How broken are we?

As Kathryn Hahn said recently, “the universe doesn’t give us anything that we can’t handle, but JESUS CHRIST.” There’s lots of emotion to sift through as the asbestos settles on this disastrous election, which once again elevated the worst man to the highest office. The horse is once again loose in the hospital, but now he’s older, meaner, and surrounded by hench-horses eager to get in on the stampede. So what’s the way forward? Are you out of fucks? If you know someone voted to invite more chaos into our lives and threaten people you love, are they dead to you? Or do you think you can keep a few bridges intact until the midterms? It’s hard to find compassion when you read about all the ”truly clueless” Google searches on Election Day and wince while the American kakistocracy limps toward our 250th birthday. You want to believe we can salvage the republic, but you don’t know where to get news you can trust. Any maybe our culture has become too irrevocably siloed and woefully undereducated to ever have nice things again. Thanks for listening to When the Flames Go Up! We’re a listener-supported enterprise, so please consider a paid subscription to support our writing and podcasting. If you're finding it extra difficult to find community with Those People, then don't. This podcast will at least shed light on why pickleball is so dangerous for seniors, why Magda empathizes with Big Bird, and which Cabinet position Doug might hold in the Principality of Magdania. Other links: * Follow Magda and Doug on Bluesky * When We Went MAD! documentary * Chappell Roan performs Pink Pony Clun on SNL * She is Doechii * Prof. Tressie McMillan Cottom on 45/47’s “weird gift” * “A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth puts on its shoes.” * The 2024 election cost $16 billion This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whentheflamesgoup.substack.com