Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael

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 happened, why Iran’s underground nuclear infrastructure may be more intact than reported, and how the U.S.-Israeli campaign may have done far less damage than claimed. We also discuss Richard’s recent Jacobin article, “Regime Change in Iran Will Not End Well”, which argues that the true goals of the bombing campaign — regime destabilization and securing Israel's regional dominance — have been pursued under the pretense of halting Iran’s nuclear program. Silverstein explores how U.S. and Israeli actions risk entrenching Iran’s hardliners, escalating regional instability, and backfiring catastrophically — all while sidelining diplomacy in favor of militarism and media-driven spectacle. Additionally, Richard argues that the Islamic Republic of Iran has, by surviving, won this round. In the final part of the conversation, we turn to Silverstein’s hard-hitting piece for The New Arab, “Genocide Goes Squid Game as Israel Outsources 'Aid' to Gaza Gangs”. There, he exposes how Israel is using armed proxies — notably members of the al-Shabab clan — to control aid distribution in Gaza, with Shin Bet reportedly organizing and funding the effort. We explore how this divide-and-rule strategy recalls past Israeli use of militias in Lebanon and Syria, and how disaster capitalism, mercenary networks, and covert intelligence operations are shaping Israel’s postwar "day after" plans for Gaza. Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews

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. First, it serves as a diversion from the horrors in Gaza and Israel's failure to complete its objectives there (such as the elimination of Hamas and the return of the hostages). Additionally, it creates a "rally around the flag" effect in Israel, which could prove beneficial to Netanyahu politically. From there, the conversation delves into Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons versus whether Iran would actually use such weapons, the question of what U.S. President Donald Trump might do next in regard to potential U.S. involvement in the conflict, hubris in Israeli politics, the question of regime change, and how Israel’s actions embolden Iran’s hardliners. The discussion also covers understanding Iran and the Islamic Republic sociologically, public sentiment toward Israel, Israel’s fragile relationship with autocratic regimes (some of which may be growing frustrated with Israel), comments from Ehud Olmert and Yair Golan on Israel's handling of Gaza, Ori’s belief that Israel’s problems are bigger than Netanyahu and messianic Zionist settlers, his critique of Israel's liberal Zionists, and the nature of Israel’s strike requiring long-term planning—and the implications of that. This episode is a deep dive into the dynamics of a volatile region and the geopolitics at play. Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews

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. We examine: Trump’s inflammatory statements and alleged coordination with Israel How U.S. deception may have derailed peace talks The historical pattern of American betrayal toward Iranian reformists The long-term consequences for diplomacy and U.S.-Iran relations This conversation provides critical context for understanding the geopolitics of the Middle East and how American foreign policy continues to undermine moderates while fueling hardliner narratives in Iran. Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews

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 conversation starts as a discussion of Donald Trump's betrayal of the America First, anti-interventionist wing of the MAGA coalition, but ends up going into a number of different directions over the course of about an hour and 20 minutes. Of course, Israel's strike against Iran and the beat of the war drums in the U.S., which could soon find itself in the conflict, informs a great portion of the conversation. Thaddeus argues that understanding Trump is less about understanding history than his psychology. We'll also discuss Thaddeus engagements with the dissident right, the history of paleoconservatism, why Thaddeus is pro-open borders and believes that MAGA has got immigration all wrong, disagreements with the dissident right over gender (Thaddeus opposes gender essentialism on both the left and right), the blind spots of MAGA, the history of riots in the United States and their impact on American freedom (yes, we talk the Stonewall riots), Gaza, Zionism, the Palestinian Solidarity Movement, how U.S. pop culture is more effective in changing foreign countries than soft power or hard power schemes initiated by the U.S. government (particularly in the Middle East; we mention Iran specifically in this regard, but also VERY, VERY briefly Saudi Arabia), and much, much more! Thaddeus is pretty heterodox, so his views will inevitably rankle both elements of the left and the right, but that's what makes this conversation perfect for Parallax Views! Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews

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 daytime TV, tabloid sensationalism, and deregulated media created a new normal of trashy spectacle. Pokémon, Beanie Babies, and capitalist fads: The rise of speculative consumer culture and how it foreshadowed digital-era phenomena like NFTs and meme stocks. Pro wrestling’s Attitude Era: The dominance of WWF and the rise of crash TV under Vince Russo—and how it shaped both pop culture and politics. Jerry Springer and political theater: How talk show antics became a model for cable news outrage and the performance of politics. Porn and the internet: The explosion of pornography in the late ’90s and how smartphones have made it ever-present in daily life. Napster and the digital revolution: How the free-for-all of early file-sharing reshaped media consumption forever. Insane Clown Posse and tribal fandoms: The rise of outsider cult followings as a blueprint for today’s digital subcultures. Nu-metal’s noisy rebellion: Limp Bizkit as a case study in how turn-of-the-century music captured cultural anxiety and masculine angst. And Limp Bizkit's embrace of being hated. Why 1999 still matters: How disposable entertainment from one year has left a permanent mark on politics, culture, and digital life. 💡 Why Listen: This episode is a wild ride through the trash and treasure of 1999, showing how a year often dismissed as kitsch actually set the tone for 21st-century life. If you’ve ever wondered why culture feels so chaotic, polarized, and performative today, the answers might just lie in Pokémon cards, Napster downloads, and a Kid Rock song you can’t stand. Credit for Intro Montage in this episode: • Track name: Dreamwalkers • Music provided by Bitoku/bitokubass Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews

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 East, what does this moment reveal about internal divisions within the American right? We also delve into why Andrew and others on the American right are questioning the U.S.-Israel special relationship and how some conservatives are frustrated with Trump's approach to Middle East foreign policy and specifically dealing with Iran. Moreover, Andrew explains why he believe this moment, which could evolve into an all-out war, could've been avoided with a different Iran policy.

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 over Iran, particularly the conflict between the America First foreign policy elements of MAGA and the Iran hawks within MAGA. James will also address the internal divisions in Israeli politics, as exemplified by Ehud Olmert and Yair Golan's recent critical comments about Netanyahu's approach to Gaza. Trump's strongman approach to foreign policy, the perpetual cycle between Trump and Iran that keeps repeating itself, the Gulf States, Turkey, Syria, the ultra-religious Zionist vs. the Likud, and more all comes up in this conversation as well.

Malcolm Harris, a writer and political theorist known for his book 'What's Left? Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis,' critiques the Abundance Agenda famously championed by Ezra Klein. He insists this approach overlooks key structural issues in capitalism. Harris proposes three strategies—marketcraft, public power, and communism—advocating for collaborative, democratic planning to navigate the climate crisis. He also examines the intertwining of climate issues with social justice, arguing for unified movements to confront these challenges.

Jacob Silverman, a journalist and author specializing in technology and finance, examines the startling rise of the crypto industry’s influence in American politics. He discusses the industry's shift from a niche interest to a political powerhouse, including Donald Trump's engagement with memecoins and the troubling harassment of SEC officials. Silverman shares insights from a Bitcoin conference, revealing how crypto culture is intertwining with MAGA politics and redefining discussions around regulation, power, and democracy.

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 kills in the name of justice. Lain pulls back the curtain on how this supposedly "humane" method evolved not through medical rigor, but through politics, improvisation, and obfuscation. We discuss how states have covered up grotesque failures, how governments have been swindled by shady operators like Harris Pharma, and the staggering cost to U.S. taxpayers. From inept and corrupt executioners gone rogue to a jaw-dropping story involving literal drug smuggling, Lain’s investigation blows the lid off the dark underbelly of America’s execution machinery, exposing a system held together by misinformation, malpractice, and a stunning lack of oversight. This is an essential episode for anyone concerned with state power, the criminal justice system, and what happens when the machinery of death is hidden behind a veil of bureaucracy. Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews