Citations Needed

Latest Episodes:

Election Night Livestream: Blue Megatsunami, the El-Sayed Narrative Game and the Battle Over What It All Means Nov 04, 2026

Show notes

This is last night's election night Patreon live stream, recorded 9:30 ET on Nov 3 2026.

Live Show Beg-a-Thon: Ben Shapiro, Sex-Pest Actor Comebacks, and the New Elevated Right-Wing Cinema Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

In this Live Show Beg-a-Thon, "Ben Shapiro, Sex-Pest Actor Comebacks and the New Elevated Rightwing Cinema," we discuss the Daily Wire's new cinematic universe—its unhinged racism, overtly fascist storylines and their feeble attempts to revitalize Hollywood stars accused of sexual misconduct.

Live Show Beg-A-Thon: Wednesday Oct 21 - Promo! Oct 20, 2026

Show notes

Please join us Wednesday Oct 21 for our Beg-A-Thon live show, "Ben Shapiro, Sex-Pest Actor Comebacks, and the New Elevated Right-Wing Cinema," @ 8:00ET/7:00CT!

We will be joined by writer Josh Olson to discuss the rise of the Ben Shapiro's extremely racist astroturf film empire and how rightwing cinema has evolved in recent years into something more mainstream, more ironic and more designed to directly engage the so-called "culture wars."

Ep 245: The Authenticity Affect (Part III) - Left Politics as Effete, College Kid Artifice Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

In part 3 of our three-part series on the uses and misuses of "authenticity" in political media, we examine the popular media trope that progressive politics are exogenous to core Democratic constituencies who, we are told, are axiomatically conservative, pro-Israel and anti-welfare state.

News Brief: 2028, Israel's Progressive Rebrand and the Risk of "Genocide" as Rhetorical Box Check Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

Ep 244: The Authenticity Affect (Part II) - The Dopey, Power-Flattering, Media-Created "Maverick" Politician Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

In Part 2 of our 3-part series on the uses and misuses of "authenticity," we examine the media obsession with "political mavericks" who "buck party orthodoxy"—almost aways with either trivial interventions or, as is most often the case, throwing vulnerable populations and causes under the bus.

With guest Jack Mirkinson, senior editor at The Nation magazine.

Ep 243: The Authenticity Affect (Part I) — Whistlestop Tours, Smarm, and the Art of Channeling 'Folk' Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

In part 1 of our 3-part series on the uses and misuses of "authenticity," we examine the Real America "listening tour," its propaganda utility, and how it uses the superficial aesthetics of rural simplicity to sell class-flattening, power-serving narratives.

With writer and teacher John Patrick Leary.

Ep 242 - The Disempowering Politics of 'Inevitability' Part 2: US Empire as Mysterious, Teleological Force Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss how circular "inevitability" arguments have been used for centuries to justify war, expansionism and perpetual hostility — most recently against China.

Our guest is organizer and writer Tobita Chow.

Ep 241 - The Disempowering Politics of 'Inevitability' Part 1: Data Centers and LLM as 'The Future' Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we breakdown the popular "inevitability" argument AI companies are using to bulldoze over democracy and how the "inevitability" line has been used to sell everything from Manifest Destiny to poverty-creating "free trade deals".

We are joined by guest Amy Woodson Bolton, professor of British and Irish history at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California.

News Brief: Very Serious New Yorker Article Launders Biden Officials' Responsibility for Gaza Genocide Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

In this News Brief, we are joined by Kaleem Hawa to discuss David K Kirkpatrick's 10,000 word PR job that feigns criticism of Biden officials, but ultimately serves to distance them from the horrors of Gaza.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected