A bold new UK law is attempting the ultimate slow fade—phasing out smoking by banning anyone born after 2008 from ever buying cigarettes, effectively turning Marlboros into a relic for future history classes. Hosted by Alex, the episode unpacks how this public health gamble aims to cut addiction, ease pressure on the NHS, and tighten rules on vaping while expanding smoke-free zones. But critics warn the strategy could backfire, pushing users toward black markets or back to traditional tobacco. Either way, for the next generation, the rebellious “cigarette outside the bar” might be replaced with… well, they’ll have to get creative.

Alex breaks down the latest Iran war confusion—from seized ships to “maybe” peace talks—while asking the bigger question: who is the U.S. actually negotiating with inside a fractured Iranian regime. He walks through the internal power struggle, calling it a literal “jungle of power,” where diplomats and hardliners are fighting each other as much as they’re fighting the West. He also dives into the emerging “Mythos” AI breakthrough—an ultra-powerful model reportedly capable of finding and exploiting thousands of software vulnerabilities, so dangerous it’s being withheld from the public—which is already sparking global security fears and an AI arms race.

Alex kicks things off with a slightly unhinged rant about Real Madrid blowing a wild Champions League tie to Bayern Munich—before pivoting to a bigger point: sports and politics run on the same emotional logic. People don’t just root for their team—they root against the other side’s fans, because they hate the idea of those people getting what they want. From there, the episode dives into California’s chaotic governor race, where a fractured Democratic field—now reshuffled by Eric Swalwell dropping out—and the state’s jungle primary mean the outcome is less about ideology and more about math, with even the possibility of a Republican sneaking through under the right conditions.

On this episode, Alex connects the dots between pop culture and political absurdity, starting with Karol G making history as the first Latina to headline Coachella—a moment that doubled as both a cultural milestone and a subtle political statement about identity and belonging. From there, the conversation spirals into the internet’s favorite running joke: JD Vance as a Grim Reaper figure who seemingly dooms every event he touches—though notably, he did not attend Karol G’s set, perhaps explaining why it went so well. Finally, Alex imagines a chaotic bipartisan fever dream where Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ro Khanna form an alliance, proving that in modern politics, anything is possible—except JD Vance having a normal week.

In this episode, Alex breaks down rising global tensions as Donald Trump threatens a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after failed nuclear talks with Iran. He then dives into the stunning electoral defeat of Viktor Orbán by Péter Magyar, exploring what it means for Europe, Russia, and the global far-right. Alex closes by asking whether this marks a turning point for nationalist movements—or just a temporary setback.

In this episode, Alex and Cole Costello unpack the complicated legacy of Cesar Chavez, whose reputation has recently been shaken by serious allegations of sexual abuse involving women and minors that have led to canceled celebrations and the removal of his name from public spaces. The conversation explores both Chavez’s historic impact on farmworker rights and the growing criticism of his personal conduct, ultimately centering on a broader question: how to reconcile meaningful achievements with deeply flawed individuals. By the end, the discussion lands on the idea that sometimes it’s necessary to separate a figure’s contributions from their personal life—even if that process is uncomfortable and unresolved.

In this episode, Alex unpacks “Avignongate,” a growing clash between Washington and Rome as Donald Trump’s political movement collides with the moral authority of Pope Leo XIV. What starts as a disputed diplomatic meeting opens into a deeper conflict over war, faith, and the rise of Christian nationalism—echoing the Avignon Papacy and the Western Schism, when political power fractured the Church itself. At its core, the episode asks a bigger question: who gets to define morality in the modern world—a superpower wielding military force, or a global church claiming authority beyond nations? And what happens when those two answers fundamentally disagree?

In this episode, Alex and guest Cole Costello explore the strange political moment where some Democrats find themselves aligned with right-wing figures like Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, both of whom have broken with Donald Trump over rhetoric critics describe as genocidal. They situate this within a broader “MAGA civil war,” where anti-war or isolationist conservatives are clashing with Trump loyalists, complicating traditional left–right political alignments. The conversation also turns to Peter Meijer, whose recent shift toward MAGA politics reflects wider consolidation and radicalization within the Republican Party. Finally, Alex and Cole discuss anarchism, what it means to be on the left, and why Cuba remains an important reference point for debates about anti-imperialism, socialism, and state power.

In part two of his conversation with Cole Costello, Alex opens with a simple but revealing question — if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you go? Cole quickly lands on Australia, which sets the stage for a deeper discussion as Alex begins to challenge that choice. What follows is a thoughtful back-and-forth about what really makes travel meaningful. Alex argues that language and cultural differences are essential to the experience, while Cole sees it a bit differently, questioning whether those factors matter as much. Their conversation then turns to Australia itself, exploring the interesting paradox it presents — a place that can feel temporally close, yet geographically remote. They reflect on how that distance has shaped Australia into something culturally distinct, even “weird” in its own way. Despite seeming similar to Europe on paper, its isolation has led to a very different cultural evolution.