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.