Badlands Media

Badlands Book Club – Book 4: War is a Racket by Smedley Butler (Pt. 1)

CannCon and Ashe in America open Book 4 of Badlands Book Club with Smedley Butler’s explosive anti-war classic War is a Racket, breaking down Butler’s life, military career, and how a twice-decorated Marine Corps general became one of America’s fiercest critics of war profiteering. They read and analyze the first chapters, highlighting Butler’s blunt claim that war enriches the few while destroying the many, his examples of corporate greed masking as patriotism, and the staggering profits made by bankers, munitions makers, and industrialists during World War I. Ashe and CannCon compare Butler’s era to today’s military-industrial landscape, discuss the psychological and physical toll on veterans, and examine how propaganda, politics, and financial interests continue to shape public support for conflict. It’s a sharp, eye-opening start to a book that proves shockingly relevant nearly a century later.

Geopolitics with Ghost Ep. 63 – Nigeria’s Power Struggle, Benin’s Coup Attempt & Africa’s New Fault Lines

In Episode 63, Ghost breaks down a rapidly shifting African landscape, starting with the attempted coup in Benin and the escalating tension between Nigeria and the emerging Sahel alliance. He examines the growing instability across the region, the internal pressures facing Nigerian leadership, and how these events reflect a broader continental realignment away from Western influence. Ghost then walks through troop movements, border flare-ups, rebel activity, and the strategic implications of Russia, China, and the U.S. competing for leverage on African soil. With his signature clarity, he connects historical context to present-day fractures, showing how economics, security vacuums, and political upheaval are creating a new geopolitical map in West Africa. A focused, high-signal episode that explains why the world’s next major power shift may already be underway.

The Daily Herold: 12/9/25 – NDAA Chaos, Trump’s PT Barnum Moment & the Psyop of the News Cycle

Jon Herold unpacks a packed news day, starting with wild weather, upcoming Kansas meetups, and two competing NDAA drafts stuffed with strange provisions, from penetration-testing requirements for voting machines to Congress attempting to strong-arm the Pentagon. He covers new Trump interview clips, including Trump calling Zelensky “PT Barnum,” discussing Europe’s decline, hinting at election-fraud exposure in the coming months, and declaring Maduro’s “days are numbered.” Jon reflects on the public’s complicity in propaganda, the morality of psyops, and why emotional detachment is essential in today’s media environment. He chases a few squirrels into Venezuela, CIA rumors, Qatar’s intelligence agreements, and DC’s police chief resigning before returning to the Maxwell/Epstein file release and an emerging criminal probe into Arctic Frost. The show closes with Jon’s take on the Tim Pool–Candace Owens meltdown, the illusion of political accountability, and a call to stay unruggable while navigating the chaos.

Badlands Daily: December 9 – Biden’s Poll Collapse, J6 Narrative Cracks & the DOJ’s Desperation Spiral

CannCon and Ghost kick off the week with Biden’s catastrophic polling slide, breaking down the demographic collapse and why even legacy media can no longer hide voter defection. They dive into the strange evolution of the January 6 pipe-bomb narrative, the FBI’s shifting explanations, and new reporting that raises more questions than answers. The hosts also tackle Trump’s latest posts, the DOJ’s panicked legal maneuvers, and the administration’s renewed push for AI-based election regulation. From global instability to domestic political theater, CannCon and Ghost connect the dots on a news cycle defined by mixed messaging, narrative control, and institutional panic, all delivered with their signature humor and sharp analysis.

Baseless Conspiracies Ep. 162 – Kubrick, Eyes Wide Shut & the Elites Behind the Mask

Jon Herold and Zak Paine dive into the dark symbolism and conspiracy lore surrounding Eyes Wide Shut, unpacking the film’s hidden messages, the suspicious 24 minutes allegedly removed, and the timing of Stanley Kubrick’s death just days after screening his final cut. They explore the movie’s depictions of secret societies, ritualized exploitation, and elite masquerade culture, drawing parallels to decades of real-world allegations involving intelligence agencies, Hollywood, and high-powered political circles. The hosts analyze repeating motifs, mirrors, masks, colors, passwords, surveillance, and how these elements point to layered meaning far beyond the surface narrative. They also walk through theories about studio interference, Spielberg’s final changes, coded clues, and Kubrick’s long pattern of embedding uncomfortable truths in his films. A dense, provocative episode that dissects a cult-classic through the lens of modern conspiracy research.

Culture of Change Ep. 130 – The Tina Peters Ruling, Judicial Failures & the Fight for Truth

Ashe in America and Abbey Blue Eyes unpack the newly released federal ruling in the Tina Peters habeas case, walking viewers through what the judge actually decided, why the petition was dismissed, and how the Younger abstention doctrine blocks federal intervention while her state appeal is still active. They break down the court’s notes on sentencing irregularities, the trial judge’s bias, the First Amendment questions surrounding Tina’s imprisonment, and the broader pattern of political targeting in Colorado. Ashe explains the legal landscape, including how the state and federal courts interpret exhaustion, extraordinary-circumstances exceptions, and the boundaries of presidential pardon power, while Abbey adds perspective from outside Colorado’s system. The episode also touches on Tina’s reported treatment in prison, public reaction, and what this means for election-integrity advocates nationwide. A detailed, urgent, and deeply human discussion of a case that continues to shake Colorado politics.

The Book of Trump Chapter 38: The Russo-Chechen Wars

In Chapter 38 of The Book of Trump, Ghost delivers a sweeping, deeply contextual walkthrough of the First and Second Russo-Chechen Wars, conflicts that shaped modern Russia, elevated Vladimir Putin, and revealed how external powers, radical Islamist networks, and long-buried ethnic tensions collided in the Caucasus. He traces the story from the collapse of the Soviet Union to Chechnya’s bid for independence, the rise of warlords like Dudayev, Basayev, and Ibn al-Khattab, and the brutal urban combat that devastated Grozny. Ghost explains how foreign-funded jihadists transformed the conflict, how Russia’s early miscalculations led to humiliation, and how the Kadyrov dynasty emerged as Moscow’s solution to a region teetering between chaos and insurgency. With maps, timelines, historical context stretching back to ancient empires, and connections to modern geopolitics, this chapter lays the groundwork for understanding Russia’s strategy, its asymmetric federation, its wars in the Caucasus, and how these conflicts still shape the global stage today.

Alphas Make Sandwiches Ep. 49: Christmas Chaos & Soft Disclosure

In this festive episode of Alphas Make Sandwiches, Ashe in America, Abbey Blue Eyes, Christy Lupo, and Jackie Espada welcome Annie from Willow Wind Farm for a warm, funny, and wildly creative holiday show. From Christmas challenges, tree photography tips, and bow-tying tutorials to gift-wrapping hacks, Universal Studios’ Grinch antics, and chaotic celebrity eggnog attempts, the ladies dive headfirst into the season. Annie shares the story behind Soft Disclosure and the intentional, American-made process behind each product while the hosts showcase holiday cocktails, charcuterie creations, and self-care tips for surviving the winter rush. It’s a sparkling blend of laughter, crafts, cozy farm life, behind-the-scenes moments, and a whole lot of Christmas spirit, the perfect companion for anyone decking the halls Badlands-style.

Badlands Media Special Coverage – President Trump’s Farmer Relief Roundtable: 12/8/25

Badlands Media brings live coverage of President Trump’s roundtable announcing an $11 billion farmer relief package funded by tariff revenue, aimed at stabilizing producers after years of inflation, rising input costs, and foreign market manipulation. Speaking alongside Cabinet officials, senators, and farmers from across the country, Trump outlines new support for row crops and specialty crops, a coming reshoring push for fertilizer production, and immediate action against foreign competitors dumping rice and other commodities into U.S. markets. He also pledges to roll back environmental restrictions on farm equipment to lower machinery costs and restore practicality for growers. Throughout the event, farmers share candid stories about financial strain, lost markets, and the impact of Biden-era policies, while administration officials highlight trade successes with China, Japan, and other nations. The roundtable closes with Trump fielding questions on tariffs, agricultural security, health-care reform, vaccine scheduling, the pipe-bomb case, and global conflicts, linking farm strength to national strength in a sweeping policy conversation.

Y-Chromes Ep. 60 – Modern Parenting, Masculinity Shifts & the Clutter War

CannCon, Alpha Warrior, and Cam Cooksey dive into a lively mix of dad life, masculine identity, and the everyday battles no one warns men about, from the psychological warfare of household clutter to the strange new expectations placed on modern fathers. The trio joke about holiday chaos, shared parenting struggles, and “gifts you buy your wife that she already owns,” before shifting into deeper territory on marriage dynamics, leadership in the home, and how social media has warped both male and female expectations. They contrast old-school discipline with today’s gentle-parenting trends, unpack why so many men feel disconnected from their purpose, and debate whether society actually wants strong fathers at all. With humor, honesty, and plenty of accidental wisdom, Episode 60 blends real-world stories with cultural critique, offering a raw and relatable look at what it takes to be a grounded man in a distracted world.