Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael

Ori Goldberg, Israeli dissident and former academic, offers a sharp inside perspective from Israel. He discusses why the Iran war was avoidable, how Israeli pressure and Trump’s gamble shaped the strike, and growing fissures between Washington and Jerusalem. He also examines Israeli public logic, claims of Jewish exceptionalism, and the international fallout of a conflict without a clear endgame.

Richard Silverstein, investigative reporter focused on Israeli security and Middle East affairs, offers sharp critique of the Trump-Netanyahu push against Iran. He examines the scale of strikes, regime-change fallacies, domestic political motives, regional fallout and shifting U.S. support for Israel. Short, urgent takes on thermobaric weapons, Gulf state reactions, and long-term instability.

James M. Dorsey, independent journalist and Middle East scholar, unpacks U.S.-Iran tensions and why full-scale war seems unlikely. He breaks down Netanyahu’s Washington trip and the fraught Israel‑Trump dynamic. He also explores the Saudi–UAE rivalry, UAE proxy moves across Africa, and how shifting Gulf alignments reshape regional stability.

Dr. Arta Moeini, an IR theorist at the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy, breaks down how US‑Iran tensions reached this perilous point. She maps regional maneuvering, Israel’s strategic aims, and why pressure breeds hardliners. The conversation sketches realist alternatives, risks of military strikes, and the domestic fallout that could reshape Iran’s politics.

Matthew Petti, an investigative reporter at Reason who has tracked Jeffrey Epstein’s networks. He walks through Epstein’s ties to Israeli surveillance tech, oligarchs like Viktor Vekselberg, and attempts to enter the spy industry. The conversation maps elite global connections, explains why there may be no single smoking gun, and separates reporting from speculation.

James Dorsey, independent journalist and scholar of Middle East affairs, breaks down U.S.-Iran talks and the deep mistrust shaping negotiations. He analyzes Netanyahu’s trips to Washington and the political calculations at play. He also explores the rising Saudi–UAE rivalry, the UAE’s proxy moves across the region, and how these shifts reshape Gulf and North African dynamics.

Jordan Liz, associate professor of philosophy who studies race and immigration, explains how ICE and DHS grew from post‑9/11 fear into a security apparatus. He discusses ICE tactics like raids and surveillance. He traces the agencies history, questions reformability, describes the role of racialized threat narratives, and considers protests, alternatives, and the private tech fueling domestic monitoring.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael is joined by Joseph Sciortino and Grant Gallagher of The Rabble Report to examine the World Economic Forum (WEF), Trump, and the shifting global order through the lens of anti-politics — the growing antagonism between society and the political sphere. The conversation explores the ongoing crisis of faith in institutions and how political actors increasingly act as scavengers, exploiting anti-political sentiment for power. From there, the discussion unpacks the complex relationship between anti-politics and populism, clarifying how the two overlap while remaining distinct phenomena shaping contemporary political discourse. The episode then turns to the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where leaders framed the apparent decline of the U.S.-led liberal international order in terms of “national interest,” marking a notable rhetorical shift among European elites. J.G., Joseph, and Grant analyze Mark Carney’s remarks on the role of Middle Powers, debate how much of this new positioning reflects genuine geopolitical change versus political theater and consider whether Europe and Canada are truly capable of decoupling from the United States. What does relative U.S. decline actually mean for the future of global hegemony? Is the liberal order ending; or merely transforming under new pressures and dependencies? The conversation also examines how populist rhetoric surfaced “invisibly” at Davos itself, the challenges facing European leadership, and how these dynamics connect back to domestic U.S. politics, including ICE, the specter of the Middle American Radicals (MARs), and much more.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ On this edition of Parallax Views, host J.G. Michael is joined by film analyst Albert Lanier of the Final Cut Substack newsletter and podcast for an in-depth conversation on the Oscars, awards season as we approach the 98th Annual Academy Awards, and what the awards season and ceremony reveal about the film industry today. Moving beyond the usual debates over winners and snubs, the discussion explores how the Oscars function not just as a celebration of art, but as a crucial economic engine for Hollywood — shaping careers, influencing distribution, and sustaining the business of filmmaking itself. J.G. and Albert examine how the Oscars have evolved in the years since Parasite’s historic Best Picture win, with the Academy increasingly embracing international cinema and positioning itself as a global counterbalance to an era dominated by franchise filmmaking and MCU-style blockbusters. The episode also offers a deep dive into this year’s Best Picture nominees — including Bugonia, F1, Frankenstein, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, One Battle After Another, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, Sinners, and Train Dreams — with particular attention paid to the political dimensions of Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another and the acclaimed The Secret Agent, which Albert argues is the best film of the year. The conversation also looks at the strong showing for horror at this year’s Oscars, from multiple nominations for Ryan Coogler’s Sinners to recognition for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein and Amy Madigan’s Best Supporting Actress nomination for Zack Cregger’s Weapons. Along the way, Albert shares his experiences attending formal Oscar viewing events, reflects on Roger Ebert’s relationship to the Academy Awards, and explains why he approaches nominations and outcomes without cynicism or outrage — seeing the Oscars instead as a fascinating snapshot of where cinema and culture intersect at a given moment. If you’re interested in film criticism, awards season analysis, the politics of cinema, and the future of Hollywood in a globalized film landscape, this episode offers a thoughtful and engaging look at what the Oscars really mean.

👉 Pitch in on Patreon and fuel the future of free-thinking conversations. https://www.patreon.com/parallaxviews Also visit our returning sponsor Mike Swanson's Wall Street Window for the best financial and trading newsletter around: https://wallstreetwindow.com/ In this urgent, unflinching conversation, former U.S. Marine infantryman and seasoned policy voice James R. Webb — son of Senator Jim Webb, ex-Military Legislative Assistant to Rand Paul, and writer for Responsible Statecraft and Military Times — breaks down the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis and why it terrifies him as a veteran and citizen. Pretti’s death on January 24, 2026 — captured on video amid clashes between Customs and Border Protection agents and bystanders — has ignited national outrage after footage and witness accounts surfaced that contradict official claims that he was an armed threat. The killing, which followed the controversial ICE operation “Operation Metro Surge” and another fatal federal shooting in the city, has spurred protests and legal challenges and raised pressing questions about force, civil liberties, and federal overreach. James contextualizes Pretti’s death through his own combat experience, calling it “horrifying” and “disgusting,” and explores how this moment reflects deeper fault lines in American politics and institutions. We discuss Marjorie Taylor Greene’s response, which focused on government overreach and political division; the dark fruits of Steve Bannon’s divisive media strategy; and Trump’s post-2024 trajectory, including his rhetoric about sidelining elections and fears of authoritarian maneuvering. James also shares personal insights from his time working with Rand Paul on confronting Trump’s policy impulses, and why someone who voted for Trump twice still views the current direction with alarm. Other topics include: Why the Pretti killing isn’t just a tragedy but a political flashpoint in immigration enforcement and civil rights. The implications of ICE and CBP overreach on American democracy and community trust. Trump’s strained relations with European allies and attacks on GOP figures like Thomas Massie. How veterans’ service shapes perceptions of security, authority, and the rule of law. Essential listening for anyone trying to understand what the Pretti case reveals about law enforcement, executive power, political polarization, and the soul of the republic.