Middle Theory

This week Bernie and Obama endorse Biden, while a controversial series of emails dubbed "Red Dawn" illustrates America's slow response to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

This just in: Democratic hopeful Bernie Sanders has endorsed frontrunner Joe Biden, apparently clearing the path to his nomination at the 2020 Democratic National Convention... if they are able to have one, given the current state of the coronavirus pandemic. On that note, we look at the latest science, and questions many health officials are asking about the coronavirus, including when it arrived in America, whether people infected with it can contract the virus again, and other concerns.

However, a big story this week involved the release of a series of emails from late last year and early 2020 which indicates more of what we already know: that America was too slow in taking action to curb the impact of COVID-19. Anthony Fauci was asked about this over the weekend on CNN's "State of the Union," which had some asking whether it meant "happy trails" for Fauci after Trump retweeted a Tweet calling for "The Most Trusted Man in America" to be fired.

And then before we can wrap up, endorsements are just falling from the sky as Barack Obama, not to be outdone by Bernie Sanders, also tosses his endorsement behind Joe Biden. Meanwhile, the guy who is presently in the Oval Office recently stated that “When somebody is president of the United States, the authority is total... the governors know that." By definition, does this make Donald Trump an authoritarian?

Coronavirus Charities: If you are able, please consider supporting the following charities that are offering relief for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic:

• No Kid Hungry Responds to Coronavirus
• American Red Cross: Give Blood
• Feeding America
• Meals on Wheels
• Homeless Shelter Directory

A special thank you to those who donated to the podcast this week:

• Sean O’Neal 
• Bethany Trottier 
• James Malone 
• John Lipartito

If you like Middle Theory and want to help support the show, you can donate to the program here:

We also offer SUBSCRIPTION accounts for those who would like to make recurring monthly payments to Middle Theory. If you would prefer to SUBSCRIBE to the program, click here to visit our DONATES page, and scroll down below the primary DONATE button. 

ELECTION UPDATE: Bernie Endorses Biden 

One Day Later, Obama Endorses Biden Too

Biden is botching his response to the coronavirus and struggling to convince Americans they can trust him

TRUMP FUNDS: RNC, Trump Campaign Haul in $212 Million in First Quarter Fundraising

EARLY BIRDS: New signs suggest coronavirus was in California far earlier than anyone knew

WHO KNOWS: WHO officials say it’s unclear whether recovered coronavirus patients are immune to second infection

18 MONTHS MORE: Kashkari Says U.S. May Face 18 Months of Rolling Shutdowns

RED DAWN: The ‘Red Dawn’ Emails: 8 Key Exchanges on the Faltering Response to the Coronavirus

Full transcript of the ‘Red Dawn’ Emails

FIRST 50: All 50 states under disaster declaration for first time in US history

FIRED UP: What Dr. Fauci has coming

Fauci confirms New York Times report Trump rebuffed social distancing advice

AUTHORITARIAN: Trump claims ‘total’ authority, over govs, to reopen economy

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To send us feedback, you can email us here. Also, follow Middle Theory on Twitter too... this is highly recommended, and may even be vital for some of you. Finally, as mentioned earlier, some may be further compelled to donate to the program, which helps keep ads for survival gear, water filters, male enhancement supplements, and do-it-yourself earthworm farming kits off the program.

This week we look at U.S. intelligence reports indicating that China is concealing information on the coronavirus, ever-changing reports about the use of medical masks, and other bad or conflicting information in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. 

While people all over the world have been stuck at home recently, it's a good thing for video streaming services like Netflix and the escape from reality they offer with the sensational new documentary series Tiger King. Meanwhile, as actual tigers are being confirmed among the latest to be infected by the coronavirus, we turn our attention to a brief U.S. Election update before examining concerning reports out of China in relation to the pandemic. 

Why are some concerned that one prominent Chinese health official, who tried to warn others in the global medical community about the coronavirus, may have "vanished"? Also, what should be made of the recent U.S. intelligence reports that appear to indicate China is concealing information on the coronavirus? Along these same lines, commentator and mathematician Eric Weinstein recently appeared on the Joe Rogan podcast, and addressed the "deadly nonsense" that is the ever-changing attitude about the use of medical masks, and other bad or conflicting information in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, perhaps most concerning of all is what some call China's "stranglehold" on the World Health Organization, which led to controversy recently after an interview with a leading WHO official turned "awkward". We examine all of these stories on this week's Middle Theory Podcast. 

Coronavirus Charities: If you are able, please consider supporting the following charities that are offering relief for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic:

• No Kid Hungry Responds to Coronavirus
• American Red Cross: Give Blood
• Feeding America
• Meals on Wheels
• Homeless Shelter Directory

A special thank you to those who donated to the podcast this week:

• Betty June
• Daniel Baumberger
• Robert Westfall
• Robert Walshe

If you like Middle Theory and want to help support the show, you can donate to the program here:

We also offer SUBSCRIPTION accounts for those who would like to make recurring monthly payments to Middle Theory. If you would prefer to SUBSCRIBE to the program, click here to visit our DONATES page, and scroll down below the primary DONATE button. 

• TIGER KING: The not-so-secret formula behind its popularity
• 'Tiger King' star Jeff Lowe says Netflix is adding a new episode of the show 'next week'
• TIGER COVID: Tiger at Bronx Zoo tests positive for COVID-19, zoo says
• VANISHED: Concerns Grow Over Wuhan Doctor Amid Call For Return to Work
• BORIS: PM Johnson admitted to hospital over virus symptoms
• VIRTUAL DEMS: Joe Biden raises idea of holding virtual DNC convention
• RO NO: Rogan ‘set to vote for Trump,’ Dems have ‘made us all morons’ by running Joe Biden
• CONCEALMENT: China Concealed Extent of Virus Outbreak, U.S. Intelligence Says
• DEADLY NONSENSE: Weinstein on “deadly nonsense” in the coronavirus pandemic
• THE GREAT DIVIDE: What's behind the China-Taiwan divide?
• Senior WHO official dodges questions about Taiwan’s WHO membership; praises China
• WHO releases statement after senior staff’s awkward interview
• Parties unite over Taiwan's exclusion from WHO anti-virus planning (January 2020)
• Why Taiwan has become a problem for WHO (March 2020)

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To send us feedback, you can email us here. Also, follow Middle Theory on Twitter too... this is highly recommended, and may even be vital for some of you. Finally, as mentioned earlier, some may be further compelled to donate to the program, which helps keep ads for survival gear, water filters, male enhancement supplements, and do-it-yourself earthworm farming kits off the program.

As Washington passes the CARES Act, buying time for Americans who are out of work and stuck at home, we look at the economic effects of the pandemic situation, and the usual partisan spin presented by politicians and the media. 

America and the rest of the world remain on lockdown... and from this unique period of isolation where safe-spaces can no longer easily be invaded, and fighting and flame wars have been replaced by a sense of togetherness in the face of struggle, we predict that an all-new phenomenon has begun to emerge: the era of the Social Distance Warrior. 

Well, not really (but it was a fun play on words). This week, we turn our attention to the latest spate of theories being linked on news sites and social media that attempt to link the coronavirus to Chinese laboratories. USA Today notes that there is little basis for the claim, and points out a number of commentators who have peddled similar ideas... or did they? Then later in the program, we turn our attention to the passing of the CARES Act, how it is intended to help Americans, and why this is important for the rest of the world and the global economy. However, not all were thrilled about the bill, and many have been asking on both sides of the political fence what the longterm repercussions might be. We analyze all this, and more on this week's edition of Middle Theory.

Coronavirus Charities: If you are able, please consider supporting the following charities that are offering relief for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic:

• No Kid Hungry Responds to Coronavirus
• American Red Cross: Give Blood
• Feeding America
• Meals on Wheels
• Homeless Shelter Directory

A special thank you to those who donated to the podcast this week:

• Michiel Duijsings
• Grimerica
• Jill Ellis 
• Brett Giles 

If you like Middle Theory and want to help support the show, you can donate to the program here:

We also offer SUBSCRIPTION accounts for those who would like to make recurring monthly payments to Middle Theory. If you would prefer to SUBSCRIBE to the program, click here to visit our DONATES page, and scroll down below the primary DONATE button. 

• CLAIM: Chinese researchers isolated deadly bat coronaviruses near Wuhan animal market
• FACT CHECK: Did the coronavirus originate in a Chinese laboratory? (USA Today)
• VIRUS RESCUE BILL: White House, Congress agree on $2 trillion virus rescue bill
• BUYING TIME: Kudlow Projects Coronavirus Aid Package to Reach ‘Roughly’ $6 Trillion
• Mnuchin 'one of most powerful Cabinet members in modern history'
• Rep. Haley Stevens: "I Wear These Latex Gloves To Tell Every American, Do Not Be Afraid"
• THE BIG PICTURE: The Coronavirus Economy: When Washington Takes Over Business
• THE ACTUAL PICTURE: The Anatomy of the $2 Trillion COVID-19 Stimulus Bill
• RIPPIN’ IT: Nancy Pelosi Is Already Talking About the Next Stimulus Bill for Coronavirus Relief
• TAIBBI: Bailing Out the Bailout: ‘It will take years to sort through the details…’
• WSJ OPINION: ‘Save Capitalism From the Cares Act’
• DESTINATION UNKNOWN: Pentagon says it still hasn't sent ventilators because it hasn't been told where to send them
• Fears that Russia's President Putin has been exposed to infection
• TERRORISTS: Those who intentionally spread coronavirus could be charged as terrorists

JOIN US: REACH OUT TO MIDDLE THEORY

To send us feedback, you can email us here. Also, follow Middle Theory on Twitter too... this is highly recommended, and may even be vital for some of you. Finally, as mentioned earlier, some may be further compelled to donate to the program, which helps keep ads for survival gear, water filters, male enhancement supplements, and do-it-yourself earthworm farming kits off the program.

As the coronavirus pandemic situation continues we look at "flattening the curve" and speak with people in affected areas like New York, and look at partisanship in Washington that could be harmful to Americans in need.  

A NOTE TO MIDDLE THEORY LISTENERS: Wherever you are, and however your lives are being affected by the current coronavirus situation, we want to send our best wishes to all of you during these trying times. We'd also like to hear from you, and welcome thoughts and perspectives on issues like social distancing, preventative measures, and in particular, views from those with a perspective on health care and related industries. Remember, we are all in this together, and we all have a role to play in getting past this; but the good news is that we will get through this. Stay safe, healthy, and informed out there, and thank you for your support for the Middle Theory program. 

As many Americans are still on lockdown, we get a check-in from the northeast and perspectives on the current situation from longtime cohost Christopher McCollum (aka McNONYMOUS), along with friend of the program Ryan Sprague who is currently based in New York, the American epicenter of the current pandemic. We also feature a few perspectives from an anonymous airport security employee who gives us their views on the situation from an aviation and health care perspective.

Then shifting gears, as we watch how Americans and people all around the world have come together in these concerning times, is it any surprise that in Washington D.C. it's chaos as per usual? We examine reports that Senate Intelligence Committee members may have sold off stocks after receiving briefings in advance of the panic, as well as Donald Trump's current aspirations to have Americans back to work by Easter. Is this a good idea? The Editorial Board at the New York Times didn't seem to think so... and nor do many health professionals who recognize that "flattening the curve" is about more than just keeping people healthy: it is about making sure that everyone--including those with mild or no symptoms--don't inadvertently help the spread of the coronavirus, which could potentially overload healthcare system capacity.

And although a stimulus plan has now finally been passed by the Senate to aid the millions of Americans affected by the economic impact of the coronavirus, it didn't help that the usual partisan bickering impeded that process. Now more than ever, there is a need for bipartisanship and sensibility from our elected officials... and in fact, here it may just save lives.

A special thank you to those who donated to the podcast this week:

• John Kaufman
• Joseph DeLeon
• Jen Massey 
• Jennie Vongvith
• Ali Buchan
• Jamie Craven
• Lauren Turinetti

If you like Middle Theory and want to help support the show, you can donate to the program here:

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• CONSPIRACY: China blames U.S. for coronavirus, Iran calls it “bioweapon”
• TIME TO DINE: C.D.C. Gives New Guidelines, New York to Close Restaurants (NYT)
• 10 OR LESS: Trump admits COVID-19 severity as White House tightens guidance
• 15 DAYS LATER: 15 Ways to Slow the Spread (White House)
• SOCIAL DISTANCING: “Information about Social Distancing” (University of Minnesota)
• Coronavirus, Social Distancing and Self Quarantine (Johns Hopkins University)
• As US fumbles COVID-19 testing, WHO warns social distancing is not enough
• PAPER: Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID19 mortality and healthcare demand

JOIN US: REACH OUT TO MIDDLE THEORY

To send us feedback, you can email us here. Also, follow Middle Theory on Twitter too... this is highly recommended, and may even be vital for some of you. Finally, as mentioned earlier, some may be further compelled to donate to the program, which helps keep ads for survival gear, water filters, male enhancement supplements, and do-it-yourself earthworm farming kits off the program.

As the 2020 COVI-19 pandemic continues, we look at human psychology in response to the spread of the coronavirus and "social distancing." 

Have you been to the store yet this week? If so, then you too are probably experiencing what some are calling "The Great Toilet Paper Panic of 2020," and that's not to make light of the situation. However, it is to say, "where are our priorities?" Experiencing an actual pandemic that warrants some emergency preparedness is revealing some interesting things about crowd mentality, and the phenomenon known as "panic buying."

Meanwhile, the United States and other countries around the world are instituting emergency preparedness policies, which include economic stimulus as the global market sees unprecedented volatility, as well as limited travel bans, health advisories, and recommendations about "social distancing." What does all of this mean, and what will the long term effects be in a post-pandemic world?

A special thank you to those who donated to the podcast this week:

• RUNE
• John Haskins
• Shelly Orlandini
• Sacha Neubauer
• Jessica Riley

If you like Middle Theory and want to help support the show, you can donate to the program here:

We also offer SUBSCRIPTION accounts for those who would like to make recurring monthly payments to Middle Theory. If you would prefer to SUBSCRIBE to the program, click here to visit our DONATES page, and scroll down below the primary DONATE button. 

• CONSPIRACY: China blames U.S. for coronavirus, Iran calls it “bioweapon”
• TIME TO DINE: C.D.C. Gives New Guidelines, New York to Close Restaurants (NYT)
• 10 OR LESS: Trump admits COVID-19 severity as White House tightens guidance
• 15 DAYS LATER: 15 Ways to Slow the Spread (White House)
• SOCIAL DISTANCING: “Information about Social Distancing” (University of Minnesota)
• Coronavirus, Social Distancing and Self Quarantine (Johns Hopkins University)
• As US fumbles COVID-19 testing, WHO warns social distancing is not enough
• PAPER: Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID19 mortality and healthcare demand

JOIN US: REACH OUT TO MIDDLE THEORY

To send us feedback, you can email us here. Also, follow Middle Theory on Twitter too... this is highly recommended, and may even be vital for some of you. Finally, as mentioned earlier, some may be further compelled to donate to the program, which helps keep ads for survival gear, water filters, male enhancement supplements, and do-it-yourself earthworm farming kits off the program.

On this edition we look at the latest developments with the COVID-19 coronavirus, as the World Health Organization announces the virus has reached pandemic scale.

As Election 2020 continues, Joe Biden continues to clinch victories in primary states as Bernie Sanders struggles to keep up... but one politician has been curiously absent in this process: Barack Obama. We look at why the former president is keeping quiet on Joe Biden and the 2020 race, before turning our attention to the latest with the coronavirus scare.

Is there really anything here to be "scared" of, and is the COVID-19 coronavirus as dangerous as some reports indicate? Why are some politicians, including President Trump, playing down concerns, while health officials appear to be bracing for a pandemic? We look at the reasons for the political divide, as well as key facts and figures about the virus, why it is different from the common cold, and how to prepare for further outbreaks.

A special thank you to those who donated to the podcast this week:

• Bethany Trottier
• John Lipartito

If you like Middle Theory and want to help support the show, you can donate to the program here:

We also offer SUBSCRIPTION accounts for those who would like to make recurring monthly payments to Middle Theory. If you would prefer to SUBSCRIBE to the program, click here to visit our DONATES page, and scroll down below the primary DONATE button. 

• SHORT & SIMPLE: Biden's shorter speeches give fewer chances for gaffes
• OBAMA UPDATE: Democratic Donors Have Their Candidate
• Obama congratulates Biden, who says he told Obama ‘not to endorse him’
• Obama Was Reportedly Concerned Bid en's Presidential Bid Would 'Damage His Legacy'
• COVID-19 BREAKDOWN: APHL Responds to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) 
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) events as they happen
• Naming the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the virus that causes it
• You have coronavirus questions. We asked a doctor for answers
• CONSPIRACIES: Mistrust, Rumor and Conspiracy Theories Hinder U.S. Virus Fight
• CORONA FAMILIAR: How Many Americans Really Have the Coronavirus?
• Trump's grandfather was killed by the flu, but president didn’t know people died' from it
• To predict an epidemic, evolution can't be ignored
• CORONA LIGHT: NYT: Most Coronavirus Cases are Mild
• CORONA MUTATO: Japanese woman reinfected with coronavirus just later
• Coronavirus has HIV-like mutation
• PANDEMICMONIUM: WHO official slams Trump's 'ignorant and incoherent' response
• Quarantine on cruise ship resulted in more COVID-19 patients, study finds
• Virus threatening to end air-travel boom
• PREPARE: The shopping list for your own home quarantine kit
• PRECAUTIONS: It’s Time for Precautionary Measures to Go Viral, Too
• GETTING THE FACTS: 12 Coronavirus myths busted by science
• Coronavirus Advice for the Public from World Health Org
• Spread of coronavirus underestimated, review finds

JOIN US: REACH OUT TO MIDDLE THEORY

To send us feedback, you can email us here. Also, follow Middle Theory on Twitter too... this is highly recommended, and may even be vital for some of you. Finally, as mentioned earlier, some may be further compelled to donate to the program, which helps keep ads for survival gear, water filters, male enhancement supplements, and do-it-yourself earthworm farming kits off the program.

Image by Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons. 

Following an explosive Super Tuesday turnout, Joe Biden reemerges as the front runner in the 2020 Democratic Primary race. 

Things weren't looking great for Joe Biden leading up to the South Carolina Democratic Primary, despite the former Vice President expressing confidence during a televised debate in Charleston, South Carolina, that he would indeed win the state.

Not only did he win, but Biden's success in the South was only the beginning of a surprising resurgence in his campaign, with momentum carrying him all the way through to a landslide victory on Super Tuesday. Having re-emerged as the front runner, will Biden continue on to claim the nomination? Meanwhile, Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bloomberg have stepped aside, leaving Biden and Sanders to battle for delegates as they head on to states like Michigan.

However, should we be a little concerned about Biden's success, especially with some of the baggage he carries from over the years (not to mention the lingering specter of his Ukraine issues still hanging in the air)? Some of Biden's gaffes that the media has latched onto have a few pundits wondering about his mental health, and whether this could mean trouble for the former Vice President.

A special thank you to those who donated to the podcast this week:

• Betty June  
• Tim Whittaker
• Daniel Baumberger
• Sean O’Neil
• Grimerica
• Jill Ellis
• Robert Westfall
• Brian Davis
• Robert Walshe

If you like Middle Theory and want to help support the show, you can donate to the program here:

We also offer SUBSCRIPTION accounts for those who would like to make recurring monthly payments to Middle Theory. If you would prefer to SUBSCRIBE to the program, click here to visit our DONATES page, and scroll down below the primary DONATE button. 

• HARBO RETIRES: Chris Matthews announces retirement, mutually parts ways with MSNBC
• (S)ELECTION 2020: SOUP OR TUESDAY
• CNBC’S Primary Delegate Counter
• SAY IT, SETH: Seth Meyers speaks up, nails the media’s bias against Bernie
• BIDEN HIS TIME: Joe Biden re-emerges as the front runner in 2020 race
• GLOOM FOR BLOOM: Bloomberg withdraws from 2020 race, endorses Biden
• WARREN IS OUT: Elizabeth Warren Suspends Her Campaign
• A VIEW FROM THE RIGHT: Geraghty: “What Happened Last Night?” 
• TUCK CUTS: Tucker: Democrats pin their hopes on gaffe-prone Joe Biden
• National Review: Pretending Joe Biden Is Fine

JOIN US: REACH OUT TO MIDDLE THEORY

To send us feedback, you can email us here. Also, follow Middle Theory on Twitter too... this is highly recommended, and may even be vital for some of you. Finally, as mentioned earlier, some may be further compelled to donate to the program, which helps keep ads for survival gear, water filters, male enhancement supplements, and do-it-yourself earthworm farming kits off the program.

Image by Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons. 

As Election 2020 continues, former President Obama is keeping quiet as an increasingly divisive group of Democratic candidates fight for the nomination. 

This week, stocks are falling as fears about the Wuhan coronavirus continue to escalate, and shocking news about a Harvard professor's ties to China have some people asking if there could be any connection to the virus as it approaches pandemic stage.

Then turning our attention to the Democratic Primary, Nevada was another big win for Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and in the aftermath of a televised debate that left many of us wondering why Michael Bloomberg is even in the race (apart from the money the billionaire appears to be willing to throw at beating incumbent Donald Trump. 

With the debate raging over which candidate might be able to win the 2020 election, many are looking at former President Barack Obama... will he endorse the eventual nominee? Probably... but it's complicated.

A special thank you to those who donated to the podcast this week:

• Jennie Vongvith 
• Mark Hankins II  
• Ali Buchan
• Lauren Turinetti  

If you like Middle Theory and want to help support the show, you can donate to the program here:

We also offer SUBSCRIPTION accounts for those who would like to make recurring monthly payments to Middle Theory. If you would prefer to SUBSCRIBE to the program, click here to visit our DONATES page, and scroll down below the primary DONATE button. 

• DOW DISEASE: Dow drops 300 points, extending Monday’s rout as bond yields drop
• More virus deaths outside China raise pandemic fears
• Coronavirus sparks new travel disruption; Iran’s deputy health minister tests positive as death toll rises
• ESPIONAGE: Harvard University Professor and Two Chinese Nationals Charged in Three Separate China Related Cases
• Harvard Professor Charged With Hiding Ties to China Released on $1M Bond
• Lieber arrest stokes US researchers’ fear of China ties
• Snopes: Was Charles Lieber Arrested for Connections to Coronavirus, Wuhan Lab?
• NEVADA CAUCUS UPDATE: Results of the Nevada Caucus
• Democrats warn of potential chaos in Nevada weeks after technical issues marred Iowa caucus
• Nevada Dems Leader: It's Time To End The Caucuses, Shift To A Primary
• BIDEN FOR SENATE: Biden says he’s a “candidate for the United States Senate”
• DEBATE UPDATE: Bloomberg receives attacks from other Democrat challengers
• Trashing Michael Bloomberg does little to find a credible Democrat challenger
• LEAKED: Here’s Mike Bloomberg’s Higher Education Plan
• TONIGHT: Bloomberg Seeks Debate Redemption While Sanders Faces Attacks
• 7 MORE DAYS, OR 4 MORE YEARS: Democratic rivals have seven days to stop Sanders
• THE DROPOUTS: The 1 thing that might slow down Bernie Sanders is a very, very long shot
• SILENCE IS GOLDEN: What Obama Is Saying in Private About the Democratic Primary
• LAST MONTH’S WASHPO OPEDS: Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama want to stop Bernie Sanders. Can they actually do it?
• Progressives and moderates, don't destroy each other. The enemy is Trump, not Clinton or Obama.
• THE PLOT THICKENS: The Hidden History of Sanders’s Plot to Primary Obama
• JOIN US: REACH OUT TO MIDDLE THEORY

To send us feedback, you can email us here. Also, follow Middle Theory on Twitter too... this is highly recommended, and may even be vital for some of you. Finally, as mentioned earlier, some may be further compelled to donate to the program, which helps keep ads for survival gear, water filters, male enhancement supplements, and do-it-yourself earthworm farming kits off the program.

This week, clemency has been granted to a number of criminal associates of Donald Trump, and news surfaces that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was also allegedly offered a pardon... for a price. 

What are the actual roots of conflict and division in the world today? Looking at the history of conflict, and the role everything from land and water, to agriculture and warfare in it, we offer a historical perspective on what has helped the current Democratic Primaries become such a disaster. 

While in the minds of Democrats Trump has “divided America,” what Trump has really done is divide the Democratic Party, and there is no clear consensus among Democrats about how best to approach beating him in this election. Therefore, the “split” has resulted in two factions - progressive and moderate - going after one another, rather than uniting behind a common enemy. 

Then after some audio featuring a debate between conservative strategist Steve Bannon and Real Time host Bill Maher, we turn our attention to the recent pardons made by President Trump, as well as the controversial news surfaces that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was also allegedly offered a pardon... for a price. 

A special thank you to those who donated to the podcast this week:

• RUNE 
• Kevin Webb  
• Sascha Neubauer 
• Shelly Orlandini 
• Jessica Riley 

If you like Middle Theory and want to help support the show, you can donate to the program here:

We also offer SUBSCRIPTION accounts for those who would like to make recurring monthly payments to Middle Theory. If you would prefer to SUBSCRIBE to the program, click here to visit our DONATES page, and scroll down below the primary DONATE button. 

• BANNONED: Steve Bannon and Bill Maher Go Head-to-Head
• PARDON ME: Trump Pardons Rod Blagojevich and Other Associates
• Rod Blagojevich released from prison after Trump commutes his sentence
• Trump grants clemency to 10 others
• ...Calls Roger Stone’s proposed sentence “very unfair”
• The Trouble with Donald Trump’s Clemencies and Pardons
• BETTING ODDS: Betting Odds in the Democratic Presidential Nomination (Real Clear Politics)

JOIN US: REACH OUT TO MIDDLE THEORY

To send us feedback, you can email us here. Also, follow Middle Theory on Twitter too... this is highly recommended, and may even be vital for some of you. Finally, as mentioned earlier, some may be further compelled to donate to the program, which helps keep ads for survival gear, water filters, male enhancement supplements, and do-it-yourself earthworm farming kits off the program.

This week the mainstream media reports on the Democratic Primaries from an alternate dimension, and Trump takes a victory lap after his acquittal by Senate Republicans.

It's a "2020 mystery," according to Politico. "Who’s the frontrunner now?" the site asked in an article that prominently featured a wide shot of Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Things were less mysterious for Reuters, who reported that "Pete Buttigieg finishes second in New Hampshire primary, Klobuchar third." Hmmm... are we forgetting somebody?

"They Rocked New Hampshire," The Nation reported, "but Pete and Amy Still Can’t Win Over Black Voters?" What did all of these, and many other media outlets appear to miss in their reporting of the New Hampshire Primary? Oh yeah, that's right... the name of the Vermont Senator who won it. 

Meanwhile, "The Trump Show" continued before a live studio audience with the State of the Union address, which was packed with enough surprises and staged stunts that many of us at home expected Evel Knievel to rise from the grave and sail through the air above Congress on a flaming motorcycle. Needless to say, it was quite a production, which ended with a frustrated Nancy "The Ripper" Pelosi shredding her copy of Trump's address to the nation. All of this occurring prior to Trump's acquittal by Senate Republicans... with one notable exception of course (here's a hint: he counts drinking chocolate milk among his many "renegade" practices).

A special thank you to those who donated to the podcast this week:

• Betty June
• Georgi Bonchev
• Jessica Zucarello 
• John Lipartito

If you like Middle Theory and want to help support the show, you can donate to the program here:

We also offer SUBSCRIPTION accounts for those who would like to make recurring monthly payments to Middle Theory. If you would prefer to SUBSCRIBE to the program, click here to visit our DONATES page, and scroll down below the primary DONATE button. 

• NEW HAMPSHIRE: 2020 mystery: Who’s the frontrunner now?
• Pete Buttigieg finishes second in New Hampshire primary, Klobuchar third
• They Rocked New Hampshire—but Pete and Amy Still Can’t Win Over Black Voters
• Sanders edges Buttigieg in NH, giving Dems 2 front-runners
• Voter says she's backing Sanders because of negative coverage on MSNBC
• SOTU: Trump Adds Reality Show Flourishes to Address
•  Trump's theatrical State of the Union prompts partisan outrage
• Nancy Pelosi defends tearing up the State of the Union address
• THE ACQUITTAL: After acquittal, Trump unleashes fury at impeachment
• THE RENEGADE: How Mitt Romney Decided Trump Is Guilty
• BAD TASTE: Limbaugh: “Trump” will “have fun” with Buttigieg because he kisses his husband
• IRONY: Video shows black woman shouting she is 'uncomfortable' by 'too many whites' at UVA multicultural center

JOIN US: REACH OUT TO MIDDLE THEORY

To send us feedback, you can email us here. Also, follow Middle Theory on Twitter too... this is highly recommended, and may even be vital for some of you. Finally, as mentioned earlier, some may be further compelled to donate to the program, which helps keep ads for survival gear, water filters, male enhancement supplements, and do-it-yourself earthworm farming kits off the program.