Parallax Views w/ J.G. Michael

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On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael welcomes back Middle East analyst James M. Dorsey of The Turbulent World with James M. Dorsey to discuss the geopolitical ramifications of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections and Israel's recent general election. With Democrats poised to take control of Congress following a major electoral victory, what does the changing political landscape mean for the U.S.-Israel relationship, American military aid to Israel, and the ongoing war with Iran?

Dorsey examines the potential for a Democratic-controlled Congress to push for an end to the Iran war, restrict further war funding, and introduce greater conditionality on U.S. military assistance to Israel. We also discuss the political significance of Abdullah El-Sayed becoming the first Muslim senator, growing divisions within American Jewish communities over Israeli government policy, and the changing nature of public opinion toward Israel and U.S. involvement in the Middle East.

Turning to Israel, Dorsey analyzes the country's recent election, Benjamin Netanyahu's fight to remain politically relevant, and the historic electoral gains made by Palestinian-Israeli parties, which secured 19 seats in the Knesset. Could these parties become kingmakers in a potential Gadi Eisenkot-led government? What would an Eisenkot premiership actually change about Israeli policy toward Palestinians, the West Bank, and Gaza? We also examine Netanyahu's efforts to cast doubt on election integrity by alleging foreign interference and raising accusations surrounding Palestinian-Israeli voter participation.

Other topics include:

• The U.S.-Israel relationship: The future of the $3.8 billion annual American military aid package, congressional efforts to condition or reduce assistance, and Israel's potential transition toward greater military self-sufficiency.

• Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states: How the Iran war has shattered the Gulf's image as an island of stability, undermining Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 ambitions and disrupting major sporting events, investment conferences, and economic development projects.

• Iran and the regional balance of power: Is Iran a regional hegemon? Dorsey considers the competing geopolitical ambitions of Iran, Turkey, Egypt, and Israel, and why Tehran's regional influence cannot be understood in isolation.

• The limits of military escalation: Why the maximalist negotiating strategies of Washington and Tehran have produced a diplomatic dead end, the dangers of renewed U.S. attacks on Iran, and why military force is unlikely to produce the political outcomes Washington seeks.

• Iranian nationalism and regime survival: How the war may have strengthened the Iranian government's domestic position in the short term by transforming perceptions of the conflict from a war against the Islamic Republic into a war against Iran itself.

• The future of Saudi Arabia's regional ambitions: The impact of the Iran war and the Saudi-Houthi conflict on the kingdom's security, economic diversification, and international standing.

We also discuss the significance of the term Palestinian Israelis, the complicated relationship between Israel and Qatar, Turkey's emergence as a regional rival, and the possibility that changing American political attitudes toward the Middle East could reshape the calculations of both Washington and Jerusalem.

James M. Dorsey writes The Turbulent World with James M. Dorsey, providing analysis of international affairs, Middle Eastern politics, and geopolitics.

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On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael is joined by Deep State Kuba (Jakub Wrzesniewski), political analyst, geopolitical commentator, and regular contributor to Jason Myles' This Is Revolution, for an expansive discussion of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, the political fallout from the Iran War, Israel's electoral crisis, and the increasingly troubling state of the information ecosystem in the United States.

The 2026 midterms delivered a stunning repudiation of Donald Trump and the MAGA-led Republican Party, with what Kuba describes as a categorical political failure that exceeded even optimistic Democratic projections. But what does this blue tsunami mean for the future of the GOP? We discuss the growing influence of the Groyper movement and white Christian nationalism among younger Republican operatives, Tucker Carlson's potential role in the post-Trump right, and how opposition to the Iran War became a significant political liability for the Republican establishment.

We also examine the challenges facing Democrats as they prepare to take advantage of their electoral victory. Could Silicon Valley oligarchs and tech interests, including Peter Thiel and Palantir, attempt to reposition themselves with a Democratic-led Congress to avoid accountability? Kuba discusses the dangers of Democratic demobilization, the temptation to simply turn the page on Trump-era abuses, and his provocative argument for why Democrats might be better off leaving Trump in the political spotlight while pursuing impeachment proceedings against figures like JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Pete Hegseth.

The conversation then turns to Israel and its own political crisis. Despite historic electoral gains by Palestinian and Arab parties, the prospect of their inclusion in a governing coalition remains remote. What does this reveal about the relationship between democratic institutions and Israeli society? We discuss Benjamin Netanyahu's political future, the Israeli far right, the marginalization of anti-apartheid activists, the implications of the Iran War for Israel's regional security, and whether the American midterm results could undermine Netanyahu's longstanding claim that he can guarantee U.S. support for Israeli security objectives.

Finally, we dig into something that deserves considerably more attention: the deterioration and suppression of independent reporting on national security and geopolitical affairs. From the disappearance of embedded journalism and Pentagon access to the exclusion of foreign correspondents from Gaza, Kuba argues that the public is increasingly being forced to rely on OSINT, alternative media, and adversarial sources to understand major international developments. We explore the dangers of information bottlenecks, drawing comparisons with the Soviet and Chinese experiences of authoritarian information control, as well as the corporate media's gutting of specialist reporting in areas like finance, economics, labor, and military affairs.

Plus, a discussion of ethnic identity, nationalism, Canadian multiculturalism, and why the notion of Team White erases the complex cultural and historical identities that exist within American society.

A wide-ranging conversation about the 2026 midterms, Trumpism, the Republican Party's future, Israel-Palestine, the Iran War, media censorship, corporate journalism, and the politics of information.

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On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael is joined by longtime friend of the show Ben Burgis, host of Give Them an Argument, to break down the 2026 US midterm elections and what could prove to be a historic repudiation of Donald Trump and the Republican Party.

Dubbed a "blue tidal wave," the election saw Democrats flip major seats in traditionally Republican territory, including Texas and Kansas, while Florida Democrat Angie Nixon came remarkably close to victory. Meanwhile, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the broader progressive left celebrated significant gains, including Abdul El-Sayed's Senate victory in Michigan and five DSA candidates reportedly winning seats in the House.

But what does this electoral success actually mean for the future of American politics? Ben and J.G. discuss the growing influence of Bernie Sanders-style economic populism, Medicare for All, working-class politics, and the struggle between the Democratic Party's progressive and establishment wings. They also examine Zohran Mamdani's record as mayor of New York City, his embrace of municipal socialism and the sewer socialist tradition, and the strategic questions facing the DSA as it looks to expand beyond traditionally safe Democratic districts.

The conversation also examines the political fallout from Trump's war with Iran, which emerged as a major liability for Republicans. With polling indicating widespread opposition to the war, rising energy prices, and growing skepticism toward US support for Israel, Burgis and J.G. discuss the administration's shifting justifications for military intervention and the striking absence of the kind of public propaganda campaign that preceded the Iraq War.

Other topics include the Trump administration's authoritarianism and ongoing constitutional crisis, the future of the Republican Party after Trump, the possibility of a post-Trump right led by figures like Tucker Carlson, and why Democrats shouldn't mistake an electoral rebuke of Trump for an enduring political realignment.

Is this the beginning of a new era for the American left, or another turn in the cycle of Republican overreach and Democratic complacency? And will the Democratic establishment actually do anything with this historic opportunity?

Plus: Ben recounts his surreal election-night experience appearing on Patrick Bet-David's Valuetainment coverage of the midterms and getting into an on-air argument with Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, over claims that Lula stole Brazil's election.

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On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael welcomes Miguel Romero, better known as Red Pill Junkie, for a Halloween-season conversation about UFOs, high strangeness, and the strange territory between belief and skepticism. Drawing on the work of researchers like Jacques Vallée and Greg Bishop, Romero advocates for what’s known as the “excluded middle,” an approach that resists both the assumption that UFOs must be extraterrestrial spacecraft and the reflexive dismissal of the phenomenon as hoaxes or delusion.

What if the UFO phenomenon is less straightforward than either camp would have us believe? We explore the idea that UFO encounters can function as a kind of Rorschach test, reflecting the psychology, cultural assumptions, and technological expectations of the people who experience them. From the airship sightings of the 1890s to the flying saucer imagery of the postwar era, we discuss how the phenomenon appears to change alongside the prevailing zeitgeist. Romero also considers the more unsettling cases of high strangeness, including reports of violent encounters in Brazil, and whether these experiences might have a cultural, psychological, or even metaphysical dimension.

The conversation turns to the work of Jacques Vallée, the possibility of human manipulation and government disinformation, and the dangers of treating UFOs as a conventional extraterrestrial visitation problem. We discuss the strange history of figures like Richard Doty, the exploitation of ufologists by intelligence operatives, and the recurring tendency for people who distrust official institutions to nevertheless place their faith in government insiders who promise the long-awaited truth.

Romero is also sharply critical of the modern disclosure movement, questioning the growing involvement of defense contractors, Silicon Valley interests, and corporate money in a field that once thrived on the margins. Does the demand for official disclosure ultimately empower the public, or does it make the government the final authority on what is real? We also examine ufology’s enduring carnival atmosphere, from Jaime Maussan’s infamous Roswell slides presentation to the continuing controversy surrounding the so-called Nazca mummies. And what happens when the promise of disclosure begins to resemble a religious movement, complete with its own prophets, revelations, and articles of faith?

Finally, we venture into the metaphysical side of high strangeness, discussing altered states of consciousness, DMT, synchronicity, the work of Jeffrey Kripal, and the possibility that encounters with the inexplicable can produce profound changes in how people understand reality. Romero even entertains the provocative notion that hoaxes and trickster figures might play a role in the phenomenon itself, serving as a kind of “cosmic placebo” that opens people to experiences they otherwise might never have considered.

Is the UFO phenomenon an extraterrestrial mystery, a psychological and cultural mirror, a form of consciousness we don’t yet understand, or something that refuses to fit neatly into any of these categories? Join us for a wide-ranging exploration of UFOs, institutional power, altered consciousness, and the value of remaining open to the unknown without pretending to have all the answers.

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On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael is joined by former police officer Eddie McNamara, author of Zodiactually: The Real Story of a Fake Serial Killer (Feral House), for a Halloween-season deep dive into one of America's most notorious unsolved criminal cases and the media mythology that has grown around it.

What does McNamara mean when he calls the Zodiac Killer a fake serial killer? He isn't suggesting that the murders never happened. Rather, he argues that the crimes attributed to the Zodiac were committed by different perpetrators and that multiple letter writers helped construct the image of a single, elusive mastermind. Drawing on police and FBI records, contemporary newspaper accounts, and the findings of original investigators, McNamara challenges the conventional narrative popularized by Robert Graysmith's book, David Fincher's Zodiac, and decades of documentaries and true-crime speculation.

We examine the Lake Herman Road murders, the killings at Blue Rock Springs, the murder of cab driver Paul Stine, and the controversial inclusion of the Sherry Jo Bates murder in the Zodiac case. Along the way, McNamara discusses alternative suspects, inconsistencies in the evidence, the work of investigators who questioned the prevailing narrative, and how the tendency to lump separate crimes together may have hindered the search for answers. We also explore the distinction between an actual criminal investigation and the mythology built around it, including the consequences of publicly associating eccentric or otherwise innocent people with notorious crimes.

The conversation extends beyond the Zodiac case to consider the broader relationship between media, crime, and popular folklore. Beginning with the mythology surrounding the Kitty Genovese murder, we discuss how misleading narratives can become accepted as fact, from the supposed bystander effect to sensationalized accounts of Columbine. As McNamara puts it, the problem is often less about conspiracy than commerce: the memorable story can prove more profitable than the complicated truth.

We also touch on the recurring dynamics of moral panics, the Satanic Panic, and the ways sensationalist narratives continue to resurface in contemporary conspiracy culture.

Is the Zodiac Killer as we know him a historical figure, or a media-created boogeyman assembled from unrelated crimes, questionable evidence, and competing stories? McNamara makes his case in this provocative examination of true-crime culture, investigative history, and the stories we tell ourselves about the darkest corners of American life.

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IT'S OUR ANNUAL HALLOWEEN SERIES OF SHOWS! PREPARE TO GET OUT THERE AS PARALLAX VIEWS GOES ALL COAST 2 COAST AM FOR A SPELL!

On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael is joined by film historian Gary D. Rhodes, author of Weirdumentary, to investigate a strange cinematic phenomenon that helped bring UFOs, ancient astronauts, Bigfoot, and other paranormal mysteries into the American mainstream. Imagine Rod Serling, Leonard Nimoy, or Orson Welles solemnly narrating grainy dramatic reenactments of encounters with the unexplained, all packaged with the authority of a network news broadcast. Welcome to the weirdumentary, a distinctive 1970s film subgenre that capitalized on public fascination with the paranormal while blurring the boundaries between documentary, speculation, and entertainment. We explore Sun Classic Pictures, the Utah-based outfit that turned these films into box-office successes through an ingenious four-walling distribution model, bypassing Hollywood to bring titles like Chariots of the Gods and The Legend of Boggy Creek to audiences nationwide. But why did these films strike such a nerve? Gary and J.G. examine the cultural climate behind their popularity, from Watergate-era distrust of government to New Age spirituality and the influence of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Along the way, we discuss the rural Gothic atmosphere of The Legend of Boggy Creek, the insect-apocalypse pseudo-documentary The Hellstrom Chronicle, producer Alan Landsberg's television legacy, and the influence of weirdumentaries on later mockumentaries and found-footage horror. From ancient alien theories to creatures lurking in the swamps, these films reveal how the strange and supposedly inexplicable became a remarkably successful form of popular entertainment.

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To Download Issue 1 of Communoids
Enter the following paraphrase into the terminal at https://parapowermapping.com/:

PEOPLES_printshopCN01solidarity_PRESS

On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael is joined by "Klonny Gosch" of ParaPower Mapping to discuss the launch of Communoids, a free underground zine bringing Marxist theory into conversation with parapolitics, deep political research, and the study of power networks that operate beyond public scrutiny. Available as a PDF, EPUB, and DIY print edition, Communoids aims to provide an alternative space for pseudonymous writing outside the constraints of bourgeois social media platforms. Its inaugural issue takes Jeffrey Epstein as a “skeleton key” for examining the intersections of the transnational bourgeoisie, intelligence-connected figures, and criminal networks. The conversation explores Epstein’s connections to Leslie Wexner, Southern Air Transport, and the international trafficking networks associated with Jean-Luc Brunel and the MC2 modeling agency. J.G. and Klonny also discuss “conspiraphobia” on the left, the right’s effective monopoly on conspiratorial thinking, and how dismissing individual agents and covert networks can obscure the concrete workings of power. From algorithmic censorship and the political economy of AI to cybernetics, DARPA, Palantir, and the ultra-wealthy’s preparations for societal collapse, the discussion examines the historical continuities between technological development, social control, and elite power. What can parapolitics contribute to a Marxist understanding of capitalism, imperialism, and the state?

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On this edition of Parallax Views, J.G. Michael is joined by Robert Jensen, author of This I Don't Believe: A Fulfilling Life Without Meaning, for a wide-ranging conversation about radical humility, intellectual curiosity, and what it means to live a fulfilling life without believing in a transcendent or cosmic purpose. A former journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin, Jensen reflects on how his own experiences, relationships, and intellectual evolution shaped his philosophical outlook, from his youthful embrace of Ayn Rand's Objectivism to his present-day skepticism toward dogmatism, certainty, and intellectual tribalism.

Jensen discusses the distinction between meaning and fulfillment, his skepticism toward free will, and why he rejects the smug certainties of the New Atheist movement without insisting that others abandon their religious or spiritual beliefs. He also opens up about his traumatic childhood, dissociative amnesia, and the difficult process of understanding how our personal histories shape the beliefs we hold. Along the way, Jensen reflects on the profound influence of his friend and mentor Jim Coplin, the importance of ordinary work and human relationships, and the value of what Coplin called “open-ended disciplined inquiry.”

The conversation also ventures into ecological radicalism, the limits of technological solutions to environmental catastrophe, and why Jensen believes the ecological crisis demands a fundamental reconsideration of high-energy, high-consumption lifestyles. From the plasticity of human nature and the dangers of zealotry to the satisfaction found in everyday routines, this is a conversation about learning to live with uncertainty, recognizing the limits of our own knowledge, and finding fulfillment without pretending to have all the answers.

THIS EPISODE CONTAINS A SPECIAL INTROUDCTION BY J.G. SHARING HIS THOUGHTS ON ORI GOLDBERG (RIP) AND IS FOLLOWED BY TWO INTERVIEWS: THE FIRST ORIGINALLY RELEASED ON 07-28-24 AND THE SECOND RELEASED ORIGINALLY RELEASED ON 04-08-25.

I'm deeply saddened by the passing of Ori Goldberg, one of my most thoughtful yet incisive guests on the topic of Israel. Although many knew him just an as Israeli dissident, I considered Ori a friend and always loved talking with him. He always went out of his way to promote my show and spoke so honestly with me both on-air and off-air. The last time we spoke I talked with him a little bit off-air about his illness. I didn't want to believe Ori was going to pass, but I had a bad feeling even before that last time we spoke. Its why I tried to have him on so often. He was just a font of analysis and commentary. He often spoke in an almost poetic way, while also being down-to-earth. And again, so open about both himself and his perceptions of Israel, life, and facing death. I'm not sure I've ever met anyone else like him. He was something special.

In his memory I'll be reposting his interviews on Parallax Views throughout the week. A bit shook by this passing. Although it was known that Ori was ill, his passing is a great loss. Here's to you Ori.

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07-28-24 Episode Synopsis:

On this edition of Parallax Views, Israel commentator Ori Goldberg joins me from Tel Aviv to discuss the rocket that hit a soccer field in the Druze village of Majdal Shams within the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel has blamed the attacked on a Hezbollah strike. Hezbollah denied being behind the attack. Speculation arose that it was actually due to a malfunction of Israel's Iron Dome. That said, there is evidence that this was likely a Hezbollah rocket. In any case, 12 Druze children perished due to the rocket. At the funeral for the dead children, members of the Druze community protested the presence of Israeli ministers. Meanwhile, a number of Israelis are turning "We Are All Druze Now" into a slogan as fears of a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah grow.

Ori offers his thoughts on the incident, and makes the case that the deaths of the Druze children was likely accidental based on Hezbollah past history and concerns that any false move could start a war. He DOES NOT deny that Hezbollah conducted strikes. Nor does he seek to deny the tragedy of children being killed. Additionally, he questions/challenges the conspiracy theories arising that this was an Israeli false flag and gives his reasons for believing this is not the case. With that in mind, he cautions against drawing any firm conclusions about whether this was a mistake or intentional until there is further investigation. Ori also argues that this will not lead to a war between Israel and Hezbollah because, in his analysis, neither the IDF or Hezbollah want a full-blown war at this time.

In addition to all of this we'll also discuss the death of Mohammad Bhar, a young Palestinian man afflicted with autism and Down syndrome who was mauled by an Israel Defense Forces attack dog and bled out in the aftermath. Moreover, we will discuss the Israeli psyche at this moment, the situation of the Bedouin and Druze minorities in Israel and discrimination against them, the Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People that was passed by the Israeli Knesset in 2018, why Ori believes the Gaza war is slouching towards an inevitable close/end, Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to U.S. congress, post-war Gaza and "The Day After", Netanyahu announcing the he's "postponing" the departure of sick children from Gaza who need life-saving therapy because of the Majdal Shams indecent, the blowing up of Rafah's water reservoir, Israeli hopes of introducing "de-radicalization" into Gazan education post-war, and much, much more.

04-08-25 Episode Synopsis:

On this edition of Parallax Views, Israeli commentator Ori Goldberg returns to the show to discuss the latest development in Gaza and Israel. This conversation came about due to the horrific stories coming of the southern Gaza city Rafah and touches upon that as well as the political turmoil currently bubbling to a fever pitch in Israel. J.G. specifically reached out to interview Ori in the hopes of trying to make sense of what is happening on the ground. Abstractions are often attendant to discussions of Israel/Palestine, but the human cost cannot be forgotten. That is what led to this discussion, and it proved difficult on some level due to the intense nature of the horrors we've seen in the past year and a half whether it be the events of October 7th or the scenes coming out of Rafah. Ori's approach is highly reflective in nature and as such has a certain unique quality. Whether you agree or disagree with Ori's thinking, this is hopefully going to be a powerful discussion.

I'm deeply saddened by the passing of Ori Goldberg, one of my most thoughtful yet incisive guests on the topic of Israel. Although many knew him just an as Israeli dissident, I considered Ori a friend and always loved talking with him. He always went out of his way to promote my show and spoke so honestly with me both on-air and off-air. The last time we spoke I talked with him a little bit off-air about his illness. I didn't want to believe Ori was going to pass, but I had a bad feeling even before that last time we spoke. Its why I tried to have him on so often. He was just a font of analysis and commentary. He often spoke in an almost poetic way, while also being down-to-earth. And again, so open about both himself and his perceptions of Israel, life, and facing death. I'm not sure I've ever met anyone else like him. He was something special.

In his memory I'll be reposting his interview on Parallax Views throughout the week. A bit shook by this passing. Although it was known that Ori was ill, his passing is a great loss. Here's to you Ori.

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On this edition of Parallax Views, Israeli commentator Ori Goldberg, who has become well-known since the Gaza war began for his criticisms of Netanyahu and the state, or mindset, of Israeli society since October 7th. In a previous life he was a Middle East scholar who specialized in studying Iran. We start the conversation off with that as Ori gives his thoughts on the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and comments on the adaptability of the Islamic Republic in face of crisis.

From there we shift to a conversation about the state of Israeli society today. Before October 7th much was made about the internal divisions in Israeli political life that has been summed up as a battle between a secular state of Israel vs. a religious state of Judea embodied by the far-right coalition created by Benjamin Netanyahu. Then the Hamas attack of October 7th happened. And in Ori's estimation it has led to a surfacing of something almost mythical in regard to the Israeli identity. In the course of our conversation Ori attempts to articulate the mindset that and structural make-up of Israeli society and the Israeli psyche. This leads us to a discussion of supremacist beliefs in Israeli society and how Israel sees itself in relation to the world. He argues that his country must go through a reckoning and transformation for a viable future. But he does not argue this from the frame of a mundane political analysis. Rather he seeks to offer what he believes is an intimate and intense portrait of Israel at this moment. Ori will also offer his thoughts on the dehumanization of Palestinians in Israel and how the process dehumanization degrades and dehumanizes even the perpetrator of it. Finally he comments on his statement that, in Israel, "Palestinian blood has become cheaper than air." Ori paints a grim picture of where Israel is at as a society, but maintains that he is optimistic about change and transformation.