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Description
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.
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Alex welcomes longtime guest Martin Benes, a California-based history enthusiast and international soccer fan, for a wide-ranging conversation. They examine corruption and financial accountability in European football, debate the tactics and personalities shaping Real Madrid and Barcelona, and reflect on the growing influence of sensationalism and polarization in media and politics. The episode also looks ahead to elections and the Democratic Party’s challenges, closing out the podcast’s run with thoughtful discussion, sharp analysis, and plenty of sports talk.
Alex returns from a brief hiatus with humorous rants about a disastrous salt mishap that ruined his dinner and 7-Eleven’s oversized snacks. He then turns to the unrest in France, exploring how rising living costs, underfunded schools, and strained public services have fueled widespread protests. Alex connects France’s mounting debt and struggling social welfare system to concerns about Social Security in the U.S., arguing that younger generations are increasingly burdened by benefits they may never receive themselves. He also criticizes U.S. Republican leaders for blaming immigrants and Muslim communities rather than addressing the economic issues driving public frustration.
Alex tackles the Trump administration’s latest Russian diesel deal, questioning why America seems eager to cozy up to Putin for precious little in return. He also introduces Trump’s new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, whose résumé reportedly includes QAnon conspiracies, Pizzagate, and a talent for turning political absurdities into talking points. From dictators getting VIP treatment to allies reconsidering their relationship with America, Alex unpacks a foreign policy that’s less America First and more Putin’s Pretty Good Deal.
In this episode, Alex welcomes back Martin Benes, a top-tier ski and running coach and history enthusiast, and Cole Costello, a PhD candidate at the University of Montana, for a wide-ranging and entertaining conversation. Martin shares his personal connection to the story behind Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water,” recounting how his father’s acquaintance fired the flare gun that sparked the infamous 1971 Montreux casino fire. The trio then debates which members of the Trump administration and current professional athletes they would most and least want to sit next to on a flight. Blending music history, sports, politics, and plenty of humor, the episode offers a lively mix of thoughtful discussion and playful debate.
In this episode, Alex continues his conversation with guests Martin Benes and Cole Costello about the intersection of politics, sports, and masculinity. They discuss the political weaponization of transgender athletes, the MAGA movement’s emphasis on traditional masculinity, and how authoritarian governments use power and cultural divisions to maintain control. The conversation also explores how the left can reclaim the language of freedom, the influence of Donald Trump in professional sports, and the evolving culture of college athletics, including a dramatic Montana State–Idaho football game.
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