The Middle American

This past week has not been America's best.  Political violence.  Hateful rhetoric.  Social media comments leading to job terminations.  Testing the limits of free speech.  And it all started from a tragic public debate on a college campus in Utah.  Many are going about it the wrong way.  How about example of those that are (and have been) doing it the right way?  Two Duke seniors join the pod to discuss the The Lemur, a publi...

Two times this week I've watched a person die online.  Twice.  24 years after 9/11, we are more divided than ever before in my lifetime.  A bullet took out Charlie Kirk in an effort to silence free speech.  Killed because of his politics.  Enough.  We must do better as a country.  Not "yeah but..."  Not seeking revenge or retribution.  We must unite as a society and stand for the idea that we are free to disagree wit...

A young woman boarded the light rail after her work shift at a local pizzeria in Charlotte only to be stabbed to death by the man sitting behind her.  It happened two weeks ago, yet the public is just finding out about it now.  Narratives are going viral regarding the black assailant murdering a white woman in Democrat-controlled city where crime is out of control just as it is in Chicago and Boston (but not Memphis and Kansas City...

Another school shooting.  Are you as shocked as you were when you heard about Columbine?  Sandy Hook?  No?  What does that tell you about where society has gone since those instances?  Kids still being killed in school with no real solution in sight.  It's beyond time for real dialogue, debate, deliberation and decisive action.  The rush to blame and inflame rather than work to resolve this epidemic needs to end.  It starts wi...

President Trump met with both Putin and Zelensky separately in an effort to broker a deal of a lasting peace agreement.  What would a deal look like?  Long-time WCPSS school board member resigned from her post.  I take a look back a her tenure and why I am happy to see her leave.  And MSNBC is rebranding, but why this move is indicative of the ongoing Democrat favorability and branding issues discussed in the last pod.  

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Democrat favorability is at historic lows heading into the 2026 midterms.  In North Carolina, registered Republicans are on the verge of overtaking registered Democrats.  Why the sharp decline?  It's a matter of trust.  Democrats, particularly their leadership (or lack thereof) has lost the trust of the American public.  From COVID through today, it has been eroded away.  What can they do to fix it?  Hint:  It's not conti...

In an attempt to deflect from the growing Epstein Files fervor, the Trump Administration has dusted off the Russia Russia Russia story and shed new light onto what US Intelligence knew and what it portrayed to the American public after the 2016 election in regards to Russian influence on it.  Trump has specifically stated that Obama committed treason, and MAGA is thirsty for retribution for years of lawfare and a failure to Lock He...

MAGA is a mess at the moment.  A movement that has largely been fueled by conspiracy theories peddled by its leader, Donald Trump, in eradicating the Deep State is now at a crossroads.  One of its biggest conspiracy theories, The Jeffrey Epstein files, is risking tearing apart the entire movement.  Leaders want Attorney General Pam Bondi to step down.  Other leaders, including Trump, are fully supportive of her and blaming (of cour...

All the conspiracy theories surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death and client list took a major hit this week when the DOJ and FBI announced that there was no list and he committed suicide.  The news surprised many, particularly MAGA supporters, who were sold on the idea that the Deep State was finally going to be exposed.  To me, this is the latest example of a long history of Trump overselling and under delivering.  Elon Musk i...

Two-term Republican North Carolina Senator opted to not run for re-election in 2026 in what will likely be the most contested Congressional race of the upcoming election.  Tillis was despised by many Republicans for being a RINO, with his history of periodically going against the GOP agenda, or more importantly, Trump.  His knack for seeking bipartisanship compromise may have cost him a third term, but will Republican's decisi...

Iran is dominating the news at the moment.  Fears grow of World War III or US involvement in another Middle East conflict.  But how much do you actually know about the country?  Who is the Ayatollah and why does he hold power?  Do the Iranians want regime change?  What led to the Islamic Revolution?  Why does Iran refer to the US as the Great Satan?  Hint, it dates back to our help in overthrowing a democratically elected prime min...

I predicted that last weekend would be turbulent.  And it unfortunately was in the worst of ways.  The assassination of Rep. Hortman in her own home was horrifying and widely condemned.  But fingers were pointed by hands that were not clean.  My state Rep. von Haefen took to social media promoting the beheading of President Trump and Elon Musk.  She deserves all the criticism she has received, and I share my own thoughts on it.  Bu...

ICE deportations are escalating.  Protests that originated in LA are going to spread.  Peaceful protests will turn into destructive riots.  And Trump 2.0 will deal with the situation differently than Trump 1.0 did in the summer of 2020.  But what is the basis for these protests in the first place and who is ICE actually deporting?  Time to discuss context behind the images you have and will see this summer.  

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You knew it would eventually come.  But this week, President Trump and Elon Musk seemingly ended their bromance in spectacular (and embarrassing) fashion - with accusations ranging from lack of influence to pedophilia.  The catalyst is Trump's Big Beautiful Bill that is still sitting in Congress.  Republicans had a mandate.  They can't seem to get out of their own way.  And the circus from Trump Administration 1.0 appears...

Debt free with a household income in the six figures.  This is the goal of most middle class families.  Shan and her family are those people.  But they still have found home buying to be unaffordable.  This looming housing crisis is not just for first-time homebuyers.  It will impact everyone.  This is the first in a new series of conversations with listeners over topics discussed on the podcast.  

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Former President Biden announced that he has Stage 4 prostate cancer.  The timing of the announcement has raised skepticism as to how long this diagnosis has been known and again questions the level of cover-up done to keep him running for office prior to dropping out.  Judge Jefferson Griffin finally conceded to Justice Allison Riggs in the only outstanding 2024 race in the country.  And Jake Tapper is out with a book, The Origina...

In 2008, we saw the housing market take an unprecedented crash that took over a decade to recover.  I bought in 2008.  I saw signs then.  I was told not to worry by the experts.  I learned my lesson.  It's now 2025.  I'm seeing other signs that again nobody is publicly worried about or talking about.  But they are there.  There's a reason first-time homebuyers are unable to purchase - and lowering interest rates isn&...

Trump Presidency 2.0 has officially hit 100 days filled with a head-spinning amount of executive orders, controversies over various policies, a closed border, and a disruption (if not dismantling) of longstanding institutions.  No President has had such an impact in their first 100 days since FDR.  Are his promises being kept?  Are his policies Making America Great Again?  And are those who supported him by voting him into office s...

Patrick Newton sits down for a conversation about leading the NC Forward Party, a political third party looking to take a foothold in North Carolina and across the country.  Independents make up the largest voting bloc in North Carolina, but do not have an official party that represents them in elections.  Patrick is looking to fill that void.  We discuss a variety of topics, including his 5-year vision for the party.  

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