The Middle Ground Mic

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Minneapolis is under intense national scrutiny — from public safety concerns to immigration enforcement and declining trust in political leadership.
In this episode of The Middle Ground Mic, Joe sits down with Dalia al-Aqidi, an Iraqi-American journalist, legal immigrant, and congressional candidate running against Representative Ilhan Omar in Minnesota’s Fifth District.
Rather than leaning into partisan outrage, this conversation takes a middle-ground approach to the issues shaping Minneapolis today. Dalia explains why she believes the city needs a renewed focus on public safety, accountability in law enforcement, community trust, and bipartisan solutions to address economic and social challenges.
Topics include the long-term impact of defunding the police, immigration reform from a legal immigrant’s perspective, political leadership during unrest, and what effective representation should look like for Minneapolis residents.
🔗 Learn more about Dalia al-Aqidi’s campaign:
 👉 https://www.daliaforcongress.org
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Dalia al-Aqidi
01:01 Dalia’s Background and Immigration Story
02:36 Public Safety and Law Enforcement in Minneapolis
04:56 Political Leadership and Community Trust
07:25 The Impact of Defunding the Police
09:19 Bipartisanship and Political Solutions
10:00 Immigration and Community Dynamics
11:13 Economic Challenges and Public Assistance
12:23 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions 
🎙️ The Middle Ground Mic
No Left. No Right. Forward.
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What do YOU think? comment below!
Federal agents just shot & killed 37yo ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during an ICE op. Protests exploding, threats flying, city on edge AGAIN. 
But violence isn't the answer. Guilt or not – we need truth + justice WITHOUT more bodies. Dialogue over destruction. Kids are watching.
What side are you on? Drop your take below  Like/share if you're tired of the cycle.
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Iran has executed over 2,200 people in 2025 alone. Is this a sign of power — or a regime on the brink of collapse?

In this episode of The Middle Ground Mic, Joe is joined by Zolal Habibi, a human rights and women’s rights advocate and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

They discuss Iran’s escalating executions, mass arrests, nationwide protests, internet shutdowns, and why women and young people are increasingly leading the resistance. Zolal explains why both foreign intervention and diplomatic appeasement have failed — and what a real, Iranian-led alternative could look like.

This episode explores:
• Why executions spike when regimes lose control
• The role of women in Iran’s resistance movement
• The legacy of the 1988 massacre
• Why Iranians reject war and dictatorship alike
• What accountability without invasion looks like

A grounded, honest conversation about Iran’s future — and why it matters to the world.

RESOURCES & LINKS:
Learn more about the Iranian resistance:
https://maryamrajavi4change.com

National Council of Resistance of Iran:
https://www.ncr-iran.org

Iran Human Rights Monitoring:
https://iran-hrm.com

Organization of Iranian American Communities:
https://oiac.org

Iran Freedom:
https://iranfreedom.org

Chapters

00:00 The State of Iran: Fear and Control
02:46 Uprisings and Resistance: A Historical Perspective
05:23 The Role of Leadership in the Iranian Resistance
08:02 The Nature of Protests: Unity and Diversity
10:57 The Impact of Internet Shutdowns on Communication
13:30 The Psychological Warfare of the Regime
16:18 The Evolution of Resistance Units
19:00 The Role of Women in the Resistance
21:54 The Roadmap for a Free Iran
24:50 Empowerment Through Perseverance
27:08 The 10-Point Plan for a Free Iran
31:08 The Regime's Last Chapter
37:04 International Accountability and Support
43:30 Connecting for Change

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Americans are angry, exhausted, and divided — but not for the reasons we’re told.
In this episode, Joseph Steagall sits down with Rocky Haag, a politically agnostic thinker, to explore why people feel unseen, why institutions are losing trust, and how AI, endless wars, and economic pressure are reshaping society.
This is not a Left vs Right conversation.
 It’s a systems-level discussion about power, dignity, and the future.
0:00 Why Americans Feel Politically Homeless
4:12 MAGA 2.0 Explained (Not What You Think)
9:45 One-Income Families Vanished — Here’s Why
17:30 Forever Wars Are a Business Model
25:10 AI Warfare & Loss of Human Agency
34:40 Empire Mindset vs Human Dignity
44:15 Faith, Power & Manipulation
55:00 Is America Actually Awakening?

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Freedom doesn’t disappear overnight — it erodes quietly through fear, censorship, and silence.
 In this episode of The Middle Ground Mic, journalist and U.S. diplomat Mahtab Farid shares how she grew up under Iran’s revolution and chose to serve America without ever wearing a uniform.
Born in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq War, Mahtab Farid experienced censorship and repression firsthand. Those early experiences shaped her understanding of truth, freedom, and the responsibility that comes with liberty.
After becoming a U.S. citizen just months before 9/11, Mahtab made a defining choice: to serve the country that gave her freedom. As a U.S. Public Diplomacy Officer, she deployed to Afghanistan alongside American service members — not as a soldier, but as a truth-teller — helping build local media, counter propaganda, and earn trust in some of the world’s most dangerous places.
In this conversation, we discuss:
Growing up under Iran’s revolution and what censorship really looks like
Why journalism threatens authoritarian regimes
Serving America without a uniform after 9/11
Media trust, propaganda, and narrative warfare
Redefining patriotism beyond politics
📘 Mahtab Farid’s book — Serving Without a Uniform: Reporting Truth in Defense of Freedom
👉 https://www.amazon.in/Serving-Without-Uniform-Reporting-Defense-ebook/dp/B0G5JGLZPF

The Middle Ground Mic
No Left. No Right. Forward.
⏱️ CHAPTER MARKERS
00:00 – Freedom, Silence, and the Cost of Truth
 01:45 – Growing Up During Iran’s Revolution
 06:20 – When Censorship Becomes Normal
 10:40 – Discovering America From the Outside
 15:30 – Journalism as Resistance
 20:10 – Becoming a U.S. Citizen Before 9/11
 24:45 – Choosing to Serve America
 30:15 – Afghanistan: Building Media Without Fear
 36:20 – Media Trust, Propaganda & Soft Power
 42:10 – Redefining Patriotism Without Politics
 48:50 – Final Reflections: How Will You Serve?
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🚨🚨Want to support The Middle Ground Mic and keep investigations going?🚨🚨
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