Centered From Reality

Rudy Wants to Die a Free Man, Liz Cheney & The New Era of Political Violence

In this episode, Alex discusses how Rudy Giuliani appears to be the target of a probe in the Fulton County investigation into the 2020 election subversion scheme. Ominously, a statement has been put out saying that Rudy’s goal is to die a free man. Next, Alex discusses the primary election in Wyoming where the incumbent Liz Cheney lost by over 37 points to an insane election denier. Liz Cheney held a mirror up to the GOP and they did not want to see their reflection. Finally, Alex discusses Trump’s statement on Fox News after the FBI raid where he said “the temperature has to be brought down…” “Whatever we can do to help — because the temperature has to be brought down in the country if it isn’t, terrible things are going to happen.” Is this a threat? Alex thinks so. 

Toxins in the Rainwater & Pride Before the Fall – Pax Americana and a Reverse Thucydides Trap?

In this episode, Alex discusses a new study out of Sweden that finds that rainwater is also toxic to drink due to CFAS which have basically infiltrated everything from groundwater to the atmosphere. The study found that even Antarctica had excessive levels. Next, Alex discusses how the GOP has clearly given up on backing the blue. According to CNN, “an armed man suspected of trying to breach the FBI's Cincinnati field office Thursday was killed after an hours-long standoff with law enforcement.” The man’s social media posts made it clear this was in retaliation to the FBI’s investigation at Mar-a-Lago. This was inevitable after the right-wing media and GOP leaders called out the FBI and voiced dangerous conspiracies. Finally, Alex discusses how European officials are constantly concerned about the end of U.S. influence and what it would do to the EU and its security. The United States is leading the efforts to help Ukraine and is still an economic powerhouse, but due to internal chaos, many fear it has reached its pride before the fall. Alex also discusses how Sino experts believe that China has peaked and also could be starting to plateau. This is also troubling because history shows that peaking countries can lash out and be even more dangerous than declining powers. China and the United States both have fundamentally opposite views of how the world order should be governed. Could this cause some sort of conflict? Especially if both are no longer growing? 

Defund the FBI: the DOJ Crosses the Rubicon & the GOP Goes Beyond Parody

In this episode, Alex focuses on a new report that former Chief of Staff, John Kelly, said that Donald Trump wanted his generals to be more like the Nazi generals during WW2. This again shows Trump’s ignorant views of history and why he views everything through the lens of loyalty. Kelly also has said that Trump disparged wounded veterans. Then Alex discusses the shocking FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago that occurred on Monday. Alex avoids too much speculation on what will come from this raid, but he does focus on how GOP lawmakers and right-wing media figures are reacting to it. Instead of being silent until more information comes out, they are attacking the FBI and assume that Trump is innocent and that it is a hit job. It seems like they are finally showing that they think Trump is above the law. Even Kevin McCarthy has threatened to hold investigations of the Justice Department and Marjorie Taylor Greene has called to defund the FBI. It seems like the DOJ has crossed the rubicon and things may be getting interesting. Finally, Alex discusses some of the highlights from the primaries in Wisconsin and Minnesota. 

The Forward Party, Child Separation Policy, CPAC & Insulin Cap Cuts

In this episode, Alex starts by sharing some hioarious yet distrubing clips of some of the most cringe moments from CPAC Texas over the weekend. Then Alex goes over a new article in the Atlantic that is over 30,000 words and discusses new revelations about the Trump Administration’s child separation policies on the southern border. The article is called  An American Catastrophe by Caitlin Dickerson and through hundreds of interviews with Trump officials, she finds that these cruel policies were intentional and meant as scare tactics. Later, Alex discusses how the cap price on insulin was removed from the Inflation Reduction Act. In a vote of 57-43, the Senate Democrats could not get enough Republicans over the 60 vote threshold to avoid the filibuster. Finally, Alex discusses the Forward Party and whether it would work as a third party. 

Shots Over Taiwan, Shots Fired in Kosovo & Alex Jones Shot Down

The NFL is back, but Alex cannot spend too much time celebrating because the world has experienced a crazy week. He starts by discussing the aftermath of Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan — China fired over a dozen Dongfeng series ballistic missiles into the waters north-east and south-west of Taiwan’s main island. While China claimed these were “exercises”, Taiwan has responded and many countries have condemned the actions. Alex goes over whether this is a test-run for how China could seal off the island during an invasion. Next, tensions have hit a low since the 1990s between Serbia and Kosovo. Ethnic Serbs still live in a region in Northern Kosovo and the Kosovar government has tried to allow that region some idnependence. However, the government has now passed new laws involving license plates and entry-exit border policies for Serbians. This had led to protests, road blocks, and literal shots being fired. This is problematic because Serbia still does not recognize Kosovo as a country and Alexsander Vucic, Serbia’s strongman leader, has close ties to Putin and has been referred to as “little Putin.” Alex worries that this could become another conflict over territories that has been exagerated by grievance-laced strongmen like Putin, Orban, and now Vucic. Finally, Alex looks into the trial of Alex Jones involving his lies about the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting. Jones will have to pay $4.1 million to the victims. Is this the end of InfoWars? 

Zawahiri’s Death, Primary Chaos & Ambassador Pelosi?

In this episode, Alex starts by talking about Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan. He is torn on the issue and thinks that above all, it demonstrates how America’s policies towards Taiwan are too vague and must be reformed. He also discusses some speculation that if Pelosi loses her speakership in November, she could become an emissary to a place like Rome. Next, Alex discusses the assassination of Ayman al-Zawahiri. The Economist notes that “if Bin Laden was the charismatic face of al-Qaeda, Mr Zawahiri was the brain.” Many also think he was the main planner of 9/11. Alex discusses that while al-Zawahiri deserved to die, his death may not change anything. Zawahiri was no longer a key leader in global jihadism, mainly because it has become more extreme and focused on different goals. Finally, Alex goes over the primary results from Tuesday. He looks at a rare abortion victory in Kansas, troubling results in Michigan, a pyrrhic victory in Missouri, and nothing good in Arizona. 

Politics is Corrupting Language, Monkeypox Failures & Trump in Final Form

In this episode, Alex rants about a midterm strategy that could backfire on the Democrats.  Then he discusses how a man traveling to Indonesia was fined almost $2000 for “smuggling” a McMuffin in his luggage and did not declare. Alex then discusses Trump’s return to D.C. in which he has reached his final form of hate, fear, and grievance. He also had some wild ideas about how to deal with the drug crisis and homelessness. Also, the next big fire in California has its own weather and is a harbinger of things to come. For the remainder of the episode, Alex discusses how the Monkeypox virus has created a crisis in the United States and the public health system seems to be worse off than it was before COVID-19. Alex also discusses how while the WHO has declared this a health emergency, many in the United States are struggling with how to communicate its risks to the public. The Atlantic discusses how “As monkeypox cases rise in the U.S., public officials are scrambling to balance concerns about stigmatization with the fact that the disease is largely affecting gay and bisexual men.” Alex argues that it is more important to actually call the issue what it is and focus resources and messaging on the actual people that are getting impacted by the virus. He turns this into a bigger issue of how public officials are more concerned with terminology than action. He relates this back to Politics and the English Language by George Orwell. Orwell notes that language can be used by politicians or opportunists to mean whatever you want it to. He discusses how if thought can corrupt language, language can also corrupt thought. 

Russia Plunders Sudan, Orban Goes Full Fascist But is Welcome at CPAC & LIV Golf

In this (late) end of the week episode, Alex discusses the controversial LIV golf tournament that is funded by Saudi Arabia. Of course it is being hosted at a Trump golf course. It is also being protested by the families of 9/11 victims and the media as well.

Alex also discusses how Joe Manchin has flip-flopped again on the Build Back Better deal and is likely to support it now. If this can pass, it will be a huge victory for Joe Biden. However, will Kirsten Synema still support it?

Then Alex discusses a troubling Russian scheme that led to a coup and the pundering of gold in Sudan. Basically, the Kremlin and Wagner Group helped orechestrate the coup in Sudan to put in a military dictatorship so that Russia could give them weapons in exchange for plundering the country’s resources (mainly gold).

Last, Alex looks at how quickly Viktor Orbán of Hungary has become a fascist. He discusses how Viktor Orbán’s recent speech in Romania was racist, xenophobic, and dangerous. Even the Jewish community in Hungary has called it a straight “Nazi-text.” He has shown me that it seems like you can’t play with this illiberalism without eventually going completely fascist. His authoritarian nationalism and erosion of checks and balances, along with his racial and xenophobic rhetoric cannot be put back once they are released. This is all problematic because Orbán is coming to CPAC in Texas; the GOP should learn some lessons from this and stomp this out. Orbán’s evolution is telling and foreshadowing. 

The Hawlin’ Hawley 5K, Schedule F: Trump’s Nefarious Plan & ECA Reform

In this episode, Alex talks about the push to reform the Electoral Count Act of 1887. A bipartisan effort is looking to reform it to clarify that the Vice President cannot deceritfy any election votes. This was a vague area in the original act that John Eastman and Trump allies tried to exploit. The window is small before the midterms, but it is still possible. Alex then reflects on Josh Hawley and how he wants to rin in the Haulin’ Hawley 5k in Missouri. Then he discusses what could happen in a second Trump term. In 2020, Trump passed an executive order that involved “Schedule F” in which the president could fire civil servants who are involved in confidential material or policymaking. Basically Trump would be able to replace over 50,000 civil servants with whomever he wanted. Alex worries this would politisize the civil service and cause irreversible damage. Finally, he discusses worries of a recession. 

The Electoral Count Act of 1887 Led to 1/6! (Classic Episode)

Alex will be back tomorrow with a new episode, but for the moment here is a classic episode from back in January of 2022. It looks like Congress may reform the Electoral Count Act of 1887. This is good news because John Eastman and others tried to overturn Biden’s victory by using ideas from this act. 

 

Original episode summary — 

In this episode, Alex takes a deep dive into understanding the Electoral Count Act of 1887. The act was passed by congress in reaction to the Compromise of 1877, and some argue that its existence actually paved the way for the 2020 election chaos and the storming of the capitol on January 6th. 

After President Grant ( a Republican) decided not to run for a third term, the 1876 election cycle was composed of Governor Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio (Republican) and Governor Samuel J. Tilden of New York (Democrat). The results of this presidential election between Tilden and Hayes became one of the most contested in US history. Tilden was winning the electoral college count with 184 electoral votes to Hayes's 165, yet there were four states that remained unresolved. These four states were Oregon, Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina. Each of these states responded differently to this situation, each party reported that their own candidate had won, and Oregon even replaced their electors. Eventually, a compromise was made in which Hayes became president and Tilden conceded. The Compromise of 1877 said that all of the remaining 20 electoral votes were given to Hayes. In return, “the Republicans agreed to withdraw federal troops from the South. This is credited with ending Reconstruction.” Ten years later, the Electoral Count Act of 1887 was passed. Unfortunately, it created an environment where if there was a contested election, no matter what the states electors determined, congress could make the final decision. Now there was a designated period that allowed contesting electors to make their case and if there was an issue, the Vice President and Congress would make the final decision. 

Alex argues that this act was poorly created and has existed in limbo ever since this period. Unfortunately, the 2020 election was also close and opportunistic lawyers and state officials used it to their advantage. Alex believes that this act needs to be overturned or reformed (at the least) so that there is a clear understanding of who will determine the legitimacy of an election, even if it is contested.