Reupload request for listener that was having issues with audio sync. I suspect it may have been an encoding issue on older podcasting platforms causing it. I checked the original pod on Spotify and Podbean players and had no issue. Using a different encoding method going forward. 🎙️ MEGA-DROP FOR MEDIA THAT MATTERS Four episodes. One day. Zero corporate backing. This is independent media at work — and we need your help to keep it going. 👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinki...
Jul 02, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 1071
🎙️ MEGA-DROP FOR MEDIA THAT MATTERS Four episodes. One day. Zero corporate backing. This is independent media at work — and we need your help to keep it going. 👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. On this edition of Parallax Views , economist and author Jack Rasmus joins us to break down Donald Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” . Far from a populist breakthrough, Rasmus argues the bill is a continuation of neoliberal austerity, dressed in MAGA bran...
Jul 02, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 1064
On this edition of Parallax Views , The Nation editor and journalist D.D. Guttenplan joins the show to reflect on the 160th anniversary of The Nation — one of America's most well-known and prestigious political magazines. We explore the magazine's radical roots (it was founded by abolitionists), its enduring mission to “tell people the truth,” and its role in an era of political turbulence and institutional distrust. Guttenplan discusses the recent special issue, These Dis-United States , which ...
Jun 29, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 1060
On this episode of Parallax Views , Richard Silverstein of the Tikun Olam blog joins us to analyze recent revelations about the much-publicized bombing of Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility — and why Donal Trump's narrative of its “destruction” is falling apart. Drawing on satellite imagery, U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessments, and the in-depth Foreign Policy article by Jeffrey Lewis ( "Iran Is on Course for a Bomb After U.S. Strikes Fail to Destroy Facilities" ), we break down what really ...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 1059
On this edition of Parallax Views , Israeli commentator and Iran expert Ori Goldberg, hot off appearances in +972 Magazine and on Democracy Now , returns to offer his analysis of the Israel-Iran war. Ori, as an Israeli, provides a unique perspective on what is happening within Israel, while his deep expertise in Iran’s culture and history shines throughout this conversation. Ori believes the calculus behind Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to strike Iran is multi-faceted. Fir...
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 1057
In this episode of Parallax Views , journalist and foreign policy analyst Ted Snider joins us to discuss his latest article for Antiwar.com , "America’s Deception Strengthens Iranian Hardliners." As tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran escalate following devastating Israeli strikes, Snider breaks down how recent events, such as Trump's rhetoric following the strikes, may have sabotaged permanently sabotaged nuclear negotiations and reinforced the position of Iran’s most hawkish factions. ...
Jun 18, 2025•34 min•Ep. 1058
On this edition of Parallax Views, the not-afraid-to-speak-his-mind gadfly and renegade historian Thaddeus Russel of the Unregistered and Unreported podcasts returns to the program for a wide-ranging conversation on current events. Thaddeus is the author of The Renegade History of the United States , a fascinating book delving into the ways in which criminal, deviants, weirdos, outsiders, and other so-called social miscreants shaped America and were often at the frontiers of freedom. The convers...
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 1056
In this episode of Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael , I’m joined by journalist and author Ross Benes to discuss his new book 1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times . We dive into how one seemingly ridiculous year, marked by Pokémon mania, pro wrestling mayhem, aggro-fueled nu metal, and shock TV overload, actually laid the groundwork for the chaotic media and cultural landscape we live in today. 🔍 Topics Covered: The mainstreaming of “low culture”: How dayt...
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 1053
On this edition of Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael, Andrew Day of The American Conservative returns to the program for a discussion about the recent Israeli strike on Iran and its far-reaching implications. Specifically, we explore how this development challenges the ideological coherence of conservative supporters of Donald Trump and the broader MAGA movement—particularly those who advocate for a non-interventionist, "America First"-oriented foreign policy. As tensions escalate in the Middle Eas...
Jun 13, 2025•37 min•Ep. 1055
On this edition of Parallax Views, Middle East analyst James M. Dorsey, proprietor of The Turbulent World w/ James M. Dorsey blog/Substack, returns to the program to discuss what he considers a paradigm shift moment for the Middle East: last night's Israeli strike on Iran. What does it mean? How did we get to this point? Could this evolve into an all-out regional war? All those questions and many more are addressed in this conversation. We will also discuss the divisions in the Trump/MAGA base o...
Jun 13, 2025•51 min•Ep. 1054
On this edition of Parallax Views, writer and political theorist Malcolm Harris joins us to unpack his sharp critique of the so-called Abundance Agenda, popularized by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson. Harris argues that this vision—focused on building more housing, expanding clean energy, and turbocharging innovation—fails to confront the structural contradictions of capitalism and the political realities of class struggle. It's a vision of progress that avoids asking who builds, who benefits, and...
Jun 11, 2025•53 min•Ep. 1052
On this edition of Parallax Views, journalist Jacob Silverman returns to Parallax Views to unpack his new article, “Coin Operated: The Crypto Industry’s Takeover of American Politics,” a timely investigation into how cryptocurrency has gone from financial sideshow to political powerhouse. We explore how the crypto industry—despite a track record of scams, collapses, and regulatory defiance—has embedded itself at the heart of U.S. politics. From Donald Trump’s embrace of memecoins and bipartisan ...
Jun 09, 2025•55 min•Ep. 1051
On this gripping edition of Parallax Views , host J.G. Michael speaks with legal scholar Corinna Barrett Lain about her searing new book, Secrets of the Killing State: The Untold Story of Lethal Injection . Far from being a clean or clinical method of execution, Lain exposes lethal injection as the centerpiece of a scandalous history—rife with fake science, unqualified personnel, botched procedures, and layers of state secrecy designed to shield the public from the brutal reality of how America ...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 1050
In this provocative and deeply analytical conversation, journalist and author Yasha Levine joins Parallax Views to challenge a dominant narrative on both the left and right: that the Israel Lobby singularly controls U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Drawing from his background covering Cold War geopolitics and U.S. information warfare, Levine argues that this viewpoint dangerously simplifies the role of American imperialism—and obscures how nationalism, including Zionism, has historically ...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 1049
On this edition of Parallax Views, former CDC epidemiologist and physician Dr. Charles LeBaron joins us to discuss his explosive new book Greed to Do Good: The Untold Story of CDC’s Disastrous War on Opioids . Drawing on his rare vantage point as a public health insider (with 28 years' experience at the CDC), clinician, and former pain patient, Dr. LeBaron argues that the CDC’s 2016 opioid guidelines—meant to reduce overdose deaths—actually worsened the crisis. We explore how flawed data, politi...
May 30, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 1042
On this edition of Parallax Views , comedian and writer Kate Willett joins us to examine the growing influence of Silicon Valley billionaires on the Democratic Party and the controversial politics behind the so-called Abundance Agenda. Framed by figures like Ezra Klein as a bold, future-focused vision of progress, this agenda is increasingly backed by tech elites such as Dustin Moskovitz—co-founder of Facebook—and promoted through a network of well-funded think tanks, including the Niskanen Cent...
May 21, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 1048
In this timely conversation, Parallax Views host J.G. Michael sits down with The Nation 's editorial director and longtime progressive voice Katrina vanden Heuvel to discuss the mounting political crises shaking both Europe and the United States. Drawing from her recent co-authored piece, "Report from Europe: The Center Does Not Hold," and her Mother's Day commentary in The Guardian , vanden Heuvel explores the dangers of austerity politics, the failure of centrist consensus, and the rise of far...
May 15, 2025•42 min•Ep. 1047
On this edition of Parallax Views, you will hear an incredible story that, on its surface, you may mistake as being just about professional wrestling: the life and career of "The Golden Greek" Jim Londos. He was the biggest star of not only pro wrestling in the 1920s and 1930s, but arguably of sports itself. His popularity eclipsed that of the profession itself. He sold out stadiums of tens of thousands. Contrary to popular misconceptions, pro wrestling was not simply the domain of smoky rooms b...
May 10, 2025•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 1029
On this edition of Parallax Views, Orthodox Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro — author of The Empty Wagon: Zionism’s Journey from Identity Crisis to Identity Theft — returns to unpack the theological foundations of Jewish anti-Zionism and non-Zionism. Fresh off his participation in a protest against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's recent U.S. visit, Rabbi Shapiro explains why he believes Zionism is not only a political nationalist ideology distinct from Judaism, but one that misrepresent...
May 09, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 1046
On this episode of Parallax Views , we’re joined by University of Chicago political scientist Michael Albertus, author of the forthcoming book Land Power: Who Has It, Who Doesn’t, and How That Determines the Fate of Societies (Basic Books, Jan. 14, 2025). Drawing on his expertise in democracy, dictatorship, inequality, property rights, and social conflict, Albertus unpacks how land ownership lies at the heart of power struggles shaping both authoritarian regimes and liberal democracies. The book...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 1045
On this May Day edition of Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael, political theorist Matt McManus joins us to unpack The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism, his groundbreaking new book. We explore: Liberal Socialism Defined: Why liberal rights and socialist economics aren’t mutually exclusive—and how methodological collectivism and normative individualism unite them. Historical Roots: From Mary Wollstonecraft and Thomas Paine’s radical democracy to John Stuart Mill’s social liberalism, contrasted wi...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 1044
On this edition of Parallax Views , we remember the late Pope Francis in conversation with veteran journalist William Dowell, who recently penned the WhoWhatWhy article “The Passing of a Genuinely Christian Pope.” Dowell reflects on Francis’s lasting spiritual legacy, portraying him as a humble and principled leader who consistently emphasized compassion for the poor, migrants, and marginalized—offering a distinct moral voice in a time often marked by political polarization and societal uncertai...
Apr 30, 2025•39 min•Ep. 1043
You're Listening to Parallax Views https://parallaxviews.podbean.com/ Support the Show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews On this edition of Parallax Views with J.G. Michael , we explore the powerful financial forces behind Washington D.C.’s most influential think tanks—and how those funding streams may shape U.S. foreign policy and defense strategy. Joining us are Ben Freeman and Nick Cleveland-Stout of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft to discuss their eye-opening ...
Apr 25, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 1041
On this special episode of Parallax Views , we enter the world of Shoot Pro Wrestling (SPW)—a new promotion looking to bring the raw intensity and legitimacy of catch-as-catch-can wrestling back to the forefront of combat sports and professional wrestling. Joining the conversation are three key figures behind the SPW movement: – 🧠 Jake Shannon, catch wrestling historian and founder of Scientific Wrestling – 🥊 Pat Miletich, UFC legend, coach, and one of the original hybrid fighters in American ...
Apr 24, 2025•57 min•Ep. 1040
On this edition of Parallax Views , the biggest wrestling event of the year is only days away: WrestleMania. Billed as the "Showcase of the Immortals," WrestleMania is the marquee event of World Wrestling Entertainment and has been going strong for over 40 years. On April 19th and 20th, WWE will present WrestleMania 41 . Yes—FORTY-ONE. Ahead of the big event, I spoke with Gary from the YouTube channel Grapplevision —one of the most unique and compelling voices in pro wrestling media today. While...
Apr 16, 2025•4 hr 37 min•Ep. 1038
On this edition of Parallax Views , host J.G. Michael welcomes back writer and commentator Ralph Leonard to unpack his recent UnHerd article, "Dave Smith–Douglas Murray Debate Highlights Right-Wing Fault Lines." In this wide-ranging conversation, Leonard breaks down the recent viral Joe Rogan-hosted debate between anti-war libertarian comedian Dave Smith and neoconservative public intellectual Douglas Murray — a fiery exchange that has become a flashpoint for deeper tensions within the contempor...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 1039
On this edition of Parallax Views, the Quincy Institute's Dr. Annelle Sheline, a frequent guest on the program and a former Biden-era State Dept. official who resigned over the U.S. handling of Gaza, returns to discuss her briefing "Under Primacy, Weapons Sales Will Always Supersede Human Rights" . But first we discuss the article she recently co-wrote for Responsible Statecraft entitled "Trump drops news bomblet: Direct US-Iran talks this Saturday" . The conversation begins with a discussion of...
Apr 10, 2025•46 min•Ep. 1037
On this edition of Parallax Views, Geoffrey Aronson, a noted analyst Middle East affairs and formerly the director of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, returns to discuss his latest Responsible Statecraft piece entitled "Israel's plan for Gaza is clear: 'Conquest, expulsion, settlement'" . One of the key aspects of Geoffrey's analysis in said article is that Israel is currently pursuing a policy of "politicide", or, as he puts it, "destroying for all time any Palestinian hope for sovereignty...
Apr 10, 2025•44 min•Ep. 1036
In this episode of Parallax Views, returning guest and veteran JFK assassination researcher Jim DiEugenio joins us to unpack the recent developments in the long-running battle over JFK assassination records. We dive into the legacy of President Trump’s January 2025 executive order concerning the JFK files and discuss the implications of the recent congressional hearing led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna — to which Jim himself testified! Jim, who was in attendance at the Luna hearing, shares his first...
Apr 10, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 1035
On this edition of Parallax Views, the Left Business Observer's Doug Henwood, host of the influential radio program Behind the News, returns to the program to discuss Trump's tariffs, Bidenomics vs. Trumponomics, the legacy of the anti-WTO/anti-globalization protests of the late 1990s, and much more! Literally a half hour before Doug and I began recording Trump announced a 90-day pause on some of his tariffs . We'll be discussing what Doug sees as Trump's nostalgia about a romanticized 1950s Ame...
Apr 09, 2025•38 min•Ep. 1034
