What Rough Beast
What Rough Beast
Podcast Description
What Rough Beast, hosted by Virginia Heffernan (Wired, Trumpcast) and Stephen Metcalf (Slate, Culture Gabfest) is a podcast where we bear witness to America’s demise, and ask what might be built from the rubble. The sludge. The sparkly phosphorescent faerie dust of recombinant DNA.
It is a spiritual successor to Trumpcast, but with a radical reimagining. Instead of focusing on opposing Trump or trusting institutions, this podcast explores imaginative, unexpected responses to our current political moment. The show takes inspiration from the '68ers' motto "all power to the imagination" and seeks unconventional solutions beyond traditional political frameworks. virginiaheffernan.substack.com
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes around political imagination, social change, and unconventional solutions. Key topics include the transformation of the Supreme Court, internal exile as a response to political despair, and the role of climate activism in democracy. Recent episodes have covered specific examples like the impact of the Federalist Society on legal rulings and discussions about radical approaches to activism.
A podcast where two slightly deranged scholars pick one knotty problem in our political, cultural or technological life, and untangle it.
In this episode, Virginia and Cy explore the power of propaganda, the psychology behind war, and the cultural narratives shaping American and Iranian perspectives. They analyze recent propaganda videos, the role of culture in conflict, and the societal impact of patriarchal violence. Subscribe to receive new episodes at omnishamblespod.substack.com!
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