PODCAST · news
Middle Theory
by Micah Hanks
On the Middle Theory podcast, commentator Micah Hanks provides an independent, nonpartisan look at what’s happening in the world, and always with a nod to the lessons history can teach us. The tone is often dark, but with a penchant for humor, aimed at creating images in the mind and colors in the listener’s ear while diving into the issues of today. Hanks takes an approach that is skeptical and highly caffeinated, asking hard questions about news, politics, cultural trends, historical events, and other relevant topics.
Episodes
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Exit Strategy | 08.30.21.
This week, as the deadline for withdrawal from Afghanistan arrives, we survey the current situation as Biden's exit strategy unfolds overseas, as well as the recent power situation resulting from Hurricane Ida. As we begin another week of analysis of world events, residents of Louisiana were...
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Deadlines | 08.23.21.
This week, as the deadline for U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan looms nearer, we look at the challenges the Biden Administration faces as the Taliban warns of potential "consequences." As floods have ravaged parts of the Southeast in recent days, hurricane season heats up as northeastern states...
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Afghanistan: Withdrawal Syndrome | 08.16.21.
This week, as chaos erupts in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S. forces and the sudden encroachment of the Taliban, we analyze the Biden Administration's actions and responses to the situation. This week, after looking at the recent earthquake which rocked Haiti and claimed the lives of...
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Climate Code Red | 08.09.21.
Following the release of a new IPCC report on climate, we look at what experts from around the world have called a "code red" for our planet, and the factors involving politics, science, and other elements in the climate debate. This week, news of Barack Obama's 60th birthday bash erupted in...
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Of Masks and Mandates | 08.02.21.
Public outcry and confusion ensue after the CDC reverses its public recommendations on wearing masks, and mandates may be on the horizon as President Biden moves toward requiring coronavirus vaccinations among federal employees. This week on Middle Theory… controversy ensues as the Centers for...
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Look at the Numbers | 07.26.21.
This week, we look at the numbers as COVID-19 infections rise among America's unvaccinated. As the "Summer Outbreak" ensues, what does the data really say? This week on Middle Theory... AI is on our minds, as one recent story about a man's use of an AI chatbot to continue dialogue with a deceased...
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Spywary | 07.19.21.
This week, we examine the widespread surveillance of journalists with the aid of military spyware, as well recent hacking efforts that led to an official response from the Biden Administration. This week, after sharing recipes aimed at beating the summer heat that include our favorite cervezas…
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Afghanistan: Leaving the Forever War | 07.12.21.
As the United States makes its exit from the "Forever War" in Afghanistan, we look at the problems the country may face, and why history shows that choosing to leave is both the "least worst" and the only right choice. Protest erupted over the weekend in Cuba on a scale that hasn't been seen in…
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Independence Day | 07.05.21.
This week, we examine the foundations of the American celebration of Independence Day, its relationship to 21st-century American politics, and the influence of the coronavirus pandemic. As we lead off this week, items up for discussion include China's communist party celebrating a century in…
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Strike Two | 06.28.21
This week we examine Joe Biden's second military action since taking office, its similarity to the actions of past administrations, and how this compares with shifting political alliances in our culture and popular dialogue. This week, as we lead off, Baltimore's controversial surveillance plane...
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The Most Dangerous Scenario | 06.21.21.
This week we analyze U.S. President Joe Biden's meeting with Vladimir Putin, the media responses, and what one foreign policy scholar called the "most dangerous scenario." This week, as a dangerous new strain of COVID-19 arrives in the U.S., we look at what health officials have said about its...
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G7: The Country Club | 06.14.21.
This week we examine the recent G7 Summit and responses to the meeting between world leaders over their goals toward unifying against threats from Russia and China. This week, as we pick up recent coverage of Vice President Kammala's southern trip, and how it became mired in controversy following...
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The Rise of Ransomware | 06.07.21.
This week, with ransomware incidents on the rise, we examine how the world economy can be affected by cybercrime, and what various countries are doing to prevent such attacks. This week on Middle Theory, after looking at what had caused setbacks for U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris as she…
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Conflicting Theories | 06.01.21.
Conflicting theories about the origins of COVID-19 continue to make news, with U.S. politicians pushing for investigations into whether it originated from a lab in Wuhan, China. This week on Middle Theory, we lead off with our observance of Memorial Day and related news, which includes an…
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State-Sponsored Hijacking | 05.24.21.
Controversy ensues over international laws being broken during the forced landing by the Belarusian military of a Ryanair commercial airliner carrying a dissident journalist. This week, as we look at things happening globally, a cease-fire has finally occurred between Israel and Palestine, as...
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Eruption: Israeli–Palestinian Conflict | 05.17.21.
Conflict has erupted again between Israel and Palestine, resulting in Israel's controversial choice in striking a residential building where Hamas operations purportedly were taking place. This week, we lead off with an update on the recent Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, and why some media...
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Zucked | 05.10.21.
This week, we look at the problems arising from Facebook's Oversight Board refusing to make decisions for the company about the ongoing ban of Donald Trump from its platform. Following a ransomware attack that has left much of the Eastern U.S. with gas shortages, a State of Emergency has been...
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Celebrity in Chief | 05.03.21.
This week, we look at the phenomenon of the "celebrity politician", as well as how celebrity culture is influencing politicians who aren't famous before they enter office. On the eve of his 100th day in office, President Biden addressed Congress and recapped what his administration has managed to...
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Guilty as Charged | 04.26.21.
This week, as former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin is found guilty of all charges related to the death of George Floyd, we look at the impact this case has had on society, its cultural significance, and the variety of responses to the verdict appearing in the media. The battle against...
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Closing Arguments | 04.19.21.
Closing arguments are made in the trial of Derek Chauvin, as people in Minneapolis and around the country prepare for the announcement of the verdict. This week, it's strange times in Texas as Matthew McConaughey is leading in polls for the governorship... even though he isn't currently in the...
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Cause for Pause | 04.14.21.
This week, the use of the Johnson & Johnson one-shot COVID-19 vaccine is paused, raising questions and concerns, as well as setbacks for President Biden's vaccination effort. A recent poll shows that less than half of all Americans are concerned with many of the core tenets of journalism... but...
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Deadly Force | 04.06.21.
As the trial of Derek Chauvin proceeds, we look at statements from police and medical professionals who call the death of George Floyd the result of "deadly force." This week, while many states are setting new plans for reopening in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, many Americans are still...
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Meet the Press | 03.29.21.
This week, President Biden's first press conference raises eyebrows as reporters asked the commander-in-chief about immigration, the filibuster, foreign policy, and more. Modern living in the West is a mad rush... but why? After opening dialogue on mindfulness (and how badly many of us need to…
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Takes One to Know One | 03.22.21
Things heat up between the United States and Russia, as statements by President Joe Biden during a recent ABC interview raise bipartisan concerns about U.S. foreign policy. As we lead off this week, supporters of the online conspiracy theories related to Q Anon claim that there was a secret…
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The Cuomo Connundrum | 03.17.21.
This week, we look at the ongoing scandal surrounding New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and the uneasy position where it has left Democratic leaders including President Biden and Vice President Harris. The world has changed over the course of the last year, and even as acclimated to "pandemic life"...
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Talk of the Crown | 03.08.21.
This week, the British Royal Family is placed under renewed public scrutiny following a "bombshell" interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The CDC has just released its guidelines for people who have received vaccinations for COVID-19. Although many will now be able to return to some...
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First Strike | 03.02.21
In the first military action of his Presidency, Joe Biden orders an airstrike on Syria which results in backlash from Congressional Democrats. In the news this week, the passing of Vernon Jones marks another milestone, while Johnson & Johnson rolls out an all-new, one-shot COVID-19 vaccine....
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Cointelpro Confessions | 02.24.21.
This week, in addition to news we look at recent developments regarding the assassination of Malcolm X, a deathbed confession, and its alleged relationship to the intelligence community's COINTELPRO operations. As millions of Americans have awaited the arrival of COVID-19 stimulus checks, some...
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End of an Era | 02.17.21.
This week, with the passing of conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh, we look at the significance of his career on American politics and the rise and fall of Donald Trump. In recent days, millions of people in the United States are without power as a surprise winter storm rocked the…
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What's Left for the Right | 02.10.21.
As a second attempt at the impeachment of Donald Trump leads off, we look at opening arguments and new information about January's siege on the Capitol. A recent perusal of the top ten most-searched words at the website of popular online dictionary Merriam Webster revealed a lot about what's on...
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The Cult of Trump | 02.02.21.
This week we look at upsets within the GOP as Bush-era Republicans announce their departure from the party, which some call the "Cult of Trump." Americans continue to suffer sleepless nights as the coronavirus pandemic ensues, but some doctors are now saying many Americans are exhibiting...
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Executive Hors d'Oeuvres | 01.27.21
This week we examine the first few days of Joe Biden's presidency, and the high volume of executive orders it has produced. In a recent press statement, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has argued that we are closer to midnight on the doomsday clock than at any time since 1947. Meanwhile, as the...
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Last Call | 01.19.21.
With less than 24 hours left in Donald J. Trump's presidency, we reflect on the changes that have taken place in the last four years, and what they mean for the future. In the final 24 hours of Donald Trump's presidency, Gallup has released polls detailing that the 45th Commander in Chief of the...
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Final Daze | 01.11.21.
In the "final daze" of Donald Trump's administration, the atmosphere is tense as new calls for his removal from office ensue following the siege on the U.S. Capitol Building. It's been a tense last few days in Washington, and throughout the United States, following a demonstration by supporters…
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The Last Stand | 01.06.21
As we kick off a new year, chaos ensues in Washington as protesters flood the Capitol Building, interrupting Congress's Electoral College Certification. It's a new year, everyone... and yet it feels pretty familiar, as we begin our coverage of the news in 2021 with chaos unfolding in the Nation's...
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The Blind Spot | 12.21.20.
This week as we conclude the unprecedented year that has been 2020, we look at issues surrounding the White House as the arrival of the new administration in January approaches. Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings, and a Merry Christmas to you all... as we lead off this week, we begin by looking…
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12.14.20. Pardon Me
As speculation ensues about whether Donald Trump will issue pardons during his final days in office, many are weighing in on whether Wikileaks founder Julian Assange may be on the list. This week, as health officials in Wisconsin are warning residents to avoid eating raw meant "cannibal…
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The Vice Presidents | 12.08.20.
This week, we examine Vice President-elect Kamala Harris's ambitions, and what some Democratic insiders are saying about their former boss and her role in the forthcoming Biden Administration. As we lead off this week, it was recently announced that legendary folk singer Bob Dylan has sold his...
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Information Warfare | 11.30.20.
Arizona, Pennsylvania, and other states continue to be a source of confusion and controversy in the aftermath of the 2020 Election as the coronavirus pandemic ensues. This week, we lead off with an innovative new idea for how to keep bars open in the UK during the pandemic: try becoming a place…
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Thanksgiving in Quarantine | 11.24.20.
As the holidays arrive in midst of the 2020 pandemic, we look at how travel and family gatherings are being affected this Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving everyone... as the end of November approaches, the results of the tumultuous 2020 election are still being sorted out. President-Elect Joe...
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The Great Concession | 11.16.20.
Controversy ensues as President Trump refuses to concede the election to Joe Biden, amidst continued calls of voter fraud and the President's claim that the election was rigged. The 2020 Election may be well enough behind us, but the question of the Presidency is far from being over. Two weeks…
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After the Storm | 11.10.20.
With the 2020 election behind us and Joe Biden the projected winner, we examine what the results really tell us about the election and the American people. The storm has finally passed... well, most of it. Election Day 2020 has come and gone, and with many states still counting (or recounting)...
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Election 2020 | 11.03.20.
Election Day has finally arrived... and we analyze all of the news leading up to this highly anticipated election between incumbent Donald Trump, and Democratic challenger Joe Biden. The day has finally arrived... and as many Americans are heading to the polls, millions have already voted in what...
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Invasion of the Ballot Snatchers | 10.26.20.
With just one week until the U.S. Presidential Election of 2020, we look at the final debate performance and factors that could lead to an upset on November 3rd. Happy Halloween everyone... and if ever there was a time when life in general felt like a scene out of Invasion of the Body Snatchers…
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October Surprises | 10.19.20.
As the 2020 Presidential Election fast approaches, we discuss "dueling town halls," the controversy surrounding Hunter Biden's laptop and its possible connections to Russian Intelligence. "October Surprise" anyone? No really... anybody? Well, if you're like us, things couldn't really get any more...
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Grin and Barrett | 10.12.20.
This week we recap the 2020 Vice Presidential Debate, along with commentary on the beginning of controversial Senate Confirmation Hearings for prospective Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. 2020 continues to play for keeps, as we lose another icon with the passing of guitarist virtuoso…
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POTUS Positive | 10.05.20.
In the aftermath of the debacle that was the first Presidential Debate of 2020, our focus shifts to the developing story involving President Donald Trump's contracting COVID-19, and what that means as America, and the rest of the world, continue to battle the current pandemic. In the aftermath of...
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Poll Dancing | 09.28.20.
As the first Presidential Debate of 2020 fast approaches, we look at civil unrest in America as the polls continue to show a wide gap between candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Public outcry and civil unrest have erupted in Louisville, Kentucky following an announcement by the Attorney…
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The Critical Hour | 09.21.20.
Following the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, questions about her successor add a new layer of complexity to the heated 2020 Election. This week, the FBI makes a statement on Antifa, while the DOJ designates New York an "anarchistic" zone... meanwhile, as the polls continue…
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Toxicity | 09.14.20.
Following confirmation of the poisoning of Russian opposition figure and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, we look at international dynamics on the eve of the Russian elections. This week, as we are just 50 days away from the forthcoming U.S. election, it's all eyes on Russia in the...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
On the Middle Theory podcast, commentator Micah Hanks provides an independent, nonpartisan look at what’s happening in the world, and always with a nod to the lessons history can teach us. The tone is often dark, but with a penchant for humor, aimed at creating images in the mind and colors in the listener’s ear while diving into the issues of today. Hanks takes an approach that is skeptical and highly caffeinated, asking hard questions about news, politics, cultural trends, historical events, and other relevant topics.
HOSTED BY
Micah Hanks
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Middle Theory have?
Middle Theory currently has 167 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Middle Theory about?
On the Middle Theory podcast, commentator Micah Hanks provides an independent, nonpartisan look at what’s happening in the world, and always with a nod to the lessons history can teach us. The tone is often dark, but with a penchant for humor, aimed at creating images in the mind and colors in the...
How often does Middle Theory release new episodes?
Middle Theory publishes regularly with 167 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to Middle Theory on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Middle Theory?
Middle Theory is created and hosted by Micah Hanks.
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