Centered From Reality

On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Alex reflects on how the attacks reshaped American politics and argues that the national security apparatus built in their aftermath has had consequences far beyond the original War on Terror. Drawing on Spencer Ackerman’s Reign of Terror, he explores how expanded surveillance, executive power, and institutions like the Department of Homeland Security became permanent fixtures that could eventually be redirected toward domestic politics, immigration, and protest. Along the way, Alex reflects on George W. Bush’s post-9/11 leadership, today’s political climate, and—between some Packers and U.S. Open talk—why understanding the legacy of 9/11 remains essential 25 years later.

Alex discusses Donald Trump’s midterm RNC convention in Dallas, criticizing the event as a Trump-centered rally rather than a substantive effort to help Republicans in the midterm elections. He highlights Trump’s lengthy speech, his proposed $5,000 “Trump dividend,” rhetoric surrounding Democrats and election rules, and concerns about the economy, the Iran war, and the direction of the Republican Party. Alex also reflects on Charlie Kirk’s role in holding together different factions of the MAGA movement and argues that the coalition has become increasingly fractured since Kirk’s death. Overall, he views the convention as a defensive and chaotic attempt to make the midterms a referendum on Trump himself.

Alex is joined by Cole Costello, a History PhD candidate and podcast correspondent at the University of Montana, for a wide-ranging conversation about exploration, colonialism, and how historical figures are remembered. Using Magellan and Columbus as starting points, they debate Howard Zinn’s influence on popular understandings of history and the importance of accounting for indigenous agency, competing perspectives, and historical nuance. The conversation then connects those debates to contemporary politics, including democratic socialism, U.S. foreign policy, and the growing ideological divisions within the Democratic Party.

Alex uses this special Labor Day episode to examine Donald Trump’s holiday-weekend Truth Social spree, from complaints about non-working holidays to AI-generated visions of territorial expansion, renamed states, and even acquiring the moon. The host argues that these posts may reflect less of a coherent expansionist agenda and more of Trump’s growing preoccupation with his personal legacy, image, and desire to leave a permanent mark on America.

Alex argues that the backlash against AI data centers is understandable but overblown, with concerns about water use, electricity costs, and local disruption better addressed through regulation, taxation, and infrastructure investment than outright bans. He sees AI infrastructure as strategically necessary for the U.S. to compete with China, while remaining concerned about the speed and lack of regulation around AI development itself.

In this sports focused podcast, Alex brings back guest Cole Costello, a PhD candidate at the University of Montana and the pod's history correspondent. They discuss the changing landscape of college football, including the collapse of the Pac-12, conference realignment, the loss of regional rivalries, and the growing corporatization of college sports. They also turn to the NFL, breaking down preseason power rankings, quarterbacks, playoff contenders, and their predictions for the upcoming season and Super Bowl.

In this episode, Alex explores generational and political shifts, using Tucker Carlson’s ideological divergence from his father’s establishment-conservative background as a window into changing political coalitions. He then focuses on generational wealth inequality, arguing that younger Americans face much steeper barriers to building financial security even with strong incomes. Using the frustrating delay of depositing a paper check as a metaphor, Alex contrasts older generations’ accumulated financial cushion with younger people’s need for faster access to money and argues that banking systems should better reflect modern financial realities.

Cole Costello joins host Alex for a spin on the viral trend of ranking different regions of the United States based on one question: if they had to pick one region to live in forever, where would it be? From the Pacific Northwest and desert Southwest to the Great Lakes, Deep South, and New England, they weigh culture, climate, geography, cities, and what makes somewhere actually feel livable. Along the way, Alex and Cole find plenty to agree on—and some very different ideas about what makes a region worth calling home.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians is ending, leaving hundreds of thousands vulnerable to deportation to a country the U.S. State Department itself tells Americans not to travel to. Alex highlights the stark contradiction: Haiti remains under the highest-level “Do Not Travel” advisory, and U.S. deportation flights cannot even safely land at the main airport in Port-au-Prince because of the security crisis. He argues that sending Haitians back under these conditions raises a profound humanitarian and moral question, underscored by the story of a 20-year-old Haitian in Springfield, Ohio, who feared being returned there.

Alex uses the latest season of Outer Banks as a case study in what happens when streaming economics collide with geographic authenticity. After noticing that supposedly Spanish and Mediterranean locations look suspiciously like Croatia, he digs into why productions consolidate filming in places like Dubrovnik—and how tax incentives, production infrastructure, and cost-cutting can turn entire countries into interchangeable backdrops. Along the way, Alex compares Outer Banks with Below Deck Mediterranean, reflects on Game of Thrones-driven tourism, and explores the strange relationship between entertainment, economics, and the places audiences think they’re seeing.