Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, host J.G. Michael speaks with Nathan Taylor, a representative of the Election Truth Alliance (ETA), about controversial claims regarding vulnerabilities in U.S. election systems and the group’s ongoing efforts to investigate potential irregularities in recent elections. Taylor explains the Election Truth Alliance’s stated mission: conducting nonpartisan investigations into the integrity of American voting infrastructure. Drawing on election forensics methods, public records, field research, and statistical analysis, ETA says it is examining whether existing voting systems and administrative processes are adequately safeguarding the democratic process. During the conversation, Taylor discusses findings the group says raise questions about election infrastructure and data integrity in several states. In Florida, ETA has examined voter rolls, ballot custody logs, and turnout data in places like St. Lucie County, where the organization claims to have identified unusual turnout figures and discrepancies between votes cast and registered voters. The group has also reviewed historical concerns about cybersecurity threats to election systems, including reports of malware activity in Florida counties during the 2016 election cycle. The discussion also turns to Pennsylvania, where ETA has conducted statistical analyses of voting patterns across multiple counties and says it has identified anomalies that warrant further scrutiny. Taylor explains that the organization has pursued legal action related to voting system reliability and describes issues such as ballot-scanner failures reported in Cambria County during the 2024 election. Throughout the interview, Taylor emphasizes that ETA frames its work as independent of partisan politics, arguing that election transparency and verifiable vote counts should be priorities regardless of which party benefits. At the same time, the group’s findings and interpretations remain controversial and are part of a broader national debate over election security, voting technology, and public trust in democratic institutions. J.G. Michael presses Taylor on the methodology behind ETA’s analyses, the evidence supporting their claims, and how critics view these investigations. The result is a probing discussion about election forensics, statistical anomaly detection, cybersecurity concerns surrounding voting infrastructure, and the broader challenge of maintaining public confidence in U.S. elections. Whether one views the Election Truth Alliance’s work as an important call for greater transparency or as part of a contentious debate over election integrity claims, this conversation explores the arguments, evidence, and questions at the center of the controversy.

Recorded 4-2-2026 👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, returning guest James M. Dorsey joins us to discuss the Iran War one month on and its potential consequences for the United States, Europe, the Gulf States, Israel, and Iran itself. Reflecting on the conflict, Dorsey argues bluntly: “This was unnecessary and a huge mistake, for which everybody is going to pay a heavy price.” We begin with Donald Trump’s latest speech addressing the war before broadening the conversation to the geopolitical fallout of the conflict. Dorsey explains why the war risks further destabilizing the Middle East, warning that tensions between Iran and the Gulf States could worsen dramatically while leaving all parties worse off. The conversation also explores the long and troubled history of U.S.–Iran relations, including the legacy of the Iran–Iraq War and U.S. support for Saddam Hussein during that conflict, even as his regime deployed nerve gas on the battlefield. Understanding that history, Dorsey argues, is essential for grasping the deep mistrust that continues to shape the current crisis. We also discuss the surprising intervention of prominent neoconservative thinker Robert Kagan, whose article “America Has Become a Rogue Superpower” challenges assumptions about the hawkish foreign policy establishment. Finally, we examine the role of the Pentagon under Pete Hegseth, including concerns about religious rhetoric and ideological overtones surrounding the war effort. All that and much more on this edition of Parallax Views.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ In this explosive edition of Parallax Views, host J.G. Michael is joined by former CIA analyst and counterterrorism official Larry C. Johnson of the Sonar21 blog to discuss the rapidly escalating U.S.–Iran war and why Johnson believes the Trump administration’s public messaging about peace negotiations is deeply misleading. Drawing on his recent article “Is Trump Serious About Negotiations with Iran?”, Johnson argues that claims of imminent diplomacy with Tehran should be treated with extreme skepticism. In fact, he bluntly warns listeners: “Don’t believe ’em — they’re lying.” According to Johnson, statements about ceasefires or talks may be intended to calm markets and suppress oil prices rather than signal genuine negotiations. He predicts that after markets close on Friday, the conflict could escalate dramatically. The conversation dives deep into the strategic and economic stakes of the war, including the potential for catastrophic disruption to global energy infrastructure and the risk of shutting down the Strait of Hormuz. Johnson explains why proposals to seize strategic islands in the Persian Gulf could expose U.S. forces to devastating missile, drone, and naval attacks — and why such moves might trigger a wider economic shock affecting oil, LNG, fertilizer, and even global metals supply chains. J.G. and Johnson also examine how this conflict compares to earlier U.S. wars in the Middle East. Johnson argues that the current war is even more dangerous than the Bush-era invasion of Iraq, noting that this time there has been little effort to manufacture public consent on this war of choice. Other topics explored in this wide-ranging conversation include: • The geopolitical consequences of closing the Strait of Hormuz and what it means for the global oil market • A bit on Kharg Island, a significant Iranian oil export hub • The potential economic ripple effects of war on commodities like copper, uranium, and nickel • The role of Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israel lobby in shaping U.S. policy toward Iran • The resignation of Joe Kent and what it signals about internal divisions within the Trump administration • The historical roots of U.S.–Iran hostility, including Washington’s support for Saddam Hussein during the Iran–Iraq War • Why Johnson believes American troops could soon face significant casualties if escalation continues and troops on the ground are deployed. Johnson, who served as an analyst at the CIA and later as Deputy Director in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Counterterrorism, brings decades of intelligence and national security experience to his analysis of the unfolding crisis. If Johnson’s predictions are correct, the coming days could reshape not only Middle East geopolitics but also the global economy and energy system.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, historian, retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, and foreign policy critic William J. Astore joins the show to discuss what he calls the sorry state of affairs that is contemporary American foreign policy—particularly as the United States becomes increasingly entangled in a new war with Iran. Astore and J.G. Michael examine the long historical arc behind the current crisis, including the legacy of the 1953 Iranian coup d'état that overthrew Iran’s democratically elected prime minister Mohammad Mosaddegh—a pivotal moment that cemented decades of mistrust between Washington and Tehran. From there, the conversation widens into a critique of American imperial ambitions, regime-change politics, and the bipartisan foreign policy consensus that has repeatedly drawn the U.S. into conflicts across the Middle East. The discussion also explores the influence of the Israel lobby on U.S. policy toward Iran, including the role played by organizations such as American Israel Public Affairs Committee and other hardline pro-Israel advocacy groups in shaping Washington’s approach to the region. In addition, Astore and Michael analyze recent political developments inside the U.S. national security apparatus, including the resignation of Joe Kent, the former head of the National Counterterrorism Center, who stepped down in protest over the Iran conflict. They also discuss the muted response of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard—once known for her anti-interventionist rhetoric—raising questions about the limits of “antiwar” branding within the realities of power politics. All that and much more on this edition of Parallax Views.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael is joined by Dublin-based historian and guide Garvan Rushe, founder of Dublin Tour Guide. Rushe discusses his approach to bringing the history of Dublin to life for visitors—not by simply reciting dates and facts, but by telling human stories that connect people to the places they’re walking through. The conversation explores how Rushe personalizes his tours and adapts them to the interests of each group, treating tour guiding as a form of storytelling that blends history, culture, and lived experience. Along the way, they touch on some of the figures and traditions that loom large in Dublin’s past, including the legacy of the great Catholic emancipator Daniel O'Connell, the influence of Catholicism on Irish identity and public life, and the role of labor activism through working-class leader Jim Larkin. Rushe reflects on how guiding people through the city can open up conversations about Irish history in ways that feel immediate and personal, allowing visitors to see Dublin not just as a tourist destination but as a place shaped by generations of struggle, faith, culture, and everyday life. The result is a wide-ranging discussion about history, memory, and the art of helping people experience a city through the stories embedded in its streets.

Recorded 3-18-26 👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, I’m joined by journalist Eli Clifton and political scientist Ian S. Lustick to discuss their provocative The Nation article, “The Israeli Tail Wags the American Dog,” as well as their forthcoming book Israel’s Lobby: America in the Grip of a Foreign Power. We examine their central argument that recent U.S. policy—particularly the Trump administration’s war with Iran—cannot be fully understood through traditional national interest frameworks but instead reflects the outsized influence of Israel’s government and its allies within the United States. The conversation explores how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has historically sought to shape U.S. Middle East policy, including his role in advocating for the Iraq War and the current war with Iran. We also delve into Lustick’s intellectual evolution on Israel-Palestine and the lobby question, offering a reflective opening to the discussion, before turning to key case studies like the Steven Rosen espionage affair and the broader ecosystem of lobbying, campaign finance, and elite influence networks. Clifton, known for his investigative work on money in politics and foreign policy, helps unpack how these forces operate in practice. Additionally, we address the role of Christian Zionism, discussing the Israel lobby without falling into antisemitism, and how this new book builds upon—and updates—the arguments made in The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy by Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer. All that and more in this wide-ranging conversation about power, influence, and the future of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

Recorded 3-18-26 👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ In this episode of Parallax Views, retired U.S. diplomat Patrick N. Theros returns to examine what he sees as a catastrophic turning point in American foreign policy: the Trump administration’s decision to wage war with Iran. A career Foreign Service officer who served across the Middle East—including as U.S. Ambassador to Qatar and as a political advisor to U.S. Central Command—Theros brings decades of regional expertise to a sobering assessment of the conflict and its potential consequences. Theros argues that the longer the United States remains entangled in this war, the more severe the economic and geopolitical fallout will become. From his perspective, even an imperfect, face-saving exit would be preferable to a prolonged escalation. He also suggests that Trump has been influenced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in pursuing this course, raising concerns about external pressures shaping U.S. policy. In a striking reflection of the current political moment, Theros describes a “Twilight Zone” dynamic in which he finds himself agreeing—at least on this issue—with figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene. Drawing on his experience in the region, Theros challenges simplistic narratives about Iran, rejecting the idea that it is a “failing petro-state” and instead emphasizing the resilience of its revolutionary system despite decades of sanctions. The discussion also explores how distorted perceptions, the complexities of the Iranian diaspora vs. the population on the ground in Iran, and enduring currents of Orientalism continue to undermine sound U.S. policymaking. A key historical parallel in the conversation, albeit only briefly covered, is the Iraq War and the role of controversial exile figure Ahmed Chalabi. Theros recounts meeting Chalabi in Jordan and coming away deeply skeptical of him—a judgment that history would largely vindicate. Chalabi, later convicted of bank fraud in Jordan and widely criticized as a fabricator of intelligence, played a central role in promoting false claims about weapons of mass destruction that helped justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Many critics would later describe him as a “conman” who misled policymakers and the public in the run-up to war. Theros believes something similar may be at play with the hoisting up of Reza Pahlavi, Iran's exiled monarchic son, as a possible "transitional" figure/leader of a post-Islamic Republic Iran. The episode also offers a comparative analysis of the Iraq and Iran wars. While both conflicts are shaped by flawed assumptions and ideological pressures, Theros argues that the current Iran war may be even more dangerous. The Bush administration, however misguided, at least operated with a defined (if deeply flawed) strategic framework for regime change in Iraq. By contrast, the present conflict appears to lack any coherent long-term plan, increasing the risks of escalation, economic disruption, and unintended consequences across the region. All this and more on the latest edition of Parallax Views.

Recorded 3-15-2026 👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, returning guest Wahid Azal—an independent scholar of Islamic esotericism, Sufi mystic, and founder of the Fatimiya Sufi Order—joins us to unpack the rapidly escalating Iran War and its potentially seismic consequences for the global economy and geopolitical order. Azal, a multilingual scholar educated in the United States and Australia who specializes in Islamic mystical and occult traditions, offers a deeply heterodox perspective shaped by both spiritual insight and geopolitical analysis. At the center of our conversation is his stark warning: “Iran has got a loaded gun to the head of the global economy, standing in the Strait of Hormuz.” We explore what this means in practical terms, as Iran has effectively rendered the Strait of Hormuz—through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply flows—functionally constrained, even absent a formal closure. With oil prices already spiking in the wake of the conflict, the implications for global markets, energy security, and everyday life are profound. From there, we delve into why Azal believes Iran holds a strategic upper hand in the conflict. He argues that the decentralized and networked nature of the Iranian state—particularly its military and security apparatus—makes any attempt at “decapitation futile, complicating conventional U.S. and Israeli war doctrines. As such the Ayatollah's assassination have not been able to topple the Islamic Republic and the IRGC remains in tact. We also examine how economic chokepoints give Iran tools that extend far beyond traditional battlefield metrics and any attempt to repeat the 1953 coup. The conversation also takes a critical turn toward diaspora politics. Azal challenges what he sees as the largely uncritical support for war among segments of the Persian diaspora, arguing that these voices often fail to represent the realities and sentiments of Iranians داخل ایران (inside Iran). Relatedly, we discuss what he calls the “mirage of monarchical salvation” surrounding Reza Pahlavi, and why he views such narratives as detached from the political complexities on the ground. Importantly, Azal outlines a position that resists easy categorization: while he expresses support for Iran’s women’s rights and democratic movements, he simultaneously defends the Islamic Republic against what he sees as an aggressive war waged by the United States and Israel. This tension—between internal critique and external opposition—forms a key throughline of the discussion. All this and much more in a wide-ranging, provocative conversation that challenges conventional narratives about Iran, war, and the global system.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, I’m joined by historian and political analyst Michael F. Duggan for a wide-ranging discussion on realism in international relations, the legacy of George Kennan, and the emerging multipolar world order. We begin with a deep dive into the thought of Cold War strategist George Kennan. Duggan explains what “realism” actually means in the context of foreign policy and why Kennan’s ideas are frequently misunderstood or oversimplified. We discuss Kennan’s skepticism toward ideological crusades in foreign policy, his emphasis on historical and cultural understanding in diplomacy, and the ways in which his outlook reflected a certain elitism that remains controversial today. At the same time, Duggan argues that Kennan remains an indispensable thinker for understanding the limits of power and the dangers of moralistic or utopian approaches to global politics. From there, the conversation turns to Duggan’s argument that the era of American global primacy is drawing to a close. Drawing on his article “Realism and Regionalism: The United States in a Multipolar World,” Duggan outlines his case for a shift toward what he calls moderate realism and a strategic reorientation in which the United States consolidates its role as a regional power centered on North America rather than attempting to maintain global hegemony. We also discuss Duggan’s critique of the ideological consensus that has dominated U.S. foreign policy since the end of the Cold War, including both neoconservative and liberal interventionist approaches, and why he believes they have contributed to imperial overstretch. In the latter portion of the conversation, we examine Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent speech at Davos calling for a new role for “middle powers” in global politics. Duggan analyzes Carney’s proposal for greater strategic autonomy among mid-sized nations and explores whether coalitions of middle powers could realistically balance the influence of larger states in an increasingly multipolar system. All that and more in this conversation about realism, strategy, and the shifting architecture of global power.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, returning guest Jon Hoffman, a research fellow in defense and foreign policy at the Cato Institute specializing in U.S. Middle East policy and political Islam, joins us to discuss the Trump administration’s risky aerial campaign against Iran—dubbed Operation Epic Fury—and the troubling lack of clarity surrounding the war’s objectives. In our conversation, Jon and I examine what appears to be a startling degree of thoughtlessness behind this preemptive war. While the U.S. has already killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Republic itself remains intact, and the broader strategic goalposts seem to shift by the day. Pete Hegseth, the Trump administration’s Pentagon chief, insists this is not a regime-change war, while Donald Trump simultaneously signals that he intends to play a role in determining Iran’s future leadership. The result: mixed signals, strategic ambiguity, and no clear exit strategy or endgame. At one point in the discussion Jon remarks, “We’ve seen this movie before.” The line captures a central theme of our conversation: the sense that the United States is once again embarking on a war whose consequences are poorly understood and whose goals are constantly shifting. From the quagmire of the Vietnam War to the long and costly interventions in the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan, and the destabilizing aftermath of the 2011 NATO intervention in Libya, recent history offers numerous examples of military campaigns launched with confidence but ending in chaos, instability, or strategic failure. Jon warns that nobody really knows what happens next—and he suspects the administration doesn’t either. We discuss the many potential consequences of this conflict: a massive refugee crisis, further polarization within the United States, terrorist blowback and radicalization, rising gas prices, and broader regional instability. We also examine how the war was launched without congressional approval and why United States Congress has thus far failed to meaningfully challenge the executive branch’s decision to initiate hostilities. Along the way we explore troubling precedents already emerging in the prosecution of the war—including the destruction of an Iranian ship in international waters—and how the preemptive nature of the campaign risks reinforcing global perceptions of the United States as a rogue state. We also discuss the role of the Israel lobby, a fossilized foreign policy establishment still obsessed with maintaining U.S. primacy, and the unusual coalition—ranging from libertarians and leftists to Resistance liberals neoconservatives like Bill Kristol—that has emerged in opposition to Trump’s conduct of the war. Other topics include comparisons between Israel’s war in Gaza and Operation Epic Fury, the shaky legal and moral foundations of the conflict (including Karoline Leavitt’s vibes-based claim that “President Trump felt there was an imminent threat”), the absence of a clear casus belli, and the historical lesson that bombing populations rarely liberates them from authoritarian regimes. The bottom line? A massive geopolitical gamble has been taken—and no one knows where it leads next.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, returning for his monthly visit, journalist and geopolitical analyst James M. Dorsey of The Turbulent World joins us to unpack what the escalating Iran war means—and what it reveals about Donald Trump’s muscular foreign policy doctrine. At the heart of our conversation is a striking reality: Tehran may be the first major state actor to flatly refuse Trump’s pressure tactics. As Dorsey explains, Trump has repeatedly relied on coercive threats and brinkmanship to extract varying degrees of compliance from adversaries and allies alike. Iran, however, has effectively said “no.” Whether one supports or opposes the Islamic Republic, Dorsey argues this moment is geopolitically significant because it directly tests the credibility of Trump’s “might-is-right” approach. Drawing on his latest analysis, Dorsey contends that Iran gambled Washington would prefer a limited strike rather than risk a prolonged regional conflict—a bet that may have been a miscalculation but still represents an unprecedented challenge to Trump’s playbook. Even the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, he cautions, does not automatically translate into regime collapse or strategic victory. We also dig into the growing debate over who bears responsibility for the war. Responding to claims amplified in some reporting that Gulf states pushed events toward conflict, Dorsey urges listeners to treat the “blame the Gulf” narrative with a heavy grain of salt. While Gulf monarchies remain deeply wary of Iran’s missile program and regional network of allies, he emphasizes that many of them have strong incentives to avoid a wider war that could leave their own territory and energy infrastructure exposed. The conversation explores the limits of regime change by airpower and what this war means to Washington, Tehran, and Israel. Ultimately, Dorsey suggests the real benchmark may be far narrower than public rhetoric: regime survival for Iran versus clearly defined—and achievable—objectives for the United States.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, returning guest Ori Goldberg—Israeli dissident, former academic, and Middle East analyst—joins the program to discuss the rapidly escalating U.S.–Israel war on Iran and why he believes the conflict was both avoidable and dangerous. He gives a "View from Israel" on the events we see unraveling. From his vantage point inside Israel, Goldberg characterizes the current military campaign as a war of choice and an illegal war of aggression. He argues that despite official justifications framed around security concerns and Iranian “liberation,” the underlying motivations of both Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu are more complex—and potentially at odds. A key focus of the conversation is Goldberg’s provocative claim that Trump and Netanyahu are not as aligned as commonly portrayed. While public optics suggest tight coordination, Goldberg contends that personal ambition, ego, and strategic calculation may be creating quiet fissures between Washington and Jerusalem. He suggests Trump has “succumbed to an urge to gamble” on Iran in pursuit of historical legacy, even as officials like Pete Hegseth publicly insist the conflict is not aimed at regime change—something Goldberg believes Netanyahu may view differently. The discussion also explores how the war is being perceived within Israel itself. Goldberg argues that many Israelis are operating from a distinct internal logic that blends genuine security fears with a belief that military action could help “free” Iranians. This, he says, reflects deeper ideological currents within Israeli society, including what he describes as forms of Jewish exceptionalism that shape public opinion. Beyond geopolitics, the conversation tackles sensitive but crucial distinctions between American Jewish and Israeli perspectives on Israel, emphasizing how identity, diaspora experience, and political culture diverge in important ways. Goldberg stresses that criticism of state ideology must be carefully distinguished from antisemitism, and the episode examines how debates over exceptionalism, chauvinism, and ethnonationalism play out across different communities. All that and much more on this edition of Parallax Views.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, returning guest Richard Silverstein of the Tikun Olam blog joins us to discuss his latest article, “Iran: Trump’s War of Annihilation.” Silverstein argues that Donald Trump has embarked on a dangerously escalatory military campaign against Iran, undertaken in close coordination with Benjamin Netanyahu, that risks massive civilian casualties, regional destabilization, and long-term blowback. In this conversation, Silverstein contends that the strategy of decapitating Iranian leadership—including the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—rests on flawed assumptions drawn from past U.S. interventions in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. Rather than producing regime collapse and democratic transition, he warns, such actions historically create power vacuums, fuel insurgencies, and entrench nationalist resistance. The discussion turns to domestic politics in both the United States and Israel, where Silverstein suggests the war may function as a political distraction for embattled leaders facing declining approval ratings and mounting controversies. He cites polling data indicating significant American opposition to war with Iran and explores what he sees as shifting public opinion in the U.S.—particularly among younger Americans—regarding Israel and Palestine. We'll also discuss what this means long-term for the U.S./Israel as well as Iran and the region as a whole, whether the Islamic Republic can survive this, and even delve into what this means for the Gulf state monarchies. Richard also discusses some of his recent articles on issues like the Israeli use of U.S. thermobaric weapons that are said to "vaporize" targets.

REPLAY OF AN EPISODE OF PARALLAX VIEWS FROM EARLIER THIS MONTH DUE TO A FAMILY CRISIS; PARALLAX VIEWS WILL BE BACK TO REGULAR SCHEDULE NEXT WEEK. MY APOLOGIES 👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, returning guest James M. Dorsey, independent journalist and scholar at The Turbulent World Substack, breaks down the latest developments shaping the Middle East. We start with the high-stakes U.S.-Iran talks, where Dorsey explains the deep mistrust between Washington and Tehran, the obstacles to a deal, and why, despite tensions, he doubts Trump seeks a full-scale war. We explore what military action against Iran could mean for the Gulf States, Turkey, and the Caucasus, and the broader question of regional stability. Next, we analyze Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, D.C., his fraught relationship with Trump, and what’s at stake politically for Israel as elections approach. Dorsey explains what Netanyahu likely seeks from the former president on Iran and why mutual distrust may be defining their interactions. In the latter half, we dive into the rising rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, examining shifts in Saudi regional strategy, the UAE’s backing of militias and separatists, and the potential dangers this poses across North Africa, especially in Sudan. We also discuss the UAE’s growing closeness with Israel, Qatar’s positioning in the Saudi-UAE rivalry, and what these dynamics reveal about the future of Middle East geopolitics. All that and more on this edition of Parallax Views.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, host J.G. Michael speaks with international relations expert Dr. Arta Moeini of the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy about the United States being on the brink of war with Iran. Moeini explains how we arrived at this dangerous moment and why escalating confrontation would be bad news for the U.S., Iran, Donald Trump’s presidency, and even Israel in the long run. The conversation examines how hardliners in both Washington and Tehran feed off one another, creating a volatile cycle of escalation. Moeini warns that any U.S. strike could trigger a powerful “rally around the flag” effect inside Iran that would marginalize moderates who oppose war. The discussion also explores Trump’s instincts on Iran, how his approach differs from traditional neoconservative thinking, and why sustained pressure campaigns can convince targeted states that they face an existential threat requiring a do-or-die response. The picture that emerges is stark: a grim geopolitical moment where miscalculation could have far-reaching consequences.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael speaks with Reason journalist Matthew Petti about his reporting on Jeffrey Epstein, the Epstein network, and what newly surfaced emails reveal about Epstein’s attempts to enter the surveillance and security technology world in the final years of his life. Drawing from Petti’s article “Inside Jeffrey Epstein’s Spy Industry Connections,” the conversation examines Epstein’s ties to figures such as former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, connections to Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, and the broader intersection of New York finance, global business elites, and intelligence-adjacent technology. The discussion explores why the Epstein files are unlikely to contain a single “smoking gun,” instead reflecting networks built on influence, ambiguity, and deniability that leave behind oblique references rather than clear paper trails. Petti also addresses the challenges of reporting on Epstein in an environment shaped by misinformation and why dismissing the entire Epstein story as moral panic — as some commentators have done — risks overlooking the real lessons about power, access, and elite networks revealed by the case. This episode focuses on separating reporting from speculation while examining what the Epstein story can still teach us about wealth, influence, surveillance technology, and the global connections that defined Epstein’s orbit.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, returning guest James M. Dorsey, independent journalist and scholar at The Turbulent World Substack, breaks down the latest developments shaping the Middle East. We start with the high-stakes U.S.-Iran talks, where Dorsey explains the deep mistrust between Washington and Tehran, the obstacles to a deal, and why, despite tensions, he doubts Trump seeks a full-scale war. We explore what military action against Iran could mean for the Gulf States, Turkey, and the Caucasus, and the broader question of regional stability. Next, we analyze Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, D.C., his fraught relationship with Trump, and what’s at stake politically for Israel as elections approach. Dorsey explains what Netanyahu likely seeks from the former president on Iran and why mutual distrust may be defining their interactions. In the latter half, we dive into the rising rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, examining shifts in Saudi regional strategy, the UAE’s backing of militias and separatists, and the potential dangers this poses across North Africa, especially in Sudan. We also discuss the UAE’s growing closeness with Israel, Qatar’s positioning in the Saudi-UAE rivalry, and what these dynamics reveal about the future of Middle East geopolitics. All that and more on this edition of Parallax Views.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael speaks with Jordan Liz — Associate Professor of Philosophy at San José State University and a contributor to Common Dreams — about ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), the Department of Homeland Security, and why Liz argues that the “Abolish ICE” movement represents not a radical departure but a necessary response to the post-9/11 transformation of American governance. Liz contends that ICE is not a longstanding institution but a product of the Bush administration’s Global War on Terror, created alongside DHS in an atmosphere shaped by fear, threat inflation, and national security panic. Rather than emerging as a neutral immigration enforcement body, Liz argues that ICE was embedded from the beginning within a broader security framework that treated immigration through the lens of counterterrorism — effectively recasting migrants as potential internal threats. This, he claims, helped fuel the militarization of policing and laid the groundwork for an expansive surveillance apparatus whose implications extend far beyond immigration policy. Drawing on arguments developed in his Common Dreams writing, Liz explains why he believes ICE cannot be meaningfully reformed. In essays such as “Abolish ICE — and DHS Too,” he argues that the very concept of “homeland security” fused immigration enforcement with civilizational and cultural anxieties about national identity, encouraging policies that frame immigrants as existential dangers to the nation’s “way of life.” In his view, this logic incentivizes perpetual expansion of enforcement powers, increased funding, and the normalization of aggressive tactics justified by ever-inflated threats. The conversation also explores Liz’s critique of DHS as an institution born from the War on Terror’s security paradigm. According to Liz, DHS consolidated vast surveillance and enforcement powers under a single umbrella, contributing to what he sees as the growth of a domestic security state capable of undermining civil liberties. His writing frequently warns that technologies such as biometric identification, data integration, and algorithmic policing expand ICE’s reach not only over undocumented migrants but over citizens as well, disproportionately affecting people of color and reshaping the boundaries of belonging in American political life. Liz connects these concerns to his broader philosophical work on race and the “politics of belonging,” arguing that immigration enforcement reflects deeper questions about who is recognized as fully American and who remains perpetually suspect. The discussion examines how narratives of cultural threat and national decline shape immigration debates, and how these narratives intersect with policy decisions, surveillance practices, and enforcement priorities. In addition, the episode addresses controversies surrounding ICE since its early years, the role of protest and public witnessing in challenging state power, and the human consequences of immigration enforcement, including the killings of Alex Pretti and Rene Good. Ultimately, the conversation grapples with a larger question: whether the post-9/11 security architecture has pushed the United States toward what critics describe as “Police State USA,” and what alternatives might exist for immigration policy outside the framework of national security.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael is joined by Joseph Sciortino and Grant Gallagher of The Rabble Report to examine the World Economic Forum (WEF), Trump, and the shifting global order through the lens of anti-politics — the growing antagonism between society and the political sphere. The conversation explores the ongoing crisis of faith in institutions and how political actors increasingly act as scavengers, exploiting anti-political sentiment for power. From there, the discussion unpacks the complex relationship between anti-politics and populism, clarifying how the two overlap while remaining distinct phenomena shaping contemporary political discourse. The episode then turns to the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where leaders framed the apparent decline of the U.S.-led liberal international order in terms of “national interest,” marking a notable rhetorical shift among European elites. J.G., Joseph, and Grant analyze Mark Carney’s remarks on the role of Middle Powers, debate how much of this new positioning reflects genuine geopolitical change versus political theater and consider whether Europe and Canada are truly capable of decoupling from the United States. What does relative U.S. decline actually mean for the future of global hegemony? Is the liberal order ending; or merely transforming under new pressures and dependencies? The conversation also examines how populist rhetoric surfaced “invisibly” at Davos itself, the challenges facing European leadership, and how these dynamics connect back to domestic U.S. politics, including ICE, the specter of the Middle American Radicals (MARs), and much more.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, host J.G. Michael is joined by film analyst Albert Lanier of the Final Cut Substack newsletter and podcast for an in-depth conversation on the Oscars, awards season as we approach the 98th Annual Academy Awards, and what the awards season and ceremony reveal about the film industry today. Moving beyond the usual debates over winners and snubs, the discussion explores how the Oscars function not just as a celebration of art, but as a crucial economic engine for Hollywood — shaping careers, influencing distribution, and sustaining the business of filmmaking itself. J.G. and Albert examine how the Oscars have evolved in the years since Parasite’s historic Best Picture win, with the Academy increasingly embracing international cinema and positioning itself as a global counterbalance to an era dominated by franchise filmmaking and MCU-style blockbusters. The episode also offers a deep dive into this year’s Best Picture nominees — including Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, and Train Dreams — with particular attention paid to the political dimensions of Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another and the acclaimed The Secret Agent, which Albert argues is the best film of the year. The conversation also looks at the strong showing for horror at this year’s Oscars, from multiple nominations for Ryan Coogler’s Sinners to recognition for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Amy Madigan’s Best Supporting Actress nomination for Zack Cregger’s Weapons. Along the way, Albert shares his experiences attending formal Oscar viewing events, reflects on Roger Ebert’s relationship to the Academy Awards, and explains why he approaches nominations and outcomes without cynicism or outrage — seeing the Oscars instead as a fascinating snapshot of where cinema and culture intersect at a given moment. If you’re interested in film criticism, awards season analysis, the politics of cinema, and the future of Hollywood in a globalized film landscape, this episode offers a thoughtful and engaging look at what the Oscars really mean.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ In this urgent, unflinching conversation, former U.S. Marine infantryman and seasoned policy voice James R. Webb — son of Senator Jim Webb, ex-Military Legislative Assistant to Rand Paul, and writer for Responsible Statecraft and Military Times — breaks down the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis and why it terrifies him as a veteran and citizen. Pretti’s death on January 24, 2026 — captured on video amid clashes between Customs and Border Protection agents and bystanders — has ignited national outrage after footage and witness accounts surfaced that contradict official claims that he was an armed threat. The killing, which followed the controversial ICE operation “Operation Metro Surge” and another fatal federal shooting in the city, has spurred protests and legal challenges and raised pressing questions about force, civil liberties, and federal overreach. James contextualizes Pretti’s death through his own combat experience, calling it “horrifying” and “disgusting,” and explores how this moment reflects deeper fault lines in American politics and institutions. We discuss Marjorie Taylor Greene’s response, which focused on government overreach and political division; the dark fruits of Steve Bannon’s divisive media strategy; and Trump’s post-2024 trajectory, including his rhetoric about sidelining elections and fears of authoritarian maneuvering. James also shares personal insights from his time working with Rand Paul on confronting Trump’s policy impulses, and why someone who voted for Trump twice still views the current direction with alarm. Other topics include: Why the Pretti killing isn’t just a tragedy but a political flashpoint in immigration enforcement and civil rights. The implications of ICE and CBP overreach on American democracy and community trust. Trump’s strained relations with European allies and attacks on GOP figures like Thomas Massie. How veterans’ service shapes perceptions of security, authority, and the rule of law. Essential listening for anyone trying to understand what the Pretti case reveals about law enforcement, executive power, political polarization, and the soul of the republic.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, Ambassador Patrick Theros offers a seasoned diplomat’s assessment of the first year of Donald Trump’s second presidency. The conversation is anchored in Theros’ recent National Herald column, “Twenty Twenty-Five: What I Got Right, What I Got Wrong, and Why 2026 Looks Worse,” in which he reflects on his expectations for the administration and how rapidly events have outpaced them. Theros breaks down what he underestimated, what surprised him, and why the speed and scale of developments in Trump’s second term have been so destabilizing. We examine Trump’s foreign and domestic policy record, including ICE and the killing of Alex Pretti, the administration’s contradictory impulses, and whether Trump is actively governing or allowing loyalists and ideological actors to run policy in his absence. Theros argues that Trump’s inability to manage multiple crises simultaneously has produced dangerous incoherence. The discussion ranges widely across geopolitics and political economy: Gaza and the broader Middle East, Trump’s relationship with Netanyahu, the erosion of U.S. soft power, and how Trump’s National Security Strategy places new risks on Gulf States—raising doubts about an 85-year partnership with the United States. Theros explains why “might makes right” is a recipe for bad statecraft, how hubris historically brings dominant powers down, and why the current moment resembles the end of the liberal, U.S.-led international order. We also explore Europe as a potential model for the United States, including a detailed discussion of VAT taxation and European-style healthcare, as well as Europe’s response to Trump’s posturing over Greenland. Additional topics include the return of multipolarity and balance-of-power geopolitics, the revival of spheres of influence, the Athenians’ folly as a historical lesson, and why the Russo-Ukraine war is likely to grind on. Theros weighs in on the potential rise of India as a hemispheric power, Trump’s view of Russia, China’s current geopolitical position, and the isolationist impulses now visible in both Washington and Beijing. We also discuss Trump’s approach to Latin America, the global loss of trust in the United States, and the danger posed by the administration’s attacks on universities and institutional capacity. The episode concludes with an extended discussion of Theros’ recent essay “Of Whales and Windmills,” examining American industrial policy, shipbuilding, and the myth of U.S. industrial self-sufficiency—along with why Trump cannot restore mid-20th-century industrial dominance by sheer political will. The article takes aim at Trump's "Restoring America's Maritime Dominance" Executive Order. We also talk about tariffs and other economic policies and the contradictions of Trump's economic policies. We'll also discuss the need to break up the defense industry monopolies and other related issues. All this, and much more, on the latest edition of Parallax Views.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, libertarian gadfly Jim Bovard returns to dissect the federal killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and its disturbing parallels to the infamous Ruby Ridge standoff. Bovard, author of ten books including Public Policy Hooligan, Attention Deficit Democracy, The Bush Betrayal, and Lost Rights: The Destruction of American Liberty, examines how federal law enforcement, including ICE, Border Patrol, and the FBI, have historically operated under preemptive “Rules of Engagement” that sanction the use of deadly force against American citizens. He traces the echoes of Ruby Ridge, where the Weaver family was ambushed by FBI snipers and U.S. Marshals, to the recent Minneapolis shooting, highlighting patterns of threat inflation, government cover-ups, and the erosion of civil liberties. In this episode, we discuss Alex Pretti’s killing—shot in the back multiple times despite surrendering a legally carried firearm—and the official government narrative that quickly labeled him a “domestic terrorist.” Bovard contrasts the federal and political spin surrounding Pretti with the 1992 FBI and ATF operations in Idaho, where Randy and Vicki Weaver, along with family friend Kevin Harris, were targeted under similarly aggressive rules of engagement. He details how, in both cases, federal agents preemptively used lethal force, disregarded due process, seized evidence to prevent independent investigation, and faced little accountability, despite public outcry and judicial rebukes. Bovard also examines the broader implications for civil liberties, gun rights, and freedom of speech, including how videotaping federal agents has become criminalized in practice and how political partisanship—exemplified by Trump administration officials and conservative media—can shape public acceptance of state violence. He unpacks the historical, legal, and political dimensions of these incidents, from the misrepresentation of armed threats to the systematic attempts at cover-up by the Justice Department and federal law enforcement agencies. This episode is essential listening for anyone concerned with U.S. federal law enforcement abuses, ICE and Border Patrol accountability, FBI sniper operations, government overreach, civil liberties in America, the politics of domestic terrorism labeling, and the ongoing legacy of Ruby Ridge in contemporary policing. Bovard’s insights offer a stark reminder of how federal power can be misused and why vigilance is necessary to protect individual rights against state violence.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, we’re joined by Sheldon Richman, executive editor of The Libertarian Institute and former senior editor at the Cato Institute, to unpack his provocative article “TGIF: The Trumpian ICE Age.” Richman argues that the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement reflects a larger trend of unchecked federal power and erosion of individual liberty. He frames recent actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and related agencies as emblematic of an expanding coercive state that dismisses constitutional limits and civil liberties. At the heart of our conversation is the tragic killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis ICU nurse and U.S. citizen who was fatally shot by federal Border Patrol agents during a January protest against immigration raids. Video evidence and eyewitness accounts indicate Pretti was unarmed — holding a phone and attempting to assist another person — when he was pepper-sprayed, wrestled to the ground, disarmed, and then shot multiple times; federal claims that he posed an imminent threat are widely disputed. Pretti’s death — coming just weeks after another U.S. citizen and mother of three, Renée Good, was killed in a similar context — has sparked nationwide outrage, protests, legal actions demanding preservation of evidence and accountability, and intense debate about federal overreach, use of force, and the future of civil liberties under powerful enforcement agencies. Richman situates these events within a broader critique of how executive power is exercised in the name of security and enforcement, warning that such episodes are symptomatic of structural threats to freedom rather than isolated policy mistakes.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, geopolitical analyst Deep State Kuba—a veteran of both public and private sector work and a regular guest on THIS IS REVOLUTION and GIVE THEM AN ARGUMENT w/ Ben Burgis— returns to unpack Mark Carney’s stunning speech at the Davos World Economic Forum, where Carney declared that the so-called post–Cold War “rules-based international order” was a fiction—and that it’s now dead. We dig into what that admission really means, whether the global order many Americans have taken for granted is fully unraveling under a second Trump presidency, and how to think clearly about power without collapsing realism into the lazy mantra of “might makes right.” Along the way, we explore the rising role of “middle powers,” the contradictions between MAGA’s industrial ambitions and Trump’s actual policy choices, the controversial use of ICE, the perils of state hubris, the odd mutations of 21st-century conservatism, and the broader sense of political and cultural vertigo defining the current zeitgeist. Topics include: Mark Carney at Davos and the end of the rules-based order Trump’s second presidency and global instability Middle powers and a shifting multipolar world Realism vs. “might makes right” caricatures ICE, state power, and the domestic situation in the United States MAGA, U.S. industry, and policy contradictions Conservatism’s strange new form in the 21st century and the "black is white, white is black... we're through the looking glass now" reality of the current zeitgeist

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, journalist James M. Dorsey of The Turbulent World blog returns to unpack Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” for the reconstruction of Gaza and why, despite its branding, it is not really just about Gaza — yet may still represent the only option Gaza is being offered amid total devastation and geopolitical paralysis. From there, we widen the lens to examine how this proposal fits into Trump’s broader authoritarian impulse and a growing willingness to sidestep international law, including the controversial capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and what it signals about changing norms of sovereignty and legality. We then turn to Iran, taking an in-depth look at ongoing protests, the Islamic Republic’s violent crackdown on dissent, and circumstantial evidence suggesting Mossad meddling in the unrest. The discussion expands further to Trump’s aggressive global posturing — including his claim that Greenland should belong to the United States — and how such moves reflect a rapidly shifting balance of power. Israel is also discussed, with specific attention given to Benjamin Netanyahu stating that he'd like to see Israel "taper" off U.S. aid over the course of the next decade. Additionally, we explore European resistance to Trump, a recent speech by Canada’s prime minister declaring the old “rules-based international order” more or less dead, and what it means to be entering uncharted territory as the post–Cold War world order continues to fracture.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ In this episode of Parallax Views, I’m joined once again by historian James L. Gelvin to assess the state of the Middle East in 2026. Drawing on his 2017 book The New Middle East: What Everyone Needs to Know, we examine what has changed—and what hasn’t—over the past decade. We discuss U.S. foreign policy and why the Obama administration’s Asia Pivot and partial retreat from the region failed to stabilize it, as well as the Trump administration’s erratic and contradictory Middle East policies. The conversation explores Iran, Gaza, Turkey, Israel, Iran, and Saudi Arabia; why the Saudi–Iranian “rapprochement” is better understood as a détente; the limits of sectarian explanations to understanding the Middle East and the enduring problem of Orientalism; shifting American and European public attitudes toward Israel; the spread of new conflict zones since 2017; regional powers jockeying for influence; Trump and Nixon's "Madman" Doctrine; the great risks in the Middle East today and the lessening of U.S. hegemony in the Middle East; Cold War-era offshore balancing vs. today's U.S. policies in the Middle East; where the U.S. discourse on the Middle East has failed; what role energy and economics will play in the region going forward; the impact of Trump's Venezuela operation (the abduction of Maduro) and what it means for international law, U.S. foreign policy, and the Middle East; Netanyahu's statements that Israel needs to taper itself off from U.S. assistance in the next decade; hubris, the lessons of history, and policy failures; the ascent of Al-Sharaa in Syria and the future of Syria; and much, much more.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this episode of Parallax Views, historian Alejandro Velasco—associate professor at New York University and author of Barrio Rising: Urban Popular Politics and the Making of Modern Venezuela—joins the show for an in-depth analysis of the dramatic events reshaping Venezuela and U.S.–Latin America relations. We examine the implications of the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro, the resurgence of gunboat diplomacy in Latin America under the Trump administration, and what these developments mean for Venezuela and the broader region. Velasco unpacks the idea of “Two Venezuelas”—the divide between the Venezuelan diaspora and those living inside the country—and explains how this split shapes politics, perception, and international policy. The conversation also explores key political figures, including María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and Delcy Rodríguez, who has emerged as Venezuela’s de facto leader following Maduro’s capture. Finally, Velasco analyzes the forces driving U.S. foreign policy toward Venezuela, arguing that Donald Trump’s focus on material interests like oil intersects with the more ideological agendas of figures such as Stephen Miller and Marco Rubio, creating a volatile convergence that could spell instability and conflict for Latin America in the years ahead.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, Christopher Mott of the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy joins the show to break down the Trump administration’s alleged abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the escalating fears of war with Venezuela, and what these developments signal for U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. Could Washington and Caracas be drifting toward open conflict, or is something even bigger underway beneath the surface? As the conversation unfolds, the focus widens to the changing nature of the global geopolitical order itself. Mott argues that the liberal, international rules-based order is rapidly eroding and being replaced by a multipolar world defined by spheres of influence—neither a utopia nor an apocalypse, but a reality that demands clear-eyed

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, we continue covering the explosive developments of last week with the abduction of Nicolas Maduro by the United States. Joining me is Kyle Anzalone, opinion editor at Antiwar.com and host of Conflicts of Interest and The Kyle Anzalone Show, to break down what we know so far about the operation, what remains unclear, and what it could ultimately entail for Venezuela, the region, and the United States of America. We discuss the circumstances surrounding Maduro’s kidnapping, including whether he may have been sold out by elements within his own government, as well as popular narratives pointing to Israel and oil interests as prime drivers—and why we’re skeptical of those explanations. Kyle and I also examine the broader political context: Maduro’s prior willingness to work with the Trump administration on oil, the propaganda buildup ahead of the operation (including Trump branding Maduro a “narco-terrorist”), and, most significantly, the role of Marco Rubio and South American Republicans tied to the Cuban-American exile lobby. In that light, we explore whether Venezuela is being treated as a testing ground or prelude for future U.S.-backed destabilization or regime change efforts in Cuba, the fractures this episode reveals within MAGA-world, and how war hawks have worked to cognitively infiltrate the so-called anti-interventionist movement to reorient those elements back into more hawkish sentiments.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, critical media literacy scholar Nolan Higdon of The Gaslight Gazette joins the show to unpack what is unfolding right now in Venezuela following the U.S. military’s seizure of President Nicolás Maduro. Drawing on his recent analysis, Higdon examines how familiar narratives — “narco-terrorism,” the war on drugs, and energy security — are being rapidly mobilized to normalize what amounts to an extraordinary act of regime change. Higdon breaks down how the charge of “narcoterrorism” functions less as a factual claim than as a flexible legal and media framework, one that allows U.S. policymakers to recast military intervention as law enforcement while sidestepping serious questions about international law, sovereignty, and constitutional authority. He situates this rhetoric within a longer history of U.S. interventions where criminalization replaces diplomacy and invasion is reframed as necessity. The conversation also interrogates claims that Venezuelan oil is central to U.S. energy security, with Higdon noting how negotiations and existing arrangements were previously rejected — suggesting that control, leverage, and geopolitical signaling matter more than resource access itself. From naval blockades to information management, he outlines how pressure campaigns escalate into open force while media coverage often lags behind the reality on the ground. Links: Oil, Narcoterrorism, and Regime Change by Nolan Higdon - The Gaslight Gazette

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ Replay for the holiday season (and because yours truly is having issues with his equipment): a timely episode from 2020 on Epstein with Ohio-based investigative journalist Bob Fitrakis that's relevant in lieu of the Epstein Files dropping and DropSite News' covering the Epstein connection to Iran/Contra On this edition of Parallax Views, Les Wexner, the founder of L Brands and former CEO of Victoria's Secrets, has come under scrutiny in the past year for his close association with the late billionaire pedophile "International Man of Mystery" Jeffrey Epstein. In some ways Wexner's association with the wealthy abuser can be considered the "Ohio Connection" to the sordid saga of Jeffrey Epstein. Lawyer, professor of political science, and maverick Columbus, Ohio-based journalist Dr. Robert Fitrakis joins, who has been investigating the Wexner/Epstein story since the 1990s, joins us to discuss this aspect of the Epstein scandal. Our resident Epstein correspondent in France, Marlon Ettinger, joined J.G. to co-host this episode. In this conversation we discuss: - Bob's background in journalism and how he got on the trail of the billionaire Les Wexner in Columbus, Ohio - How Epstein and Wexner met - The 1985 mob-style murder/hit carried out against Wexner's tax attorney Arthur Shapiro and "The Shapiro Murder File" - Wexner's connections to public corruption and organized crime in central Ohio - State of Ohio Inspector General David Sturtz, who went after Epstein and Wexner and referred to Epstein as Wexner's "boyfriend" - Wexner's ties to the scandalous Iran/Contra affair through the CIA-connected Southern Air Transport (SAT) - The Wexner Foundation's involvement in the selling of the Iraq War - Epstein and sexual blackmail operations; the large sums of money transferred from Wexner to Epstein; why Bob believes that Wexner is still worth looking into rather than someone who didn't know Epstein's true nature; the arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell (does she have the goods?) and much, much more.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael is joined by freelance film journalist Corey Atad, who has written for such publications as The Baffler and Defector, to break down the growing likelihood of Netflix acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery and what a Netflix–Warner Bros. merger would mean for Hollywood, media competition, and the future of cinema. The discussion examines how Netflix’s ambitions could end up reshaping the entertainment industry—often at the expense of workers, audiences, and cultural life. Atad also analyzes David Ellison’s attempted hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, a move widely seen as an effort to block a Netflix takeover. Despite positioning himself as an alternative to Netflix, Ellison—who is aligned with MAGA political networks and Silicon Valley power structures—raises serious concerns due to his erratic leadership style and behind-the-scenes dealings, including reported personal outreach to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav while actively attempting to seize control of the company. The episode further explores fears that a Paramount–Skydance merger could transform CNN into a MAGA-aligned media outlet, with Atad arguing that the deeper issue may be the accelerating collapse of cable news itself rather than partisan capture alone. A central theme of the conversation is how Netflix and streaming consolidation threaten movie theaters, which Atad frames as vital communal spaces in a time of increasing social atomization. Michael and Atad discuss how the Netflix business model, rooted in a Silicon Valley “disruptive” mindset, prioritizes scale and dominance over shared cultural experiences—placing theatrical exhibition and mid-budget filmmaking at risk. The episode concludes by arguing that neither Netflix absorbing Warner Bros. nor a Skydance takeover represents a good outcome, and that a functioning democratic state would prevent this level of media consolidation in the first place. Special attention is given to how a Netflix–Warner Bros. deal could harm Canada’s media industry, where Atad is based. In other words, this episode discusses regulation, monopoly, culture, the potential death of theaters, and what it all in the bigger picture for America and the world through a conversation about Netflix's acquiring Warner Bros. It's a doozy at around 2 hours but should interest movie and non-movie fans alike!

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael is joined by Mickey Huff, director of Project Censored, to discuss Project Censored’s State of the Free Press 2026, a landmark edition marking the 50th anniversary of the long-running media watchdog organization. The annual report offers all the news relevant to the public that the mainstream media ignored. Huff reflects on the origins of Project Censored under Sonoma State University professor Carl Jensen during the Watergate era and explores how its mission to highlight underreported stories and challenge entrenched power structures in the media remains as vital as ever. The conversation also delves into the escalating crisis of corporate news media consolidation, with special attention to concerns surrounding CNN’s potential acquisition by Paramount-Skydance and what such shifts mean for journalistic independence, public trust, and the future of a free press. In the final portion of the episode, Huff discusses his work at the Park Media Center and the Izzy Awards (named in honor of legendary independent journalist I.F. Stone) spotlighting the importance of recognizing investigative journalism that holds power accountable.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this episode of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael speaks with acclaimed journalist and author Jacob Ward, former NBC News technology correspondent and author of The Loop: How AI Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back. Ward lays out his thesis that commercial AI is quietly reshaping human decision-making—much like GPS rewired our sense of direction—by exploiting the shortcuts and biases built into our brains. We explore Ward’s early research into algorithmic influence, how his work anticipated today’s conversations around “AI psychosis,” and why the public’s psychological relationship with these systems is becoming increasingly unstable. The conversation also dives into the emerging “AI hivemind” problem: the risk that large-scale, widely adopted AI systems may compress human culture and thought into homogenized patterns, narrowing the diversity of choices, perspectives, and creative possibilities. Ward offers concrete insights on what institutions can do to safeguard human autonomy, what individuals can do to resist passive decision-outsourcing, and what the next five years of AI development might bring—both the dangers and the opportunities. A deep, challenging look at the intersection of technology, psychology, and human agency—exactly the kind of perspective you expect from Parallax Views.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this episode of Parallax Views, J. G. Michael speaks with sociologist and public intellectual Charles Derber about his urgent new book BONFIRE, a sweeping analysis of whether the United States is now committing sociocide, which Derber defines as a self-inflicted destruction of the social bonds that make collective life and democracy possible. Derber argues that the U.S. has crossed a historic tipping point. According to him, America has shifted from a merely sociopathic society marked by hyper-individualism and neoliberal competition into a sociocidal society where the foundational social bones of community, solidarity, and shared democratic norms are being burned away. From the breakdown of workplace and family ties to the isolating architecture of Big Tech, climate crisis, political violence, and the rise of Trumpist authoritarianism, Derber contends that America is waging a kind of war on itself. This descent threatens to culminate in what he calls policide, or the death of democratic politics altogether. Is America burning down its own social foundations? And if sociocide is societal suicide, what would it mean for the United States to choose life? This conversation confronts both the peril and the possibilities at one of the most dangerous junctures in American history.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael speaks with Jim Lobe, one of the foremost critical chroniclers of neoconservatism as an intellectual movement and a key analyst of the role neoconservatives played in shaping the post-9/11 era and the Iraq War. In light of the recent passing of former Vice President Dick Cheney, we explore Cheney’s legacy as a Machtpolitik figure who, while not himself a neocon, became the indispensable enabler and amplifier of neoconservative power inside the George W. Bush administration. Lobe walks us through the deeper history: the Cold War roots of the neoconservative worldview; the pivotal “Team B” exercise and its culture of threat inflation; and how those networks and habits of mind brought Cheney and the neocons into alignment. We trace neoconservatism’s evolution from its beginnings among largely Jewish intellectuals, including the early influence of Norman Podhoretz's Commentary magazine and Jewish liberal who became disullisioned with liberals and the Left, and key non-Jewish intellectuals like Jean Kilpatrick figures as well its eventual transformation into a major force inside the Republican foreign-policy establishment. The conversation examines how this ideological project culminated in the Iraq War and how the Cheney and neocon worldviews, from his embrace of the Unitary Executive theory to his anti-elite, anti-intellectual posture, helped pave the path toward today’s right-wing populism and, ultimately, Donald Trump. We discuss continuities and divergences between Trump and the neocons, including their shared skepticism of climate science, hostility to “political correctness” and "wokeness" and belief in a strong executive, as well as the question of whether Trump’s approach on Israel truly represents a break with neocon orthodoxy or if it is more posturing than anything concrete. Jim will also go into details on the key neocon figures in the Bush administration, the formation of the Project for a New American Century, the Paul Wolfowitz Doctrine, Richard Perle, Douglas Feith and the politicization of intelligence leading up the Iraq invasion, the infamous "Securing the Realm"/"Clean Break" document and its significance to understanding neoconservatism, and much, much more. All that and much more in a wide-ranging conversation that places Cheney’s legacy, the neocons, and the currents shaping today’s right in a deeper historical and political context.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael speaks with journalist and author Aaron Magid about his major new biography The Most American King, an in-depth exploration of King Abdullah II of Jordan and his quarter-century on the throne. Magid draws on more than a decade of reporting and over one hundred interviews with Jordanians, U.S. officials, and regional figures to unpack how Abdullah has maintained his rule through a combination of strategic alignment with Washington, careful political calibration at home, and the enduring stability of Hashemite monarchy amid Middle Eastern turmoil. In this conversation, Magid discusses Abdullah’s unique personal background—including his Americanized upbringing, fluency with U.S. politics and culture, and unusual pop-cultural references—and how these shaped his political style and foreign policy choices. We dive into Jordan’s pivotal role in U.S. Middle East strategy, the kingdom’s complicated position between Israel and the Palestinians, and the often-overlooked internal dynamics of Jordanian society: economic stagnation, youth frustration, corruption, tribal politics, recurring but stunted reform cycles, and the Muslim Brotherhood’s fraught relationship with the state. We also explore Magid’s comparison of Abdullah with his father, King Hussein; the political implications of the 2021 Prince Hamzah affair; the Pandora Papers leaks and corruption in Jordan; King Abdullah approach to Israel/Palestine and the Gaza War; and the carefully managed public rollout of Crown Prince Hussein as the next monarch. Ultimately, the discussion interrogates the core tension of Abdullah’s legacy: a king celebrated abroad for moderation and stability, yet presiding over persistent domestic challenges and an increasingly weary public.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael is joined by Justin Logan, Director of Defense and Foreign Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, for a deep-dive into the dangers of U.S.-led regime change in Venezuela. Logan discusses the new article he co-wrote with friend of the show Brandan Buck for The American Conservative, “Don’t Do It, Mr. President,” a forceful argument rooted in the foreign-policy tradition of realism and restraint. Logan unpacks why he and Buck see the Trump administration’s escalating military posture—from a Marine Expeditionary Unit to the USS Gerald Ford carrier strike group—as a perilous slide toward yet another unnecessary intervention. We also examine the administration’s bogus claims about “drug boats” allegedly bound for the U.S., a flimsy public rationale that Logan and Buck argue doesn’t withstand even minimal scrutiny. From there, the conversation shifts to the long, troubled history of U.S. involvement in Latin America and the legacy of the Monroe Doctrine; why Venezuela, a country twice the size of Iraq with a loyal military, would be an extraordinarily difficult and dangerous target for regime change; and how the lessons of Iraq and Libya loom ominously in the background. Logan and Buck’s analysis stands as a welcome antidote to the neoconservative saber-rattling typified by Bret Stephens’s New York Times op-ed, “The Case for Overthrowing Maduro.” Throughout the discussion, Logan offers a grounded reminder of why military adventurism contradicts the very promises Trump made about ending wars; and why Venezuelan regime change would almost certainly worsen the very problems Washington claims it wants to solve.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, independent journalist James Dorsey of The Turbulent World with James Dorsey returns for our regular Middle East update. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss the historic visit of Al-Sharaa to Washington and what it signals for U.S.–Syria relations, the internal ethno-religious divides within Syria, and the concerns of Alawite minorities amid shifting regional dynamics. We then turn to Mohammed bin Salman’s Saudi Arabia, where a push toward economic and cultural liberalization coexists uneasily with continued political repression. From there, we unpack the tenuous Gaza ceasefire, examining why some see it as farcical, how Israel’s long-term right-wing radicalization complicates peace efforts, and the internal divisions within the Palestinian world that further muddy the waters. Finally, we explore the emerging MAGA split on Israel—how evangelical Christians, particularly in the Global South, are no longer uniformly pro-Israel; and how segments of the MAGA movement are expressing a mix of Islamophobia and antisemitism, reframing their stance on Israel in troubling ways. As always, James Dorsey brings deep insight and context to a region where politics, religion, and power intersect in volatile and unexpected ways.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, writer, scholar, and activist Omar Zahzah, author of Terms of Servitude: Zionism, Silicon Valley, and Digital Settler Colonialism in the Palestinian Liberation Struggle. Zahzah discusses how he came to explore the intersection of Big Tech and Zionism, arguing that Silicon Valley’s digital infrastructure is censoring pro-Palestinian voices. The conversation delves into how tech giants collaborate with Israeli interests, the emergence Balaji Srinivasan's “Tech Zionism,” and how platforms like Meta and X weaponize algorithms and vague “community guidelines” to suppress Palestinian voices through censorship and shadow banning. Zahzah also examines AI-driven tools like Lavender, the broader implications of digital repression, and how recent reports of Hollywood blacklists echo the politics of silencing seen across digital platforms. It's a conversation dealing with Israel/Palestine, social media and digital platform, and free speech on this edition of Parallax Views.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, film writer and critic Nathan Wardinski, author of Dissecting Cannibal Holocaust, joins me for a spooky season deep dive into one of the most infamous, controversial, and, perhaps, critically misunderstood films in horror history. We explore how Ruggero Deodato’s Cannibal Holocaust defies easy categorization within either progressive or conservative politics — a film that seeks to explode racist hierarchies even as it offers a bleak, reactionary view of human nature. For Deodato’s jungle nightmare, civilization itself is just a thin facade: whether “modern” or “primitive,” we are all savages beneath the surface. Wardinski and I also unpack the film’s unique structure, the enduring myth that Deodato and his crew were tried for murder due to the film’s realism, and the strange, lifelong relationship the director had with his most notorious work. In the final portion of the conversation, we tackle one of the film’s most controversial aspects — the onscreen animal slaughter — clarifying the difference between slaughter and cruelty, and placing Cannibal Holocaust within a larger cinematic and cultural context where animals have been killed on camera, from ethnographic films to even mainstream television. Some of the portion of the discussion is in the earlier part of the conversation, but most of it is back-ended to the final 10 or so minutes for the benefit of listeners who may not want to hear about that aspect of the film due to the subject matter. It’s a challenging conversation — one that asks uncomfortable questions about art, exploitation, and our own complicity as viewers. Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio - Track: "Exorcism"

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of the Parallax Views spooky season series, we dive into the world of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the infamous paranormal investigators whose cases inspired the Conjuring films. The Warrens became household names for claiming to confront ghostly hauntings, demonic possession, and other supernatural phenomena—including their involvement in the notorious Amityville haunting—but their legacy is controversial, blending storytelling, spectacle, and a heavy dose of sensationalism. They have also faced accusations of exploiting vulnerable people for fame and profit. Nonetheless, The Conjuring series has become a Hollywood juggernaut, captivating audiences and shaping pop culture’s view of the paranormal. With the release of The Conjuring: Last Rites, the final film in the franchise, interest in the Warrens is hotter than ever. In this episode, skeptical paranormal investigator Benjamin Radford of the Skeptical Inquirer offers a dissenting take, unpacking the problems with the Warrens’ cases and explaining how their work intersects with Satanic Panic-era hysteria. We also explore how these patterns of belief and fear echo in modern conspiracy cultures like QAnon. Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio - Track: "Exorcism"