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Centered From Reality
Centered From Reality
Author: centeredfromreality
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Alex Kopytko is a ”radical centrist” that wants to understand the extremes. He has worked in politics and has studied public policy and political science. Alex argues that centrism is less about being a contrarian, it is about being able to change your mind and embrace an openness to new ideas. He is concerned about where the United States is headed and through conversations with people from all sides of the political spectrum, he wants to know how Americans can limit the tribalism that is flourishing. As someone that dances along the center-right of the political spectrum, Alex thinks the country needs to come together and talk to one another before it could be too late. This podcast covers domestic politics, as well as political philosophy, and international issues.
697 Episodes
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In this episode, Alex breaks down the controversial FBI raid on Fulton County’s election offices, where hundreds of 2020 ballots and records were seized amid claims rooted in years-old, repeatedly debunked fraud theories — followed by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s highly unusual on-site presence and facilitation of a call between President Trump and FBI agents. Alex dissects Steve Bannon’s incendiary framing of the operation as part of a broader crusade against the “stolen” 2020 election and why Democrats see this as a dangerous distraction that could erode voter confidence or even be used to sow confusion and influence the narrative heading into the 2026 midterms.
Alex breaks down why Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show was more than just a performance—it was a cultural statement that had MAGA conservatives whining about reggaetón, pronouns, and inclusivity. He contrasts the positive, unifying energy of the halftime show with TPUSA’s low-turnout, divisive counter-event, unpacking what this says about America’s political and cultural divides.
In this episode hosted by Alex Kopytko, the conversation unpacks how Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance — fresh off a Grammy win — became a cultural flashpoint that exposes two diverging Americas. The irony, as Kopytko points out, is that Bad Bunny is American, yet his success still triggered backlash, including Turning Point USA’s rival “All-American Halftime Show” featuring artists like Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett. The episode also takes aim at Trump’s proposed “Arc de Trump,” a massive monument meant to project legacy and dominance, but so large and intrusive that critics argue it could violate zoning, historic preservation laws, and basic common sense.
Today The Washington Post announced sweeping layoffs that will cut roughly one-third of its newsroom and shutter key sections, from sports to books, in a drastic move leaders call a “strategic reset” amid falling subscriptions and revenue. Alex blasts billionaire owner Jeff Bezos as ultimately responsible, arguing that Bezos’ editorial meddling and silence during the paper’s decline — from killing presidential endorsements to shifting the outlet’s stance — helped drive away readers and hollow out one of America’s last great news institutions. For Alex, this isn’t “democracy dying in darkness” but a very public unraveling of independent journalism in broad daylight.
This episode explores the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and the resulting surge in gun purchases by some left-leaning Americans—framing why some see increased armament as a stand for self-defense and Second Amendment rights, why others fear it empowers the state or deepens political divides, and why some warn it could accelerate political balkanization. It also touches on broader cultural tensions in U.S. politics, including the controversial plan to close the Kennedy Center for two years starting July 4 for major renovations under a new leadership direction, which has sparked backlash from artists and lawmakers alike.
Alex dives into the recent uptick in wolf activity near Truckee, California, where state wildlife authorities are balancing public safety with conservation policy as gray wolves increasingly roam across human landscapes, reflecting broader debates over endangered species management and rural land use. At the same time, Florida’s historic cold snap has left invasive green iguanas “cold-stunned” and falling from trees, prompting temporary regulatory changes by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and illustrating how shifting climate patterns are forcing states to adapt policies in ways that highlight the clash between human communities and changing ecosystems.
In this episode, Alex breaks down the political shockwaves from the latest release of Jeffrey Epstein’s emails — a massive tranche of documents that not only ties powerful figures around the world to controversial correspondence but also contains new revelations about Epstein’s connections to Israeli political interests and the U.S. political landscape. With hundreds of references to former President Donald Trump and fresh scrutiny on how the emails intersect with foreign influence, domestic politics, and elite networks, we unpack what these disclosures mean for global power dynamics, the uproar in Washington and abroad, and the brewing controversies that could reshape public trust in 2026.
This episode connects Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut to the newly released Epstein files, exploring how power, secrecy, and elite access blur the line between conspiracy and documented reality. It examines the most disturbing material in the release—including allegations of victims being treated as “human incubators,” references to torture, and deeply unsettling communications—while carefully separating verified facts from speculation. Ultimately, it looks at how Jeffrey Epstein operated in plain sight, why law enforcement failed to stop him, and why so many questions remain unanswered.
This episode covers reports surrounding Don Lemon’s arrest and what it signals about the current media and political climate. Alex also looks at escalating tensions in the Middle East as a U.S. naval armada moves toward Iran, raising questions about deterrence and conflict. He also mocks a Fox News interview in which Melania Trump calls Trump a unifier and says people need to get on the same page as him.
On this episode, Alex breaks down how South Carolina’s explosive measles outbreak — now the largest in the U.S. since the disease was declared eliminated — has overtaken last year’s Texas surge, highlighting deep divides over vaccination policy and public health response. With chains of transmission persisting beyond a year and multiple large outbreaks across states, the United States has now lost its measles elimination status and is confronting the real possibility that measles could become endemic again if policy choices don’t change.
In today’s episode, Alex breaks down the apparent flop of a highly publicized Melania Trump documentary, with early reports pointing to weak ticket sales and the likelihood that it won’t recoup its production costs. The conversation then turns to the Twin Peaks restaurant chain, which has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, highlighting the broader financial strain hitting the casual dining industry. Finally, Alex digs into reports that the FBI has executed a court-authorized search tied to Fulton County, Georgia election records, reigniting partisan debate over election oversight and public trust years after the 2020 vote.
In this episode, Alex opens with the stark warning that the Doomsday Clock now stands at 85 seconds to midnight — the closest it’s ever been, a symbolic sign of rising existential risks from nuclear tensions, climate change, AI and fracturing global cooperation. Against that ominous backdrop, the European Union and India have just finalized a landmark free trade and strategic partnership that reflects a broader realignment of alliances in a volatile world. As Washington navigates trade disputes and diplomatic friction, Brussels and New Delhi are deepening economic ties and exploring diversified partnerships that go beyond traditional Western frameworks. This episode digs into what these shifts mean for global power structures — and whether new friends can really keep the clock from ticking any closer to catastrophe.
In this special episode, Alex argues that fascist and far-right movements deliberately manufacture martyrs by transforming ordinary, often messy deaths into powerful political myths. Through examples ranging from Nazi Germany (Horst Wessel), interwar European fascism (Ion Moța and Vasile Marin), to the contemporary U.S. far right (Ashli Babbitt), it shows how movements strip away context, rewrite biographies, and use ritual, propaganda, and repetition to recast these figures as innocent victims of ideological enemies. This process reverses responsibility for violence, turning aggression into grievance and death into moral justification. Ultimately, the essay contends that fascist martyrdom is not about honoring the dead but about disciplining and mobilizing the living, converting loss into loyalty and myth into political power.
Gregory Bovino faces a demotion amid fallout from the Minneapolis shootings, sparking questions about accountability. Republicans scramble with belated calls for investigations, while Alex breaks down the Supremacy Clause and federal immunity, explaining why prosecuting federal agents is nearly impossible. The episode concludes by examining why Trump might strategically avoid pushing for investigations into these high-profile murders.
This episode examines the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse shot by federal agents in Minneapolis, and the immediate effort by government officials to label him a dangerous gunman. Sworn witness testimony and video evidence directly contradict that narrative, describing an unarmed man holding a camera, trying to help someone on the ground, before being tackled and shot. Alex breaks down how this case shows government gaslighting in real time—and what it means when official stories collapse under oath.
In this episode, Alex delves into the deadly high‑speed train collision in southern Spain, which has prompted national mourning and renewed scrutiny of rail safety after dozens were killed and dozens more injured in what officials are calling a highly unusual crash. He also examines the growing winter humanitarian crisis in Kyiv, where Russian attacks on energy infrastructure have left large parts of the city without heat, power, or water amid sub‑zero temperatures, pushing civilians toward catastrophe. Finally, the discussion explores shifts in global power dynamics, considering analyses that suggest Vladimir Putin’s international standing has weakened as Russia’s allies falter and global reactions mount in the wake of the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro — an unprecedented event with implications for Moscow’s influence.
This episode breaks down the recent controversy in Minneapolis after ICE agents detained a 5-year-old and his father while returning from preschool, igniting national outrage and local protests. We also dig into a leaked internal ICE memo showing agents are being instructed to use administrative warrants — not judge-approved judicial warrants — to enter homes, raising serious Fourth Amendment and civil liberties concerns. Legal experts explain why that distinction matters and how courts are already pushing back. Finally, we look at the political response: Republican leaders defending ICE and framing protestors as dangerous or lawless, highlighting the growing divide between immigration enforcement, constitutional rights, and public dissent.
In this episode, Alex reacts to the recent events at the World Economic Forum events in Davos. President Trump’s Davos speech sharply rebuked NATO and European allies as he doubled down on demands that the U.S. should acquire Greenland — insisting he won’t use military force but provoking widespread backlash from Denmark, Canada, the EU, and others and exposing fault lines in the transatlantic alliance



