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The MiddleGround Mic: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Joe
The MiddleGround Mic is a centrist politics and news commentary podcast for independent voters, moderates, and anyone tired of partisan talking points. Hosted by Joseph Steagall, the show covers elections, foreign policy, Michigan and Detroit local politics, media accountability, and the economy — grounded in verifiable receipts instead of tribal loyalty. No Left. No Right. Forward. Ranked Top 30 in Politics (June 2026) with more than 1.3 million downloads, the show brings bipartisan analysis and long-form interviews with journalists, policymakers, foreign policy experts, candidates, and everyday people — not scripted talking heads. Recent conversations have covered Iran's nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz, the Wayne County SMART bus millage, media trust and investigative journalism, election law and ballot access, and the collapse of institutional trust in America. Being centrist isn't fence-sitting. It's refusing to hand either party a free pass, and having the spine to say what the loudest voices on both ends won't. If you're an independent, a moderate, or just exhausted by the screaming, this is politics without the team jersey.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 2 weeks ago31 min
We Are Failing Our Children (And How to Fix It) | Dr. Robert Saul
Are we raising our children to succeed, or are we simply hoping they survive? In this episode of The MiddleGround Mic, host Joseph Steagall sits down with Dr. Robert "Bob" Saul, a pediatrician, author, and children's advocate with more than four decades of experience, for an important conversation about conscious parenting, raising responsible citizens, and rebuilding stronger communities. Drawing on his remarkable medical career and his book My Children's Children: Raising Young Citizens in the Age of Columbine, Dr. Saul explores why parenting goes far beyond providing food, shelter, and education. It's about teaching empathy, accountability, compassion, and the responsibility we all share for the next generation. At the heart of our discussion is Dr. Saul's powerful 12-word mantra: "I am the problem. I am the solution. I am the resource." What would happen if more parents, educators, and community leaders embraced that philosophy? We discuss the lessons Dr. Saul has learned from decades of working with families, the challenges facing today's parents, the importance of conscious parenting, and why building healthier communities starts with each of us. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, or someone concerned about the future of our children, this conversation offers a different way to think about the responsibility we share. CONNECT WITH DR. ROBERT SAUL Official Website: https://mychildrenschildren.com/ My Children's Children — Book: https://mychildrenschildren.com/book/my-childrens-children/ Explore Dr. Saul's Other Books and Resources: https://mychildrenschildren.com/ EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 – Cold Open: The 12-Word Mantra 01:15 – Welcome Dr. Bob Saul 04:30 – Lessons From Decades in Pediatrics 12:45 – What Is Conscious Parenting? 22:10 – My Children's Children: The Inspiration 31:20 – Why Community Building Matters for Kids 42:00 – Challenges Facing Modern Parents 51:30 – Final Thoughts and the Path Forward FOLLOW THE MIDDLEGROUND MIC Official Website: https://themiddlegroundmic.com/ Subscribe for more conversations that challenge assumptions, explore difficult issues, and bring people together. No Left. No Right. Forward.
- 3 weeks ago34 min
How Politics is Destroying the Nuclear Family & The Hidden Healthcare Agenda (ft. Sidney Pines)
What happens when partisan politics become more important than your own family? Right now, parents and children are literally stopping speaking to one another over differences of opinion—but it doesn't have to be this way. Author Sidney Pines returns to The MiddleGround Mic to break down the intentional division of the American public, the shifting tides of social media, and how everyday Americans can start healing the political rift in their homes. Later in the episode, we go down a massive rabbit hole into the modern healthcare system. We discuss the origins of Big Pharma, the loss of natural holistic treatments, and why taking control of your own health has never been more critical. If you've ever felt like we are all being played to stay divided, this is the episode for you. 📚 GET SIDNEY PINES' BOOKS: Awakening: A Patriot's Diary of American Deception https://www.amazon.com/Awakening-Patriots-Diary-American-Deception/dp/1966625529 Golden Age Rising: Book Two of A Patriot's Diary https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Age-Rising-Patriots-Diary/dp/B0H8CTB52M CHAPTERS / SHOW NOTES: 00:00 - Intro: Why Are Families Ripping Apart Over Politics? 01:58 - The True Cost of Political Division 02:49 - Kid Rock, Eminem, and Finding Common Ground 05:43 - Why Sidney's Books Are Resonating with Everyday Americans 09:42 - Are People Changing Their Minds on Social Media? 11:58 - Is the Division Being Intentionally Fed? 15:17 - The Collapse of the Nuclear Family & Old School Values 18:59 - Big Pharma, the Healthcare System & Lost Natural Cures 25:49 - Questioning Chemotherapy and Modern Medicine 30:55 - Who Do We Hold Accountable? 35:39 - What's Next for Sidney Pines' Book Series? 43:26 - Where to Find Sidney's Books
- Sep 23, 202628 min
Anthony Forlini: Election Security, Voter Rolls & Trust in Michigan Government
What actually happens behind the scenes of Michigan’s election system?Macomb County Clerk/Register of Deeds and Michigan Secretary of State candidate Anthony Forlini joins Joseph Steagall for a wide-ranging conversation about election administration, voter-roll maintenance, security procedures and public trust.Forlini explains why he has raised concerns about noncitizen registrations and what changes he believes should be made to Michigan’s voter-registration system.The conversation also covers:• Election equipment, verification and security procedures• Voter-roll maintenance and eligibility checks• E-poll books and election administration• College-campus voting• Customer service and wait times• Notary fraud• The Office of the Great Seal• Forlini’s priorities for the Secretary of State officeRather than campaign slogans, this episode focuses on the actual systems, procedures and disagreements surrounding how Michigan elections and Secretary of State services operate.The MiddleGround Mic features long-form conversations that give guests enough time to explain their positions — and listeners enough information to make up their own minds.Learn more about Anthony Forlini and his campaign:forliniforus.comCHAPTERS00:00 Anthony Forlini on Michigan Election Security02:15 Noncitizen Voting & Michigan Voter Rolls07:40 How Michigan Voting Machines Are Secured12:30 Cutting Wait Times & Improving Service18:10 College Campus Voting & Election Procedures23:45 Notary Fraud & Michigan’s Great Seal29:00 Why Forlini Is Running for Secretary of State
- Sep 21, 202625 min
Xi’s Washington Visit, Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain & the Risk of $7 Gas Ron bee
What do China, Greenland, Iran, artificial intelligence and the price of gasoline have to do with each other?Potentially quite a lot.Ron Bee returns to The MiddleGround Mic to connect several of the biggest geopolitical stories happening right now — and explain how international decisions can eventually reach American consumers and businesses.Joseph and Ron discuss:• The new U.S.-Denmark-Greenland security agreement• Greenland, the Arctic and strategic competition• Rare earth minerals and China’s leverage in global supply chains• Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to Washington• U.S.-China tariffs and trade negotiations• Artificial intelligence as a geopolitical battleground• Iran and the mysterious Pickaxe Mountain facility near Natanz• Satellite intelligence and nuclear uncertainty• Oil markets and global energy disruption• Whether another major shock could push gasoline toward $6–$7 per gallonInstead of treating each headline as an isolated story, Ron connects the pieces and explains how geopolitical decisions thousands of miles away can eventually affect prices, businesses and households at home.00:00 How China, Iran & Energy Prices Connect02:10 Greenland, the Arctic & Rare Earth Minerals08:30 Xi Jinping’s Washington Visit & U.S.-China Trade15:45 Iran, Pickaxe Mountain & Nuclear Concerns22:30 The Global AI Trade War28:15 Could Global Conflict Push Gas to $7?
- Sep 16, 202634 min
Can an Independent Beat the Machine? with Mike Thurow
Can an Independent candidate realistically win a seat in Congress? Former firefighter Mike Thurow joins host Joseph Steagall on The MiddleGround Mic to share why he bypassed party politics to run in Wisconsin's 6th District. Thurow breaks down the corrupting power of corporate money, the challenges of third-party ballot access, and how direct public service shapes his approach to representation.Connect with the campaign: Official Site: https://www.thurowforcongress.com/ Text & Updates: https://mtwi6.com/ Chapters:0:00 - Can an Independent Win? 2:15 - From Firefighter to Congressional Candidate 6:40 - Breaking Free from the Two-Party Machine12:10 - How Corporate Money Ruined Politics 18:35 - The Strategy to Win WI-06 25:10 - Restoring Faith in Public Service
- Sep 14, 202638 min
Can a High School Principal Flip a Trump +10 Seat? | Pia Dandiya
Former high school principal, Apple alum, and White House Fellow Pia Dandiya is running to flip Florida’s 22nd Congressional District—a seat Donald Trump won by 10 points—on a central motto: "Make Common Sense Great Again."In this episode of The MiddleGround Mic, Pia breaks down why voters across party lines are hungry for outcome-based education, practical housing expansion, healthcare accountability, and an immediate ban on congressional stock trading.KEY TAKEAWAYS:• Outcome-Based Education: Shifting focus from funding inputs to measuring 4th-grade literacy and 8th-grade math results.• Housing & Cost of Living: Expanding supply through office building conversions rather than artificial price caps.• Healthcare & AI Denials: Curbing middleman PBM markups and stopping automated insurance claim rejections.• D.C. Integrity: Banning individual stock trading for members of Congress.CONNECT & LEARN MORE:Campaign Website: https://piaforcongress.comTIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Managing High Schoolers vs. Managing D.C.0:29 - Flipping a +10 Trump District in Florida02:40 - Gerrymandering and Political "Seed Chopping"04:21 - How to Turn 86% Poverty into 100% College Acceptance07:42 - Fixing Public Schools: Measuring Outcomes Over Inputs12:59 - Rent Caps vs. Housing Supply: Real Economic Solutions17:53 - "Make Common Sense Great Again": Bipartisan Appeal20:56 - Fixing Healthcare: PBM Abuse & AI Claim Denials34:43 - Why Congress Must Ban Individual Stock Trading
- Sep 9, 202627 min
Commanding Drones With Natural Language: Ex-Amazon AI Lead Krishna Kumaar Sharma on Omokai & Autonomous Warfare
What happens when you shift AI out of text chats and into physical machines operating on the battlefield? Ex-Head of AI at Amazon Germany Krishna Kumaar Sharma joins Joe Steagall to explain how his startup, Omokai, is engineering a speech-driven intelligence layer for autonomous drones and robotics.From sovereign AI development in Europe and the stark realities of AI-driven warfare between Russia and Ukraine to the core principles in his UC Berkeley research paper and upcoming book "Agentic Coding the Boring Way," Krishna shares an engineer's perspective on building reliable, zero-hallucination guardrails for autonomous hardware.Venture & Platform:https://omokai.comCHAPTERS:00:00 - Introduction & Building the Future of Human-Machine Interaction01:12 - What Sovereign AI Means for Global Defense02:24 - Leaving Amazon: Corporate Constraints vs. Startup Innovation07:10 - Why Physical AI Requires More Than Large Language Models10:10 - Eliminating Hallucinations With Multi-Algorithmic Guardrails14:15 - The Reality of Autonomous Drones in Modern Warfare17:35 - Ethics, Governance, and Legal Responsibility in AI Operations21:28 - The Essential Guardrails for Autonomous Targeting22:40 - Agentic Coding the Boring Way: Sustainable Software Architecture26:37 - The Ultimate Goal: Safe Human-Robot Collaboration
- Sep 7, 202640 min
Sidney Pines: The True Cost of Political Division & 'A Patriot’s Diary'
Is America fundamentally broken, or are we being manipulated into division? Sidney Pines, author of Awakening and Golden Age Rising (A Patriot’s Diary series), joins Joe Steagall to discuss the personal toll of American political tribalism.From family estrangement to media distrust and healthcare investigations, Sidney shares the events that shifted her worldview and led her to document the current cultural landscape for future generations.If you’re seeking to understand the growing divide and how we move past the "conspiracy theorist" labels to find common ground, this conversation delivers.BUY SIDNEY’S BOOKS:Awakening: A Patriot’s Diary of American Deceptionhttps://www.amazon.com/Awakening-Patriots-Diary-American-Deception/dp/1966625529Golden Age Rising: Book Two of A Patriot’s Diaryhttps://www.amazon.com/Golden-Age-Rising-Patriots-Diary/dp/B0H8CTB52MCHAPTERS:00:00 "My Son Disowned Me Over Politics"01:20 Why I Wrote A Patriot's Diary03:03 What the Mainstream News Was Hiding05:27 The Catalyst for Awakening08:26 The Real Cost of Political Tribalism10:19 When the Culture War Enters Your Home12:30 The Pronoun Debate & Cultural Shifts16:34 An Unfiltered Record for Future Generations20:39 How Healthcare Failed Our Children26:20 The "Conspiracy Theorist" Label31:28 Media Distrust: Reporters or Actors?32:39 Reaching the Bestseller List
About The MiddleGround Mic
The MiddleGround Mic is a centrist politics and news commentary podcast for independent voters, moderates, and anyone tired of partisan talking points. Hosted by Joseph Steagall, the show covers elections, foreign policy, Michigan and Detroit local politics, media accountability, and the economy — grounded in verifiable receipts instead of tribal loyalty. No Left. No Right. Forward. Ranked Top 30 in Politics (June 2026) with more than 1.3 million downloads, the show brings bipartisan analysis and long-form interviews with journalists, policymakers, foreign policy experts, candidates, and everyday people — not scripted talking heads. Recent conversations have covered Iran's nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz, the Wayne County SMART bus millage, media trust and investigative journalism, election law and ballot access, and the collapse of institutional trust in America. Being centrist isn't fence-sitting. It's refusing to hand either party a free pass, and having the spine to say what the loudest voices on both ends won't. If you're an independent, a moderate, or just exhausted by the screaming, this is politics without the team jersey.
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