In this episode, Alex speaks with investigative journalist and bestselling author Peter Schweizer about politics, media, China, and the state of the world two years after the October 7 Hamas attacks. The discussion opens with the ongoing government shutdown and how the left’s internal power struggles — especially the fear of AOC’s influence — have paralyzed Washington. Peter argues that much of the federal workforce exists as a “jobs program for Democratic voters,” and he and Alex discuss how the Trump administration can use the shutdown to cut bureaucratic waste and reassert fiscal discipline.

From there, they dive into the healthcare standoff in Congress, examining whether Republicans will cave on extending Obamacare subsidies and taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants. Peter warns that such a move would hand Democrats ownership of a failing system and erase years of conservative progress on healthcare reform.

The conversation then shifts to the TikTok deal, with Peter offering cautious optimism about efforts to move the app into majority U.S. ownership under figures like Larry Ellison and Marc Andreessen. He outlines the dangers of China’s influence, the addictive nature of the algorithm, and the cultural damage of social media dependency. Alex and Peter lament the rise of “online avatars” replacing real human experiences, tying this to recent tragedies involving radicalized, isolated young men. They debate whether America should adopt restrictions similar to China’s youth app limits and what role parents and policy should play in combating digital addiction.

The pair also unpack the Ellison family’s growing media empire, from Oracle’s global reach to David Ellison’s purchase of CBS News and Barry Weiss’s appointment as editor-in-chief. Peter notes the antitrust concerns but welcomes a less “woke” ownership class in Silicon Valley. They discuss TikTok’s influence on news consumption and whether conservative voices like Alex’s can use the platform to reach new audiences.

Next, Alex and Peter tackle Zoran Mamdani’s rise in New York politics, exposing the foreign and ideological forces backing his socialist campaign. Peter links funding and enthusiasm for Mamdani to Hezbollah, Iran, and Chinese-aligned networks, calling it “a global project to capture America’s largest city.” The two debate whether Mamdani’s election would be a necessary wake-up call or a dangerous acceleration of decline.

In the final segment, they mark the second anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks, discussing Trump’s proposed Middle East peace deal and Israel’s ongoing campaign to destroy Hamas. Peter defends Israel’s right to self-defense and critiques both left- and right-wing voices accusing Israel of “genocide.” He and Alex explore why anti-Israel sentiment has grown online and stress the moral and historical blindness of equating Israel’s military response with terrorism.

The episode closes with Peter teasing new investigations into foreign money in U.S. politics — including potential Chinese and Islamic influence in New York — and calling for tougher congressional oversight of rogue judges abusing lawfare against Trump.

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