Image by Gerd Altmann via Pixabay Brian and Julius discuss the State of the World. Recorded 8/15 to be released 8/27

Season 2 episode 13 is not of the usual format that The Ascendant Project usually follows. In a normal episode, The Ascendant Project has an essay followed by an hour long interview. However, this season we have not had any “reaction” episodes to current events like we did in Season 1.

As a result, this episode is interview only and we cover the topics below in no particular order. Please join our discussion by listening and commenting.

• NATO and Ukraine
• Iran and Houthis
  • Shipping Choke points
• Are we in a State of Confusion or Focus?
• Donald Trump
  • Doubling Down on Ignorance and Preconceived Notions
• Are we better of than 2016?
  • State of Political Parties
  • State of the Economy
  • State of the People

Corrections Clarifications Allusions, and Addendums

(show notes)

4:12

Obviously an allusion to the running gag of the last few episodes.

8:49

Prime Minster questions are still found on C-Span.

10:25

Actually Julius, the State of the Union is mandated by Article II Section 3…. kinda.

“He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.”

14:53

During the lead up to Operation Desert Fox, British MP Tony Benn made an impassioned speech about growing up during The Blitz, how it hardened public opinion against the Nazi’s and bombing Iraq would do the same against Britain.

18:00

Strait of Hormuz

Bab al-Mandab Strait

Straits of Malacca and Singapore Straits

21:13

An article from The Hill that covers the CENTCOM commander visiting the USS Abraham Lincoln.

25:37

During the fall of Baghdad as US troops had entered the city and were blowing up statues of Saddam Hussein, Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf, aka Baghdad Bob, gave a press conference stating that US troops were committing suicide at the walls of Baghdad (9:40 of link). Fox News coverage.

Here is Pete Hegseth’s remarks on Operation Epic Fury on April 4th 2026

28:08

Bill Clinton had an impromptu, unplanned meeting with then Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Here is Google’s AI summary

29:21

Assholed her? OH! Asked Holder!

32:47

The Ascendant Project: Joe Manchin Reconsidered

35:49

Actually according to Gallup, Independents are now 47% and Democrats and Republicans are both 27% each.

38:01

Here is a nice Wiki article on Payola. It was actually in the 1950s, and record companies were paying DJs to play their music.

41:44

Google AI overview on the differences between Social Democrats and Democratic Socialists.

42:47

here is the clip from With Honors

46:20

David Hearn. The Pool Boy. Here is an ABC News article about the Justice Department keeping his case open despite dropping charges.

46:37

Rim Shot again Brian. Central Park 5 is what I was thinking of. Ken Burns did a documentary on them.

48:05

AP article on Trump’s performance at the White House Correspondence Dinner with imbedded YouTube of full speech.

49:24

The Alfred E Smith Memorial Dinner in 2016 Donald Trump’s remarks begin at 8:55. The best joke of the night was at 17:22

53:20

A Wikipedia page on The Tragedy of the Commons

54:50

I had listed to this article from NPR’s Here & Now on American’s Data Center Revolt.

55:38

Nice article from State Impact Pennsylvania about how fracking causes earthquakes but did not cause the Virginia earthquake of 2011

55:59

Here is a Wikipedia article on Oklahoma Earthquake Swarms which specifically mentions how they are caused by fracking.

Here is a report by Stanford University stating the same thing.

USGS Earthquake Monitor all magnitudes 30 days.

Oklahoma has the third most earthquakes over all behind California and Alaska. It is number 1 in earthquakes that are human induced. From 2014-2017 lead the nation in M3+ earthquakes, surpassing CA and AK.

58:14

Land of Confusion by Genesis. Music video.

1:01:54

Oh yes. The Biden-Harris Weaponization of government. Using pressure to prevent social media companies from spreading Ivermectin is a cure for COVID. OMG. Final Report: The Weaponization of The Federal Government. If Republicans could hold their own 1/10 as accountable as they hold Dems the world would be a safer place.

1:04:40

NIMBY is currently scheduled to be released on 9/10/25

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