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The MiddleGround Mic

The MiddleGround Mic

Joe 211 Episodes Aug 21, 2026

The MiddleGround Mic is a centrist politics podcast hosted by Joseph Steagall that rejects partisan extremes and advocates for pragmatic solutions. It covers topics like elections, foreign policy, border security, and the economy, aiming to provide honest, bipartisan commentary. The show has reached the top 30 in U.S. News Commentary with over 750,000 downloads.

Episodes

Why the "Civil War" Narrative is a Lie (18-Month Journey)
Why the "Civil War" Narrative is a Lie (18-Month Journey) Aug 21, 2026 2258 Are we actually on the brink of a national collapse, or is mainstream media selling us a profitable lie? During the height of the pandemic, digital nomad Wesley Warshawer packed up his car, left his Silicon Valley bubble, and spent 18 months living in rural, conservative America. His mission: bypass the political noise and find out if everyday Americans are truly as divided as we are told.In this
1 VOTE DECIDES? How Iowa Independent Michael Bridgford Plans to Leverage the Speaker's Gavel
1 VOTE DECIDES? How Iowa Independent Michael Bridgford Plans to Leverage the Speaker's Gavel Aug 20, 2026 2696 What happens when the balance of power in Washington comes down to a single independent vote?This week on The MiddleGround Mic, we sit down with Michael Bridgford, an Independent candidate running in one of the tightest congressional districts in the country. With the House of Representatives divided by the slimmest of margins, Bridgford outlines a bold strategy: using the crucial Speaker of the H
How Companies Use AI to Replace Workers | Danny Carpio
How Companies Use AI to Replace Workers | Danny Carpio Aug 10, 2026 1783 Is your corporate career actually risk-free, or are you sitting on an unseen risk transfer?In this episode of The MiddleGround Mic, host Joe sits down with organizational architect and author Danny Carpio to dissect the structural changes hitting the modern workforce. We break down the reality of "corporate labor arbitrage," how companies are actively training AI platforms on human labor to scale
Iran's Nuclear Countdown: The Canceled Strike | Ron Bee
Iran's Nuclear Countdown: The Canceled Strike | Ron Bee Aug 8, 2026 2310 On August 1st, President Trump called off what was set to be one of the largest military strikes in the Middle East. Why did he call it off, and how close was Iran to actually deploying a nuclear weapon.Today, foreign policy expert Ron Bee joins Joseph on The MiddleGround Mic to pull back the curtain on the geopolitical chess match happening behind closed doorsKey Topics Covered:• The Secret Press
Inside 60 Minutes: The Iraq War Lie | Amjad Tadros
Inside 60 Minutes: The Iraq War Lie | Amjad Tadros Aug 5, 2026 2266 In this investigative journalism episode of The MiddleGround Mic, 33-year senior CBS News and 60 Minutes Middle East producer Amjad Tadros pulls back the curtain to reveal the incredible stories viewers never saw on television. Amjad spent four years hunting “Curveball,” the Iraqi defector whose fabricated WMD claims became a key part of the case for the 2003 Iraq War. He located Osama bin La
Why Men Over 40 Feel Tired and Foggy: Low Testosterone
Why Men Over 40 Feel Tired and Foggy: Low Testosterone Jul 27, 2026 2310 Many men reach their forties and begin feeling tired, foggy, unmotivated, overweight, or simply unlike themselves. Because the change happens gradually, they often accept it as an unavoidable part of getting older.Kevin Dahlstrom, founder and CEO of Bolt Health, joins Joe to explain why these symptoms deserve a closer look. Kevin describes building a successful corporate career while feeling miser
Cancel Culture Has No Sentence | Tim Kelley
Cancel Culture Has No Sentence | Tim Kelley Jun 26, 2026 2763 What happens when someone gets canceled — and there’s no way back?Tim Kelley — MIT alumnus, former Navy commanding officer, global leadership advisor, and founder of canceledleader.com — joins The MiddleGround Mic to make the case that cancel culture’s real crisis is not the cancellation itself. It is the complete absence of any defined path to re-entry.Tim and Joe cover why Kevin Spacey’s full ex
Digital Detox and AI Dependency | Colin Corby
Digital Detox and AI Dependency | Colin Corby Jun 24, 2026 3640 Digital detox expert Colin Corby joins The MiddleGround Mic to talk about digital detox, AI dependency, smartphone habits, burnout, and how to get control back from technology without throwing your phone away.Learn more about Colin Corby and his digital detox resources at thedigitaldetoxcoach.com.Colin is the founder of Technology Wellbeing Limited and creator of The Digital Detox Coach. In this c
Wayne County SMART Bus Tax: $570M Millage Fight Explained
Wayne County SMART Bus Tax: $570M Millage Fight Explained Jun 22, 2026 3562 Wayne County voters will decide on the August 4 SMART bus millage, a public transportation proposal tied to SMART bus service, the Wayne County Transit Authority, and former opt-out communities. Matt Wilk and Patty Pozios from Not SMART Wayne join Joe Steagall to explain why their group opposes what they call a new $570 million SMART bus tax after House Bill 6088 changed the opt-out system in Wayn
Beyond Burnout: Finding Purpose After 40 | Dr. Kyle Hulsebus
Beyond Burnout: Finding Purpose After 40 | Dr. Kyle Hulsebus Jun 1, 2026 3968 Are you constantly exhausted, stressed, and feeling like you're just going through the motions?The wellness industry will sell you a thousand ways to “manage your stress,” but my guest today argues they may be treating the wrong disease.Dr. Kyle Hulsebus joins The MiddleGround Mic to deliver a grounded, no-BS diagnosis for modern burnout: what if the problem is not just overwork, but a loss of pur
Why Americans Stopped Trusting Government | Chip Webster
Why Americans Stopped Trusting Government | Chip Webster May 28, 2026 2201 The evidence is undeniable. In 1964, 77% of Americans trusted their government. Today, that number has collapsed to a catastrophic 17%. This isn't a political problem; it's a systemic failure.In this urgent conversation, I sit down with author and civic leader Chip Webster to prosecute the case against a nation that has lost its way. We dissect the "gradual, then sudden" bankruptcy of our democrac
Michigan Senate Run: DTE Bills, Roads, Transparency
Michigan Senate Run: DTE Bills, Roads, Transparency May 18, 2026 1763 It started with a simple question from a voter that proves our government is broken: "What is a senator?"In this in-depth conversation, I sit down with Marcie Grzywacz, an ICU nurse, mother, and candidate for Michigan State Senate (District 4). We discuss her fight for transparency on her local city council, the frustrating "blurred lines" that disconnect voters from their government, and the kitc

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