In Far Middle episode 196, Nick starts with a blend of basketball history and intrigue for the installment’s sports dedication—recounting how basketball giants Red Auerbach and Wilt Chamberlain met back in the summer of 1954.

Nick explains how Chamberlain and Auerbach’s paths crossed as player and coach at a country club in Monticello, NY. He reflects on the clash between the young, headstrong Chamberlain and the up-and-coming Coach Auerbach.

For more on Coach Auerbach, revisit Far Middle episode 119 for Nick’s tribute to the legendary coach and executive. And for more commentary on Chamberlain, see episode 152 and episode 69 which honors the 69-win NBA season by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.

Transitioning from the hardwood to hard economic issues, Nick explores the possibility of the new administration getting serious about fiscal responsibility and the need to balance America’s budget. Nick explains, “The levers in the end are indeed simple. You can raise taxes to increase revenues. That’s one option. You can cut spending by government. There’s a second one. Or you can scale back entitlements. And each lever, although simple, brings to bear many complexities in endless policy debates.”

Inspired by Thomas Sowell, Nick discusses an additional lever, which is the potential of selling federally owned land. He notes the concept isn’t new, and the move could not only generate revenue but also reduce maintenance costs and stimulate economic growth.

The episode then shifts to a curious contradiction: the decline of religious practice in America despite centuries of religious freedom. Drawing from recent studies and exit polls from the 2024 election, Nick points out the growing number of religiously unaffiliated Americans and how faith seems to correlate with political preferences.

Next, Nick dives into the impact of inflation over the past four years, presenting a sobering list of rising prices across multiple sectors, from car insurance to airfare and from gas to groceries. This leads to a critique of price controls as a solution to inflation, with Nick citing the work of Henry Hazlitt and Brian Wesbury in, The Dangers of Price Controls.

“Movement toward a dictated and authoritarian economy is never a good thing,” says Nick. “It takes freedom away from the individual business entity and worker and places power in the hands of government. Bad move under any circumstance and price controls are never a cure for inflation, despite how they are marketed.”

Nick further underscores that the complexity of our economy makes price controls impossible. He also addresses the root cause of inflation, which is the growth of America’s money supply since 2008.

In closing, Nick offers a tribute to “the greatest name in science fiction writing and film screenwriting that you never heard of.” That writer is the acclaimed Lee Brackett, a pioneering science fiction writer and screenwriter often overlooked despite her significant contributions. Nick describes Brackett as one of the most prominent female writers during the golden age of science fiction.

Nick touches on Brackett’s extensive resume and career highlights, which includes writing and co-writing many films (including The Big Sleep that starred Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall), working on Westerns alongside director Howard Hawks, and much more. One of her last works and her final screenplay credit would be for The Empire Strikes Back. Unfortunately, Brackett passed away in early 1978 and never saw her finished product.

“Rest in peace, Lee Brackett. And no matter what planet or galaxy you visit this week, May the Force be with you, and always stay connected to that Far Middle,” concludes Nick.

As spring training gets underway during the premiere week of Far Middle episode 195, Nick leads off with a timely and heartfelt dedication to one of baseball’s greatest leadoff hitters—the late, great Rickey Henderson.

Nick recalls Henderson’s distinctive style and personality, including his crouched batting stance and his tendency to refer to himself in the third person. Reflecting on Henderson’s record-breaking career, Nick highlights his unmatched stolen base prowess, which rightfully earned him the nickname “Man of Steal.”

Leaving the diamond, Nick delves into the writings of Ayn Rand. He examines her thoughts on civil discourse and advocacy, emphasizing their relevance to the challenges of today’s political landscape. Rand’s focus on well-reasoned arguments and the importance of clarifying ideological divides provides an important framework for analyzing contemporary issues.

Nick highlights Rand’s quote from her essay Conservatism: An Obituary: “Nothing is as futile as a movement without goals, or a crusade without ideals, or a battle without ammunition. A bad argument is worse than ineffectual: it lends credence to the arguments of your opponents. A half-battle is worse than none: it does not end in mere defeat—it helps and hastens the victory of your enemies.”

To illustrate Rand’s argument, Nick critiques a recent Wall Street Journal article on energy policy. He examines flaws in the article’s logic and rebuts its assumptions, raising concerns about bias and a lack of rigor in business media reporting, particularly regarding energy and climate issues.

Shifting from Rand’s wisdom to insights from The Heritage Foundation’s Kevin Roberts, Nick explores Roberts’ essay Populist Conservatism and Constitutional Order. Nick highlights Roberts’ observation that “the Left as we know it today has rejected populism out of hand, embracing instead Big Government, Big Business, Big Banks, Big Tech, Big Pharma, Big Labor, Big Ag, Big Media, and Big Entertainment.”

Roberts includes a quote by composter Gustav Mahler, “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” Nick reflects on this important message, which he says has been true since the Enlightenment and is central to the Far Middle’s mission.

Ending on a high note, Nick offers a tribute to legendary guitarist Joe Walsh while acknowledging Walsh’s omission from Nick’s list of top rock guitarists. He delves into Walsh’s musical journey beyond the Eagles, spotlighting his influential album So What and his contributions to rock history. Tune in to not only hear Nick’s favorite Joe Walsh song but to learn more about Walsh which will likely have you searching Spotify for Rocky Mountain Way.

Far Middle episode 194 is another exploration of multiple interconnected topics, beginning with a tribute to Constantine “Cus” D’Amato, a legendary boxing trainer and mentor.

D’Amato’s life story is remarkable. From his humble and rough beginnings in the Bronx to becoming a transformative figure in boxing, Cus went on to train champions such as Floyd Patterson and Mike Tyson while developing the innovative “peek-a-boo” boxing technique. “You won’t find a figure who had more of an impact on boxing, who loved it more, and who was dedicated to it more, and whose career spanned a longer time than that of Cus D’Amato,” reflects Nick.

Stepping out of the ring, Nick observes how many issues today, particularly those revolving around policy, seem to rely on the faith of rhetoric and perception versus data and facts. He proceeds to analyze criminal justice statistics, challenging popular perceptions about mass incarceration.

Contrary to common narratives, the U.S. prison population has been declining for 15 years, with only 17% of prisoners being drug offenders and most inmates being violent criminals or repeat offenders. Nick examines how the increased incarceration rate since 1960 is attributable to higher crime rates and improved criminal justice system effectiveness, not necessarily harsher sentencing.

Continuing to focus on the data, Nick then examines federal anti-poverty programs, exposing their inefficiency. In 2023, the government spent $29,402 per person in poverty, with total federal outlays exceeding $1 trillion. Despite this investment, poverty remains largely unaddressed, highlighting government’s systemic ineffectiveness.

Shifting to social media’s impact on political discourse, Nick draws parallels between Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fireside chats with Donald Trump’s use of X/Twitter. He critiques left-leaning calls for social media regulation, framing it as an attempt to control narrative and information flow.

In closing, Nick offers a philosophical reflection on species extinction, noting that 99.99% of all species that ever existed are now extinct, and humans have been around for approximately 4 million years – coincidentally the average lifespan of complex species.

Throughout the episode, Nick underscores the importance of examining facts and data rather than relying on rhetoric and perception.

For related commentary on the importance of facts and data, revisit Far Middle episode 173, “Data Driven Truth,” where Nick highlights CNX Resources’ Radical Transparency initiative. And if you missed episode 137, “The Fellowship of Data and Facts,” listen as Nick examines the actual data on Western Pennsylvania’s air quality, in addition to examining the Institute for Energy Research’s Environmental Quality Index, as well as the unsettling state of America’s finances.

In Far Middle episode 193, Nick follows up last week’s dedication to the American Football League with a timely tribute to legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick.

Belichick, known for his six Super Bowl wins as head coach of the New England Patriots (plus two more as defensive coordinator with the New York Giants in Super Bowls XXI and XXV), recently surprised many, including Nick, by accepting a position as head coach at the University of North Carolina. However, given Belichick’s NFL success and passion for the game, Nick suggests that perhaps the eight-time Super Bowl champ is looking to take on a new challenge as a head coach at the college level.

From Coach Belichick’s Super Bowl victories, Nick connects to President Trump’s victory this past November and subsequent inauguration last week. He highlights the new administration’s focus on improving government efficiency and reducing both the administrative state and regulations. “It’s exciting to someone like me who is a combo of libertarian, socially liberal, and fiscally conservative,” explains Nick.

Nick references polling results that indicate most American voters are more concerned about government interference in private affairs than the dangers of capitalism and free markets. He says it’s time for tangible action to put Americans’ fears to rest by reining in the administrative state so that it falls within bounds more in line with reasonableness and our Constitution.

Next, Nick discusses needed reforms at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including linking research grants to academic freedom rankings and addressing issues of research fraud.

“Elite academia and the scientific research that it performs are mired in a culture of conformity, one that ostracizes dissenting views or unconventional thinking from the consensus,” says Nick. “We see that occurring across every imaginable arena of scientific research, and then we see that research setting every imaginable arena of policy.”

The conversation then turns to education, discussing Thomas Jefferson High School in Virginia and its financial connections to China. Nick explains how the school’s curriculum and model have been copied in China, raising concerns about technology transfer and educational partnerships.

The episode also revisits retirement and workforce trends (discussed in episode 192), using an anecdote about an American retiring in Belgium to illustrate demographic challenges facing developed nations. Nick stresses his concern about “the system” incentivizing early retirements and the impact on workforce productivity and economic competitiveness.

In closing, Nick celebrates Motown icon Smokey Robinson, detailing his career achievements, songwriting credits, and immense impact on the music industry. He also notes Robinson’s lifelong friendship with Aretha Franklin. For more on Franklin, check out Nick’s four favorite singles from the Queen of Soul at the close of episode 111.

Far Middle episode 192 arrives as most of the US shivers amidst a polar vortex. Nick begins by coincidentally noting that 54 years ago tomorrow marks the day when Prospect Creek Camp, Alaska, experienced the lowest temperature ever in the United States, -80 degrees.

Beginning this week’s connections, Nick shifts from bitter cold to the intense heat of the march to Super Bowl LIX as only four teams remain. With less than three weeks until Super Bowl Sunday, Nick offers this episode’s sports dedication to the American Football League (AFL).

The AFL operated from 1960 to 1970 before merging with the National Football League (NFL). While the fourth major attempt to compete with the NFL, Nick explains the factors and tactics that led to the AFL’s success; its exciting, offense-oriented style of play alongside TV contracts helped the league survive and eventually thrive. The AFL’s history includes football legends like Joe Namath and Pete Rozelle, who were honored in previous Far Middle sports dedications (episodes 106 and 146).

Nick then shifts to a frequent Far Middle subject, tax policy. “With so much talk these days centered around making sure that individuals and businesses, particularly those making the most, pay their fair share of tax, I thought it would be interesting to move away from the rhetoric and focus on the objective math,” says Nick.

Looking at the federal tax system and its progressive structure, Nick notes that in 2022, the top 1% of income tax filers provided over 40% of federal tax revenue, while the top 10% shouldered over 70% of the total tax burden.

“Yeah, the reality is that one filer out of every hundred is providing more than 40% of income tax revenue,” says Nick. “And that top 1% is about one-and-a-half million tax returns. That group comprises over 22% of the nation’s total reported earnings.”

On the topic of paying one’s fair share, Nick also analyzes the tax-exempt status of large non-profit organizations. He points out that in 2019, tax-exempt nonprofits generated over $3 trillion in income and held $8 trillion in assets.

The episode concludes with a discussion of global demographic trends, comparing and contrasting China’s response to the declining working-age population to that of Japan, Europe, and the United States. He highlights China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which is helping solve its demographic problems while also expanding its global influence.

As time expires on episode 192, Nick shares his appreciation for the 1970s TV show “Barney Miller” (which premiered 50 years ago this week) and follows with a closing thought on personal motivation by referencing a line from Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead.

For more thoughts on Ayn Rand, check out milestone episode 150 where Nick discusses Ayn Rand’s essay, “Who Will Protect Us from Our Protectors?”