EPISODE · Jun 13, 2026 · 22 MIN
Why Plastic Keeps Winning Even When We Want Less | The New Rules Of Political Comedy
from Viewpoints Radio · host Gary Price, Beth Gardiner, Marty Peterson, Patrick Giamario, Amirah Zaveri, Polly Hansen, Grace Galante, Jay Silvers
Why Plastic Keeps Winning Even When We Want Less Plastic may feel like a problem of personal habits, but this story pulls the lens back to the industry that keeps making more of it. Journalist Beth Gardiner explains how disposable plastic became one of Big Oil’s biggest future bets and why so much of the cost lands far from the companies that profit from it. Guest: Beth Gardiner, journalist, author, Plastic Inc: The Secret History and Shocking Future of Big Oil’s Biggest Bet The New Rules Of Political Comedy Political comedy used to feel like a shared national pressure valve, but it feels far more fractured now. This story looks at how satire is changing in Trump’s second term and why the freedom to mock people in power still matters beyond the punchline. Guests: Patrick Giamario, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Anthony Fowler, Professor in the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago Linktr.ee | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | SpotifyFacebook: @ViewpointsOnlineX: @viewpointsradioInstagram: @viewpointsradioFull ArchiveContact UsAffiliates & National Syndication Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
What this episode covers
Plastic may feel like a problem of personal habits, but this story pulls the lens back to the industry that keeps making more of it. Journalist Beth Gardiner explains how disposable plastic became one of Big Oil’s biggest future bets and why so much of the cost lands far from the companies that profit from it. Then, political comedy used to feel like a shared national pressure valve, but it feels far more fractured now. This story looks at how satire is changing in Trump’s second term and why the freedom to mock people in power still matters beyond the punchline.
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Why Plastic Keeps Winning Even When We Want Less | The New Rules Of Political Comedy
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