Badlands Media

Badlands Story Hour Ep 151: Scent of a Woman

Chris Paul and Burning Bright return for Badlands Story Hour with a deep, wide-ranging discussion of the 1992 film Scent of a Woman, examining its themes of integrity, power, redemption, and institutional control. The conversation explores Colonel Frank Slade’s personal collapse and moral awakening alongside Charlie Simms’ confrontation with elite power structures, social leverage, and the cost of integrity within a prestige prep-school system. The hosts break down key scenes including the disciplinary hearing, the Thanksgiving dinner, and the iconic tango, using them to analyze masculinity, victimhood, courage, and the cultivation of future “leaders.” Throughout the episode, the film is treated as a broader commentary on class, obedience, abstract power, and the machinery that shapes compliant system players versus principled outsiders. The discussion also weaves in reflections on modern culture, education, narrative warfare, and how these dynamics continue to play out far beyond the screen.

Brad & Abbey Live Ep. 174: Patriots in Control and the Clinton Reckoning

Brad and Abbey dive into a wide-ranging and deeply connective discussion centered on the idea that “patriots are in control,” tracing current events through the lens of long-running political, cultural, and institutional shifts. The conversation explores renewed focus on the Clintons and their refusal to testify in the Epstein investigation, the implications of contempt of Congress, and how past precedents may shape what comes next. They connect these developments to broader themes, including election integrity, Venezuela and Hugo Chávez-era voting systems, the Maduro situation, and the dismantling of globalist structures. The episode also examines cultural decay through changes in parenting, the erosion of the nuclear family, and government overreach, tying those shifts back to the 1990s. Throughout the show, Brad and Abbey frame recent Department of Labor messaging, historical Q posts, and public signals as part of a larger narrative arc, emphasizing civic responsibility, spiritual warfare, and the belief that the public now plays an active role in exposing truth and shaping what comes next.

Badlands Book Club – Book 5: Stolen Elections – Chapter 5

CannCon and Ashe in America are joined by Colonel Towner for a deep dive into Chapter 5 of Stolen Elections, continuing a detailed critique of the book’s central claims surrounding Venezuelan election interference. The discussion systematically breaks down assertions about Smartmatic, Sequoia, and Dominion, questioning timelines, source code claims, and the credibility of so-called whistleblowers repeatedly cited throughout the chapter. The panel examines alleged DOJ investigations, the role of intelligence agencies, and inconsistencies tied to money laundering cases, coup attempts, and U.S. political figures used to bolster the book’s narrative. Particular attention is given to how language like “fundamentally the same” is used to imply proof without evidence, along with scrutiny of charts, slides, and unnamed sources presented as authoritative. Throughout the episode, the hosts emphasize logical gaps, historical context, and technical misunderstandings, challenging listeners to separate documented fact from insinuation as the chapter’s argument increasingly unravels.

Geopolitics with Ghost Ep. 72: Venezuela, Sanctions, and the Hidden Architecture of Power

In Episode 72 of Geopolitics with Ghost, Gordon “Ghost” McCormick unpacks the rapidly unfolding situation in Venezuela and what it reveals about global power, sanctions warfare, and continuity of government. Ghost breaks down recent U.S. moves signaling potential sanctions relief, the role of Venezuelan oil in international negotiations, and why major energy players are suddenly reentering the conversation. The episode traces how corruption cases, asset seizures, and coordinated enforcement actions quietly reshaped Venezuela’s political and economic landscape long before today’s headlines. Ghost also connects these developments to broader geopolitical patterns involving sovereignty, regime pressure, and the weaponization of financial systems. With historical context, sharp analysis, and real-time reporting, this episode lays out why Venezuela is not an isolated case but a blueprint for how modern power transitions are engineered behind the scenes.

Badlands Media Special Coverage: 1/13/26 - President Trump in Detroit on Manufacturing, Tariffs, and America’s Economic Revival

President Donald Trump addresses the Detroit Economic Club with a wide-ranging speech focused on economic recovery, industrial policy, and what he describes as a rapid restoration of American strength. Speaking to business leaders and manufacturers, Trump outlines record levels of domestic investment, manufacturing expansion, and job creation, with repeated emphasis on the auto industry and Michigan’s role in revitalizing American production. He details tariff policy as a central tool for protecting U.S. workers, reversing decades of offshoring, and rebuilding supply chains, while highlighting energy independence, deregulation, and tax policy as drivers of lower costs and increased output. Trump also addresses border enforcement, crime reduction, fraud prevention, and government efficiency, framing them as necessary components of economic stability. Throughout the remarks, he contrasts his administration’s approach with prior leadership, citing inflation reduction, rising wages, and renewed confidence among manufacturers. The address closes with reflections on leadership, national sovereignty, and America’s trajectory as his administration approaches its first year back in office.

The Daily Herold: 1/13/26 - Powell Pressure, Rare Earths, and the Price of Illegitimate Power

Jon Herold opens the January 13 episode with a wide-ranging discussion that blends market movement, government legitimacy, and growing pressure on centralized power structures. The show focuses heavily on rising silver prices, the designation of critical minerals, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s international meetings aimed at securing supply chains, with Jon questioning whether rare earth access is the true driver behind recent geopolitical maneuvers. The conversation turns to Jerome Powell and the Federal Reserve, examining interest rates, inflation data, and whether the Fed is accountable to U.S. law or operates above it. Jon also covers fraud revelations tied to federal spending, particularly in Minnesota, discussing estimates that as much as ten percent of government outlays disappear annually. Additional segments touch on immigration enforcement, Temporary Protected Status, Epstein-related subpoenas, congressional theater versus real accountability, and President Trump’s statements on Iran and Greenland, all framed through a broader critique of institutional legitimacy, narrative control, and the cost of unchecked authority.

Badlands Daily: 1/13/26 – Tina Peters Appeal, Minnesota Fraud Fallout, and the Global Power Shift

CannCon and Ashe in America dig into a packed episode covering major developments at home and abroad, starting with the latest on Tina Peters’ federal appeal and the growing political pressure surrounding her case. The discussion moves into the unraveling fraud networks in Minnesota, where federal enforcement clashes with state and city leadership amid mounting evidence of systemic abuse. The episode also explores escalating tensions between the White House and the Federal Reserve, questions surrounding Jerome Powell, and broader implications for economic policy. Rounding out the show is an in-depth look at Venezuela, global energy interests, and the geopolitical maneuvering reshaping influence in the Western Hemisphere.

Baseless Conspiracies Ep. 167: Venezuela Revisited, Narrative Whiplash, and Media Memory Holes

Jon Herold and Zak Paine return for Episode 167 of Baseless Conspiracies with a conversation that revisits Venezuela, regime change narratives, and the sudden media amnesia surrounding long-standing geopolitical storylines. The episode moves through recent statements, past reporting, and contradictions in how Nicolás Maduro, Hugo Chávez, and U.S. involvement have been framed over time. Jon and Zak examine how narratives shift when outcomes change, why certain facts disappear from public discourse, and how audience perception is managed through selective memory. Along the way, they riff on broader media credibility, institutional trust, and the pattern of “conspiracy” labels being retroactively withdrawn once events become undeniable. The discussion maintains the show’s signature blend of humor, skepticism, and pattern recognition, with live chat engagement woven throughout as the hosts question who controls the story, when truth becomes permissible, and why yesterday’s conspiracy so often becomes today’s accepted reality.

Culture of Change Ep. 135: “The Bravest Man is a Woman” and Other Venezuelan Legends

Ashe in America and Abbey Blue Eyes open this episode of Culture of Change by framing the show as a continuation of Ghost’s earlier discussion on Hugo Chávez and Venezuela, using that lens to examine how leaders, movements, and nations are mythologized or demonized. The conversation centers on Chávez’s rise, the 2002 coup attempt, and the role of the National Endowment for Democracy, foreign influence operations, and media framing in shaping public perception. Ashe and Abbey discuss how popular support, sovereignty, and constitutional legitimacy are often obscured by simplified narratives, drawing parallels between Venezuela and broader global patterns. Ghost joins the conversation to expand on Chávez’s communication style, public engagement, and the historical context surrounding U.S. involvement in regime destabilization. The episode weaves historical clips, sponsor breaks, and live chat interaction into a wide-ranging discussion about propaganda, power, and why understanding myth-making is essential to recognizing how “culture of change” is engineered rather than organic.

Movie Nights with Matt: How China Banned Soros in 1989

In this episode of Movie Nights with Matt, Matt Ehret presents and discusses historical material focused on China’s response to foreign influence operations in the late 1980s. The episode centers on events surrounding 1989, examining the Chinese government’s actions toward Western-funded organizations and individuals, including George Soros and Open Society–affiliated efforts operating in China at the time. Matt walks through contemporaneous reporting, policy decisions, and geopolitical context, outlining why Chinese leadership viewed these activities as destabilizing and how that assessment led to expulsions and restrictions. The discussion places these events within a broader historical timeline, comparing China’s response to developments in other countries during the same period, while addressing how the events of 1989 are commonly portrayed versus how they are documented. The episode concludes with audience interaction and closing remarks, keeping the focus on historical record, context, and interpretation presented in the source material.