The Mad Centrist

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 towards sanity, and do so while having some fun!

Episodes

July 13, 2025 57 mins

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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 fo...

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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 budge...

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June 25, 2025 24 mins

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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 Wok...

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June 9, 2025 33 mins

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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...

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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 pr...

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This week's episode we have a special guest: Professor, Lawyer, and Journalist Israel Balderas.  The conversation is focused on Journalism - an area of expertise where you might be hard pressed to find a better professional to give their opinion.  

Even better, when questions about the legal challenges the Trump administration is putting forth come up, Balderas is also an expert in 1st amendment law.

I hope you enj...

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May 14, 2025 35 mins

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A really rare non-political episode - well, not really.  It centers on the president, but it is about his mental acuity, and not his politics.  To that extent, it really is not political.

This episode asks the question, a question I think many people around the world ask: Is Donald Trump dumb, brilliant, and more of an idiot savant?  I go through many situations where a questionable action or decision results in someth...

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May 5, 2025 30 mins

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Thanks to the listeners!  

A recap episode, on what has happened, what the show is about, and where we are going. We have covered a lot of ground, but we are just getting started!

Starting it out with a quote.

Finishing with the new tagline: 

The political podcast for all of us!

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April 22, 2025 41 mins

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Covering some stories of continued government removing people - sometimes even citizens - from the streets and trying, and succeeding, to deport them.

Then we get to the heart of the show: the SAVE Act.  How does it harm voting in America?  What is the stated goal, and was it even necessary?  What is the REAL goal, and will that be achieved?

Show Notes:

Redux from Last week:

Arizona story: U.S. citizen in Arizona detained...

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April 14, 2025 28 mins

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Taken from the street.  Disappearing from an appointment with ICE. Held at the border, or at an airport on your way home.  The stories are coming in fast and way too frequent.

The stunning thing is we aren't seeing more outrage.

Let's take a walk back in history and find out why all Americans should be downright furious at people being renditioned by our government - sometimes even sent to a prison in another ...

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April 7, 2025 32 mins

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The President of the United States.  Mission #1, choose a cabinet.

The question: does this help fill the swamp or drain it?

This is part 3 of a look into Donald Trump's cabinet choices, and providing information for YOU to decide if this makes Washington D.C. more corrupt, or less corrupt?  

Or is the swamp being drained, or filled?

We come to the end.  Well, of cabinet members anyway.

Show Notes on the news:

Transport...

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April 1, 2025 42 mins

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The President of the United States.  Mission #1, choose a cabinet.

The question: does this help fill the swamp or drain it?

This is part 2 of a look into Donald Trump's cabinet choices, and providing information for YOU to decide if this makes Washington D.C. more corrupt, or less corrupt?  

Or is the swamp being drained, or filled?

Show Notes:

Howard Lutnik's Social Security insanity: Seniors won't complain...

March 24, 2025 42 mins

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The President of the United States.  Mission #1, choose a cabinet.

The question: does this help fill the swamp or drain it?

This is part 1 of a look into Donald Trump's cabinet choices, and providing information for YOU to decide if this makes Washington D.C. more corrupt, or less corrupt?  

Or, is the swamp being drained, or filled?

Show Notes:

Forbes article on the most expensive presidential race ever: The Billions...

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February 25th was a rough day, but it really shouldn't have been.  Learn why the House Budget Bill means about as much as a wooden nickel.  Also, learn what the bill is, and what it isn't.  History provides amazing perspective sometimes - this is one of those times.

Show Notes:

Budget law and history piece from PEW research: Government shutdown? Congress’ history of spending bill delays

A vote narrative on the ...

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February 17, 2025 37 mins

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The Trump Administration seems to be flailing.  I know, Republicans say it is the best ever, Democrats say it is the worst.  I think neither is correct, because it is proving to be largely ineffective.  Immigration, slow and expensive.  Tariff paying for everything, not happening.  Inflation is up.  And Trade Deficits are being completely mischaracterized.  The only thing DOGE is doing is blowing things up, which is s...

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February 9, 2025 38 mins

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Trump has an ED issue, and Congress is the only solution.  Find out why that is a problem even he knows will not work out in his favor.

Learn about the Education Department, its history, what it does, and the $$$ behind it - and maybe make up your own mind if it should stay or go!

Show Notes:

10th amendment text: U.S. Constitution - Tenth Amendment | Resources | Constitution Annotated | Congress.gov | Library of Congress...

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February 3, 2025 41 mins

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What is a currency exactly?  And is a Crypto Currency really a currency?

Once the hope for a means to make a currency democratically available to all, something along the way went wrong.  Criminals started to use and then abuse the systems.

Learn some history, have some fun, and get a solid understanding of Crypto Currency, and recent politician's shenanigans.

A felon has got to felon!

Show Notes:

Investopedia's ...

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January 26, 2025 24 mins

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Capitalism is being treated as some sort of evil that needs to be destroyed.  I think this is the wrong approach.  Capitalism is very much like people - some capitalist or companies or organizations are indeed bad.  Most however are good.  Capitalism is getting a bad reputation it doesn't deserve - let's dive into this!

Show Notes:
Info on Quarterly Financial Reports: Assessing the Frequency of ...

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January 20, 2025 28 mins

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Inauguration day 2025 also happens to be the day we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Many may choose to watch the inauguration; I will choose to embrace one of the greatest Americans to ever live.

In troubled times when our nation is tested, it is a wonderful thing to have the writings, speeches, and teachings of Dr. King to fall back on, to learn from, and to live by.  Listen to this and take comfort i...

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The United States has a problem.  Our elected officials keep getting older and older.  The Constitution says nothing about the elderly serving in Congress, the White House, or on the Supreme Court.  Let's examine this and maybe make some history too!

Notes:
Members of Congress by Age  8 Oldest Members of Current U.S. Senate (Updated 2024) - Oldest.org

More than half of Americans support a m...

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