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Space the Nation — Arts
Space the Nation

On Space the Nation, we take our love of science fiction (and fantasy and horror) and smash it together with our professional passions: international relations (as brought to the table by Tufts University professor and Washington Post columnist Dan Drezner) and cultural criticism (as brought to the table by political columnist Ana Marie Cox). It’s a highly informed but hilarious conversation that starts with an examination of a particular text (everything from Ursula K. LeGuin to the MCU, Star Trek to Colson Whitehead) and veers into current events, mental health practices and imagined conversations between Ted Cruz and the Predator. For people who like white papers and graphic novels, Chapo Trap House and what Political Science Twitter used to be.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Copyright: © Space the Nation

Latest Episodes:

S4E02: THE SHINING Jan 14, 2024

Show notes

Ana and Dan decided to check out room 237, even though that wonderful cook told them not to. What could possibly go wrong? One of the most influential and well-made horror films ever made, it also... leaves something to be desired. There is some IR in this movie.

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S4E01: THE EXPANSE S3E1-6 Jan 08, 2024

Show notes

BELTALOWDA! Ana and Dan return to their roots to discuss the first half of season three of The Expanse. IS THERE IR IN THIS SHOW? IS THERE A CRITIQUE OF CAPITALISM? Exploring The Expanse's take on these issues is why Space the Nation exists -- but we never talked about S3 on the air. Journey with us into the past for the first time.

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S3E52: REBEL MOON: PART ONE: A CHILD OF FIRE Jan 01, 2024

Show notes

Ana and Dan take Netflix's money and light it on fire. This movie looks kind of cool, but why did we watch it? Blame squarely falls on Dan, the one who suggested it! The movie features notably ineffective and reckless rebel organizing, fortunately overshadowed by the poorly designed Motherland dreadnought. There's laser-resistant wood, pay-as-you-can space pirates, and an impressively cool griffin. Amidst the chaos, there's a nod to international relations (IR), and the film's very existence is a critique of capitalism.

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S3E51: OBAMA OR O'BUMMER: LEAVE THE WORLD Dec 25, 2023

Show notes

Ana and Dan sit down to binge Friends but get distracted by all those deer! That's so wild, so many deer just standing there! This is our second "Obama or O'Bummer" in a month, but you all really wanted us to talk about it, and we were curious ourselves. Now I wonder why we thought yet another example of prestige-bait science fiction was gonna be much different than other Obama picks! It's gorgeous and has a lot of ~ideas~ in it, but is it very satisfying?Listen and see!

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S3E50: SORRY TO BOTHER YOU Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

Ana and Dan stick to the script and break down the candy-colored communist dream machine "Sorry to Bother You," an unsubtle condemnation of late capitalism and wage slavery! Filled with dynamic performances and clever imagery, Boots Riley's fantastical bits may not land as hard as the uncomfortably close-to-home portrayals of microaggressions and moral compromise. This episode contains our longest Cancelvania travelogue yet; the movie contains IR.

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S3E49: OBAMA OR O'BUMMER: SEA OF TRANQUILITY Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

Ana and Dan stop their book tours to talk about Emily St. John Mandel's Sea of Tranquility for this first edition of "Obama or O'Bummer," in which we rate our former president's science fiction recommendations on a scale from one to seven almonds. Are you ready to explore the expanded MCU (Mandel Character Universe)? Check your timeline for glitches and get on board. There is some IR in this book.

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S3E48: THE MARVELS Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

Ana and Dan gesture toward a lot of exciting stuff but don't really get into it, because it's a Marvel movie, and you don't need exciting subtexts to love the Marvels no matter what, right? What we liked: Iman Vellani (A LOT), Samuel L. Jackson's goofy performance, and the flerkens! A flight of flerkens! What we didn't like: Character motivations are muddy, the relationships among the women don't ring true, only one great fight scene (and it's when they're practicing). There is some IR in this movie!

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S3E47: SPACEGIVING Nov 23, 2023

Show notes

Ana and Dan give thanks for the science fiction and genre efforts that they're glad they got to consume in 2023. Discussed: Loki, Wheel of Time, Scavengers' Reign, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Lower Decks, Gen V, New Rockstars. Image: A scene from the first Thanksgiving in space, fifty years ago today (11/22), celebrated by Skylab 4 astronauts Gerald P. Carr, Edward G. Gibson, and William R. Pogue. Carr (right) and Gibson (left) pictured.

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S3E46: IDIOCRACY Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

Ana and Dan got super-spicy about this because Ana hated it with the white-hot passion of a thousand burning suns! If you would like to retain any fond memories of this movie (I assume because you haven't seen it lately), don't listen because I promise to do my best to ruin it for you. There's some IR and lots eugenics in this movie. **CORREX:: MIKE JUDGE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH TROPIC THUNDER, SORRY, MY BAD.**

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S3E45: THE ARRIVAL Nov 13, 2023

Show notes

Ana and Dan put their baseball caps on backward and sneak up to Charlie Sheen's secret radio telescope lab for a movie, so 90s, you'll be macarena-ing before it's through! Mysteries abound: Global warming aliens, mysterious Arctic landmasses, why Teri Polo's character stays with Sheen's character! There is IR in this movie.

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