOP.
In this episode, Alex starts with a rant about why he is irritated with Netflix. He discusses how it constantly cancels good shows without giving them time to breathe or grow. This has created a loyalty issue because viewers are afraid to get into a new show because it could be canceled. Alex tells his listeners to watch Ginny and Georgia so this won’t happen and it will get renewed. For the rest of the episode, Alex gets serious and talks about Biden’s meeting with Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The two met in Mexico City on Monday and things did not start off well after the two argued about American influence in Mexico. Next, Alex discusses how violence has erupted in Sinaloa between the Sinaloa Cartel and the Mexican Military. The Guardian writes about people “scrambling for cover as security forces and cartel gunmen fought for control of an airfield that had become the latest frontline of a Latin American drug conflict that claims tens of thousands of lives every year.” Later, Alex discusses an optics nightmare for the Biden Administration. Apparently, classified documents were found in the old office of Joe Biden. This has created a nightmare for Merrick Garland, whose Department of Justice has been going after Donald Trump for the same thing. Finally, Alex goes over the recent chaos that erupted in Brasilia, Brazil over the weekend. Supporters of the former president, Jair Bolsanaro, stormed the Congressional Building and Supreme Court. The events looked eerily similar to what happened almost two years ago in the United States.
In this episode, Alex shares his thoughts on Kevin McCarthy finally getting the role of House Speaker after 15 votes. Then rants, raves, and roasts about McCarthy due to all the concessions he made to become the speaker. Basically, McCarthy gave away all of his power and will be a hostage to the far-right.
In this episode, Alex starts with some good news about plans in Northern Europe to create a renewable energy sector that could make Europe energy independent. Then he discusses reports that both Germany and the United States are going to send armored vehicles to Ukraine in a decision that had previously been avoided due to fears of angering Russia. Alex also discusses how escalation may be occurring and what to expect from these events. Later, he discusses new updates in the House of Representatives. As of now, Kevin McCarthy has failed ten votes to become the speaker. Alex notes that while this is entertaining, these events show that his detractors are willing to hold public policy and legislation hostage. Finally, Alex discusses the inauguration of Brazil’s new president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula, as he is sometimes called, was president before, and staged a political comeback to beat Jair Bolsanaro. Bolsanaro broke from tradition and did not attend the inauguration, instead, he went to Florida.
In this episode, Alex starts by going over why he finds Truth Social to be so alluring and fascinating. Then he discusses the new nickname that Democrats have been calling Robert Santos — the Talented Mr. Ripley. Alex then goes into Santos’ new scandal regarding stolen checks in Brazil. Brazilian officials are now investigating him. Next, Alex goes into the tragic events that happened during the Bills-Bengals game in which Damar Hamlin had a cardiac arrested and collapsed on the field. After needing to be revived twice, he is not in critical condition in the hospital. Since the accident, Alex discusses how there have been numerous vaccine conspiracies that sound ridiculous. Also, he admits that many NFL viewers are hesitant to admit that the NFL will always be unsafe and it is a sport that will likely never be able to fully change. Finally, Alex goes over all the chaos surrounding Kevin McCarthy’s inability to get enough votes to become the speaker of the house. As of Wednesday night, he has lost six rounds of votes to be the speaker. The Democrats are currently unified, while the GOP is in disarray.
In this first episode of 2023, Alex dives into the recent detainment of Andrew Tate in Romania. He goes into why Tate has become a dangerous, if not popular, and reactionary figure on the “anti-#METOO” right. Next, Alex goes over an article by Joseph Swartz called “Why I Joined, Then Left, the Forward Party.” Alex goes over the article and then explains why he has issues with the Forward Party. Finally, Alex discusses how some progressives like Bernie Sanders and Ro Khanna have started to criticize the Department of Transportation, and Pete Buttigieg, over the recent Southwest chaos.
In this conversation, Alex and a good friend have a broad conversation about what is going on around the world and what can be expected in 2023. The conversation focuses on how Europe and the world will deal with rising costs and energy issues. It also goes into Russian nationalism, the War in Ukraine, Chinese politics, how revolutions happen, American politics, and the state of policing in the United States. This episode diverges from more common episodes and just freely flows into numerous topics that will impact everyone in 2023.
In this episode, Alex discusses why he decided to change back his voter affiliation from a Republican to a Libertarian. Next, Alex looks into new revelations about George Santos, the congressman-elect who has been “embellishing” his record to a point in which he has created himself. Alex truly wonders how low this guy can actually go and it seems like each day he hits a new low. Regarding all these new revelations, the segment dives into how a moderate, center-left district, ended up falling for these lies. Alex goes over revelations from a former congressman from the same district. Later, the episode looks into new revelations about COVID coming from China and how the Italian right, under Giorgia Meloni, has tried to balance extremism with pragmatism. Finally, Alex discusses the phenomenon that involves numerous Russian oligarchs falling out of buildings after not showing enough support for the Kremlin.
In this episode, Alex starts with some bad news regarding Jamie Raskin. Congressman Raskin has said that he has a “serious but curable form of cancer” and will begin outpatient treatment soon. Next, Alex discusses how Dmitri Medvedev, a Putin ally, once moderate Kremlin official, and former Russian president, has gone on a radical and delusional rant on Twitter. He discusses the fall of the global order, the creation of a Fourth Reich, a Civil War in the United States, and Elon Musk winning a US election as president. These rantings from Medvedev offer a troubling and deranged look into Russian information and delusions. After this segment, Alex notes that Syrian and Turkish officials met on Wednesday in Moscow. This was the first meeting between the two countries since they were on different sides of the Syrian Civil War. Alex argues that it seems like Russia, Syria, and Turkey may have reasons to work together. Finally, it seems like China has entered its “zero f**ks” mode for handling the COVID-19 pandemic. As cases are surging, China has opened the floodgates and other countries are now instituting restrictions. Alex wonders what the socio-political ramifications of this event could be.
In this episode, Alex starts by saying he was wrong about Avatar: The Way of Water; the movie was better than he expected. Next, he gives an update on George Santos, the congressman-elect who has fabricated almost every part of his resume. Apparently, Santos is not stepping down and has admitted to enhancing his resume. Alex then discusses Title 42. CNN reported that “the Supreme Court said Tuesday that the controversial Trump-era border restriction known as Title 42 will remain in effect while legal challenges play out.” Interestingly, Justice Neil Gorsuch dissented against Title 42. Alex notes that Gorsuch is a good justice that has a decent understanding of principles over politics. While the other conservatives voted to maintain 42 for political reasons, Gorsuch understood the precedent it could set. Later, Alex goes into new Texas news regarding the energy grid and concerns over new failures. While Governor Abbott has been busy busing migrants to Democratic states, Texas has seen constant struggles. Alex discusses the importance of collaborative network building and voices his disdain for Abbott. For the remainder of the episode, foreign policy is the center of the conversation. Alex voices concerns about recent talks of escalations between Kosovo and Serbia. He worries that Vucic, Serbia’s president, may employ tactics similar to those of Putin in Crimea in 2014. Finally, it looks like the Chinese have escalated incursions into Taiwan. This has the Taiwanese on high alert, the US voicing concerns, and China pointing fingers. Alex argues that it is time for the US to make agreements with Taiwan and break away from its policy of Strategic Ambiguity.
In this episode, Alex discusses his thoughts on why Fascism needs the choices of individuals to succeed. He reflects on some misconceptions about the March on Rome and how choices made by leaders, elites, and intellectuals opened the floodgates to Fascism. Next, Alex discusses how a group of over a hundred migrants arrived from Texas on Christmas Eve and were dropped at Kamala Harris’ house in freezing temperatures. This was yet another performative piece of the culture wars that will not fix immigration policies or solve any issues. Finally, Alex discusses an interview out of Russia in which Putin says he is willing to negotiate peace with all parties involved. At the same time, Ukrainian officials have voiced plans for a peace summit in February of 2023. Alex is not optimistic.
In this short, Christmas episode, Alex starts by discussing the characters he got in a quiz centered around White Lotus characters. Then he discusses why Tucker Carlson is one of the few people he does not wish Merry Christmas to, and why the “War on Christmas” is less of a war and more of a change in demographics and preferences. Alex also admits to liking Emily in Paris…
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing the recent storm and why it may make life very expensive, a new set of lies from George Santos, and why the days are starting to get longer. Then Alex discusses a model produced by the Economist that shows how the new wave of COVID-19 in China could lead to over 1.5 million deaths. The Indian government, as well as others, have expressed concerns that this wave could lead to the creation of a new variant. Next, Alex rants about a new Stanford University initiative that completely polices language. The Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative basically wants every word from “addict” to “uncool” to “immigrant” to be changed. Alex discusses how forced changes towards definitions are antithetical to the university system and seem to lack an understanding of what makes ideas flourish. Finally, Alex focuses on the January 6th Committee and its successes and failures. He thinks the committee focused too much on Trump and not enough on his enablers. Alex then discusses new revelations from Trump’s taxes.
In this episode, Alex starts by going over some of the temperatures and details associated with the extreme cold weather front that is moving across the middle of the United States. Some places are breaking records, states have declared emergencies, and thousands of flights have already been canceled. Next, Alex discusses President Zelensky’s recent trip to Washington D.C. to meet with President Biden and to speak in front of Congress. Alex is happy this event occurred but is curious if anything was accomplished for either side. He also discusses how important continued aid to Ukraine will be going forward and why the “America First” movement has missed the plot. Finally, Alex discusses reports out of Ukraine that show Belarusian forces making movements toward the Ukrainian border. Some are concerned that an invasion is imminent.
In this episode, Alex discusses how chaos in Peru has only gotten worse since Pedro Castillo was removed from the presidency after trying to create a one-party state. Protests throughout the country have killed dozens, looting is rocking cities, tourists have been trapped in Machu Picchu, and the transitional government has removed cabinet members while declaring a state of emergency. Alex also notes that some supporters of Castillo seem to want to spark a civil war between the coastal cities and the Andean interior. Matters have been made worse because some Latin American countries have voiced support for reinstalling Castillo. Next, Alex discusses some reports about a recently elected Republican congressman named George Santos. Apparently, he fabricated massive amounts of his resume. His resume was actually part of why people voted for him and now it brings up issues of whether he should be a congressman. Finally, Alex discusses a new war of words between President Zelensky and FIFA. The organization would not show a message from the Ukrainian President about unity and peace before the World Cup Final. FIFA found the message would be too political; Alex rants about why this is ridiculous.
In this Sunday episode, Alex is disappointed that Argentina won the World Cup. He also touches on Donald Trump’s Superhero, digital NFT trading cards. He feels that this announcement was somewhat fitting; however, is Trump still serious about running for president? For the remainder of the episode, Alex looks into the differences and similarities between reactionary right-wing populists, illiberals, and fascists. He argues that both illiberalism and reactionary populism are warning signs on the road to fascism, but are not the same. He goes into some of the political theories behind the movements and looks at what is happening around the world.
In this episode, Alex discusses how the dog flu is spreading amongst our canine friends and it is very fitting for the moment. He also starts by talking about Lauren Boebert, new revelations about Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Sam Bankman-Fried. All have had unique moments of grift, delusion, and fraud. Alex then discusses a Newsweek report that discusses how “ a Russian commander suggested that using nuclear weapons may be the only way Russia can be victorious in its war against Ukraine.” He somewhat agrees, noting the dire nature of Russia’s invasion. Also, President Xi has been lying to the diplomatic world and has been developing closer ties with Russia. Finally, Alex asks “Is Donald Trump running for president?”
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing his thoughts on the White Lotus finale. Then he talks about Marjorie Taylor Greene’s recent round of delusions; this time she said that if she was involved with the January 6th riots, her side would have “won.” Next, Alex discusses a huge breakthrough in science. For the first time, scientists were able to conduct a nuclear fusion test that produced more energy than it consumed. This could be huge in the energy production world if the study holds up. Later, Alex goes into new updates on Elon Musk’s chaos involving Twitter. He also argues that Musk has become a nihilistic troll and political activist that is harming our discourse. Finally, Alex discusses more updates on the democratic backslide that is occurring in Mexico. Mexico’s president, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, is working with members of Congress to reform an electoral board that he claims stole his previous presidential elections in the early 2000s. If this board is reformed, it would add partisanship and illiberal practices to how presidential elections are determined.
In this episode that starts off lighter than usual, Alex talks about Harry and Meghan’s new Netflix series and why it bothers him. Then he discusses Oxford’s word of the year, which is “Goblin Mode.” He notes that the word property identifies trends that have come out of the COVID era. Finally, Alex discusses troubling reports out of Kosovo’s northern region which is mainly ethnic Serb. The Economist notes that “Vjosa Osmani, Kosovo’s president, announced that upcoming local elections in the north would be delayed amid an outbreak of violence there. Kosovo had scheduled the elections in majority Serb municipalities for December 18th. Days of protests have included explosions and gunfire. The volatile region has been on edge over a spat about car license plates: Kosovo wants to replace ones issued in Serbia with its own.” Also, Serbia’s president, Alexander Vucic has mulled over the idea of sending troops into the territory. Alex discusses the ramifications.
In this short, Sunday episode, Alex discusses the tragic death of Grant Wahl on Friday during the Netherlands - Argentina game in Qatar. Wahl was a soccer journalist who was credited with bringing more knowledge and attention to the sport for decades and was one of the sport’s finest reporters. Alex discusses how Wahl had suffered from a bronchial infection prior to his death and also reported feeling upper pressure in his chest. While the death seems to have been accidental, a lot of speculation has started. Eric Wahl, Grant’s brother and a member of the LGBTQ community, put out a video arguing that Grant Wahl’s death was deliberate. Due to the Qatari government’s treatment of minority groups, the online community has been fueled by this story. Alex thinks that many people almost want this death to be on purpose because it would highlight how badly the Qatari government is involving human rights. People should be careful.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing growing concerns about another COVID wave just in time for the holidays. He notes that this one will likely be different but could be concerning for hospitals. Next, Alex discusses the irritating delusions of Kyrsten Sinema, who has recently declared she will work as an independent, detached from the Democratic Party. This is not surprising because Sinema only seems to fight for corporate interests and has been a thorn in the side of Democrats for years now. Alex moves on to a seemingly laughable yet disturbing story out of Germany that involves a far-right network that was planning a coup against the German government. Their goal was to overthrow the “deep state” and to create a new, German Reich. Alex argues that this event exposes the threat of domestic extremism in many large democracies around the world. Finally, Alex reflects on another structured attempt to overthrow a democratic system. Peru’s (now former) president, Pedro Castillo, was removed from office. The Economist notes that Castillo attempted to “close Congress, convene a new one with powers to write a new constitution, and “reorganize” the judiciary and the prosecutor’s office.” Alex gives a brief history of recent Peruvian leaders and discusses why these revelations are not surprising. Simply put, a lot of Peruvian presidents have ended up in jail or been removed from office. A problem for democracy? Probably.
In this episode, Alex starts by briefly discussing that President Castillo of Peru has been arrested. At this time, another Peruvian president has been lost to nefarious activity in office. Apparently, President Castillo wanted to dissolve Peru’s Congress after an impeachment trial. For the rest of the episode, Alex looks into the lessons that can be learned from the early days of the Spanish Civil War. He relates them to the current issues around the world involving complacency and the need to reject authoritarianism. He notes that the war’s brutality and divisive nature came from centuries of social tensions and inequality that left far behind the rest of Europe. Spain was a testing ground for Fascism prior to World War 2; both Germany and Italy used new ideas and gave new military technologies to aid Franco’s Nationalists in Spain. Alex also focuses on how authors like Adam Hochschild, who wrote Spain in Our Hearts, have pondered whether western pressure in Spain could have prevented Hitler from becoming emboldened. Countries like the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, failed to help Republican Spain. Instead, they were complacent and naive to the threats of fascism. Alex worries that complacency is once again an enemy to protecting free and fair governments around the world.
In this episode, Alex starts by celebrating how the Liver King was finally exposed as a fraud for using anabolic steroids. Then he discusses the irony of these people who celebrate “ancestral” or primordial diets. Then he discusses intentional attacks on two substations in North Carolina that have led to thousands without power, heat, and food refrigeration. Many schools and businesses have been closed since Sunday. Alex notes that these attacks are being investigated, but there are worries that they could be occurring in multiple states due to some online, social media organizations. Next, Alex discusses how the Trump Organization was found guilty on Tuesday of tax crimes committed by two of its longtime executives. The Manhattan District Attorney noted that “This was a case about lying and cheating, false documents to the end of evading taxes for the benefit of individuals and the [Trump Organization].” Alex worries that while this is good news, the crimes committed have not been directly linked to Donald Trump. Finally, Alex is excited that Raphael Warnock won the Georgia Senate runoff. Republicans must really be shaking their heads after losing the senate and barely keeping the house.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing a new World Health Organization report that notes that somewhere close to 90% of the world’s population has some form of exposure to the COVID-19 virus and may have some immunity. Next, Alex looks at a new report from the Economist Intelligence Unit that looks at the cities in 2022 with the highest and lowest costs of living. He notices that inflation and rising fuel prices have changed some of these cities. Also, he discusses how the information is useful because it can paint an important picture of global dynamics and how different countries have fared with the pandemic, inflation, rising oil prices, and more. Finally, Alex discusses recent “Truths” from Donald Trump that discuss how the Constitution should be overthrown due to recent revelations about the 2020 election and the Hunter Biden laptop. Alex goes into new revelations from Twitter, the chaos it has created between the left and the right, and why it has created a very confused view of free speech on the right.
In this episode, Alex starts by ranting about how Donald Trump has finally said the quiet part out loud about suspending the constitution due to the grievances he has with the 2020 election. In the Atlantic, David Graham said it best, “Trump’s incoherent constitutional philosophy summed up: The Constitution provides a first option, but if for some reason he doesn’t like it, he’s happy to discard it.” A call for the suspension of the Constitution is simply the natural and most explicit articulation of Trump’s demonstrated view that the Constitution is more a set of guidelines than a binding rule book.” Next, Alex discusses new issues with the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar; apparently, carbon emissions have already been much worse than expected. Then Alex looks into why Herschel Walker is a tough person to vote for. A day before the Georgia runoff results, he gives his case for why Walker may lose. Next, Alex looks into new revelations in Ukraine, he talks about a G7 price cap on Russian oil and revelations about how Russians are fighting with Ukrainians to help the cause. Finally, Alex discusses what is happening in Iran.
In this episode, Alex discusses the contradictions that are present in this current economy. A recent report shows that more jobs were added in November than expected and wages rose by close that 5.1%. However, this is not the full story because other issues such as inflation and rising employment costs have made some worry that a recession is coming. Next, Alex talks about how Elon Musk has eroded Twitter’s legitimacy and has opened the floodgates to extremism. He discusses how keeping Nick Fuentes and Kanye West off the platform is good; however, more mainstream nutjobs like Paul Gosar and Marjorie Taylor Greene remain popular. Alex argues that the GOP has an extremism problem of its own making and Musk only made it worse by buying Twitter and bringing racism and hate back to the platform. Finally, Alex discusses fears in Israel over a new coalition that the Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, has formed with far-right groups. These groups are homophobic, and nationalist, and do not align with the majority of Israelis’ views. This coalition also has individuals that consider expanding settlements in the West Bank a necessity and will prevent investigations into Netanyahu’s illegal activities. The mayor of Tel Aviv has expressed concerns that the country could fall into a far-right theocracy.
In this episode, Alex covers a myriad of topics. He starts by ranting about a pointless and stupid documentary coming out soon about Meghan and Harry. Then he goes on to discuss Kanye West’s disturbing new comments on Alex Jones’s InfoWars. West says that he likes Hitler and expresses support for the Nazi Party. Next, Alex discusses a series of letter bomb threats that have hit Madrid and other Spanish cities, the bombs have been sent to Spain’s PM, the US Embassy, the Ukrainian Embassy, other officials, and several companies. There are serious questions about who is sending these bombs and whether they are driven by Spain’s support for Ukraine. Later, Alex looks into the re-emergence of Nicolás Maduro on the world stage and the lifting of US sanctions on Venezuela. Also, the Biden administration has greenlit a deal between Chevron and a Venezuelan oil company. Alex worries that the War in Ukraine has led to the United States looking to create some closer ties with Venezuela, which has a lot of oil. Alex then discusses how Hungary’s Viktor Orban has violated EU and Hungarian laws by using private data to push for electoral propaganda and voting data. Finally, Alex discusses the madness in Arizona that has persisted after the gubernatorial election which Kari Lake lost. Still, one county has not certified the election results and Alex worries this is another test of how to steal an election for 2024. 2020 was a large-scale attempt, it seems like some nuts are attempting smaller-scale ways to prevent an election.
In this episode, Alex discusses how most of the Republicans that are condemning Trump for his Mar-a-Lago dinner with Fuentes and Ye are only condemning Trump because they know it is bad for their brand. They are not doing it because of a moral shift. This makes them likely to shift back towards him if the calculation is correct. Then Alex discusses Trump’s taxes and new reports that House Democrats have obtained over six years of his federal tax information. What will these documents reveal about Trump’s time in office? Later, Alex discusses reports from places like the New York Times that the leader of the Oath Keepers, and one of his fellow members, were convicted of seditious conspiracy after the events of January 6th. Alex discusses why sedition was a better charge than treason. After, Alex discusses how the Respect for Marriage Act just passed the Senate and will move to the House. Finally, Alex expresses his concerns about the energy crisis in Europe, what increased protectionism by the United States will do to Europe, and what a decline in foreign investment will do to the European Union. He worries an economic and geopolitical row is coming.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing the World Cup and the U.S. Team’s victory over Iran. He also discusses how Iran is a fascinating story and there are reports that show Kurdish-populated regions of Iran celebrating the Iranian team’s loss. Next, Alex discusses the blowback from Balenciaga’s troubling and disturbing pre-Thanksgiving ad and why it may have fueled every far-right conspiracy about child exploitation possible. Later, Alex discusses the Georgia runoff that is a week away and early turnout is higher than expected. Finally, Alex discusses the dire situation in Haiti and why some insiders say the carnage is closer to a civil war than solely anarchy. Also, officials in the Biden Administration have reportedly called for sending “armed foreign forces to stabilize Haiti” according to the New York Times. Alex mentions the complications of such an international task force.
In this episode, Alex starts by ranting about current airline failures during the holidays and why Congress is placing extra scrutiny on the main companies. Then, Alex discusses the new controversy regarding former President Donald Trump having a dinner party with Kanye West and hate-mongering individuals such as Nick Fuentes, a well-known white supremacist, and holocaust denier. New York Magazine notes that “Former President Donald Trump is continuing to face backlash after hosting and dining with notorious white supremacist and avowed antisemite Nick Fuentes at his Mar-a-Lago estate on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.” Of course, Trump has denied knowing Fuentes; however, Alex questions these answers and ponders who is checking the guest list at Mar-a-Lago. The president must set boundaries and lead by example, he cannot amplify the voices of despicable human beings like Fuentes. Later, Alex discusses the recent protests in China over COVID-19 lockdowns and why these may be different. He argues that these are unified in calling out the regime and worries that President Xi may show his cards in this case. Xi has become president for life and will likely grapple with how to control these protests. Finally, Alex discusses the bravery of the Iranian Football Team and wonders what happens when they return home to Iran. He also discusses how according to CNN, “the United States Federation of Soccer had temporarily displayed Iran’s national flag on its official Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook account without the emblem of the Islamic Republic.” Now the Iranian government is calling out the U.S. Team and is demanding that FIFA kicks them out. Of course, the U.S. Men’s Team has denied knowing about this change and has shown cowardness while the Iranian team has done the opposite.
In this episode on the Eve of Thanksgiving, Alex starts by discussing his new Christmas guilty pleasure movie. Then he discusses how the Far-Right has started blaming the tragic nightclub shooting in Colorado Springs on the victims. He discusses how the lies around “groomers” have caused a complete breakdown in moral courage and compassion. Alex then gets into Trump’s bad day of lawsuits, investigations, and Supreme Court smackdowns. Later, Alex talks about the COP27 Summit that just ended in Egypt. He notes that it seems like the summit was ineffective in accomplishing climate goals, though creating a climate fund to help developing countries was a good start. He discusses how the idea of the fund was crucial but also that there is still no plan. He discusses how developing countries need state and network finances to help encourage private investment into renewable energy infrastructure. Finally, Alex discusses a growing arms race or Cold War between the United States and China over climate change and renewable energy.
In this episode, Alex covers Paul Ryan’s disingenuous comments about being “Never-Trump-Again.” Ryan claimed to appreciate Trump’s record but did not appreciate the losses in 2018, 2020, and 2022. Instead, it would add legitimacy to the “moving-on-from-Trump” movement if someone like Paul Ryan would just say the quiet part out loud — Trump is dangerous! Later, Alex argues that the Hunter Biden investigations that are likely to come may backfire on Republicans and are only an attempt at distracting and deflecting from the nepotism and corruption that plagued Trump’s presidency. Finally, Alex discusses troubling reports from the Russian-controlled nuclear plant in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Apparently, heavy shelling out over the weekend has put the facility at high risk of dangerous scenarios. The International Atomic Energy Agency has voiced concern and called for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine; however, none have occurred.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how on the eve of the FIFA games in Qatar, FIFA’s president went on a bizarre, troubling, and long rant during a news conference. The president, President Gianni Infantino, looked to defend the games being held in Qatar and condemned any criticism as hypocrisy. Infantino said, “for what we Europeans have been doing in the last 3,000 years around the world we should be apologizing for [the] next 3,000 years before starting to give moral lessons.” He also said he felt gay, African, Arab, and disabled. Next in the episode, Alex discusses how Trump has been reinstated on Twitter yet has been noticeably silent. He also discusses how looking into Trump’s tweets from January 2021 feels like a time capsule. Later, Alex discusses the tragic shooting that occurred over the weekend in Colorado Springs. At least five people were killed and 25 were injured in the LGBTQ+ nightclub in what is looking like a violent hate crime. Finally, Alex gives his thoughts on the protests and crackdown on human rights that are both taking place throughout Iran. Then he looks at previous revolutions in Iran and argues that this situation is not likely to lead to a revolution.
In this episode, Alex goes over some recent controversies and hypocrosies involving the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He discusses a troubling app that EU countries have warned should not be downloaded in Qatar but is required by the government to have on a phone. He also discusses how Qatari officials have decided that alcohol will not be sold at the stadiums and that the infrastructure may not be as well-designed as some had hoped. Finally, he discusses how the November schedule could cause injuries in players and has caused disasterous changes to the European football season. Then, Alex discusses how according to Reuters, “The Biden administration ruled on Thursday that Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has immunity from a lawsuit over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, drawing immediate condemnation from the slain journalist's former fiancee.” This is because MBS was made the Prime Minister and is now the head of state. This allows him international immunity from U.S. investigations. Finally, Alex discusses how Merrick Garland has appointed a special counsel to investigate Donald Trump’s mishandling of documents at Mar-a-Lago, as well as his actions on January 6th.
In this episode, Alex discusses the recent news that the current Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, will no longer be involved in house leadership. Since Republicans have taken back the house, Pelosi would no longer be the speaker anyways. Alex then discusses the revelations about FTX, a cryptocurrency firm that had over $30 billion in revenue and almost overnight went into an $8 billion hole. He discusses how this crisis has shed light on the volatility of crypto and it may be the beginning of the end for the currency. Later, Alex discusses new reports of potential resignations at Twitter. Elon Musk has given his employees until the end of the day on Thursday to decide if they want to be part of “Hardcore Twitter.” Finally, with Republicans taking back the House of Representatives, they have vowed to begin a storm of investigations into the Biden Administration.
In this episode, Alex dives into two newsworthy events that have been on his mind over the last 24 hours. First, he discusses how a potentially “Russian-made” missile crossed the border into Poland and killed two Polish nationals. This was likely the first death on a NATO country’s soil. While this report is alarming, Alex notes that Poland is running investigations with the help of NATO allies and it appears to be a defensive missile that was used by Ukraine and accidentially crossed over. While Poland and other countires have been measured, and still condemned Russia’s violent strikes throughout Ukraine, Alex worries that the fog of war almost brought NATO countries into a brutal conflict. Later, Alex discusses Donald Trump’s announcement to run for president in 2024. Trump still is the favorite in the Republican primary and Alex is worried that Trump could still win. It seems like the GOP has not done enough to fight back and it may pay… again…
In this episode, Alex discusses growing calls to boycott the FIFA World Cup that starts on November 20th in Qatar. Hosting the event in Qatar feels antithetical to the values of the sport and many nations involved. Then he spends the podcast looking into the controversies centered around the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). He uses the Qatar World Cup which will be played in November 2022, to discuss the issues this organization continues to face. Alex looks into the exploitation of workers in many of the countries where the World Cup takes place (such as South Africa, Brazil, and Qatar). Then he looks into the wasteful infrastructure projects that have been required for a World Cup. He finds that the projects are expensive, wasteful, neglect labor laws, and usually use vast state resources for only a few weeks of use. Later he looks into the bribery scandals, corruption charges, and FIFA’s close relationships with despots and illiberal regimes. Alex ends by talking about how inside reform is crucial because it reflects how other non-profit, international organizations are held accountable on the global stage.
In this episode, Alex discusses how a judge in Texas has struck down Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness policy. Then Alex discusses some midterm updates and laughs about how the circular firing squad/blame game has infected the GOP after a less than optimal election night. Later Alex discusses why Ron DeSantis won his election by over 19 points and wonders how Florida went from a purple state to a red haven. The Atlantic notes that “In Florida, the (Democratic) party also has an attitude problem, an organizational problem, a Latino problem, a growth problem, and a broccoli problem. And none of them will be easy to solve.” Alex also discusses the madness in Maricopa County, Arizona and how the gubernatorial race is still close and chaotic. Finally, he discusses some updates out of Russia and Ukraine.
In this episode, Alex gives his recap of the current results from the 2022 midterm elections. He is pleasantly surprised and goes through some of the pressing races and how they may impact the balance of power in the United States. While the GOP is likely to take the house, the red wave seems to have been merely a ripple. Alex also discusses how the MAGA movement did not do as well as Trump supporters may have predicted and it seems like establishment Republicans did better. As the country waits for the final results, things could get very interesting in places like Arizona and Nevada. Finally, Alex gives an update on affairs in Ukraine.
Alex is back for some last minute, day of, midterm election coverage. He discusses the likelyhood that Trump announces his candidacy soon, why these elections could be the crossing of the rubicon moment, and why more controversies could muddy the waters in key midterm races. Alex thinks that a red ripple is more possible than a red wave; however, he also thinks that anything is possible. He gives a few more predictions and takes on the midterms. Now it is time to watch and see. Will the election deniers get democratically elected to deny more elections?
In this pre-midterm episode, Alex breaks down why he thinks U.S. elections are too frequent and unstable, why he thinks Biden is screwed no matter what, and why he thinks people are willing to vote Republican even if the candidates are illequipped for the job. Alex goes around the country making predictions, he focuses on a controversy in Pennsylvania, close races in Wisconisn, troubling numbers in Georgia, and why he thinks Arizona is going to be NUTS. Also, he ponders whether democracy is really on the ballot, whether a new range of misinformation will begin after this cycle, and whether elections will ever be the same again.
In this short, mid-week episode, Alex discusses his thoughts from a few debates this week that brought some important insights into the state and national political climate. First, he discusses the Florida Gubernatorial debate between Governor Ron DeSantis and Democrat Charlie Crist. Crist is likely to lose and is almost out of campaign money, but he was willing to attack DeSantis on a myriad of issues. Alex notes that DeSantis seems to lack the charisma that made Trump so successful, he also seems less likeable and somewhat “prickly.” Later, Alex discusses the Pennsylvania race for the senate. The debate was between Dr. Mehmet Oz and John Fetterman. Alex notes that while Fetterman is better qualified to be elected and is more educated on policies for the state. However, in the debate he struggled to articulate some of his arguments due to a stroke back in May and this has created an optics problem for the candidate. The race is getting closer than some had hoped.
Alex is finally back. In this episode, he starts by discussing how over the weekend, Russia’s Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu warned defense officials in France, Turkey, Britain and the United States that Ukraine was preparing a provocation and the use of what he termed a “dirty bomb.” Alex discusses how this could be projection from Russia and Putin and his allies may be looking at a pretext for their own escalation. Later, Alex discusses midterm concerns over voter intimidation and escalating rhetoric. He also notes that it looks like the Democrats have lost their momentum and the Republicans could see a prosperous election season. FiveThirtyEight notes that “Democrats’ chances of holding onto Senate control have fallen from 66-in-100 on Oct. 13 to 55-in-100 today. And Republicans have gone from having a 69-in-100 chance of flipping the House on Oct. 13 to an 80-in-100 chance today.” Finally, Alex discusses the danger of Kanye West’s antisemetic rhetoric.
In this episode, Alex discusses his four-week “hiatus while he was abroad in Europe. Then he discusses the recent election in Italy in which Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the Brothers of Italy party, became Italy’s Prime Minister. Meloni has ties to Italian fascism, praised Benito Mussolini during her youth, and is against everything ranging from LGBTQ rights to immigration to non-traditional families. Alex also discusses how the American right has normalized her views and defended her positions as “popular” and “moderate.” There seems to be a global coalition of far-right parties that is transnational and troubling.
In this episode, Alex focuses on climate related issues both in the United States and abroad. He starts by discussing the disasterous scenario in Jackson, Mississippi in which the water is not drinkable and decades of neglect have finally come to the surface. The Guardian writes that “most of the population had already been without drinkable water for more than a month, but flooding last weekend, caused by weeks of rain, further interrupted operations at the city’s beleaguered main water plant. Currently large numbers have nothing come out of their taps, and for those that do, it must be boiled before being consumed.” Alex discusses how Jackson faces systemtic inequality and neglect that can be linked back to a declining tax base and declining infrastructure as wealthy, white residents fled for others areas.
Next, Alex looks at floods in Pakistan. The floods were the worst on record and impacted 33 million people and devastated large swathes of the country. They have also led to political division, upheaval, and pointless finger pointing. Alex discusses how this is likely going to be a reoccuring problem as climate crises are getting worse and more frequent.
Finally, Alex discusses the idea of climate reparations. As the climate crisis gets worse, wealthy countries with exploited resources and the ability to adapt will be able to deal with the crisis. However, countries that have been historically colonized or oppressed will see a consistent drop in stability. Foreign Policy writes that there must be a new approach to international relations in dealing with climate change: “climate reparations are better understood as a systemic approach to redistributing resources and changing policies and institutions that have perpetuated harm. Rather than a discrete exchange of money or of apologies for past wrongdoing.” Alex does not completely agree with this concept, but he agrees that there needs to be a new approach that is more equitable.
In this special Sunday episode, Alex reflects on being back in Naples. Then he goes into some interesting facts about how the efficacy of most American drugs is tested from Horseshoe Crab blood. There is a shortage and it is not environmentally sound. Then he talks about Joe Biden’s speech and why he thinks it was accurate in its talking points yet unproductive in its rhetoric.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing why it may be more difficult for the Trump to keep changing its story involving the classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. This week the Department of Justice released photos of the documents that ruined Trump’s narrative that they were not classified or that he did not know they were. Alex then relates this scandal to the Hillary Clinton one and explains why they could be similar, but have some differences. Alex finishes by discussing how the United Nations has finally released a report on China’s treatment of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang. The report expresses concerns that many people had over two years ago and Alex thinks it may be a little too little, a little too late.
In this episode, Alex reflects on the death of Mikhail Gorbachev and why he was more popular in the west than in parts of the former Soviet Union. Then he looks at Lindsay Graham and why it seems like he is someone who wants access to power and influence more than anything. He recently said that there will be “riots in the street” if Trump is prosecuted. Some think this is just speculation, but pothers think this is a dangerous thing to say. Later, Alex discusses why Gregg Abbott has bused over 9,000 migrants to New York City and Washington D.C.. He discusses that this is cruel and symbolic, but also may be making a point about our broken immigration system. Finally, Alex discusses the economic issues in Afghanistan a year after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.
In this episode, Alex discusses why Biden’s announcement that the government will forgive between $10,000 and $20,000 of student loan debt is a risk at best, and an unforced error at worst. Alex is not against combating the high cost of educaiton, but thinks that this decision will not solve the problem at hand; it also may irritate voters who did not attend college. Adam Harris writes that “belatedly canceling some student debt is what a country does when it refuses to support students up front.” Basically, instead of making education a public good, the government is making up for it on the back end. Later in the episode, Alex discusses how there are more signs that the midterms may be better than expected for Democrats. However, he is concerned about what could happen as a result. The Republican media has convinced its base that the midterms will go well, that elections are fradulent, and that Democrats are an existential threat to democracy. There is also rage boiling over. What happens if the red wave fizzles?
In this episode, Alex talks about how the United States may see a four-headed, chaotic vaccination run this fall. As Monkeypox has spread, COVID is changing, and now Polio has been found in sewer water in New York, the country may face a multifacted health crisis in the fall. That is worrying with vaccination rates dropping and children behind on their vaccines. Later, Alex discusses the assassination of Dary Dugina, the daughter of Alexander Dugin. Dugin is a ultranationalist and consider a neofascist who is more extreme than Putin, yet has guided a lot of the nationalist and expansionary rhetoric. The FSB has blamed Ukraine and/or Estonia, while others think it was an internal assassination. Alex worries that this way just justify more Russian aggression in Ukraine.
In this episode, Alex discusses how Rudy Giuliani appears to be the target of a probe in the Fulton County investigation into the 2020 election subversion scheme. Ominously, a statement has been put out saying that Rudy’s goal is to die a free man. Next, Alex discusses the primary election in Wyoming where the incumbent Liz Cheney lost by over 37 points to an insane election denier. Liz Cheney held a mirror up to the GOP and they did not want to see their reflection. Finally, Alex discusses Trump’s statement on Fox News after the FBI raid where he said “the temperature has to be brought down…” “Whatever we can do to help — because the temperature has to be brought down in the country if it isn’t, terrible things are going to happen.” Is this a threat? Alex thinks so.
In this episode, Alex discusses a new study out of Sweden that finds that rainwater is also toxic to drink due to CFAS which have basically infiltrated everything from groundwater to the atmosphere. The study found that even Antarctica had excessive levels. Next, Alex discusses how the GOP has clearly given up on backing the blue. According to CNN, “an armed man suspected of trying to breach the FBI's Cincinnati field office Thursday was killed after an hours-long standoff with law enforcement.” The man’s social media posts made it clear this was in retaliation to the FBI’s investigation at Mar-a-Lago. This was inevitable after the right-wing media and GOP leaders called out the FBI and voiced dangerous conspiracies. Finally, Alex discusses how European officials are constantly concerned about the end of U.S. influence and what it would do to the EU and its security. The United States is leading the efforts to help Ukraine and is still an economic powerhouse, but due to internal chaos, many fear it has reached its pride before the fall. Alex also discusses how Sino experts believe that China has peaked and also could be starting to plateau. This is also troubling because history shows that peaking countries can lash out and be even more dangerous than declining powers. China and the United States both have fundamentally opposite views of how the world order should be governed. Could this cause some sort of conflict? Especially if both are no longer growing?
In this episode, Alex focuses on a new report that former Chief of Staff, John Kelly, said that Donald Trump wanted his generals to be more like the Nazi generals during WW2. This again shows Trump’s ignorant views of history and why he views everything through the lens of loyalty. Kelly also has said that Trump disparged wounded veterans. Then Alex discusses the shocking FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago that occurred on Monday. Alex avoids too much speculation on what will come from this raid, but he does focus on how GOP lawmakers and right-wing media figures are reacting to it. Instead of being silent until more information comes out, they are attacking the FBI and assume that Trump is innocent and that it is a hit job. It seems like they are finally showing that they think Trump is above the law. Even Kevin McCarthy has threatened to hold investigations of the Justice Department and Marjorie Taylor Greene has called to defund the FBI. It seems like the DOJ has crossed the rubicon and things may be getting interesting. Finally, Alex discusses some of the highlights from the primaries in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
In this episode, Alex starts by sharing some hioarious yet distrubing clips of some of the most cringe moments from CPAC Texas over the weekend. Then Alex goes over a new article in the Atlantic that is over 30,000 words and discusses new revelations about the Trump Administration’s child separation policies on the southern border. The article is called An American Catastrophe by Caitlin Dickerson and through hundreds of interviews with Trump officials, she finds that these cruel policies were intentional and meant as scare tactics. Later, Alex discusses how the cap price on insulin was removed from the Inflation Reduction Act. In a vote of 57-43, the Senate Democrats could not get enough Republicans over the 60 vote threshold to avoid the filibuster. Finally, Alex discusses the Forward Party and whether it would work as a third party.
The NFL is back, but Alex cannot spend too much time celebrating because the world has experienced a crazy week. He starts by discussing the aftermath of Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan — China fired over a dozen Dongfeng series ballistic missiles into the waters north-east and south-west of Taiwan’s main island. While China claimed these were “exercises”, Taiwan has responded and many countries have condemned the actions. Alex goes over whether this is a test-run for how China could seal off the island during an invasion. Next, tensions have hit a low since the 1990s between Serbia and Kosovo. Ethnic Serbs still live in a region in Northern Kosovo and the Kosovar government has tried to allow that region some idnependence. However, the government has now passed new laws involving license plates and entry-exit border policies for Serbians. This had led to protests, road blocks, and literal shots being fired. This is problematic because Serbia still does not recognize Kosovo as a country and Alexsander Vucic, Serbia’s strongman leader, has close ties to Putin and has been referred to as “little Putin.” Alex worries that this could become another conflict over territories that has been exagerated by grievance-laced strongmen like Putin, Orban, and now Vucic. Finally, Alex looks into the trial of Alex Jones involving his lies about the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting. Jones will have to pay $4.1 million to the victims. Is this the end of InfoWars?
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan. He is torn on the issue and thinks that above all, it demonstrates how America’s policies towards Taiwan are too vague and must be reformed. He also discusses some speculation that if Pelosi loses her speakership in November, she could become an emissary to a place like Rome. Next, Alex discusses the assassination of Ayman al-Zawahiri. The Economist notes that “if Bin Laden was the charismatic face of al-Qaeda, Mr Zawahiri was the brain.” Many also think he was the main planner of 9/11. Alex discusses that while al-Zawahiri deserved to die, his death may not change anything. Zawahiri was no longer a key leader in global jihadism, mainly because it has become more extreme and focused on different goals. Finally, Alex goes over the primary results from Tuesday. He looks at a rare abortion victory in Kansas, troubling results in Michigan, a pyrrhic victory in Missouri, and nothing good in Arizona.
In this episode, Alex rants about a midterm strategy that could backfire on the Democrats. Then he discusses how a man traveling to Indonesia was fined almost $2000 for “smuggling” a McMuffin in his luggage and did not declare. Alex then discusses Trump’s return to D.C. in which he has reached his final form of hate, fear, and grievance. He also had some wild ideas about how to deal with the drug crisis and homelessness. Also, the next big fire in California has its own weather and is a harbinger of things to come. For the remainder of the episode, Alex discusses how the Monkeypox virus has created a crisis in the United States and the public health system seems to be worse off than it was before COVID-19. Alex also discusses how while the WHO has declared this a health emergency, many in the United States are struggling with how to communicate its risks to the public. The Atlantic discusses how “As monkeypox cases rise in the U.S., public officials are scrambling to balance concerns about stigmatization with the fact that the disease is largely affecting gay and bisexual men.” Alex argues that it is more important to actually call the issue what it is and focus resources and messaging on the actual people that are getting impacted by the virus. He turns this into a bigger issue of how public officials are more concerned with terminology than action. He relates this back to Politics and the English Language by George Orwell. Orwell notes that language can be used by politicians or opportunists to mean whatever you want it to. He discusses how if thought can corrupt language, language can also corrupt thought.
In this (late) end of the week episode, Alex discusses the controversial LIV golf tournament that is funded by Saudi Arabia. Of course it is being hosted at a Trump golf course. It is also being protested by the families of 9/11 victims and the media as well.
Alex also discusses how Joe Manchin has flip-flopped again on the Build Back Better deal and is likely to support it now. If this can pass, it will be a huge victory for Joe Biden. However, will Kirsten Synema still support it?
Then Alex discusses a troubling Russian scheme that led to a coup and the pundering of gold in Sudan. Basically, the Kremlin and Wagner Group helped orechestrate the coup in Sudan to put in a military dictatorship so that Russia could give them weapons in exchange for plundering the country’s resources (mainly gold).
Last, Alex looks at how quickly Viktor Orbán of Hungary has become a fascist. He discusses how Viktor Orbán’s recent speech in Romania was racist, xenophobic, and dangerous. Even the Jewish community in Hungary has called it a straight “Nazi-text.” He has shown me that it seems like you can’t play with this illiberalism without eventually going completely fascist. His authoritarian nationalism and erosion of checks and balances, along with his racial and xenophobic rhetoric cannot be put back once they are released. This is all problematic because Orbán is coming to CPAC in Texas; the GOP should learn some lessons from this and stomp this out. Orbán’s evolution is telling and foreshadowing.
In this episode, Alex talks about the push to reform the Electoral Count Act of 1887. A bipartisan effort is looking to reform it to clarify that the Vice President cannot deceritfy any election votes. This was a vague area in the original act that John Eastman and Trump allies tried to exploit. The window is small before the midterms, but it is still possible. Alex then reflects on Josh Hawley and how he wants to rin in the Haulin’ Hawley 5k in Missouri. Then he discusses what could happen in a second Trump term. In 2020, Trump passed an executive order that involved “Schedule F” in which the president could fire civil servants who are involved in confidential material or policymaking. Basically Trump would be able to replace over 50,000 civil servants with whomever he wanted. Alex worries this would politisize the civil service and cause irreversible damage. Finally, he discusses worries of a recession.
Alex will be back tomorrow with a new episode, but for the moment here is a classic episode from back in January of 2022. It looks like Congress may reform the Electoral Count Act of 1887. This is good news because John Eastman and others tried to overturn Biden’s victory by using ideas from this act.
Original episode summary —
In this episode, Alex takes a deep dive into understanding the Electoral Count Act of 1887. The act was passed by congress in reaction to the Compromise of 1877, and some argue that its existence actually paved the way for the 2020 election chaos and the storming of the capitol on January 6th.
After President Grant ( a Republican) decided not to run for a third term, the 1876 election cycle was composed of Governor Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio (Republican) and Governor Samuel J. Tilden of New York (Democrat). The results of this presidential election between Tilden and Hayes became one of the most contested in US history. Tilden was winning the electoral college count with 184 electoral votes to Hayes's 165, yet there were four states that remained unresolved. These four states were Oregon, Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina. Each of these states responded differently to this situation, each party reported that their own candidate had won, and Oregon even replaced their electors. Eventually, a compromise was made in which Hayes became president and Tilden conceded. The Compromise of 1877 said that all of the remaining 20 electoral votes were given to Hayes. In return, “the Republicans agreed to withdraw federal troops from the South. This is credited with ending Reconstruction.” Ten years later, the Electoral Count Act of 1887 was passed. Unfortunately, it created an environment where if there was a contested election, no matter what the states electors determined, congress could make the final decision. Now there was a designated period that allowed contesting electors to make their case and if there was an issue, the Vice President and Congress would make the final decision.
Alex argues that this act was poorly created and has existed in limbo ever since this period. Unfortunately, the 2020 election was also close and opportunistic lawyers and state officials used it to their advantage. Alex believes that this act needs to be overturned or reformed (at the least) so that there is a clear understanding of who will determine the legitimacy of an election, even if it is contested.
In this episode, Alex talks about how gas prices in the U.S. are lower than a month ago, but still much higher than a year ago. He also mentions that the U.S. is still in much better shape than most of Europe as a fuel crisis looms. Alex then discusses the new subvariant of COVID and why he worries we are entering a forever pandemic. The vaccines are always trying to catch up to the new variant, immune responses are quickly dwindling, and political and public apathy are constant. Later, Alex discusses how Jair Bolsanaro is losing by double digits to Lula for the election in October. Now he is claiming that voter fraud could be possible. Much like Donald Trump, Bolsanaro is creating uncertainity and challenging democracy. Finally, Alex takes a deep dive into the complex and radical life of Clarence Thomas. He poses the questions on how a radical black activist in the 1970s became the most conservative judge on the Supreme Court. Justice Thomas is a flawed and problematic man, but he is fascinating.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about how things are looking bad for Rudy Guliani and Netflix. Then he discusses the meeting in Tehran between Vladmir Putin and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran and Russia expressed mutual animosity towards NATO and the west, they also highlighted a new alliance between the two countries that is a based on grievance. Alex discusses that this was not always meant to happen and that the West has pushed Iran further towards Russia due to sanctions and backing out of the Iran Nuclear Deal. Next, Alex discusses that the House passed a bill on Tuesday to protect marriage equality. It was somewhat bipartisan, it passed in a 267-157 vote. However, it will need to pass in the Senate which is split 50-50; in order to avoid the filibuster, the Democrats will need 10 Republican Senators to join. Finally, Alex looks at what may happen on the GOP side in 2024. Current polling shows that about 50% of Republicans want someone new in 2024 and a little under 50% will support. Unfortunately, there is no alternative with a strong share of the vote. For example, Ron DeSantis has 25% and then other potential candidates are polling in the single digits. Alex worries that Trump just needs a plurality (like in 2016) and since the opposition cannot coalesce behind one candidate, Trump could still win a plurality and the nomination.
In this episode, Alex discusses Jordan Petterson’s fall and how he has become a merchant of grievance and existential despair. In a recent video, he has gone into Russia/Putin apologia, arguing that the invasion of Ukraine has been tragic but the “Woke West” is degenerating. Then Alex discusses the record-setting heat waves, fires, and chaos that are hitting a large percentage of Europe. The Economist reports that “Over the weekend wildfires ravaged southern France, Portugal, Spain, and North Africa, as well as parts of Croatia, Greece, Italy, and Turkey. Temperatures soared above 45°C in several places, intensifying fears about climate change. Finally, Alex discusses how it feels like people with different ideological views are talking past one another in the United States. He uses two examples to describe how both sides are acting in bad faith against the other and it is leading to a worsening political divide. He uses the example of the unproductive hearing between Senator Josh Hawley and the UC Berkeley law professor, Khiara Bridge. Depending on political ideology, it seemed like both of them won the debate, but not in a useful or effective way. Alex also discusses the heated debate over Critical Race Theory. To the right, it is an existential threat that requires draconian laws, the banning of books, and whitewashing history. The left, on the contrary, denies that CRT even exists yet is embracing the theory as 100% fact in many political and historical fields.
In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how Joe Manchin has once again dampened Biden’s domestic hopes. Then he goes over a shocking interview on CNN between Jake Tapper and John Bolton. In the interview, Bolton said the quiet part out loud, directly bragging that he had been involved in several coups. Alex discusses how this is atrocious for the U.S.’s image abroad and will feed Russian propaganda. “It’s damaging to our efforts to advance and support democracy,” Stanford University-Hoover Institution scholar Larry Diamond said. “We have enough trouble already countering Russian and Chinese propaganda.” Finally, Alex discusses the case of Brittney Griner, the WNBA player who has been detained in Russia for apparently having a marijuana vape pen. She could face a ten-year prison sentence because marijuana is criminalized in Russia. Many think that she is a high-profile hostage and Putin intends to push for a prisoner swap. First, Alex is irritated about how the media and public figures in the United States are covering this issue. Many claim the Biden administration is neglecting her because she is a woman. This is wrong, this is a highly complex situation and Russia should be blamed not Biden. Second, Alex discusses that Viktor Bout, the guy who would likely be part of the prisoner exchange, is an atrocious arms dealer with the blood of thousands of people on his hands. This is a complex scenario with no great solution.
Alex focuses on how the America First/MAGA/National Conservative movement is creating its own policy advocacy and think tank network to start creating policies, personnel, and a farm team for the New Right. Alex discusses how the New Right is focused on state policies to direct the economy, anti-immigration rhetoric, and nonintervention in foreign policy. While he agrees with some of these economic policies, he worries that this movement is also centered on Christian fundamentalism and that the idea of America First may not be good for all groups. It looks like these new think tanks are successfully replacing Reagan-era organizations such as the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation.
Day 7 of the Select Committee Hearings on January 6th just concluded and Alex felt it was necessary to provide some analysis of what happened. Alex focuses on the testimonies of two individuals — Stephen Ayres and Jason Van Tatenhove. Ayres was a former Trump supporter who believed the big lie and felt obligated to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally. He described that he never intended to go to the capitol, but Trump riled up the base and the energy during the rally helped stoke this action. Van Tatenhove is the former media director for the Oath Keepers. He basically argued that the Oath Keepers saw Trump’s lie as a way to pave a path to chaos and violence. The Oath Keepers saw January 6th as the spark that could have started a civil conflict. Van Tatenhove also described how January 6th exemplifies the Oath Keeper’s vision for America and that he was surprised that more bloodshed has not occurred. Ultimately, Alex expresses fear over how these organized militias saw Trump’s lies as a path to legitimacy and this should concern everyone, especially when he can rile up average supporters who believe his lies.
Alex starts with an update on Ukraine. Then he discusses how a flawed constitution is being drafted in Chile and the Economist says that “Chile’s old constitution was hardly perfect. Indeed, it has been amended nearly 60 times. But compared with its proposed replacement, it is a paragon of clarity.” In 2019, following the violent protests in Chile over inequality, rising prices, and political corruption, the former center-right government agreed on creating a new constitutional assembly to draft a new constitution. The old constitution was created during the dictatorship of Pinochet and many blame it for the systemic issues in the country. Alex discusses how the new one is problematic because it is idealistic, vague, contradictory, and written by assembly members that are part of social movements and not political parties. There are many ideas with no definitions, new agencies without plans, and costly programs without any economic feasibility. Alex worries that this will cause legal infighting for years over vague terms and legal theories. Ultimately, this is a warning sign to other democracies. It is almost impossible to create a new constitution in a divided and polarized society. Alex uses an article from the University of Chicago to highlight why divisive times are not prime moments for creating a new constitution.
In this weekend episode, Alex starts by asking “what happened to Michael Flynn?” by going over a new article that delves into this topic. Flynn seems to have gone from a skilled intelligence officer to a crazy MAGA start.
Then Alex goes over the political and economic chaos occurring in Sri Lanka and why this could be a harbinger for things to come for other countries. Political and economic mismanagement have made the country a failed state and while the government blames the pandemic, the issue seems more complex. Sri Lanka owes China more than $5bn in debt and according to the BBC, took an additional $1bn loan from Beijing last year to help with its acute financial crisis. In 2022, it will need to repay over $7 billion in domestic and foreign debt. Now there is a massive crunch in fuel, food, and power; people are starving, dying, and angry. As inflation and supply issues have intensified because of the war in Ukraine, Alex worries this scenario could happen in other countries.
Finally, Alex gives his case for why Donald Trump should appear on the Joe Rogan Experience. Recently, Rogan was asked if he would reconsider having Trump on the JRE and Rogan said that “I’ve said no every time, I don’t want to help him, I’m not interested in helping him.” Alex disagrees with this statement and thinks that the opposite could be true.
In this episode, Alex discusses the tragic assassination of Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister. He also goes into the legacy of Abe and why he was controversial but important for unifying an alliance of Western and Asian partners. Abe was early to recognize growing threats in the region and helped unify allies such as the United States. The world was likely safer due to Abe’s divergence from other Japanese leaders. Alex then discusses that Boris Johnson has officially resigned. The fact that Boris Johnson actually resigned, and his own party turned against him, shows me how much trouble the U.S. is in. The inverse of that is happening in the United States. Finally, Alex looks at how the left is the majority in the United States, but lets perfection be the enemy of the good. He thinks this is a problem when you have a unified minority. He worries that this division on the left may enable the illiberalism that is growing on the left. he uses an analogy from the Stranger Things finale to bring this home.
In this episode, Alex discusses the tragedy in Highland Park on the 4th of July and why as Tom Nichols says, “the effect of these mass shootings is the same as terrorism: They rob us of a general sense of safety and turn us into a nation of hostages.”Then he discusses some new revelations from the investigation into the Trump team in Georgia, Lindsey Graham, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani have been called to testify. Then Alex provides a compilation of disturbing threats to Adam Kinzinger, that his team has put together. The threats help explain why Kinzinger could be resigning in November. Finally, Alex discusses how the clock may be running out on Boris Johnson’s time as PM of the United Kingdom. He has been hit by numerous scandals of his own creating and the master of chaos has caused too much of it.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about the pros and cons of Finland and Sweden joining NATO. Then he discusses the troubling testimony from Trump’s former aide, Cassidy Hutchinson. She not only described Trump’s knowledge of the mob being armed but also discussed how he was fine with it and wanted to join them at the capitol. Apparently, Trump also acted like a maniac and threw burgers, staining the walls of the White House with ketchup. Later, Alex discusses the West Virginia v. EPA case and how the SCOTUS will make it harder to create a robust clean energy economy. It will also make it harder to uniformly regulate carbon emissions across the United States. This decision will make things more expensive and less effective. Finally, Alex discusses how companies like Meta, Alphabet, Reddit, and Tik Tok could provide user data to law enforcement officials in states that have outlawed abortion. If a woman goes over state lines to get an abortion, these apps could provide that information to law enforcement. Catherine Crump, a law professor and director of the Samuelson Law, Technology and Public Policy Clinic at UC-Berkeley’s law school, says that “digital evidence has just revolutionized how criminal investigations are conducted in this country. We live our lives online, we leave digital breadcrumbs of our prior activities, and of course, those are going to be caught up in abortion investigations.”
In this episode, Alex reflects on the Supreme Court Decision that overturned Roe v Wade, an almost fifty-year precedent. Alex discusses how this is going to cause chaos and a potential constitutional crisis. In a day, a right that women had for multiple generations has now been stripped away. Alex worries that the pro-life movement has no plan on how to help women during this time and this will just accelerate America’s breakdown into two very separate countries. He also discusses the concurring opinions of Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh and what they may mean for other privacy decisions.
In this episode, Alex goes over new revelations from the January 6th hearings, how the MAGA base is becoming more involved in deplorable acts of intimidating families, how the U.S. needs to find its sense of humor, and why the SCOTUS made a bad choice on its new concealed carry decision in New York.
- Rusty Bowers, the Arizona Republican Speaker of the State House, testified that he was intimidated and asked to do unconstitutional acts during the 2020 election. He helped certified Joe Biden in Arizona while being a 2020 Trump supporter. While he stood up to the Big Lie and testified to the committee about the dangerous acts of the Trump administration, he has also said that he would vote for Trump over Biden in 2024. Alex ponders this dilemma and why it persists. Alex also discusses how the Trump base is becoming more violent in its rhetoric toward detractors.
- Alex discusses how a sense of humor is necessary for a healthy society and that people need to be able to get offended. He discusses how the term “harmful” has been wrongfully misused. He uses examples from the recent Washington Post controversies, Taylor Lorenz’s reaction to a joke from Matthew Yglesias, and Dave Chappelle’s constant criticism. He notes that the nation has lost its sense of humor and that is not good for its cohesion.
- The Supreme Court of the United States is going to make some controversial decisions over the next week and it has already made one. While the country is waiting on the decision regarding the Mississippi court case that could overturn Roe v Wade, the SCOTUS has already made a radical one regarding concealed carry permits for firearms. SCOTUS overturned a law in New York and now, it will be easier for Americans to concealed carry in a myriad of public spaces in New York. This decision is likely to overturn state regulations regarding concealed carry laws. Alex thinks this is the worst possible decision in a time when Americans are on edge and uncertainty is looming. The Atlantic poses some questions that this new decision has created “Are people carrying guns at schools and shopping malls and public parks? What about at churches and synagogues and mosques? What is it like to pray in places where fellow supplicants are armed?”
In this episode, Alex discusses Colombia’s troubling elections, recession and stagflation worries, Eric Greiten’s new campaign ad glorifying political violence, and the growing threat of white nationalist groups like Patriot Front.
- Colombia’s outgoing president, a moderate named Ivan Duque, has tried to do everything right and has saved the country from economic collapse during the pandemic, however, his popularity was around 20%. Instead, two populists (far left and far right) are the most popular in Colombia for the presidential election. Alex ponders why the populace is so unhappy with Duque even when most indicators show he did a good job
- Alex worries that a recession could be inevitable in the coming year. Goldman Sachs has cut its economic forecast growth reports. Also, Bloomberg notes that “The Goldman team sees a 30% probability of entering a recession over the next year, up from 15% previously, and a 25% conditional probability of entering a recession in the second year if one is avoided in the first. That implies a 48% cumulative probability in the next two years versus 35% previously.” The Federal Reserve has also raised its interest rate by 75 basis points, Alex discusses how the goal of this is to cool off the economy by suppressing demand. Some worry that this may spark a recession and a spike in unemployment. These are symptoms of a malfunctioning economy or “stagflation.”
- Eric Greitens, the former governor of Missouri who had to resign due to assault charges and was accused of abusing his wife and children, has a new ad. This ad has him hunting “RINOS” (Republicans in Name Only). RINOS are Republicans like Liz Cheney that have criticized the MAGA movement and have condemned violent extremism. Alex worries that Greitens is glorifying political violence. However, it looks like he may win his election.
- Last week, 31 men were arrested for attempting to violently riot at a pride event in Idaho. They were members of the white nationalist group Patriot Front. Alex discusses that this group is growing in numbers and has had a national presence since its founding in 2017.
In this episode, Alex starts with his thoughts on Juneteenth. Then he goes over some highlights from the January 6th hearings. He feels that the testimonies from people like William Barr, Ivanka Trump, and Bill Stepien were necessary but too late. These people were cowards who waited too long and still are prospering off of the Trump grift. Alex also discusses how new revelations show that the mob came within 40 feet of Mike Pence and had a plan to kill him.
In the main part of the episode, Alex gives an update on the war in Ukraine. Russia’s war of attrition seems to be working as Ukrainian forces are being outgunned and are losing morale. Also, NATO’s chief, Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, has warned that the West should prepare for a war that will last years. Alex worries that the fragmented west, along with a collapsing global economy, could lead to a populist/isolationist backlash in places like the US, France, and Germany. He ends by discussing how India, a close ally of Russia, and an enemy of China, should be utilized in helping foster negotiations. The United States should also work to get India off of its dependence on Russian weapons.
Alex is off for the week while on vacation. This is an episode from April 2021 that goes over the impacts of the COVID pandemic and changing work dynamics in mountain towns.
A headline out of the San Francisco Gate Newspaper reads “'Another family losing their home' as SF transplants are displacing Tahoe locals.” This is a trend that is growing in mountain towns across the United States in which remote work has allowed white-collar workers from cities to relocate to rural areas. Now, towns from California to Colorado are seeing surges in transplants that are causing a housing shortage that may kick out locals that work in the tourism industry that are needed to run these local economies. In this episode, Alex discusses how this is just another aspect of the inequalities that COVID-19 has brought to the surface. He also proposes a few solutions such as affordable housing.
In this episode, Alex talks a deep dive into why the United States lacks nuance and perspective, it seems like the public discourse has been filled up with performative anger and misconceptions. He gives some tips of his own on how to listen to others and why it could help us come back from the brink. he also looks into studies that show that both the left and the right have overexaggerated and incorrect views about one another.
In this Memorial Day episode, Alex discusses mandatory or compulsory voting and why he thinks it could help alleviate some of America’s current woes. He thinks that one of the biggest problems in the United States is that a lot of people do not have faith in its elections. It has created a legitimacy crisis that is self-fulfilling. Mandatory voting creates a system where people do not need to register to vote and it is considered their constitutional duty to vote. If they choose not to vote, they must actively deregister or be fined a small fee. Australia is a key example of this system and last week the nation held an election that kicked out the current right-wing prime minister who was considered the “Trump from down under.” Alex discusses how this style of voting could help kick out extreme ideas and figures from the political arena because, in the current state of affairs, the most radical voices in the United States usually get heard. If everyone voted, it would likely moderate politics. Of course, it will be difficult and many Americans would not be fond of the government requiring them to vote.
In this episode, Alex gives his thoughts on the tragic shooting in Uvalde, Texas that left 19 children and two teachers dead. He shares his anger at the frequency of these mass shootings and discusses his perspective on why nothing changes. He also goes into the hypocrisy of many right-wing politicians saying that we must “leave politics out of this.” He also discusses why the “good guys with guns” argument has again proven to not work, how arming teachers is ridiculous, and how this is more than a mental health issue. He thinks that Republicans are widening the goal post involving their defense of firearms because they know they are losing the debate. Later, Alex gives an update on Ukraine and Henry Kissinger’s comments about giving Putin an offramp. He ends with some new worrying news out of Hungary. Apparently, Victor Orban has issued another state of emergency, this time it is about the War in Ukraine. In reality, he is using this emergency to rule by decree and erode more civil rights inside the country.
In this episode, Alex brushes on the fact that there have been 215 "mass shootings" in 2022 alone, the US needs policy not thoughts and prayers. Then discusses Monkeypox and the “Monkeypox paradox” as he calls it. Basically, this disease that is not very transmissible, and has a vaccine, grabbed the world’s attention when it hit the West. However, it has been a problem in Africa for decades and there has been no coverage of it. Finally, Alex focuses the majority of the episode on America’s policy towards China and Taiwan. It is called Strategic Ambiguity. He goes over the history of “the One China Policy”, how the U.S. still sends arms and aid to Taiwan, and why it may be time to move from Strategic Ambiguity to Strategic Clarity. Alex argues that since there is no clarity between the United States and China involving Taiwan, the game of chicken is getting more costly and worrying. He thinks the U.S. must define how they would respond to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan and work towards getting input from Taipei as well.
In this episode, Alex discusses Biden’s new agreement to contain China and move away from neoliberalism. He discusses how “mail-in voting” seems to be okay with Republicans if it is from their side. Then he discusses the idea of “effective altruism” and how someone ran on it in a house primary in Oregon. Effective Altruism could useful in American politics and in helping communities around the world, it focuses on “using evidence and reason to figure out how to benefit others as much as possible, and taking action on that basis.” Finally, Alex worries about the symbolic nature of what “Dark MAGA” may entail. Madison Cawthorn used the term when declaring war on the moderate republicans who likely helped in getting him out of the House. Some may laugh it off, but Alex thinks it is symbolic of an edgier and revenge-filled MAGA mentality that has grown since Trump left office. He discusses how Dark MAGA is growing, he cites the rhetoric of Marjorie Taylor Greene, JD Vance, and others, who have used dangerous and weaponized rhetoric against Democrats, mainly calling them scum, evil, and pedophiles. Alex worries this language could lead to true division and irreconcilable differences.
In this episode, Alex goes over the primaries and how the results have been a mixed bag for the future. He goes over why it is great that Fetterman won the Democratic Primary in Pennsylvania and why it does not matter if Memet Oz or David McCormick wins the Republican Primary because both are frauds. However, Doug Mastriano, a QANON believing, January 6th involved state senator won the Pennsylvania governor primary for the GOP. Then Alex celebrates Madison Cawthorn’s defeat in North Carolina and cries over how Ted Budd, backed by Trump, won North Carolina’s Republican Senate primary. Alex concludes the episode by discussing why Ted Cruz is a brilliant, methodical ass. NPR notes that “The U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority sided with Republican Sen. Ted Cruz on Monday, ruling that a federal ban on outsiders repaying a candidate's campaign loan to himself after an election violates the constitutional guarantee of free speech.” Ted Cruz saw a whole that exposed the 2002 McCain-Feingold Act and now multimillionaires will have more power in campaign finance. In Justice Kagan’s dissent, she notes that “The only loser is the public, which inevitably suffers from government corruption."
In this episode, Alex discusses how the War in Ukraine is slowly becoming a war of attrition. Also, Finland and Sweden are becoming increasingly likely to join NATO and Russia is furious. Then Alex discusses rising gun violence across the United States and the growing fear and uncertainty that is coming with it. He focuses on the Buffalo shooting which was a blatantly racist attack on African Americans. He discusses how the “Great Replacement Theory” has been mainstreamed and the network is growing. An AP poll shows that a third of Americans believe that immigrants are replacing Americans for electoral reasons. This is a troubling number.
In this short weekend episode, Alex starts by discussing his thoughts on the Alito leak. He thinks that the finger-pointing over who leaked the document is not productive. He mentions that if you are more worried about the leak than its contents, you need to do a reality check.
Then Alex focuses on the Department of Homeland Security’s Disinformation Governance Board. The DHS Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, notes that “…the new board is intended to standardize the department's efforts to respond to disinformation that could be connected with violent threats to the U.S…” Alex finds this to be a stupid idea because disinformation is hard to always identify and is constantly changing. He also believes that bias persists. Nina Jankowicz, who is leading the board, said that Twitter should have censored the Hunter Biden laptop even though it turned out to be authentic. Alex notes that disinformation is a problem, but the administration should have the foresight to know that this could backfire. What if Trump wins again in 2024? Would people be comfortable if leads a disinformation board with election deniers or truthers? Not everyone has the same view of truth or disinformation.
In this episode, Alex talks about J.D. Vance and Kevin McCarthy who are two examples of the grifters leading the grifted. He discusses the new leaked recording of McCarthy condemning January 6th and Trump, he also goes over Vance’s past worries about Trumpism. Alex worries that the GOP is constantly willing to throw out values for power and influence.
Later in the episode, Alex goes over Russia’s Victory Day. It is on May 9th and marks the surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe. Historically, Soviet leaders have made telling speeches at this event that have given Sovietologists some insight into what the Kremlin was planning. Alex discusses how there is speculation that Putin may give a speech that could help officials understand what is next in the war. He worries Putin may need to blame someone to mobilize the Russian people, and it won’t be himself.
Finally in the episode, Alex discusses why Moldova would be next if Putin wanted to escalate the war. The European Council on Foreign Relations notes that “On 22 April, deputy commander of Russia’s Central Military District outlined the aim of the second phase of his country’s war on Ukraine. The goal was not only to take the Donbas region in the country’s east but also to seize control of the southern coast of Ukraine – and to link up with the Moldovan breakaway republic of Transnistria.” Alex discusses how this Transnistria separatist region is similar to parts of Eastern Ukraine and has already seen escalating conflicts and tensions. Under Putin’s stance toward protecting and liberating Russians everywhere, Transnistria would be the same as Eastern Ukraine. Everything depends on whether Putin will accept some false “half” victories or if he wants to create an ethnonationalsit state.
In this episode, Alex discusses the potential that Roe v. Wade may be overturned in its current form. Instead of creating a culture of life, Alex argues this will do the opposite and harm women, especially in vulnerable communities. Then he discusses some new revelations that Vladimir Putin has cancer and will be receiving treatment. In the interim, the man who convinced him that Nazis were in Ukraine will run the country.
- the SCOTUS has been holding hearings on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a 2018 case in which Mississippi passed a law prohibiting abortion after 15 weeks. This was in conflict with Roe v. Wade which had viability at 24 weeks. Yesterday, Politico released a leaked document that appeared to be the preliminary majority decision in this case. Justice Alito stated that “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled, It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.” Alex discusses how this is against true libertarianism and is a rejection of the harm principle. He also discusses how this will make abortions less safe, but it will not end them.
- There are reports from Kremlin officials that have been obtained that note that Putin has cancer and is going to be getting surgery. The reports note that the cancer is not severe and Putin’s absence will be short. Alex discusses how people should not be excited about this change, Nikolai Patrushev will be the leader in Putin’s absence. He is a “yes-man” to Putin who has peddled lies about denazification in Ukraine.
In this episode - Netflix issues, no more masks on planes, an ex-Navy officer and journalist is now fighting in Russia, Ukraine is being creative in exposing Russian atrocities, and Alex dives into what Ancient Athens and Sparta may tell us about the “yin and yang” of democracy and why balance is crucial.
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Before going into a deep dive into a theory he is working on, Alex discusses the new show he likes on Disney+, how Netflix is struggling and what this may tell us about the future of streaming, and why he thinks streaming has lost its allure. He discusses that the oversaturation of choice/options may be to blame. Also, people may not be able to share their passwords anymore.
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Alex discusses how overnight, the federal mask mandate for transportation was lifted. Apparently, the Florida judge found that the CDC did not “justify its decision and did not follow proper rulemaking procedures that left it fatally flawed.” Alex thinks that the Biden administration will not challenge this issue because it has been looking for an offramp for this mandate for a while.
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Malcolm Nance, a former United States Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer, and MSNBC contributor are in Ukraine, serving with the International Legion of Territorial Defense. He has been quoted as discussing how he is tired of talking and wants to help. Of course, he has received criticism, but Alex is impressed.
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Alex looks at what Ancient Sparta and Ancient Athens can tell us about the balances in society and how cultures can go in different ways. He thinks that in a sense, Sparta and Athens are different sides of the same coin. One was focused on order and militaristic control, the other on openness and progressive (for its time) change. After a chaotic century of revolts and war, Sparta became regimented and based on loyalty to the military and state. Athens, on the other hand, seemed to be focused on civil society and the future of democratic discourse. Alex looks into how these two views, may explain how a balance is needed between freedom and control — order versus chaos. He applies to how populism or fascism can occur when an extreme comes out of the balance.
In this episode, Alex talks about the draconian measures taking place in Shanghai’s massive lockdown. Then he talks about the tragic shooting in NYC’s subway and how shootings are on the rise everywhere. Then he goes into why the Justice Department is trying to regulate “ghost guns.” Finally, Alex talks about the next stage of the War in Ukraine. The Russians have appointed a new general to lead the war effort, he is known as the “Butcher of Aleppo” and is trained in urban warfare.
In this episode, Alex starts with worries about the French elections on Sunday and how Emmanuel Macron could lose. His chance of winning has been decreasing almost every day and Alex worries that if Marine Le Pen were to win, it could destabilize the EU. He then goes into how illiberal democracies are becoming more prominent. Then Alex gives some updates from a few days at Mar-a-Lago. The former President held an event where he premiered a movie about how Mark Zuckerberg stole the election for the Democrats. Trump also did an interview with The Washington Post where he discussed how his biggest regret on January 6th was “not marching to the capitol with his supporters.” He also said that “he deserved more credit for drawing such a large crowd to the Ellipse.” Alex discusses how it almost seems like Trump wants to get prosecuted. Later, Alex plays a video where Marjorie Taylor Greene compares all Democrats to pedophiles. He worries this rhetoric is dangerous and will lead to more violence and hate towards minority communities. He also discusses how these extreme views are moving closer to the mean inside of the party. To end, Alex discusses how happy he is that Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed to the SCOTUS. He is disturbed by the Republican attacks on her but is glad she can represent a lot of Americans on the court.
In this episode, Alex starts with an update on Ukraine and how the atrocities committed in Bucha may show the cultural and organizational issues of Russia’s military. Then Alex goes into a discussion about Elon Musk buying 9.2% of Twitter’s total shares, making him the majority shareholder. The media is up in arms about this and many free speech absolutists are thrilled. Alex thinks that Musk is an important figure in exploration and technology, but is not sure if he should be so influential on Twitter. Alex goes into the history of Musk’s murky relationship with free speech. He discusses how Musk seems to believe in free speech for himself, but not for the average joe. He loves radical speech and compliments but is not as friendly to disagreement and ridicule. Alex feels that Musk is not a free speech absolutist, he is more of a free speech elitist. Finally, Alex goes into how unionization in the United States is seeing an impressive comeback. The Conversation writes that “April 1, 2022, may go down as a pivotal day in the history of American unions… the independent Amazon Labor Union, got the better of the previously successful anti-union efforts of the online retailer. The warehouse in Staten Island, New York, will be the first to have a unionized workforce.” Alex also discusses how there have been successes in Starbucks attempts where Starbucks Workers United has seen 10 out of 11 wins since the Buffalo branch won its unionization election in 2021. Alex is happy to see this is occurring but discusses the challenges ahead and how corporations will throw all their resources at stopping this.
In this episode, Alex starts by talking about how the atrocities the Russian military committed are coming to light. On Sunday, Ukrainian forces discovered a mass grave in Bucha, a town near Kyiv. There was evidence of rape, executions, and brutality. Zelensky has said that the Russians treated these people worse than animals. Alex then discusses the parliamentary elections that took place in Hungary on Sunday. This election was seen as a last attempt to stop Viktor Orbán from completely consolidating power and getting another term in office. The opposition consisted of six parties ranging from the left to the right, and all feared Hungary’s democratic backsliding. Orbán is an ally of Putin and the opposition tried to control this narrative. Unfortunately, Orbán won the election by a larger majority than first expected and his Fidesz party is likely to control the parliament. Edit Zgut, who is a political scientist at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, predicted that a clear victory for Orban would allow him to move further in an autocratic direction. She said that “Hungary seems to have reached a point of no return, the key lesson is that the playing field is tilted so much that it became almost impossible to replace Fidesz in elections.” Alex worries that Orbán’s playbook will be used by other wannabe dictators and that Hungary may make the Ukraine invasion more complicated. Finally, Alex touches on the French presidential elections which will start next week. Ukraine is also at the forefront of them and according to The Economist, “The average gap between Emmanuel Macron and his rival, the nationalist-populist Marine Le Pen, has narrowed from 13 points on March 15th to seven points two weeks later.”
In this episode, Alex starts with the feud between Ron DeSantis and Disney, why the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” will create a permission structure to be cruel to minority groups, and why he is angry that Jen Psaki is leaving the White House for MSNBC. Then he goes into the statement from a federal judge that said Trump and his allies did commit illegal activity and were basically pursuing “… A Coup In Search Of A Legal Theory.” Alex then goes into new revelations that Trump has withheld over 7 hours of phone records from the January 6th committee. Conveniently, these 7 hours were right when the riots were occurring. Alex then discusses how prosecuting Trump could only feed the conspiracies, and that Trump is more of a political problem than a legal one. He wraps up the episode by going over some updates on Ukraine, in which a Russian fuel depot has been bombed and it looks like things aren’t deescalating too well.
In this episode, Alex discusses how there may be changes coming in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Could it be partitioned like Korea was? Then he talks about how Syria’s president and war criminal, Bashar al-Assad, has recently been embraced by Gulf nations such as the UAE. Finally, he goes through some worrying GOP candidates for the 2022 midterms who have links to domestic abuse and violence.
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First, Alex discusses how Russia is going to pull back forces around Kyiv. A member of the Russian Defense Ministry, Vladimir Medinsky, said that the first step agreed by Russia in talks with Ukraine "concerns a gradual military de-escalation in two main directions — Kyiv and Chernihiv. He also said that “we understand that there are people in Kyiv who need to make decisions, so we do not want to expose this city to additional risk." Alex does not believe that Russia is doing this to show good faith, he thinks they are doing this because they are retreating. In the same week, Russia has changed its rhetoric about the goal of its invasion. Russia’s Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, has now said that “liberating” the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine has been the main goal of Moscow’s military operation. Alex looks into how some experts believe a partition of Ukraine could be in the cards. Could it look like Korea after the war?
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In other news, Alex discusses how the Biden Administration was caught off guard when Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visited the United Arab Emirates. Since 2011, Assad has become a pariah on the international stage after using a heavy hand to try and prevent the Syrian Civil War. He has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands, the torture of many more, and the displacement of nearly half of Syria’s population. Alex worries that Assad was never held accountable and is now slowly being welcomed back by some, onto the world stage. He also discusses how this may show that American influence is waning. If Putin isn’t held accountable, Alex worries the same may happen.
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Lastly, Alex goes into a worrying trend that he is seeing in some of the America-First, Right-Wing Populists, who support Trump and MAGA. Many candidates have a history of violence and abuse towards women and children. He discusses how this is often a feature of fascism in which violence is not just part of the movement, but is often a feature. He looks into people like Sean Parnell, Max Miller, Herschel Walker, and Eric Greitens. It seems like Trump is willing to overlook their histories of abuse mainly because they are willing to endorse the big lie and support Trump’s lies.
In this episode, Alex starts with the most pressing issue of our time — the spat between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Oscars. Then he talks about Iceland reverting to Palm Oil Products and how there a fears of a mega-famine in Sub-Saharan Africa which could be made worse by the Invasion of Ukrainian. He ends by talking about how the “conflict” over Western Sahara may be coming to an end. The details —
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Starting in 2018, supermarket chains in Iceland decided to ban their store-brand products from having Palm Oil, which is linked with deforestation and the extinction of several species. Unfortunately, the War in Ukraine has forced these companies to revert to using Palm Oil in their brands. Alex discusses how the war has forced countries and companies to backtrack on their environmental progress. According to the Guardian, companies had to revert to Palm Oil because “…the price of a key alternative – sunflower oil – has soared by 1,000% during the war in Ukraine.” This is mainly because the Black Sea region (mainly Ukraine and Russia) accounts for 80% of sunflower oil production.
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Even before the Invasion of Ukraine, climate change was directly damaging the continent of Africa. A UN report found that “Tens of millions of people across Africa face the risk of famine, drought, disease, and displacement within decades…” The horn of Africa has already experienced a food insecurity crisis and sub-Saharan Africa has been hit with lower yields of grain. Now the continent will have to turn to other parts of the world to import grain. Unfortunately for them, the Council on Foreign Relations discusses how “The World Food Program buys more than half of the wheat it distributes around the world from Ukraine.” This is because Ukraine and Russia produce close to 30% of the world’s wheat, but the invasion has changed this scenario. Also, floods and droughts in China have led to a drop in the exportation of crops like soy, wheat, and corn as well. Alex worries that all of this food insecurity will lead to political chaos and violence.
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Finally, the long-lasting war or cold war between Morocco, Spain, Western Sahara, a rebel group, and Algeria may be coming to an end. The economist notes that “Spain abandoned its long-held neutrality and tilted in favor of Morocco. Its Prime Minister called Morocco’s plan to give the Saharans autonomy within the kingdom “the most serious, realistic and credible”. The EU gave a cautious thumbs-up to Morocco, too.” Alex goes into the background on this crisis, why it is fascinating that it could be coming to an end, and why Morocco is still not a good actor in this issue.
In this episode, Alex talks about Ukraine/Russia, Putin’s strange grievance-laced comparison to J.K. Rowling, and Ginni Thomas, the wife of Justice Clarence Thomas.
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First, President Biden was in Poland meeting with NATO allies over the weekend and has been more aggressive in his rhetoric. Alex worries about what is next as the Russian government has said that the first stage of their invasion has been “completed.”
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Then he talks about Putin’s strange speech over the weekend. Putin claims that J.K. Rowling, like himself, was canceled in the west because of her views on gender, masculinity, and other issues. Alex thinks these grievance-driven speeches are Putin’s way of trying to use right-wing talking points in order to get some in America’s right-wing to sympathize with Russia. In a sense, many on America’s far-right, have similar stances on the culture war to Putin, and the Kremlin may be trying to utilize this moment.
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Finally, Alex gets into Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas’ wife, Ginny Thomas. She is an “activist” that was involved in the January 6th riots and has touted QAnon and election conspiracies. Alex discusses how this may be a conflict of interest for Justice Thomas. Thomas was the only judge to vote against releasing documents on January 6th and also was the only justice to support investigating voter fraud in several states. Alex debates whether this is just part of Thomas’ consistently originalist take on the constitution, or if he is protecting something. In these divisive times, Alex worries that the court needs to look neutral more than ever, and this issue will add even more distrust. While there may be a conflict of interest, impeachment would be nearly impossible.
In this episode, Alex starts with his thoughts on the Ketanji Brown Jackson hearing, in which he thinks that the Republicans are just using every talking point possible to try and derail the confirmation of this qualified nominee. Then he spends the rest of the podcast looking into the controversies centered around the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). He uses the Qatar World Cup which will be played in November 2022, to discuss the issues this organization continues to face. Alex looks into the exploitation of workers in many of the countries where the World Cup takes place (such as South Africa, Brazil, and Qatar). Then he looks into the wasteful infrastructure projects that have been required for a World Cup. He finds that the projects are expensive, wasteful, neglect labor laws, and usually use vast state resources for only a few weeks of use. Later he looks into the bribery scandals, corruption charges, and FIFA’s close relationships with despots and illiberal regimes. Alex ends by talking about how inside reform is crucial because it reflects how other non-profit, international organizations are held accountable on the global stage. A research paper from the University of Colorado notes that “…If the governing body of this sport is not conducting business with integrity, it would certainly have a negative effect on the other things that football is a part of.”
In this episode, Alex talks about a new study that says the Amazon may be at a tipping point where it could be a savanna in several decades. He then discusses the recent bombings at a Ukrainian base near the Polish border, and how the threat of conflict between Russia and Nato may be approaching. Finally, he goes into the Azov Battalion, a neo-nazi group that is fighting against the Russians in Ukraine. In this episode:
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Alex discusses a study by the Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom. The study says that “the Amazon rainforest is reaching a tipping point where it is shifting from rainforest to more of a savanna.” This is obviously problematic because a savanna means that the trees are spread out and would not be able to trap the amount of carbon dioxide that is necessary to help from exasperating climate change. Alex also goes into how the atrocious policies of Jair Bolsanaro are making this situation worse.
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Alex gives an update on the Ukrainian invasion. After the bombing of the Yavoriv near the Polish border on Sunday, the Guardian reported that “Britain said the incident marked a significant escalation of the conflict and the proximity of the attack to Poland’s border, less than 10 miles away, prompted the US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, to warn that any fire, even accidental, on a neighboring Nato country would trigger a full-force Nato response.”
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Alex gives background and analysis of the Azov Battalion. This is a neo-nazi group that has been somewhat absorbed into the Ukrainian National Guard and is helping to fight against the Russians. Alex mentions that this group’s existence and support from some Ukrainians may have helped justify Putin’s denazification of Ukraine.
In this episode, Alex starts with cryptocurrency. According to the Associated Press, “Biden signed an executive order on government oversight of cryptocurrency that urges the Federal Reserve to explore whether the central bank should jump in and create its own digital currency.” Economic advisors and national security advisors in the Biden Administration specultated that it was to ensure that the U.S. plays an role in the innovation of digital currency and protects American assets abroad and at home. Alex feels that there may be a coincidence around the timing. There are fears that China is watching and learning from what has happened in Russia and may try to find ways to evade sanctions and help the Russian economy as well. China has a digital Yuan already, but there is speculation that Russia and China are looking into developing their own cryptocurrency. Later in the episode, Alex goes over his list of why Putin “is an idiot” but also why these same reasons terrify him as this invasion progresses. He ends with discussing how tactical nuclear weapons may be a workaround against deterrence.
In this episode, Alex discusses how while it is heartwarming to see Europe rally and welcome in Ukrainian refugees, there are other conflicts in which refugees are not seeing the same welcome. He talks about the refugee crisis back in the fall on the Belarusian-Polish border where Middle Eastern migrants were mistreated. Then he goes over other conflicts such as Yemen, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Myanmar. Alex agrees that Ukraine is a serious issue right now, but the world cannot turn its back on some of these crises that have occurred for a decade or more. Later, Alex goes over the letter Z that has been showing up over the last few weeks on Russian tanks during the Ukraine invasion. Over the week, it has become a propaganda symbol for supporting the invasion. Even the Russian gymnast, Ivan Kuliak, was criticized after wearing the ‘Z’ symbol next to a Ukrainian athlete on a podium last week. Alex discusses how the ‘Z’ symbol may have started as a symbol to recognize Russian tanks during the confusion of the invasion, but now has been used by the Kremlin as a propaganda tool for war. He finds it ironic that the Russian government is using a Latin alphabet symbol while complaining about how Ukraine is being taken by the west.
In this episode, Alex goes into the announcement that the United States would ban energy imports from Russia (oil, coal, and natural gas). Alex adds some context by discussing how Russia only makes up for about 3-4% of the US petroleum imports, yet this seems to be a move to hurt Russia’s ability to thrive off of high energy prices. He also thinks that the goal is to bring other countries in on this import ban. Russia has the hopes of sustaining its export revenue and this will likely delay that. Alex also goes into how American companies (and politicians) are pushing for growth in the US fossil fuel economy. This could be a Pyrrhic victory for the renewable, environmental cause because it could damage long-term progress. Alex knows that Biden will be blamed for the rise in oil prices, but he also looks at who is pushing for growing the US fossil fuel industry. Are they trying to help the American consumer or be sure that the future is run by fossil fuels? Alex concludes by going over how this may be an opportune moment for the electric vehicle economy to take off in the U.S. The Biden administration should work to create a sector that can decrease the U.S. need for fossil fuels.
In this episode, Alex starts by looking at the current situation in Ukraine and giving some thoughts. Then goes into why the world has been unified in sanctioning the Russian elite, mainly the Oligarchs. Alex dives into why the failing economy of the USSR (in the late 1980s and early 1990s) led to pushes for privatization and the selling of state industries to the highest bidder. This led to opportunistic Russians who exploited this change and bought some of these industries for “pennies on the dollar.” Alex looks at literature that discusses how the post-Soviet leaders, such as Boris Yeltsin, looked to “…create maximum freedom first and rules later.” It is important to understand why this is important and why the world has been sanctioning people that have flourished off of this strange transition between the USSR and a privatized society. Alex argues that this can lead to destructive nationalism, inequality, and the exact situation the world is experiencing.
In this short, Alex goes piece by piece through Republican Senator Rick Scott’s “11 POINT PLAN TO RESCUE AMERICA.” It is what some have called “the MAGA agenda.” It has seen backlash from some establishment-type Republicans, however, it is a look into what the Trump base may want. Alex goes through each point and gives his insight into why he agrees or disagrees with each part. Some points he agrees with, but the majority seem to reflect that the Republican Party has been swallowed up by the culture war. While Alex admits they finally have a plan, most points seem to virtue signal to the base. Inadvertently, this episode gives listeners a look into Alex’s political views.
In this episode, Alex starts with an analysis and reflection on Biden’s State of the Union Address. He finds that Biden rose to the occasion but it felt less like a state of the union and more like a wish list of everything he wished they had accomplished in the last year. Alex gives the speech a B-. Later, he discusses the special election that occurred on Tuesday, March 1st in Texas. The election saw primaries for the gubernatorial race, the attorney general, and more. Republicans saw a massive turnout that should worry Democrats. Finally, Alex goes piece by piece through Republican Senator Rick Scott’s “11 POINT PLAN TO RESCUE AMERICA.” Some points he agrees with, but the majority seem to reflect that the Republican Party has been swallowed up by the culture war.
Last night, Russia warned residents and civilians in Kyiv to leave. Alex worries this is their last attempt to clear out civilians before they enter a new stage in the invasion. Alex discusses his worries about what may be next. He mentions that Russia has the capability for mass damage and destruction, examples can be seen in what happened in 1999 in the Chechnyan capital of Grozny or the Syrian-Russian bombardment of Aleppo in 2016. Later, he discusses how Chinese state media is balancing a fine line between staying neutral but also supporting Putin as the hero and the U.S. as the aggressor. Finally, Alex goes over how these implications may impact Taiwan.
In this episode, Alex starts with an update on Ukraine and how shocking it is that Russian forces seem unprepared. Then he goes into the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary group that many call “an arm of the Russian army.” This group has neo-nazi ties, links to civilian torture and violence in Syria and Libya, and is now helping the Russian army in Ukraine. There are recent reports that the Wagner group is helping Russian-backed groups to find and assassinate Volodymyr Zelensky. Finally in the episode, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and other far-right congress members, were spotted at a white nationalist rally in Florida. It is called the America First Political Action Conference and it was formed in 2020 by Nick Fuentes. Fuentes has called Putin “his leader” and has defended Adolf Hitler. Alex defends the right for these people to hold rallies, but calls on the Republicans to condemn Congresswoman Greene. She has raised more money than almost any other congress member and this is telling about where the base is.
In this episode, Alex is excited that Biden chose Ketanji Brown Jackson for the Supreme Court. She is qualified but also will add a needed perspective on the court considering she was a defender and understands the flaws of our criminal justice system. Then, Alex discusses how it looks like an invasion of Kyiv is looming and the Ukrainian government is the first target. Alex looks into what is next, as NATO has activated its Defensive Response Force for the first time. Later, Alex goes into the Flordia bill, HB 1557. It has been called “the Don’t Say Gay Bill” and could really isolate and alienate the LGBTQ+ community. As a civil libertarian, Alex finds this not only problematic but detrimental to a healthy democracy.
In this short episode, Alex goes over how he stayed up watching the disturbing coverage of Russian airstrikes over key locations in Ukraine. At the same time, there were reports of Belarusian and Russian forces striking the border patrol. Since last night, Alex goes over Biden’s address to the nation that just finished. Later, he discusses how Lithuania has declared a state of emergency, and Ukraine has gone into martial law. Biden has promised to defend all NATO allies and Alex worries that this conflict may not stay in Ukraine. Finally, Alex discusses the disturbing and problematic rhetoric that is coming from the populist right (and some on the progressive left). Some media figures and politicians are so busy condemning Biden and their own country, that they are defending the biggest imperial threat to the world right now. Stability in Europe was one of the biggest achievements of the 20th century, Putin is putting that at risk.
In this episode, Alex focuses the entire episode on the recent updates on the Ukraine-Russia crisis where Putin has clearly set his sights on taking Ukraine and has officially invaded. Alex tries to get through all of the partisan media coverage to clarify the threat of what Putin is trying to accomplish. Putin has created a situation where Russia can define the meaning of a sovereign nation. Whoever disagrees, is conspiring against Russia. Under Putin’s definition of statehood, it leaves room for redefining nationality for nefarious reasons.
In this episode:
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Alex starts by discussing Putin’s speech to Russian television in which he goes unhinged and crosses the rubicon. In his speech, Putin recognizes the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic. Alex discusses how this is an effective means for creating a pretext for protecting Russians outside of Russian territory.
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Alex tries to respond to the extremes on both sides of America’s media that claim that this is an issue the U.S. should not be involved in. He discusses polling out of Ukraine that shows that the nation is more unified around a national identity than ever before. Putin is trying to foil this.
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Alex goes over why diplomacy has failed and why that works in Russia’s favor. Sanctions also may work in the short term, but the true dependent variable in this situation is China.
In this episode, Alex discusses a recent and surprising victory against unreasonable progressivism in San Fransisco. Then he goes over a tactic called the “firehose of falsehood” and why he thinks Putin is using it to cow confusion that could lead the world to a conflict in Ukraine. Finally, the EU is investing in Africa to combat China’s problematic Belt and Road Initiative.
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First, according to Politico, “San Francisco voters have recalled three school board members who spurred a parental backlash for pursuing the renaming of schools and other progressive policy changes as classrooms remained empty during the coronavirus pandemic.” Alex discusses how while San Fransisco kids were doing remote learning longer than most other areas, school board members were making ridiculous arguments to change the names of schools, get rid of merit programs, and they even attacked anyone who disagreed with them. These types of policies are fueling the right and probably led to Glenn Younkin’s victory in Virginia.
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Second, Alex reviews the tactic known as the “firehose of falsehood.” It is a propaganda tactic, mainly used in Russia, in which a large number of messages are “broadcast rapidly, repetitively, and continuously over multiple channels.” Basically, a country’s social media and news are fled with so much disinformation and half-truths, that the populace doesn’t know what to believe and they become complacent. Putin has become infamous for using this strategy to sow discord and Alex worries he is doing the same about the Ukraine crisis. He worries this could lead to conflict because even NATO allies are unsure about what to believe is happening and Putin is just waiting for someone to act.
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Finally, according to reports from the Economist, “The EU announced a €150bn fund to invest in African infrastructure. The money is intended to offer an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).” Alex goes over his paper/own views on the BRI and why it is a disingenuous attempt for the Chinese government to get its foot in the door into the African continent. The BRI is basically a “Chinese Marshall Plan” that has given loans to build infrastructure in many African countries. However, the promise to stimulate the economy hasn’t happened because the program has used Chinese labor and has may put many countries into a debt trap cycle. The EU is providing an alternative.
In this episode, Alex starts with the ridiculous yet concerning revelations about Trump’s eating and flushing of important documents down the toilet. This comes after the National Archives went to Mar-a-Lago to get 15 boxes of government documents. Then Alex discusses the Freedom Convoy in Canada that some think is about vaccines, others think is about freedom, and others think is about extremism and destabilizing the state. Alex finds that this is a complicated issue and the US media has been genuinely covering them. He mentions that COVID has led to worse inequality and many people that couldn’t stay home are angry and lost. He thinks that we need to address the root of why these protests are happening instead of condemning them. Finally, Trump is down in the GOP and Ron DeSantis is closing in on him for 2024 polling. Some are optimistic that the GOP is moving on from Trump, Alex thinks that it is worse. The party doesn’t need Trump, but they still have Trumpism.
In this episode, Alex talks about how Marjorie Taylor Greene’s fear of the mighty Gazpacho means that she has learned nothing from her required trips to the Holocaust museum. Then he discusses how Biden’s popularity has dropped below 40% and many states are (finally) removing mask mandates. Later in the episode, Alex discusses how California’s Congressman, Ro Khanna, may have a way to alleviate the digital divide in the US that has intensified the culture war and may have led to Trumpism. Congressman Khanna basically wants to expand the tech industry into areas that have missed out on the economic boom of the digital age (imagine tech manufacturing in West Virginia or microchips being produced in Iowa). He discusses how this could help make America more independent from China and help alleviate issues in our supply chain. Finally, Alex goes into the local elections in Uttar Pradesh, India, which are the largest in the world. Currently, Prime Minister Modi’s BJP party has flourished on Hindu nationalism, ethnic division, and law and order. The party is slowly devolving into illiberal policies. This election seems to show some weakening of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. If the BJP can lose enough seats, it may stop the divisive rhetoric of the BJP.
In this episode, Alex goes over a new movie he watched about World War 2 and the strategy of appeasement. Then he goes into some updates on the growing issue between Russia and NATO over Ukraine. Emmanuel Macron met with Vladimir Putin and has said that there is no immediate risk of a conflict. This seems to contradict the constantly growing buildup of troops and equipment on the border. Then Alex discusses the recent news that the RNC has censured Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. The internal conflict in the GOP may be good for Democrats, but it is not good for the country. Alex ends by going over the Olympics. He discusses how he has a few friends in the Olympics and has been watching them. However, he can’t ignore the problematic propaganda about Taiwan and the Uighurs that China is pushing forward. And he has heard reports of awful conditions for the athletes and a potential cover-up of COVID cases in the country.
In this episode, Alex decides to finally address his thoughts on the Joe Rogan/Neil Young/Spotify controversy. Then he does a quick discussion around Whoopi Goldberg’s ignorant and potentially harmful comments about the holocaust. Later, Alex laughs about Rudy Guliani showing up on FOX’s “The Masked Singer.” It seems like "America's Mayor" is in his final form!
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Alex is torn on Joe Rogan, the podcast is fascinating, inspiring, and can challenge one’s perspective. Alex’s issue with Rogan is that he is a great listener but not always a great interviewer. He claims to be curious and wants a good conversation, but he clearly has his own blind spots and can become an activist with some issues. By bringing on Dr. Malone and Dr. McCullough, Rogan has given them a platform and has given credit to their fringe views on the COVID-19 vaccine. Alex gives examples as to why Rogan clearly agrees with both doctors and isn’t just having them on for a different perspective.
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Whoopi Goldberg claimed on The View that the Holocaust wasn’t about race. This was an ignorant comment that goes against any historical understanding of the holocaust. Alex doesn’t want to cancel Goldberg and doesn’t think this is a bad person, he just thinks she is looking at the holocaust through her lens of race in the United States. He discusses an article from The Atlantic that mentions that “the Nazi Holocaust in Europe and slavery and Jim Crow in the United States are outgrowths of the same ideology—the belief that human beings can be delineated into categories that share immutable biological traits distinguishing them from one another and determining their potential and behavior.”
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Finally, according to Deadline “Rudy Giuliani was unmasked as an exiting costumed contestant in last week’s taping of the first Season 7 episode of Fox’s popular primetime series The Masked Singer. Deadline hears that as soon as they saw Giuliani, judges Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke quickly left the stage in protest.” Alex finds this story ridiculous. Parody and satire have been killed. Who thought it would be a good idea to bring Guliani, the guy who tried to overthrow democracy, onto a family primetime show? Maybe wait a few years!
In this episode, Alex discusses Trump’s dangerous speech in Texas where he encouraged extralegal actions to secure the election. Then he discusses George Packer’s scathing article with new revelations about Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Finally, he discusses some recent bomb threats at HBCUs across the United States.
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In Texas, Trump told supporters at his rally that “If I run and if I win, we will treat those people from January 6 fairly ... And if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons." Alex discusses how by telling his supporters that he would pardon some of them, he basically is saying that anyone who commits violence for his bidding over the election or whatever it may be, will be protected if he is back in power. This is a worrying trend - when one side thinks that the other is existentially dangerous, they may have the rationale to throw out the democratic rule book.
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George Packer’s new article in The Atlantic discusses Biden’s moral blindspots in foreign policy involving both Vietnam and the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The article looks at the complete failure to properly get out of the country combat interpreters, embassy support staff, intelligence informants, and simply allies that had aided the United StatesThe alarming part is that many of these people had the proper visas to be evacuated out, but because of the chaotic situation in Kabul during the withdrawal, many were left behind. Biden seems to have a history of not supporting aid to allies after a military withdrawal and that may pose some questions about his leadership style.
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To start off Black History Month, over twenty historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) received bomb threats that forced them to cancel classes on Tuesday. The FBI and Homeland Security are looking into these serious threats. Alex discusses how this escalating polarization and violence in the US may lead to domestic terrorism that usually impacts minorities and people of color.
In this episode, Alex starts by going into the recent news that Justice Breyer is going to be retiring from the Supreme Court, and President Biden may finally get the chance to nominate someone to the highest court in the land. Alex argues that Biden’s promise to nominate an African-American woman is a great idea considering the SCOTUS needs a body that represents the American people. One of the front runners for the nomination is Ketanji Brown Jackson, a highly qualified D.C. judge who was unanimously confirmed by the senate. She was also a public defender, which Alex thinks could add a needed perspective to our justice system.
Alex then goes into the good and the bad of Biden’s nominations up to this point. President Biden has done a great job of appointing federal appeals judges, yet he has done an atrocious job of getting ambassadors to many key countries confirmed by the senate.
- Involving the federal judges, Biden has gotten 40 judges confirmed, which is the most at this point in a presidency since Ronald Reagan. He also has gotten more black judges confirmed than ever before and 80% of the appointed judges are women. Alex discusses how this is a lesser-known part of the Biden administration but it is an important one that will leave a legacy long after Biden is out of office.
- Involving the State Department and ambassadorships, there still is no confirmed envoy to Ukraine and no ambassadors to Berlin, London, and Rome. Also, according to The Economist, there are “no assistant secretaries for the Near East, for international security and non-proliferation, or for arms control. Nor is there a counter-terrorism coordinator or a legal adviser.” Alex mentions that this issue is due to political fighting in the senate, as well as transparency issues between the administration, the State Department, and lawmakers.
In this episode, Alex looks at the United States’ continuous problems that involve providing a sufficient amount of “at-home” COVID tests. Later he goes over his worries regarding Biden’s “Trump-like speech” in Georgia, and why it may alienate a slim majority that Biden is holding onto. Finally, Alex looks into the Trump vs. DeSantis feud and why it is more important than some may acknowledge. Alex mentions that everyone focuses on DeSantis’ COVID policies, but DeSantis could be worse than Trump. Alex is more concerned about his calls for a “civilian-military” that reports to the governor, not the pentagon. He also is worried about DeSantis’ “anti-riot law” which was a response to the George Floyd protests, yet completely ignores the January 6th situation. DeSantis could be a good alternative to Trumpism, but instead, he seems to be accelerating the authoritarian tendencies of Trump.
In this episode, Alex takes a deep dive into understanding the Electoral Count Act of 1887. The act was passed by Congress in reaction to the Compromise of 1877, and some argue that its existence actually paved the way for the 2020 election chaos and the storming of the capitol on January 6th.
After President Grant ( a Republican) decided not to run for a third term, the 1876 election cycle was composed of Governor Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio (Republican) and Governor Samuel J. Tilden of New York (Democrat). The results of this presidential election between Tilden and Hayes became one of the most contested in US history. Tilden was winning the electoral college count with 184 electoral votes to Hayes's 165, yet there were four states that remained unresolved. These four states were Oregon, Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina. Each of these states responded differently to this situation, each party reported that their own candidate had won, and Oregon even replaced their electors. Eventually, a compromise was made in which Hayes became president and Tilden conceded. The Compromise of 1877 said that all of the remaining 20 electoral votes were given to Hayes. In return, “the Republicans agreed to withdraw federal troops from the South. This is credited with ending Reconstruction.” Ten years later, the Electoral Count Act of 1887 was passed. Unfortunately, it created an environment where if there was a contested election, no matter what the electors of the state determined, congress could make the final decision. Now there was a designated period that allowed contesting electors to make their case and if there was an issue, the Vice President and Congress would make the final decision.
Alex argues that this act was poorly created and has existed in limbo ever since this period. Unfortunately, the 2020 election was also close and opportunistic lawyers and state officials used it to their advantage. Alex believes that this act needs to be overturned or reformed (at the least) so that there is a clear understanding of who will determine the legitimacy of an election, even if it is contested.
In this episode, Alex goes into why there are major protests occurring across Kazakhstan. Are they about oil or something bigger? Later he looks into Putin’s fixation on Ukraine and why he is furious with NATO. In Putin's eyes, in the post-Cold War era, the West has humiliated Russia. What does he want?
Over the last week, what started as mainly peaceful protests in a western city in Kazakhstan called Zhanaozen, now have turned into nationwide protests and riots. The protests started over close to a 60% rise in gasoline prices in this oil-rich country, but now they have tapped into a deeper rage about the country’s political structure. The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has requested that Russia send in troops to help quell the violence and Russia is sending paratroopers. The US has condemned these actions and now it looks like Russia may have a two-front issue in the region (Ukraine and Kazakhstan). Alex goes into the history of Kazakhstan since the fall of the Soviet Union. Freedom House rated Kazakhstan as a "consolidated authoritarian regime", stating that freedom of speech is not respected and "Kazakhstan’s electoral laws do not provide for free and fair elections. Even after the former president, Nursultan Nazarbayev resigned in 2019 after decades of rule, he still is behind the scenes. The population seems to want change.
Later in the episode, Alex asks the question - why is Putin always acting out? And why is he opposed to NATO? After the end of the Cold War, there were guarantees that NATO would not expand into Eastern Europe (though this changed later). However, over time, NATO has expanded in appeal and many former Soviet nations have joined the bloc. The Economist notes that “A bloc that once shared only a slender border with Russia, in Norway’s northern fringes, now encompasses the Baltic states, former Soviet territories within 200km of St Petersburg and 600km of Moscow. Seven of the eight former members of the Warsaw Pact have become part of nato.” Alex discusses how Putin feels betrayed in the post-Cold War era and he seems to be holding onto Ukraine. In Putin’s eyes, Russia has been humiliated and he wants a seat at the table. Will the west let him?
It has been a year since the storming of the capitol on January 6th. In this episode, Alex keeps it short due to low energy after contracting COVID in the last few days. He gives his story on COVID testing chaos and why he thinks people may not be doing the right thing for getting proper testing results. Then for the bulk of the episode, Alex gives his thoughts on the anniversary of January 6th. Finally, the episode ends with a segment from a year ago on the “Tonic Accord Podcast” in which Drew and Alex reacted to the capitol riots. Some of their predictions came true, but they were too optimistic about the GOP…
The full episode from a year ago can be found here - https://thetonicaccord.podbean.com/e/trump-concedes-after-chaos/
In the first episode of 2022, Alex covers a myriad of topics including the outcome of the Elizabeth Holmes trial, a disturbing op-ed by three retired US generals in which they warn of a potential coup in 2024, America’s COVID testing problem, and thoughts on the Joe Rogan podcast and “mass formation psychosis.”
In this episode:
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On December 17th, three retired generals put out a disturbing op-ed in the Washington Post. These three generals were Paul Eaton, Antonio Taguba, and Steven M. Anderson. In a nutshell, the article worries that the same doubts that have impacted the general public concerning who won the 2020 election have also hit the military. The generals paint the hypothetical scenario that in 2024, a large portion of the armed forces isn’t sure who won the election. This is made worse by conflicting reports from military leaders. What if in 2024 there is another riot but this time the military is splintered and the rioters get support?
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The US has a testing problem and even after a summer of the Delta surge, policymakers and the private sector were still behind in producing enough. Alex goes into some of the reasons as to why this happened and what can be done. In general, it seems like the US lacked and still lacks any national strategy.
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Joe Rogan has recently gone fully into the anti-vaccine space and the idea of “mass formation psychosis” has been discussed by several of his recent guests. They argue that there is a nefarious plan to vaccinate the country and not discuss treatment methods or alternative options. Alex mentions how Dr. Malone recently said on the podcast that “When you have a society that has become decoupled from each other and has free-floating anxiety in a sense that things don’t make sense, we can’t understand it, and then their attention gets focused by a leader or series of events on one small point just like hypnosis, they literally become hypnotized and can be led anywhere.” People like Rogan and many on the right believe this describes the left’s authoritarian shift during COVID. In reality, Alex argues that this idea better reflects what the Trump movement did to the right.
In this episode, Alex goes over five of what he deems “the most important” reflections from 2021. Then he goes over his five predictions for 2022.
His five reflections from 2021 are:
- The Supply Chains Issues & What This Means for Globalization
- Ethiopia’s Horrific Civil War
- Democracy is Backsliding in the US and Abroad
- Under PM Mario Draghi, Italy is Recovering
- Joe Biden Showed Us That He Alone Can’t Fix This
His give predictions for 2022 are:
- The GOP Will Adopt Federal Legalization of Marijuana as a Platform (and it could hurt Democrats)
- Electric Vehicles Will Take Off
- The Private and Public Sector Will Be Forced to Deal With the Great Resignation
- The Younger Generations Will Demand Change (on both the right and the left)
- Russia’s Encroachment on Ukraine May Backfire
In this “stocking stuffer” episode, Alex delivers only coal to the listeners. In the first part, Alex discusses how in about 10 seconds on Fox News Sunday, Senator Joe Manchin was able to kill the current iteration of Biden’s Build Back Better Bill (BBB). The bill needed every Democrat to vote in favor of it so that Kamala Harris could break the 50-50 tie. Alex goes into the specifics of the bill in which there are a myriad of parts that include health care reform, climate change reform, child tax credits, cheaper elderly care, and the creation of new jobs. Alex goes into why Manchin opposed climate reform as well as the child tax credit. Then he looks into how the Biden Administration may be able to salvage parts of it. With the election year, the administration needs to focus on getting parts of it passed after the holidays.
To wrap up the episode, Alex looks into a news article from the Guardian called “America is now in fascism’s legal phase.” The main point of the article is that “the history of racism in the US is fertile ground for fascism. Attacks on the courts, education, the right to vote, and women’s rights are further steps on the path to toppling democracy.” Alex also discusses how Critical Race Theory has been a rallying cry for fear-mongering on the right and it has created a perceived threat. “The Nazis used Judeo-Bolshevism as their constructed enemy. The fascist movement in the Republican party has turned to critical race theory instead. Fascism feeds off a narrative of supposed national humiliation by internal enemies.” Ultimately, the Democrats need to be effective in 2022 to hold off this democratic backslide.
In this episode, Alex looks at recent surge of Omicron cases at Cornell University that has led to a return to online finals and a shutdown of the Ithaca campus. He goes over how this reflects a similar problem in Vermont, Denmark, and the U.K.. It seems like Omicron may be a serious threat for the US, not because of its lethality, but because of what the surge in cases may do to the health care system. Later, Alex talks about how the Biden Administration has announced that it won’t extend student loan relief even though it was a popular policy. Alex discusses how the student loan crisis is not only a ticking time bomb, but something that both parties don’t seem driven to fix. Could ending this relief before the midterms hurt Biden even more? Finally, Alex goes over his top five most impactful people from 2021. These are highly debatable, but all are individuals that have impacted Alex’s year and made him think.
In this episode, Alex starts with a recent experience of being confronted by antivaxxers in a restaurant in California. Then he goes on to discuss new revelations in the January 6th investigation, and how corporate greed led to unnecessary deaths during the recent tornados in the midwest. "While Rudy Was Imploding, A Serious Plot Against Democracy Was Exploding."
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Over the last couple days, two new revelations have come to the surface. First, Mark Meadows, received text messages from Trump family members (including Don Jr.), Fox News Hosts, and Republican house members, begging for him to tell Trump to stop the chaos. These texts could be damaging for the Trump administration because it shows that Trump was out of control, liked what was happening, and was not going to stop it. It seems clear that he was no longer acting as president for all of America, but as a demagogue wanting to hold onto office for as long as he could. Alex thinks that the impeachment should have gone to a trial after January 6th to make it so Trump could not run for office again.
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The second revelation, from when Mark Meadows cooperated with the commission, is that there was a 36 page powerpoint outlining different options for overturning the election. These options included options ranging from declaring a national emergency to seize ballots to blaming Chinese interference. The most troubling slides revealed that there was a focus on January 6th and halting the certification of the votes. This highlights that there was an orchestrated attempt to overturn this election. Alex mentions that the media may have laughed off Rudy Guliani melting and farting during court cases or Sydney Powell’s delusions, but the real plot was much more serious and refined.
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Also, the recent tornados in the midwest have fo far killed 80 people. One town of Mayfield, Kentucky saw its downtown leveled and a factory completely destroyed. Alex mentions how these tragic events highlight corporate greed. There are reports that a factory in Mayfield threatened to fire its employees if they left work after the tornado warnings. These people were forced to go back to work and eventually had to hide in bathrooms and hallways. Eight people died. Also, in Illinois, an Amazon warehouse saw damage that killed 6 people. There are reports that these employees were not given the option to leave work and couldn’t shelter in safe places. Alex argues that while Amazon denies this report, the bigger question is: WHY WERE THESE PEOPLE STILL REQUIRED TO WORK?
In this episode, Alex starts by going over an article from The Atlantic called “TRUMP’S NEXT COUP HAS ALREADY BEGUN” by Barton Gellman. The main point of the first half of the article is that “January 6 was practice. Donald Trump’s GOP is much better positioned to subvert the next election.” Alex then focuses on the more disturbing parts of the article. Gellman interviews a man who is furious about the 2020 election and still believes it was stolen. The man says “There ain’t no f* way we are letting go of 3 November 2020." When people think their livelihoods have been taken from them, whether it is perceived or real, it seems like people may be willing to do the unthinkable.
Alex turns to Robert Pape, who is at the University of Chicago. He focuses on national and international security affairs. He said that when he saw the storming of the capital, he immediately thought of Slobodan Milošević, the former president of Serbia. Pape says that “Milošević compared Muslims in the former Yugoslavia to Ottomans who had enslaved the Serbs six centuries before. He fomented years of genocidal war that destroyed the hope for a multiethnic democracy.” Basically, Milošević stoked grievance and anger for a changing, multiethnic country, and it led to a brutal genocide that killed close to 100,000 people, mainly Bosnian Muslims. This happened slowly because society and the institutions slowly became corrupted and radicalized against other groups. Alex goes into how this could have happened, and how leaders like Trump, Tucker Carlson, and some congressmen, are stoking the same ideas of replacement, historical grievances towards “the other”, and this idea of opposing a changing, multiethnic world. Alex sees the current escalation of real-world violence and hatred towards others as a disturbing escalation of affairs in the United States.
Later on, Alex talks about Interpol and its flaws. Interpol has a new president and his name is Ahmed Naser al-Raisi. He was previously the inspector general for the interior ministry in the United Arab Emirates and recently was elected to be the president. The head of ALQST for Human Rights, said: “Raisi’s election sends a chilling message that Interpol has abandoned its human rights commitments.” There are numerous reports that al-Raisi was involved in torture and other brutal acts during his time in the UAE. Alex worries that al-Raisi may end up just helping autocrats abuse Interpol’s “red notice” system. Over the last two decades, autocratic regimes have found that the red notices, or international warrants, can be used to persecute exiled dissidents. Alex then goes into a deeper look at Interpol, why it has become useful for autocrats, why it has lost credibility, and why these international organizations keep electing flawed individuals.
In this episode, Alex discusses the recent news that David Perdue, an ex-Republican senator, has announced that he will be running in Georgia’s 2022 gubernatorial election against Brian Kemp (Georgia’s current Republican governor). Stacey Abrams is also running, on the Democratic side. This election is turning out to be what the Atlanta Journal-Constitution called “‘A mess’: Kemp is under pressure from both sides in 2022 race.” Kemp, a one-time Trump ally, fell out of favor with the former president after not agreeing with Trump over massive fraud in the 2020 election. Alex worries that David Perdue may be willing to embrace Trump. After he lost to Jon Ossoff in a Senate runoff election back in January, Perdue has been willing to embrace claims of election irregularities and clearly may be more in favor within the Trump base.
Later, Alex shares some thoughts on the recent school shooting in Michigan and the timeline that led to that event. The prosecutors charged the parents in this case as well which is not common to do. Alex discusses how this may send an effective message to parents around the country.
In this episode, Alex starts with an update on how Portugal is dealing with the pandemic. 86.6% of the country is fully vaccinated and instead of mandating vaccines, they are requiring a negative COVID test AND vaccination in order to enter restaurants and bars.
The main focus of the episode is then on the recent news reports that CNN has suspended Chris Cuomo indefinitely. This was after the investigation into his brother’s sexual harassment allegations found that Chris Cuomo may have been violating journalistic integrity standards. According to the Associated Press, “Chris Cuomo pressed sources for information on his brother’s accusers and reported back to the governor’s staff, and was active in helping craft their response to the charges.” Alex talks about how he is surprised that it took CNN this long to suspend Cuomo because of other conflicts of interests and accusations. Alex argues that CNN has taken some notes from Fox News, which has time and time again defended Tucker Carlson, who has had their top-rated show as well. Chris Cuomo and Tucker Carlson are different in many, many ways, but both seem to be protected at their networks because their viewers like the controversy and don’t care. Both have blurred the lines involving what the role of the media should be. This does not create a healthy media and cultural environment in the United States.
In this episode back from the Thanksgiving holiday, Alex talks about the recent global panic and concerns surrounding the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The variant demonstrated dozens of mutations in the spike protein of the virus, and was labeled by the WHO a “virus of concern.” Alex also discusses the escalating tensions between NATO, the EU, the United States, and Russia. Russia has deployed close to 100,000 troops on the border of Ukraine and many are worrying that conflict could be approaching. Alex ends by discussing some updates on the January 6th commission.
In this episode, Alex talks about a missing Chinese tennis star, the growing border crisis between Poland, the EU, and Belarus, and how the autocrats may be winning around the world. He ends by criticizing the GOP for sticking by Rep. Paul Gosar. Gosar has shared a video that showed him killing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and has ties to white supremacists. In this episode -
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He starts by looking into reports of a recent Chinese tennis star who has gone missing after accusing a Chinese government official of sexual assault. Then he talks about the growing humanitarian crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border in which migrants from the Middle East are being treated like political pawns. In this scenario, Lukashenko appears to be seeking revenge on the EU by exaggerating tensions between the EU and Poland. Recently, Poland’s Law and Justice Party have followed Hungary’s playbook by packing the judicial system with loyalists. Now the EU must send aid to help Poland in this border crisis, while also condemning Poland’s illiberal actions.
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Later in the episode, Alex discusses an article by Anne Applebaum about how “the Bad Guys are Winning.” The article looks at countries such as Belarus, Russia, China, Poland, Hungary, and even the United States. Applebaum worries that authoritarian regimes are working together to quell democratic protests, the hope is that if they can stop democracy in one country, it won’t start in the next. She argues that “If the 20th century was the story of slow, uneven progress toward the victory of liberal democracy over other ideologies—communism, fascism, virulent nationalism—the 21st century is, so far, a story of the reverse.”
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This brings Alex to his growing fears about what is occurring inside of the GOP in the United States. Only two Republicans (Kinzinger and Cheney) voted to censure Rep. Paul Gosar. Gosar had shared an anime video of himself murdering Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Arizona Republican also has ties to white supremacist movements and appears to have been a key figure in the Trump riots on January 6th. Alex worries that no matter who runs and/or wins the Republican ticket in 2024, the base will demand a Trump-like figure. This poses the question, if the current GOP doesn’t want hardline Republicans like Kinzinger and Cheney in their ranks, then who does the GOP want in their ranks? If it isn’t about policy anymore, then what is it? Are they going down the same road as other authoritarian movements around the world?
In this episode, Alex circumnavigates the globe talking about a plethora of problematic trends related to the pandemic, January 6th, political tensions, and Kyle Rittenhouse. He discusses:
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An NPR article highlights a report that 80% of White-Tail Deer in the United States have either tested positive for COVID or have antibodies in their systems. Virologists at Penn State believe that the virus was passed to deer from humans and worry that deer could be a new reservoir for the virus. This means that even if the Hyman population reaches herd immunity, the virus could still mutate and jump back to humans from the deer population. This has also been seen in mink populations and describes a trend that worries virologists around the globe.
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Germany and Austria have seen a large spike in COVID hospitalizations that are putting ICU beds in a dire situation. This is a disturbing trend because cases were lower a year ago when the vaccine wasn’t being rolled out. Both Germany and Austria are installing a policy known as G2. G2 stands for the German words for vaccination and recovery, meaning that if citizens in certain regions aren’t either vaccinated or recovering from the virus, they must isolate themselves at home.
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Vaccination rates in Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, and the majority of the Balkan states are lagging WAY behind the rest of Europe. This isn’t due to a lack of vaccine accessibility, it seems like institution distrust in these countries is quite high.
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Evan Neumann, an American who is wanted by the FBI on charges that he assaulted police officers on January 6th, has fled America based on advice from his attorney. After traveling and evading arrest in Europe, he has landed in Belarus and is trying to claim political asylum in maybe one of the worst places for political asylum seekers. He claims to be persecuted for his political beliefs and is ironically in a country where the government isn’t friendly towards political dissent.
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The jury is now deliberating the case of Kyle Rittenhouse in Wisconsin. The left has called Rittenhouse a vigilante, who caused more violence than he prevented. Conversely, the right sees him as a folk hero that stood up against the civil unrest caused by the progressive agitators. Alex feels that Kyle will be acquitted but it tells us more than we need to know about the current political energy in the United States.
In this throwback episode from June 2021, Alex sits down with Jon Friesen, an old friend. Jon grew up around firearms and was taught at a young age to give them the utmost respect and responsibility. From competition shooting in high school to eventually serving in the US Navy as a Master at Arms(Military Police), he carried a firearm on a daily basis and has a broad understanding of many weapon systems.
As of April 30, 2021, there were 178 mass shootings that fit the Mass Shooting Tracker project criterion. This left 206 people dead and 693 injured. Over the month of May, it looks like the trend has only been getting worse. Alex uses this opportunity to have a discussion with Jon around shootings in the U.S., gun control, and how Americans can help change this issue. Jon debunks several myths about guns that many gun control advocates may believe. The two also debate and at times disagree over the meaning of the Second Amendment, gun culture in the U.S., and the efficacy of “red flag laws,” and personal responsibility versus societal safety. The two don’t agree all the time, but it hopes to be an informative back and forth discussion!
In this episode, Alex decides to focus on three topics - Aaron Rodgers, the Astroworld tragedy, and the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. He discusses -
• Last week, Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback for the Packers, tested positive for COVID-19. Then it came out the same day that he hadn’t been vaccinated. This stirred up a lot of controversies because Rodgers had said he was “immunized” back in August and there are videos of him not following the NFL protocol for unvaccinated players. Since Rodgers has doubled down, he has called out the woke mob, has done his own research, and seems to have become a vaccine contrarian. Alex worries that this has been an unseen side effect of the pandemic - intellectuals who have become contrarians.
• A $1.2 billion infrastructure bill has finally passed. The bill saw support from 13 Republicans in the house but also 6 Democrats voted against the bill. Alex mentions that the bill is a good start in focusing on “hard infrastructure” like repairing roads, bridges, the electrical grid, railway systems, and more. However, he feels that it may only be a short victory for Biden and is only the beginning. Of course, the 13 Republicans that voted for the bill have received death threats, calls to oust them from house leadership positions, and even Marjorie Taylor Greene has put out their personal information.
• A tragedy at the Astroworld festival in Houston, Texas left 8 dead and many injured. Travis Scott, who headlined the festival, has received several lawsuits. He is getting backlash from some because he apparently didn’t do enough to tell the crowd to calm down. Alex feels that just blaming one party would be too simple, he thinks it was the perfect storm between poor crowd control, too many people, Scott pumping up the crowd, and post-pandemic craziness.
In this episode, Alex focuses on some worrying revelations from a myriad of different elections that took place around the US on November 2nd. He discusses -
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Glenn Youngkin won the Virginia Gubernatorial Election, seeing the highest voter turnout for a gubernatorial election since 1997. Biden won the state by ten points but swing voters seem to have swung to the right. Exit polls indicated that close to half of voters said parents should have "a lot" of say in what is taught in their child's school. This was a problem for Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic candidate, who made out of touch comments about school boards and ran a milquetoast campaign. Do the Republicans have a template for the midterms on how to run a candidate that appeals to Trump supporters and moderates?
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In New Jersey, the incumbent governor, Phil Murphy, beat the Republican challenger, Jack Ciattarelli, by as close as 30,000 votes and with only 50% of the vote. This was in a state that went 57% to Biden in 2020 and 56% to Murphy in 2017. Pandemic restrictions, taxes, and social issues seem to fire up the Republican side, which also saw a very high turnout.
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Minneapolis voters struck down a proposal to eliminate the police department and replace it with a public safety agency. According to FOX out of Minneapolis, “Fifty-seven percent of voters voted ‘no’ versus 43 percent for ‘yes’ on the ballot question.”
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Republicans had their most successful election cycle in Seattle since the 1970s. The Seattle Times called the election “a fright night for progressives.” A Republican, Ann Davison, defeated a popular policing abolitionist named Nicole Thomas-Kennedy, and the city council president, Bruce Harrell, hammered a progressive candidate who wanted to cut the police department by 50%.
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In Buffalo, New York, a write-in candidate named Byron Brown was able to defeat India Walton, a self-proclaimed socialist.
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Alex worries that the Democratic Party doesn’t understand the severity of the moment and is being unrealistic with their control of the government. "Wokeism" may not be a popular term on the left, but this election cycle seemed to be a referendum on woke rhetoric.
In this episode, Alex starts with an update from the Virginia gubernatorial election that is currently taking place (November 2nd). Currently, Youngkin (Rep.) and McAuliffe (Dem.) are neck and neck. It is looking like the election could lean towards Republicans, as recent election polls have seemed to undercount Republican turnout. Alex then discusses the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference which started on Monday and is taking place in Glasgow. Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, and other leaders have expressed that the threat of climate change is almost beyond repair, calling it a “one minute to midnight moment.” Other leaders have expressed the need for a public-private partnership to incentivize green technology in developing countries, Germany has offered to help South Africa ease off of coal, and Japan is offering to help Asia change their sources of fuel. The event has always led to a new deforestation agreement that was signed by highly forested countries like Russia, Brazil, Canada, and the US. Alex also mentions how the event has also led to calls of hypocrisy as Jeff Bezos showed up in a private jet and other wealthy elites have expressed no urgency and 20-30 year goals.
In the second part, Alex discusses growing concerns that the 2024 Democratic presidential election cycle may center around Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg. An article in Business Insider mentioned that the Harris team is concerned that the 2024 cycle could be a “free for all” if there is a challenger. Alex finds this entire issue ridiculous because establishment democrats seem to be out of touch with what the country wants. Also, Kamala Harris is highly unpopular with the left and the right. Pete Buttigieg has also been on paid paternal leave during a supply crisis, while the democrats just gutted paid time off from the reconciliation bill. It seems like 2024 (and the midterms) could be a bloodbath for democrats unless they get their agenda and messaging together.
In this Halloween episode, Alex breaks down the five scariest political events happening right now. In this episode, his five are -
- The Rise of a French Trump
- Charlie Kirk’s Quasi-Denial response to a call for violence
- The ADL calls out Tucker Carlson’s new documentary that retcons January 6th and calls it a false flag
- The US may have lost all credibility for the “new Iran Nuclear Deal”
- The strange and disturbing instances where people compare COVID mandates to the holocaust
In this episode, Alex discusses the upcoming Virginia Gubernatorial election that will take place on November 2nd. Virginia is a strange state in which a governor cannot be in office for two consecutive terms. This election is between the Former Democratic Governor, Terry McAuliffe, and the Republican newcomer Glenn Youngkin. Alex breaks down:
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How this election may be a test run for both Republican and Democratic strategies going into the 2022 midterms. Should Republicans distance themselves from Trumpism but run on his policies and culture war issues? Should Democrats focus on Trump or on policy? Currently, Youngkin has said that Biden is the legitimate president and has criticized the January 6th riots, yet he has focused on Critical Race Theory, attacks on school boards, and mask mandates.
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According to early polls (CNBC/Suffolk University), at least 667,012 Virginians have submitted early ballots and they are currently in favor of McAuliffe. However, Trump’s conspiracies around voting by mail may lead to many Republicans on the day of the election. Suffolk University, as of Monday, has each candidate receiving an identical 45% in support.
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Virginia sued the US Postal Service a few days ago over potential delays of election material, including ballots. These issues have been in three counties that went to Biden in the 2020 election. Alex worries that the USPS Board of Governors, which is run by Trump’s pick, Louis DeJoy, has gutted the post office and this has led to these delays. This may not impact the election on Tuesday, but these voting by mail issues need to be addressed.
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Both sides in this election have voiced worries of voter fraud or at least, irregularities. Alex worries that voicing concerns over “fraud” may be a new playbook that could corrupt both sides.
In this episode, Alex focuses on intensifying concerns inside of the GOP over Trump’s control of the party, as well as the global far-right movement, and his thoughts on how the US must work towards unity again. He discusses -
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Iowa’s 88 year old senator, Chuck Grassley, accepted Trump’s endorsement for reelection at a rally in Des Moines over the weekend. Grassley had been a “Sometimes Trumper” who diverged from the president over the “big lie,” January 6th, and Trump’s rhetoric. This highlights that Trump’s control over the party has only intensified and even creatures of the senate like Grassley have accepted this truth.
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Last weekend, Sen. Ted Cruz joined a virtual rally in Madrid held by the far-right party, VOX. He spoke of the “shared values” between him and VOX leader Santiago Abascal. Even for Ted Cruz, this is a troubling shift in values and rhetoric. VOX is a populist party with a nostalgia for the fascism of the Franco dictatorship. They also have an anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim and anti-feminist agenda. Alex highlights how it feels like right-wing parties from around the world aren’t treating each other like foreign entities but instead as a shared global movement. The only connection seems to be Steve Bannon’s presence and a shared distaste for modernity and liberal society. He mentions Tucker Carlson’s trip to Hungary, Victor Obran’s erosion of democratic institutions, and more.
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Alex ends by discussing how the country needs to focus on unity before massive policies. The need leaders that aren’t focused on “big D” or “big R” politics, it needs to focus on the “small d” democracy politics first. He mentions how the country is seeing two extremes that could borderline on having authoritarian tendencies. He discusses how the aspirational patriotism of the progressive left and the nostalgic patriotism on the far-right must be tamed down. He draws parallels between this time and the onset of the Spanish Civil War.
In this episode, Alex takes a day off from discussing American issues and focuses on international events. He finds three events that somewhat relate to one another and can help describe larger trends around the globe. He discusses:
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There are reports of growing issues at the CIA. A recent New York Times article by Julian E. Barnes and Adam Goldman discusses how “Counterintelligence officials said in a top-secret cable to all stations and bases around the world that too many of the people it recruits from other countries to spy for the U.S. are being lost.” The report looked at dozens of cases where informants had either been compromised or killed over the last few years. Alex discusses how the CIA is struggling to keep up with the digital era, seems to put the mission over security, and needs to reform its intelligence gathering methods.
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China was again caught performing beach landing drills off the coast of Taiwan in another symbolic gesture to Taiwan and the world. In the last week, China has also flown more than 50 warplanes over Taiwan’s aerial defenses. This led to Taiwan stating it will defend its land and the US calling out China for challenging the region’s stability. Alex worries that this escalation is at its worst in years and he hopes that the US/China aren’t close to an open conflict. It seems like relations between the two have deteriorated since the pandemic and both sides are waiting for the other to blink. Does Xi Jinping want Taiwan as part of his legacy? Was Hong Kong a practice?
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The humanitarian crisis in the Tigray region of Ethiopia has only gotten worse since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has waged close to an all-out war against the region. There has been an escalation of violence between the government and the Tigrayan people after an election dispute in 2020. Since, there have been reports of mass violence, rape, and starvation mainly to the Tigrayan people. The Tigrayan people need aid, but the Ethiopian government and Eritrea soldiers are stopping aid and making the situation worse. Many fear this could lead to close to a million deaths and even some world organizations are calling this a genocide.
Nihilism is a philosophy that looks to reject aspects of human existence such as objective truth, knowledge, morality, values, or meaning. In this episode, Alex argues that nihilism is a major factor that is driving extreme and divisive politics in the United States and around the world. He gives a case for why nihilism (or apathy) towards democracy and our institutions has led to angry populism and violent rhetoric.
In this discussion, he feels that nihilism has become a preexisting condition as to why many Americans believe democracy is no longer working. He uses a range of examples as to why society has become so nihilistic, these include
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An Atlantic article from 2016 that reads “there is no meaning (in politics) other than political theater behind it. The consequences of this political nihilism will be catastrophic and will reverberate down through the decades of the 21st century. If you doubt this, think of climate change and the global economy…”
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Leaks like the Pandora papers, which “reveal hidden wealth, tax avoidance and, in some cases, money laundering by some of the world's rich and powerful.” The papers also show that South Dakota is a new tax haven where “hundreds of billions of dollars sequestered in South Dakota trusts generate no taxes and are effectively off-limits to anybody who might have a legitimate claim on them.”
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The Commissioner of the IRS wants banks to report annual cash flows for ordinary account holders who have over $600 dollars in their accounts. The justification is to find people that are dodging taxes, but some skeptics think taxing everyone a small amount could bring in more revenue than expending resources and time to get the wealthy to pay more in taxes.
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The “race to the bottom” in welfare program quality between states in the US. Because different states have different welfare programs with different costs and different levels of quality, other states don’t want to be over-generous if other states are stingy, so they all are just stingy. This leads to a lowering of welfare coverage for those that may need it the most.
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Nihilism has culminated in the rise of political grifters who don’t care about ethics or the truth. Trump may be the ultimate grifter who has come out of American distrust in the system. The problem with what Trump did was that he mixed his own nihilism about democracy at a time when the American people’s nihilism towards the system was growing as well. This was a perfect cocktail of systematic disdain that lead to Trump’s unique form of populism.
In this episode, Alex sits down with Cole Costello to discuss socialism, the future of capitalism, and what people get wrong about Karl Marx. Cole is a friend and currently in the graduate program for history at Cal State Los Angeles, focusing on early twentieth-century American urban/race/labor history. Cole falls somewhere on the left, with some Marxist tendencies and a sense of loss and confusion in modern politics. In this episode, some topics they discuss/debate are -
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Does the US system still work?
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What Marxism actually means and would it work in a country like the US?
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Is the US heading towards a Civil War or conflict?
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What does history tell us about socialism? And why did the Soviet Union fail?
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Is Capitalism the best system?
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Should there be billionaires?
In this second episode of the podcast, Alex covers a plethora of issues. He discusses -
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In the eleventh hour, the government finally did their job and passed a plan to keep the government funded until December. Unfortunately, Congress still has work to do. Janet Yellen, the treasury secretary, has said that the US will reach its debt ceiling by October. Can congress agree on something to work? Also, Biden’s $3.5 trillion spending bill is not only being held up by Republicans, but also my moderates like Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema. How did Sinema, a rockstar of the left, become a bulwark against passing legislation?
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Germany held their federal elections, with the highest position possible being the German Chancellor. This was a role that Angela Merkel held since 2005. She announced earlier this year that she wouldn’t seek another term. Instead what happened was the centre-left Social Democrats narrowly took first place in Germany’s federal election. The SDP only narrowly won with %25.7 of the vote, with the CDU only a percentage point behind. How will the SDP form a coalition that barely represented a majority of the electorate?
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“Why Are People Nostalgic for Early-Pandemic Life?” By Morgan Ome and Christian Paz is a fascinating article from The Atlantic. It goes over a growing trend amongst young Americans who feel nostalgia for the early days of the pandemic. Alex shares his own “pandemic nostalgia” and tries to understand why this could be happening. Did COVID pull off the veil of ignorance and now people are seeing unwanted realities of the world? Maybe even nostalgia is a coping mechanism.
In this inaugural episode of the Centered From Reality podcast, Alex Kopytko dives into a multitude of issues over the last month that he views could help dismantle US democracy. The majority focus on what the Republican Party is doing under the absence of Trump's presidency and how Trump's resurgence following more failed audits could be problematic.
He talks about:
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Robert Kagan's article in the Washington Post titled "Our constitutional crisis is already here" and how it relates to a new plethora of issues that the Trump era has brought to fruition. Kagan's article views the coming years as crucial for democracy and worries about 2022 and beyond. It seems like the founding fathers weren't ready for a political party to back one person in the way in which they are now.
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John Eastman's memo in which he provided a legal (albeit flawed) framework for throwing out millions of legal votes in order to keep Trump in power. Alex talks about how Trump had the rioters and the election conspiracy, now it looks like he had the legal plan too.
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The Arizona Audit by the Trump-supporting "Cyber Ninjas" actually helped validate Biden's electoral victory, yet Trump is still backing the big lie at rallies.
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Anne Applebaum's warnings about authoritarianism and how it can grow and flourish in a country like the US.
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Thoughts on how the Democratic Party needs to get rid of perfection and work towards passing GOOD policy.