Centered From Reality

Wagner in the Central African Republic, Russia Bombs a Restaurant, Rick Scott’s Stupid Travel Warning & Trump Tops Biden

In this episode, Alex starts with a clip of Senator Rick Scott’s stupid travel advisory where he tells people traveling to Florida that the “free state of Florida” will not allow communists and socialists to travel there. Alex laughs at the absurdity of this video. He also starts with a worrying clip where 2024 presidential nominee Francis Suarez says in an interview that he does not know who the Uyghurs are. For the rest of the episode, Alex talks about the Wagner Groups growing influence in Africa and how it may change after the clashes between the mercenary group and the Russian government. He also talks about how a recent restaurant bombing in Ukraine by Russian forces highlights the tragedies of living in Ukraine during this war. Finally, Alex also goes over some new polling that shows Donald Trump beating Joe Biden in a hypothetical 2024 general election. 

Bring Some Cokes in Please: Gaslighting the Base, the Rise of the Conspiracist Kennedy, Expunging Trump & Fox News Gives Up!

In this episode, Alex is exhausted with how disengenous most political figures have become. He starts by going over the released recording of Donald Trump discussing the classified documents involving Iran. It does not look good for Trump as he openly contradicts the legal arguments he has been using. Next, Alex is angry but not surprised about how Marjorie Tayloer Green and Elise Stefanik want to expunge Donald Trump’s impeachments. Now, Kevin McCarthy has said he agrees with expunging these impeachments. Alex does not think this will do anything but it can gaslight the average American voter. Later, Alex notes that Jesse Waters is going to take Tucker Carlson’s slot and it looks like the company has given up on trying to be bold. Finally, an Atlantic article argues that RFK Jr. is the first MAGA Democrat; Alex reacts and agrees. He also breaks down why he thinks RFK Jr. is complex and fascinating (though he would never support this current version). 

Putin Makes Martyrs Out of Cronies, Prigozhin is Exiled, Trump Wants to Ban Communism & SCOTUS Sides with Biden

In this episode, Alex starts by telling his listeners that he is worried about the growing woke backlash and why he thinks Trump could win some confused voters by default. He plays some new speeches where Trump promises to ban birthright citizenship and another speech where Trump wants to use the federal government to limit communists and leftists from entering the country. Next, Alex looks into the recent revelations out of Russia. The Wagner Group turned around and in a deal brokered with Belarus, its leader, Yevegeny Prigozhin, will be exiled and his soldiers absorbed into the Russia military. Alex argues that Putin is scared and his regime is cracking. Once again, he has made martrys out of his rivals and this time, Prigozhin has a populist force behind him — it is no longer about the man. Finally, Alex goes back to the United States to discuss how SCOTUS has been favorable to Biden recently. One decision has affirmed that immigration is the domain of the federal government, the other will investigate the gerrymandered districts in Louisiana. 

Insurrection in Russia, Durham Report Lets Down, Russia Implodes, Schiff is Censured, Third Party Threats & Hotez Shouldn’t Debate RFK Jr. on Rogan

In this episode, Alex starts by getting into how recent affairs are getting in Russia. It truly looks like a breakdown of stability could be coming.  Then Alex gets into his defense on why Dr. Peter Hotez should not feel obligated to debate RFK JR. who mainly peddles in a myriad of conspiracies that only compile as time goes on.  Alex then goes into the issues that Joe Biden may face in the 2024 election, these include Cornell West, the “No Labels Party” (which cannot disclose anything), and the potential that RFK Jr. runs as a third party. Finally, Alex looks into Adam Schiff’s roasting of John Durham during his hearing and why the Durham Report has been effective for both sides but ineffective for the truth. Ironically, Schiff has been censured by the House of Representatives yet George Santos runs strong. 

The Kremlin is Locked Down as the Wagner Group Enters Russia & Wants Retribution

Alex is back with his second podcast of the day. In this emergency pod, Alex breaks down recent stories coming out of Russia in which the Kremlin has warned that the Wagner Group, headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, is attempting a coup. While a coup does not seem likely, it does look like relations between both sides have broken down and internal fighting may occur. Alex goes into his thoughts about what could be next. 

A Titan(ic) Tragedy in the Deep Seas, SCOTUS: We Have a Problem, Germany Ramps Up Military Spending & COVID Patient Zero Identified?

In this episode, Alex starts by going through his fascination over the public fascination of the Titan submersible  tragedy. He goes through the tragedy, the ironies of the catastrophy, and why it appears like this fiasco could have been prevented. Next, Alex talks about new reports that discuss how Germany is going to increase its military spending to meet NATO’s goal of 2% of GDP. It seems like Germany is changing due to rising security threats from the War in Ukraine and worries towards China. Alex then discusses a new report that (potentially) names three scientists from the Wuhan Insitute of Virology that could be patient zeroes for getting COVID-19. If these reports are true, this could prove that the virus came from a lab and not nature; however, Alex is sceptical. Finally, new revelations from ProPublica shine a light on more ethical violations in the Supreme Court. This time, these allegations involve Justice Samuel Alito taking trips to Alaska with a billionaire named Paul Singer. Alex worries that the court truly has a legitimacy crisis and Justice Roberts must do something about it. 

Drew Knepley: the New Political Divide, Somewhere vs. Anywhere People, Pardoning Trump, Hunter Biden, RFK Jr.’s Appeal, The Right’s LGBTQ Panic & More!

In this special episode, Alex reunites with his friend, and former co-host on the Tonic Accord Podcast, Drew Knepley. It has been almost two years since they last recorded a podcast together and they discuss many of the political issues facing the United States. They talk about the new political divide which could be less right/left and more anywhere people versus somewhere people. They also talk about the right’s LGBTQ panic, Trump’s indictment, Hunter Biden’s issues, the 2024 election, RFK Jr., Hunter Biden, and the horseshoe effect impacting politics. It seems like a lot has changed since the two recorded in 2021. 

RFK Jr.’s Fifth Column Candidacy, A Russian Assassination Attempt in Florida, Bud Light Troubles & Reparations in California

In this episode, Alex starts by expressing his concerns about the candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. RFK Jr. is seeming more and more like a fifth column inside of the Democratic Party that could be bad for Biden and worse for Democracy. Next, Alex discusses his fear of submarines and then goes into how he is troubled that the Bud Light boycott has been successful. He goes into why this boycott has worked and why he is worried about the precedent it will set. Finally, Alex looks into a California commission that has studied reparations. He discusses why he thinks reparations for the descendents of slaves are well-intentioned but may neglect to solve a bigger issue in the United States — class anger and division. 

A Secret Chinese Base in Cuba, Fox Calls Biden a ”Wannabe Dictator” & Thoughts on Vivek Ramaswamy

In this episode, Alex starts by sharing his thoughts on why Vivek Ramaswamy and why he is a unique candidate that has interesting domestic views but atrocious views involving Ukraine. Alex wonders if Ramaswamy is running to be president or to be part of a Trump cabinet. Next, the Fox News chyron called Biden a “wannabe dictator” that was going after his political rival (Donald Trump). Alex wonders why this was no immediately taken down and how this happened. He notes that this is a perfect summarization of how Fox News has created fear and division. Finally, he talks about reports of a Chinese military base in Cuba. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is concerned that the Chinese may be using the base to intercept American transmissions since Florida is only about 100 miles away. Alex notes that the United States had the chance to bring Cuba to the table, instead Trump pushed Cuba towards China and now an opportunity may have been missed. 

Trumpism Uniquely Indulges Our Id as Threats of Retribution Grow and Consensus Wanes, Christie Torches Trump & Cormack McCarthy Dies

In this episode, Alex starts by discussing why Chris Christie is important for this debate cycle and must get on the stage. He plays part of Christie’s CNN Town Hall where he explains why he broke from Trump over the election lies. Christie discusses how there is no evidence and that Trump used the power of the presidency to erode trust. Next, Alex talks about the death of Cormack McCarthy, a drop in inflation, and why a new AI Beatles song terrifies him. For the rest of the episode, Alex goes into what the MAGA movement has become and why he thinks it is a rare political movement in the United States. He talks about how Trumpism seems to indulge the id and primordial tribalism of its followers and has unsealed something deep and dark that lives in all of us. Alex notes that this form of populism has been prevalent in Europe for decades, but usually US politics is attached to consensus and honoring the rule of law. Instead, Trumpism sees violence through power and places Trump as the avatar for indulgence and breaking from the status quo. As Trump has called for retribution (again), Alex worries that things could get quite dark if Trump comes back into power.