Middle Theory
This week, as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announces the end of its immigration enforcement crackdown in Minnesota, we examine the stories of American citizens who have been injured or negatively affected by the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, and later mischaracterized as "domestic terrorists." As "Operation Metro Surge" comes to an end in Minnesota, questions linger about the effectiveness of DHS operations amid recent testimony provided to members of Congress by U.S. citizens whose lives were impacted by ICE activities. These include Marimar...
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This week, following the release of a massive trove of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice related to Jeffrey Epstein, we examine the main takeaways and look at why the file release is raising new questions about the disgraced financier and sex offender's death. The sordid story of Jeffrey Epstein, as well as the intrigue surrounding his fortune, his alleged associations with the U.S. Intelligence Community, and connections to American politicians and other high-profile individuals, has become a story that won't go away. In recent months, the late sex offender's past associations...
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This week, within days of the tragic shooting death of Minneapolis resident Renee Good, America has reached a tipping point in the aftermath of a second shooting incident involving the killing of Alex Pretti by agents with the Department of Homeland Security. As outrage over Pretti's death ensues, we examine what videos of the tragic incident reveal, as well as the context provided by additional videos that have revealed earlier encounters between Pretti and ICE agents in Minneapolis. We also examine the contradictory statements provided by federal officials in the aftermath of the...
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It's time to get back to work. Chaos has erupted in the streets of Minneapolis, Minnesota, following a deadly confrontation between federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and a 37-year-old mother of three, Renee Good, who was shot and killed by Jonathan Ross, a 10-year ICE veteran. In our analysis of the tragic events that led to Good's killing, we examine what is currently known about the circumstances leading up to the incident, as well as responses from state, local, and federal officials, and what multiple independent analyses of videos captured as the events...
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This week, we ask how we became so polarized, and look at the underlying reasons for division in our culture in a discussion about the meaning behind the "Middle Theory." Can't we all just get along? What are the roots of the conflicts we see in the world around us... from the geopolitical stage, to our neighborhoods and communities? Although polls over the years offer mixed results, a recurring theme is that voters often tend to be more moderate than the politicians they vote for. Why, then, does there appear to be so much polarization in society, both in politics, and in other...
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This week, growing concerns over Russia's nuclear rhetoric in recent days have experts looking at how far Vladimir Putin might go in his quest to conquer Ukraine. This week, as recent polls (finally) show Biden's approval ratings are on the rise, we take a look at what it could mean heading into the mid-terms in November. Meanwhile, Elon Musk has provided reporters with a few vague ideas of what he plans to do with Twitter... putting him into a unique position in terms of political perception and leanings. Then, shifting our attention to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, world leaders...
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With Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, controversy ensues over issues of transparency and freedom of speech, and whether the platform can improve under Musk's leadership. This week, the White House announced that Vice President Kamala Harris has tested positive for COVID-19, which may be the least of her problems based on a new book that reportedly reveals tensions between she and other members of the Biden Administration, including the President. We also look at the current situation involving statements this week by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley and Secretary of...
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As Ukrainian officials say the "Battle of Donbas" has begun, we look at how one controversial Russian cleric has urged for "holy war" as the conflict in Ukraine wears on. This week, news that record numbers of retirees are fleeing to countries like Portugal is making headlines amidst reports about economic woes around the world, and news about the latest strain of the coronavirus sweeping the United States. That, in addition to the unsurprising news that Alex Jones' INFOWARS company has filed for bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have now said that their fears about battle in...
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This week, we analyze Elon Musk's new influence on social media giant Twitter, and the company's issue with bots posing as users. Former President Donald Trump is back in the news for his recent controversial endorsement of television doctor Mehmet Oz in his Senate bid in Pennsylvania, which has evoked ire from conservatives. Meanwhile, as the situation in Ukraine remains at a standstill for now, what do things look like within Russia, where Vladimir Putin appears to still be suffering from delusions of grandeur and victory? Then we turn our attention to the controversy surrounding Elon Musk's...
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In this episode, we are joined by YouTube documentarian and essayist Peter Coffin for a philosophical and economically-minded discussion about cancel culture. Earlier this week, much of the world awakened to horrifying images out of Ukraine which appear to show the bodies of civilians who were killed by Russian forces, who are now steadily retreating from the embattled country. The images prompted U.S. President Joe Biden to double down on his war crime accusations against Vladimir Putin, and now many are asking whether the Russian leader will be made to stand trial for the atrocities. Then,...
info_outlineAs we kick off 2022, we reflect on the dystopian themes of the 1973 film "Soylent Green" as we look at why recent polls show one thing that people across the political spectrum agree on: that Democracy appears to be in peril.
Happy New Year... as we kick off another revolution around the Sun, this week we stop to take a look at the world of 2022, and how it was envisioned in a dystopian portrayal in 1973 where synthetic foods, climate change, overpopulation, and a host of other issues had become a reality. We ask how close we are to mirroring what the film portrayed, as we reflect on a recent poll that found a majority of Americans are concerned about Democracy. Understanding the real reasons why is a bit more complex, which we attempt to resolve in our analysis this week on Middle Theory.
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DOLLARS FOR DONUTS
A special thank you to those who donated to the podcast this week:
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SHOW NOTES
- SILENT NIGHT: 40.5% Of People Have No Symptoms At All...
- Schools close doors again... CNN shutters offices... Restaurants anxious...
- 'SNL' struggles without crowd, music, most of cast after outbreak
- NY gov adding booster to 'fully vaxxed'
- MANCHIN ON: Manchin kills Build Back Better: 'No'
- PRESIDENTIALISM: Charlamagne Tha God, Harris butt heads over 'real president' is
- CHRISTMAS CUTS: Candy cane shortage
- Supply-Chain Mess Threatens Holidays
- Sky-High Lumber Prices Back
- PREDICTIONS: 10 anonymous media execs predict next year's industry-shaking events
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