The Mad Centrist
"A sane person to an insane society must appear insane." ― Kurt Vonnegut Jr.Not Mad as in Angry, Mad as in Insane. And in an insane world, the sane are simply Mad. I am The Mad Centrist.You can be too!The Mad Centrist podcast is a middle ground, pragmatic, politically polite, and irreverently independent show. Pulling the rug out from beneath Democrats and Republicans alike, while respecting democrats and republican citizens (the distinction between Party and people is critical!). Amusing anecdotes of the crazy world we find ourselves in, how to maybe get along better, and pull the world back t...
Episode 92: Trump's Legacy
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What have we done, letting this person be President?
His legacy is dishonesty, corruption, chaos, ego, and disrespect of women.
We let out kids, our nation, and the world down because we didn't take the power of our vote seriously. It is time to change that.
Listen to hear my apology for Trump's legacy.
Show Notes:
Link to the Hurrican Katrina damage estimates
The Pakistan military actions in the Gulf piece.
Nuclear weapons estimate for Pakistan.
Piece o...
Episode 91: Gas-lighting Midterms
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Everything is seemingly bad news, interest rates are rising, job numbers are bad, the International community is slowly backing away from the USA.
Is there any good news?
Well, yeah, gas prices are dropping!
But...Why? Listen and find out!
Show Notes:
Bond information: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/07/treasury-yields-auction-fomc-minutes.html
Bond King article: https://www.thestreet.com/investing/stocks/bill-gross-stock-market-warning
Job Numbers: https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/us-posts-weak-job-growth-132758582.html
For fun, the inflation calculator: https://www.u...
Episode 90: The Kennedy Center
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The National Cultural Center - was the first name. It was not started by John F. Kennedy either. The 70 year history of this idea, that Washington D.C. should be a world-class center for the arts is fascinating - learn more, and why it needs to be saved, with this historical tidbit packed episode!
Show Notes:
Saudis: No Oil to Europe: https://financialpost.com/commodities/energy/oil-gas/saudis-european-refiners-no-crude-next-month
First site with gifts: https://www.grandunveiling.com/giftblog/swan-lake-seven-chandeliers-one-career-connected-by-art-and-diplomatic-gifts
Episode 55 on "Woke": https://www.th...
Episode 89: Anti-MAGA Midterms
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It has been happening, slowly, very slowly. But with perseverance and patience comes the rewards. The hold on the MAGA supporters is starting to falter. Each time a lake is renamed instead of working on the economy, or a gas tank is filled with the war of choice in Iran, another of the MAGA faithful breaks free.
The midterm elections are about 45 days away as I record this episode, and signs are starting to point to a Senate controlled by the Democrats.
SHOW LINKS:
Alaska Rasmussen poll: htt...
Episode 88: Election Lies & Canandaigua
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The Mad Centrist keeps its oddly unique trend of bringing up news...that becomes news again. Bonds, Gold, and a re-cap of the ultra important Episode #30 - along with this week's main topics:
The Census(?!?) Report on the 2020 election: https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2026/dir/noncitizen-voting-in-the-2020-election.pdf
and the Canandaigua Treaty of 1794: https://nysm.nysed.gov/sites/default/files/2025-06/Treaty-of-Canandaigua_a.pdf
Show Notes (aside from the above links):
Netherlands moving Gold out of the USA: https://www.ms...
Episode 87: The Economy Stupid
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The red flags on the US, and World, Economy is flying. And the worst thing is the one thing no one really pays attention to: US treasury bonds.
But, it is way more than that: Inflation, gas, jobs, manufacturing - lots of warnings.
What does it all mean? Listen and find out!
Show Notes:
1st Walmart article: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/business/walmart-earnings-profit-ceo.html
2nd Walmart article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/economy/nobody-escaped-walmart-bank-of-america-transunion-raise-major-red-flag-over-us-consumers-shatterproof-your-nest-egg-before-it-cracks/ar-AA2a6Hfz?ocid=hpmsn
Bankruptcy ar...
Episode 86: 47 86ed 250
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When earth shaking events, such as the ill-advised illegal war in Iran and the dramatic impact it is having on the world economy, to the continuous 'flooding the zone' to avoid discussing the Epstein Files, some smaller malicious activities get lost in the shuffle.
This episode is about one of them: Donald Trump's theft of the nation's 250th birthday celebration.
And yes, it is so much worse than you have heard. Learn the truth of how one man subverted what could have been amazing, and instead became a dumpster f...
Episode 85: Go 4th! (of July)
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For too long we have been upset over this most recent patch of our shared history.
But, we do have a lot to be proud of - and we will be coming back from this!
Let me explain to you why you should embrace to 4th of July, despite everything happening now in the United States of America.
No notes for this episode, it is all just from the heart.
The political podcast for everyone!
Episode 84: Corruption
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We vote for these people? WHY?
And then we do it again. They show us, in detail, why they should not be trusted, and yet we put them right back in office.
Corruption isn't exactly new, but it is absolutely new & improved. Blatant, in your face corruption is getting people votes!
Show Notes:
The history of corruption: https://historyrise.com/article/most-corrupt-regimes-in-history-top-10-examples-of-power-and-greed/
BBC Reporting on Nigel Farage: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn5pr0gp3gro
Independent report...
Episode 83: Social Security Check-In
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Changes are a foot in the Social Security benefit. Regardless of where you are on your professional journey, you probably need to pay attention to what awaits you at the end of your working career. In this episode we hit on a few news stories, then dive right in!
SHOW NOTES:
The Original Social Security episode! https://www.themadcentrist.com/2079783/episodes/16261719-tmc-episode-37-ss-fix-it
Tourism slowdown: https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/tourism-plummets-first-time-20-37204310
Different news story on the auto industry: https://www.ebc.com/forex/why...
Episode 82: Voting Rights: Cheat or Lose
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Splitting the nation in two is going very well these days.
Texas rams through a redistricting effort. California puts redistricting on the ballot and wins. Then something happened that brought the Gerrymandering Wars to new heights:
Louisiana challenged the Voting Rights Act, and after losing, and losing again on appeal, the Supreme Court heard the case - and this episode was born.
Learn about the Voting Rights Act, some history and a little bit about the Constitution and the Southern States that tried to ignore it - su...
TMC - Episode 81: (Almost) War Powers
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Defense Production and War Powers. What do they have to do with the economy and Spirit Airlines? And honestly, what are they anyway? That is what this episode is about - along with a bit of coincidental news and events.
Join in!
Show Notes:
Pope Leo sets a Trump Trap? https://www.thedailybeast.com/pope-leo-launches-scarcely-concealed-attack-on-donald-trump-prompting-evelio-menjivar-ayala/
What Trump thinks about gas prices: https://www.thestreet.com/economy/trump-has-a-blunt-message-on-gas-prices-for-the-rest-of-2026
What is really happening with gas prices: https://www.wsj.com/economy/consumers/americans-spent-125-million-more-on-gas-friday-than-they-did-a-week-ago-0038690c
Spi...
Episode 80: Hope Springs
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Can you feel the tide shift? Maybe a little?
Ukraine, Orban in Hungary, Georgia, Russia, and now...the USA too?
A lot of little things are adding up to big things, and I feel the change happening, join me in this episode as I explain what I am feeling to you!
Show Notes:
Russian economic news: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/putin-finally-admits-russia-s-economy-is-in-trouble-and-grasps-for-answers-after-warnings-about-a-financial-crisis-have-been-piling-up/ar-AA21dDka?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=69e4f95022014979af3d25fd71795431&cvpid=69e4fd2e24e44a348d981a4bc723629d&ei=47
<...Episode 79: Iran into Trouble
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The previous Iran Nuclear Deal was effectively ended by Donald Trump in 2018.
But, what was the deal? Why did so many world powers sign on to the deal? And how did removing the United States of America make it fall apart?
Today, the Iran, or Epstein Files, War is now on a pause after threats, a deadline, and more - horrific - threats from the President of America. Iran provided a 10-point plan, and Donald Trump seemed to suggest it was a good starting point.
In this ep...
Episode 78: Saving America from SAVE
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The SAVE Act is all over the news. Well, various other dumpster fires such as the Epstein Files, or the Epstein Files War - AKA the war in Iran, and gas prices, and...
You get the point. The midterms are coming, and the SAVE Act is being championed by Republicans, who are about to lose BIGLY. It makes one wonder if the motivations are in the right place.
But... do we need to worry? Maybe not. Listen and learn more about this solution to a made-up problem! Learn how it hur...
Episode 77: Trump, Netanyahu, Iran, Oh My!
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It is a crazy world! War, or not War, the PResident calls it was, but Congress doesn't. What did past presidents call it? And why does Netanyahu always seem to pop up just before mid-east wars?
Iran has been a threat to have nuclear weapons in 3 - 5 years for 34 years now - so, what is the rush?
Let's have some fun and explore it all!
Show Notes:
Trump's Iran posts: https://www.ndtvprofit.com/world/donald-trumps-old-tweets-mocking-barack-obama-on-iran-comes-back-to-haunt-him-heres-what-he-had-said-11153961
Trump's acceptance quote: https://www.yahoo.com/news...
Episode 76: Pre-response to the State of the Union
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It is entirely possible that we all know what is going to be said at the State of the Union. Trump will lie, repeatedly, and declare a bunch of things to be true that are complete fabrications. But the actual State of the Union? Not all unicorns and rainbows. But what the heck, let's have fun with it!
This was recorded before the SotU address, so prediction veracity might vary. :)
Show Notes:
Article on SCOTUS striking down the Tariffs: https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tariffs-trump-0485fcda30a7310501123e4931dba3f...
Episode 75: K-Shaped Truth
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We have all heard the news talk about a K-Shaped Economy. What the heck is it though? How did it happen? Why has it never happened before - or has it?
Learn the answers, and more, in this episode!
Show Links:
Mortgage delinquency article on Axios: https://www.axios.com/2026/02/10/mortgage-poor-rich-americans
Another Home sales article on CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/12/january-homes-sales.html
Portland CBP shooting update: https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2026/01/12/border-patrol-shooting-assault-charge
Chicago CBP shooting update: https://www.cbsnews.com/chic...
Episode 74: Ice Rage
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ICE has achieved the lofty status of becoming a curse in the English language. Call someone an ICE agent, or suggest maybe they should get a job with ICE, and expect a fight. Rarely in our nation's history has a part of the government reached such a level of loathing. Perhaps, in jokes, the IRS can rival it, but in reality only Customs and Border Patrol comes close - and they do come close!
Renee Good and Alex Pretti are just the very visible tip of...
Episode 73: Bored of Peace
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Davos was a disaster for Trump, and the USA's standing on the world stage. Something else happened at Davos that didn't get the same amount of press the low-energy, fabricated reality, falsehoods, and mistakes that the Trump speeches did:
The Board of Peace.
I think it deserves a bit more time, even if just to make us laugh. I read the actual Board of Peace charter - and now you can get the cliff notes. Buckle-up, this one is fun!
Show notes:
AP Coverage of Trum...
Episode 72: Re-play of Episode 39: Paging Doctor King
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This episode was one of the most downloaded from the entire collection.
For good reason! MLK, jr is a legend is American history.
See the original show notes:
TMC Episode 39 - Paging Doctor King
The political podcast for everyone!
TMC - Episode 71: Murdering Monroe
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The Economy is still in tatters, and the evidence lays it out. I cover some of it, but then move on to the 800-pound illegally invading gorilla in the room - Trump's Venezuela crime spree.
Maduro was no saint, but he also was not part of the argument made by Trump to invade. When Trump kidnapped the President of Venezuela his argument was drugs and imaginary 'Narco-Terrorists,' and the claim stated Fentanyl and Cocaine - two drugs Venezuela doesn't send to the USA - were sent to the US...
TMC - Episode 70: War Powers
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A very short episode - covering the Farce in Venezuela, the crimes being committed, and why they are crimes, and not part of the "War on Terror."
Plus some show notes! Speaking of which, this week's notes for this show:
* Congress' 2001 Authorized Use of Military Force: https://uslawexplained.com/2001_aumf
* Hegseth's takes on Trump... in 2016: https://archive.is/CnNgk
* The BBC article on Venezuela, Maduro, and Trump: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93n4nx5yqro
The political podcast for everyone!
TMC - Episode 69: Trump Traps and Illegal Orders
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5 Democrats do something uncharacteristic, but relatively normal - at least if we were in normal times. These are anything but normal times. Trump threatens enemies with death, threatens invasions of allies, threatens invasions of neighbors who are not a threat, and loads of money keep pouring into his bank accounts - As Americans try to scrape by, lose jobs, and can no longer afford healthcare.
But then there is the Trump Trap.
"A sane man to an insane world must appear insane" - K. Vonnegut
S...
TMC - Episode 68: What gave us Trump?
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I hear it, you probably do too: McConnell's fault, or Biden's. Maybe even the Supreme Court or Aileen Cannon. It might be a bit simple to claim any one thing brought about the success of Donald Trump's brand, or kept it going. However, there are significant bricks that make up the wall of today's world that gave us Trump. This episode tries to uncover the good, the bad, and the... well, listen and find out.
"A sane man to an insane world must appear insane" - K. Vonnegut
Show Note...
TMC - Episode 67: Nuclear Senate!
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Have you ever heard the term "Nuclear Option" and wondered what it meant?
Me too! I decided to find out, and put together the normal person's guide to the filibuster, cloture, and the Nuclear Option in the United States Senate - I found some interesting history along the way!
Plus, so old news becomes new again...again.
Show Notes:
The 2 housing market pieces from the WSJ: More Home Purchases Are Falling Through in an Uncertain Economy - WSJ & Builders Are Offering Mortgage-Rate Discounts. Home Buyers A...
TMC - Episode 66: Corruption in Chief
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What do you get when the SEC backs off Crypto Currency rules and regulations at the behest of the leader of the Free World? Maybe corruption at a scale never seen before on the planet.
How is the ballroom being paid for?
How is the military being paid by a donor?
Are pardons being sold?
Good questions, and no one knows. Jay Sun, Russ Albrecht, Biance, CZ, and the Binance Crypto Currency marketplace all come into play in the dive into how we could be...
TMC - Episode 65: No Kings - Less MAGA?
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The No Kings rally was a great success. There has never been a protest this large in American history! The goal was to raise awareness of the moves being made to consolidate - or simply take - power into an authoritarian executive branch, and to remind everyone America has No Kings.
Maybe it had a side effect no one anticipated. Maybe it made some of the MAGA faithful... question their faith. Listen in and see what I mean!
Leaving MAGA website: Leaving MAGA - Leaving MAGA
David Remi...
TMC - Episode 64: Tarnishing the National Guard
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The National Guard is getting some bad press. This is not the National Guard's fault though. The Guard has a long, storied history in America, and this episode shares some of the highlights (and a low light too). It also compares President Trump's use of the National Guard to other Presidents in history.
Spoiler Alert: it doesn't do Trump any favors.
Show Notes:
Starbucks closing: Starbucks Closures May Signal A Shift In Consumer Values]
Crime wave stories: Trump’s Tariffs and DOGE Will Set Off a Crime W...
TMC - Episode 63: Are we Ignoring Financial Indicators?
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The data exists, if we want to find it. This is the job of some people. But no one seems to be able to find it. In this episode I present some data that makes me question the stability of the economy. Some of it is uniquely Maddening.
Show Notes:
Cardboard slowdown: Cardboard-Box Demand Is Slumping. Why That’s Bad News for the Economy. - WSJ
(Not) Leaving (for) Las Vegas: An Empty Strip And Fewer Tips: Is Las Vegas In Trouble? | TIME
Disney World empty? Dis...
TMC - Episode 62: What killed Charlie Kirk
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Ask an easy question, and sometimes you get a deep thoughtful response.
What killed Charlie Kirk is one of those questions. Not who, but what. This episode is off the cuff and relies on thoughts already recorded in past episodes. Therefore, there are no real show notes - except to say... maybe listen to episode #3 again - or for the first time.
The political podcast for everyone!
TMC - Episode 61 - Tariffs Global Cause and Effect
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Tariff, a hot button issue for sure. In America, we argue - still - over who pays them (Hint: it is not the foreign nation). We complain about how they increase prices. We largely ignore the international consequences - but we better start paying attention.
The International Community is starting to re-align, and it is doing so without America whenever and wherever it can. This is a tremendous unintended consequence of Trump's policies, and it is downright dangerous for America.
Links for the show:
Article on Lesotho: How t...
TMC - Episode 60: Conspiracies (Q)Anonymous
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In the throes of COVID-19 a movement gained power. A silly on, but still, Q Anon grew unexpectedly.
In hindsight it would be laughable that it ever happened, except for the damage done to our nation, and families and individuals.
Now we have a poor-man's "Q" trying similar tactics when everyone is much wiser, and a pandemic is not keeping us inside in front of screens anymore.
A Substack post of ludicrous nature attempts to start the crazy all over and fails.
The dubious Substack...
TMC - Episode 59: Concentration Camps of the USA
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Who would have thought we would be here? Camps now across multiple states, and most of the population recognizes them as what they are: concentration camps.
The crazy part is half of the people seem to be OK with concentration camps in the United States of America.
Show Notes:
Scientific American article: Trump’s Massive Deportation Plan Echoes Concentration Camp History | Scientific American
Andrea Pitzer's book: Amazon.com: One Long Night: A Global History of Concentration Camps eBook : Pitzer, Andrea: Kindle Store
Mónica Guz...
TMC - Episode 58: Epstein, Maxwell, Trump, oh my!
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Jeffrey Epstein has a sorted past. Ghislane Maxwell, his partner in crime is serving 20 years for human trafficking and other sex crimes. Both of these notorious people have ties to President Trump from the 1980s to the mid-2000s.
In this episode I put together a pretty comprehensive timeline of events and crimes and how the lives of two of the most notorious pedophiles and human traffickers crossed paths so many times with the President of the United States of America - and what, if any, role the 1st lady plays in...
TMC - Episode 57: And the Law Won
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The Trump Administration and the Supreme Court - frienemies?
Trump continues to try to bully law firms, and has some success, and some failures. Why does Trump continue to attack the legal system? How does he get away with it?
For the answer to these questions and more we welcome back Professor Balderas, first amendment lawyer and friend of the show!
No show notes - it is an interview after all!
The political podcast for everyone!
TMC - Episode 56: Quality news, Inflation, Senate and more
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Sometimes things go another direction, and the perfect opportunity arrives.
I wanted to speak about how I get news sources for some time, and I also thought it would be an injustice to not touch of some of the most important current events. When scheduling conflicts kept a guest off the show, lemonade from lemons!
This week I hit REAL news, inflation, The Supreme Court (or rather, I don't), the Senate's budget bill, and a brief look at why we may have entered the fray against Iran. Hold tight!
...TMC Episode 55: Woke and Juneteenth
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Juneteenth just passed, so, yeah, I am a bit late. I had mentioned wanting to cover the history of "Woke," and adding Juneteenth seemed perfect, if a few days late.
This is a shorter episode, but very important none the less.
Show notes!
The history of The Choctaw and the Irish: Irish Return an Old Favor, Helping Native Americans Battling the Virus - The New York Times
The site I mentioned on the history of Woke (sorry, it is ad heavy!): Origin Of The Word WOK...
TMC Episode 54: Currently Dramatic
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The Mad Centrist plays off of the famous Kurt Vonnegut quote "A sane man, to an insane world, must appear insane." Recently this seems even more apt.
The world is hitting new levels of insanity, and we must be Mad to be so sane!
Arresting Federal Marshalls? Not able to bring back Abrego Garcia, until of course we are able to - only to make him stand trial for made up charges?
Do I have this right? The largest breakup during Pride month was Elon Musk and Do...
TMC - Episode 53: Medicare and Medicaid explained
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The Episode I promised long ago, in Episode #37. This episode covers the social programs Medicare and Medicaid. Two programs with similar names, but they are very different indeed! Take a listen to see if you feel they are worth our tax dollars, or if maybe you believe they are not.
Before you make up your mind though, listen and learn enough to make that an informed decision.
Show Notes:
Elon Musk stories, for the pre-show stuff: On the Campaign Trail, Elon Musk Juggled Drugs and Family Drama & Elon...
