Centered From Reality

The Riviera of the Middle East: Gaz-a-Lago & An Emboldened Israeli Right

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. 

The Constitutional Crisis is Here: Musk Works in Secret to Gut USAID, US Treasury Records Seized & the SharpieGate Guy Will Run NOAA!

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. 

"I Don’t Always Engage in Trade Wars, but When I do… Dos Equis Gets F***d”

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.” 

The Gitmo Gulag, Confirmation Fights, DEI Flights & A New DEI on the Right!

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. 

Freezing the Swamp: Project 2025 & Why Chaos is the Point!

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. 

The Neo-Monroe Doctrine: Trump Melds Domestic Uncertainty with International Intimidation!(?)

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. 

Bend the Knee or Risk Your Safety (with Martin Benes)

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. 

Trump Rewarded the Performers (with Martin Benes)

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. 

Trump Purges Over a Dozen Inspectors Generals & Lab Leak is Back in the News!

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. 

Little Marco Makes Big Foreign Policy Moves, Trump Strips Security Detail for Fauci & Eric Adams Turns to MAGA (+ Roseanne Barr Spits Bars)

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.