Centered From Reality

The Anti-Woke Olympics: Vivek Retcons J6, Pence Defends Liberty, Tucker Attacks Ukraine & DeSantis Dodges Questions

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. 

New Gulags in Ukraine as 20k Children are Missing, Bridge Bombs in Crimea, Russia Pulls out of a Crucial Grain Treaty & RFK Jr.’s New COVID Conspiracy

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. 

Barbie vs Vietnam, RFK Jr.’s Campaign Full of Hot Gas, Tuberville’s Crusade Against the Pentagon & A Troubling Report on Melatonin

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. 

Fascism is Freedom: Accepting the Contradictions, Weaponizing Victimhood & Intellectualizing the Madness

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. 

From Cyprus with Love: The Ballad of Gal Luft (a B-Movie Bond Villian), Bribes for Votes, DeSantis Chokes & the Looming UPS Strike

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. 

Dark Times for MyPillow, NATO Keeps Growing, Tuberville Defends White Nationalists, Focusing on Class Instead of Race & Santos Compares Himself to Rosa Parks

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? 

An Actual Hunter Biden Scandal, How Cluster Munitions Could Divide the Western Alliance & Are Cluster Munitions an Escalation?

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. 

White House Finds Cocaine, Splintering Factions in Spain & DeSantis Accelerates His Insane Crusade

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. 

The Right Against Birthright, Army Fact Sheet 64’s Warning from 1945 & Blindspots in Afghanistan

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. 

Bolsonaro Barred From Running, SCOTUS Axes Loan Forgiveness, the Complexities of Affirmative Action & A Hinge Moment in Time

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.