Culture
How the British Empire Lost America—With Andrew Shankman How the British Empire Lost America—With Andrew Shankman
Danny and Derek are joined by historian Andrew Shankman to talk about the road to US independence from Great Britain.
Steven Spielberg’s Aliens Steven Spielberg’s Aliens
“Disclosure Day” has plenty of UFOs and extraterrestrial species but very little of the human insights found in the filmmaker’s past work.
What Makes American Architecture American? What Makes American Architecture American?
It’s never been afraid to play fast and loose and big.
How to Win the Next 250 Years for the Working Class How to Win the Next 250 Years for the Working Class
It begins with building back a strong union movement
rooted in deep solidarity.
Books
The Cruel Optimism of Being a Mets Fan The Cruel Optimism of Being a Mets Fan
A new book by A.M. Gittlitz tells the story of a beloved baseball team.
The Radical Genius of Álvaro Enrigue The Radical Genius of Álvaro Enrigue
His new novel is as much a work of political philosophy as it is one of fiction.
What Happened to Tucker Carlson? What Happened to Tucker Carlson?
The transformation of a once promising, if conservative, magazine journalist into a conspiracy-minded talking head.
Film
Steven Spielberg’s Aliens Steven Spielberg’s Aliens
“Disclosure Day” has plenty of UFOs and extraterrestrial species but very little of the human insights found in the filmmaker’s past work.
Why Amazon Ditched Its Prestige Sam Altman Biopic Why Amazon Ditched Its Prestige Sam Altman Biopic
Artificial had a roster of premier talent and a topical subject—but it no longer fit in with Jeff Bezos’s financial ambitions.
The Curious Case of the Nadav Lapid Boycott Campaign The Curious Case of the Nadav Lapid Boycott Campaign
In seeking to punish artists for ties to Israeli organizations, are boycotters choosing the right targets?
How Much On-Screen Violence Is Too Much? How Much On-Screen Violence Is Too Much?
I’ve always been a little sensitive about films that depict school shootings. But Kristoffer Borgli’s The Drama was an outlier.
Claire Denis’s Haunting Neocolonial Drama Claire Denis’s Haunting Neocolonial Drama
Compared to her other films, The Fence is a minor work. But it contains within it a set of expansive themes.
Television
Why Amazon Ditched Its Prestige Sam Altman Biopic Why Amazon Ditched Its Prestige Sam Altman Biopic
Artificial had a roster of premier talent and a topical subject—but it no longer fit in with Jeff Bezos’s financial ambitions.
What’s Behind the Corporate Pillaging of “60 Minutes” What’s Behind the Corporate Pillaging of “60 Minutes”
By firing veteran correspondent Scott Pelley, the leaders of CBS News have elevated toadying over truth-telling.
Why Losing Colbert Hurts So Much Why Losing Colbert Hurts So Much
Trump would have all his comedian critics fired if he could. But Colbert represents a particular loss.
Architecture
What Makes American Architecture American? What Makes American Architecture American?
It’s never been afraid to play fast and loose and big.
How Trump Got His Tacky Arch Approved How Trump Got His Tacky Arch Approved
Neoclassical revivalists had to sell their souls.
What Would Happen if You Walked All of New York’s Shoreline? What Would Happen if You Walked All of New York’s Shoreline?
The art and architecture of New York’s vast and sweeping waterfront.
Music
17 Rappers Have Supported Trump 17 Rappers Have Supported Trump
Is this the biggest blunder in Black history?
Sonny Rollins Lived to See Justice for His Wrongly Convicted Father Sonny Rollins Lived to See Justice for His Wrongly Convicted Father
The jazz legend fought for nearly 80 years to clear his father of racially motivated charges.
Bruce Springsteen Gave Us Exactly What We Need Right Now Bruce Springsteen Gave Us Exactly What We Need Right Now
His just-finished tour was a cleansing, healing experience—and a morale-boosting call to arms for everyone fighting for our democracy.
How De La Soul Changed Hip Hop And The World How De La Soul Changed Hip Hop And The World
Austin McCoy joins the show to discuss his new book on De La Soul
Drowning Out the Noise Drowning Out the Noise
How music became the cathartic refuge for my political frustration.
Publishing
The Curious Case of the Nadav Lapid Boycott Campaign The Curious Case of the Nadav Lapid Boycott Campaign
In seeking to punish artists for ties to Israeli organizations, are boycotters choosing the right targets?
The Rise of the Sensitivity Reader The Rise of the Sensitivity Reader
Adam Szetela’s That Book Is Dangerous! examines the emergence of a new job in publishing—secondary readers who comb through books for possible offenses.
Did You Know There’s an Independent Bookstore Revival Underway? Did You Know There’s an Independent Bookstore Revival Underway?
Americans fight back against big tech.
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Rockwell Kent’s View From Greenland Rockwell Kent’s View From Greenland
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How Netflix Cashes In on the Comedy Culture Wars How Netflix Cashes In on the Comedy Culture Wars
The streamer managed to make a celebrity roast for the innocuous comedian Kevin Hart into an ideological free-fire zone—another sign of the Trumpification of pop culture.
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