Centered From Reality

Pardoning Turkeys While Rome Burns: Russia’s Supersonic Missile & Fears of Cultural Genocide

In this episode, Alex starts by stopping himself from ranting about Thanksgiving being overrated (mainly because of turkey). Then Alex transitions to talking about Turkey — in this case, President Biden seems to be pardoning turkeys as the world burns. Of course, he argues that Biden has done a lot, but there is something symbolic about a lame duck pardoning a turkey. Alex spends the majority of the episode talking about the troubling new hypersonic missile that Russia is testing and using in Ukraine. He also talks about escalation, Putin gaslighting the west, fears of cultural genocide in Ukraine, and why the United Kingdom is worried about cyberattacks using AI coming from Russia. 

Gaetz is Too Much for the “Anti - #MeToo Cabinet”

In this episode, Alex does a short episode reacting to the news that Matt Gaetz from being considered to be the next attorney general for Donald Trump’s incoming administration. As the baggage piled up, it seems like Gaetz and his allies calculated that he would have issues being confirmed. Alex analyzes all of these events and speculates on what will be next for Gaetz. Hours after Gaetz withdrew, Trump coined Pam Bondi, a former Florida AG, to be his new appointee. Alex argues that she shares many of Gaetz’s ideas but is more palatable and has a record of legal work and expertise. He still worries that she will be a loyal to Trump over the law. 

A Specter Looms Over Ukraine (+ Trump Wins a Plurality but NOT a Majority)

In this episode, Alex starts by reflecting on the golden era of reality stars making pop music in the early 2010s. Then he gets nostalgic talking about the former One Direction members finally reuniting at the funeral for Liam Payne. Getting serious, Alex argues that following his electoral victory, Trump does not have a mandate to enact all of his MAGA policy takeovers. It looks like Trump is not going to get 50% of the popular vote meaning he has a plurality but not a majority. Alex wonders if some of his extreme cabinet picks and campaign promises may not be palatable to everyone that voted for Trump and it could backfire. Finally, Alex breaks down the recent events occuring between Russia and Ukraine. Reports show that Russia is gaining ground and Putin is willing to talk about a ceasefire with Trump. All of this is complicated because the outgoing Biden Administration has finally authorized the use of long-range missiles, ATACMS, inside of Russia. Russia has responded by lowering its nuclear threshold.   

The "Climate Crisis to Xenophobia" Doom Loop (+ the Fox News Cabinet)

In this episode, Alex gives some updates regarding the “Fox News Cabinet” that Trump is assembling like a sad excuse for the Avengers. He focuses on Dr. Oz who was picked to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Serivices. He also talks about Sean Duffy (a reality star and lumberjack) who was tapped to lead the Transportation Department, and much more. Alex also is fascinated by Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough heading to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump after calling him Hitler for years. For the remainder of the episode, Alex discusses what he calls the “Climate Emergency to Xenophobia Doom Loop.” He talks about how climate policy failures will lead to a larger migrant exodus from impacted countries, while at the same time, domestic policies will be radical and less welcoming. Alex worries that Trump will demogague this issue while ignoring the root issues. 

Germany's Russia Conundrum (+ Snap Elections Coming in Germany)

In this quick Sunday episode, Alex starts by celebrating the Packers’ win over the Bears. He is excited that they renewed their ownership of Da Bears. For the rest of the episode, Alex focuses on Germany’s conundrum involving Ukraine and Russia. Germany’s Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is uniquely unpopular and a snap election is going to happen in February, 2025. Inflation, energy costs, and fatigue German aid to Ukraine, has made it possible that he will have one of the shortest tenures as German Chancellor in decades. Scholz seems worried because he had a phone call with Putin last week. Zelensky has said this phone call could have opened Pandora’s Box, and some worry that Putin is trying to get access to foreign leaders. Also, Scholz had a phone call with Donald Trump and said he was moderately impressed with how the Ukraine discussion went. Alex is not sold and is worried about Ukraine’s future. 

A Violent Football Match in Amsterdam (+ Doug Burgum is Oil Czar!)

In this weekend episode, Alex starts by talking about a few of Trump’s new cabinet appointees such as Doug Burgum and Chris Wright. Then he talks about what is next for Jack Smith as the investigation winds down and Smith has said his team will resign soon. Alex hopes that Smith can release a final report and give it to Merrick Garland so that the nation can at least have an historical record of what has occurred. For the remainder of the episode, Alex talks about a horrific series of events that happened in Amsterdam before, during, and after a football match between the local team and Tel Aviv’s team. Amsterdam declared a state of emergency after Palestianian protestors clashed with Israelis and the events turned violent. Some say this was reminiscent of 19th century pogroms, other argue this was a toxic cocktail of antisemitism and islamaphobia. 

We’re Sleepwalking Into an Administrative (and Foreign Policy) Nightmare!

In this episode, Alex talks about two recent choices Donald Trump has made for cabinet level officials in his upcoming administration — Matt Gaetz (Attorney General) and Tulsi Gabbard (Director of National Intelligence). Alex highlights the importance of these two rolls and argues that these two choices are not only wrong, but also dangerous for our country. He gives examples of both individual’s rhetoric and believes that these picks were chosen by design. Alex worries more about Gabbard than Gaetz, but finds them both to pose significant threats to how information is analyzed. 

Haiti Struggles with Options, Spirit Needs a Re-Brand & MAGA Swamps the Drain!

In this episode, Alex talks about the breakdown in Haiti after another Prime Minster has been replaced by Haiti's transitional presidential council (TPC). Alex talks about how the TPC, which is mainly driven by external influence, faces threats from unified gangs in Haiti that want a seat at the table of a new government. Alex also talks about the recent grounding of American airlines to Haiti after three airlines were fired on yesterday after trying to land in Haiti’s capitol. Finally, Alex looks at Trump’s recent cabinet picks, the Associated Press notes that “In the last few hours, Trump has announced John Ratcliffe as CIA Director, Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense and Kristi Noem as head of Homeland Security.” Alex hopes this is a joke, but knows that this is very well not one. 

The Velociraptors Can Open Doors NOW, Trump Rewards Bad Behavior with Cabinet Positions & A New Guilded Age? (with Cole Costello)

In this episode, Alex starts by discussing how the Trump 2.0 cabinet is like the Velociraptors in Jurassic Park — they’ve figured out how to open the doors and now they are a danger. The training wheels are off and now they are ready to ride. Alex is also irritated that Trump is rewarding the bad behavior of people like Elise Stefanik with nominations to key positions. For the second part of the episode, Alex talks with his good friend Cole Costello about the election. They discuss what it means for labor movements, whether a new guilded age is coming, and much more!

Sundown in America (with María Tribe)

Alex calls this his “favorite podcast he’s recorded with a guest.” In this episode, he sits down for part two of the interview with María Tribe (over Zoom) to discuss what a European thinks about waking up to a second Donald Trump presidency. There is a quote from the movie, No Country for Old Men, that Alex uses to drive the discussion around norms and how the Democrats should respond to this era — “If the rules that you follow led you to this point, then of what use were they?” For the episode, Alex and María use that quote to talk about Trump, how the left can mobilize to be better at politics, and how the republic isn’t dead (just) yet. They also get into issues regarding gay rights, how the trans movement changes Democratic strategies, and whether María would like to visit the United States as a person in the LGBTQ+ community. This episode is not to be missed!