Centered From Reality

The Pod Before Christmas

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. 

Argentina Becomes a Public Policy Nightmare: Austerity, Stimulus & Radical Decrees

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. 

A Troubling US Steel Deal, Biden Loses Support with Young Americans, Looking Into the Colorado Court Decision & A New Civil War Movie Gaslights All!

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.” 

Foreign Policy Predictions for 2024 & Trump Disqualified in Colorado

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. 

A New Suez Crisis Shocks the Global Economy, Trump Doubles Down & Walking in a Walmart Wonderland

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. 

When to Protect Speech and When to Punish Action & Kevin McCarthy Enabled Trump’s Return to Power

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. 

A Fishing Expedition on Top of a Wild Goose Chase: the Impeachment of Joe Biden

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. 

A Malicious Abortion Case in Texas, the Ukraine/Border Funding Quagmire & Why the Republicans Want to End Ukraine Aid

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. 

COP28 Dries up in Dubai, the UN Demands a Ceasefire, the WHO Warns of Mass Disease in Gaza & Vivek’s “X-Rated” Scandal

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. 

A Pointless Debate that Told Us Everything

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.