Discourse Pod

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.comIn a SHOCKING turn of events (Aleks was out of town), JACK is hosting this week’s episode, wherein The Intercept’s Katherine Krueger returns to discuss: * New York State is eying banning potassium bromate, AKA the chemical that makes bagels taste so damn good* Speaking of chemicals worth dying for, you can pry Katherine’s vape from her cold, dead hands* Remembering Some Blogs (or the time Katherine tweeted about her “personal 9/11” and it caused a lot of drama at work)* Protests outside the New York Times building demanding the paper retract Nicholas Kristof’s piece, “The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians” * Benjamin Netanyahu? Mad* The Free Press? Mad* The overuse and misuse of “blood libel” * CBS Evening News anchor Tony Du-poop-il didn’t plan for his reporting trip to China very well* And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, Sam unpacks the BIG DRAMA involving Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, Barack Obama, and breakfast tacosThis week’s cultural recommendations:* Katherine recommends Ben Lerner’s new book, Transcription* Sam recommends Curry Barker’s new movie, Obsession* Jack recommends prescription sunglassesWant to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here. Then, follow these instructions:Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!That’s it!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.comNewly minted Rolling Stone senior writer Jack “Cros” Crobie is back in the third chair to discuss: * How having a W2 job can make you a little bit (or a lot of bit) libertarian * Trump saying he doesn’t care at all about the impact of the Iran war on Americans’ finances* A quick aside about The Devil Wears Prada 2 (listen/watch our subscribers-only ep!)* A chat about how Spencer Pratt opened his run for mayor of Los Angeles with an incredible AI slop video depicting himself as Batman that Republicans are absolutely eating up, munch munch crunch crunch * Cros’ theory on why MAGA loves these hyper-stylized fake videos and images so damn much * A detour into how badly the Bush family is aging* How evil is like IBS * And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, we talk FBI Director Kash Patel going ballistic in a Senate hearing about his alleged drinking on the jobThis week’s cultural recommendations:* Jack recommends Cats: The Jellicle Ball, now on Broadway* Cros recommends the second seasons of Running Point and Beef, both on Netflix* Aleks recommends Veronica Mars, newly on NetflixWant to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here. Then, follow these instructions:Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!That’s it!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.com! IMPORTANT PROGRAMMING NOTE!We’re taking next week (May 5, 2026) off! We’ll be back the following week with a new episode (May 12, 2026).The Week’s Rafi Schwartz returns to the third chair to discuss: * What foods are better soggy* Kelsey Grammer’s 2021 collaboration with Gristedes??* Was the shooting a FALSE FLAG OP to speed up the construction of the White House ballroom?????????* Kash Patel reportedly being cucked mid-shooting :(* Suspected WHCD shooter Cole Allen’s blog-worthy manifesto* The Free Press’ Olivia Reingold going straight-to-cam* The bleak conditions under which Trump assassination attempts keep happening* A deep-dive on the mentalist Oz Pearlman, the entertainment at the WHCD* This photo of Stephen Miller; this video of RFK Jr. and Cheryl Hines* Our excitement for TMZ opening a DC bureau * And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, we get into the very funny Vanity Fair profile of CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil (or as we call him, Du-poop-ul)This week’s cultural recommendations: * John Frankenheimer’s The Manchurian Candidate (and NOT!!! the Jonathan Demme remake)* Rafi recommends Judd Apatow’s The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling * Aleks recommends AMC Lincoln Square in New York CityWant to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here. Then, follow these instructions:Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!That’s it!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.comProducer Sam is BACK in the third chair to discuss: * Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigns; Tim Apple said, “Also, me” * Checking in on Ellen DeGeneres (she’s back in America! sort of) * Speaking of problematic lesbians, Rosie O’Donnell is MAD at disgraced former Congressman Eric Swalwell* Also Producer Sam has been sitting on a Rosie O’Donnell impression???* FBI Director Kash Patel is suing The Atlantic $250 million for alleging he is drunk on the job * We remember who was on the various CSIs. Did you remember that Gary Sinise was the star of CSI: NY? (And randomly Sela Ward was on it????)* The great reconsideration of Lena Dunham upon the release of her new memoir, Famesick* Which reminded us of the uh, not so thinly veiled rumors of Jack Antonoff’s affair with a teenage Lorde * And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, Jack finally saw Kristoffer Borgli’s The Drama and we had to get into it!This week’s cultural recommendations: * Jack recommends Canada Dry seltzer * Sam recommends the Blowback podcast* Aleks recommends the fifth and final season of Hacks on HBO MaxWant to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here. Then, follow these instructions:Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!That’s it!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.comThe Intercept’s Katherine Krueger returns to the third chair to discuss: * Sid Rosenberg’s beef with Mr. and Mrs. Met* Eric Swalwell’s resignation from Congress* Jack’s first bylines as an intern at The San Francisco Chronicle* Those photos of Justin Trudeau and and Katy Perry at Coachella, which reminded us of that photo of Orlando Bloom and Selena Gomez* Trump claiming he didn’t the AI slop he posted was of him depicted as Jesus* Speaking of Jesus, Trump is now feuding with the Pope lol * Doordash Grandma, welcome to the Resistance, with a side quest where we remember Ken Bone* J.D. Vance’s 21-hour negotiations with Iran didn’t go well* The double-blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and how Trump is leading the speedrun of American decline on a global stage* Vance’s weird analogy about his wife skydiving * And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, we get into the alleged attack on Sam Altman’s houseThis week’s cultural recommendations: * Jack recommends Steven Sodebergh’s The Christophers* Katherine recommends Jason Molina’s Songs: Ohia* Aleks recommends Rooster, on HBOWant to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here. Then, follow these instructions:Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!That’s it!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.comThe Week’s Rafi Schwartz returns to the third chair to discuss: * Whether werewolf astronauts would permanently be in wolf form due to their proximity to the moon * Trump’s chaotic Easter Sunday post and his promise of war crimes (note: this episode was recorded before Trump threatened on Tuesday that a “whole civilization will die tonight”)* Why Iran reminds Jack of how Trump handled COVID* Pam Bondi was shitcanned as Attorney General—who’s next??* This episode was recorded the same day Savannah Guthrie returned to the Today Show, which naturally led to a discussion about Jenna Bush Hager’s highly influential book club * We took a quick scan of some current Kalshi bets* And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, we discuss the scandal involving Kristi Noem’s husband and correct the record on Timothée Chalamet’s Jewish identityThis week’s cultural recommendations: * Jack recommends the pro-shot of Maria Friedman’s Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, on Netflix* Rafi recommends Karthik Subbaraj’s Pizza Movie on Hulu* Aleks recommends Kristoffer Borgli’s The Drama, now in theatersWant to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here. Then, follow these instructions:Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!That’s it!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.comSlate’s Caitlin Schneider is back in the third chair this week to discuss:* A very silly Politico magazine story about Rahm Emanuel that opens with an inane lede about how he eats a salad and how we’ll be slurping down countless stories like this in the lead-up to the 2028 Democratic primary * We Remember Some Salads and each rank our top three office worker nutrient bowl chains (R.I.P. Hale and Hearty). What are yours????* Also, remember when someone allegedly found a DEAD RAT in a Chopt salad???* The Rahm story led us to this absolutely cursed YouGov ranking of Democrats’ “fame” and “popularity,” so of course we made Jack guess who was in the top five* We also remember how Kelsey Grammer and Jennifer Aniston were great on 30 Rock* There was also this goofy Axios story about how some (anonymous) Dems are wringing their hands about 2028 and whether they should nominate a straight, white, Christian man* Did you know Grimes joined LinkedIn? * And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, we discuss Ryan Gosling’s career, the sad state of movie promotional tours, and the ways we make celebrities humiliate themselves to make us watch their little shows and movies. We also touch on The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Drama, and seeing movies in 4DX lol. This week’s cultural recommendations:* Jack recommends Jeopardy! (Ken Jennings ONLY!!!)* Caitlin recommends Jury Duty: Company Retreat on Amazon Prime Video* Aleks recommends Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s Project Hail Mary, in theaters nowWant to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here. Then, follow these instructions:Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!That’s it!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.comWe’re back! After taking a week off due to illness (more on that on the pod…), Jack Crosbie (“Cros”) returns to the third chair to get into: * Trump saying the war is over, but not really, but maybe? The only thing we know for sure? We’re losing* This Max Fisher video about what’s motivating the four main actors in the Iran War * Gas prices soaring, seems fine, we definitely aren’t facing a supply shock we haven’t seen in decades, or maybe ever? * As if going to the airport wasn’t already absolutely miserable, now we have to stand for hours in security lines while ICE agents run amok* We started talking about James Talarico’s chances in Texas, but that led to us talking about magazine covers, what they’re even good for anymore (don’t even get us STARTED on the scam that is “digital covers”). This is also the moment Cros revealed he had never seen the “Planet Hillary” New York Times Magazine cover* Coining our fandom/stan army name…if you don’t like it, then start commenting!!!* And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, we dive deep into the latest Chappell Roan drama involving soccer star Jorginho Frello, Jude Law’s daughter, and the mayor of RioThis week’s cultural recommendations:* Jack recommends the audiobook for Liza Minelli’s memoir, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!* Cros recommends Summer House on Bravo* Aleks recommends the OTC medication GasXWant to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here. Then, follow these instructions:Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!That’s it!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.comThis week we get into: * A winding discussion about Train Dreams, Blue Moon, Felicity Jones Bad Actor Disease, and an important plug for our forthcoming annual Oscars Special Edition episode * Producer Sam gives us the local perspective on the Texas Senate primaries* She also reminds about that weird scandal involving James Talarico and Collin Allred * The Free Press’ Olivia Reingold is at it again! This time she has a bombshell report on New York City First Lady Rama Duwaji’s Instagram likes* And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, we break open the biggest story of the year: Donna Kelce’s home renovation!This week’s cultural recommendations:* Jack recommends watching and/or listening to our annual Oscars Special Edition episode. Listen to last year’s here! * Sam recommends Breaking Bad* Aleks recommends The Sundays’ album Static & SilenceWant to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here. Then, follow these instructions:Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!That’s it!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.comIt’s a single-topic episode this week, recorded just days after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran. The Week and Discourse Blog’s own Rafi Schwartz is back in the third chair to discuss: * How this turned out to be even more terrible than we could have predicted* Trump’s nonsensical pretext for why the U.S. joined Israel in their a…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.comWe get into a lot this week with Katherine back in the third chair, including: * How we’re all dealing with the Big Blizzard of 2026 * Katherine saw Emerald Fennel’s Wuthering Heights. She’s not a fan! * The DNC is refusing to release its 2024 election autopsy, probably in large part because of how much of Kamala Harris’ loss is attributable to the Biden Administration’s reprehensible response to the genocide in Gaza * A helpful and definitely accurate pathologizing of FBI Kash Patel’s appearance in the locker of the U.S. men’s hockey team post-Canada victory * A brief discussion on how our pending war with Iran would be the ultimate realization of America’s “foreign policy” * And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, we touch on “longevity influencer” Peter Attia stepping down from his new gig as a contributor to Bari Weiss’ CBS News after his…interesting appearance in the Epstein FilesThis week’s cultural recommendations: * Jack recommends Alysa Liu’s gold-winning performance at the winter Olympics and the iconic interview between French clown Philippe Gaulier and Hilary and Chelsea Clinton * Katherine recommends Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent and David Cromer-directed, Tracy Letts-written play Bug, now on Broadway* Aleks recommends Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette on FX and HuluWant to hear the full, extended episode on your preferred podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here. Then, follow these instructions:Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!That’s it!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.comDiscourse Blog and Slate’s very own Caitlin Schneider returns to the third chair, and you know what that means! Another fully deranged episode, including: * Jack tries to coin a new catchphrase involving Frasier* We get into MAGA’s Certified Loser reaction to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance* We remember some Super Bowl Halftime Shows and are informed of The White Lotus’ Sabrina Impacciatore’s surprise performance at the Opening Ceremonies* The funniest and stupidest scandals coming out of the Winter Olympics, including Quad God, Minions Guy, and that Norwegian athlete who begged on live TV for his girlfriend to take him back after cheating on her* And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, we return to The Complaints Dept. for important, subversive takes on AI, depressing Super Bowl ads, and the sorry state of closed captioning on PeacockThis week’s cultural recommendations:* Jack recommends Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee’s new show, How to Get to Heaven From Belfast, on Netflix* Caitlin recommends (with admitted reservations) director Paul Schrader’s Facebook page* Aleks recommends Creed’s 2001 Thanksgiving Day Halftime Show x 9/11 Tribute Want to hear the full, extended episode on your preferred podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here. Then, follow these instructions:Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel!That’s it!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.comOG Discourse Blog-er and current More Perfect Union producer Paul Blest returns as third chair just in time for the first big contest of this year’s election cycle, including: * Analilia Mejia’s shocking win in the special election to fill New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s former Congressional seat * Taylor Rehmet flipping a deep-red state Senate seat in Texas * And what this all could mean heading into November * The massive layoffs at the Washington Post* And in our extended episode available only to subscribers, we discover how Jeffrey Epstein very likely read some stories we’ve worked on…😬This week’s cultural recommendations: * Jack recommends The Nation’s special Gaza package, “A Day for Gaza,” he helped oversee and The Muppet Show revival on Disney+* Paul recommends the latest Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band’s record, New Threats from the Soul and Summer House on Bravo* Aleks recommends the app WaterMinder Want to hear the full, extended episode on your preferred podcast app? First subscribe to Discourse Blog here. Then, follow these instructions:Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.That’s it!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.comWith Producer Sam pulling double-duty this week, we get into a lot, including: * Why Wirecutter recommends the ugliest products * How the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by CBP in broad daylight has unleashed a huge, mainstream wave of hating ICE* A quick review of Bari Weiss’ “bold” new vision for CBS News and her announced lineup of wacko contributors * Tony Dokoupil interviewing his mom * A sidebar about how maybe TV news is bad for democracy * Jeff Bezos’ gutting the Washington Post the same week as the Melania Trump documentary insta-flopped * And in our extended episode available only to subscribers, we reminisce, gossip, and reopen deep traumatic wounds about working at Fusion and digital media in the 2010sThis week’s cultural recommendations: * Jack tried to watch Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein but ended up watching Rich Peppiatt’s Kneecap, about the eponymous Irish hip-hop trio, instead* Sam recommends season five of Broad City and acknowledges the existence of Harry Styles’ new song “Aperture” and Hilary Duff’s return to music * Aleks recommends subscribing to Consumer Reports over Wirecutter and the podcast Bandsplain, especially its recent episode about PortisheadWant to hear the full, extended episode on your preferred podcast app? First subscribe to Discourse Blog here. Then, follow these instructions:Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.That’s it!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.comWe’re ringing in one full year of Trump’s second administration with Katherine back in the third chair to discuss how we’re all coping (not well), the key differences we’re noticing between Trump Era 1 and Trump Era 2 (spoiler alert: more organized, vicious fascism), and important digressions into: * An exciting new segment called Katherine’s Snack Box* We remember some political cartoons (I could not find the one Katherine mentions; if you know which one she’s talking about, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH)* What radical acts of self-preservation we’re performing to keep ourselves from sliding into unending abyss of defeat and nihilism that might only end by going full Bell Jar mode* Make sure to read Katherine’s Big Piece about Tony Dokoupil’s miserable tenure leading The CBS Evening News in The InterceptThis week’s cultural recommendations: * Jack recommends Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent* Katherine recommends The Format’s new record, Boycott Heaven* Aleks recommends the new season of the HBO and BBC series, IndustryWant to hear the full, extended episode on your preferred podcast app? First subscribe to Discourse Blog here. Then, follow these instructions:Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.That’s it!

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.comThis is a shorter, single-topic episode serving as a followup to Rafi’s excellent blog chronicling what he’s seen as ICE continues its violent invasion of his hometown. He tells us what it’s been like to have his community overtaken by armed goons and the acts of bravery that have surprised and inspired him, and the dark future ahead for all of us if we don’t join together in collective action. We’re also debuting extended episodes, exclusively for paid subscribers, starting this week. Every episode will now include an additional 15–30 minutes where we discuss an additional topic, share gossip, and/or trade rumors. It’s fun! This week: a quick tour of Bari Weiss’ catastrophic takeover of CBS News, including Tony Dokoupil’s flop debut as the new anchor for the CBS Evening News. Want to hear the full, extended episode on your preferred podcast app? First subscribe to Discourse Blog here. Then, follow these instructions:Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.That’s it!

We’re BACK from the holiday break, baby!!! New Year, New Regime! It was a big week for the military industrial complex, so naturally we had to have Troop Knower Jack Crosbie back in the third chair. We get into: * The origins of COUP TALK and its glorious Discourse Pod debut. The big idea? According to Cros: What if—and hear him out—some coups are good? Cros also gets into quite a bit more about where he sees the next few years of domestic military action going* Jack and Cros go long on the clear as day coup (let’s start saying it!) in Venezuela and how the Trump Administration’s ability to act with aggressive impunity led to Renee Nicole Good’s murder in Minneapolis This week’s cultural recommendations:* Jack recommends the latest season of The Traitors UK (if you’re in America, find a way to watch it, just don’t ask us how…) and Slow Horses on Apple TV* Cros recommends Landman on Paramount+ (but he does not recommend creator Taylor Sheridan, EXCEPT if he agrees to do a profile with Cros) and New Yorker writer Susan Orlean’s memoir, Joyride* Aleks recommends Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.discourseblog.com/subscribe

After a slight illness-related delay (get better soon Producer Sam!!!), we are BACK for our last pod of the year. Thank God Caitlin was free to be third chair for an ep that covers a lot of ground, including: * A disturbing rumor about an actor who allegedly is out and proud about having an AI girlfriend (it’s giving James Franco x body pillow on 30 Rock)* How President Obama putting Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra”—a song he has maybe heard once—on his annual “favorites of the year list” is the final straw (however, if he starts putting podcasts on these lists, we take everything back; then the lists are good and he should put Discourse Pod on it)* Pondering what Katy Perry deep cuts Justin Trudeau might know * A short detour into the rise of I’ve Had It’s Jennifer Welch * Remembering MSNBC’s Hardball (ya burnt!) * Trump’s “Patriot Games,” which is definitely NOT just the Hunger Games This week’s cultural recommendations: * Jack semi-recommends Celine Song’s The Materialists and definitely recommends Rob Reiner’s When Harry Met Sally * Caitlin recommends the 4K restoration of Mad Men on HBO Max* Aleks kinda recommends the Taylor Swift docuseries The End of an EraWe’ll back in the New Year with an important update on the future of the pod and the blog—but until then, Happy Holidays! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.discourseblog.com/subscribe

The holiday season is in full swing and we’re bursting with joy for: * Whether Frequent Podcast Guest Katherine is still vaping (watch to find out) * N*zz* Watch pt. 1,000,000,000* Trump took the brain test for people with dementia three times. Seems fine! * The Warner Bros. acquisition by either Netflix or Paramount, both of which are outcomes that are definitely good* Important digressions about: the birds, the cosmos, watching an eclipse on Fifth Avenue, the black licorice effect of Felicity Jones, the WGA screener app, and misspelling your own nameThis week’s cultural recommendations: * Jack recommends the 4K restoration of Stanley Donen’s Charade at Film Forum (playing through Dec. 18); also available through the Criterion Collection and on YouTube* Katherine recommends rewatching the medical drama House* Aleks recommends Mary Bronstein’s If I Had Legs I’d Kick You This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.discourseblog.com/subscribe

We’re back! After taking a week off for the Thanksgiving holiday, producer Sam steps out from behind the curtain to be our third chair this week and boy do we cover a lot! Including:* Elf on the Shelf culture* Wicked: For Good and Oz’s opaque political system and the lack of sexual chemistry between a gay guy and a green lesbian * The Olivia Nuzzi-Ryan Lizza feud getting really dark * A wild story about a University of Oklahoma student writing a bad essay, getting a zero, and using it as the latest flashpoint in the anti-trans culture war * The absolutely cursed and definitely made-up “FIFA Peace Prize” Trump got that is giving Pacific Rim EmmyAlso: We finally figured out our closing segment! And it only took seven episodes. It’s everyone’s cultural recommendations for the week: * Jack recommends Traitors UK Series 3, all-celebrity edition, now on Peacock for U.S. viewers* Sam recommends The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives reunion and the wonky 4K remaster on Mad Men on HBO Max * Aleks recommends Heated Rivalry on HBO Max Until next week! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.discourseblog.com/subscribe

Discourse Blogger and absolute newshound Rafi Schwartz is third chair this week to chat Trump going absolutely googly-eyes meeting Zohran Mamdani; what it means (and doesn’t) about his forthcoming tenure as mayor; and the Olivia Nuzzi-Ryan Lizza drama continuing apace with increasingly bleak missives (Cros’ blog about this is a must-read). And MOST IMPORTANTLY: Producer Sam hops on to give her official, professional producer stamp of approval to only the production (NOT!!! the lyrics) of “Jailbait,” from Nuzzi’s failed attempt to be a pop star. (And wouldn’t you know it, right as we finished recording, the New York Times reported that Vanity Fair is “reviewing its ties” to Nuzzi as their west coast editor.) PROGRAMMING NOTE: There will be no new episode next week for the holiday, but we’ll be back the following week! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.discourseblog.com/subscribe

Preeminent podcaster, Discourse Blog legend, and Intercept editor Katherine Krueger is third chair this week as we grimace through the newest cache of Jeffrey Epstein files, fume at the Democrats’ caving on the government shutdown, and wince at the return of former RFK Jr. paramore (and disgraced political reporter) Olivia Nuzzi. This episode was recorded before Nuzzi’s ex-fiancé—Ryan Lizza—published his atrocious “part 1” (shudder) telling of his side of the story, which has a fun (read: cursed) twist ending! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.discourseblog.com/subscribe

Today on Discourse Pod, we veer away from the news of the day. Instead, we bring you this very special edition: our THIRD ANNUAL GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF SEASON—SORRY, SERIES—RECAP!!!!That’s right. Everyone’s most beloved baking-themed soothing machine has just wrapped, and we are here to get into every nook and cranny of the past 10 weeks. EXTREME SPOILERS DUH.Topics discussed include:—Is Tom a hero or a villain?—The JASMINE of it all—Who are our enemies of the year?—Can we even remember what most of the bakers did?—Does Toby have Cros energy?—Can Alison or Noel do anything wrong? (Spoiler: no)—AARON OMGand MUCH, MUCH MORE.We’ll be back next week to discuss, sigh, the real world. But enjoy this fleeting moment of joy while you can. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.discourseblog.com/subscribe

I will be honest: This was supposed to be a “mini-sode”—a short, quick little pod to unpack election night’s results. But we libbed out too hard and now it’s just a full ‘sode! We got Cros back in the third chair to tell us about his experience covering the absolutely cursed Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa would-be victory parties (be sure to read his story in Slate!); Dick Cheney’s death being part of God’s grand design; and to go long on how Zohran Mamdani’s historic win will shape the Democratic Party heading into the midterms. REMINDER: Next week’s episode will be Jack and Caitlin’s annual Great British Bake Off recap. We’ll back the following week with a regular episode. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.discourseblog.com/subscribe

Elections Knower, all-around genius, and OG Discourse Blogger (IYKYK) Paul Blest is third chair this week to give us an early rundown of what will definitely be a very chill 2025 off-year cycle on Tuesday. Then we talk the 2026 midterms. Topics include: New York state (and city!), New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, California, Maine, and Michigan. Plus: Halloween—a children’s holiday? And how the misattributed quotes from Bill de Blasio about Zohran Mamdani lead back to…Bari Weiss. NEXT WEEK: Caitlin joins Jack for our annual Great British Bake Off special edition pod! Don’t worry, we’ll have a mini-sode with Regular News drop beforehand, too. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.discourseblog.com/subscribe

After the rapturous reception of our first episode (read: three positive/positive-ish comments, including, “this isn’t terrible!”), we’re back. If you like this document of accelerating mental decline, please tell a friend; we need reply guys, the true proof of a podcast that’s “made it.” This week: Jack “Cros” Crosbie jumps into the third chair to help us decipher how exactly Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner got away with having a Nazi tattoo on his chest for so long; the LOUVRE HEIST; and an important aside about how there are too many types of cords that led to Cros saying he wishes he could “shoot his house with a gun.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.discourseblog.com/subscribe

Well! Who saw this coming? Because what the world needs now is another video podcast (is this technically an oxymoron? don’t tell me). Welcome to an exciting, innovative, and iconoclastic experiment in the form. Honestly, we've joked about doing something like this for years, and now we're giving it a shot. If we're going to humiliate ourselves, why not have have fun going down in flames? This week: Bari's chaotic early tenure atop CBS News; Zohran slaying the mayoral debate stage; Kamala flopping her press tour; and producer Sam finding out in real time that Gavin DeGraw (that one!) sang at Trump's second inauguration. Also we need to figure out a fun segment to end the pods, any ideas??? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.discourseblog.com/subscribe

WE’RE BACK BABY.The Oscars are upon us, and because we treat the Oscars with the respect they deserve around here, your Discourse Bloggers got together to chew over this year’s 10 Best Picture nominees the best way we know how: an extra-special episode of Discourse Pod! We’re calling it the Discourse Blog Oscars Conclave, for obvious reasons.But that’s not all: for our second annual Oscars pod, we managed to convince none other than Aleks to get in front of the mic. This is a big deal, people. Also Caitlin Katherine and Jack were there too. And we had a freaking BLAST.Topics discussed in this mega-blockbuster-arthouse-prestige-podstravaganza include:—Was this a mid year at the movies?—Are we getting sick of Timmy Chalamet?—Bob Dylan: anything really going on there?—Europeans committing cinematic crimes—Europeans being racist—Tiny humans—Greta Gerwig’s bad choices—Perfect airplane movies—Bad twist endings—Endings that take 150 hours—Is Conclave the best movie ever made?—IF YOUR MOVIE IS LONG THERE BETTER BE A DAMN GOOD REASON—Blood cannons—Intermissions—Are we sick of Jeff Goldblum?—Can you call a movie a musical if there are zero things that could be objectively described as songs in it?—Selena Gomez: hmmm—Poor Elle FanningAND MORE.Happy listening, and happy Oscars!!! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.discourseblog.com/subscribe