QAA Podcast – Episode 357: "Terminal Empire Hallucinations" feat. Mike Rothschild
Release Date: January 28, 2026
Hosts: Jake Rockatansky, Travis View
Guest: Mike Rothschild
Episode Overview
This episode delves into the escalating violence and surreal narratives surrounding federal law enforcement actions in the United States, the breakdown of consensus reality in online and political discourse, and the increasingly absurd, meme-fueled media climate. Jake, Travis, and guest journalist Mike Rothschild dissect recent extrajudicial killings by federal agents, government manipulation of media and evidence, and the way conspiracy thinking has migrated from the internet fringe to the very heart of power. The episode features both incisive critique and black humor, unflinchingly analyzing the “terminal” state of the American empire.
Major Topics & Key Discussions
1. Systemic Violence, Law Enforcement, and Media Manipulation
- [02:48–05:16] Travis recounts the killing of Alex Preddy, an ICU nurse, by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, describing how bystander videos show him being subdued, disarmed, and then shot at close range.
- [05:24–12:20] The hosts and Mike Rothschild discuss the immediate state-led smear campaign against the victim, including official claims without evidence labeling Preddy a "terrorist" or “assassin.”
"[Stephen Miller] called Preddy an assassin. Which is batshit language."
— Travis View [05:24]
- [07:19–09:41] Irony is highlighted in the rapid shift in right-wing rhetoric: from decades of championing open carry to now demonizing protestors who exercise those rights, just because their politics differ.
"The entire ethos of the far right for what, 50 years has been, I will take my gun anywhere I want to for any reason I want to, and if you try to take it away from me, I will kill you. ... And it was all supported by these same people who are now telling us bringing a gun to a protest, that means you're an antifa."
— Mike Rothschild [08:59]
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[11:35–12:53] Travis notes that even gun advocacy groups typically aligned with Republicans are alarmed by the administration's justification for field executions.
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[12:53–13:38] Mike draws parallels between the current climate and Stalin's show trials—manufactured charges, narrative-first executions.
"It reminds you of some of the show trials in the Soviet Union in the 30s..."
— Mike Rothschild [12:53]
- [26:47–28:12] Focus shifts to government use of AI to manipulate and distribute propaganda images, e.g., altering arrest photos for emotional impact.
"[They] edited [a protester’s] image so that [she] looked like she was sobbing with tears... The cruelty is the point kind of thing."
— Travis View [27:11]
2. Conspiratorial Logic Escalates: From Online Fringe to Government Policy
- [17:13–22:37] The hosts read and mock a viral AI-written tweet by an alleged ex-Green Beret, which frames Minneapolis protesters as insurgents running "urban cells," revealing a paranoid and militarized perspective that’s gaining traction.
"Any amount of organization is evidence of an illegitimate insurgency and massive funding."
— Travis View [19:20]
- [22:18–25:13] Travis connects this to “imperial boomerang theory”: tactics used in military occupations abroad are coming home to be used on US citizens; official rhetoric now frames any dissent or protest as terrorism.
"They're sort of creating a pretext for any amount of extrajudicial violence in order to suppress the local population."
— Travis View [24:42]
3. The Meme Presidency and State Power as Content Engine
- [28:44–33:10] The White House’s prioritization of “memes” over governance is dissected. Official spokespeople joke about "poster presidency," highlighting the feedback loop between online imageboard culture and national leadership.
"The memes will continue. So we have just poster presidency."
— Travis View [28:44]
- [32:29–34:08] Mike describes law enforcement being directed to "be content creators," to manufacture TikTok-friendly images of strength for Trump.
"HQ informed our field offices that the agents out with ICE needed to be taking pictures so they could post them to social media..."
— Mike Rothschild [32:29]
- [36:41–41:15] Ridicule of unqualified leadership, such as podcasters-turned-FBI officials, who care more about perks, social media strategy, and jet skiing than law enforcement.
"A podcaster running the FBI is a podcaster running the FBI. These guys never left the influencer hustle behind."
— Mike Rothschild [39:00]
4. Collapse of Accountability & the Rise of Spectacle
- [42:03–44:29] Anonymous law enforcement describe chaos, prioritization of Twitter strategy over investigation, leadership completely out of their depth.
"They're literally scripting out their social media, not talking about how we're going to respond or resources or the situation... He's screaming that he wants to put stuff out, but it's not even vetted yet."
— Jake (reading anonymous agent) [42:03]
- [45:06–46:39] Travis and Mike warn of the risks: real extremist and accelerationist groups operate with less scrutiny, as federal agencies focus on PR.
"...It's not the patriot front guys jumping out of the U haul with their little shields. It's the one you've never heard of who...now no one is watching because the people who are involved in federal law enforcement are too busy making sure that Kash Patel has enough, you know, jet ski fuel and free weights."
— Mike Rothschild [45:50]
5. Conspiracy Theory as Profit Machine and Mainstream Reality
- [46:39–56:38] The Candace Owens phenomenon: she promotes wild claims (e.g., Charlie Kirk as a time traveler, Project Looking Glass), blending internet folklore with slick production aimed at a mainstream, often apolitical, audience.
"It used to be that the street corner raving was people who were genuinely unwell. And the problem is that the street corner raving is now so mainstream..."
— Mike Rothschild [49:14]
- [53:58–56:38] Owens repackages decades-old conspiracist material for new audiences who perceive it as forbidden knowledge. Hosts lament this progression from fringe internet weirdness to million-dollar studios and unchecked influence.
"This stuff's been around for decades, and it was all like, Looney Tunes late night radio stuff. And now, yeah, it's presented in these flashy, heavily edited videos."
— Mike Rothschild [53:58]
6. Reflections on the State of Conspiracism and Hope for the Future
- [56:46–58:22] Mike is stunned by how fully conspiracy culture has permeated the highest levels of government. He compares current actors unfavorably even to infamous 1990s conspiracists with real (if warped) principles.
"Have we gone past the point where anyone, anyone actually believes in this stuff other than the most unbalanced people who will act on it? ...the place is not going to get any better until Trump is out of the picture."
— Mike Rothschild [57:49]
- [62:12–63:22] Mike expresses a glimmer of hope: graphic reality of state violence is breaking through public apathy. Even people who have tuned out can be jolted by incontrovertible evidence, which might spur grassroots political engagement.
"The thing that gives me hope is that the footage...is breaking through to the people who have checked out of politics... I think you watch people like being killed for no reason by federal agents and it does stick with you and it makes you say, I don't like that and I'm going to do something about it."
— Mike Rothschild [63:00]
Memorable Moments & Quotes
-
On the dark feedback loop of spectacle and violence:
"You've got the most important people in the country who are doing this stuff, who are saying this stuff... We're making. This is our golden age."
— Mike Rothschild [30:34] -
On leaders prioritizing image over substance:
"They're literally scripting out their social media, not talking about how we're going to respond... The most important thing in any crisis is controlling the narrative."
— Jake [42:03] -
On the future after Trump:
"We will, God willing, outlive this man. And... that is really when we will see how much of this sticks and if we're able to course correct. I really don't know the answer to that."
— Jake [60:45]
Key Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment Description | |--------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:48–05:16 | Narration of Alex Preddy's killing by federal agents, introduction to state violence theme | | 08:59–09:41 | Mike on the long history of the right's gun advocacy and its contradictions | | 12:53–13:38 | Comparisons to show trials, manufactured terrorism accusations | | 17:13–22:37 | Paranoid narratives: protestors framed as military-grade insurgency | | 26:47–28:12 | Manipulation of protest images by government for propaganda | | 28:44–33:10 | The "poster presidency," memes, content creation from the White House to law enforcement | | 36:41–39:35 | Inside look: influencer-podcasters turned top federal officials—focus on perks, not duty | | 42:03–44:29 | Social media strategy eclipsing real law enforcement work; chaos at the top | | 46:39–56:38 | Mainstreaming of conspiracism: Candace Owens, Project Looking Glass, and commercialized paranoia | | 56:46–58:22 | Mike reflects on the mainstreaming of conspiracism and what’s changed since the early 2010s | | 62:12–63:22 | Footage of violence as a catalyst for public engagement and hope |
Tone and Style
The discussion is candid, sardonic, and darkly comic—peppered with cultural references, gallows humor, and rapid-fire banter. There’s a sense of exhaustion and dread with the state of American political and media culture, but also defiance and sharp analytical insight. The hosts use humor to manage the emotional and psychological toll of chronicling these events.
Final Takeaways
- The use of state power for spectacle and violence, combined with meme-driven, conspiratorial narratives, marks a new and alarming chapter in American political history.
- Increasingly, conspiracy theory and propaganda are not merely tolerated but are core to how federal agencies communicate and justify action.
- Despite the bleak situation, the hosts express hope that the reality of state-sanctioned violence will cut through manufactured narratives and spark civic resistance and engagement.
- The mainstreaming and monetizing of "fringe" conspiracy culture is both a symptom and a driver of broader societal breakdown.
- The fate of this moment—and whether the United States recovers or continues its descent—remains uncertain, especially as Trump’s personal future casts a shadow over every aspect of national life.
"I think you watch people like being killed for no reason by federal agents and it does stick with you and it makes you say, I don't like that and I'm going to do something about it."
— Mike Rothschild [63:00]
Find Mike Rothschild:
Twitter/Bluesky: @RothschildMD
Patreon: patreon.com/mikerothschild
QAA Podcast:
Patreon: patreon.com/qaa
Website: qaapodcast.com