Multi-Tentacled Leviathan

Nick opens Far Middle episode 191 with a sports dedication highlighting a sport that’s evaded the podcast series’ nearly four years (and counting) run of tributes.

Nick heads back to 1972 to celebrate that summer’s World Chess Championship match between Bobby Fischer and defending champion Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union—dubbed the "Match of the Century" (not to be confused with “The Mile of the Century” highlighted in episode 168).

The historic confrontation, held in Iceland, saw Fischer become the first American-born world chess champion, ending 24 years of Soviet chess dominance. Nick examines Fischer's eccentric behavior, unpredictable playing style, strategies, and Fischer’s life following the unprecedented win.

Beginning the episode’s connections, Nick shifts to the cold hard truth in refuting President Biden’s assertion that extreme heat is the leading weather-related killer in the US.

From the Oval Office, Nick connects to the judicial branch to discuss Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch's book "Overruled: The Human Toll of Too Much Law," which critiques the voluminous growth of regulations in the US. He highlights Justice Gorsuch’s anecdote about a magician needing a license for a rabbit to illustrate the absurdity and cumulative onslaught of the bureaucratic state. This leads to a broader discussion on the concept of natural law, “some of its core characteristics,” and its influence on the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

Nick then delves into Russian influence on Western environmental movements.

“Russia and its controlled interests have been large funders and backers and supporters of the Western environmental movement, particularly with respect to anti-fossil fuel and anti-fracking groups,” says Nick. “It's true, even if it sounds like something out of a Hollywood conspiracy thriller.”

Russia’s manipulation of public opinion also extends to recent protests against a lithium mine in Serbia, which would threaten Russia’s energy dominance over Europe. Staying on foreign policy, Nick addresses the United Nations' "Pact for the Future" and "UN 2.0" initiative, and the power they give to global institutions. Nick describes UN 2.0 as scarier than the original UN monster and praises Argentina's President Milei for opposing these measures.

Nick highlights President Milei’s recent speech before the UN General Assembly, where the president called the UN "a multi-tentacled Leviathan that seeks to decide what each nation state should do and how the citizens of the world should live."

On the topic of disinformation and misinformation, Nick looks at Wikipedia's role in shaping public perception, discussing how Vice President Harris's role as "border czar" was manipulated on the platform.

In closing, Nick returns to the episode’s opening topic of chess to discuss the musical Chess, which was inspired by the Bobby Fischer vs. Boris Spassky match. The production’s music was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA and notes "One Night in Bangkok” is featured on the 18-track album. “Stay humble over this coming week until we convene again, and always stay connected to that far middle,” says Nick signing-off.