Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael

J.G.
Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael

A podcast where politics, history, and culture are examined from perspectives you may not have considered before. Call it a parallax view.

  1. VOR 2 TAGEN

    From ‘Total Obliteration’ to Total Confusion: Decoding Trump’s Iran Strike Claims w/ Paul R. Pillar

    👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. In this episode of Parallax Views, former senior CIA analyst and national security expert Paul R. Pillar returns to break down his latest article, “Trump’s use and misuse of Iran intel,” published in Responsible Statecraft. We explore how the Trump administration clashed with U.S. intelligence threat assessments over Iran, the problem with threat exaggeration/threat inflation, and Trump's attempt shape public perception of the Iranian nuclear threat—and how these strategies may backfire on both Trump and the U.S. in the future. Pillar explains that within a single week, President Trump clashed with U.S. intelligence assessments on Iran in two contradictory ways—first by dismissing the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and the intelligence community’s conclusion that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon, and then by rejecting internal Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessments suggesting that U.S. airstrikes had only set back Iran’s nuclear program by a few months. In both cases, Trump disregarded intelligence that didn’t serve his political narrative. Rather than responding to sober analysis, he sought to craft a storyline in which he faced down an imminent threat and eliminated it through decisive military action—regardless of what the intelligence actually showed. And now, Trump is going to be left in a conundrum if the DIA assessments are correct and Iran seeks to build nuclear weapons in the course of his term, especially after having declared that the capabilities had been "totally obliterated" with the strikes on Fordow and other Iranian nuclear sites. Topics discussed include: How intelligence cherry-picking in this case echoes the WMD fiasco in Iraq The need for discourse about Iran's intentions vs. its capabilities Why Trump’s narrative of “obliteration” may put him in a political bind if Iran’s nuclear capability proves resilient The high likelihood that U.S. and Israeli strikes will accelerate Iran’s nuclear pursuits, rather than deter them The crucial distinction between capabilities and intentions in intelligence analysis—and why the latter is so easily politicized The enduring damage of the Right’s “mad mullahs” myth, which portrays Iran as irrational and suicidal, undermining effective policy and accurate assessments How Israel’s selective intelligence leaks are used to pressure U.S. policymakers into military escalation We also examine the fallout for the IAEA’s monitoring capabilities; arch-neocon Robert Kagan's belief that a war with Iran is foolish because 1.) Iran is not a threat to the U.S., and 2.) it could empower authoritarian power grabs in the U.S. domestically by the administration; and more. This is a vital conversation for anyone concerned about U.S. foreign policy, Middle East strategy, national security, and the future of intelligence integrity.

    53 Min.

  2. VOR 4 TAGEN

    Squid Game Gaza? Israel, U.S. Contractors, & the GHF Scandal w/ Stavroula Pabst

    👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. On this edition of Parallax Views, we examine how the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)—an Israeli-backed and U.S.-funded aid initiative—is being accused of turning famine relief in Gaza into a real-life Squid Game. The allegation is disturbing: a chilling “Red Light, Green Light Game” scenario wherein starving Palestinian civilians are being forced to approach GHF aid distribution centers for food, only to risk being shot by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) securing the sites. These centers are operated with the help of armed American private military contractors, and as of late May, more than 580 Palestinians have reportedly been killed at or near them. The most shocking detail? The U.S. State Department has contributed $30 million to support this controversial operation. Worth noting is the fact thatthe controversies surrounding the GHF aren't the domain of the so-called "fringe". They've have been covered by mainstream outlets like the Haaretz and the Associated Press. Moreover, humanitarian groups have raised questions about how the GHF operates. Joining us is investigative journalist Stavroula Pabst, whose Responsible Statecraft article reveals that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is not a neutral NGO, but a project conceived by Israeli officials, backed by Israeli tech investors, allegedly tied to Mossad, and implemented with the involvement of U.S. private military firms linked to the CIA. Together, we explore how the scandalous bloodbaths that have occured at or near GHF aid centers, GHF's PR campaign, and the U.S. backing of the operation. This episode dives into what appears to be the dangerous merging of humanitarian aid, military strategy, and public relations, raising urgent questions about war crimes, U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, and the erosion of international humanitarian norms. Stavroula's article: "Is the US now funding the bloodbath at Gaza aid centers? | Responsible Statecraft" NOTE: Views of guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect all the views of J.G. Michael or the Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael program

    47 Min.

  3. 4. JULI

    A Shared Sorrow: Reckoning with War, Memory, and Greater America w/ Viet Thanh Nguyen

    🎙️ 4TH OF JULY SPECIAL 👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. On this edition of Parallax Views, acclaimed author and Pulitzer Prize–winner Viet Thanh Nguyen, author fo the hit novel The Sympathizer, joins us to discuss his powerful new essay in The Nation, “Greater America Has Been Exporting Disunion for Decades.” We explore how U.S. foreign policy—past and present—continues to shape not only global politics but domestic disunion. Nguyen draws on his recent trip to El Salvador to examine the enduring legacies of U.S.-backed wars, the violence of counterinsurgency, and how authoritarian leaders like Nayib Bukele are now being embraced by American officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Donald Trump himself. We unpack the idea of “Greater America” as a project of imperial ambition, mass incarceration, and historical amnesia—from the El Mozote massacre to the Phoenix Program, COINTELPRO, and modern immigration policy. Nguyen also reflects on what it means to be a refugee in a country responsible for your displacement, and why genuine patriotism requires memory, grief, and dissent, not myth or denial. This wide-ranging conversation delves into empire, memory, war crimes, refugee identity, authoritarianism, and the feedback loop between U.S. intervention abroad and repression at home. NOTE: Views of guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect all the views of J.G. Michael or the Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael program

    44 Min.

  4. 2. JULI

    The Meaning of Zohran Mamdani's Victory + The Anti-Human Ideology of Peter Thiel w/ Jeet Heer

    🎙️ 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 episode of Parallax Views, Jeet Heer, National Affairs correspondent for The Nation, joins us to unpack the political shockwaves of Zohran Mamdani’s insurgent victory in the NYC Democratic Party Mayoral primaries and explore how Peter Thiel’s techno-utopianism reveals the billionaire class’s growing estrangement from humanity. We dig into the political earthquake that is Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral primary win—not just as an electoral upset, but as a harbinger of deeper cracks in the Democratic Party establishment. Jeet Heer argues that Mamdani’s triumph over Andrew Cuomo wasn’t just a personal victory; it exposed the weakness, exhaustion, and disconnect of a party elite clinging to outdated strategies and fading legitimacy. We talk about what this means for the future of progressive politics and how Mamdani’s insurgency could signal a turning point for the Democratic Party. Specifically, we look at Mamdani's class-first focus in his campaign, the failure of Cuomo's campaign to conflate anti-Zionism with antisemitism, the billionaire class's opposition to Mamdani, the failings of Establishment Democrats and their 90s-style Clinton centrism, and much, much more. In the second half of the conversation, we turn to Jeet Heer’s piercing critique of Peter Thiel and the billionaire class’s growing detachment from humanity. Drawing on Thiel’s recent interview with Ross Douthat, Heer explores how figures like Thiel have come to see themselves as post-human visionaries—disillusioned with democracy, disdainful of the masses, and obsessed with transcendence through AI and technology. We examine Thiel’s cultural diagnosis of Western “stagnation,” his bizarre fixation on the 1960s counterculture (hippies and Charles Manson!) and Greta Thunberg as "The Antichrist", and how his worldview reflects a deeper malaise among the ultra-wealthy. We also delve into why Douthat and other religiously minded or Christian folks, conservative or otherwise, are wary of Thiel and the techno-libertarian vision that some are calling techno-feudalism. We'll also touch upon the desire of tech billionaires to seemingly be "Kings" that rule over the masses with an Orwellian surveillance state apparatus and how this actually betrays the libertarian notions they claim to support. And yes, we briefly mention Curtis Yarvin (aka Mencius Moldbug) and Palantir among other matters. For Heer, the danger isn’t just Thiel’s eccentric futurism—it’s that this nihilistic techno-libertarianism is shaping real political and economic power. NOTE: Views of guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect all the views of J.G. Michael or the Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael program Support independent media and critical journalism by donating to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews

    1 Std. 1 Min.

  5. 2. JULI

    Trump, the Big Beautiful Bill, & the Restructuring of U.S. Foreign Policy w/ Jack Rasmus

    🎙️ 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 branding. While headline-grabbing provisions like no tax on tips aim to appeal to the working-class base and may offer said base something, the bill ultimately delivers massive tax cuts for the wealthy and deep cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, reinforcing longstanding elite priorities. He also examines how the Establishment wing of the Democratic Party’s failure to seriously challenge austerity and tax cuts as well as how the Democratic Party may face implosion from a leadership that refuses to address bread and butter issues head-on. Then, in the second half of the conversation, we explore Trump's foreign policy—debunking the “isolationist” label—and consider how the MAGA movement seeks to consolidate U.S. power in the Western hemisphere and the Pacific through territorial ambitions and militaristic posturing. Along the way, we discuss: The bill’s impact on healthcare and working families The ruling class consensus on economic policy The bombing of Iran, AIPAC’s influence, and the reconfiguration of U.S. global strategy It’s a wide-ranging conversation on the economic and geopolitical architecture of 21st-century power—and who it’s really built to serve. NOTE: Views of guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect all the views of J.G. Michael or the Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael program Support independent media and critical journalism by donating to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews

    1 Std. 2 Min.

  6. 2. JULI

    Trump, the Imperial Presidency, and How the Bush & Biden Administrations Got Us Here w/ James Bovard

    🎙️ 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, libertarian author and critic James Bovard joins J.G. Michael to unpack Donald Trump’s recent bombing of Iran through the lens of “presidential absolutism.” Bovard argues that what appears to be unprecedented aggression is actually the culmination of decades-long erosion of constitutional checks—originating with Bush’s post‑9/11 AUMF and expansive signing statements, continuing through Obama’s targeted drone strikes on U.S. citizens like Anwar al‑Awlaki, and through congressional acquiescence to war powers abuses. Some have called this the trend of the "Imperial Presidency". Themes explored: From AUMF to Imperial Office – How the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force became a blank check for successive presidents, and the failure of Congress to pushback. Bush’s Legal Legacy – The “unitary executive theory,” sanctioning torture memos and sweeping interpretations of presidential privilege that laid groundwork for future overreach. The Obama Continuation of Executive Overreach – Drone killings and mass surveillance helped normalize executive power grabbing. Trump’s Presidential Absolutism – What the bombing of Iran illustrates about the Trump administration and Presidential power in 2025. We also discuss how  Domestic Spillover and the Crushing of Dissent on Foreign Policy Issues – The chilling effect on dissent, illuminated by the arrest of Turkish grad student Rümeysa Öztürk, showcases how war fever and narratives about foreign enemies, especially since the Global War on Terror, lead to the curtailing of freedoms at home. This episode is a deep and timely discussion on how America’s constitutional safeguards were weakened by successive administrations, culminating in the boldest assertions of presidential power yet—making Trump’s actions appear in some ways more like continuation than rupture. NOTE: Views of guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect all the views of J.G. Michael or the Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael program Support independent media and critical journalism by donating to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews

    1 Std. 2 Min.

  7. 2. JULI

    Israel-Iran "Ceasefire" Fragility, Israel's Emasculation Strategy, & the Gulf States w/ James Dorsey

    Note: There's a little bit of crackle in the audio in this episode. Attempts were made to remove crackle as much as possible, but it remains at some point. Hopefully it does not pose too much of a problem for listening. 🎙️ 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, James M. Dorsey of the Turbulent World Substack blog returns to reflect of the "ceasefire" between Israel and Iran. Dorsey argues this is not so much a ceasefire as a fragile halt of hostilities for the time being, or a pause. Dorsey notes that it's unclear how much of Iran's nuclear program has been damaged or salvaged by the Islamic Republic in light of the strikes. That, he says, is a big question right now. We then discuss Trump's relationship with the Gulf States and his evangelical Christian Zionist base. That poses an issue for Trump, Dorsey argues. $3.6 trillion are on the table from the Gulf States (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc.) and they want the situation with Israel, Gaza, and Iran solved according to Dorsey. The tumult and fragility of the Middle East has become something of a headache for both the U.S. and the Gulf States. Dorsey argues the current talk of a Gaza ceasefire is a "Fata Morgana", or a mirage, an illusion. We delve into the different interests at work when it comes to the Gulf States and Israel, and how the relationship between Israel and certain Gulf States have changed from 2015 to now. He argues that the Gulf States' perceptions of Israel have changed. For one thing, the Saudi Arabia-Iran rapprochement means that the situation of Israel's unofficial alliance with the Saudis against Iran has changed. Moreover, Dorsey says that the defense doctrine of Israel has gone from deterrence to emasculation of perceived enemies and states within the region. This changes the dynamic between Israel and the Gulf States, at least in how the Gulf States perceive Israel. Which is to say that Gulf States are now perceiving Israel as aggressive leading to the question of, "Could we be next?" We then begin delving into some "odds and ends" in the conversation including: - Israel, Palestine, and the issue of the 1967 borders - The history of the U.S.-Iran relations and why they have been so tense - Pushing back on the "mad mullahs" narrative about the Islamic Republic of Iran - Trump's walking away from the JCPOA (the Iran nuclear deal) - Is Iran more likely to go nuclear after the latest strikes? - Biggest risk in the Middle East?: not tackling root problems; Israel's belief that it has the right to strikes whenever and wherever it wants against a perceived threat means a "law of the jungle" system in the Middle East and could become adopted by other states - Potential deal between Israel and Syria - The Abu Shabab clan in Gaza - Netanyahu's rejection of any Palestinian national aspirations and what informs it - And more! NOTE: Views of guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect all the views of J.G. Michael or the Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael program Support independent media and critical journalism by donating to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews

    56 Min.

  8. 29. JUNI

    160 Years of Radical Journalism: The History of The Nation (and I.F. Stone!) w/ D.D. Guttenplan

    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 features 50 writers offering dispatches from across the country on the theme of national fragmentation, political disillusionment, and the fraying of civic bonds. We also delve into the challenges facing journalism today as both major political parties struggle to meet the needs and aspirations of the American public. Finally, we take a deep dive into the life and legacy of legendary independent journalist I.F. Stone, or Izzy as he was known to his friends, examining his fearless truth-telling, his battle with government surveillance, and his enduring relevance in today’s media landscape. We discuss how Stone currently called the Gulf of Tonkin incident correctly in real-time during the LBJ Presidency when no other reporter did, J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI vs. Stone, Stone as a muckraker and his relationship with the great George Seldes, I.F. Stone's adage "All Governments Lie", and his book Underground to Palestine. Guttenplan is the author of American Radical: The Life and Times of I.F. Stone. 👉 Topics discussed: The Nation’s founding in 1865 and its legacy of dissent The meaning behind These Disunited States and the state of American identity The role of independent journalism in an age of disinformation I.F. Stone’s methodology, influence, and political evolution Why journalism must challenge power—regardless of party Support independent media and critical journalism by donating to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews

    1 Std. 11 Min.
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A podcast where politics, history, and culture are examined from perspectives you may not have considered before. Call it a parallax view.

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  • Erstellt von
    J.G.
  • Jahre aktiv
    2018 - 2025
  • Folgen
    936
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    Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael

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