Summary:

I unpack the Michael & Susan Dell $6.25B pledge and why partnering with bad-faith actors is a branding and moral landmine. Is there any world where backing a Trump-adjacent vehicle is a good idea? Short answer: no. From lawsuits and bankruptcies to the history of financial deception, I argue that the Dell donation is a textbook case of misreading character risk—and why the “help 25M kids” promise is likely to end in disappointment.

Chapters:

00:00 — The “Would You Ever Back This?” Cold Open

00:30 — Character Risk in 20 Seconds

01:00 — The $6.25B Pledge, Minus Controls

01:30 — Final Take: Values > Vibes (and why I’d never fund it)

Subscribe to the Show: https://youtube.com/@cascadingleadership?si=Bvj34b6Tg7-u3Qew

Music Credit: Good_B_Music



Mentioned in this episode:

Left in Exile Intro

Left in Exile Intro

Summary:

A solo riff from me on a truly unhinged story that defines “peak white people behavior.” Two Dallas guys allegedly tried to recruit a homeless paramilitary in D.C., sail to a Haitian island, kill the men, and enslave the women and kids. I unpack the receipts, the mindset, and what this says about America’s radicalization pipeline with zero euphemisms.

Chapters:

00:00 — Cold open & the headline you can’t un-hear

01:00 — The plan: recruit D.C.’s unhoused as a “private army,” sail to Haiti

03:00 — “Training” montage: Haitian Creole, Air Force, Fire Academy, Thailand sailing school

06:00 — Bigger pattern: radicalization, impunity fantasies, and where this leads

Subscribe to the Show: https://youtube.com/@cascadingleadership?si=Bvj34b6Tg7-u3Qew

Music Credit: Good_B_Music



Mentioned in this episode:

Left in Exile Intro

Left in Exile Intro

Summary:

Some lines shouldn’t be crossed in the name of a “big tent.” Flip on the lights and watch the vermin scatter—that’s what Epstein’s aftermath looks like as politicians scramble to rewrite their roles. I give credit where it’s due on pushing to release the files, but I draw a hard boundary: platforming someone like Marjorie Taylor Greene under a “we welcome everyone” banner is moral rot, not unity. This episode is a case study in political survival, cowardice, and why refusing to launder reputations matters.

Chapters:

00:00 – Lights on, vermin scatter: the Epstein fallout and sudden “awakenings.”

01:00 – The MTG rehab tour: giving credit for file releases—without absolution.

03:00 – Political survival 101: losing favor, going scorched earth, seeking new allies.

05:00 – Fold under pressure: threats boomerang, sympathy play begins, resignation as escape hatch.

06:00 – Final word: no redemption without repair—and why boundaries matter.

Subscribe to the Show: https://youtube.com/@cascadingleadership?si=Bvj34b6Tg7-u3Qew

Music Credit: Good_B_Music



Mentioned in this episode:

Left in Exile Intro

Left in Exile Intro