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The MiddleGround Mic

Joseph Steagall

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.

Watch full video episodes on YouTube and Spotify. Support the show at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tmgm. Subscribe, follow, and leave a rating — it's the biggest way new listeners find the show. No sacred cows protected. No side gets a free pass.

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30 episodes
a few times a week
Avg 39 min
English

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S3 · E11
May 14 · 33 min
Is Aric Nesbitt The Next Governor of Michigan?
Michigan Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt sits down with Joseph Steagall for an unfiltered conversation about the policies quietly driving up the cost of every new home in Michigan — to the tune of $95,000 in government-mandated costs that most buyers never see on the invoice. Learn more about his campaign: https://nesbittforgovernor.com/ In this episode: • The housing mandate that added $95,000 to every new Michigan home and who is responsible for it • Michigan's reading crisis: why 3 out of 5 fourth graders cannot read at grade level and what Nesbitt's plan actually is • What a Nesbitt governorship would look like in practical terms — not talking points, actual policy • Where Joseph pushes back and where the centrist case holds up This is the conversation mainstream media is not having. No party line. No spin. Just the receipts. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who thinks both parties have lost the plot. Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/tmgm Support the show
S3 · E10
May 12 · 39 min
Iran's Plutonium Pathway to 200 Nuclear Weapons | Ron Bee
The Intelligence Dossier The media is deliberately distracting you with uranium enrichment and missile strikes. They are hoping you never ask about the REAL threat. According to foreign policy analyst Ron Bee, the back door to a nuclear Iran has been wide open for years. The name on that door? Plutonium. This is the intelligence briefing the mainstream media refuses to air. In this episode, we expose: • The Plutonium Pathway: Iran's real nuclear program. • The Bushehr Deception: Why a single power plant changes the entire game. • Pakistan's Secret Role: The "ally" playing both sides of the crisis. • The Hormuz Kill Switch: How 20% of the world's oil is now a hostage. • China's Energy Blackmail: The strings the CCP is pulling behind the scenes. • The Oil War: Why the real battlefield isn't what you think. This isn't cable news. This is an indictment of a global cover-up. 👇 COMMENT BELOW: Was this the FIRST time you heard the truth about Iran and plutonium? Support the show
S3 · E9
May 6 · 41 min
Iran, the Hormuz Blockade and Sleeper Cells | Don Brown
Is the world sleepwalking into a larger war? Former Navy JAG officer, federal prosecutor, and former national security advisor Don Brown joins The MiddleGround Mic for one of the most intense conversations we’ve had yet — breaking down Iran, the Strait of Hormuz blockade, sleeper cell fears, Europe’s growing instability, and why global leaders may be closer to a breaking point than the public realizes. We discuss: • Iran’s collapsing military posture • Why the Strait of Hormuz matters to YOUR wallet • Sleeper cell concerns inside the United States • Europe’s “no-go zone” reality • Why Trump’s strategy looks more like Reagan than Iraq • The hidden geopolitical risks nobody in media wants to explain • Missile threats, oil shocks, EMP fears, and the race against escalation This isn’t partisan panic. This is geopolitical reality explained without the corporate media filter. WATCH BEFORE THE NEXT HEADLINE HITS. 👇 COMMENT BELOW: Do you think this ends in diplomacy… or escalation? Support the show
S3 · E8
April 27 · 7 min
Media Hypocrisy and Political Double Standards Exposed
They laughed it off… then the next night changed everything. That’s when the excuses started, the narratives shifted, and the same people who said “calm down” suddenly wanted everyone outraged. If you’re tired of rules that only apply when it helps one side, this episode is for you. Today on The MiddleGround Mic, we break down the latest media hypocrisy, political double standards, and why more Americans are walking away from team politics altogether. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to the bigger issue: why does outrage only matter when the “right people” are offended? Why do the standards always move? If you’re an independent thinker tired of fake outrage, scripted talking points, and both parties treating voters like fools — hit play. No Left. No Right. Forward. 🌐 https://www.themiddlegroundmic.com ☕ Support the show for $3: https://buymeacoffee.com/tmgm Support the show
S3 · E7
April 24 · 37 min
Selective Prosecution and What the Media Leaves Out
It’s not just you. Something feels off—and it’s getting harder to ignore. In this episode, we break down why the version of events you’re seeing in the media might only be a fraction of what’s actually happening. From courtroom realities to selective prosecution, this conversation challenges how information is filtered, framed, and delivered. Learn more about the work discussed here: https://theamericanrightsalliance.org More importantly—it asks the question most people are already thinking: If everything feels manipulated… does your vote still matter? This isn’t about picking a side. It’s about figuring out what’s real. Support the show
S3 · E6
April 22 · 37 min
How Candidates Really Get on the Ballot | Chad Peace
You voted. But did you actually choose? Most people believe the real decision happens in November. That’s when you show up, pick a name, and feel like your voice matters. But what if the real decision already happened before you got there? In this episode, we sit down with election law attorney Chad Peace to break down something most voters never think about — how candidates actually make it onto the ballot. Primaries. Party systems. Low-turnout elections. Stages where a much smaller group of voters can shape who everyone else ends up choosing from. This isn’t about left vs right. It’s about understanding where influence actually happens in the process. And once you see it, it changes how you look at your vote. Listen all the way through and decide for yourself. No Left. No Right. Forward. Support the show
S3 · E5
April 13 · 44 min
Mark Lynch on Challenging Lindsey Graham in South Carolina
30 years in power and a 43% lifetime conservative score. By any standard that is a failing grade — and South Carolina business owner Mark Lynch has decided the only way to fix it is to do it himself. This interview is not an endorsement of Mark Lynch or any political candidate. The Middle Ground Mic provides a platform for all perspectives. No Left. No Right. Forward. 🌐 Mark Lynch Campaign: https://lynchforsenate.com On this episode of The Middle Ground Mic, Joe Steagall sits down with Senate candidate Mark Lynch, who has put $5 million of his own retirement money into his campaign to unseat Lindsey Graham. This independent politics conversation covers Graham's documented voting record, why Mark is refusing AIPAC money, how his 74-year family business and faith background prepared him for Washington, and what a biblical decision-making process looks like in the United States Senate. No left. No right. Just the facts. With the 2026 South Carolina primary approaching, this race is one of the most watched outside challenger campaigns in the country. Mark Lynch is not a politician. He's a businessman with 40 years of fruit in his life and $5 million of skin in the game — and that changes everything about how this race is being watched nationally. No Left. No Right. Forward. New episodes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Subscribe so you never miss what both parties don't want you to hear. 00:00 — Who Is Mark Lynch? 04:00 — Building a 110-Person Business on Faith 05:30 — COVID: They Tried to Shut Us Down 06:50 — Why He’s Running Against Lindsey Graham 07:45 — 43% Conservative Score Breakdown 09:20 — The AIPAC Money Question 11:00 — How He Decides What’s Right 15:00 — Putting $5 Million on the Line 17:30 — Gen Z and the Return to Faith 19:00 — What He’d Actually Do in the Senate 29:00 — The “Fruit” in His Life 36:00 — What He Says to Skeptics 38:00 — The Employee Recovery Story 41:00 — How to Support / Final Thoughts Support the show
S3 · E4
April 1 · 1 hr 11 min
Matt Campbell: 9/11 Inquest at the UK Supreme Court
Matt Campbell's brother Jeff died in the North Tower on September 11th 2001. The official inquest spent two minutes on his life and death. No investigation into cause of death. No evidence examined. The coroner signed off the wrong year of death on the paperwork. When Matt submitted a 2,500 page application to the UK Attorney General requesting a new inquest the answer was no. Twice. The reason — the Attorney General claimed the decision was immune to judicial review entirely. In this episode of The Middle Ground Mic Matt Campbell walks through the complete legal timeline. What an inquest actually is and why it matters. What the 2,500 pages of evidence contained including sworn statements from first responders, expert testimony from physicists and chemists, and video evidence never placed before the original coroner. Why the High Court lost in June 2024 but wrote a ruling so favorable it opened the door directly to the Supreme Court. How a leapfrog certificate fast tracked the case past the Court of Appeal entirely. And why the UK Supreme Court agreed to hear it with a hearing now scheduled for October 14th and 15th 2025 — described by Matt's senior barrister as the largest constitutional case on the UK Supreme Court docket this year. The constitutional question at the center — whether the Attorney General is above judicial review — is the same legal shield used to block the David Kelly inquest in 2003. It is a mechanism any government can use against any family. That is why the Supreme Court agreed to hear it. And that is why this conversation matters regardless of what you believe happened on September 11th 2001. No Left. No Right. Forward. New episodes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. CHAPTERS 00:00 A Brother Lost on 9/11 00:47 Matt Campbell Introduces Himself 02:15 The Day the World Changed — A Family on Holiday 07:15 Starting to Ask Questions 12:49 Building 7 and Freefall Acceleration 18:44 Watching the North Tower Fall 23:41 The Legal Fight Begins — What Is an Inquest 27:45 The Evidence That Was Never Heard 38:43 The Attorney General Says No — Twice 41:28 The Get Out of Jail Free Card 45:52 The Supreme Court Agrees to Hear the Case 50:09 Using Time as a Weapon 55:30 His Mum Turned 80. He Just Turned 57. 57:08 October 14th — What Happens If He Wins 1:00:05 Two Minutes. That's What the Inquest Gave His Brother. 1:04:53 Why His Barrister Said — Why Are We Even Here 1:07:01 The Question for the Audience Support the show
S3 · E3
March 25 · 56 min
Ex-FBI Agent on the Psychology of Confessions | Eric Robinson
🔥 VIRAL EPISODE ALERT 🔥 What happens when a Baptist pastor with stress-induced headaches becomes an FBI agent who steps on suspects with loaded shotguns? Eric Robinson shares 24 years of FBI stories you've NEVER heard: • The exact moment his headaches stopped (the day he got his FBI acceptance letter) • Why he never fired a gun before joining the FBI • The $22 million fraud case he cracked • How showing empathy gets confessions (not aggression) • The Garmin watch that recorded his heart rate spiking to 180 BPM during a deadly confrontation • Why criminals WANT to tell the truth (even when it hurts them) • The most disgusting story that "always wins" when agents share war stories This is NOT your typical podcast. This is raw, unfiltered FBI reality from someone who lived it for over two decades. ****LINKS BELOW***** 🎯 EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: [00:00] Introduction: The Pastor Who Became an FBI Agent [08:30] Why His Stress Headaches Vanished [15:13] The Psychology Behind Criminal Confessions [18:49] Heart Rate Spike: Deadly Confrontation Data [21:33] "I Stepped On The Suspect" - SWAT Story [24:50] Cracking a $22 Million Fraud Case [32:40] Why Empathy Works Better Than Aggression [44:15] "This Is The Worst Day of Their Life" [60:00] The Most Disgusting Story (Content Warning) 🎙️ ABOUT ERIC ROBINSON: Eric Robinson is a retired FBI Special Agent with 24 years of service. He worked counterterrorism, crimes against children, public corruption, and white-collar crime. Before the FBI, he was a Baptist pastor for 12 years. He served as a SWAT operator for 15 years and was an FBI firearms instructor. ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of crimes against children, violence, and law enforcement confrontations. Listener discretion is advised. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to The MiddleGround Mic for more incredible stories from extraordinary people! Support the show
S3 · E2
March 18 · 41 min
Who Funds Protests? Inside Crowds on Demand | Adam Swart
Are protests always grassroots… or is there an industry behind them? In this episode of The MiddleGround Mic, Joseph Steagall sits down with Crowds on Demand CEO Adam Swart to explore the controversial world of organized demonstrations. How are protests funded? Where is the line between activism and political influence? And why are more Americans questioning the authenticity of modern protest movements? This conversation explores the gray area between activism, advocacy, and influence — the exact middle ground most media ignores. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Context of the Conversation 02:19 Protests and Law Enforcement Dynamics 07:15 The Role of Paid Protesters 12:34 Political Violence and Its Acceptability 15:52 The Impact of Social Media on Political Discourse 19:36 Building Movements and Finding Common Ground 20:39 Political Unity in Unlikely Places 21:53 The Dynamics of Portland and Minneapolis 25:09 The Consequences of Defunding the Police 26:31 Advocacy and Transparency in Politics 30:02 Actions vs. Opinions in Political Discourse 35:45 Finding Common Ground in Divisive Issues 37:34 Empowering Personal Advocacy Support the show

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