Nuclear Options | 05.03.22.

This week, we ask how we became so polarized, and look at the underlying reasons for division in our culture in a discussion about the meaning behind the "Middle Theory."  

Can't we all just get along? What are the roots of the conflicts we see in the world around us... from the geopolitical stage, to our neighborhoods and communities? Although polls over the years offer mixed results, a recurring theme is that voters often tend to be more moderate than the politicians they vote for. Why, then, does there appear to be so much polarization in society, both in politics, and in other areas of life? One result has been that many profess to be politically independent, entirely apolitical, or political "centrists" in an attempt to avoid the polarized viewpoints that so often predominate discussions in the media. And yet, an analysis of the range of ways people define "centrism" even gets confused... how can we have a discussion over the merits, or lack thereof, of a political philosophy when no one seems to agree on a definition for it? This has been one of the long-running themes of the Middle Theory podcast, and one that we explore in depth on this special edition of the podcast. This... is Middle Theory. 

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SHOW NOTES

• CAWTHORN: Madison Cawthorn says 'blackmail won't win' after nude video surfaces
• MYSTERY MUSK: Elon Musk fans concerned after billionaire writes chilling post on Twitter about dying 'under mysterious circumstances 
• FED: Fed raises rates by half a percentage point — the biggest hike in two decades — to fight inflation 
• NO JOKE: “Nobody's Safe”: Dave Chappelle Attack Raises Concerns for Performers
• POLARIZED: This Is The Reason American Politics Are So Polarized
• How Politics Got So Polarized | The New Yorker
• EVIDENCE: How Polarized are Citizens? Measuring Ideology from the Ground-Up
• Cross-Country Trends in Affective Polarization 
• CENTRIST MISCONCEPTIONS: The Problem with Balance: My Issue with Centrism
• Why You Shouldn't be a Centrist | YIP Institute  
• The Impossibility of Centrism - The Atlantic 
• THE MIDDLE WAY: Middle Way - Wikipedia

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This week, growing concerns over Russia's nuclear rhetoric in recent days have experts looking at how far Vladimir Putin might go in his quest to conquer Ukraine. 

This week, as recent polls (finally) show Biden's approval ratings are on the rise, we take a look at what it could mean heading into the mid-terms in November. Meanwhile, Elon Musk has provided reporters with a few vague ideas of what he plans to do with Twitter... putting him into a unique position in terms of political perception and leanings. Then, shifting our attention to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, world leaders have expressed concerns about simulations broadcast on Russian state media depicting potential nuclear strike targets throughout Europe. How far might Vladimir Putin be willing to go as his back is increasingly pressed against the wall, and could this even escalate to the point of weighing the dreaded nuclear option?

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• Dennis Koch 
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SHOW NOTES

• POLLS: Biden ticks up, but GOP holds advantage on economy, Post-ABC poll finds
• MUSK: Elon Musk's big plans for Twitter: What we know so far | AP News 
• COVID: CA cases rising. New wave?
• Oprah says it’s too soon remove masks from planes
• 'We've not seen the WORST of Covid' warns Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates
• QUESTIONS: Reputed Deutsche Bank whistleblower and federal informant found dead 
• SPIES LIKE US: Russian Spies Hilariously Screw Up Putin's 'Assassination Plot' Claim 
• NUCLEAR OPTIONS: Russian state TV simulates nuke strike on Europe
• More danger than Cuban Missile Crisis?
• Putin is inching towards his nukes, threatening to annihilate the world if he fails to capture Ukraine, says foreign affairs expert 
• The Guardian view on Putin's nuclear threats: Russia is losing in Ukraine 
• NIP AND TUCKER: How Tucker Carlson Stoked White Fear to Conquer Cable
• What to Know About Tucker Carlson's Rise

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With Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, controversy ensues over issues of transparency and freedom of speech, and whether the platform can improve under Musk's leadership.

This week, the White House announced that Vice President Kamala Harris has tested positive for COVID-19, which may be the least of her problems based on a new book that reportedly reveals tensions between she and other members of the Biden Administration, including the President. We also look at the current situation involving statements this week by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, which shed new light on the U.S. military's role in the war in Ukraine. Elsewhere, controversy has erupted around Elon Musk's sudden acquisition of Twitter... and many are concerned about what this means for the future of the company, and issues related to free speech and transparency. We look at all of these stories this week on Middle Theory. 

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• Robert Cramer
• Jennie Vongvith 
• Jessica Riley 
• Jennifer Garland 
• Kevin Webb 
• Mark Hankins II 
• Stacia Schwartz
• Ali Buchan 
• Brian Davis

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SHOW NOTES

• COVID: Kamala Harris tests positive for Covid as Vice President isolates with no symptoms
• BAD BLOOD: Biden Left GOP Senators 'Taken Aback' With Harsh Dismissal of Harris
• BIG BUY: Elon Musk to buy Twitter for $44B and take it private
• BIG BIRD: Twitter accepts Elon Musk's buyout deal
• FEAR: Twitter workers face a reality they've long feared: Elon Musk as owner
• FREE SPEECH: Elon Musk says he wants free speech, but his track record suggests otherwise
• Elon Musk's Twitter revolution: Rebellious staff claim their new boss is 'dangerous for democracy'
• BEZOS: Jeff Bezos trolls Elon Musk over Twitter deal
• MYSTERIES: Elon Musk's $21 Billion Mystery: Where Will Tesla Ceo Get Cash For Twitter?
• Funding obscured: The family office behind buyout
• Takeover sets up clash with Europe regulations
• Trump says he won't rejoin. Some advisers don't believe him
• DORSEY: With Musk in Charge at Twitter, Could Jack Come Back?
• Dorsey's bizarre lifestyle revealed
  FACEBOOK: Facebook Doesn't Know What It Does With Your Data, Or Where It Goes

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As Ukrainian officials say the "Battle of Donbas" has begun, we look at how one controversial Russian cleric has urged for "holy war" as the conflict in Ukraine wears on. 

This week, news that record numbers of retirees are fleeing to countries like Portugal is making headlines amidst reports about economic woes around the world, and news about the latest strain of the coronavirus sweeping the United States. That, in addition to the unsurprising news that Alex Jones' INFOWARS company has filed for bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have now said that their fears about battle in the Donbas region have come to fruition. However, the views of one controversial Russian cleric take center focus in this week's analysis, and the notion that some in Russia view the invasion that has led to the deaths of thousands of Ukrainians and Russians alike is tantamount to a "holy war." We explore this, and other themes in recent news this week on Middle Theory.

Image Credit: Міністерство оборони України, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

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• Connie Fletcher
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SHOW NOTES

• EXPATS: Americans Move to Portugal in Droves
• BANKRUPT WARS: Alex Jones INFOWARS Files for Bankruptcy
• SEEK AND DESTROY: Zelenskiy says Russia wants to 'destroy' Ukraine's Donbas region 
• Mariupol on brink as fighters defy surrender demands
• Mystery as 'dead' captain at 'survivors' parade
• Orthodox leader backs war, divides faith
• Syrians ready to join next phase of conflict
• TAIWAN: Taiwan says China's threats will only increase support for island 
• WRAP UP: BA.2 Proves Pandemic Isn't Over, but People Are Over It

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This week, we analyze Elon Musk's new influence on social media giant Twitter, and the company's issue with bots posing as users.

Former President Donald Trump is back in the news for his recent controversial endorsement of television doctor Mehmet Oz in his Senate bid in Pennsylvania, which has evoked ire from conservatives. Meanwhile, as the situation in Ukraine remains at a standstill for now, what do things look like within Russia, where Vladimir Putin appears to still be suffering from delusions of grandeur and victory? Then we turn our attention to the controversy surrounding Elon Musk's recent purchase of shares in Twitter, followed by a surprise rejection of an offer to sit on the company's board amidst Tweets that the company is "dying" over the weekend. What will this mean for the social media giant, who faces new claims that a surprising number of its users may actually be bots helping to steer widespread misinformation?

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SHOW NOTES

• TRUMP CARD: Trump  faces fierce GOP backlash after endorsing TV's Dr Oz in Senate race
• UKRAINE: Cheering Ukrainian troops shoot down Russian drone with British missile!
• Inside wartime Russia, Putin isn't losing
• Vlad using retired soldiers to replenish forces, echo of desperate Hitler
• USA Weighs Shift to Support Hague Court as It Investigates Atrocities
• STEALTH SURGE: Covid Could Be Surging in the U.S. Right Now and We Might Not Even Know It
• DEEP BREATH: Humans can fight off viruses simply by breathing - Study Finds 
• OFF BOARDING: Elon Musk decides not to join Twitter board, says CEO Parag Agrawal
• Twitter stakeholder Elon Musk tweets 'Is Twitter dying?'
• BOT WARS: Researchers: Nearly Half Of Accounts Tweeting About COVID Are Likely Bots 
• FROM TWITTER: Four truths about bots 
• Bot or not? The facts about platform manipulation on Twitter
• FLASHBACK: Twitter's Bot Problem Still Seems as Bad as Ever | Vanity Fair 
• Twitter Can't Win The War on Misinformation Until It Fixes its Bot Problem | Digital Trends

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In this episode, we are joined by YouTube documentarian and essayist Peter Coffin for a philosophical and economically-minded discussion about cancel culture.

Earlier this week, much of the world awakened to horrifying images out of Ukraine which appear to show the bodies of civilians who were killed by Russian forces, who are now steadily retreating from the embattled country. The images prompted U.S. President Joe Biden to double down on his war crime accusations against Vladimir Putin, and now many are asking whether the Russian leader will be made to stand trial for the atrocities. Then, following our news segment, we are joined by Youtuber and essayist Peter Coffin of the Very Important Documentaries YouTube channel, who joins us to discuss his new book "

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SHOW NOTES

• UKRAINE: Images of dead civilians in Ukraine shake the world - CNNPolitics
• Joe Biden calls for Vladimir Putin to face war crimes trial over Ukraine   
• Will Putin ever be held accountable for crimes in Ukraine?
• KING OF TWITTER: Musk takes 9% stake in Twitter to become top shareholder | Reuters
• CANCEL CULT: Why millennials drive cancel culture  
• PETER COFFIN: Peter Coffin on Twitter
• Very Important Documentaries on YouTube 
• Cancel Culture: Mob Justice or a Society of Subscriptions?

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This week, violence erupts at the Oscars during an unscripted episode between Best Actor Award recipient Will Smith and host Chris Rock.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine may have now reached a standstill, as Russian and Ukrainian officials meet to discuss moving toward an end to the conflict that has now raged for almost a month. However, the world's attention put toward the crisis unfolding in the East was temporarily diverted on Sunday, when during the 94th Academy Awards, actor Will Smith, who would later the same night go on to win the award for Best Actor for his role in King Richard, stormed the stage and slapped host Chris Rock following an unmemorable joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The incident has received an unprecedented amount of attention since Sunday, and we attempt to analyze the media response, as the Academy weighs options that might include disciplinary action against Smith for what many viewed as an assault on live television. 

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SHOW NOTES

• RUSSIAN DEATHS: Up to 40,000 Russian soldiers killed, wounded, captured or MIA, NATO says 
• FIGHT OR DIE: Putin 'orders execution squads to kill HIS OWN men' if they try to desert
• SHITSHOW: 'It's a Sh*tshow': Russian Troops Are Now Turning on Each Other 
• THE LATEST: Ukraine suspends evacuations amid safety fears; Russia, Ukraine prepare for face-to-face talks 
• Ukraine leader says he seeks peace 'without delay' in talks | AP News 
• BIDEN ON PUTIN: Biden says Putin "cannot stay in power" 
• AUDIO: Bash presses NATO rep. on walking back Biden's unscripted Putin declaration 
• WHAT HAPPENS AT THE OSCARS: Will Smith apologizes during Oscar acceptance speech 
• An unfunny, unmemorable joke changed Oscars history and Will Smith's Hollywood story
• Tiffany Haddish Says Smith Stood 'Up for His Wife' at Oscars: 'Most Beautiful Thing I've Seen' 
• Jaden Smith Tweets 'That's How We Do It' After Will Smith's Oscar Win and Chris Rock Smack 
• Hollywood Reacts To The Oscar Slap: “Ugliest Oscar Moment Ever”, Tweets Mark Hamill 
• ‘Violence instead of words’: Will Smith condemned for hitting Chris Rock at the Oscars 
• Will Smith and Chris Rock's Bitter History That Led to the Oscars Slap 
• Chris Rock isn't pressing charges against Will Smith for the Oscars slap
• Could Will Smith lose his Oscar? Explaining the Academy's code of conduct

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As the crisis in Ukraine continues, world leaders ask how long the present stalemate might continue, and whether an attempt at removing Putin from power could soon occur from within Russia.

The Ukrainian conflict has now been underway for almost a month, as many western leaders and commentators look at the apparent stalemate that has erupted between the embattled country and Russian invaders. However, as the crisis continues to unfold, many are asking questions about Russia's claims that it recently used hypersonic weapons against targets in Ukraine. Meanwhile, many are also wondering about the broader messaging coming out of Russia, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying recently that perhaps the most frightening thing of all could be the idea that Vladimir Putin is buying his own hype. However, while the Russian leader continues to propagandize claims of Russian unity, what is the likelihood that a takeover attempt from within Russia could occur, in an effort to oust Putin as the Russian military continues to lose soldiers by the thousands, while innocent Ukrainians are captured, deported, and killed in the conflict?

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SHOW NOTES

• TIME SHIFT: Daylight savings change faces trouble in House 
• SAUDI ARABIA ATTACK: Yemen rebels launch wide strikes on Saudi sites
• Jake Sullivan White House Statement on Houthi attack 
• HOT TOPIC:  'Madness' to turn to fossil fuels because of Ukraine war
• NO SURRENDER: Mariupol rejects Russian demand to surrender as war shows no let-up
• Captives shipped to labor camps?
• HYPERSONICS: Russia Claims to Use a Hypersonic Missile
• We Have Questions About Russia's Claimed Kinzhal Hypersonic Missile Use In Ukraine 
• Report to Congress on Hypersonic Weapons - USNI News 
• Pentagon to Speed Development of Hypersonic Weapons | Arms Control Association 
• STALEMATE: War could be headed toward stalemate
• Russia, Failing to Achieve Early Victory in Ukraine, Is Seen Shifting to 'Plan B'
• COUP FOR YOU: Putin 'panicking' over revolution in Moscow as he battles to control Ukraine
• BUYING HIS OWN HYPE: Why Zelensky is 'very frightened' of Putin believing his own claims
• AMERICAN AID: Frustrations of novice Americans who signed up to fight
• American Fighters Flying Dozens of Deterrence Missions
• Pentagon Work With Biological Facilities Becomes Flashpoint
• Biden to visit Poland

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This week, we discuss the latest on the developing situation with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, whether there is a "Red Line" for the Biden Administration, and insights on the conflict with reporter Tim McMillan.

As the Russian Invasion of Ukraine continues, more experts and analysts are becoming worried about the possibility of humanitarian threats from Vladimir Putin amidst rumors of possible use of chemical weapons. Meanwhile, White House press secretary Jen Pskaki has said the Biden Administration remains committed to avoiding war with Russia... but while Psaki says the White House won't get into "speculations" about future conflict, is there a red line? 

Then later in the program we are joined by reporter Tim McMillan of The Debrief, who has been covering the developing situation in Ukraine since the outset. McMillan offers his perspectives on the developing situation, and offers insights as to why things aren't going so well for Russia at the moment... could the invasion attempt actually buckle in the days ahead? 

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A special thank you to those who donated to the podcast this week:

• Connie Fletcher
• Vicky Pinderski 
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• Doug Davis         
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SHOW NOTES

• THE LATEST: Moscow widens assault in Ukraine, raising fears of humanitarian disaster
• NATO: Nato masses 30,000 troops & 50 warships for huge war games on Russia's border 
• WAR CRIMES: 'They were shooting civilians': Ukraine refugees saw abuses 
• THE RED LINE: Jen Psaki suggests Putin using chemical weapons is not a 'red line' for US
• THE WAR WITHIN: Is Russia Really "at war with U.S. inside Ukraine"? 
• STOP, MR. PRESIDENT: Even State TV Pleading With Putin to Stop
• SACRIFICE: Americans will sacrifice more to help Ukraine than most did for our own wars 

JOIN US: REACH OUT TO MIDDLE THEORY

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With Russian forces meeting stronger resistance from Ukraine than expected, we look at recent anti-war protests in Russia, and possible motives driving Putin's decision to invade the country. 

This week, the United States and other countries make the difficult move toward banning oil imported from Russia, a decision which leaves open both the necessity for reliance on the Middle East, but also the prospect of returning to oil production at home. Elsewhere, with the war in Ukraine leaving the Russian military several thousand fewer in numbers, some officials are now weighing the possibility that Russia's invasion may not have its intended result... but more importantly, what are the possible factors driving Putin's choice in proceeding with the now very costly move? We explore all these questions, and much more, this week on Middle Theory. 

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SHOW NOTES

• OIL: Oil Traders Bet Prices Will Pass $200 a Barrel This Month 
• US crude oil briefly tops $130 a barrel, 13-year high on possible Western ban of Russian oil 
• MUSK: Elon Musk calls for more oil and gas production 'immediately' amid Russian invasion
• NUKES: Blinken says Ukraine sanctions on Russia not linked with Iran nuclear talks 
• CONCERNS: 'Grave concern' as Ukraine Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant under Russian orders
• Russian forces switch off mobile networks and internet at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, IAEA says 
• LOSERS: Russian forces are 'decimated' says top UK general
• LOSSES: Russia has lost 1,000 troops-a-day to ferocious Ukrainians in big blow to Putin
• PROTESTS: More than 4,500 antiwar protesters arrested in one day in Russia, group says 
• PROBLEMS: For Average Russians, Western Sanctions Over Ukraine War Begin to Bite
• CANCER CLAIM: Vladimir Putin 'dying in agony from terminal cancer', say sources 
• CHINA: China Warns US Against Forming Pacific NATO and Backing Taiwan
• China upholds its relationship with Russia, says negotiations needed to solve Ukraine conflict 
• WEST IS BEST: Who's the Imperialist Now? 

JOIN US: REACH OUT TO MIDDLE THEORY

To send us feedback, you can email us here. Also, follow Middle Theory on Twitter too... this is highly recommended, and may even be vital for some of you. Finally, as mentioned earlier, some may be further compelled to donate to the program, which helps keep ads for survival gear, water filters, male enhancement supplements, and do-it-yourself earthworm farming kits off the program.