Centered From Reality

A Troubling Execution in Missouri, Putin Threatens Nukes & the Katy Perry Rant

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. 

Israel/Hezbollah on the Brink, Failures from Israel’s Dahiya Doctrine & Radicalizing for Clout (+ Trump’s 2028 Admission)

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. 

Pager Bombs in Lebanon, JD's Twitter Crusade, Diddy Indicted & Trump Losing in Key States!

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. 

Another Attempt on Trump’s Life, the Laura Loomer Problem & Trump vs. His Campaign (+ Lamenting TikTok Success)

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. 

Tucker Retcons the Holocaust, It’s Not Time to Celebrate the Debate & Taylor Swift Shakes off the Trolls (+ the Problem with Podcast Historians)

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. 

Lies on Tap: They're Coming for Your Cats! (Debate Night Recap & Analysis)

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. 

Americana: the Odd, Strange & Creepy (with Cole Costello)

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. 

The Mythos of Unions: Irish Nationalism & Butte, Montana (with Cole Costello)

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. 

The Bear-Based Brainworm, the NFL Gets Expansionist & Pearl Jam is Bruce Springsteen for Gen X (with Cole Costello)

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. 

BRAT Summer's Over: CNN’s C+ Interview, the Morning Joe Effect & An NFL Rant (+ A 49ers Player Shot in SF)

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.