From Machado’s Fall to the Rise of Fidel Castro

Cuba and the US’s history is much more than cigars, the Castros, embargo, and Che Guevara tees. Join us for part 2 which takes us through the post-Machado military period, the establishment of the Second Cuban Republic, and its rapid descent into corruption and violence culminating in Castro's coup.

[00:00] Intro and Cuba Libres

[00:27] Batista Rises to Power

[01:56] Progressive 1940 Constitution

[02:46] Peaceful Transfer and Recovery

[04:47] Authentico Corruption Era

[05:38] Cold War Labor Purge

[06:25] Gangster Politics and Mafia

[10:01] Chibas and Ortodoxo Surge

[11:16] Radio Suicide Shocks Cuba

[12:58] Batista 1952 Coup

[15:05] Racket State and US Backing

[17:06] Castro Enters the Fight

[18:52] Guerrilla War Takes Hold

[19:59] Batista Falls New Years 1959

[20:50] Castro Era Takeaways

[21:49] Invasion Talk Returns

[22:51] Energy Crisis vs Iran

[24:54] Why Embargo Persists

[26:34] Embargo vs Blockade

[28:08] Time to Move On From Grudges?

[31:30] Cuban Exiles Politics

[34:43] Cuba vs Iran Complexity

[37:29] Closing Toast Goodbye

From the Spanish Empire to Machado’s Fall

Cuba and the US’s history is much more than cigars, the Castros, embargo, and Che Guevara tees. Join us for part 1 which takes us through US ambitions towards the island, the rise of the Republic of Cuba, and the fall of its first strongman dictator Gerardo Machado.

[00:00] Dumbest Timeline Intro

[01:24] Heading to Cuba

[02:10] What We Know About Cuba

[05:49] Why US an Cuba Feud

[06:59] Cuba Under Spain

[10:51] Sugar Boom and US Trade

[12:09] 19th Century US Openly Wants Cuba

[18:21] Independence Wars to 1898

[19:41] Platt Amendment for US Control

[21:46] US Marines and Sugar Empire

[26:12] Machado’s Rise

[31:36] Depression and Revolt

[35:07] Machado Falls Batista Next

[36:25] Wrap Up and Part Two

Rich and Adam discuss the history of Iran, Israel and the Middle East to put context to the recent air strikes this past weekend and to try and understand what the end goal is for Trump, Netanyahu, and Co.

[00:40] The Writers of our Simulation Love Soap Operas

[02:45] Early Modern Iran, Fallen Empire Under Great Power Pressure

[04:58] Pahlavi Dynasty Founded, Modernization of Iran

[06:58] 1941 Invasion and Abdication

[09:28] Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi and a New Postwar Parliamentary Iran

[10:43] Mossadegh and the Oil Nationalization Showdown

[13:30] CIA-MI6 Coup and the Shah’s Shift back to Autocracy

[15:49] SAVAK and the Police State

[17:45] Shah’s Decline and Backlash

[19:53] Israel and Early Iranian Ties

[22:08] Israel and Iran: Twin Pillars of US Middle East Policy

[22:49] The CIA, Mossad, and SAVAK: Blowback

[23:33] Yom Kippur War, OPEC, and the Peak of Iranian-Israeli Cooperation

[26:32] Revolution Turns Tables

[27:47] Israel, Iran Contra and Proxy Wars

[28:57] Pan Islamism vs Periphery Doctrine

[30:46] Modern Day: Trump Strike Scenarios

[35:20] Running Out of Ammo: What Does That Mean For Regime Change

[38:47] What Winning Looks Like

[41:38] Sign Off and Credits

Confirming this is the bad place, the collective SOTU attendees at the Capitol did not fall through the floor into a cesspool. Join Rich and Adam in a watch party-style viewing.

Happy Lupercalia! Like downing a box of Rid-X, we could use the ancient Roman festival of purification right about now.

Rich and Adam take a look at the latest in federal election takeover in real time, starting with the DOJ's demand for Minnesota to turn over its voter rolls as a pre-requisite to withdrawing ICE from Minneapolis. Nationwide, election after election, we find little to no voter fraud regardless of the winning party. Regardless, the Trump administration is building a modern-day voter suppression infrastructure with the SAVE Act building on Crosscheck's legacy in the earlier part of the century.

What the hell is up with the Trump Adminstration and their push to acquire Greenland? Rich and Adam dig deep and find that this is just the latest of a decades long effort of often absurd and quixotic attempts to create a libertarian utopia.

Adam and Lord Richard kick off by discussing Libertarian projects seeking to establish independent micro-nations and charter cities. They delve into various attempts, such as the Free Republic of Liberland, Prospera in Honduras, The Seasteading Institute, and the push for a Greenland acquisition, highlighting the key players and motivations behind these initiatives, and how corporate sovereignty could reshape the world order.

[00:00] Podcast Introduction

[01:54] The Free Republic of Liberland

[05:38] Liberland’s Challenges and Similar Projects

[08:17] Corporate Sovereignty and Charter Cities

[11:00]Historical Context of Corporate States

[14:41] Modern Examples and Critiques

[23:14] Seasteading and Ocean Living

[34:13] Introduction to Praxis: A Libertarian Tech City

[39:54] Praxis's Greenland Ambitions

[47:59] The Role of Silicon Valley Elites

[53:02] Critique of Libertarian Strategies

[56:38] Conclusion: The Future of Libertarian Utopias

What the hell is up with the Trump Adminstration and their push to acquire Greenland? Rich and Adam dig deep and find that this is just the latest of a decades long effort of often absurd and quixotic attempts to create a libertarian utopia.

We kick off with the story of the Principality of SeaLand, an abandoned World War II-era anti-aircraft platform turned self-proclaimed sovereign state by pirate radio broadcaster Roy Bates. We then transition to the sea and the ill-fated Operation Atlantis and Republic of Minerva, ambitious endeavors by Werner Stifel and Michael Oliver that saw multiple failed attempts to establish a libertarian utopia on the ocean. Finally, we explore contemporary libertarian projects on land, including the Free Town Project in Grafton, New Hampshire, which led to municipal collapse and an invasion by bears.

[00:00] Introduction: Why Greenland?

[01:10] Libertarian Utopias: The Greenland Connection

[02:20] The Appeal and Pitfalls of Libertarian Utopias

[04:04] Historical Libertarian Experiments

[10:38] The Principality of Sealand: A Pirate Radio Nation

[14:27] Sealand's Legal Battles and Recognition

[20:30] Sealand's Modern Ventures and Legacy

[24:32] Operation Atlantis: Another Libertarian Dream

[28:06] Atlantis’ Hudson River Launch and Initial Failures

[28:41] Atlantis’ Artificial Island Attempt and Haitian Gunboat Incident

[30:51] Atlantis’ Oil Rig Disaster and Persistent Failures

[32:52] Atlantis’ Final Attempt and Abandonment

[34:12] Michael Oliver's Ambitious Plan

[36:44] The Republic of Minerva

[38:34] Tongan Invasion and Collapse of Minerva

[43:57] Libertarian Experiments on Land - Grafton, New Hampshire: A Libertarian Takeover

[50:26] The Free State Project in New Hampshire

[53:07] Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Rich and Adam step back and try to piece together the big picture of 2026's first 15 days. From geopolitical conflict and a resurgence of aggressive neocon foreign policies under the Trump administration, to the contradictions of 'America First' policies and its abandonment of a focus on domestic welfare. We found ourselves asking the question of whether America is truly prioritizing its citizens or merely perpetuating classic cycles of power and profit for a select few.

[00:00] Introduction and Banter

[00:50] Current Events Overview

[02:03] Trump Administration's Bold Moves

[03:50] Economic Policies and Public Sentiment

[13:58] Law Enforcement and Public Reactions

[15:23] Hypocrisy in Political Narratives

[20:50] America First vs. Americans First

[27:19] Military Deployment and Costs

[27:55] Energy Production Challenges

[29:18] Geopolitical Tensions and Cartel Influence

[29:33] Domestic Spending and National Guard

[32:58] Drug Policy and Public Health

[37:12] Political Corruption and Influence

[50:19] Contradictions in Society

[53:36] Call to Action and Conclusion