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, J.G. Michael speaks with political strategist and author Maya Rupert about the future of Democratic strategy, political power, leadership, and the institutions needed to build lasting change. Rupert, who managed Julián Castro’s 2020 presidential campaign and later served as a senior adviser to Elizabeth Warren, draws on her experience inside Democratic politics and the themes of her new book, The Real Ones, to examine who gets recognized as a political leader and who gets left out. The conversation explores the Democratic Party’s post-2024 strategic challenges, and the need to address concerns of the average voter as well as incorporating ideas that were seen as fringe years ago but now more mainstream into Democratic politics. The need to care about the politics of normal people is a chief issue for Maya Rupert as we head towards the mid-terms. She believes we are in a tremendous political moment and that the opportunity that provides should not be squandered. She also argues that tensions within the Democratic Party will allow for growth rather than just leading to a loss of unity. In other words, this conversation delves into the Progressive vs. Establishment wings of the party. The discussion also turns to race, representation, and voting rights, including the Supreme Court’s recent Louisiana redistricting decision and what its implications could mean for Democratic strategy and minority political representation. Rupert and J.G. consider the changing legal and political landscape surrounding the Voting Rights Act and the challenges Democrats face in building multiracial political coalitions. Finally, the conversation examines the relationship between the Democratic Party and the surge of Democratic Socialism, policy wonk-esque discussion vs. appealing to main-street Americans, the problem with cultural elitism and scolding and the need to appeal to populist sentiment, and more. What does the Democratic Party need to change to rebuild political power? Can grassroots movements and political institutions work together? And what would it take to create a Democratic coalition capable of producing lasting political transformation?

👉 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, the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft's Nick Cleveland-Stout returns to discuss his latest research into Israel's unprecedented influence campaign in the United States and how it is reshaping the landscape of foreign lobbying, political messaging, and artificial intelligence. Drawing on extensive Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filings, Nick explains how Israel has become the projected largest foreign spender under FARA, committing more than $100 million since 2023 to a sprawling public influence effort aimed not at Washington elites, but at ordinary Americans. We examine why Israeli officials concluded that declining public support was a communications problem rather than a policy problem, and how that assumption has driven an expansive strategy spanning mass text messaging, influencer partnerships, digital advertising, conservative media, AI optimization, and religious outreach. Nick details the roles played by Brad Parscale's Clock Tower X, Havas Media Group, Targeted Communications (part of Stagwell, led by Mark Penn), Show Faith by Works, and Eagle's Wings, unpacking how these firms and organizations have participated in campaigns ranging from Breitbart and Daily Caller advertising to YouTube initiatives, evangelical outreach, and controversial proposals to geofence churches in order to deliver pro-Israel messaging directly to worshippers' mobile devices. We also discuss one of the investigation's most striking revelations: efforts to influence the outputs of large language models by creating hundreds of Wikipedia-style websites intended for AI training datasets. Nick explains how these sites entered datasets used by companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and Microsoft, what happened when various AI chatbots were tested against this content, and what the episode reveals about the future of information warfare in the age of generative AI. Finally, we examine transparency and accountability under FARA, the use of front organizations in mass messaging campaigns, why many paid influencers appear not to have registered despite potential legal obligations, and whether Israel's massive investment in strategic communications is actually succeeding. While the campaign has generated enormous digital reach and sophisticated online infrastructure, polling continues to show declining public support for Israel in the United States, raising important questions about the limits of influence operations in an increasingly skeptical media environment. Read More: The Eighth Front: Inside Israel’s $1 Billion Influence Campaign - Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft

👉 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—journalist, founder of the Tikun Olam blog, and contributor to The New Arab and Jacobin—returns to discuss whether Abdul El-Sayed's stunning victory in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary marks a turning point in the political influence of AIPAC. Silverstein argues that despite unprecedented spending by AIPAC's United Democracy Project and its billionaire-backed network, El-Sayed's grassroots campaign demonstrated that people-powered organizing can overcome massive outside money. We examine why Silverstein believes the race, alongside recent progressive victories in New York City—including Zohran Mamdani's win despite millions spent against him—signals that AIPAC has lost the aura of political invincibility it once enjoyed. The conversation explores the changing dynamics inside the Democratic Party, including the growing divide between establishment centrists and an energized progressive base. Silverstein discusses Republican and Wall Street donors' involvement in Democratic primaries, the effectiveness of accusations of anti-Semitism and communism against critics of Israel, changing attitudes toward Zionism among American Jews, and why he believes more Democratic lawmakers are beginning to distance themselves from AIPAC. We also delve into the ongoing war in Gaza and the controversial "Board of Peace" proposal, which Silverstein describes as an unrealistic geopolitical project detached from conditions on the ground. He explains why he views the initiative as a political and financial grift, examines former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's role, and analyzes Israel's evolving demands regarding Hamas, Palestinian displacement, and postwar governance. Finally, we turn to the broader regional picture, including Israel's confrontation with Iran, Benjamin Netanyahu's strategy toward the Iranian regime, the future of Hezbollah and Lebanon, and what an Abdul El-Sayed victory in the general election could mean for the balance of power within the Democratic Party, the U.S. Senate, and the future direction of progressive politics in America.

👉 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, former Associate Deputy Attorney General in the Reagan administration Bruce Fein joins us for an in-depth discussion of President Donald Trump's war against Iran and why he believes it represents one of the gravest constitutional crises in modern American history. Fein argues that the Constitution's Declare War Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 11) gives Congress alone the authority to take the United States from a state of peace to a state of war, and contends that Trump's unilateral military campaign against Iran violates both the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973. Fein explains why the Founding Fathers—including George Washington, James Madison, and James Wilson—understood the war power to belong exclusively to Congress, and why he believes there is no constitutional ambiguity on the issue. He also discusses the origins of the War Powers Resolution following the Vietnam War and the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, focusing on Section 5(c), which allows Congress to direct the cessation of hostilities through a concurrent resolution. According to Fein, Congress has already exercised that authority by passing a resolution ordering an end to the conflict with Iran, making Trump's refusal to comply an unprecedented constitutional confrontation. Beyond the immediate controversy, Fein argues that presidents of both political parties have steadily expanded executive war-making powers since the Korean War, citing military interventions from Truman through Vietnam, Panama, Kosovo, Libya, Syria, Gaza, and now Iran. He contends that Congress has repeatedly failed to defend its constitutional prerogatives, contributing to an erosion of the rule of law and the growth of an increasingly imperial presidency. The conversation also explores the legal and political mechanisms Fein believes remain available to Congress, including pending legislation sponsored by Representatives Gregory Meeks and Tom Massie that would authorize the House Speaker to seek a federal injunction enforcing Congress's war powers. Fein further discusses impeachment as a constitutional remedy for a president who refuses to faithfully execute the law, and examines whether electoral outcomes could reshape Congress's willingness to reassert its authority. Finally, Fein warns that the consequences extend far beyond the current conflict. He argues that attacking a non-nuclear state like Iran creates powerful incentives for nuclear proliferation, encourages strategic competition by powers such as China and Russia, and accelerates the pattern of imperial overreach that has historically led to the decline of great powers. Throughout the interview, Fein urges citizens to pressure Congress to enforce the Constitution's allocation of war powers before precedents established today become burdens inherited by future generations. Bruce Fein is a constitutional lawyer, former Associate Deputy Attorney General under President Ronald Reagan, and author of Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle For Our Constitution and Democracy.

👉 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 Eldar Mamedov joins us to examine the unprecedented migration crisis in Ceuta, Spain's North African enclave, where tens of thousands of migrants crossed the border from Morocco in a matter of days, triggering a humanitarian emergency and a fierce debate over migration, European solidarity, and geopolitical coercion. As Spanish authorities regained control within roughly 48 hours and most migrants were returned to Morocco, the political fallout has only intensified. Was this simply a spontaneous migration surge, or was Morocco deliberately using migration as a geopolitical weapon? Mamedov argues that Rabat's decision to loosen border controls followed Spain's recent diplomatic outreach to Algeria, Morocco's regional rival, fitting a broader pattern in which migration is leveraged as a tool of statecraft. He compares the tactic to other forms of coercive diplomacy, drawing parallels to previous crises involving Belarus and Turkey while rejecting speculation that Israel played any demonstrable role in the events. The conversation also explores Spain's 2022 shift on Western Sahara, whether Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's earlier concessions to Morocco encouraged further pressure, and why the European Union's response appeared markedly different from its reaction to the Belarus-Poland border crisis. Mamedov contends that the muted response exposed political and ideological divisions within Europe, raising uncomfortable questions about whether the EU can truly act as a unified geopolitical actor when one of its member states comes under external pressure. Additionally, J.G. and Eldar discuss Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's criticism of Spain and call to suspend Spain from the Schengen Area, the dangers of "weaponized migration," how migration anxiety can itself become a strategic vulnerability, and what this episode reveals about the future of EU-Morocco relations, border security, and European foreign policy. Eldar Mamedov is a Brussels-based foreign policy expert and non-resident fellow whose work focuses on European foreign policy, the Middle East, and the post-Soviet space. He has written extensively on EU diplomacy, security, and international affairs, with particular expertise in the geopolitics of the Middle East and Europe.

👉 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 philosopher Christian Miller to discuss his book The Honesty Crisis: How to Make Sense of a World Where Everyone Lies. Miller examines one of the most important moral challenges facing contemporary society: the growing pressure placed on honesty by new technologies, changing social environments, and institutional incentives that increasingly make deception easier and more rewarding. Drawing from moral philosophy, virtue ethics, and psychological research, Miller argues that honesty is far more complex than simply "not lying." An honest person does not intentionally distort reality as they understand it, meaning dishonesty encompasses not only falsehoods but also misleading behavior, cheating, stealing, hypocrisy, self-deception, and other ways of manipulating how reality is represented. Miller also explores the important distinction between being wrong and being dishonest, arguing that someone can sincerely believe something false while still communicating honestly. At the heart of The Honesty Crisis is Miller's argument that society is facing multiple honesty crises when two conditions emerge: dishonest behavior becomes easier to get away with, and dishonesty becomes more attractive or rewarding. Rather than arguing that people have simply become morally worse, Miller examines how technological and cultural changes have altered the incentives surrounding honesty. In this conversation, Miller discusses how online environments have transformed opportunities for deception in relationships and education, and how social media has created new challenges around misinformation and political polarization. He also explores why false beliefs are not necessarily dishonest beliefs, the role of "truth-default" assumptions in human communication, and why accuracy prompts and other interventions may help reduce the spread of misinformation. The discussion also explores celebrity culture, authenticity, and the pressures created by maintaining a carefully managed public image. Miller examines honesty challenges within religious institutions, including sermon plagiarism, online misconduct, celebrity pastors, and the ways institutional pressures can encourage concealment and self-deception. Ultimately, The Honesty Crisis is a defense of honesty as a foundational human virtue. Miller argues that honesty creates the trust necessary for relationships, communities, institutions, and democratic societies to function. In an era of AI-generated content, misinformation, and rapidly changing social incentives, Miller asks what happens when the assumptions that allow us to trust one another become increasingly fragile; and what can be done to preserve honesty as one of the virtues on which society depends. Christian Miller is a professor of philosophy at Wake Forest University and the author of numerous works on moral psychology and virtue ethics. His research explores the nature of character, moral motivation, and how people actually behave compared with how they understand themselves morally.

👉 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, Tom Joseph, founder of America's Main Street Party, join to discuss his proposed technology-driven approach to electoral reform and his argument that America's political dysfunction is rooted less in partisan differences than in a broken incentive system. Joseph argues that gerrymandered districts, donor-driven primaries, and incumbent protection have created a Congress where representatives are more accountable to fundraising networks and partisan bases than to the voters they serve. Joseph lays out the Main Street Party's model for disrupting that cycle: a moneyless, multi-round congressional nomination process conducted through a mobile app using approval voting. Rather than candidates competing for wealthy donors and spending millions in traditional primaries, voters would decide nominees through a series of rounds designed to elevate candidates with broader support. The eventual winner would receive general election support from a super PAC while keeping the nomination process free from campaign spending and donor influence. We discuss why Joseph believes the current primary system has created a political environment where most House members are effectively guaranteed reelection, how gerrymandering has shifted power toward narrow partisan bases, and why he sees electoral design as the key problem rather than simply Republican versus Democratic ideology. Joseph explains how candidates would be evaluated on issues, how the app-based voting process would work, safeguards against manipulation, and the organization's plans to test the model in red and blue congressional districts before potentially expanding to Senate and presidential contests. Tom Joseph also discusses the technology behind the project, the challenges of building a new political infrastructure, and the larger question at the heart of the Main Street Party's mission: can changing the rules of American elections create a government that is more responsive to ordinary citizens? For more information on America's Main Street Party and to explore the app demo, visit mainstreetparty.org.

👉 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, it's a double-feature episode examining the changing landscape of American politics, media, and public opinion from two very different perspectives. First, journalist Howard Polskin, founder of The Righting, joins us to discuss the modern right-wing media ecosystem and the influence it exerts on American politics. Polskin explains why he launched The Righting after the 2016 election to track the headlines, narratives, and trends emerging from conservative media, and discusses which outlets wield the greatest influence in the Trump era. We examine the relationship between major platforms like Fox News, Breitbart, Newsmax, and The Epoch Times, the rise of outrage-driven content and right-wing podcasts, and why seemingly fringe ideas can migrate into the political mainstream. Polskin also reflects on his effort to understand—rather than simply caricature—the conservative media landscape, the internal divisions within the American right over issues like Iran, and why he believes liberals, journalists, policymakers, and anyone seeking to better understand contemporary conservatism should pay closer attention to the stories shaping conservative audiences. In the second half of the program, Ioannis (Ian) Vlahos, editorial assistant and writer at Antiwar.com and a history and journalism student at George Mason University, joins us to discuss his Antiwar.Com article "Gen Z Is Tired of War." Vlahos argues that Generation Z's worldview has been shaped less by the trauma of 9/11 itself than by growing up amid the consequences of the War on Terror and witnessing the failures of two decades of U.S. interventionism. We explore how social media, alternative media, and independent voices have helped cultivate anti-war sentiment among younger Americans, while also fueling broader distrust of institutions and the spread of conspiracy theories. Vlahos explains why many in Gen Z increasingly prioritize domestic concerns such as healthcare, student debt, and economic insecurity over foreign military interventions, discusses the cross-partisan nature of contemporary anti-interventionism, and reflects on whether this growing skepticism toward America's foreign policy establishment could eventually develop into a lasting political movement.

👉 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, acclaimed writer, cultural critic, translator, and literary anthologist Ilan Stavans joins us to discuss his new anthology, A Nation Wrestles with God: American Prophets, Philosophers, and Firebrands. Stavans, the Lewis-Sebring Professor of Humanities, Latin American and Latino Culture at Amherst College and a prolific author whose work explores language, identity, religion, and culture, offers a sweeping look at how Americans have grappled with the idea of God from the colonial era to the present day. Rather than presenting a history of belief or unbelief, Wrestling with God traces the ongoing conversation (and often fierce argument) over faith, doubt, morality, and meaning that has shaped American life. We discuss the anthology's remarkable range of contributors, which includes figures such as Mark Twain, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Christopher Hitchens, Will Arbery, Molly McCully Brown, and many others. Among the topics explored are why even outspoken skeptics and atheists like H.L. Mencken continued to wrestle with God through language, symbolism, and imagery; how religious belief and doubt have served as engines of American political, philosophical, and cultural life; and why Stavans believes America's defining religious tradition is less about consensus than about continual debate. We also examine the democratization of America's conversation about God. As Stavans explains, the nation's religious imagination is no longer shaped solely by theologians, clergy, philosophers, or academic elites, but increasingly by novelists, filmmakers, comedians, musicians, and pop culture figures. The discussion explores how "high" and "low" culture alike have become arenas where Americans negotiate questions of faith, morality, transcendence, and identity. Additionally, Stavans reflects on the editorial process behind assembling such an expansive anthology, the significance of concluding the volume with younger voices like playwright Will Arbery and poet Molly McCully Brown, the enduring influence of the Bible on American literature and public discourse, and why the American experiment has always involved a uniquely pluralistic struggle over the meaning of God. Whether you're interested in religion, American history, philosophy, literature, politics, or contemporary culture, this conversation offers a fascinating exploration of one of the most enduring questions at the heart of the American experience.

👉 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 Tahir Amin, founder and CEO of the Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge (I-MAK) and co-author, with Rohit Malpani, of the new book Pharma Monopoly: The Battle for the Future of Medicines. Why have prescription drugs and life-saving medicines become so expensive? Is it simply the cost of innovation, or is the modern pharmaceutical industry built around monopoly power? In this brisk, information-packed conversation, Amin examines how patents, intellectual property law, global trade agreements, financialization, and neoliberal economic policies have reshaped the pharmaceutical industry and transformed medicine into one of the world's most profitable businesses. Drawing on the arguments in Pharma Monopoly, Amin explains how patent monopolies can delay generic competition, why the pharmaceutical industry's definition of "innovation" deserves closer scrutiny, how Wall Street increasingly influences drug development, and what the pandemic exposed about the global system for producing and distributing medicines. The conversation also explores the role of Third Way neoliberalism in the problems we face with the emergence of the pharma monopoly, criticisms of the medicines patent pool, the access-to-medicines movement, the influence of major philanthropic organizations (i.e.: Bill Gates and the Gates Foundation) and the issue of philanothro-capitalists, the financialization of the pharmaceutical industry, why the issues we are facing are not just limited to the "pharma bros." like Martin Shkreli, the potential for AI (artificial intelligence) to intensify monopoly power, and why debates over affordable medicine are inseparable from questions of democracy, public health, economic power, and who ultimately controls access to medical knowledge. Whether you're interested in healthcare, prescription drug prices, Big Pharma, patents, public health, globalization, political economy, or the future of medicine, this episode offers a concise but wide-ranging look at the structural forces shaping modern healthcare and why the battle over medicines affects far more than the price you pay at the pharmacy.

👉 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, Nate Wilcox of The MMA Draw joins us for an in-depth conversation about the politics, business, and corporate power behind the UFC, examining how Dana White, Donald Trump, Ari Emanuel, Endeavor, WME, TKO, and Silver Lake have transformed mixed martial arts into one of the most politically visible sports in America. We trace the history of the UFC from its origins in 1993 and the evolution of MMA, including the influence of Brazilian Vale Tudo, Japanese MMA, and catch wrestling, before exploring the organization's dramatic shift following Endeavor's $4 billion acquisition of the UFC in 2016. Nate explains how Dana White's political evolution differed from that of the Fertitta family, their earlier relationship with Democratic politicians like Harry Reid, and how White's alliance with Donald Trump fundamentally changed the UFC's public image. We also examine the complex corporate relationships connecting Ari Emanuel, TKO, WME, David Ellison, Larry Ellison, major media companies, and private equity, discussing how ownership and corporate interests shape the UFC's direction far beyond what fans see inside the Octagon. We discuss fighter pay, revenue sharing, athletic commissions, Nevada politics, and the business incentives driving modern combat sports. From there, we dive into the controversial Freedom 250 event at the White House, discussing its symbolism, security concerns, officiating controversies, fighter safety, the Association of Boxing Commissions, and the headline bout featuring Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. We also examine the political messaging surrounding the event and why the UFC has become an increasingly prominent stage for American politics. Nate and I also discuss controversial UFC personalities including Sean Strickland and Bryce Mitchell, media figures such as Ariel Helwani and Luke Thomas, and the role of independent MMA journalism in covering the sport's political and business dimensions. We examine the influence of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, sovereign wealth funds, boxing, media consolidation, lobbying, AIPAC, and the intersection of combat sports, entertainment, and geopolitics. Finally, Nate discusses his work with Zach Arnold on The MMA Draw, where they investigate the business, financial, legal, and political forces shaping the UFC, TKO, professional wrestling, and the wider combat sports industry.

Recorded: 6-12-26 👉 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, former CIA intelligence officer and Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft Non-Resident Fellow Paul R. Pillar joins us to discuss his recent Responsible Statecraft article, “Senate wants to force US to share sensitive intel with Israel,” and the implications of Section 622 of the Senate Intelligence Authorization Act. The provision, championed by Sen. Tom Cotton, would require the executive branch to expand and enhance intelligence sharing with Israel while making it significantly more difficult for any administration to limit or suspend such cooperation. Drawing on his 28-year career in the U.S. intelligence community—including service as National Intelligence Officer for the Near East and South Asia, Deputy Chief of the DCI Counterterrorist Center, and Executive Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence—Pillar explains why he considers the proposal highly unusual and potentially dangerous. He argues that intelligence-sharing relationships are complex arrangements normally managed by intelligence professionals and the executive branch, not dictated by congressional mandate. Pillar also discusses the often-overlooked world of intelligence liaison relationships, the risks associated with sharing sensitive intelligence, Israel's history of espionage against the United States—including the Jonathan Pollard affair—and concerns that intelligence provided by Washington could be used in ways that conflict with broader U.S. interests in the Middle East. He further contends that the legislation reflects a broader effort to deepen U.S.-Israeli integration through mechanisms that receive less public scrutiny than direct military aid. Among the topics explored in this conversation: What Section 622 would actually do and why it has received relatively little attention How intelligence-sharing relationships are normally managed Why Pillar calls congressional mandates on intelligence liaison "bizarre" The history of Israeli espionage against the United States The Jonathan Pollard case and its continuing significance Intelligence sharing, executive authority, and congressional oversight U.S.-Israel relations in the lieu of the Iran war Whether American and Israeli interests are increasingly diverging in the Middle East The broader push toward deeper U.S.-Israeli military and intelligence integration Paul R. Pillar is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Security Studies, and a retired 28-year veteran of the U.S. intelligence community. He is the author of several books, including Intelligence and U.S. Foreign Policy: Iraq, 9/11, and Misguided Reform and Why America Misunderstands the World: National Experience and Roots of Misperception.

👉 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/ Note: Sorry for mispronunciation of Ben Gvir's name. Should be pronounced "guh-veer" not "geever". A rather stupid mistake on my end that makes me sound ignorant. On this edition of Parallax Views, Israeli dissident commentator Ori Goldberg returns to discuss how Israel has reacted to the Trump-Iran MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) and the "crazy-making" state of Israeli politics today. Goldberg argues that Israeli politics has come to revolve around the axis of Benjamin Netanyahu rather than policy or problem-solving. There are those who support Bibi and those who don't. But questions pertaining to the world outside Netanyahu's leadership, he says, are ignored. He reports a sense of aimlessness or listlessness in Israeli political life and criticizes not only Netanyahu, but also the Yair Lapid-led opposition and the Yair Golan-led Democrats party for bending towards neoliberalism and ignoring the Israel-Palestinian issue in favor of saber-rattling about Iran or, increasingly, even Turkey and Syria. We'll also discuss the news that Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz due to Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon and dissect some of the misinformation/disinformation or about Israel's engagement in Lebanon and Hezbollah's response. Moreover, Goldberg comments on JD Vance's warning to Israel that the Trump administration is the only ally Israel has left and that Israel cannot solve all its problems through killing. Although Goldberg does not trust Trump or Vance, he does believe that the administration's relationship with Israel is fraying and that it may find Israel less useful going forward. All that and much more on this edition of Parallax Views!

THIS IS A SPECIAL TWO-HOUR EDITION OF PARALLAX VIEWS! PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING ON PATREON TO KEEP THIS SHOW GOING FORWARD IF YOU APPRECIATE THE WORK I DO! 👉 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 special edition of Parallax Views, J.G. and a slew of top-notch guests delve into the antiwar movement and the attacks, past and present, on antiwar voices and dissidents. First up, Code Pink founder Medea Benjamin makes her Parallax Views debut! Code Pink is one of the most well-known antiwar, pro-peace groups in America today and have been protesting since the days of the Iraq War. Found by grassroots feminists, Code Pink seeks to counter the War Party with on-the-ground activism. Recently, Medea and Code Pink along with political streamer Hasan Piker were targeted by the Trump administration for their activism related to Cuba, a country currently being starved by U.S. sanctions. Medea and I talk about her recent, highly publicized run-in with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who claimed that Medea had assaulted her. The video footage, however, tells a different story and Medea. We'll also talk about the recent attempt by Bari Weiss' Free Press to whip up a deportation campaign against the Quincy Institute's Trita Parsi. Medea will also offer her thoughts on how to overcome the War Party's intimidation tactics and how the peace movement can give people young and old a sense of community. In the second segment of this special edition, Chip Gibbons, Policy Director of Defending Rights and Dissent, dives deep into how the second Trump administration, with help from foundations built by previous administrations of both the Democratic and Republican stripe, is cracking down on antiwar voices and dissidents more broadly. Learn about NSPM-7 and how its broad language poses a grave threat to free speech as well as how previous administrations helped pave the way for the Trump administration's current moves against dissenting voices. Chip lays it all out in informative fashion, connecting past to present and overing some hope at the end by discussing the at-least-for-the-moment defeat of a FISA Section 702, which allowed for warrantless wiretapping. In segment three, longtime peace activist David Swanson of World BEYOND War joins the show to offer his perspective on the antiwar and pro-peace movements in the age of Trump. We delve into the challenges faced by activists today, including the insidious practice of debanking, as well as why dissent is more necessary than ever. We also discuss the attacks on Palestine Solidarity in the U.K., David's book offering commentary on the antiwar works of Gen. Smedley Butler, and more! In the fourth and final segment of this special edition presentation, Angela Keaton of Antiwar.Com makes her Parallax Views debut! We delve into the need for antiwar voices on the left and right to oppose the War Party's machinations. We also discuss Mayor Karen Bass' activities in LA against pro-Palestinian activists and why the wars abroad always come back home with civil liberties suffering domestically. Angela also tells the story of how Antiwar.Com's editors, specifically Justin Raimondo and Eric Garris, were spied on by the FBI.

👉 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, Iranian journalist, political analyst, and independent scholar Peiman Salehi joins the show to discuss his exclusive interview with former IRGC commander and senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Mohsen Rezaei, who recently declared that Lebanon and Hezbollah constitute a "non-negotiable red line" for Tehran in any future negotiations with the United States. Speaking from Iran, Salehi provides background on Rezaei's significance as one of the most influential figures in the history of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and explains why his comments offer an important window into contemporary Iranian strategic thinking. We then delve into why Lebanon has become so central to Tehran's calculations, why Iranian officials increasingly reject the notion that regional issues can be separated from nuclear diplomacy, and what Rezaei means when he argues that Hezbollah and Lebanon are inseparable from any future deal with Washington. Additionally, Salehi explores whether Iran is undergoing a broader shift in strategic doctrine, one that increasingly views diplomacy, military deterrence, regional alliances, and the balance of power in West Asia as components of a single strategic equation rather than separate policy tracks. We also discuss how concepts of credibility, alliance maintenance, and deterrence factor into Iran's relationship with Hezbollah and why many Iranian policymakers view support for regional partners as a strategic necessity rather than a negotiable issue. Finally, we examine what all of this could mean for the future of U.S.-Iran negotiations. Is Tehran effectively signaling that future talks can no longer focus solely on sanctions and the nuclear program? Is Lebanon becoming a test case for a broader Iranian effort to redefine the framework of diplomacy with Washington? And what might American policymakers be misunderstanding about the evolving relationship between Iran's regional security concerns and its diplomatic agenda? 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, Iraq War-era Pentagon whistleblower and retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski returns to the program to discuss the growing crackdown on antiwar voices, the controversial Section 224 of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), U.S.-Israel military integration, the military-industrial complex, and what she describes as the accelerating decline of the American Empire. Kwiatkowski, who became one of the most prominent critics of the George W. Bush administration's Iraq War from within the Pentagon, reflects on her own experiences being targeted and smeared after exposing the manipulation of intelligence in the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Drawing on those experiences, she examines current attacks on dissident and anti-interventionist voices, including streamer Hasan Piker, Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin, and Quincy Institute Executive Vice President Trita Parsi, who have faced accusations and scrutiny tied to their opposition to war and interventionist foreign policy. The conversation also takes a deep dive into Section 224 of the 2027 NDAA and concerns about increasing U.S.-Israeli military integration. Kwiatkowski explains why she believes these developments blur the lines between American and Israeli strategic interests and what that could mean for U.S. foreign policy. And yes, we do discuss the Iran war, Gaza, and the general situation in the Middle East Additionally, Kwiatkowski discusses the relationship between the Israel lobby and the military-industrial complex, how both influence policymaking in Washington, and why she believes they often reinforce interventionist and militaristic agendas. She also offers her perspective on the future of the United States as a global power, the signs of imperial decline, and how ordinary Americans can prepare for a period of increasing political, economic, and geopolitical instability. 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, reporter Kelley Vlahos, head of the Quincy Institute's Responsible Statecraft magazine, makes her long-awaited return to the show to discuss the disappointing House Armed Services Committee markup on the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The 2027 NDAA has come under scrutiny recently for Section 224, which critics argue would entrench U.S.-Israeli military integration in ways that would bypass transparency. Vlahos and I delve into how member of the House Committee responded to this criticism, namely by brushing them off entirely. We do delve into some dissenting voices, however, such as Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Sara Jacobs, the latter of whom brought up Israel's controversial Pegasus spyware and how it has been used to spy on Americans. Kelley walks us through Rep. Ro Khanna's opposition to Section 224 and why he says support for it is not being on "Team America". We also talk about the potential for Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie, a Democrat and a Republican, to keep fighting against Section 224 going forward. Also, Vlahos previews an upcoming Responsible Statecraft piece dealing with how a Senate equivalent of Section 224 is being introduced by Rep. Tom Cotton which would entrench U.S.-Israeli intelligence integration. 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, Dutch-Palestinian analyst of Middle East affairs Mouin Rabbani returns to discuss a number of topics related to U.S. foreign policy, Israel, and the Iran war. We'll begin the conversation with a rundown on the Iran war situation and delve into the Israeli strikes on Lebanon in relation to it all. Mouin offers a concise breakdown of everything happening in regard to Iran and Lebanon out of the gate. We then move onto a number of other topics including the news of the Section 224 of the 2027 NDAA that would further entrench U.S.-Israeli military integration. We'll also discuss the recent NYT article by Nicholas Kristof dealing with allegations of disturbing treatment of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prison. Finally, Mouin and I discuss the unhinged propaganda coming out of certain pro-Israel echo chambers and how they apply antisemitic conspiracy tropes to Arab and Muslim voices.

👉 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, possibly the most important edition this month, the Quincy Institute's Benjamin Freeman returns to discuss a little-noticed provision buried within the House's 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that could fundamentally transform the relationship between the United States and Israel. While public attention remains focused on wars in Gaza and Iran, Congress is quietly advancing Section 224, the "United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative." According to Freeman, this provision goes far beyond military aid and arms sales. Instead, it lays the groundwork for unprecedented integration between the American and Israeli defense establishments. From artificial intelligence and cyberwarfare to autonomous weapons systems, quantum technologies, biotech, and intelligence sharing, the proposal would create a level of military-industrial cooperation unlike any other U.S. partnership in the world. Why does this matter? Freeman argues that Section 224 represents the first step toward what amounts to a merger of critical components of the American and Israeli military-industrial complexes. The proposal envisions joint ventures, co-production agreements, shared research and development, network integration, and even "data fusion." In practical terms, that could mean deeper institutional ties, reduced transparency, and diminished public oversight. Critics warn that this shift would move U.S.-Israel military cooperation away from visible debates over foreign aid and into the far more opaque world of defense procurement and technological integration, where congressional scrutiny is limited and accountability is often difficult to achieve. At a moment when many Americans are questioning unconditional support for Israel and expressing concern about being drawn into new conflicts in the Middle East, Congress may be creating mechanisms that bind the military futures of the two countries together for decades to come in ways that are close to irreversible without massive costs. Benjamin explains what is actually contained in Section 224, how it could reshape U.S. foreign policy, why it may expand Israeli influence through defense contracting and co-production projects on American soil, and why he believes lawmakers should reject what he views as a dangerous and largely unnoticed U.S.-Israeli military-industrial merger before it becomes reality.

👉 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, returning guest Geoffrey Aronson joins us to discuss his article "The Unexpected Consequences of Dispelling Israeli Nuclear Ambiguity." As a growing number of House Democrats led by Rep. Joaqiun Castro (D-TX) call for greater transparency regarding Israel's long-unacknowledged nuclear arsenal, Aronson argues that the issue goes far beyond nuclear weapons themselves. We examine the decades-old doctrine of Israeli "nuclear ambiguity," the origins of the U.S.-Israel strategic bargain forged after the 1967 war, and the concept of Israel's "Qualitative Military Edge" (QME). Aronson contends that congressional efforts to openly address Israel's nuclear capabilities could force a broader reconsideration of the foundations of the U.S.-Israel security relationship at a moment when the fallout from the war with Iran is reshaping political debates in Washington. We also discuss how changing public opinion, shifting attitudes on Capitol Hill, and questions surrounding deterrence, proliferation, and regional power may be challenging assumptions that have guided U.S. Middle East policy for more than half a century. Geoffrey Aronson is an American writer, analyst, and consultant specializing in Middle East affairs, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He has participated in Track II diplomatic initiatives involving Israeli and Palestinian groups and facilitated engagement between Israeli and Syrian representatives in 2005. He is the author of several books, including Creating Facts: Israel, Palestinians and the Intifada and From Sideshow to Center Stage: US Policy towards Egypt. Check out his Substack at Geoffrey Aronson | Substack.

👉 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, conservative libertarian Jack Hunter offers his commentary on Thomas Massie's primary loss and we delve into the cracks in the MAGA movement from his perspective. We'll discuss the generational difference in people who voted for Massie, the role of AIPAC and the broader pro-Israel lobby in the primary, separating antisemitism from criticism of Israel, and more. We'll also delve into how neocons have long tried to define conservatism as inherently interventionist, depsite the history of conservative figures dating back to Robert Taft that believed small government was not just restricted to domestic policy, but foreign policy as well. Jack will also give his views on the abuse of the term "domestic terrorist" in a way that'll rankle both the left and the right as he believes American citizens involved with both BLM and J6 shouldn't be targeted under domestic terrorist lines but rather on existing laws that don't invoke federal terrorism enhancement. Finally, we talk a bit about our great love of pro wrestling and how politics is often kayfabe. You may not agree with either of us on a number of issues, but you'll hopefully find it a fascinating conversation!

👉 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, the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft's Blaise Malley, who has been covering current events related to foreign policy for Responsible Statecraft, joins the show to discuss Thomas Massie's defeat in the Republican primary for Kentucky's 4th Congressional district. An unprecedented amount of money was spent on this election to defeat Massie and deliver victory to Ed Gallrein. In this conversation we discuss how both President Donald Trump and the pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC (the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee), were big supporters of Gallrein and detractors of Massie. Did they help deliver the defeat to Massie? We also discuss Blaise's article "House GOP yanks Iran war powers vote amid fears it could pass House GOP yanks Iran war powers vote amid fears it could pass". 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/ NOTE: There's a bit of a question of whether Marvin Antelman was involved in the creation of the mood ring. Dr. Jonathan Sarna claimed this to Jay Michaelson, as detailed in the interview. But he may be confusing Antelman with Marvin Wernick. I only caught this detail after recording the episode, but wanted my listeners to know. It's my mistake for stating that claim more definitively in the intro than Michaelson did in the conversation. Again, the claim is courtesy of Dr. Jonathan Sarna in communication with Michaelson. On this edition of Parallax Views, first time guest Jay Michaelson, author of The Heresy of Jacob Frank, joins the program to discuss the fascinating and disturbing backstory behind Candace Owens’ antisemitic grand conspiracy narrative about a Frankist-Sabbatean cabal supposedly controlling world events. The conversation begins with an in-depth exploration of the historical figures of Sabbatai Zevi and Jacob Frank, two controversial Jewish messianic figures whose radical theological movements have, over centuries, become distorted and mythologized within conspiracy culture. Jay explains the actual history behind Sabbateanism and Frankism, what these movements really believed, and how obscure religious controversies became transformed into modern political mythology. And yes, we delve into the role of sex plays into these radical theologies. A major focus of the conversation centers on the late Orthodox rabbi, inventor, and conspiracy theorist Marvin Antelman. Antelman is perhaps one of the strangest figures in modern conspiracy culture: a rabid anti-communist who allegedly helped invent the mood ring per Dr. Jonathan Sarna, patented a supposed “cure” for AIDS, and co-founded the self-styled Rabbinic Court of America alongside two other rabbis. The Rabbinic Court of America sought to expose Jewish public figures Antelman believed had “betrayed” the Jewish people, targeting figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to Noam Chomsky. Jay and I examine Antelman’s bizarre worldview, including his belief that heretical Jewish sects like the Sabbateans and Frankists secretly evolved into hidden revolutionary networks tied to the Illuminati, communism, liberalism, and modern global power structures. We discuss how Antelman’s deeply illiberal nationalism, obsession with internal enemies, and conspiratorial anti-communism shaped his theories, as well as how later conspiracy figures like David Icke and Candace Owens would appropriate and twist aspects of Antelman’s ideas into narratives about occult conspiracies that could be weaponized far more broadly against Jews in openly antisemitic ways. We also delve into the overlap between antisemitism, anti-communism, anti-globalism, religious conspiracism, and internet-age political mythology; the migration of Antelman's fringe theological and poltical ideas into evangelical and conspiracy media ecosystems as well as the extreme world of Kahanist Zionism (the followers of the ultra-Zionist Rabbi Meier Kahane); and why movements like Frankism continue to exert such a strange pull on the conspiratorial imagination. 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, Quincy Institute research associate Lee Schlenker joins us to unpack the Trump administration’s escalating pressure campaign against Cuba and why Marco Rubio’s hardline approach may be pushing the island, and U.S.-Cuba relations, toward a dangerous breaking point. Drawing on Lee’s recent Responsible Statecraft article “As Rubio turns into punisher, Cubans wary of final blow,” we examine the administration’s strategy of intensified sanctions, economic pressure, and threats aimed at forcing political change in Havana. The conversation also explores the political influence of South Florida’s Cuban exile community and the Cuba-America lobbying apparatus, including how decades of exile politics continue to shape U.S. foreign policy toward Havana. Lee explains the internal contradictions of the administration’s strategy, why the pressure campaign has yet to produce meaningful results, and how it could instead deepen instability, worsen humanitarian suffering, and push Cuba further into China’s extra-hemispheric sphere of influence.

👉 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, anthropologist and author Ida Susser joins us to discuss her book The Yellow Vests and the Battle for Democracy and the deeper political crisis underlying the rise of the Yellow Vest movement in France. What happens when traditional left vs. right politics begin to break down under the pressures of neoliberalism, austerity, economic precarity, and collapsing public trust? Susser explains how the Yellow Vests emerged not simply as a protest movement, but as a broader democratic experiment shaped by “commoning,” horizontal organizing, and grassroots political participation. We explore the movement’s unusual ideological makeup, including tensions between populism, class politics, nationalism, environmentalism, and anti-elite anger. We also examine the concepts of “thresholding” and “they are stealing the state,” and how they help explain contemporary political unrest not only in France, but across the globe. Additionally, we discuss the historical roots of French protest culture, the legacy of movements like Nuit Debout and Occupy Wall Street, the crisis of democratic legitimacy in the West, and whether leaderless social movements can produce lasting political transformation or are destined to remain unstable and contradictory. Along the way, we touch on neoliberalism, authoritarianism, class fragmentation, race and immigration, and the future of democracy in an increasingly polarized world.

👉 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/ As debates over censorship, misinformation, and the power of corporate media reach a fever pitch, Project Censored—one of the longest-running media watchdog organizations in the United States—marks its 50th anniversary. But in 2026, what does “censorship” actually look like? On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael speaks with Mischa Geracoulis, Outreach and Engagement Officer for Project Censored, about the evolving landscape of media ethics, independent journalism, and the fight for a truly informed public. Geracoulis breaks down how news values are shifting in the 21st century, why “media democracy in action” matters more than ever, and how independent outlets are working to challenge the narratives and omissions of the corporate press. In an era defined by algorithmic influence, disinformation, and declining public trust, this conversation asks a fundamental question: Who decides what counts as news... and what gets left out? From the role of critical media literacy to the urgent need for watchdog journalism, this episode explores how Project Censored continues to spotlight underreported stories and hold power accountable, five decades after its founding. Key topics: Media censorship vs. “junk food news” in the digital age The ethics and values shaping modern journalism Why independent media is essential to democracy “Media Democracy in Action” and real-world examples How audiences can become more critically engaged news consumers If you’re concerned about the state of the free press—or wondering how to separate signal from noise in today’s media ecosystem—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

👉 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 Patricia Martin,host of the Jung in the World podcast, to explore her provocative new book Will the Future Like You?: Reflections on the Age of Hyper-Reinvention. In a wide-ranging and deeply thought-provoking conversation, Martin examines how technology, social media, and the pressures of constant self-reinvention are reshaping our understanding of identity itself. From the concept of “persona fog” to the psychological toll of living multiple digital selves, she unpacks why so many people today feel stuck, fragmented, and uncertain about who they are.... as well as who they’re becoming. Drawing on Jungian psychology, cultural analysis, and years of research, Martin explains how the collapse of traditional identity anchor like family, work, and institutions has ushered us into what she calls the “post-identity” era. The discussion delves into the rise of chronic self-doubt, the emotional costs of hyper-connectivity, and the hidden ways digital life can both expand and erode the self. At the same time, Martin offers insight into how we might reclaim a deeper sense of meaning and navigate an uncertain future with greater awareness. This is a must-listen episode for anyone interested in psychology, technology, culture, and the evolving nature of human identity in the 21st century.

👉 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, political scientist Maya Kornberg joins the show to discuss her new book on why Congress seems increasingly unable to function as an effective, representative, and co-equal branch of government. Drawing on deep research into three pivotal waves of congressional reform—the post-Watergate class of 1974, the Republican Revolution of 1994, and the diverse, media-savvy newcomers of 2018—Kornberg argues that today’s legislative dysfunction is not simply the result of partisan gridlock, but the product of deeper structural forces reshaping American democracy. In this wide-ranging and enlightening conversation, we explore how money, media, and political violence have transformed the incentives facing members of Congress. From the relentless pressure to fundraise, to the rise of social media as a source of political power, to the chilling effects of threats and intimidation, Kornberg paints a sobering picture of an institution struggling to adapt to a rapidly changing political environment. We also delve into the historical cycles of reform and institutional change, asking whether today’s Congress is fundamentally different from past eras of crisis. Why were earlier reformers able to reshape the institution, while modern efforts seem to falter? Has Congress ceded too much power to the presidency? And what would it take to restore the legislative branch as a meaningful check in the American system? Despite the challenges, Kornberg offers thoughtful and pragmatic ideas for reform, from strengthening congressional capacity to rethinking the internal structures that govern how lawmakers operate. Throughout the discussion, she provides valuable insight into not just what is broken in Congress, but why it has proven so difficult to fix. This is a must-listen episode for anyone interested in American politics, democratic institutions, and the future of governance in an era of polarization and uncertainty.

👉 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/ Recorded 3-11-26 On this edition of Parallax Views, sociologist and public intellectual Charles Derber joins us to discuss his book Fighting Oligarchy: How Positive Populism Can Reclaim America and the growing struggle between democracy and oligarchic power in the United States. As economic inequality deepens and public trust in institutions erodes, populist movements—both left and right—are reshaping the political landscape. But what exactly is populism, and why has it become such a defining force in modern politics? Derber argues that contemporary American politics is increasingly defined by a battle between corporate oligarchy and competing forms of populism. While figures like Donald Trump present themselves as anti-elite champions of “the people,” Derber contends that this rhetoric often masks policies that ultimately benefit billionaires and entrenched corporate power. In contrast, he proposes the idea of “positive populism”—a democratic, multiracial movement capable of challenging oligarchic influence while rebuilding solidarity among working-class Americans. In this conversation we explore the roots of populist politics in American history, from the anti-robber baron movements of the Gilded Age to the New Deal era and the social movements of the 1960s. Derber also offers a controversial critique of contemporary liberal politics, arguing that the Democratic Party’s shift away from class-based politics toward professional-class liberalism and cultural identity conflicts may have unintentionally opened the door for right-wing populism. We discuss the contradictions of Trumpism, the role of identity politics and culture wars in dividing the working class, and whether a broad democratic coalition capable of confronting corporate power is still possible in today’s polarized political climate. Is the United States already drifting toward oligarchy? Can populism strengthen democracy rather than undermine it? And what would a genuine anti-oligarchic political movement look like in the twenty-first century? All this 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, media scholar Robin Andersen joins us to discuss her new book The Complicit Lens: US Media Coverage of Israel’s Genocide in Gaza. In this conversation, Andersen examines how major American news outlets framed the war in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attacks and why mainstream reporting often echoed official Israeli and U.S. government narratives while marginalizing Palestinian perspectives. Drawing on detailed media analysis, Andersen argues that corporate media frequently downplayed the scale of Palestinian suffering, repeated unverified atrocity claims, and adopted language that framed Israeli military actions as defensive while obscuring accusations of war crimes and genocide. She also explores the role of editorial directives, narrative framing, and propaganda tropes in shaping coverage—from the portrayal of October 7 as the sole starting point of the conflict to the treatment of Palestinian journalists, aid workers, and civilian casualties. In the course of our discussion, Andersen highlights how independent journalists, social media, and alternative outlets challenged these dominant narratives, often providing documentation and eyewitness testimony that contradicted establishment media coverage. We also examine controversies surrounding reporting by major outlets like The New York Times, the role of atrocity stories in wartime propaganda, and the broader implications for press freedom, public opinion, and democratic accountability. Ultimately, The Complicit Lens raises urgent questions about journalism’s responsibilities during wartime: What happens when the media becomes a conduit for official narratives rather than a check on power? And what does the Gaza war reveal about the limits of U.S. media institutions in covering conflicts involving close American allies?

👉 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.