Episodes
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Matt Castelli, a former CIA officer, is running for Congress in Upstate New York against prominent GOP House leader Elise Stefanik. What’s it like to run for Congress as a Democrat in what may be a Republican “wave” election? We discuss the landscape of Castelli’s unique congressional district, his background in the CIA and the Biden agenda. Also, I wonder if there is a “real America” out there, especially after in light of tornadoes devastating Kentucky.
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Poppy MacDonald, the President of USAFacts, a not-for-profit organization and website devoted to making government facts and data accessible to the public, joins me in The Nexus to discuss the mission of this organization and why combatting misinformation is so vital. Will people ever be able to accept one set of facts in national discourse? Also, I wonder what has happened to “strong and silent” men and why so many powerful men have become overly emotional and irresponsible.
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Thomas Bingham, a senior grassroots trainer at Americans for Prosperity, discusses the pending PRO Act in Congress and how it will have an impact on the “gig” economy. Is this legislation a way for independent workers to be protected with benefits and the ability to unionize or will it force many freelancers out of their side jobs? We explore these issues and I tackle Hurricane Ida and climate change.
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Michael Karlis from Salon.com joins us to discuss the trend of concerned citizens who are taking booster shots for COVID-19 even if they haven’t been legally approved yet. By fervently monitoring their antibody levels, these folks are becoming “citizen scientists.” Are they crazy or on the cutting edge? Also, I’ll offer my personal thoughts on my experience in Afghanistan and how this current crisis compares to Vietnam. The two conflicts are very much not the same, as the world has changed dramatically in 50 years.
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Lane Garrison, screenwriter and producer, as well as one of the stars of the new movie “12 Mighty Orphans” joins me in the Nexus to discuss why this film about an underdog high school football team in the Great Depression may be the perfect movie to see post-pandemic. Yet some critics have lambasted the film for so-called “toxic masculinity” and not having enough of a spotlight on women and struggles of Latino players. Garrison talks about these issues, along with working with the legendary Robert Duvall, and provides some enlightening memories about starring in Prison Break and as a recurring character on Yellowstone. Also, I’ll talk about my thoughts on America reopening far and wide.
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Meet Robe Imbriano, the creator and executive producer of “Amemd: The Fight for America,” a star- studded limited series about the 14th Amendment, hosted by Will Smith. We discuss why equal protection under the law is vital now and how this controversial amendment has had an impact on civil rights, women’s equality, marriage equality and immigration. Robe also mentions how a top shelf Netflix series is made. Also, I’ll talk about the new 2020 Census results and what they mean.
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The Nexus welcomes Greg Schaefer, longtime friend of the show, and a recent investor of cryptocurrency as we explore his journey into this brave new world. Greg is bullish about the prospects of blockchain technology saving the world while redefining how finance is conducted. But is the negative, volatile reputation of cryptocurrency still justified? Also, I’ll discuss whether I think Washington DC should be the 51st state or not. The answer may surprise you.
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Molly Ball, the national political correspondent for Time magazine, discusses her best-selling book “Pelosi,” about the most powerful woman in American history, Nancy Pelosi. We tackle her rise through the Baltimore Democratic political machine, her signature legislative achievement, how she handled President Trump’s two impeachments, and whether there is still a rivalry with “The Squad.” Also, I’ll ponder whether Nancy Pelosi will ever give up power and retire, and who might succeed her as a leader.
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Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes, authors of the #1 New York Times best seller “Shattered,” return to The Nexus with their brand new book “Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency.” They explain why the 2020 presidential race was much closer than commonly reported, how Biden beat the odds and unseated an incumbent, the fierce competition to be vice president, and the dubious role of President Barack Obama.
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“Are the Islamic State and QAnon Similar?” That is the question asked of Brent Giannotta, a writer and former counterintelligence analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency. Giannotta discusses his new op-ed in the Los Angeles Times where he compares the terror group with the conspiracy theorists. How do those from QAnon who stormed the Capitol align with the rest of the 30 million Americans who follow this bizarre story? Also, I’ll talk about the disastrous vaccine rollout and how it’s become something of a random free-for-all to get dosed.
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The CIA’s former director of operations, Jack Devine, joins me to discuss Russian aggression relating to Alexei Navalny, cyber attacks against the US, Russian bounties and Vladimir Putin’s power. Devine also talks about his new book, “Spymaster’s Prism” and chronicles his overseeing “Charlie Wilson’s War,” among other high profile CIA operations. And I’ll ponder whether we should tolerate those espousing QAnon and election fraud.
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With “In the Crosshairs of Twitter,” I am joined by Jordan Tygh, a Coast Guard veteran and former political operative in the California Republican Party. Jordan became a notorious overnight celebrity when he posed with a ballot box in October 2020, asking people to vote for now-Congresswoman Michelle Steel. His life was turned upside down when he was accused of illegal activities on Twitter, drawing the ire of Jimmy Kimmel, Alex Padilla & Xavier Becerra. But was he at fault? This is his story.
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In “The Enticing World of Nostalgia,” Estelle Erasmus, an author and professor, joins the Nexus to discuss her article in Wired, “Friends, Fleetwood Mac and the Viral Comfort of Nostalgia.” We dive into why nostalgia is so comforting in 2020, what are some of the cultural items people are nostalgic about, and whether there is a dark side to nostalgia. Also, I’ll talk about the new COVID-19 vaccine and the troubling anti-vaxxer movement.
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In “The Golden Age of Television,” legendary broadcasting announcer Randy West talks about his decades in show business. Randy has worked on some of the greatest game shows and reality shows in history, from The Price is Right to Deal or No Deal, The Weakest Link to Big Brother. He will share his views on the golden eras in television and where the industry is going. His stories about Dick Clark, Ryan Seacrest and other luminaries are priceless. Also, in this very hard year for us all, I will explain what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving.
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In “Joe Biden’s Victory,” we break down the impact of the election with Danny Barefoot, a political strategist and managing partner at Anvil Strategies. Barefoot talks about why this victory is a mixed bag, whether President Trump will return, the impact of Nancy Pelosi and why “defund the police” was such a toxic saying in 2020. Also, I’ll reflect on the improbable journey of Joe Biden and why there is a lot of hope for his administration, despite our current rancor.
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Your polling questions answered! We speak with Jay Leve, the president & CEO of Survey USA, a survey research firm with an “A” rating from website Five Thirty Eight. Leve breaks down what brand new presidential and Senate polls in Georgia & North Carolina mean, while saying Americans should have a “healthy skepticism” about polling overall. Leve provides a lively and witty history of polling, explaining how we got to where we are now. Also, I discuss Fleetwood Mac and Van Halen, why they’re big again and what they mean to me.
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In “A Dog Called Hope,” former special operations officer Jason Morgan joins to discuss his best-selling book about the service dog who stepped into his life. We trace Staff Sergeant Morgan’s journey from being a combat meteorologist for the Air Force to an injury that rendered him paralyzed. Morgan’s recovery takes on a whole new dimension when he meets Napal, a service-trained Labrador who helps Jason find a sense of purpose again. I’ll also talk about how this warrior’s recovery is an inspiring tale for finding our way in these pandemic times.
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In "The Tragedy of China's Uyghurs," I'm joined by Nury Turkel, a human rights lawyer who serves on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Turkel, who was born in a "re-education" camp in China during the Cultural Revolution, goes in depth about what is happening in that region in China - concentration camps, exploitation and destroyed families. Are the Trump Administration's efforts to fight the problem working? Also, I'll tackle the mail-in voting morass.
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I'm joined by Spike Cohen, the Libertarian Party nominee for Vice President. Cohen explains why he is ideally suited to govern the United States with presidential nominee and recent Nexus guest Jo Jorgensen. He also details how we can defeat coronavirus, improve race relations and living with multiple sclerosis fuels him. Spike Cohen also offers biting thoughts on Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Finally, a tribute to my father, Arthur Swift Sr., who passed away from coronavirus and how much he inspired me.
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In “Putin’s People,” reporter and Russia expert Catherine Belton discusses her new book about Vladimir Putin’s rise to power. We cover the fall of the Soviet Union, Putin’s hand in the downfall of Boris Yeltsin, the rise of the Russian oligarchs and the relationship between Donald Trump and Russia. Will Putin rule forever? There are some dark clouds on the horizon that may surprise you. Also, we will look back at 25 great episodes of The Nexus.
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