Episode 30: History, Politics, and Netflix — A Very American Trilogy

This week, we switch gears and dive into three Netflix shows that blur the line between entertainment and the political realities that shaped (and still shape) America: Death by Lightning, The Diplomat (Season 3), and Stranger Things (Season 5, Part 1). We start with the extraordinary — and often overlooked — legacy of President James Garfield, whose assassination still echoes in our political systems today. Death by Lightning showcases the meteoric rise and tragic demise of one of America's greatest leaders.Then we shift to the sharp, strategic world of Kate Wyler in The Diplomat, unpacking her mastery of international negotiations and the real-world political dynamics mirrored on screen. This coupled with her tumultuous relationship with her estranged husband, Hal Wyler, who just so happens to be the Vice President of the United States.Finally, we explore the darker side of U.S. history through Stranger Things, connecting the show’s supernatural fiction to the very real Cold War mind-control experiments of Project Montauk and MKUltra. Yes, those programs were real.It’s part political history lesson, part media analysis, and all the reasons why America’s past keeps showing up in its storytelling. New episodes drop every Tuesday.