State of the Union: Episode 2

Forgotten Country takes the game-show cruelty of State of the Union and pushes it somewhere uglier. International disorder becomes domestic propaganda. Gas prices, war, shipping strain, and federal conflict are all fed through Buck Mercer’s mouthpiece for “real America.” But the real violence in this episode is social. A guest is welcomed, displayed, and folded into the format without ever truly entering it.If the episode leaves a residue, good.Credits & CopyrightWritten and Directed by Stephen BrewerSeries Bible, worldbuilding, and episode structure by Stephen BrewerMusic created with SunoVoices created with Elevenlabs.ioArtwork by CiceroProduced by Stephen Brewer for the Columbia podcast on SubstackStatement on the Ethical Use of AIThis is a work of non-violent fiction. It does not depict real institutions or endorse political action.Disclaimer:State of the Union is a fictional audio series set within the world of Columbia: Long Walk of the Republic. Its characters, broadcasts, and events are part of that fictional universe, though they are intentionally shaped by recognizable cultural patterns.© 2026 Stephen Brewer. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the author. Get full access to Drawing the Line at percival84.substack.com/subscribe