Art of the Deal | 06.19.26.
Middle Theory
This week, an interim deal that aims to end further escalations in the U.S.-Israel war with Iran has been reached, but questions about its efficacy have left experts unconvinced—is the U.S. really any closer to bringing the conflict to an end? President Donald Trump's UFC birthday bash at the White House has come and gone, and with it, an entirely new rash of questions and controversies has arisen. While the event was seemingly presented in an effort to show the tirelessness of the U.S. commander in chief, that's not exactly the impression it left with many of us. We also look at...
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Patriotic Gifts for Grifts | 06.06.26.
Middle Theory
As America barrels toward its 250th birthday, the line between national celebration and presidential spectacle is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish. This week, from proposals involving commemorative currency and passport imagery to plans for a high-profile birthday event on the National Mall, much of the political conversation has focused on the growing perception that the nation’s milestone anniversary is being reshaped around the image of one man: Donald J. Trump. In our analysis, after looking at recent primary elections across six states, and ongoing debates over...
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Memorial Day Mayhem | 05.24.26.
Middle Theory
This week, we look at controversy surrounding a proposed U.S.-Iran agreement and divisions over Middle East policy, and a startling Memorial Day weekend shooting near the White House. We lead off with a Memorial Day dedication honoring the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who died in service to the nation, before turning to a turbulent mix of foreign policy and domestic security headlines. Much of the international focus centers on mounting controversy surrounding an emerging U.S.-Iran agreement, which reports suggest could temporarily ease tensions in the Strait of Hormuz while...
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High Court Controversy | 05.17.26.
Middle Theory
This week, CIA controversies and a growing debate over voting rights in America loom, as critics warn that recent Supreme Court rulings, redistricting battles, and efforts to weaken key provisions of the Voting Rights Act could significantly reshape political representation. This week, we dive into a whirlwind of controversies surrounding the U.S. Intelligence Community, beginning with explosive claims that the CIA allegedly removed JFK and MKULTRA files from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence—claims quickly denied by ODNI officials, who called reports of a federal...
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State of War | 05.09.26.
Middle Theory
This week, mounting political pressure in Washington has placed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth under scrutiny amid congressional hearings on the war and a historic defense budget request. Thousands of commercial sailors remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate, leaving more than 800 vessels effectively immobilized in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes. Crews are facing deteriorating conditions after weeks at sea, with dwindling food, water, and medical supplies, while drone activity and missile strikes...
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Chaos at the Correspondents' Dinner | 04.27.26.
Middle Theory
This week, a shocking turn of events at the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner plunged one of Washington’s most high-profile gatherings into chaos, giving rise to the latest round of conspiracy theories about the Trump Administration. Following a concerning event involving a shooter at the White House Correspondents' Dinner over the weekend, questions quickly emerged about security protocols, with reports suggesting the event lacked the highest level of protection despite the presence of senior officials and members of the press. As details surfaced about the alleged...
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The Grand Dark Conspiracy | 04.24.26.
Middle Theory
This week, a new conspiracy theory has gripped the United States involving a wave of mysterious deaths and disappearances, highlighting deeper, more concerning issues on the minds and hearts of many Americans. The tragic death by suicide of a controversial media personality in Colorado has amplified existing theories that have now been circulating for weeks, involving mysterious deaths of former U.S. officials, scientists, and others who had access to our nation's most secretive technologies. However, as the web of conspiracy now extends beyond government officials and scientists to...
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Holy Warriors | 04.14.26.
Middle Theory
A wave of controversy has erupted around President Trump after he posted an AI-generated image appearing to depict him as Jesus, drawing sharp backlash from religious leaders, political commentators, and even segments of his own base. This week, critics across the spectrum, including prominent clergy and conservative voices, have condemned President Trump's recent post as blasphemous, while tensions escalated further after public exchanges with Pope Leo over the Iran war. The episode has fed into a broader narrative of concern about the president’s recent public behavior, with some...
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Welcome to the Golden Age | 04.10.26.
Middle Theory
This week, a series of inflammatory social media posts by U.S. President Donald Trump have many Americans, and even the president's former supporters, questioning whether he is of sound mind and fit for office. In a striking Easter Sunday message to his followers, President Trump alarmed even many of his supporters with an expletive-laden threat against Iran. Just two days later, Trump followed his Easter tirade with posts that reached a new level of dangerous rhetoric, claiming that an “entire civilization” would end if a deal could not be reached with Iran. Pundits, politicians,...
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Weaponized Unpredictability | 04.02.26.
Middle Theory
This week, mixed messaging over the ongoing war in the Middle East continues, as President Donald Trump engages in "weaponized unpredictability" in advance of a possible ground invasion of Iran. Our investigations kick off this week with the odd story of a mysterious new "numbers station" that began broadcasting shortly after the Iran war began, and the question over who has been trying to jam its transmissions. We then look at ongoing upsets in Washington that include the ousting of (now former) Attorney General Pam Bondi, before shifting our attention over to the question of President...
info_outlineWith Russian forces meeting stronger resistance from Ukraine than expected, we look at recent anti-war protests in Russia, and possible motives driving Putin's decision to invade the country.
This week, the United States and other countries make the difficult move toward banning oil imported from Russia, a decision which leaves open both the necessity for reliance on the Middle East, but also the prospect of returning to oil production at home. Elsewhere, with the war in Ukraine leaving the Russian military several thousand fewer in numbers, some officials are now weighing the possibility that Russia's invasion may not have its intended result... but more importantly, what are the possible factors driving Putin's choice in proceeding with the now very costly move? We explore all these questions, and much more, this week on Middle Theory.
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SHOW NOTES
- OIL: Oil Traders Bet Prices Will Pass $200 a Barrel This Month
- US crude oil briefly tops $130 a barrel, 13-year high on possible Western ban of Russian oil
- MUSK: Elon Musk calls for more oil and gas production 'immediately' amid Russian invasion
- NUKES: Blinken says Ukraine sanctions on Russia not linked with Iran nuclear talks
- CONCERNS: 'Grave concern' as Ukraine Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant under Russian orders
- Russian forces switch off mobile networks and internet at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, IAEA says
- LOSERS: Russian forces are 'decimated' says top UK general
- LOSSES: Russia has lost 1,000 troops-a-day to ferocious Ukrainians in big blow to Putin
- PROTESTS: More than 4,500 antiwar protesters arrested in one day in Russia, group says
- PROBLEMS: For Average Russians, Western Sanctions Over Ukraine War Begin to Bite
- CANCER CLAIM: Vladimir Putin 'dying in agony from terminal cancer', say sources
- CHINA: China Warns US Against Forming Pacific NATO and Backing Taiwan
- China upholds its relationship with Russia, says negotiations needed to solve Ukraine conflict
- WEST IS BEST: Who's the Imperialist Now?
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