We return from break to talk about the horrific kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro and the continuing moral depravity of the gangster state called America. We speculate on what this act of imperial aggression means for the rest of the world, the hilarious snubbing of the Venezuelan opposition, the predictably inept response from the Democratic party, and the hope that someone, somewhere, can stop the Fourth Reich’s plans. Finally, we read a recent Wall Street Journal piece on Trump’s aging and addiction to aspirin. Subscribe to patreon.com/chapotraphouse to hear our 1000th episode on Thursday! Just a few more days to buy the 2nd printing of ¡No Pasarán!: Matt Christman's Spanish Civil War over at chapotraphouse.store Year Zero: A Chapo Trap House Comics Anthology is also 15% off at badegg.co. Through end of year purchases of the book also include a free digital version of the comic. The digital version is also available through GlobalComix. Follow the new Chapo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chapotraphousereal/ And Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chapotraphousereal.bsky.social
To round out a very dark year, Will and Felix take a look at some grim stories: the Brown shooter’s identity, another Epstein drop, Bari Weiss’s promotion to Regime Censor, and Jelly Roll being pardoned. We then turn to the TPUSA conference where the fight for Charlie Kirk’s legacy continues, with Nicki Minaj joining the fray and JD Vance working overtime to hold together a splintering coalition. Finally, we dive into a City Journal panel on the state of the modern right, where we learn what Gen Z conservatives think about Jews, Hitler, and marriage. By popular demand, ¡No Pasarán! Matt Christman's Spanish Civil War is back both for a second round of orders and an ebook. PLUS: everything is still 20% off for the holidays! Order now at https://chapotraphouse.store/ Year Zero: A Chapo Trap House Comics Anthology is also 15% off at badegg.co. Through end of year purchases of the book also include a free digital version of the comic. The digital version also available through GlobalComix. Follow the new Chapo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chapotraphousereal/ And Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chapotraphousereal.bsky.social
Alex joins us to talk about Bari Weiss’s bizarre interview with Erika Kirk, Trump’s #PACKWATCH response to Rob Reiner’s death, and Candace Owens’ feud with just about every single member of Con Inc. over her bestie’s legacy. After a brief grab bag of new Epstein photos, we finally stage an intervention for Rod Dreher, who is currently having his artistic voice deteriorated by the stuffy losers at The Free Press. By popular demand, ¡No Pasarán! Matt Christman's Spanish Civil War is back both for a second round of orders and an ebook. PLUS: everything is still 20% off for the holidays! Order now at https://chapotraphouse.store/ Year Zero: A Chapo Trap House Comics Anthology is also 15% off at badegg.co. Through end of year purchases of the book also include a free digital version of the comic. The digital version also available through GlobalComix. Follow the new Chapo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chapotraphousereal/
Andrew Hudson of E1 returns to talk about a grab bag of recent news: Marie Glusenkamp Perez’s war on pinnipeds, Alex Karp’s tweaked-out media hits, and another vaccine on the RFK’s chopping block. We then turn to Milo Yiannopoulos, who just recently made the equally outrageous claims that Charlie Kirk is still alive and Benny Johnson is actually gay. Finally, Tarantino’s unbearable public persona, the Ellison-Zaslav war over Warner Bros.’ future, and a lot of praise for a recent genre movie. Listen to Episode 1 here: https://soundcloud.com/episode-one-868768631 And subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/e1podcast/posts
Author and journalist Seth Harp returns for an interview about the National Guard shooting in D.C. We analyze the accused shooter, his time in covert “Zero Units,” and we also speculate about the ramifications of Pete Hegseth’s double-tap order in the Caribbean. To close things out, Will and Felix talk about Bari Weiss’s plan to return America to the reasonable center and react to the viral Oklahoma University essay on why God made man and woman different. Buy Seth’s book here (and give it 5 stars on Amazon!): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730414/the-fort-bragg-cartel-by-seth-harp/ And follow him on X at @sethharpesq
SARAH SQUIRM: LIVE + IN THE FLESH, debuts on HBO and HBO Max December 12th. We command you to tune in! Sarah Squirm joins us once again to speculate on Zohran’s meeting with Trump: is Trump starstruck? In love? Depressed? We also talk about the president’s plan to bring back the Rush Hour movies, the secrets of the White House swimming pool, a reverse Jussie Smollett situation in Ocean City, and shitting yourself. A lot of stories about shitting yourself. Follow Sarah on Twitter/X: https://x.com/SarahSquirm And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahsquirm/?hl=en
This episode isn’t just great—it’ll revolutionize what you think of AI. Ed Zitron is back in the trap to discuss his recent reporting on just how much money companies like OpenAI have (and how much they’re burning). We talk about the byzantine financing of generative AI and LLMs, the tech world’s dream of recreating the postwar boom with a technology primarily used to make the world’s least legal porn, and the proliferation of data centers across the country. Plus: Bill Ackman teaches you how to pick up girls. Get your Ed at: Better Offline podcast: https://linktr.ee/betteroffline Where’s Your Ed At newsletter: https://www.wheresyoured.at/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/edzitron Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edzitron.com
As we inch closer to war with Venezuela, historian Greg Grandin returns to Chapo for a history lesson about the War on Drugs as well as Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution. We also talk about the US’s long-running economic interests and petty feuds in Latin America, particularly regarding the region’s oil supplies. We then briefly speculate about just how bad and chaotic a regime change operation against Venezuela might be for the US and Latin America.
Jasper Nathaniel is back with another report from the occupied West Bank. He tells us about a band of West Bank settlers attacking him and locals in the olive fields of Turmus’ayya, including an old woman who was beaten unconscious on camera. He then talks about the Israeli military and intelligence’s response to the crime, the footage actually breaking through to the mainstream Anglophone press, and various U.S. Senators’ response to the attack. Finally, he closes with speculation about Trump and Netanyahu’s refusal to sign on to an official West Bank annexation. Follow Jasper’s substack: https://substack.com/@infinitejaz Follow Jasper on Twitter: https://x.com/infinite__jaz?lang=en Follow Jasper on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/infinite_jaz/?hl=en And links for Volunteering in the West Bank: To volunteer in the West Bankhttps://palsolidarity.org/join-ism/https://www.defendpalestine.orghttps://cjnv.orgFundraiser for Umm Al-Khair as it faces impending demolition: https://secure.everyaction.com/LYmVAbNl2UOxgBcaP1mkFA2
Candidate for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joins us to catch up on the final few days of the campaign. Will and Zohran discuss Andrew Cuomo’s embarrassing campaign against him, how he plans to protect New Yorkers from Trump’s threatened federal incursions into the city, NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch, and how he intends to implement his agenda in the first 100 days as mayor. Plus, how da Knicks looking this year? Election day in NYC is TUESDAY, November 4th, but early voting is now open. Sign up to canvass or phone: zohranfornyc.com/gotv Find out where you vote: zohranfornyc.com/vote
It’s a call-in show! We respond to nineteen calls ranging from serious predictions about the Trump era and beyond, the future of the Middle East, Warren Zevon stories, books for kids and high schoolers, and trying to wean a friend off H3H3. Also: gossip about John Fetterman and Jair Bolsonaro. YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology is back on sale! Buy it at badegg.co/products/year-zero-1. Hurry while supplies last!
Secret Base’s sports-data auteur Jon Bois is back to preview a new series: a history and analysis of mound charges in baseball, coming this November. We talk a little bit about recent sports news including Dana White’s new boxing league, Shohei Ohtani’s generational run, and the Seattle Mariners (RIP). We then do a deep dive on former Reform Party member Curtis Sliwa, his statements about parades, Hasids, and cats, and his eating competition scandals. Finally, a quick check-in on Jordan Peterson’s recent health woes. Subscribe to Secret Base: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDRmGMSgrtZkOsh_NQl4_xw YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology is back on sale! Buy it at badegg.co/products/year-zero-1. Hurry while supplies last! NEW MERCH IS OUT NOW! Go to https://chapotraphouse.store/ and buy a new hat or shirt, especially our great new “Carousel Club” design. AND be sure to pre-save the date of October 28 for Will and Hesse’s LIVE WATCH PARTY of Re-Animator with Bryan Yuzna! Tickets available now – use the promo code CHAPO20 for 20% off! https://checkout.stagepilot.com/collections/chapo-trap-house
Drop Site’s Ryan Grim and Jeremy Scahill return to talk more about the ceasefire deal in Gaza. We discuss what finally led to this moment, whether this ceasefire will be any different than the previous ones, and the future of Gaza, Israel, and the Gulf States. We then turn to the media’s coverage of Gaza: Jeremy’s new story on The Free Press’ “debunking” of the photos of malnourished Gazan children, the news that Douglas Murray and David Frum were writing speeches for an Israeli ambassador, a supposed document from Mohammad Sinwar, and Jacki Karsh’s pro-Israel journalism fellowship. Subscribe to Drop Site here: https://www.dropsitenews.com/ NEW MERCH IS OUT NOW! Go to https://chapotraphouse.store/ and buy a new hat or shirt, especially our great new “Carousel Club” design. AND be sure to pre-save the date of October 28 for Will and Hesse’s LIVE WATCH PARTY of Re-Animator! Tickets available now – use the promo code CHAPO20 for 20% off! https://checkout.stagepilot.com/collections/chapo-trap-house
Séamus joins us to talk about Trump’s proposed “Gaza peace plan” and what horrific policies it would actually entail in practice, as well as the Democratic Party’s desperate attempts to triangulate on the issue. We also wade into the increasing possibility of regime change in Venezuela as well as ICE’s pillaging of Chicago apartment buildings. On the lighter side, we talk about Bari Weiss being given the keys to CBS news and Tyler Cowen’s Humbert Humbert-esque ode to an AI actress. Follow @Turbulence_pod on X for updates about when Séamus’s pod drops. NEW MERCH IS OUT NOW! Go to https://chapotraphouse.store/ and buy a new hat or shirt, especially our great new “Carousel Club” design. AND be sure to pre-save the date of October 28 for Will and Hesse’s LIVE WATCH PARTY of Re-Animator! Tickets available now – use the promo code CHAPO20 for 20% off! https://checkout.stagepilot.com/collections/chapo-trap-house
Will interviews Los Angeles reporter Memo Torres, whose site L.A. TACO shifted from covering food and culture in the city to some of the most indispensable and horrific coverage of ICE raids available. Memo tells us about what happens to people when they get kidnapped, covering the horrors of fortress America, and practical advice for those who might find themselves in ICE’s crosshairs. Read more at L.A. TACO: https://lataco.com/ And follow Memo Torres on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/el_tragon_de_los_angeles/?hl=en
Greetings Horror Sickos, Listener, please light a circle of candles and begin to scrawl out the ancient sigils in salt, and begin the accursed chant … “Let’s All Go to the Lobby, Let’s All Go to the Lobby, and Grab Ourselves a Snack” That’s right! Spooky season is upon us and to inaugurate another edition of Ghoulvie Screamset Horrortober, Will Massacre and Hexa Deni are back with a selection of abominable and morally ruinous films. First up, in Return of the Living Dead (O’Bannon, 1985) an assortment of punks, working stiffs and slobs accidentally expose themselves to zombie gas and help bring out the nuclear bombing of Louisville, Kentucky in this documentary about a real thing that actually happened. This hilarious and goofball horror film asks two existentially terrifying questions: What if you could feel every second of being dead? And, do you want to PARTY???? Then in The Blob (Russell, 1988), a sci fi classic gets a grisly and unforgettable remake that features Kevin Dillon playing an motorcycle riding bad boy who smokes cigs, wears a leather jacket and has to save the small town that rejects him for being too cool from a giant blob that digests and dissolves everything in its path. This episode is free, but the rest of Ghoulvie Screamset Season 3 will be paywalled!
Like many things, there used to be a bipartisan consensus that in a disaster, you help as many people get through it as quickly and safely as possible. In the past 20+ years, though, we’ve seen a shift in how the right responds to climate catastrophes — including building out a robust selection of conspiracy theories from chemtrails to Flat Earth. Will Menaker from Chapo Trap House joins us to discuss right-wing conspiracy theories about the weather, the climate, and whether we’re living on a discworld. Our guest is Will Menaker, host of Chapo Trap House. Their Movie Mindset series returns in October for spooky season, and you can also buy their new Year Zero comic book here: https://badegg.co/products/year-zero-1. Want even more Panic World content? Like ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our Discord? There’s still a week left to get your first month for just $0.50 by signing up for our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld. Enter “PANICYEAR” at checkout for 90% the first month. And if you want to see this conversation on video, Panic World is now posting episodes to YouTube!
Zue Jernstedt joins us live from the Global Sumud Flotilla to talk to us about delivering aid to those in Gaza and weathering attacks from Israel.
It’s Chapo—in person! Will, Felix, and Brendan James of Blowback (formerly Chapo Trap House) gather at Will’s apartment to talk about Eric Adams dropping out of the NYC mayoral race. They then read a profile of Adam Jentleson and his new PAC, Searchlight, and its novel plan to win elections by pulling Democrats to the right. Also this episode: Pete Hegseth’s mysterious all-hands meeting, Trump finally releasing the files, and Peter Thiel’s obsession with the antichrist. And be sure to vote for American Prestige at the Signal Awards: https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting?utm_campaign=signal4_finalists_finalistnotification_092325&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cio#/2025/shows/genre/news-politics And check out the new Blowback season! https://blowback.show/
Will Sommer of The Bulwark returns to Chapo to talk about the right’s reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk as well as his funeral proceedings in Arizona. We recap the Groyper War that preceded the assassination and the pressure it put on Kirk to move right, as well as the conspiracies surrounding his shooting. Was Israel involved? Why was there no exit wound? Did Charlie have a late-in-life conversion to Catholicism? And which faction of the right will be able to define the man’s legacy? Follow Will Sommer on Twitter/X: https://x.com/willsommer
In today’s two-parter, we start off with more coverage of the assassination of Charlie Kirk: what it means, possible motives, and the tidal wave of right-wing cancel culture it has wrought. Will then interviews journalist Pablo Torre of Pablo Torre Finds Out about recently unearthed collusion in the NFL, with a story that starts with Deshaun Watson and goes all the way up to the Carlyle Group and Hollywood pedophilia. What can a conflict between millionaire jocks and billionaire owners tell us about American labor relations? And why is Kawhi Leonard getting paid $28 million to plant trees? Subscribe to Pablo Torre Finds Out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PabloTorreFindsOut And wherever you get your podcasts: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/68b1d0ea993d10acb9c3fe4f And follow him on Twitter: https://x.com/pablotorre/
Chapo Senior Foreign Policy correspondent Derek Davison is back once again to talk about the escalating possibility of war in Venezuela. We discuss the recent strike on a Venezuelan boat by Trump and his newly-Christened Department of War, a botched raid into North Korea, our collapsing relationship with India, China’s SCO summit with Russia, and conflict on the Thai-Cambodia border. Plus: a Matt Christman prediction comes true… Find all of Derek’s foreign policy coverage at: www.foreignexchanges.news www.americanprestigepod.com
In 1998, the world was ruled by Rayman. You could not go anywhere without seeing Rayman street art. Thousands of children died attempting to cut their own limbs off and suspend them from midair. All that changed when Solid Snake was brought into the third dimension. Brendan and Felix kick off their journey through the greatest story ever told by surfacing onto Shadow Moses. This is where Solid Snake realized he could be more than just a paid killer, Meryl Silverburgh witnessed the ugly reality of war, Roy Campbell was promoted from uncle to father, and Liquid Snake didn’t actually achieve much of anything besides scoring some sunglasses off of a former member of his dad’s love triangle. Put on your sneaking suit, let some strange woman shoot some crap into your arm, and soak your cardboard boxes in urine. It’s time to fight your brother through various states of undress.
Alex is back for some speculation about the health of Donald Trump (after his disappearance) and Rudy Giuliani (after his “not targeted” car crash). Then we turn to the weird world of Democratic Party influencers and the dark-money group secretly funding their American Girl Doll memes. Finally, we chat a little about phones in schools and Adam Friedland’s interview with Richie Torres. Follow Alex on Twitter @Lowenaffchen Check out his show Fortune Kit: https://www.patreon.com/fortunekit And stream “Hotel California” by Bob Marley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taTD0NPb8Do And listen to Felix’s new series about video games THE PLAYERS CLUB!
Zeteo’s Prem Thakker joins us for a look at Trump’s takeover of Washington D.C. We talk about the impetus for the takeover, what day-to-day life in occupied D.C. looks and feels like for its immigrant communities, and the Democratic Party’s impotent response. We then look more broadly at Trump’s Fortress America, ICE’s country-wide renditions, and the continuing case of Kilmar Ábrego García. Finally, we talk about the destruction of Nasser Hospital in Gaza and the Democratic Party’s flip-flopping on the term “genocide.” Follow Prem on X/Twitter: https://x.com/prem_thakker?lang=en And be sure to check out his work at Zeteo: https://zeteo.com/s/subtext-with-prem
Journalist and author Seth Harp returns to the pod to talk about his horrifying and expansive new book The Fort Bragg Cartel. We talk with Seth about America’s forever-war machine and the global drug empire it empowers, with a special focus on the case of Delta Force officer William Lavigne, who killed his best friend before turning up dead near Fort Bragg in a still-unsolved murder. We also discuss the rise of JSOC, the third Iraq War and its ongoing ramifications, the US military’s ties with the brutal Los Zetas cartel, and the eternal shadow war waged in the name of empire. Buy Seth’s book here (and give it 5 stars on Amazon!): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730414/the-fort-bragg-cartel-by-seth-harp/ And follow him on X at @sethharpesq
We begin by reading the last will and testament of Anas al-Sharif, a 28-year-old journalist for Al-Jazeera that was among those slain in Gaza by Israel yesterday. We then resume our Epstein coverage, including a look at his Manhattan lair and celebrity dinner guests. Then, two pieces on venture capitalists driven insane by The Computer and a story by Pamela Paul on conservative women…with careers? Stick around until the end for another Stroke of Genius and a special announcement from Chris. Pre-order Seth Harp’s book The Fort Bragg Cartel here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730414/the-fort-bragg-cartel-by-seth-harp/ And check out his book launch with TrueAnon at the Bell House this Wednesday: https://www.ticketmaster.com/an-evening-with-trueanon-and-seth-brooklyn-new-york-08-13-2025/event/300062F5CD8E3E2D
Osita Nwanevu stops by to discuss his new book The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding. Osita leads us through his case that American “democracy” as it currently stands isn’t that democratic at all. We discuss the real intentions of the founders, the actual American revolution of the Civil War, and the stalled re-founding of reconstruction. We also look at the potential for economic democracy, the political reforms needed to re-found the country, the problem of the judiciary, and the challenges of a new media environment to democratizing movements. Yes, today the wacky morning DJ actually does say democracy’s a joke. Pick up Osita’s book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704686/the-right-of-the-people-by-osita-nwanevu/ AND, we’ve secured ONE MORE WEEK to get your pre-order in for YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology at badegg.co/products/year-zero-1
Will welcomes comedian Eddie Pepitone to the show for a bonus interview. They rap on keeping comedy political, celebrity sell-outs, veganism, Bill Maher vs. Billy Joel, trying to calm the rage, and of course, being Just Kids From New York. Check out Eddie’s new special at: https://veeps.com/eddiepepitone It is your last day to pre-order YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology at badegg.co/products/year-zero-1!
Will & Felix discuss the dire starvation crisis now gripping Gaza, and the rapidly changing attitudes among certain political & media elites now that this has all apparently finally “gone too far.” We also try to keep up with Trump’s Epstein trouble as the President attempts to drown the whole thing off with old scandals and some showstopping showtunes. Please consider donating to Gaza relief through the Sameer Project: https://linktr.ee/thesameerproject And just three days left to pre-order YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology at badegg.co/products/year-zero-1
TWO WEEKS LEFT to pre-order YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology at badegg.co/products/year-zero-1 Journalist Jasper Nathaniel joins us to discuss his reporting on the West Bank and Israel’s second front in the war on Palestine. We look at the increasingly violent settler movement, Israel’s flagrant violation of international laws, the use of archaeological warfare in the region, and the constant ubiquitous violence that defines life for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. And on the domestic front, we have an update on the good professor Davidai and his relationship to the august institution Columbia University. Follow Jasper’s Substack: https://substack.com/@infinitejaz Follow Jasper on Twitter: https://x.com/infinite__jaz?lang=en Follow Jasper on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/infinite_jaz/?hl=en
Alex back on the show today to look at the continuing fallout of Trump’s attempts to wash his hands of Epstein. From the baffled & betrayed Trump-curious internet trend-seekers, to the dyed-in-the-wool loyalists, the admin seems to have picked the absolute worst way to disarm this bomb. Plus: Greg Abbott makes a why-even-bother play to cover up Musk’s bribery, and Biden gives a why-even-bother explanation for his diminished capacity pardons. Pre-Order YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology at badegg.co/products/year-zero-1
Tim Faust returns to the show to look at the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its dire consequences for American medicine. We discuss Medicaid as a load-bearing feature of our healthcare infrastructure, how this bill will affect millions of Americans using the program, and the potential ways forward in the wake of its evisceration. We also look at last week’s absolute omnishambles article on Zohran’s college admission, a perfect encapsulation of the Failing New York Times approach to just about everything. Pre-Order YEAR ZERO: A Chapo Trap House Comic Anthology at https://badegg.co/products/year-zero-1
Will & Hesse sit down with Ari Aster, director of Hereditary, Midsommar, Beau is Afraid, and the upcoming Eddington. They rap on evil movies, mixing stupid slapstick humor with pain & discomfort, creating a contemporary western out of the recent past, some of Ari’s favorite films & filmmakers, and of course…the all-consuming sense of impending doom & lurking doubt that surrounds us. Check out Eddington, in theaters this summer on July 18th.
Comedy legend Larry Charles (Fridays, Seinfeld, Borat, Curb Your Enthusiasm & much more) returns to the show to discuss his new book Comedy Samurai: Forty Years of Blood, Guts, and Laughter. We have a wide ranging discussion of Larry’s life in comedy including post-war Brooklyn as a comedy incubator, grinding out avant-garde sketch comedy with Andy Kaufman, the prevalence of coke and other drugs in the comedy writing scene, getting tackled by the Secret Service trying to get a joint to Jimmy Carter’s sister, and the difficulties in comedic creative relationships. Larry also gets candid about his disappointment with the prevalence of zionism among his erstwhile comedy partners, and we talk about the humanizing force of humor in the face tragedy and despair. Pick up Comedy Samurai here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/larry-charles/comedy-samurai/9781538771549/?lens=grand-central-publishing AND: get your pre-order in for YEAR ZERO: A CHAPO TRAP HOUSE COMICS ANTHOLOGY starting today at www.badegg.co
Will & Hesse sit down with director Lexi Alexander, whose works include Green Street Hooligans (2005), Punisher: War Zone (2008) & the new film Absolute Dominions (2025). We discuss how her experience in combat sports influences her filmmaking, creating comic book movies within the studio system, working as an outspoken Palestinian in Hollywood, and how to stay calm after being stabbed. Plus, an answer to “who she would fight, given the opportunity” that’s sure to entertain many listeners. Absolute Dominion now available for streaming on digital platforms.
Libby Watson returns to the show! We discuss the weekend’s limited US strike on Iran and Trump’s baffling behavior around what already may be a winding-down conflict. We also talk Democratic & media responses, and where Iran might go from here. Then: all eyes are on Zohran in the NYC mayoral primary, voting is tomorrow, we discuss Zorhan’s campaign and his chances of bringing this all home. Finally, we celebrate the love & marriage of an old friend of the show with their NYT vows section announcement. Find Libby’s new show “What’s All This Then” wherever you get podcasts, and all her other links here: https://linktr.ee/whatsallthisthen New merch for the summer up at https://chapotraphouse.store
LA City Councilmemeber Hugo Soto-Martinez joins Will to discuss ICE raids in Los Angeles, how city government and community groups are responding, the recent protests, and marine deployments to the city. They also discuss the possibilities for a more positive rhetoric and policy around immigration, and the necessity for turning the framing back on the capitalist class. LA rapid response hotline is: 1-888624-4752 Follow Hugo & his district’s socials for updates: @cd13losangeles & @hugopordistrito13
Seamus joins us to discuss last week’s “preemptive” Israeli strike on Iran, the damage done to Iranian command and infrastructure, Iran’s retaliation, America’s potential involvement. We also look at Trump’s big birthday Parade, one of the most pathetic & hilarious spectacles of American Military prowess any of us have ever seen. Read Seamus on the attacks in the Intercept: https://theintercept.com/staff/seamus-malekafzali/Read Seamsu go long on the Axes of Resistance for Parapraxis: https://www.parapraxismagazine.com/articles/axes-of-resistanceSubscribe to Seamus’ Substack: https://www.seamus-malekafzali.com/ New merch for the summer up at https://chapotraphouse.store/
We’re joined by The Nation’s Aída Chávez for her report from WelcomeFest, the abundapalooza dedicated to staking the technocratic claim for the future of the Democratic party. We review the fairly directionless and unenthusiastic vibes of the centrist shindig, but also discuss the explosion of police violence during protests against ICE in Los Angeles over the weekend. All leading us to ask, what exactly do these people think “power” is, and when is it “right” to exercise it? Read Aída’s dispatch from WelcomeFest for The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/welcomefest-dispatch-centrism-abundance/ Donate to the Jordan Breen sports journalism scholarship fund - https://gofund.me/837f326c New merch for the summer up at https://chapotraphouse.store/
Host of The Adam Friedland Show Adam Friedland joins us to catch up on today’s news and discuss his new season. We look at the return of Matt Miller, Jake Tapper’s take on Israel/Palestine discourse, the kidnapping of a crypto whale in Manhattan, and new reports of Elon Musk’s rampant drug use. Adam also gives us his takes on engaging with the new right-coded online content sphere through TAFS, teases some guests for the coming season, and generally annoys Felix with delays and requests for refreshments. Find The Adam Friedland Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheAdamFriedlandShow New merch for the summer up at https://chapotraphouse.store/
Will & Felix catch up on Democrats’ commitment to burning millions of dollars in search of a crumb of clout from the pod-mano-sphere, and John Fetterman’s chronic senate absenteeism as he searches for good vibes. Then, we’re joined by Lever News’ David Sirota & Arjun Singh to discuss their new podcast series Tax Revolt & the “Big Beautiful Bill” working its way through congress. We look at the devastating consequences of GOP tax policies, the increasing unpopularity of such drastic cuts, and how they fit in with the 50 year conservative war against taxes. Find all things Lever News at: https://www.levernews.com/ And listen to Tax Revolt here or wherever you get pods: https://the.levernews.com/tax-revolt/
Drop Site’s Ryan & Jeremy join us for an update on Israel’s war on Gaza. We discuss yesterday’s attack on Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington D.C. and its potential ramifications, Trump’s recent trip to the Gulf and potential shifts in U.S. relations in the region, and the brutal escalations of violence in Gaza over the recent weeks. Ryan and Jeremy also relate some of the stories of the many talented and courageous Palestinian journalists they’ve worked with through the conflict, and how the war has laid bare many of the failings of domestic media. Subscribe to Drop Site here: https://www.dropsitenews.com/
We planned this episode to cover the spate of stories revealing just how out of it and diminished Joe Biden was during his term, and new details about the political flunkies and media stooges who were complicit in covering it up. But yesterday Biden’s team announced an almost certainly life-ending cancer diagnosis. So we’re joined by David Roth to discuss how it’s finally well and truly Joever. Find David’s work at Defector here: https://defector.com/author/david-roth New merch for the summer up at https://chapotraphouse.store/
Tech reporter Mike Isaac returns to the show for a round-up of the latest AI news. From collegiate cheating to funeral planning, Mike helps us make some sense of how this wonderful emerging technology is reshaping human society in so many delightful ways, and certainly is not a madness rune chipping away at what little sanity remains in our population’s fraying psyche. We’re doing another call-in show with Matt for the midweek, so if you have any questions or comments, send an UNDER 30 SECOND voice recording to calls@chapotraphouse.com We also have some new merch going up at chapotraphouse.store this Weds, May 14. So keep your eyes out for that!
The Majority Report’s Sam Seder joins us today to share some deep research into American Stupids. We look at Trump’s weekend announcements regarding American film production & re-opening Alcatraz, both seemingly inspired by a TV broadcast of “Escape From Alcatraz” in West Palm Beach last Saturday. We also discuss Sam’s recent debate appearances including the “vs. 20 Conservatives” video, and how it’s not the stupidity but the confidence that’s really astounding. Finally, for the main course for today’s ep, the massive profile on John Fetterman’s deteriorating mental competence, and how the most offensive part of the scandal is the staffers who covered for him now seeking to cover their own asses. Check out Sam on The Majority Report, every Mon-Fri at noon: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMajorityReport
Felix speaks with Nora Hilgart-Griff from the TAHRIR Coalition and Liz Jacob from the Sugar Law Center for Social and Economic Justice about the Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel collaborating with the Trump DOJ in a series of raids on pro-Palestine students at the University of Michigan on April 23. Liz and Nora give background on Nessel's previous intimidation campaign at the university, the administration's attempts to repress the student movement against the genocide, TAHRIR Coalition's work on divestment, and much more. You're going to want to hear this whether you're a Yooper, a Detroiter, or even a recently incarcerated jewel thief who assumed the identity of a sheriff so he can stare at his ex-girlfriend in a small Pennsylvania town where everyone is a violent criminal. Update: On Monday, 5/5/25, all charges against the students have been dropped. Legal fund for the students facing charges from Nessel's office https://chuffed.org/project/um-palestine-legalfund Background on the raids https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/24/michigan-attorney-general-dana-nessel-campus-gaza-protests TAHRIR Coalition's campaign to drop the charges https://tahrirumich.org/dtc The demands of the students https://tahrirumich.org/demands Guide to the University of Michigan's economic links to Israeli genocide and occupation profiteers https://tahrirumich.org/research/endowment-guide
Fighter jets are just falling off the back of our aircraft carriers now in yet another Keystone Kops-ass bungle in the Red Sea. Gerry Connolly announces he’ll step down from the oversight committee in another moment of glory for the funeral home waiting room of Democratic leadership. Will reads us a profile of a new up-and-coming conservative influencer so annoying it drives Felix to the brink of rage-quitting. Alex Nichols returns to the pod to discuss these stories and more on today’s program. We are putting a limited number of overstock copies of ¡No Pasarán! Matt Christman's Spanish Civil War next Wednesday, April 30th at 8am Pacific Time at: https://chapotraphouse.store/
The first episode of this season of Movie Mindset is free for all listeners as always. To listen to the rest of the season, subscribe at www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse When you love movies, you’ve got to watch them. There’s no other way…Movie Mindset Season 3 commences with our first ever single feature on the most referenced movie in Chapo Trap House history: Martin Scorsese’s masterpiece Casino. Will and Hesse are joined by Felix to take a kaleidoscopic and dizzying dive into the inferno of American greed that is Las Vegas. Anchored by a triumvirate of all career great performances from Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci in FULL PSYCHO MODE, Casino is by equal turns hilarious and stomach turning and stands alone as Scorsese’s grandest and most generous examination of evil and the tragic flaws that doom us all. Should you listen even if you haven’t seen this movie? Why take a chance? At least that the way we feel about it.
Historian and author Greg Grandin joins us to discuss his new book America, América: A New History of the New World, which looks at the five century history of colonization & conquest of the New World, and how North & South America developed their distinct identities through a long history of mutual interaction and opposition. We also catch up with Greg for his takes on the death of Pope Francis, the state of American empire at the start of the second Trump term, the U.S.’s lack of a forward-looking political horizon, and what possibilities we might see in the future of Latin America. Buy America, América: A New History of the New World online here, or wherever you get books: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747326/america-america-by-greg-grandin/
Before addressing the news of the day, Will & Kath catch up with Felix on their re-watch of beloved series BANSHEE, which segues nicely into discussion of the baffling firebombing of the Pennsylvania governor's mansion. We then move on to the increasingly horrific and blatantly illegal renditions of American residents into foreign prisons, and the further construction of Fortress America. We also look at potential democratic responses, from Cory Booker’s filibuster, to Kamala slowly stepping back into the spotlight, and finally Bernie & AOC’s recent rally in LA. Find EEPHUS streaming on VOD and new Eephus merch at: www.eephusfilm.com
Semafor reporter Dave Weigel returns to the show to look at the political angles to Trump’s tariff regime and the global economic shocks. We discuss the various attempts to backfill justifications, responses from GOP and Democrats, and how this is all somehow about wokeness and masculinity or something. We also discuss last week’s special election in Wisconsin, and what it can tell us about Trump (and Elon)’s strength going forward. Find Dave’s work on Semafor here: https://www.semafor.com/author/david-weigel
Felix sits down with writer & journalist Peter Korotaev for a wide ranging conversation on the state of the Russo-Ukranian War in the wake of the Trump administration’s spat with Zelensky & attempts at a peace deal, and loads of context on the politics of Ukraine, Russia, various oligarchs, the Atlantic Council, and other non-state actors that have led to this point. You can find Peter’s writing on Ukraine here: https://substack.com/@eventsinukraine And some other writing of note: For al Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/1/23/why-is-ukraine-struggling-to-mobilise-its-citizens-to-fight Jacobin: https://jacobin.com/2022/07/ukraine-neoliberalism-war-russia-eu-imf Canada Files: https://www.thecanadafiles.com/articles?author=645e6f082224bb01e8f3f37c Arena https://arena.org.au/ukraines-borderline-disorder/
Tim “T-Bone” Faust makes a long overdue return to the program to brief us on the series of guerilla town halls on Medicaid he’s been doing in Wisconsin. But first, we start with a brief roundup on one of the most important health issues facing the nation today: Soda, and the role it plays in keeping Americans healthy. Tim then takes us through the current administration’s assault on Medicaid & Medicare, how the failure to push for healthcare reform in the face of COVID paved the way for hucksters like RFK Jr, and how health justice remains a bedrock principle for a left political program going forward. Tim is happy to book a town hall in YOUR neck of the woods if you reach out to him: https://x.com/crulge And here’s a quick flier he put together for Hands Off Medicaid if you want more info: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/jusscubmipf5fsd5hob24/national-flyer.pdf?rlkey=b1327wky6zte79m00g8peo8iq&e=2&st=d3dngrl3&dl=0 On Will’s rec, go see “The Encampments” if you have the chance: https://www.watermelonpictures.com/films/the-encampments
Delaware state rep Madinah Wilson-Anton returns to the show to brief us on Elon Musk’s attempts to rewrite the state laws of Delaware to help him secure a $50 billion+ compensation package. We discuss the “race to the bottom” in state business laws, and the new wave of assaults on basic legal legitimacy in pursuit of complete oligarchical control. Then, Matt Bruenig joins us to discuss the hot new word on all the wonks’ lips: ABUNDANCE. We review the Abundance Agenda, Matt gives us his takes on the policies, and we evaluate the Abundance potential as a viable organizing principle for the moribund Democratic party. Check out NLRB Edge, Matt’s labor law newsletter: https://www.nlrbedge.com/
Felix appeared on today’s Panic World podcast hosted by past-guest Ryan Broderick of the fantastic Garbage Day newsletter. We’ve agreed to crosspost this ep in our feed. Enjoy! Check out Panic World wherever you get pods, and subscribe to Garbage Day here: https://www.garbageday.email/ Every four years America suffers through a national election, with its own distinct collection of far-right freaks. Yet against the trend, in 2024 many of the youngest voters started finding them appealing. So who or what turned Gen Z fascist? Felix Biederman of Chapo Trap House joins us to discuss the main players in the right-wing (mano)sphere, and whether this ecosystem of new guys will keep our nation’s youth in their thrall. Our guest Felix Biederman co-hosts Chapo Trap House (https://www.chapotraphouse.com), found wherever you get your podcasts. You can purchase the Seeking A Fren for the End of the World series for $5 at: https://www.patreon.com/cw/chapotraphouse/collections Or it, along with all their premium episodes and other acclaimed miniseries like Hell of Presidents and Movie Mindset, are available to all subscribers for just $5 a month at https://www.patreon.com/cw/chapotraphouse
D.J. Byrnes of Ohio’s independent news outlet The Rooster returns to the show. We look at constituent outrage at elected officials, D.J.’s sojourn to DC, Cleveland’s $2.5 Billion stadium debacle, and D.J. relates an incredible story of bamboozling Vivek Ramaswamy. Then, Eephus director Carson Lund and writer & star Nate Fisher join Will to discuss the film, its inspirations, how they went about shooting it, Meat Raffles, and some of their all-time favorite Baseball Guys. Find D.J.’s chronicle of Ohio depravity at the Rooster: https://www.rooster.info/ Find showtimes for Eephus @ https://www.eephusfilm.com/
We start the show discussing the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil in a glaring escalation of attacks on American civil liberties in behalf of Israel & its supporters. We’re then joined by journalist and co-host of the Odd Lots podcast Joe Weisenthal to take a shockingly timely (for us) look at markets, tariffs, crypto, and economic policy under the 2nd Trump administration. Is there a plan here? Who’s actually in charge? Will these tariffs ever actually happen? Are we careening toward a recession? Joe shares his thoughts on these questions and more with us. Listen to Odd Lots wherever you get podcasts, and find Joe’s work at Bloomberg here: https://www.bloomberg.com/authors/AQ0VXvE12t0/joe-weisenthal Go see Eephus as it rolls out to your neck of the woods, search for showtimes @ https://www.eephusfilm.com/
Will & Hesse are back to look at the Oscars’ Best Pictures of 2024. They give their takes on the high- and low-lights, offer their predictions of who will take home Oscar gold, and give a special preview of what’s coming up in Movie Mindset Season 3. For more Oscars fun: Come see Will & Hesse host an Oscars watch as part of a party for Zohran for Mayor this Sunday, March 2nd @ Nightclub 101: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/partyforzohran
QAA’s Julian Feeld joins us today to give us his report from last week’s CPAC convention. We look at the usual carnival of cruelty on display at the Gaylord Convention Center, with an added layer of vindictiveness in the second Trump era. We also discuss at how QAnon has been fully metabolized into political discourse, and check in on some classic characters like Mike Lindell and JFK. Jr. Finally, a rather grim reading series looking at the lonely political life of Senator Fetterman. Find QAA wherever you get podcasts, and subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/qanonanonymous Check out Julian’s recent Jacobin pieces On the current state of QAnon: https://jacobin.com/2025/02/qanon-legacy-conspiracy-trump-patel And his report from CPAC: https://jacobin.com/2025/03/cpac-trump-bannon-far-right Finally, go see Eephus when it comes to your town: https://www.musicboxfilms.com/film/eephus/
We’re joined by Mark Ames & John Dolan of Radio War Nerd to discuss what may be the wind-down of the war in Ukraine. We look at the political ramifications both domestically and internationally, how the west & Russia have fared militarily, and the lives of the Ukrainians affected by the conflict. Plus, would you believe fighter aircraft, MMA, and a drive-by slagging of union general loser George McClellan all get mentions in this? Subscribe to Radio War Nerd: https://www.patreon.com/radiowarnerd NYC: Come see Will & Hesse host an Oscars watch as part of a party for Zohran for Mayor this Sunday, March 2nd @ Nightclub 101: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/partyforzohran
Jake and Thomas return to look at the latest news of Elon’s bizarrely begotten offspring. Plus the jewish guy who shot two Israeli guys because he thought they were Palestinians, Millei’s rug pull, and Bari Weiss’ Free Press asks what exactly makes an American hero (and why does it take place in dive bar bathrooms). Subscribe to Pendejo Time: https://www.patreon.com/pendejotime
Kath joins us for our annual review of the Big Game spectacle. We give our appraisal of what this year’s ad slate says about the state of American culture, plus reactions to Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show, and how conservatives continue to be oppressed by the TV. Then the Washington Post’s Jeff Stein joins us to discuss his reporting on what exactly Elon Musk & the DOGE team are trying to do to the federal government. Jeff’s piece on Elon & DOGE: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/08/doge-musk-goals/ If you’re in LA, check out Jacques & Grace’s Game Show Pig variety show at the Loge Room this Wednesday, 2/12: https://www.lodgeroomhlp.com/shows/game-show-pig/
Will sits down with Zohran Mamdani, New York State Representative and candidate for New York City Mayor. After bonding over being just two boys from New York, their grade school rivalry, and touching on Zohran’s family & background, Will & Zohran discuss his plans to improve housing, transit, policing and homelessness services in New York City, as well as his plans to win this election. If you’d like to help out or get involved in his campaign, go to: https://www.zohranfornyc.com/
Beautiful Brace Belden joins us to look at Trump’s tariff’s, possible annexation of Canada, halt on federal funding, and other breaking admin news. We also discuss New York Mag’s party report from the NYC MAGA scene, and Brace briefs us on what we should know about the murderous “Zizian” rationalists, and how they fit in among all the other people who’ve broken their brains online. TrueAnon’s in-depth coverage of the Zizians here: https://pod.link/1474001390/episode/a778bfc3221464a5eff8d657bc89eb8a
Alex is back on the pod to review the first full week of 2rump news, but first, we wish friend of the show Catturd a speedy recovery from his impacted bowel. Then, we look at Trumps barrage of executive orders, cabinet staffing, and denial of security clearances to a number of former NatSec ghouls. We also discuss the Democrats’ new Tuna-based appeals for viral attention, and consider how history will judge Joe Biden.
Journalist Mohammad Alsaafin returns to the show to discuss the temporary ceasefire & hostage exchange deal reached in Gaza. We discuss why and how this came about during the Biden-Trump transition, what the actual terms of the deal are, how it leaves the political situation in Israel, Palestine and the rest of the region, and the total effects of 15 months of war. Plus, what was actually in the gift bags given by Hamas to the freed Israeli hostages. If you’re looking for ways to help, this is from Mohammad: More importantly, this is a good place people can donate to. This started out as a small soup kitchen set up by the family of a friend after their home was destroyed and his brother killed. Over the past year they've expanded to several soup kitchens, water trucks, small clinics and a couple of classrooms. The other brother who was running it was killed on his way to deliver supplies to Kamal Adwan hospital last month. They've done so much good work in helping people stay especially in northern Gaza: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Hot-meals-in-gaza-daily?viewupdates=1&rcid=r01-173283450269-b9a1b078addc11ef
Felix recounts Trump’s efforts to discredit the 2020 election as part of the long history of election denial on the right in this clip from Episode 6 of his series “Seeking a Fren for the End of the World.” The full episode and rest of the series are available for subscribers at patreon.com/chapotraphouse.
Author Colette Shade joins us to discuss her new book “Y2K” on the millennial era of ~1997-2008. Will and Colette review how the boundless optimism of ‘the end of history’ curdled into the permanent pessimism of the 21st century, how computer doomed everything even if the specific prediction of the “Y2K bug” maybe didn’t literally come to pass, how nostalgia can be both useful and a trap, and of course, how everything is 9/11. Purchase “Y2K: How the 2000s Became Everything”: Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/y2k-how-the-2000s-became-everything-essays-on-a-future-that-never-was-colette-shade/21416954?ean=9780063333949 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Y2K-Audiobook/B0D3G5JV6P Catch Colette on here book tour, dates here: https://www.coletteshade.com/
We’re joined by journalist Yasha Levine & filmmaker Rowan Wernham of the new documentary “Pistachio Wars” join us to look at water in the state of California in light of last week’s L.A. wildfires. We discuss California’s water history, the network of real estate developers and agribusiness concerns that effectively control California’s water, the Resnick family and their Nut Empire, 21st century company towns, and how California water politics affect the Iran Nuclear deal. Watch The Pistachio Wars documentary now: https://www.pistachiowars.com/
Felix looks back at the lead-up to the 2016 election as some of the funniest and most insane days in American political history in this clip from Episode 4 of his series “Seeking a Fren for the End of the World.” The full episode and rest of the series are available for subscribers at patreon.com/chapotraphouse.
We catch up with news over our long week off, including brief hits on the two new years truck attacks (more on that Thursday), MAGA civil war over immigration & visas, various instances of Musk buffoonery, Biden’s presidential medal of freedom recipients, and Semafor’s survey of what people in the media ‘got wrong’ about 2024.
Felix looks at Steve Bannon’s origins, plus anti-Obama hysteria pushing the GOP to the right in the 2012 primaries in this clip from Episode 4 of his series “Seeking a Fren for the End of the World.” The full episode and rest of the series are available for subscribers at patreon.com/chapotraphouse.
Felix recounts the rise of Obama-era conservative online media in this teaser for Episode 3 of his series “Seeking a Fren for the End of the World.” The full episode and rest of the series are available for subscribers at patreon.com/chapotraphouse.
We’re discussing the ongoing labor disputes with the United States Postal Service with Tyler Vasseur, a shop steward with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). We discuss the BFN rank and file movement to transform the postal unions, fighting for transparency in bargaining on the long-stalled new contract for letter carriers, what an equitable contract would look like, how the letter carriers fight fits in the broader labor movement, cost of living adjustments in an era of high inflation, changes in work environments post-COVID, and ongoing efforts to privatize the Post Office. More on BFN here: https://www.fightingnalc.com/about-bfn
Will & Hesse are joined by Brian Yuzna, legendary horror writer/director/producer behind such films as Re-Animator, Society, From Beyond, Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, and many more. We discuss adapting Lovecraft, all-nude Peter Pan, Clown Theory, copypastas, uniquely American ghouls, the importance of GOOP in cinema, and how real horror fans can enjoy horror even when it’s bad. Pre-order the 40th Anniversary edition of Re-Animator here: https://www.ignite-films.com/products/re-animator?variant=49677000933719 And check out the trailer for the re-release by friend of the show Ben Clarkson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIyXfP6egIs&ab_channel=IGNMovieTrailers
Felix documents the rise of future Fox News CEO Roger Ailes in this preview clip from episode 2 of his series “Seeking A Fren for the End of The World”. The full episode and rest of the series are available for subscribers at patreon.com/chapotraphouse.
Defector’s David Roth is back on the pod. We start with his write up of the recent drone scare over New Jersey, and how our ever-skittish suburbanites are discovering new ways to be scared of the lights in the night sky. Then, a review of recent media reactions to Luigi-mania, including the Atlantic tut-tutting over “decivilization” and the Root having a certified “bruh” moment. Finally, the most important bellwether poll of the year: the PornHub annual search trends results. Find all things David Roth at the Defector: https://defector.com/author/david-roth Last bits of merch going at discount over at https://chapotraphouse.store/
In a new series by Felix, Josh (@ettingermentum), and Spencer, we ask: how did the Republican Party, once the dominant force in American culture for almost a generation, become a group of bowtied cosplayers and rapist streamers yelling about Litterboxes? We trace this development back to the empires built by two men—Paul Weyrich and James Dobson—as well as the failures of one Pat Buchanan. This episode draws from Dan Gilgoff’s The Jesus Machine and David Grann’s “Robespierre Of The Right.” For a full list of sources, check our works cited doc here: www.chapotraphouse.com/seeking
We catch up briefly on news around the arrest of the alleged UHC CEO assassin. Then, journalist and musician Jael Holzman returns to the show to discuss a new piece she has for Rolling Stone on the potential threats to trans people in the coming Trump administration. We look at the rather grim potential of massively undermining of trans medical care, the equally grim state of Democratic opposition, and the general fecklessness with which Democrats have handled what Joe Biden once called the “civil rights issue of our time” in both policy and rhetoric. Read Jael’s piece here: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-trans-health-care-republicans-democrats-1235198473/ Purchase Refaat Alareer’s “If I Must Die” here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/if-i-must-die-poetry-and-prose/21530923?ean=9781682196212&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgdC6BhCgARIsAPWNWH3V8BcDXv-gg8uxdBjH7qVFtCKGHzt5Z5bMBSUunOfyar68lDFw5EwaAtCmEALw_wcB
We do the work of having conversations and connecting to people by reviewing last week’s Pod Save America episode featuring Kamala Harris’ top campaign staff. Through their telling, it was an amazing feat of data, precision and triangulation that somehow came up just slightly short, but we look at some different “stories to tell” from what they’re able to reveal about the campaign’s strategy. Plus, a Thanksgiving poem from Matt. Felix’s new series “Searching for a Fren at the End of the World”, an examination of the last 50 years of Conservative media, premieres next Wednesday, December 11, right here on your Chapo feed.
Journalist Moe Tkacik joins us to look at a number of issues she’s reported on recently. Starting with the alarming prevalence of sexual assault allegations among Trump’s new cabinet picks, we follow the trail of backlash to accountability among the ultra-rich to College campuses and of course, Israel. We then turn to Moe’s reporting on the growing tumor of private equity in the American healthcare industry, and how these financial barons are gutting our already threadbare hospital system. Find Moe on Twitter: https://x.com/moetkacik And here writing at the American Prospect: https://prospect.org/topics/maureen-tkacik/
We review the various freaks, toadies, goons, and TV personalities that Trump has tapped to build his second cabinet, and speculate how much damage Vivek & Elon can actually do with their kids-table DOGE advisory board. We also discuss the coalescing view among the pundit class that the Democrats need to abandon their various activist groups, as espoused in today’s reading series by Adam Jentleson. Finally, a new (hopefully semi-regular) feature from Matt.
We start off with some Monkey News, then continue our post-mortem on the 2024 election. Does America have a Boy Crisis? Was $450k a day to put Kamala’s name on the Sphere worth it? How many votes did Queen Latifah swing? Are there sharks in the pool? Can Rebecca Solnit construct a metaphor to save her life? Will anyone learn anything from this boondoggle? We discuss.
We have always lived in The Zone. We take in the stunning re-election of Donald Trump, the manifest failure of Kamala Harris, Joe Biden and the entire Democratic party, and all of the myriad obungles that have brought us to this moment. This has happened before, it will happen again…Reasons to be scared, reasons for hope, and assurance that we’re still ready to ride with you all every day. Unlocked from our Patreon for all to hear. To get every episode, subscribe at patreon.com/chapotraphouse.
We’re joined by Charles, Alex & Andrew from Episode 1 for a night of Election-themed spoofs and goofs live at the Aratani Theater in Los Angeles. Featuring the Dan Boeckner Christmas Time Players: Dan Boeckner, Nick Thorburn, Alex Fischel & Adam Halferty. And of course, a special visit from Santa.
[Note: these Movie Mindset Horrortober Season 1 episodes were already unlocked for free this year over on the Patreon feed, just adding them to the public feed to make them more widely available. To get every Movie Mindset episode, subscribe at patreon.com/chapotraphouse.] In this final episode of this year’s Ghoulvie Screamset, Will & Hesse take a look at Michael Wadleigh’s “Wolfen” (1981) and Bernard Rose’s “Candyman” (1992). Two films taking advantage of real urban environments the horrors of city life, from the intrusion of primordial natural evil in Wolfen, to manifesting the everyday horror of urban poverty in Candyman. Thanks for listening to our second outing of Movie Mindset! Will & Hesse will be back next year with a full season 2 of the series. Let us know if there's anything you're dying for us to cover, and stay watchin’ everybody.
Chapo elections unit Dave Weigel and Josh “Ettingermentum” return for one last check-in on the state of the 2024 US Elections. We review Trump’s fascist clown show rally at Madison Square Garden over the weekend, and discuss its potential impacts on the final week of the race. We look at the closing arguments & strategies of both campaigns, the increasingly strained relationship between the electorate and the media, key senate races to watch, and give final chances for Trump & Harris. LOS ANGELES: Come to our 11/4 Election Eve show with E1 & live house band featuring Dan Boeckner and Nick Diamonds: https://link.dice.fm/b1eb3de54f54 We are releasing another batch of SIGNED COPIES of Matt’s book, ¡No Pasarán!, tomorrow/today TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29th, at Noon ET/9am PT at chapotraphouse.store. Sales open ONLY until this Thursday, October 31st, get your copy! Find Dave’s reporting at Semafor here: https://www.semafor.com/author/david-weigel Find the Ettingermentum newsletter here: https://www.ettingermentum.news/
[Note: these Movie Mindset Horrortober Season 1 episodes were already unlocked for free this year over on the Patreon feed, just adding them to the public feed to make them more widely available. To get every Movie Mindset episode, subscribe at patreon.com/chapotraphouse.] Brendan James returns to take on two triumphant works from writers-turned-directors: Clive Barker’s “Hellraiser” (1987) and William Peter Blatty’s “The Exorcist III” (1990). Both films feature visions of Hell’s intrusion onto earth; two competing and complementary visions of evil, one from a gay British man and the second from a devout American Catholic. Will, Hesse and Brendan go deep on these films, highlighting in Hellraiser some of the most ghoulish practical effects ever put to screen, and in Exorcist III dissecting one of the most infamous jump-scares in film history.
Journalist Max Read joins us to discuss his new piece on the proliferation of “AI Slop”: unwanted, low quality, often surreal content flooding the internet and degrading its various platforms. We talk about the dystopian quality of the trend, the economic factors encouraging it, and how it portends poorly for the future of online. Max’s AI Slop piece: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/ai-generated-content-internet-online-slop-spam.html Subscribe to Max’s newsletter READ MAX at https://maxread.substack.com/ Order Matt’s Book (and check out the new merch!): https://chapotraphouse.store Come to our 11/4 Election Eve show in LA with E1: https://link.dice.fm/b1eb3de54f54
[Note: these Movie Mindset Horrortober Season 1 episodes were already unlocked for free this year over on the Patreon feed, just adding them to the public feed to make them more widely available. To get every Movie Mindset episode, subscribe at patreon.com/chapotraphouse.] Will & Hesse look at two starring God Tom Atkins: John Carpenter’s “The Fog” (1980) & Tommy Lee Wallace’s “Halloween III: Season of the Witch”. Also a Carpenter double feature of sorts, one from the director himself, and one continuing from his iconic Halloween (1978) film as he intended the franchise to be, an anthology. The Fog is a true American ghost story wrestling with monstrous crimes of our past, and Halloween III is an outrageous gorefest with one of the most infamously ludicrous plots in all horror cinema. Tom Atkins plays an everyman sex symbol in both, laying pipe as he’s terrorized by ghosts & robots through anonymous northern California towns. Note: Will promised we’d timestamp the Tom Atkins Ass Shot in the description. I do not have time to do that this evening. Sorry.
[Note: these Movie Mindset Horrortober Season 1 episodes were already unlocked for free this year over on the Patreon feed, just adding them to the public feed to make them more widely available. To get every Movie Mindset episode, subscribe at patreon.com/chapotraphouse.] Will & Hesse are joined by Nymphowars’ Theda Hammel to discuss two horror films from 1964 starring the legend Vincent Price: Sidney Salkow’s “The Last Man on Earth” & Roger Corman’s “The Masque of the Red Death”. Both deal with the end of the world in their own way and highlight Price’s unique combination of campiness and dramatic heft for both comedic and horrifying effects.
We start today with Alex and Felix explaining a notoriously filthy video game streamer and his repellent political views/personal hygiene to Will. Then, we check in on the Harris campaign as it continues to search for meaning, substance, moral clarity, strategic vision, & more while election day looms. Meanwhile, in MAGA-land, a look at the J6 defendants behind bars: putting on plays, podcasting, recording billboard #1 hits, punching holes in the prison drywall…is life in the big house better than what they left? Vic Berger’s “THE PHANTOM OF MAR-A-LAGO”, a found footage mini-doc about Trump’s life out of office in his southern White House premieres Tuesday, Oct. 15th (Today!) exclusively at patreon.com/chapotraphouse. Order Matt’s Book (and check out the new merch!): https://chapotraphouse.store Come to our 11/4 Election Eve show in LA with E1: https://link.dice.fm/b1eb3de54f54
It’s been one year since 10/7, so we discuss a bit of what’s changed - if anything - in perception and politics of the war in Palestine. We then look at the 2024 election, the effects of recent and impending natural disasters, and last week’s VP debate. We also discuss Kath’s recent piece in the Nation about the return of the #resistance, and Elon Musk’s funny little dance at Trump’s recent rally. Idk, we’re all starting to get that familiar icky feeling in the pits of our stomachs again about November, aren’t we, is it happening again? Read Kath’s piece in The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/resistance-kamala-harris-online/ Buy Matt’s Book: https://chapotraphouse.store/products/no-pasaran Come to our 11/4 Election Eve show in LA with E1: https://link.dice.fm/b1eb3de54f54
Alex joins us to go in on now-indicted Mayor Eric Adams. We go through the many hilarious details of the unsealed indictment, the Turkish Connection, airline bribes, New York to Easter Island via Ankara travel, ice cream trickery, and windows literally falling off of Turkish buildings in NYC. We also look at Tablet magazines full-throated defense of Adams & the necessity for foreign bribes. ¡No Pasarán! Matt Christman's Spanish Civil War is available NOW along with a crop of new merch at https://chapotraphouse.store/ Tickets for our Election Eve live show with Episode 1 on Monday 11/4 in LA available now at: https://link.dice.fm/b1eb3de54f54
BLOWBACK’s Brendan & Noah return to the show. We start off today’s show discussing Israel’s massive escalation into Lebanon, and Brendan & Noah point out the many parallels between America’s current position and the various atrocities and mis-adventures they’ve chronicled on Blowback over the seasons. Plus much more on Blowback’s current season focused on Cambodia, and the many crimes, colorful characters, and surprising sources of magnanimity they’ve uncovered through their show. Find all things Blowback at https://blowback.show/ Tickets on sale for our Mon. Nov. 4 show in Los Angeles tomorrow for Patreon subscribers. Sales for No Pasaran! Matt Christman’s Spanish Civil War start Oct. 1 at chapotraphouse.store.
Journalists Christopher Robbins & Katie Way from the independent outlet Hellgate return to the show to help update us on NYC Mayor Eric Adams' chaotic administration. We look at the scandal and indictments surrounding a number of top Adams officials, including multiple sets of siblings, all embroiled in bribes, extortions, and various other forms of graft. We also discuss NYPD scandal in light of the recent subway shooting which left multiple people injured and one bystander braindead. Follow Hellgate’s New York City coverage here: https://hellgatenyc.com/
Ben & Matt of the JUSTICE WARRIORS comic series join us this week. We look at the SECOND Trump assassination attempt in about as many months, Trump’s increasingly intimate relationship with Laura Loomer, and just his insane personal and political arc over the last few months. Then, more seriously, the continued blatant demagoguery around immigration stirred up by Republicans that Democrats and the Harris campaign seems unequipped to respond to. Finally, a few stories that seem to have crossed from the pages of Justice Warriors into reality. Find Justice Wariors Vol. 2: VOTE HARDER here, out now: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Justice-Warriors-Vol-2/Matt-Bors/JUSTICE-WARRIORS/9781952090325 Watch Ben’s kick ass trailer for the book here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPClsOwhPuE&ab_channel=BenClarkson
Will, Felix & David Roth review Trump’s masterful rhetorica gambits from Tuesday night’s debate with Kamala Harris. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Derek & Danny of the American Prestige podcast join us to review the new film Reagan. Can a film that accurately depicts the 40th president of the United States as a vacuous himbo who eagerly repeats the last thing told to him also portray him as a righteous colossus who single-handedly defeated the scourge of Soviet Russia. Sure! Why not? We consider the dim boomer hagiography presented to us by the director of other timeless classics such as Casper: A Spirited Beginning. American Prestige is moving to Supporting Cast, keep an eye out for how to find them on their new platform: https://www.americanprestigepod.com/p/important-announcement-american-prestige
Long time friend of the show James Adomian stops by to catch up on some news, including the conservative rumor of bikers traveling to Colorado to fight Venezuelan gangs, the North Carolina GOP gubernatorial candidate who was a five-night-a-week customer at a porn store, and the Swifties for Kamala Zoom call. We also check in with some of our old friends Elon Musk & Sebastian Gorka. James’ new stand-up special Path of Most Resistance is available now for purchase at 800 Pound Gorilla: https://800poundgorillamedia.com/products/james-adomian-path-of-most-resistance And will be streaming on YouTube starting September 19th!
The Chapo 2024 Elections team returns to the pod to look at the state of the presidential race post-Democratic National Convention. Kamala’s positioning in the election remains strong, but what does her convention performance tell us about a potential Harris administration? Is the Trump GOP really bungling this? Exactly how shitty is JD Vance as a VP pick, and is Tim Walz committing Dog Fraud? And just how much can the Democrats cover their ears and pretend Gaza doesn’t exist after the convention? All this and more discussed in today’s ‘sode. Find Dave’s reporting at Semafor here: https://www.semafor.com/author/david-weigel Find the Ettingermentum newsletter here: https://www.ettingermentum.news/
Alex back on the pod today as we touch briefly on cranks from the past and Ye’s nitrous fixation. Then, Biden and his team continue to seethe about being kicked off the ticket, while Tim Waltz’s midwestern diet sends the right into some sort of race-based rage. Then, despite his possible PTSD, Trump is still able to toss off some casual insults to cherished American institutions that would get any other politicians run out of town and Bolsonaro attacked by bees.
Dan Boeckner recounts the saga of Canadian journalist being “elicited” by a nice Chinese man and his wife. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’re joined by video doc king Jon Bois to discuss some of his recent projects with Secret Base, specifically REFORM!, a history of Ross Perot and the Reform party. Jon shares his fascination and research into this bizarre eddy of American electoral politics, the various cranks and characters that populated it, and how the Reform Party prefigured a swath of our current political landscape. We also touch on James Rebhorn’s character in Independence Day, slipping on banana peels, and the best and worst of Olympic sports. Part 1 of the REFORM! Series is on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqqaW1LrMTY Subscribe to Secret Base on Patreon for all of their premium content: https://www.patreon.com/SecretBase Rick Perlstein's POW/MIA piece Amber recommended: https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/enduring-cult-vietnam-missing-action/
The Washington Post’s Jeff Stein stops by to discuss his extensive new piece investigating the ever-ballooning U.S. international sanctions regime. Despite Biden recently bragging he’s leaving office with the U.S. not involved in any foreign conflicts, the U.S. now has sanctions in place in over a third of all nations around the world, including more than 60% of “developing” nations. Jeff walks us through this increasingly central policy of worldwide economic coercion, how it shapes American imperial aims, and some intended & unintended consequences of the exponential expansion of sanctions in the 21st century. Then, we take a quick look at the state of the Veepstakes, Josh Shapiro’s whole deal, and of course, RFK Jr. and the road-kill bear. Check out Jeff’s sanctions investigation here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2024/us-sanction-countries-work/
Will, Felix & Séamus discuss western reporting on recent “unrest” in Israel that tries very hard to elide the root cause. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Felix and Alex provide some Olympics commentary by reviewing the last few Assassin’s Creed games. Plus, a return of our Animal News segment with a discussion of how much screen time captive gorillas should get. Then: Republicans get “weird,” Megyn Kelly critiques Kamala’s rise to power, Trump seems like he’s running out of gas, and Israel gets a January 6 by people demanding their soldiers’ freedom to commit sexual violence. Finally, a reading series on the phenomenon of “medbeds” and the people who hope Trump will unleash unlimited free space healing technology. Get your fresh merch restocks at: https://chapotraphouse.store/
Will, Felix & Kath discuss the moral imperative of Gaza with a new Kamala candidacy. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’re joined by streamer Hasan Piker for an honestly unprecedented news round-up. Joe Biden is OUT of the Presidential race (and possibly dead??), and Kamala Harris is now the presumptive nominee. Mere days after avoiding getting his head blown off by millimeters, it appears Donald Trump has LOST the mandate of heaven. And Trump’s VP pick, as recently as last week a symbolic football-spike in a race presumed already won, is rapidly deflating when put in front of real people. All that plus Lord of the Rings and Aarons Sorkin reading series inside! Watch Hasan daily on Twitch at: https://www.twitch.tv/hasanabi Merch restocked at https://chapotraphouse.store/
I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT AND THEY SHOT AT ME! Kath joins us today to review a somewhat eventful week, from Trump’s shooting and the various reactions to it, to more extremely statesmanlike appearances from Joe Biden, to ol’ JD from the holler makin’ it all the way to vice presidential nominee, we’ve got a lot to go over. PLUS, we’re joined for a bonus interview by Middle Tennessee DSA’s Mina Parkinson to hear about their project abolishing medical debt through QUILT, as well as the right-wing Daily Wire led assault on sexual education and books in general in the Volunteer State. AND: Live show at the DNC with True Anon. Park West Chicago, August 21st. Tickets on sale TODAY, JULY 16th, at 10am CST. This link should go live then, get your tickets asap! https://www.axs.com/events/629724/chapo-x-trueanon-live-at-the-dnc-tickets NEW MERCH SHOP UP AT: www.chapotraphouse.store All links for QUILT projects, DONATE NOW: Campaign Page: quilt-tn.com/debt QUILT Website: quilt-tn.com QUILT Instagram: @quilt_tn DSA Middle TN Instagram: @MidTN DSA Follow Mina @getinthedevice
We’re joined by Ryan Grim & Jeremy Scahill of the NEW independent journalism venture Drop Site News. We look at how the Biden campaign meltdown has pushed the war in Palestine out of the news, and the relationship between Biden’s long history of bad policies and the current crises he’s leading. Plus, mainstream media’s failed coverage of both topics, and some Drop Site reporting on Democratic megadonors gives a glimpse into Joe Biden’s aggrieved and petty motivations. Support Jeremy & Ryan’s independent journalism and check out Drop Site at: https://dropsitenews.com/
As a special endcap to this season of Movie Mindset, Will, Hesse & Chris interview the director of Repo Man, Sid & Nancy, Walker and many others, the great Alex Cox. They discuss the Los Angeles of Repo Man, his visual style, his approach to making “political” films, and various genres, writers, and actors he admires. And of course, we get to the bottom of who killed JFK. Alex is currently crowdfunding what may be his last movie, “My Last Movie” on Kickstarter. Please consider kicking in and becoming one of the dead souls: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/alexcoxfilms/my-last-movie Find the rest of this season of Movie Mindset, including our episode on Repo Man, on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/collection/510340?view=expanded
Last week’s stunningly bad debate and a few shocking Supreme Court rulings have rapidly taken the 2024 Presidential Race into relatively unprecedented waters. We’ve assembled the CTH election unit of reporter Dave Weigel and analyst Josh aka Ettingermentum to survey the state of the race, Joe Biden’s quickly diminishing outlook, and potential surprise outcomes that may lay ahead. Plus, key tips and tricks to master your playthrough of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Find Dave’s reporting at Semafor here: https://www.semafor.com/author/david-weigel Find the Ettingermentum newsletter here: https://www.ettingermentum.news/
Will talks to musician and climate journalist Jael Holzman (Ekko Astral, Heatmap News) about her experience as a congressional reporter at outlets like Axios and Politico, and the conditions that led her to quit. We discuss the institutionalized bias against accurate reporting on topics like climate change and trans rights & healthcare, the outrageous complacency with baseless stories from the likes of LibsofTikTok, and other incidents of casual “lavender scare” that permeate the D.C. press corp. Check out Jael’s medium post on quitting congressional journalism here: https://medium.com/@jaelholzman/why-im-leaving-congressional-journalism-ee97e2bbebf6 And get into Ekko Astral here: https://ekkoastral.bandcamp.com/album/pink-balloons
We’re joined by journalist Sharif Abdel Kouddous and filmmaker Kavitha Chekuru to discuss their new film The Night Won’t End: Biden’s War on Gaza. The film examines the lives of three families as they try to survive the continued assault on Gaza. Will and Felix discuss the film, the civilian toll of the war, the U.S. state departments continued obfuscation around civilian casualties, and the complete breakdown of international human rights law around the war. The film is available in its entirety on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECFpW5zoFXA&ab_channel=AlJazeeraEnglish
Featured player Alex Nichols returns to look at the creeping criminalization of the “edgar” haircut in Tekkkxas, the jomney sun-ization of the U.S. Navy, the state of the American “young” fascist movement, and Joe Biden’s floundering celebrity outreach program. Keep an eye out on our Patreon for a new series of Vic Berger videos covering Trump’s time away from the White House in Mar-a-Lago, premiering exclusively at pateron.com/chapotraphouse starting June 18.
We talk to Lance Oppenheim, director of Ren Faire, the new docu-series on HBO. Ren Faire looks at the drama behind the scenes of the enormous Texas Renaissance Festival. When capricious 86-year-old owner and founder “King” George Coulam attempts to retire, his underlings, the obsequious & loyal-to-a-fault Jeff and the ambitious & conniving Louie, are pitted against each other in their attempts to gain control of the park. It’s a darkly comedic real-life Shakespeare story, but it also touches on a lot of ideas about work, employment, ownership, power, performance, alienation, and an (unhealthy?) obsession with the past, all in the context of a very particular modern workplace. All three episodes of Ren Faire are available now to stream on Max (the place for HBO).
Last week, we looked at Trump’s felony convictions and the various weaknesses that brings his campaign. This week, we turn to Biden world. First, Hunter is in court on federal gun charges, leading us all to learn about his bizarre taste crack music. Then, we spend the majority of this ep reading through the absolutely addled interview Joe Biden gave to Time magazine last week. How cooked is he? Can we make sense of any of this? How could we get two candidates this bad leading their presidential tickets? We discuss all inside.
We have Alex on today to first and foremost look at newly released soda rankings. Then, we catch up on reactions to Trump’s conviction, examine the many Rubicons people are always crossing, and ask if Barron will be Augustus Batman or something. Then, two new banger campaign ads from new MAGA star Valentina Gomez. Finally, a long reading series about Erik Prince’s far-right podcast group chat, and the various good & normal opinions shared there from the many luminaries in his orbit.
Chief Chapo foreign correspondent returns to take us around the wide world of conflict. We get an update on the war in Gaza including the bombing of Rafah, the failing floating Pier, and the Biden administration's attempts to broker some kind of deal between Israel, Palestine and Saudi Arabia without gaining any concessions or movement toward peace in the process. Plus, we discuss the death or Iranian president Raisi, the situation in Ukraine, and what the hell’s going on in French New Caledonia. For more Derek: The article on Germany Derek references at the end of the pod: www.foreignexchanges.news/p/whats-the-matter-with-germany Subscribe to Foreign Exchanges: www.foreignexchanges.news And American Prestige: www.americanprestigepod.com/
We sit down with Mike Cheslik, the director of the new(ish) silent comedy action farce Hundreds of Beavers. We discuss his Wisconsin influences, ultra-DIY approach to filmmaking, making your film exactly as stupid as it needs to be, and the inherent humor of watching a guy in a mascot costume get wrecked on camera. There are still a few in-theater opportunities to catch Hundreds of Beavers: https://www.hundredsofbeavers.com/tickets/ And it’s also available for rental at home on Apple and Amazon.
The Pendejo boys are back ostensibly to cover some new Greg Abbott shenanigans out of Texas, but we also look at the ICC seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, the collapse of Red Lobster, a GOP candidate out of Missouri literally running against being “weak and gay,” and Chiefs’ kicker Harrison Butker’s redpilled address to Benedictine graduates. Find Pendejo Time wherever you get podcasts, and subscribe to their patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/pendejotime Also check out the Pendejo Time album here: https://pendejotime.bandcamp.com/album/pendejo-time
Alex is on today as we catch up with the weekend’s drama over the 2024 Eurovision song contest and ask which is more real, twitter or Eurovision (those are the only two options). Then, some disastrous new polls for the Biden campaign, Trump searches for a VP and praises Hannibal Lecter, and Bret Stephens & Gail Collins search for the true value of a commencement speech and decide it’s about telling kids to get off their damn phones. Check out WFYM radio: https://chapofym.podbean.com/
We’re joined by a former university administrator (who prefers to remain anonymous, though we have reviewed and verified their credentials) for an insider’s perspective of the current state of college administration, and a discussion of just why colleges and universities around the country are reacting with such extreme opposition and often violence to the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests. Topics include increasingly corporate university structure, internal bias against certain perspectives and student organizing, and the foreign influence over university operations.
Will talks to Anny Viloria Winnett, a UAW 4811 ASE Trustee, Graduate Student Worker at the UCLA School of Public Health, and an organizer involved with UCLA’s pro-Palestinian encampments. They discuss last week’s violent assaults on the UCLA encampments, first from a group of Zionist vigilantes and subsequently by the LAPD. They then discuss the university’s response, keeping the movement resilient and safe in the face of such opposition, and some answers for all the media who want to know “why are you here?”
Tom, Tarence and (welcome to the show!) Aaron from the Trillbillies join us for another week of horror and spectacle around the War in Gaza. We touch on the ceasefire agreement being rejected basically as we were recording, some of the clumsy NYPD PR response to last week’s Columbia raid, and the pundit class tantrum over being denied free access to interviews with protesting students. But we also have some levity, in John Fetterman’s freakout over vat meat, the Biden admin’s flaccid signaling over marijuana legalization, and Patrick Bet-David’s praise for future God-Emperor Barron. Find Trillbillies wherever you get podcasts, and subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/trillbillyworkersparty
Will & Hesse talk to Radu Jude, the director of the new comedy feature Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World. The film features an overworked production assistant as she drives around Bucharest shooting videos for a large multinational company as a satire of the malaise and indignity of modern life. Will, Hesse and Radu discuss the film’s send-up of TikTok masculinity influencers, the relationship with earlier films edited into the movie, the various versions of Romania Jude depicts and much more.. Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World is now in theaters and will be streaming on MUBI starting May 3.
Alex joins us again to catch up on the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests and the range of responses to them, from blatant attempts to provoke the protesters, to complaining about encampments ruining your teaching of silence. Then, Kristi Noem killed her dog, the defrocking of an AI priest, and Trump expressions that live in our heads. Tickets to Will & Hesse’s Movie Mindset screening & talkback of Death Wish 3 in NYC on May 4: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chapo-trap-houses-movie-mindset-screening-of-death-wish-3-w-will-hesse-tickets-877569192077
Welcome to Movie Mindset season 2! Will & Hesse look at two films somewhat bookending the career of the great James Cagney: Lloyd Bacon’s Footlight Parade (1933) & Billy Wilder’s One, Two, Three (1961). The first is a pre-code musical spectacular, allowing Cagney to show off his song and dance skills as a promoter of live “prologues” for movie houses, the later a cold war screwball comedy, together they show the insane range of Cagney across a career also notable for roles as gangsters and tough guys. But here, we get to see his work making the most racist and offensive musical numbers imaginable to a depression-era crowd, and joke-a-minute comedy chops as a beverage exec trying to keep his boss’s daughter from eloping with a Communist while opening up east Germany to the wonders of Coca-Cola. Tickets to Will & Hesse’s Movie Mindset screening & talkback of Death Wish 3 in NYC on May 4: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chapo-trap-houses-movie-mindset-screening-of-death-wish-3-w-will-hesse-tickets-877569192077
Will interviews Basil Zacharia Rodriguez, an activist and student at Columbia University involved with Columbia Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) about the ongoing demonstrations taking place there. They discuss the goals of the protests, the media response, and the University’s economic interests in both Palestinian occupation and displacing New Yorkers in Harlem. Then, Amber and Felix join to continue the discussion of the media freak-out over campus activism, as well as the trial of Donald Trump, and two reading series exploring the sexual pathologies of Spectator columnists and Rabbi Shmuley. Tickets to Will & Hesse’s Movie Mindset screening & talkback of Death Wish 3 in NYC on May 4: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chapo-trap-houses-movie-mindset-screening-of-death-wish-3-w-will-hesse-tickets-877569192077
Alex is back on with us today to catch up on MMA libertarians, bad DJs, and a rudely interrupted Billy Joel. We then discuss Iran’s weekend missile attack on Israel, and get Donald Trump’s somber and thoughtful remarks on the hallowed battle ground of Gettysburg. All this and some Valerie Bertinelli news on today’s show. NYC, MAY 4th: Join Will & Hesse for a Movie Mindset Season 2 kickoff screening & talkback of DEATH WISH 3 at Littlefield, tickets now available: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chapo-trap-houses-movie-mindset-screening-of-death-wish-3-w-will-hesse-tickets-877569192077
Will, Felix and Amber are here to look at a startling rise in assault in Gay City. Then, a more serious look at the Israeli bombing of World Central Kitchen staffers, and how it seems the ongoing tragedy in Gaza is only made legible to certain parties in Washington and the media by association with celebrity chefs. Also in this ep: more lying SEALs, a UK nudes phishing scandal, bizarre stories out of Ye’s DONDA Academy, and takes on Reacher and Shōgun. NYC, MAY 4th: Join Will & Hesse for a Movie Mindset Season 2 kickoff screening & talkback of DEATH WISH 3 at Littlefield, tickets now available: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chapo-trap-houses-movie-mindset-screening-of-death-wish-3-w-will-hesse-tickets-877569192077
Will, Felix and Amber dish on the news of the day, including the resurgence of Havana Syndrome, Erdoğan’s historic losses in recent Turkish elections, and that obnoxious article about Stanford campus activism. But honestly most of this is just riffs on Liam Neeson and Steven Seagal. Tickets to the Jaques/Chapo/Seeking Drrangements show at the Lodge Room in LA, Thursday April 4: https://www.lodgeroomhlp.com/shows/show-pig-a-live-comedy-podcast-spectacular-with-seeking-derangements/
Alex is back to look at a number of topics including: Putin’s ancient vault, the Brain podcast sex freak, UN supports ceasefire, Jewish Heaven, Trump bankrupting the RNC, Catturd’s dogs, and Royal maladies. Finally, a reading series on the Ancien Cajun, James Carville, and who still has lessons to impart on the best way for Democrats to win from that one time he let Ross Perot hand him an election. Tickets to the Jaques/Chapo/Seeking Derangements show at the Lodge Room in LA, Thursday April 4: https://www.lodgeroomhlp.com/shows/show-pig-a-live-comedy-podcast-spectacular-with-seeking-derangements/
Episode 1 and Fortune Kit’s Charles stops by the show today to look at a few real life individuals who remind us of E1 characters, including the streamer Destiny, who we’ve all seen clips of getting yelled at by Norm Finkelstein last week. We also check in on New York’s bling bishop, the Stonetoss doxxing, South Dakota Governor Kirsti Noem, and some “new” edgy Christians who like boobs, beer, & swearin’. Finally, Charles brings us some updates from one of Fortune Kit’s favorite guys, the king of “what’s a song that’s made up of notes?” vapid twitter engagement prompts, Eric Alper. Find Episode 1 & Fortune Kit wherever you get podcasts. Find Charles’ band Solipse’s music: https://solipse.bandcamp.com/track/looking-glass And the music from E1, including from The Ballad of Brewer Grouse: https://episodeone.bandcamp.com/album/the-ballad-of-brewer-grouse
We catch up on the biggest winners, losers, snubs and looks of the Illuminati Humiliation Ritual commonly known as the 96th Annual Academy Awards. Then speaking of Humiliation Rituals, we discuss the State of the Union, the response from GOP Senator Katie Britt, Mitch McConnell’s sister-in-law being killed by her own Tesla, and how Zionists are having a hard time finding a date on the apps. Catch Will, Amber & Felix on stage (and Chris at the bar) along with Girl God and Jacques from Seeking Derangements at the Lodge Room in LA Thursday, April 4: https://www.lodgeroomhlp.com/shows/show-pig-a-live-comedy-podcast-spectacular-with-seeking-derangements/ NYC people: keep an eye out for a Movie Mindset season 2 kickoff event. Not fully confirmed yet, but I’d keep May 4th open for now.
Will and Hesse review the top films of 2023 in this special Movie Mindset Oscars Preview. We go through the major Best Picture nominees, give our takes on each, and give our picks for winners in the major categories, plus some discussion of notable snubs. Also, a little preview of Movie Mindset Season 2, launching April 24th. We’ll have a blog post with a full official Season 2 schedule (plus where to stream/watch/consume options for each film) up sometime next week.
Organizers Layla Elabed and Waleed Shahid join us to discuss their recent successes with the movement to vote uncommitted against Joe Biden in the ongoing democratic primaries. They lay out their goals, how they’ve been organizing, what they feel they’ve achieved so far, and what they hope to accomplish going into the Democratic convention. If you’d like to know more or learn how to get involved, go to: https://www.listentomichigan.com/
Contributing editor for the New Republic and columnist for The Guardian Osita Nwanevu returns to the show. We look at a new New Yorker piece on Joe Biden’s last campaign, and the president’s defiant refusal to change gears, adjust policies, or really do anything to address rather dismal polling ahead of the election. Then, switching to the republicans, we look at the increasingly weird and anti-social tact of American conservatism and ask: can the modern right be assimilated into American culture? Find Osita’s newsletter here: https://www.ositanwanevu.com/ And check out the Flaming Hydra collective (featuring a lot of great writers & friends of the show) here: https://flaminghydra.com/
Blowback’s Noah Kulwin joins Will in talking to filmmakers Christian Hansen and Zachary Treitz about their new Netflix series “American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders”. Centered around the mysterious death of journalist Danny Casolaro, the sprawling story eventually touches on everything from spy software, the CIA, Native American Reservations, the mob, Iran-Contra, rail guns, and more. Catch American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders streaming now on Netflix.
Alex joins us once again to look at the news of the day, starting with a more serious look at the recent self-immolation in protest of U.S. Airman Aaron Bushnell. After that some lighter fare, with some stories of the bad Biden dog, Elizabeth Warren smoking weed with Ed Markey, and an article chronicling Biden’s stroke game going back to the 70’s. Finally, we read the big new piece on Bari Weiss’ University of Austin and its “Forbidden Courses”. Check out Fortune Kit here or wherever you get pods: https://soundcloud.com/fortune-kit And the FYM podcast here or wherever you get pods: https://chapofym.podbean.com/
Friend of the show & tech journalist Ed Zitron stops by to check in on the state of the internet. Have they cracked AI video yet? Does the VisionPro herald an en-goggled future? Just how stupid is Elon Musk, actually? We explore the end of the era of techno optimism and as our most advanced internet tech seems to aid less and abuse more. Subscribe to the Better Offline podcast here: https://www.betteroffline.com/ Find Ed’s newsletter here: https://www.wheresyoured.at/tag/newsletter/
We give our annual post-Super Bowl report rating the spectacle and the ads, including the increasing, and increasingly funny, conservative opposition to the whole idea of “football”. Plus, a review of a tough week for Joe Biden, including a new round of trepidation about his age and fitness. Finally, we look at an amazing profile of Bill Ackman, a man who manages to be such an intense Wife Guy he’s ruined his wife’s life.
Today, executive director of the Electronic Intifada Ali Abunimah joins us to discuss the war in Palestine. We cover recent attempts to delegitimize and destroy UNRWA, atrocity propaganda, evolving capabilities of Palestinian resistance, changing attitudes towards Israel in the U.S., and the life, career and death of Palestinian author Refaat Alareer. Find the Electronic Intifada here: https://electronicintifada.net/ And on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheElectronicIntifada You can find Gaza Writes Back, the short story collection edited by Refaat Alareer, here: https://justworldbooks.com/books-by-title/gaza-writes-back/
Caleb, Patrick and Cameron of Pod About List stop by to take a look at the lighter side of news. Topics include: mandatory potty training in Utah, a Chinese spy bird, dick biting, and the international crisis of cousins. Pod About List is on tour with Home Planet soon, find all their dates here: https://www.swagpoop.com/shows And check out Home Planet’s recent video “Junior Associate” featuring Pat & Caleb here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLBMKU8f6KE&ab_channel=HomePlanet
Jake and Thomas from Pendejo Time join us to look at this year’s scuffle at the Texas border, and the brave trucker patriots volunteering for Civil War 2. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Alex Nichols a.k.a. @Lowenaffchen joins us to look at a series of certified Good Mental Moments from our top politicians. Then, we transition to doing a live listen to the new Tom McDonald feat. Ben Shapiro song FACTS. Is Ben bringing Tom down? Is that an AI or is Ben really that robotic? Do you really want to be talking compound interest in your rap verse? Alex puts on his Fortune Kit hat to discuss that and more. Check out Fortune Kit here or wherever you get pods: https://soundcloud.com/fortune-kit And the FYM podcast here or wherever you get pods: https://chapofym.podbean.com/
EDIT: Original file of this episode contained some muted audio clips. File is now fixed, redownload to correct. We start off today’s episode with a farewell to the DeSantis campaign as the Never Back Down PAC backs down, and dedicates its last days to puzzling through Iowa to the Moon Palace Retreat. We discuss Biden’s general lack of a coherent position going into this long, long general campaign, and how it’s leaving his would-be defenders in the lurch. BUT, for the main thrust of this ep, we celebrate one man: The Beekeeper. Because when the hive is threatened, when the Queen is producing faulty Offspring, then there’s one man you must call. To Bee or Not To Bee? To bee, bitch. Let’s keep some bees. Tickets to Talking Simpsons at SF Sketchfest on 1/24 here: https://sfsketchfest2024.sched.com/event/1VUtV/talking-simpsons
Well, here we are, Iowa Caucus day 2024. Considering we all took several points of permanent sanity damage this time 4 years ago, what’s insane this year is how on rails this whole thing is. Nonetheless, our elections correspondent Josh (@ettingermentum) returns to update us on the state of the races for 2024. We look at how Biden’s long-term hyper-commitment to Israel affects his chances, Trump’s advantages and disadvantages in his ‘24 campaign, the RFK Jr. of it all, and the race for #2 between the rest of the GOP candidates.. Find Josh’s newsletter here: https://www.ettingermentum.news/ Tickets to Talking Simpsons at SF Sketchfest on 1/24 here: https://sfsketchfest2024.sched.com/event/1VUtV/talking-simpsons
Ryan Grim shares an anecdote about democratic congressman and party hatchet-man Josh Gottheimer from his new book on The Squad. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We had some other news items to discuss, but the bulk of this episode is taken up with one piece of breaking news: Did you know that there's a tunnel under Eastern Pkwy? Yes we’re discussing the ridiculous story out of Brooklyn about a group of Chabad-Lubavitch members attempting to dig a secret and unlicensed tunnel under the streets of Crown Heights. We also take a look at Bill Ackman facing some blowback against his wife in his crusade against “academic plagiarism”. Alone, you come India. Buy Amber’s book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250269621/dirtbag
Will and guest Séamus Malekafzali discuss the Houthi Red Sea blockade. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Stavvy baby joins us to ring in the New Year with some talk on Christmas gift-giving, review some recent comedic offerings from Israeli TV and Tucker Carlson’s X show, and finally to look at some of recent political developments in the great city of Baltimore and state of Maryland. Watch Stav’s special “Fat Rascal”, streaming now on Netflix. And listen to the Stavvy’s World podcast wherever you get podcasts.
Ben and Hesse from Seeking Derrangements stop by to cover a slew of gay-related news stories, from gay sex in the senate hearing room, to the downfall of George Santos, sex crimes among the sex-panicked Moms For Liberty, and some guys trying to build a libertarian utopia in the Mediterranean. Subscribe to Seeking Derrangements at: https://www.patreon.com/seekingderangements
After a last minute guest cancelation leaves Will in a tight spot, Hesse Deni from Seeking Derangements and Movie Mindset comes off the bench to field another slew of questions sourced from advice columns. Q's include: What to do when your mom spends too much money on premium pornography? What if your child is in school with a dark psychopath? How to defend your home from the tooth fairy and much more. Subscribe to Seeking Derangements https://www.patreon.com/seekingderangements/posts Submit Questions to the Seeking Derangements help line at 332 203 8247
TrueAnon’s Liz Franczak helps us look at this week’s GOP debate, the candidates’ pandering to the weirdest freaks in their audience, and Ron DeSantis’ love of Calvin Coolidge. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Felix is joined by Stef aka @iwrite4jacobin to discuss his investigation into Argentina’s AMIA bombing. The 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires has generated much speculation as to who the perpetrators actually were, accusations of irregularities in the investigation, suspicions of cover-ups, connections with intelligence agencies, and the probable suicide of a prosecutor related to the case. Stef takes us through the whole story and its implications for relationships between America, Israel, Iran and Argentina. Find Stef’s series of essays on the incident on Substack, starting with Part 1 here: https://whitesiadbarre.substack.com/p/interpreting-the-amia-i-peronism And follow him on twitter here: https://twitter.com/iwrite4jacobin
Sports journalist Karim Zidan returns to the show to catch up with Felix about the world of combat sports and their attendant politics. They discuss responses to Israel/Gaza in the MMA world, developments in Saudi Arabia’s use of sports for soft power, political use of fight sports in Chechnya, and the deep bromance between Dana White and Donald Trump. Find Karim's writing at: https://www.sportspolitika.news/ Follow Karim at: https://twitter.com/ZidanSports Prod note: we’re putting out two public episodes today, partially to re-align the episode numberings to keep Monday eps even and Thursday eps odd. Obviously something only I care about, but also just letting you know to expect a regular Patreon ep this Thursday.
TrueAnon’s Brace Belden returns to the show as the crew continues discussing the war in Palestine. We look at Israel’s military shortcomings, the IDF’s penile obsession, the domestic propaganda war, and some measures Biden could take we might actually support. We also touch on Gavin Newsom’s vetoing of an anti-Caste based discrimination law, and a Ron DeSantis aide who apparently willed himself to death. Catch Will at the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s 2024 Moby-Dick Marathon: https://www.whalingmuseum.org/program/moby-dick-marathon-2024/ And keep an eye on TrueAnon’s feed for an upcoming announcement that will “end politics as we know it”.
Matt begins his series on the Spanish Civil War with the wave of anti-clerical violence that engulfed the nation at the beginning of the 2nd Spanish Republic Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
To celebrate Joe Biden’s 81st birthday, we’re joined by Delaware state representative Madinah Wilson-Anton to dish about all things Delaware. Rep. Wilson-Anton leads us through Delaware’s legal peculiarities that make it ripe for international corporate malfeasance, her personal experiences with Joe Biden and his “think tank,” and some tales of Delaware politics, ranging from corporate crime, feral senate dogs, chip thievery, and lots of casual racism.
Mark Ames recounts the absurd lengths the ADL went to spying on U.S. citizens on behalf of foreign regimes, including apartheid South Africa. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Will, Felix and Amber pick up a few stories we missed last week, including Tim Scott girlfriend reveal (and campaign end), and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson’s father/son porn monitoring. We then look at a litany of increasingly absurd bungles and PR disasters from the Israeli government, all from just the last week. Pick up your copy of Amber’s new book Dirtbag here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250269621/dirtbag And find all the new Chapo offerings at our digital shop here: https://www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse/shop
Chief Foreign Policy correspondent Derek Davison returns to the show for updates on Palestine, including discussion of recent videos of Palestinian arms and tactics, the Biden administration’s response to the war, the potential for further regional conflict, and where the new American focus on Israel leaves Ukraine. Find Derek’s podcast American Prestige at: Americanprestigepod.com And find Derek’s newsletter Foreign Exchanges at: Foreignexchanges.new fx.substack.com
Felix muses on how belief in the paranormal requires all religions to be essentially true. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Author Vincent Bevins returns to the show to discuss his new book “If We Burn” covering the “mass protest decade.” We discuss global protest movements from Brazil to Tunisia to Egypt to Chile, how they’ve affected or failed to affect global politics, and how the last decade of protest and activism relates to the ongoing conflict in Palestine. You can find Vincent’s book here: www.ifweburn.com
Taking a break from heavier war topics, the Will, Felix and David discuss the new NBC show Found and how it’s sure to continue the trafficking psychosis of suburban moms everywhere. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
David J. Roth joins us this week as we continue discussing the relatively limp and unconvincing propaganda emerging around the Israel-Gaza war. Then, David gives us his review of “Moneyball” Michael Lewis’ new book on Sam Bankman-Fried, and we take a look at a new Washington Post piece chronicling Jim Jordan’s career arc from college wrestling champion to almost-Speaker of the House. David’s review of Going Infinite is here: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/10/how-michael-lewis-got-duped-by-sam-bankman-fried.html
Will & Felix continue last week’s discussion on Gaza & Palestine with further thoughts on the brutality of the unfolding conflict, reactions and narratives pushed through the American media, shifts in public opinion, and the unstable positions of Israel & America. Here are a few Palestinian aid organizations worth your support: https://www.pcrf.net/ https://www.anera.org/ https://www.map.org.uk/
Journalist Mohammad Alsaafin returns to the show to cover the unprecedented new developments in the Israel-Gaza conflict. The piece from Séamus Malekafzali mentioned in the episode: https://www.seamus-malekafzali.com/p/a-siege-broken The playlist of AJ+ videos on Palestine Mohammad recommends at the end of the episode: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZd3QRtSy5LNqTTQagN3IgbqVPtEIQOp1
Will & Hesse bring you Horrotober Ghoulvie Screamset, a selection of Horror film bangers for this October. We start with two all-time classics of the genre: George Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead (1968) and Tobe Hooper’s “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974). Both films redefined the genre into heightened levels of gruesome nihilism, creating vivid reflections of charnel-house America while serving up ghouls galore for your puerile titillation. As always, the first episode of this miniseries is free for all to listen, all subsequent episodes will be for subscribers only at: www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We are back. What a week to take a break, huh? We catch up on Nazi officers in Canadian parliament, Sen. Bob “Goldbar” Menendez, Sen. Dianne “RIP” Feinstein, an assortment of madcap Trump statements, China repossesses its Pandas, and more. Thank you for bearing with us through all of this. Programming should continue as usual now. Movie Mindset Halloween Edition starts this Wednesday 10/4/23, and we have some more surprise treats coming to the Patreon when that’s wrapped up in November. If you’d like to join Will & Hesse this October 30th for screenings of The Fog and Halloween III at the Roxy Cinema in NYC, ticket links here: The Fog: https://www.roxycinemanewyork.com/screenings/the-fog/ Halloween III: https://www.roxycinemanewyork.com/screenings/halloween-iii-season-of-the-witch/
An important announcement about the show. https://www.patreon.com/posts/89694571
We cover a spurt of stories about politicians being horny, starting with of course Lauren Boebert’s broadway handy. Then, have you seen this plane?: the air force loses an F-35 somewhere in South Carolina. Finally, we have a reading series on Mitt Romney’s self-mythologizing retirement announcement that eventually morphs into a rumination on the fate of empires.
The creators of HBO’s Telemarketers discuss the Fraternal Order of Police’s involvement in a billion dollar telemarketing scam. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Forgetful 9/11 to all our listeners. We start today’s show with an examination of the various kinks of American states. Then: Elon aka Mr. Too-Damn-Cap claims to have disabled starlink to scuttle a drone attack in Ukraine; and a chronical of the various humiliations Rudy aka Mr. Too-Damn-9/11 has suffered lately. Finally, a harrowing piece on the private companies attempting to foist metaverse VR into children's education. Link to Karl Stevens’ and Jaime Lee Curtis’ new graphic novel Will plugs at the end of the show: https://bookshop.org/p/books/mother-nature-jamie-lee-curtis/18322363?ean=9781787739130
We’re joined by @ettingermentum to discuss Ron DeSantis’s prodigious dick riding skills, and how he compares unfavorably to America’s other Dick-Rider-In-Chief, LBJ. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We hope everyone had a nice labor day.. Today, we’ve got and episode of rivalries: Musk vs. the ADL, the Schlapps vs. Demonic possession, Men (all) vs. Houseplants, Diarrhea vs. Air Travel, and Techno-Libertarians vs. Mud.
A week late, but we finally get a moment to review the Trump mugshot and the conservative insistence it raises his “street cred”. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Brendan & Noah a.k.a. The Blowback Boys stop by to discuss their new podcast season, covering 40+ years of covert crimes and international disorder flowing through Afghanistan. We discuss the emergence of political Islam, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Safari Club, BCCI, Charlie Wilson’s War, Rambo III and much more. Find all things Blowback & subscribe here: https://blowback.show/ Find Ben Clarkson’s amazing animated trailer, discussed in this episode, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb0r5aWGkCI NYC: Will & Hesse will be hosting a special Movie Mindset 35mm print screening of Howard Hawks’ RIO BRAVO on Saturday, September 2nd at the Roxy Theater! Tix here: https://www.roxycinemanewyork.com/screenings/rio-bravo/
Our live show from Toronto on 8/17. We pitch North American unification, review some Canadian history, and take you on a tour of the various freaks and goofs of Canadian media.
We talk to Alex Press about her reporting on the ongoing WGA & SAG-AFTRA strikes, with additional commentary from some of the striking entertainment workers we met on the picket lines in LA and NYC. Special thanks to the following for speaking to us: Bex Taylor-Klaus Catherine Schetina Jess McKenna John Hodgman Max Calder Read Alex's piece on the strikes in Jacobin here: https://jacobin.com/2023/07/hollywood-writers-actors-strike-studios-streaming
We’re joined by Justin Comer and Evan Jones of the Rock Hard Caucus podcast for their on-the-ground report from this year’s Iowa State Fair. Over the course of two days, Justin & Evan endured the brutal heat and hog stench of the Des Moines fairgrounds to see Mike Pence, Francis Suarez, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Marianne Williamson, RFK Jr. and more, all live and in the flesh. We get their takes on the Iowa political scene, what candidates can convincingly appear to be regular humans, and which of these freaks are worth paying attention to, if any. Find all things Rock Hard Caucus here: https://rockhardcauc.us/ And their Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/rockhardcaucus CANADA: this is your final chance to get tickets to Toronto on 8/17 and Montreal on 8/19! https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live
The boys discuss how Eric Adams deluge of lies are in fact a zen-like annihilation of self as New York’s Mayor ascends to a higher plane of being. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
A chance meeting of Will & Hesse at a screening in NYC brings you a special bonus episode of Movie Mindset. In lieu of covering this summer’s cinematic event of Barbie/Oppenheimer, we discuss two westerns by American movie master Howard Hawks: 1959’s Rio Bravo and 1966’s El Dorado. We examine the essential place of The Western in American consciousness, and how the western is essentially about taking a bath with the homies.
Host of The Adam Friedland Show, Adam Friedland, returns to the show with a real alpha energy, asserting dominance of the podcast space with his new Talk Show Hosting kino. We discuss good food, old friends, work, war, being on the computer and much more. Subscribe to The Adam Friedland Show: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAdamFriedlandShow https://www.patreon.com/cumtown/posts CANADA: Toronto is basically sold out, but tickets still available for the Montreal show on Sat. Aug 19. https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live
Matt expounds on the relative weakness of Biden as a candidate, even after further Trump indictments. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
David J. Roth returns to break down the MLB’s new pitch clock rule, Shohei Ohtani’s amazing season, and the Mets terribl- no, we’re not doing a baseball ep! We’re getting David’s takes on DeSantis’ amazing fail record & disgusting personal habits, the relative retail political strength of the GOP bench, and our need for a new WPA to put conservatives to work creating Broadway 2. Find more David Roth over at https://defector.com/
We discuss Biden’s declining ability to control & name his dogs. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’re talking normal guy stuff today, from embracing bronze age masculinity from a certain Pervert, to new perversions from a certain modern masculinity advocate. Also on the docket: Israel loses the Times editorial board, and Matt & Felix are held accountable for their deep state ties and banana crimes. CANADA: Toronto is basically sold out, but tickets still available for the Montreal show on Sat. Aug 19. https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live
Chris talks to the creators of The Venture Bros. about their new series-finale movie, and two decades of creating one of the best, funniest & most unique shows on TV. The Venture Bros.: Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart is out on Digital today, 7/21, and coming to Blu-ray on 7/25. This interview was conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Ancient Israeli artifacts end up stolen at Mar-a-Lago. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Edit: sorry just realized this was accidentally set to "private" on soundcloud for two days and no one said anything about. rare "audience not complaining enough" moment. -cw We examine the continued agonies of Catturd, Charlie Kirk’s incompetent racism, RFK Jr’s donor fart party, and of course the quickly collapsing DeSantis campaign. Did DeSantis say “mmm…hungwy”? Well, empirically the answer is no, but spiritually the answer is yes. Tickets for our live shows in BOTH Montreal and Toronto available here at https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live
Jacques shares his secret ingredient for real cajun Gumbo. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Our review of the feel-good sleeper indie hit of the summer, Astroid Cit- no, it's the new Jim Caviezel-starring anti-trafficking movie “The Sound of Freedom” Tickets for our live shows in BOTH Montreal and Toronto available here at https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live
The boys discuss the increasingly complex and inexplicable lies of NYC Mayor Eric Adams. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Happy holiday weekend, sorry we’re a bit late. To give them credit, the dry boys actually rallied to record as usual on Monday, this time it’s Chris who’s been off grilling and chilling in the woods. Anyway, we’ve got takes on the recent Supreme Court rulings, Twitter’s continued degradation, and drama among the loser nerds behind the DeSantis campaign. Tickets for our live shows in BOTH Montreal and Toronto available here at https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live
We discuss medical licensing as it relates to the proliferation of quack medicine, and the relatively low number of practicing doctors in the U.S. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Will & Hesse describe the meeting of Corey and Vogel in Le cercle rouge. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
The boys look at the Wagner Group failed(?) coup(??) of Russia(???) over the weekend(????). Then, some more on the submarine disaster, RFK Jr. and the people who believe current events as a factor of time’s linear progression are, in general, a “psyop”. TORONTO: tickets still available to our show there Thursday, August 17: https://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/10005ED4F0FB3932 Our friends Steven Donziger and Chris Smalls in association with Little Secret LA are going on tour this summer, find dates and tickets here: https://www.littlesecretla.org/hotlaborsummertour
Frustrated with the current state of popular film, the boys pitch “Pixar’s Sodas”. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Will and Hesse discuss the transcendent sequence of Gene Hackman striking gold in Nicolas Roeg’s Eureka (1983). Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We take some dirty talk tips from Rudy Giuliani’s emails; Consider our lost Submariners; Discuss RFK Jr.’s campaign requiring us to do homework; and imagine Ron DeSantis as one of Jesus’ disciples. NEW SHOW DATES! We will be in Canada this August: Thursday, August 17 - Toronto - Danforth Music Hall Saturday August 19 - Montreal - Corona Theater Tickets will be available for Patreon pre-order on Thursday, June 22nd and available for general public sale Friday, June 23rd. Watch for a Patreon blog post with more details. AND! We now have some collections of themed episode packs available for purchase on our new Patreon Digital Shop! Head over the patreon.com/chapotraphouse/shop to find collections of all our premium Movie Review episodes, all of Matt’s Inebriated Past Episodes + the Poppy series, and all of our TV review episodes + Felix’s This Is Sus series available for individual purchase.
We look at Trump’s response to his federal indictment, and how he still manages to outswag Ron Dion DeSantis. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Will and Hesse discuss Burt Lancaster in the 1957 classic The Sweet Smell of Success. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Today we’re joined by journalist Ben Terris, who’s been sort of shadow-programming the show recently with his pieces on Sean McElwee, Diane Feinstein’s staff, Tommy Tuberville’s advisors and questions about Tim Scott’s virginity. We discuss Trump’s federal indictment over the “boxes hoax,” and the growing feeling that ol’ Donny might possibly maybe finally be kind of fucked. Then we talk to Ben about his new book “The Big Break,” and learn more about all the McElwee-esque DC creeps, weirdos and gamblers he’s come to know investigating the world of post-Trump Washington. You can find Ben’s book here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/ben-terris/the-big-break/9781538708057/?lens=twelve
We discuss Hunter Biden’s relationship with his lawyers. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Will, Hesse and Brendan James discuss Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s 2002 film Bright Future. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Today we’re joined by Professor Corey Robin, author of "The Reactionary Mind" and "The Enigma of Clarence Thomas," for a conversation all about one of the most powerful reactionaries in the world: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. We discuss the origins and contours of his conservative ideology, and how they reflect the development of race, class, law, power, conservatism and liberalism over his lifetime. You can pick up "The Enigma of Clarence Thomas" here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781627793834/theenigmaofclarencethomas
Will, Hesse and John Semley review Clint Eastwood’s 1983 Dirty Harry film Sudden Impact. Go ahead, make my day. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We take a look at Barack Obama’s new Netflix series “Working: What We Do All Day,” in which the former president examines the various trials, indignities and inequities of American work life and avoids asking: did I do that?
We cover Ron DeSantis’ disastrous Twitter campaign launch. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Will, Hesse and E1's Andrew Hudson discuss Robert Altman's 1971 revisionist Western classic “McCabe & Mrs. Miller.” Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Debt ceiling showdown, losers of the Republican primaries, Pete Buttigieg’s Mind Cathedral, yes, yes, but we must focus on what’s really important: The Orcas are now in open revolt, and we need to strategize support for our cetacean brothers and sisters. LAST DAY to buy this round of merch from us, get it while it’s available: https://represent.com/store/chapo-trap-house
Will, Hesse and Dan Boeckner review 1956’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
It’s Ted Lasso, folks! Yes, after many years of consternation around this show in the Discourse, many requests for review (and Will watching a bunch of that Good Doctor show and reporting back it was actually pretty ok), we decided to take a look at this footballing Yank and his relentless positivity. So, here’s our review of Ted Lasso and what it’s psychotic cheeriness says about TV and America.
We discuss Biden’s age as a factor in the 2024 election. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Blake Masters (NOT THAT ONE, Blake is the creator of Showtime’s Brotherhood, and writer for Rubicon, Law & Order: LA, and Falling Water among many other shows) joins us to discuss the ongoing WGA writers’ strike. Will and Blake touch on the transforming landscape of Television, fair compensation in the age of streaming, standing creative professionals’ ground against AI, and how entertainment unions fit into the larger world of American organized labor. And also, how all TV writing eventually leads back to Columbo.
Enjoy the first 6 minutes of Will and Hesse's review of Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity (1944). Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We cover some breaking 17th century news and look at the race car driving heir to the House of Habsburg, as well as the coronation of King Charles III, for a little modern-day Hell on Earth. Then, keeping with the theme of gratuitous puff-pieces in the Times, we look at “Liz” Holmes attempt to rebrand herself as a gee-shucks everyday mom and family woman ahead of her sentencing for medical fraud. Finally, we catch up on the ever-mounting corruption in the Supreme Court, and what our elected officials will fail to do about it. The piece about heart transplants Felix mentions in this: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/18/opinion/heart-transplant-donor.html New merch, including Hell on Earth designs and re-stocked Zapata Oil hats, available for order through May 24th here: https://represent.com/store/chapo-trap-house
We discuss responses to the killing of Jordan Neely on the NYC subway, including the complete absence of any realistic state responsibility to address the intersecting and accelerating crises involved. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes. www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Enjoy the first 10 minutes of Movie Mindset episode 2. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We plan out what builds we’re going with using items from King Charles’ upcoming coronation. Then, we compare and contrast visions of masculinity within the Republican party using the models presented by Donald Trump and Josh Hawley, and start forecasting what the Trump v. Biden match-up might look like. Plus, we’ve got new Epstein revelations, and an update on a classic bit of William F. Buckley lore. New merch now available here: https://represent.com/store/chapo-trap-house Hell on Earth: The Original Podcast Soundtrack now available here: https://chapotraphouse.bandcamp.com/album/hell-on-earth-original-podcast-soundtrack
727 Teaser - Guantanamo Ron We look at Ron DeSantis’ freakout when asked about his history administering Guantanamo Bay’s torture program. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Welcome to Movie Mindset! In this inaugural episode, Will and Hesse guide you through two of the collaborations between director Tony Scott and star Denzel Washington, Man on Fire (2004) & Deja Vu (2006). Join us as the ultimate auteur of the action-thriller meets the ultimate American leading man in these two propulsive explorations of justice, time, duty, depression, vengeance, destiny and sick-ass explosions. This first episode of Movie Mindset is available for free anywhere you get podcasts. Subsequent episodes will be released exclusively for Chapo Trap House subscribers on Patreon at patreon.com/chapotraphouse.
We’re joined by author Lauren Oyler to discuss her new Harper’s article about her experience going on a cruise centered around Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP brand. We discuss performative crying, serial killer branded work-outs, vagina-themed everything, and selling self-actualization. Then, we catch up on an eventful few days in the media, with Musk’s Twitter checkpocalypse, and Tucker & Don Lemon getting the axe at Fox & CNN respectively.
We talk to beverage journalist Dave Infante about Bang! Energy’s wacky CEO Jack Owoc, and the rise of sodas intended to purify your mind on the market. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’re joined by the creative team behind the new film How To Blow Up A Pipeline (director Daniel Goldhaber, co-writer/producer/star Ariela Barer, co-writer/producer Jordan Sjol & producer/editor Dan Garber) to discuss their work on the movie. Will talks to the crew about adapting the non-fiction book to narrative film, developing characters’ sense of political motivation, the value and nature of propaganda, and of course, bombs. Then, Felix and Matt join back up to look at Biden’s recent trip to Ireland, and read from Spiked magazine’s lament of the President’s “woke conquest of Ireland”. There may be tickets left for the late show of our screening of John Carpenter’s “In The Mouth of Madness” at the Roxy Cinema on April 27th, come thru. Will and Hesse will be speaking at both screenings: https://www.roxycinemanewyork.com/screenings/chapo-trap-house-movie-mindset-presents-in-the-mouth-of-madness-35mm/
On our nation’s vulnerable teens receiving questionable Uncle-guidance (and military intelligence) through Discord leaks. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
New details about Clarence Thomas’ billionaire benefactor Harlan Crow keep coming to light, forcing us to contemplate new questions like: What do Lenin, Mao and Hagrid’s Hut have in common? And, do Hitler’s napkins force us to confront the evil in the hearts of men? We contemplate this plus: DeSantis flails, Kanye’s school has no stairs, and the Dalai Lama sucks tongue. All this and more on today’s ep. Should be a few tickets left for the late show of our screening of John Carpenter’s “In The Mouth of Madness” at the Roxy Cinema on April 27th, come thru. Will and Hesse will be speaking at both screenings: https://www.roxycinemanewyork.com/screenings/chapo-trap-house-movie-mindset-presents-in-the-mouth-of-madness-35mm/
We dig into one of the key sources for the Clarence Thomas corruption story. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’re joined by wonk whiz-kid @ettingermentum to discuss some of his recent elections analysis. We take a look at how today’s arraignment might affect Trump’s 2024 outlook, the electoral history of transphobia for the GOP, and analyze the art of losing from some recent Democratic stars. Follow @ettingermentum on Twitter And subscribe to his very good Substack here: https://ettingermentum.substack.com/ And keep an eye out for his livestreams at: http://twitch.tv/zevonmentum NYC! We are doing a special Movie Mindset mini-series launch party & screening of a 35 mm print of John Carpenter’s “In The Mouth of Madness” on Thursday, April 27th at the Roxy Cinema, followed by a special talk back pod recording with Will & Hesse. Tickets here: https://www.roxycinemanewyork.com/screenings/chapo-trap-house-movie-mindset-presents-in-the-mouth-of-madness-35mm/ And submit any questions for a Hell on Earth wrap up stream and/or ep over at calls@chapotraphouse.com
Part of our live reactions to the breaking news of Donald Trump’s indictment. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’re joined by author and scholar Norman Finkelstein to discuss his new book “I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get To It,” as well as a candid discussion of the political situation in Israel, the modern left, Obama’s legacy, and our old friend Alan Dershowitz. Find “I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get To It” here: https://itascabooks.com/products/ill-burn-that-bridge-when-i-get-to-it-heretical-thoughts-on-identity-politics-cancel-culture-and-academic-freedom
Libby Watson explains how many states are able to seize the estates of Medicaid users after their deaths. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’re joined by Celebrity Jeopardy! champion Ike Barinholtz to discuss Donald Trump’s potentially imminent arrest, the dismal state of the metaverse, the anti-vaxer quest for clean seed, and Ike’s new series with da god Mel Brooks, History of the World, Part II. Check out, History of the World, Part II, streaming now on Hulu: https://press.hulu.com/shows/history-of-the-world-part-ii/
Will talks to Betsy and Gloria, two LA public school teachers, ahead of the three-day teachers’ strike planned to begin this Tuesday. They discuss their demands, the conditions in the schools, engaging the local community, and challenges from the LA school district superintendent. Support the UTLA & SEIU 99 through the links here: https://linktr.ee/ctowne1115?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=c4187339-a6f3-459a-9e58-874764f6c580
Professor Richard Wolff returns to the show for an economic update on inflation, employment, student debt, China, and the U.S.’s future role in the world. For more from Prof Wolff, subscribe to Democracy at Work on YouTube: youtube.com/democracyatwrk And find all the info on Economic Update here: https://www.democracyatwork.info/economicupdate
We discuss Russian Private Military Contractors the Wagner Group recent attempts to recruit via ads on PornHub. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
As the institutions of the Commonwealth fail to cohere, politics descend into conspiracy theory and culture war. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’ve got the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, saber rattling over a war against Mexican cartels, plus we meet a delightful new character out of the great state of Tennessee, wish a bittersweet farewell to an old friend, and FINALLY take those damn smoke detectors down a peg or two. All that and a side of meat salad in today’s ep.
Prof. Richard Wolff uses a historical analogy to analyze America’s future role in the world. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Will and Hesse (@ZeroSuitCamus, @SSDERANGEMENTSS) review the films of 2022 in this special Academy Awards preview. This is also “episode 0” of our next mini-series, MOVIE MINDSET, in which Will and Hesse will give you the keys to unlock true movie consciousness. Series coming late April, details inside.
The 17th century lyin’ fake news media helps seal King Charles I’s fate. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Beloved returning guest Brandon Wardell and soon-to-be-fan-favorite Jamel Johnson stop by to take a look at Mexican Elves, discuss if our penises are shriveling OR growing too much & celebrate Women’s History Month by praising the men who support them. And after that lineup, we address the real question of the week: Should women date podcasters? Brandon and Jamel have a new show, the Brandon Jamel Show. It’s out now wherever you get podcasts, links below: Pod: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brandon-jamel-show/id1675920175 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thebrandonjamelshow Insta: https://instagram.com/thebrandonjamelshow?igshid=NTdlMDg3MTY= Links to Brandon’s live shows here: https://linktr.ee/Brandonwardell
Matt proposes an elegant solution for solving the elite university culture issue. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
One final offensive reveals what the war had really been about. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’re joined by friend of the show Will Sommer to discuss his new book “Trust the Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America”. We discuss the full shape of the conspiracy/movement now 5 years into its run, its effect on those who follow it, and where it might go from here. As well as all the bizarre cultural references, micro-celebrities & criminals that fill out the movement. Pick up Will’s book here: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/trust-the-plan-will-sommer?variant=40493482541090 And listen to Will’s podcast Fever Dreams here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fever-dreams/id1558716930
Hell comes to Germany. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We give a slightly premature send-of to President Carter. Then, Nikki Haley enters the GOP primaries, WaPo ranks democratic primary possibilities, and MTG reveals she’s maybe the only congresswoman losing money on the job. Finally, we take a look at two journalists who are terrified at the possibility of being seduced & destroyed by Microsoft’s terrifying Bing AI.
We’re joined by comics artists Ben Clarkson and Matt Bors to unpack the infamous virtual sex scene from DEMOLITION MAN. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Will talks to David Sirota of The Lever about the disastrous train derailment and toxic event in East Palestine, Ohio. They discuss national train policy, corporate responsibility, erosion of railway labor and safety protections, and of course, Pete Buttigieg’s Transportation department. Follow David's work at The Lever: https://www.levernews.com/
Gustavus Adolphus' shocking victory at Breitenfeld gives the Protestant alliance its first W in twelve years of war. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We discuss the increasingly bizarre obsession around “objects” being shot down in the sky, as well as the insane circumstance around the toxic event in Ohio (and we will have more on that later this week). Then, our annual review of the Super Bowl broadcast & advertising spectacle. Finally, we answer your Valentine’s day call-in questions! And, a note from Felix: Hey, this is Felix and I just wanted to get more eyes on my sister Lucy's incredible writing. she most recently put out this essay on the ephemeral and sad nature of devices in our lives that elucidates concepts that I have been struggling to articulate on the show. Please subscribe! thank you https://open.substack.com/pub/lucydiamondb/p/41-one-november-night-15-years-ago?r=3k2uk&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
We discuss the ongoing toxic event in Ohio, and how people take their international threat cues from Tom Clancy Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
A miracle at Wimpfen further sets back the Protestant cause, forcing them to look abroad for new members of their coalition. Subscribe today for the full episode and the rest of the series at patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’re joined by Bomani Jones, host of Game Theory on HBO, to discuss pro-sports and labor, including NFL player health in the wake of Damar Hamlin’s recent hospitalization, and NBA player bargaining power. We also briefly touch on the rapid rise of sports gambling and of course, who we’ve got for this Sunday’s Big Game. Then, the boys are all together in LA this week and catch up on the Chinese Balloon, Kamala Harris, the Grammys, our favorite unfinished TV commercial storylines, the Book of Job, and more. Follow Bomani at @Bomani_Jones and watch Game Theory with Bomani Jones Friday's at 11pm on HBO and HBO Max.
We discuss Ron DeSantis’ war on books and its potential national popularity. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
The Defenestration of Prague sets the stage for protestant confrontation of the Habsburgs, but what prince would be foolhardy enough to take their crown? Subscribe today for the full episode and the rest of the series at patreon.com/chapotraphouse
A grab-bag of topics today: A novel idea for fixing policing from the Slow Boring blog; Eric Adams has a rat problem; Priest goes to hell; TikTok ban on the horizon; Prince Andrew in the tub; Andrew Tate’s jail posts.
Will and Felix are joined by Kath Krueger to look into the insanity and enduring appeal of Law and Order: SVU. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Spasms of confessional violence rock Europe, setting the stage for the greater conflict to come. Subscribe today for the full episode and the rest of the series at patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We get a taste of the old Trump magic through his beautiful eulogy for one of his most loyal supporters, the wonderful Diamond. Then, we check in with America’s police forces through a(nother) unhinged new Sheriffs movement, and a cop who claims to to be able to discern 911 callers’ guilt through the tone of their voices. Finally, it’s time for a little Game of Thrones theory.
We discuss the good and cool new beliefs generated by TikTok. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Violent dynastic rivalries start knitting together financial and state apparatuses through a series of brutal wars in Italy. Subscribe today for the full episode and the rest of the series at patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’re joined by AJ+ journalist Mohammad Alsaafin to discuss the newly formed Israeli government, the state of Palestinian resistance, and of course, Mideast politics vis-à-vis the recent World Cup. Follow Mohammad on Twitter at @malsaafin
We’re joined by our pod-father Bryan Quinby to discuss the topic that brought us all together in the first place: Butt TV. Subscribe to the new home of all your Quinby Content: https://www.patreon.com/MurderXBryan
We’re joined by journalist Mohammad Alsaafin to discuss the state of Palestinian resistance to the newly formed Israeli government. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
A man, a hammer, a nail, a door, history. Martin Luther sets off the protestant reformation and lays the groundwork for a century of violence in Europe. This first episode of Hell on Earth: The Thirty Years War and the Violent Birth Capitalism is available for free. Subsequent episodes will be released exclusively for Chapo Trap House subscribers on Patreon at patreon.com/chapotraphouse. Interactive atlas, bibliography and credits for the series can be found at: hellonearth.chapotraphouse.com
We’re joined by Ben and Hesse of Seeking Derangements to look at the bungled coup in Brazil, Matt Schlapp’s sexual harassment accusations and prince Harry’s explosive new book about getting frostbite on his dick. Finally, we read a New York Post story about parents whose kids hate them so much they have to hire deprogrammers. LINKS+PLUGS: Seeking Derangements patreon: https://www.patreon.com/seekingderangements Hell on Earth launch party, Littlefield, NYC 1/20/23: https://littlefieldnyc.com/event/?wfea_eb_id=479703214227 And Introducing DJ night, Elsewhere, NYC 1/18/23: https://www.elsewherebrooklyn.com/events/night-rippers-presented-by-audio-video-disco-18th-jan-the-loft-new-york-tickets Talking Simpsons @ SF Sketchfest feat. Matt, 1/25/23: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/talking-simpsons-10p-seating-tickets-500829052177
We discuss possible GOP candidates for Speaker of the House in the deadlocked 118th US Congress. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
It’s finally time to return to Pandora: we review Avatar: The Way of Water. James Cameron expands and improves on his otherworldly saga of colonization and resistance in about every conceivable way, including revolutionary whale violence, CRAB MECHS, and competing visions of eternal life, one blessed & one damned. Saddle up your Skimwing and join us once again in this consciousness-raising blockbuster fantasy world of blue guys. Tickets for the Hell on Earth launch show/party @ Littlefield in NYC 1/20/23 here: https://littlefieldnyc.com/event/?wfea_eb_id=479703214227
From our best-of compilation of our recent fall tour, we introduce Stav to the world of Rod Dreher live at the NYC show. Subscribe today for access to the full episode and all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
In a sequel of sorts to one of our most beloved movie & holiday episodes, we enter a fantastic & amazingly realized world that could only spring from the singular genius of one of cinema’s great auteurs.
We meet GOP representative-elect George Santos and his various lies, frauds, deceits and impersonations. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Our good friends Liz and Brace of TrueAnon stop by to help us send off The Year of the Smile. We discuss their mini-series on Synanon, a substance rehabilitation program turned violent cult, and how it relates to all sorts of American phenomenon: from 1950’s acid tests to the modern Troubled Teen Industry. We also discuss the state of our collapsing tech/media infrastructure, the Epstein case, and why the government should begin issuing quests to citizens. Check out TrueAnon’s excellent miniseries The Game starting here: https://soundcloud.com/trueanonpod/the-game-part-1-dopefiend, and the rest on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TrueAnonPod Tickets for the Hell on Earth launch show/party @ Littlefield in NYC 1/20/23 here: https://littlefieldnyc.com/event/?wfea_eb_id=479703214227
The gang looks at Trump’s new line of NFT trading cards. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We review the year in Podcasts, according to the New York Times. Then, Sinema flips, the Young Republicans present the Allen Dulles award, and the CIA has a mental wellness problem. Finally, some movie mindset recommendations for your holiday season. Hell on Earth launch show/party @ Littlefield 1/20/23, tickets here: https://littlefieldnyc.com/event/?wfea_eb_id=479703214227 Matt w/ Talking Simpsons podcast, Live at SF Sketchfest, 1/25/23, tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/talking-simpsons-tickets-210772966617 Hell on Earth Bibliography/Reading List Here: https://www.chapotraphouse.com/hell
The crew discusses the recent attempt from a German Qanon-affiliated group to overthrow the German government and install Heinrich XIII Prince of Reuss as kaiser. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Our old friend Elon Musk* calls in to give us some updates on company policy and future projects from Twitter HQ. Then we’re joined by Ryan Broderick, author of the Garbage Day newsletter, to discuss all things online, from the woes of politicized moderation, to a future without Twitter, to the many ethical & technological horrors presented by new AI technology. Find Ryan’s great newsletter about the Internet here: https://www.garbageday.email/ *James Adomian
Will talks to Ross Grooters, co-chair of Railroad Workers United, Deven Mantz of BMWED Teamsters, and Jonah Furman of Labor Notes about the tentative agreement being forced on railroad workers, the demands of the unions, and where organizing goes from here. Visit www.railroadworkersunited.org to support the union.
Ben McKenzie stops by to talk Crypto, and the boys reflect on old billionaire philanthropy vs. modern billionaire philanthropy. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We start off with some Law & Order: SVU talk that flows into a discussion of crime paranoia that cost the Democrats the house in suburban Long Island. Then, America’s epidemic of loneliness and corrupt hustlers trying to scam people into unnecessary for-profit hospice care. Grim! So we lighten up the back half of the ep with some more listener questions.
We catch up with World Cup news, engage in some vile orientalism about Qatar, and take a look at American colleges and universities partnering with gambling sites to wring some more profit out of their students and sports programs. Then, an in-depth reading series on a Peter Thiel-aligned movement of eugenics, biological optimization, “secular Calvinism,” and more dubious effective altruism, all wrapped up in one couple and their plans to out-breed the world. Find all of the programming and subscriber announcements mentioned at the end of the episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/announcing-hell-74753159
Hinge Points is back for a new season, baby! This first ep is free, but expect new episodes for the next 5 Thursdays, only at patreon.com/chapotraphouse. Matt and Danny Bessner (from American Prestige) invite Chris to discuss the question: What if Doggerland (the area of land between Britain and France) was never filled in with water?
Coming Jan 11th from Chapo Trap House: HELL ON EARTH: The Thirty Years War & The Violent Birth of Capitalism In this special preview mini-sode, Matt and Chris discuss their new history podcast series, coming soon exclusively on patreon.com/chapotraphouse.
We’ve got more midterms wrap up as Dems clinch the senate, Kari Lake goes down in Arizona, and Blake Masters’ school shooter campaign ads resurface. Then, we round up the first few weeks of Elon’s Twitter takeover and the FTX collapse, two more massive frauds of the billionaire class apparently destined for self-destruction. Finally, a eulogy for one of the Grand Broads of conservative media.
In the wake of the ‘22 midterms, the boys look at the prospects of Trump v. DeSantis as the future of the GOP. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’re joined by QAnon Anonymous’ Julian Feeld & Annie Kelly to discuss their new miniseries MANCLAN, covering online masculinity influencers. Julian and Annie’s series pulls together a lot of threads we’ve been discussing lately including loneliness, the rightwing grip on “manliness”, bizarre male diet trends, the new age-ification of online reactionaries and much more. You can subscribe to Qanon Anonymous to get Manclan and all their premium content here: https://www.patreon.com/qanonanonymous
It’s the end of another tour, so we’re once again turning to the phone lines for a Chapo call-in show. So, thanks for the questions, enjoy the answers. And a special thanks to everyone who came out to these live shows, they were some of our best ever. We’ll probably do more calls in the future now that we have an easy method for cataloguing and searching calls, so feel free to send in more under-30-second audio recording questions to calls@chapotraphouse.com
It’s Halloween season so we’re taking a look at the increasing amount terror many Americans are now experiencing previously-benign concepts like “school” and “voting.” We also take a look at the “retvrn” type traditionalists, and how the fantasy of what they want to “retvrn” to so badly keeps getting more and more recent. We are going to do a CALL-IN show in the next week or so. Email us an audio question of NO LONGER THAN 30 SECONDS to calls@chapotraphouse.com by end of day 10/25/22 and we may answer it on an upcoming episode. Finally, last few days to grab your tickets to Ft. Lauderdale. This show is ALMOST sold out so buy while you still can. Three big acts, Donzii, [STAND-UP NAME REDACTED] and of course us at Chapo. Tix here: https://www.jointherevolution.net/concerts/chapo-trap-house/
We take a look at the panic over fentanyl in Halloween candy. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’re back from the first part of our fall tour and kicking around some news items: Kanye continues to find wild new ways to embrace conservatism, Liz Truss’ government wildly flails, Bolsonaro has a pretty wild story about encountering a young Venezuelan woman. Plus, we discuss the vandalism stunt on a Van Gogh painting in the name of climate activism, and take a look at a typical day for a VC-backed tech CEO. Last chance to catch us live this year at Revolution in Ft. Lauderdale on 10/30: https://www.jointherevolution.net/concerts/chapo-trap-house/
This episode is about Kanye’s continued right turn/presidential ambitions, but we get to everything from American food culture to failed conservative banking schemes to Gambo to dybbuks. “Freewheeling” as they might say. Thanks to all who came out to the L.A. show, still spots open in NYC and Florida, these shows have been hot, hot, hot! Come thru: https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live
In a semi-sequel to the classic movie ep on Patriot’s Day (CTH083), the gang takes a look at Peter Berg’s 2012 blockbuster Battleship. We imagine a world where board games rule cinema IP over superheroes, talk about disgracing WWII vets, and wonder if these are the weakest movie aliens of all time. L.A.: Our live show is THIS SATURDAY, 10/8/22 at The Theater at the Ace Hotel. We are going to do a limited ticket giveaway on Patreon and on twitter this Wednesday (10/5/22). Details posted to Patreon imminently. All dates & Tickets to all our upcoming shows: https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live
Chapo goes to Hell and meets the various denizens there: 𖤐 Satan 𖤐 Hitler 𖤐 LaVey 𖤐 Hitchens Featuring: Henry Zebrowski, Derek & @Dril, James Adomian. Dates & Tickets to all our upcoming shows: https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live And of course, links to our new merch: https://chapotraphouse.shop/
Matt lays out how institutional Republicans will overcome Peter Thiel’s goons and courtiers. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Comedian Tom Myers stops by the pod to discuss the news of the day, including Ron DeSantis’ immigrant trafficking stunt, Lindsay Graham’s proposed federal 15 week abortion ban, Brett Favre’s Mississippi welfare fraud, and an important new scientific discovery. Check out Tom’s pod Tom Myers vs. The Rest of the World here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tom-myers-vs-the-rest-of-the-world/id1538275781 Dates & Tickets to all our upcoming shows: https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live And of course, links to our new merch: https://chapotraphouse.shop/
Katherine Krueger joins the boys to discuss Hillary and Chelsea Clinton’s new AppleTV series “Gutsy”. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Will and Chris host a round table of three organizers from across the country fighting to unionize Starbucks: Vic from Buffalo, Alisha from Oklahoma City, and Quentin from Portland, OR. They discuss the progress they’ve made at their respective locations, how they achieved it, and where they hope to go from there. We also discuss Starbucks’ retaliation methods (ranging from buffoonish to insidious), various legal challenges they’ve faced, and building bonds across the labor movement. Also, the most insane Starbucks orders they’ve ever seen. Support Starbucks Workers United: No Contract No Coffee pledge: https://crm.broadstripes.com/ctf/SJID0H Solidarity Fund for SBWU partners by Coworker: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/starbucksworkersfund DSA Labor Solidarity Fund: https://laborsolidarity.com And here is Alisha’s Jacobin piece on Starbucks use of reproductive benefits as a cudgel against organizers: https://jacobin.com/2022/08/starbucks-abortion-transgender-health-care-promises-pr-stunt-union-contract
The boys start with a roundtable discussion of 9/11 and modern fashion trends. Then, we take a look at the New York Times new in-depth reporting on Yeshiva schools in NYC failing to teach children basic skills, and how that relates to the state & purpose of public education in general. Finally, Will has sourced an exquisite reading series on the passing of the Queen by Chicago’s own Jon Kass. Dates & Tickets to all our upcoming shows: https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live And of course, links to our new merch: https://chapotraphouse.shop/
We review “My Son Hunter,” and discuss the conservative need to jam every issue they’re mad about into their movies. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Contained within: Joe Biden’s red light speech, Donald Trump’s Special Master, another new British PM, Pope fights the Catholic Deep State, French president sex gossip, Rick Scott blows election fund, Keffals vs. Kiwi Farms, and more! Dates & Tickets to all our upcoming shows: https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live And of course, links to our new merch: https://chapotraphouse.shop/
Will and The War Nerd aka John Dolan reflect on the non-story of Afghanistan one year out from Biden’s withdrawal. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We start off the ep with some Movie Mindset interrogation of Felix’s current viewing habits. Then, a look at a re-energized Joe Biden and the outlook of both the Dems and Republicans as we round the home stretch into the midterms. Then, we finally address a bit of pressing international news we’ve been neglecting, namely, if the Finnish PM is cool or nah. If you are listening to this podcast you are legally required to come to our live shows: https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live And purchase our new merch: https://chapotraphouse.shop/
The boys discuss recruiting Andrew Tate’s in house wizard in the wake of his banning. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
In a bit of bonus content, Will interviews legendary author and screenwriter Jerry Stahl about his extremely funny and extremely dark, new book of gonzo reporting and personal memoir: Nein, Nein, Nein!: One Man’s Tale of Depression, Psychic Torment, and a Bus Tour of the Holocaust. Jerry relates his surreal experience of visiting Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and Dachau by tour bus rather than train, reviews the cafeteria and gift shop selections available at these historical sites, the friends he made along the way, and muses on moments in human history that fall in between chops of the axe. http://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/nein-nein-nein/"
Matt and Will put on their sports radio hats and rank the prospects for the 2024 GOP primary. Then we discuss the bug scourge now plaguing America, and the people who are NOT doing their part to stamp out the menace. New merch store! Tons of hot new merch! Get it, wear it, do NOT answer anyone’s questions about it: https://chapotraphouse.shop/ And, all our tour dates + tickets over at https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live
We discuss Trump attempting to marry his daughter to Tom Brady, from Jared Kushner’s new memoir. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We discuss the equal parts terrifying and stupid possibility that Trump or an associate actually tried to sell nuclear secrets to the Saudis, and all the insane ramifications for domestic and world politics. Then, we’re joined by Tom and Tarence of the Trillbillies to talk about the recent catastrophic flooding in Kentucky, and how the years of government neglect and industrial mining in the region have exacerbated the disaster. Also, prayers up for our boy Salman Rushdie. Link to the disaster relief mutual aid mentioned in the ep: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeAMXIPoChrCeYk7aMlsa0MuHFguB5CM1Gm-H8zJlYUCcllmw/viewform?fbclid=IwAR1bciEajmf80sYbS8mLDOmSZRk6tEBo1j4_cslNDP2Sggf1DkLekzdLhWU&fs=e&s=cl Tarence’s piece in the Baffler on the flood: https://thebaffler.com/latest/flooding-in-the-sacrifice-zone-ray Dates + Tickets for our fall tour here: https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live
The boys discuss the legacy of General John F. Kelly Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Live from the Aladdin Theater in beautiful Portland, Oregon! Chapo is joined by our Women’s Auxiliary Unit of Kath Krueger & Amber Rollo and America’s #1 treats connoisseur Bill Oakley to discuss the issues of the day. Topics include: Portland’s phallocentric history, Alex Jones’ legal losses, Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan, and the recent victory for abortion rights in Kansas. Plus: can women find true fulfillment through becoming landlords? AND: a roundtable discussion of fast food culture in America featuring a tasting menu of local Portland delicacies selected by Mr. Oakley himself. Truly a value sized show! Dates + Tickets for our live shows (including the Ft. Lauderdale show now rescheduled to 10/30) are here: https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live
If you are in NYC this Thursday, 8/11/22, come thru to Littlefield in Gowanus for a night of comedy, games and the LAST EVER live appearance of Amber Frost in a public show. Amber, the Pod About List boys and DM Patches will all be taking the stage for a vicious, no holds barred competition of wits and Giant Jenga. All proceeds go to the Kentucky Health Justice Fund, so you’ll not only be supporting a specific woman (Amber) but all women. Tickets here: https://littlefieldnyc.com/event/?wfea_eb_id=387105592247 Donate to the Kentucky Health Justice Fund: https://www.kentuckyhealthjusticenetwork.org/donate.html
Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse Matt discusses the history of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, a rebel state that existed in China from 1851-1864. The rebellion was organized around the landless Hakka people by Hong Xiuquan who, after failing his bureaucratic entrance exams, had a nervous breakdown that led him to believe he was the brother of Jesus Christ. Matt tracks the rise and fall of the kingdom, and how it fits in other proto-socialist movements, and the resonances with the Mormon history he laid out on the last two episodes of the Inebriated Past.
We’re joined by special investigator Brace Belden to look into the increasingly bizarre saga of the Black Hammer group, which recently made news as subject of a police raid, a suspicious death among their group members, criminal accusations against their leader, and now accusations of being part of a foreign influence operation. We discuss all this as well as the political value of Being Normal. Dates + Ticket links to TrueAnon’s live shows: https://www.patreon.com/posts/tour-general-no-69113927 Dates + Tickets for OUR live shows (including the Ft. Lauderdale show now rescheduled to 10/30) are here: chapotraphouse.com/live Streaming tickets for our Pickathon fest set at Noon (PST) next Saturday, 8/6 are available at: https://frqncy.live/pickathon/?r=52e3
We take a look at Joe’s chances in 2024 and conclude that to win he MUST get a BBL. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
It's Blowback Season 3 Day! The boys are joined by Traitor Brendan James the occluded producer and his comprador running dog Noah Kulwin to talk Korea, the forgotten war. Topics include: why Korea is forgotten while Vietnam never goes away, popular misconceptions of the North Korean people and government, the fruitiness of American general Douglas MacArthur, allegations of the American use of bio-weapons during the Korean War, and much, much more. For all things Blowback go to: blowback.supportingcast.fm For all our upcoming live show dates + tickets, go to: chapotraphouse.com/live
@PFTCommenter joins us for a tour around the wide world of sports! We talk the new Saudi golf tour LIV, Cletus the NFL transformer, gambling tips, the horniness of Yankee greats, and the future of sports media. PLUS Rep. Clay Higgins speaks directly to the cartels. Tickets for our Fall tour available at: https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live
The boys mourn the loss of former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and reflect on his life and career and speculate as to why someone smoked his ass with a 2-liter pepsi and pack of Mentos. They then discuss Elon "Mr. Too Damn Follow Through" Musk's backing out of buying Twitter, Hunter Biden's latest antics, and President Brandon's cratering approval rating.
We bid farewell to Boris Johnson. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend. After last week’s coverage of the politics of the Roe reversal, we now move on to taking a look at the media, because boy is the consent manufacturing machine whirring into gear. Will looks at a trio of pieces from the New York Times that appear to be buttering up the readership to place the blame squarely on those least responsible, plus time well-spent on a profile of the most annoying people on Earth! Tickets to our live shows, merch & more (well, actually not much more, but those two things!) over on www.chapotraphouse.com
The isolation of delivery ads and the power of saying no together. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
The crew discusses the massive news of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe. We talk about the overt evils and incompetent failures that got us to this point, the immediate reactions from various parties, and what may lie in the future.
James Jesus Angleton goes krazy hunting Soviet moles in the CIA. Part of our interview with journalist Jefferson Morley on the CIA's role in Watergate, JFK, Cuba and more. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
With Will stuck in the Schengen Zone, Matt & Felix hold down the fort discussing Rod Dreher’s similar visa predicament, as well as elections in Colombia and France, Herschel Walker’s rapidly multiplying secret families, and the potential hyper-federalization of America. Tickets to our upcoming live shows + our summer merch sale can be found over on www.chapotraphouse.com
Will and Chris talk to DEVO’s Jerry Casale about all things de-evolution, including state violence, punk rock, media, advertising, record industry hacks, Ohio, freaking out your audience, and whether or not humanity can escape de-evolution, or if we’re doomed to repeat until we fail. Check out the new vinyl release of Jerry’s solo LP: https://www.geraldvcasale.com/products/12-inch-lp-gatefold-red-vinyl?variant=42652243525819 And the video for the I’m Gonna Pay You Back single mentioned in the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kv2UMoynOw
Stavvy stops by to discuss his new YouTube stand-up special and, of course, help answer advice questions submitted to other publications. This edition features a particularly insane mix of advice seekers and includes lazy first graders, animal apparel charity fraud, and the mischievous spirit of the Fox. Watch Stav’s special right now for free at: https://youtu.be/eNpkhX85yf0 Everything in our store is 25% off now through the end of July: https://shop.chapotraphouse.com/ And finally, keep your eyes on Patreon for information on presale tickets for our August 4th show at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, OR.
Chesa Boudin recall, crime & homelessness vs. “bad vibes” of urban liberals. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Between a piece on “the left’s” positions on Ukraine, the NYT’s coverage of the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, and Rebecca Traister’s new profile of Dianne Feinstein, the theme of today’s episode is “looking the truth in the face and ignoring the most obvious conclusion.”
Matt describes how we can see America’s destiny in Tom Cruise’s career. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We do a public company audit over our failure to obtain PPP loans for our podcast business like our more industrious competitors. Then, a few current events including Trump at the NRA convention, Swedish hospitality habits, and the bloody shambles of indignities around the Queen’s platinum jubilee. Finally, a reading series from Biden-world about the president’s frustration that he just can’t seem to catch a break!
Reality TV, bad cops, and celebrity trial smoke & mirrors with Molly Lambert. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Normal! Natural! Healthy! Sane! It’s an episode on the California primaries! Friend of the show Josh Androsky stops by to give you everything you need to know to vote responsibly in the upcoming elections in California. But fear not, non-Golden State residents, this episode has laffs for you as well: bumbling Dems, insane Republicans, cop buffoonery, a cavalcade of goofy names! Plus, Josh’s argument for building local power as a possible hope for escape from our dismal political reality. Tickets to the Rally for LA, Tues 5/31 featuring Matt Christman, Los Dug Dug’s, Bill Corbett, Adam Conover, Jamie Loftus and more: bit.ly/rallyforla
Helllllloooo babies! Just as we anticipated, Eric Adams explores a run for president in 2024, so we look at the possibility of New York’s mayor taking his vibe revolution national. We also look at some juicy financial drama going on over at Black Rifle Coffee Company, plus, Tom Friedman’s sad, ominous lunch with the President. Catch us a Pickathon August 6th, tickets at: www.pickathon.com
Tim Heidecker and the boys talk W’s Iraq “slip” and Felix creates the Dark Ellen movement. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
In a more serious episode, we talk to author and journalist Nick Bryant about his 2009 book “The Franklin Scandal: A Story of Powerbrokers, Child Abuse & Betrayal.” We’ve mentioned the Franklin Credit Union scandal in passing on the show before, but it begins with the collapse of the Franklin Credit Union in Omaha, Nebraska in 1988 due to rampant corruption and embezzlement of its manager, Lawrence E. King, Jr. Soon after, King was accused, along with GOP lobbyist Craig Spence, of orchestrating a massive child prostitution ring, shuttling minors between Omaha and D.C., and using their solicitation to blackmail high ranking political figures. Bryant’s work examines the evidence behind this, and we discuss the scandal, the victims, the cover up, intelligence agency connections of its perpetrators, and the crucial links between intelligence-led sexual political blackmail operations of the past with the Epstein case today. Follow Nick on Twitter here: @nick__bryant Find more info, Nick’s book and Nick’s blog on his website here: nickbryantnyc.com
Cameron & Musk as the angel and devil of modern man. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Author, anti-crypto advocate (and yes, film & TV star) Ben McKenzie stops by to talk Cryptocurrency. We discuss the lies & fraud at the center of Crypto, the use of celebs to boost the scheme, and his experiences traveling to the Miami Bitcoin conference and a Bitcoin mining server farm to research his forthcoming book. Keep an eye out for Ben and Jacob Silverman’s forthcoming book. You can find some of their recent writing on the topic in Slate here: https://slate.com/author/ben-mckenzie
We discuss the ramifications of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Fighting suppression from Joe Brandon’s Ministry of Truth, the boys go berserker to bravely take on the dual enemies of Dark MAGA and reactionary article-slingers who dare ask, “are all films actually fash?”
The boys discuss what the new alt-right is REALLY looking for. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
He is not appreciated... the boys are joined by Pod About List to talk Father Stu, the new movie from Hollywood Catholic powerhouses Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson, and Mel Gibson's girlfriend. Donate to Marie Newman https://marienewmanforcongress.com/ Pod About List Tour Dates and tickets https://www.swagpoop.com/shows
We just noticed it happens to be a midterms year, so your favorite presidential podcasting duo of Chris and Matt have teamed back up to relaunch our beltway insider series. We’re joined by campaign reporter extraordinaire Dave Weigel to break down the key races to watch, track the trends to follow, and generally put drills to our temples as we attempt to once again engage in American Electoral Politics. If you want to catch us a Pickathon near Portland, OR in August, tickets here: https://pickathon.com/
While reading about a focus group of conservative voters, the boys decide America might be better off if we bring back town dunces and fools. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’re getting absolutely zooted on microplastics for today’s ep, then looking at Bill Clinton’s “if I didn’t do it” article in the Atlantic on his true intentions behind NATO expansion in the 90’s, and another piece on what the Democrats can do to recapture Gen Z for the midterms.
Will talks to president of the Amazon Labor Union Chris Smalls about the successful effort to unionize the JFK8 Amazon fulfillment center on Staten Island. Subscribe today for early access to exclusive interviews! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Part of Will's interview with Chris Smalls, president of the new Amazon Labor Union. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
The boys discuss outgoing press secretary Jen Psaki and her history with Amazon’s anti-union consulting company, some former Obama guys and their good opinions, and Jenifer Rubin’s advice for helping Dems in the midterms. Then, we take a look at a piece taking Morbius to task for failing to live up to Vampires’ potential as maligned outsiders. Find Felix’s conversation about the opiate crisis on our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/64735826 Tickets to Jacques + Friends Podcast Dream live show at Littlefield on 4/15: https://littlefieldnyc.com/event/?wfea_eb_id=262639771627
Live from Houston, we’re joined by Jake and Thomas from the Pendejo Time podcast for another movie pitch. This time we’re attempting to break into the evangelical Christian film market (think God’s Not Dead and The Reliant) with a moral fable about a boy discovering the true magic of Uncles. Listen to Pendejo Time here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pendejo-time/ Subscribe to Pendejo Time here: https://www.patreon.com/pendejotime Follow Pendejo Time here: https://twitter.com/pendejotime?lang=en Note: I’m splitting this ep into two parts just to make it easier to keep all the Poppy material separated in case I want to collect them down the line, but 614a & b are one ep for all the Chapo archivists out there.
Live from Dallas and Houston, we finally deliver the third part of our investigation into the life and times of President George H.W. Bush. This installment looks at his time as head of the C.I.A., his involvement with various figures associated with the Kennedy assassination and its investigation, and his business dealings with various shady Houston financial institutions. Note: I’m splitting this ep into two parts just to make it easier to keep all the Poppy material separated in case I want to collect them down the line, but 614a & b are one ep for all the Chapo archivists out there.
Amber catches up with teamster Matt Maini. They discuss Teamsters for a Democratic Union’s (TDU) victory in the recent Teamsters leadership election, and what their win means for the direction of the 1.4 million member union in the near future. Listeners can help by donating to TDU and its sister organization TRF. You can also buy a super cool vintage "TDU: a Cause Worth Trucking For.... Rank & File Power" t-shirt online at https://tdustore.myshopify.com/collections/apparel/products/tdu-cause-worth-truckin-for-t-shirt
We continue to look at the domestic media response to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. This time, we’re talking about “the left” and how some of their “half-baked” ideas about foreign conflict lack serious intellectual rigor and nimbleness, curtesy of an article by “fully baked” author Eric Levitz. Please follow and support the Amazon Union drive: https://twitter.com/Amazonlabor https://www.amazonlaborunion.org/
Our live show from the South by Southwest festival in Austin, TX.
We’re back from the first leg of our tour of the South and here to look at the responses to war in Ukraine brewing in the foreign policy op-ed world. We’ve got reading series by Shadi Hamid in the Atlantic and our old friend Max Boot in WaPo, both asking “well, yes, American foreign intervention has been very bad in the past, but maybe this time it would be very good?” Tickets to Houston, Dallas and New Orleans shows still available at: https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live
We begin and end this episode with more discussion on Ukraine, what we got wrong, where it goes from here, and the media response to it. But in the middle we talk about an elephant we met and a delightful Bavarian town we passed through in northern Georgia, so, trying to lighten it up a little. Thanks to Emma and Shannon for hooking us up here in Atl!
The boys take a quiz that makes you old. Then, Will talks to Croatian philosopher Srećko Horvat about the upcoming Belmarsh Tribunal, an attempt to hold U.S. and U.K. governments accountable for war crimes and wrongful imprisonments done in the name of the War on Terror. They discuss imprisonments of whistleblowers, extra-judicial surveillance, breaking mass media blackout of reporting on western war crimes and more. All you need to know about the Belmarsh Tribunal here: https://progressive.international/ Tickets for our southern tour still on sale here: chapotraphouse.com/live
The boys and Mike Isaac discuss tech trends of the near-future. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We take our semi-annual look at the Super Bowl through commercials and what they predict about our future. Then it’s back to Joe Brandon as we discuss former Obama aid David Axelrod’s advice to POTUS on how to navigate his upcoming State of the Union address. Tickets for our southern tour still on sale here: chapotraphouse.com/live
Welcome to our new Patreon mini-series "This Is Sus". As with all these miniseries, the first episode will be free to all listeners, the following episodes will be Patreon exclusives. Felix is joined by Hasan Piker to discuss the 2011 Showtime series “Homeland” You can find Hasan here: twitch.tv/hasanabi twitter.com/hasanthehun instagram.com/hasandpiker
We ring in our 600th episode by taking our movie reviews international. We watched Wolf Warrior (2015) and Wolf Warrior II (2017), two entries in the emerging genre of Chinese action blockbusters. What can these films tell us about the new Chinese century? Does belt and road translate to the cinema? Can Xi thought defeat the neoliberlized menace of CGI blood and lead to the return of true action filmmaking? Is it based to get silly with your homies? All these answers and more await you. Tickets going fast for our southern tour, get yours here: chapotraphouse.com/live
From part 2 of Matt's history of Mormons. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
The boys look at the phenomenon of literary Felixes, plus discuss a few current censorship debates. Plus, we’re joined once again by lawyer Steven Donziger, who is now back under house arrest after the Department of Corrections sent him home from Jail. We discuss the end stages of case, his corporate prosecution, and the future for the people of Ecuador in their case against Chevron. Information on Steven’s case and ways to support collected at https://www.freedonziger.com/ Tickets for our upcoming southern live shows at: chapotraphouse.com/live
Our roundtable of experts debate the possibility of intervention in the Russia/Ukraine tensions and come to the conclusion a global nuclear exchange would probably suck, at least for the Podcast Industry. We then take a look at a trio of pieces examining the national crisis in hiring and firing. Does Nobody Want to Work Anymore or is it just that Work Sucks, I Know? We get to the bottom of how you’ll probably end up a serf (but without the benefits) regardless.
So I (Chris) take one week off producing for a little vacation and somehow the boys manage to accidentally record all three of themselves into just one mic track for this ep? Idk I literally can’t leave these jokers alone for one minute. Our guest editor did heroic work getting this listenable, but sorry for the “chapo classic” audio quality. Anyway, the boys are back in town and California dreamin' on such a winter's day, they discuss whether MLK's civil rights rings are legit or Mickey Mouse, ongoing COVID hysteria, demand parents leave twitter for Facebook, how shitty it is to be a kid these days, and finally Felix debuts his idea for an adult Six Flags Great Adventure.
Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
The western media conceals the truth of the Newsome Regime…drinking piss and cum to cure covid…Obama razes parks to build library…and two dipshits try to out-yokel each other in Ohio. Tickets for our Southern tour are on sale over at chapotraphouse.com/live
Preview of our new D&D fantasy adventure series. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’re joined by friend of the show, Episode 1’s own Andrew Hudson, to discuss his experiences as an ICU nurse throughout the COVID pandemic, and why he decided to quit. We also discuss Rod Dreher’s investigation into homosexuality in the far right movement, and Jair Bolsonaro’s return to the hospital. Listen to Episode 1 here: https://soundcloud.com/episode-one-868768631 And subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/e1podcast/posts If you want to check out Andrew’s original videos on why he quit the ICU, they’re on his twitter here: https://twitter.com/intellegint/status/1473357015564963840
Amber talks to Paul Prescod, who is running for Pennsylvania State Senate in the 8th district. They discuss campaigning for labor support, working with unions towards a green future, taxing frackers & more. Check out Paul’s campaign here: https://www.paulprescod.com/
Preview of our new D&D fantasy adventure series. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Stav’s back for an end-of-the-year round of relationship advice. We analyze Madison Cawthorn’s failed relationship, answer Dear Prudie questions, and look at a NYT op-ed about how it’s normal and cool to hate your husband. All things Stavvy at https://stavvy.biz/ Tickets for our Southern tour are on sale over at chapotraphouse.com/live
No new Christmas special this year, but unlocking last year's special as a little gift to those who never heard it and get all our Xmas shows on the free feed. Merry Gamesmas, our gift to you: “Chapo Trap House presents: Try Hard”
Time was, a Will-less episode meant a cavalcade of kids-running-the-candy-store bullshit. But, we think we’ve cracked the code to a reasonably focused Will-less eps with the Chris/Danny sub-in combo. Which of course means you hogs will find something else to complain about here. We’ve got Omicron updates, the BBB implosion, Chile’s new president, tensions in Ukraine, and of course, medieval cum hell. Tickets for our Southern tour are on sale over at chapotraphouse.com/live
Having left their bubble of east coast elites, the boys are finally ready to accept (and accept responsibility for) the Let’s Go Brandon movement. They also revise the American Conservative’s revision of W.E.B. Du Bois’ Reconstruction revisionism. Dates and tickets for our Southern Tour now live at chapotraphouse.com/live
Brace and Liz from TrueAnon join us to share some updates from their coverage of the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell. We discuss the strategies of the prosecution and defense, new revelations & evidence revealed in the proceedings, and the testimony from victims. For daily podcast updates on the trial, follow TrueAnon wherever you get your podcasts.
Friend of the show Slavoj Žižek stops by to discuss new political implications of the pandemic, advocate for conservative communism, praise Matt’s call for a new carnation revolution, and review Squid Game. Žižek’s new book, Heaven in Disorder, is out now: https://www.orbooks.com/catalog/heaven-in-disorder/ Few tickets remain to our show this Wednesday in Buffalo, NY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chapo-trap-house-tickets-201713088277 Ticket presales for our Southern Tour will be up on patreon.com/chapotraphouse 12/7 @ 10 am, then available to the general public Friday, 12/10 @ 10 am.
Felix explains Twitter Spaces and his theory of the Swag Samsara. Then Will leads us through two pieces covering the Epstein case, one detailing the jury selection of Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial and one attempting to re-examine Jeffrey Epstein’s death and declare it definitively a suicide. Both are...interesting, in what they chose to say about their subjects and how.\ Tickets still available for our show NEXT WEEK, 12/8 at Asbury Hall in Buffalo: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chapo-trap-house-tickets-201713088277
Will talks to Hugo Soto-Martinez, who is running for City Council in LA’s 13th district. They discuss Hugo’s personal history, housing justice, and organizing to build political power. Donate to Hugo’s campaign through our custom link: bit.ly/hugochapo Follow Hugo on social media at @hugoforcd13
On this, the 58th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination, we’re joined by Academy Award-winning director Oliver Stone to discuss his new documentary “JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass”. We then discuss the continuing legacy and search for meaning in the assassination, as well as other ‘deep events’, with Covert Action Magazine’s Aaron Good. JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass is now streaming on Showtime. Check out Aaron’s new podcast with Covert Action here: https://www.patreon.com/CovertActionBulletin Pre-order Aaron’s book here: https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/9781510769137/american-exception/ Grab your tickets to our 12/8 show at Asbury Hall in Buffalo: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chapo-trap-house-tickets-201713088277
The Queen enters a new phase. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We look at the twin avatars for the future of the Democratic party: Mayor Secretary Pete, through his new documentary “Mayor Pete,” and Kamala Harris, through a new CNN article about how everyone is being very mean and unfair to her. Grim stuff! Fortunately the boys have a surefire solution for who should lead the party into 2024, if the Dems are brave enough to take their advice. Grab your tickets to our 12/8 show at Asbury Hall in Buffalo: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chapo-trap-house-tickets-201713088277 And have you checked out our new merch drops? Some good shit in here: https://shop.chapotraphouse.com/
Felix reviews Marvel's the Eternals. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We spend the top half of the show talking about new satanic panics and everyone in this country suffering from self-inflicted Havana Syndrome. Then some lighter stuff, like Joe Biden shidding and farding on European royalty, and Bari Weiss’s new University of Forbidden Knowledge. Grab your tickets to our 12/8 show at Asbury Hall in Buffalo: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chapo-trap-house-tickets-201713088277 And have you checked out our new merch drops? Some good shit in here: https://shop.chapotraphouse.com/
Welcome to our new mini-series Hinge Points, a tour of historical “what-ifs.” We’re publishing the first episode free to all. Subsequent episodes will post on Fridays exclusively to subscribers on patreon.com/chapotraphouse. Matt and Danny Bessner, from the American Prestige podcast, take you on a tour of the history of the Social Democratic Party of Germany and explore the importance of the party's decision to vote to fight World War I. They examine the party's structure and history, the clash between party elites and workers, and the importance of nationalism, exploring why World War I represented such a devastating blow against international socialism.
We discuss cube obsession among silicon valley and finance bros. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
We’re joined by Daniel Bessner, co-host of the American Prestige podcast, for a remarkably focused and thoughtful Will-less episode. We discuss Trump’s recent statement about Israel “owning” congress, Josh Hawley’s thoughts on masculinity, and the Lincoln Project’s bungled attempt at a false-flag operation to make a Republican appear more racist. Then Matt and Danny tell us about their new Chapo mini-series “Hinge Points,” which will explore some great historical “what-if” moments. Hinge Points will be posting on our Patreon for all subscribers on Fridays, starting 11/5. DECEMBER SHOWS: Catch us at Asbury Hall in Buffalo, NY on Wednesday, December 8th https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chapo-trap-house-tickets-201713088277 And at Warsaw in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday, December 16th (with music from 95 Bulls) https://www.ticketweb.com/event/chapo-trap-house-warsaw-tickets/11487515?pl=warsaw (NOTE: these ticket links will go live sometime Tuesday, 11/2. Do not complain about the links not being live now. We will make dedicated posts on Patreon and Twitter with the links when they go live.) MERCH: Check out new merch and restocked favorites over at shop.chapotraphouse.com. New merch goes live 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday, 11/2. SUPPORT HOLLYWOOD FOOD COALTION: Go to https://hofoco.org, click donate and leave the note “Mandy Challenge” to support Josh Olsen’s fundraiser. AMERICAN PRESTIGE: Finally, make sure you go check out Danny and Derek Davison’s podcast American Prestige: https://www.patreon.com/americanprestige
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We’re joined by Labor Notes’ Jonah Furman to discuss the ongoing strike of over 10,000 John Deere workers. We discuss the effects of a tight labor market on labor power, what’s at stake in the strike, and how the current “vibe” of labor militancy might affect future strikes. We then look at the other end of capital with a piece from FT detailing the “vibe” at the Milken Jamboree, an event named after the “junk bond king” headlined by, of course, Bari Weiss. Check out Jonah’s writing in Labor Notes: https://labornotes.org/author/5777/content And sign up for his newsletter here: https://whogetsthebird.substack.com/
We send off Colin Powell with a somber remembrance of the man’s career as a Soldier and Statesman. Then we cover cops making weepy videos about quitting due to mandates, touch on strikes, the supply chain and “treats”, and look at the CIA getting all their foreign assets killed. Finally, a much requested reading from the Book of Rod.
Amber welcomes back Rhode Island teamster Matt Maini for some union talk. They discuss union internal politics, rank and file leadership, the value of strikes, and organizing Amazon. Check out the TDU GoFundMe here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/transforming-the-teamsters-from-the-bottom-up
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Join our NFT community for Christmas Cheer 🎄🚀!! A market for true xmas kings 🤴 and queens 👸. Boost this to 15k and hear the #CarolGang sing!! Send $10,000 to cryptochapo.io and become a 🎅 warrior!
Movies are Back! And we start with a brief discussion of Venom 2: Return of Goop. Then, Felix is joined by WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson to discuss a new report from Yahoo News that details the CIA’s plots to kidnap or kill Julian Assange while he was sheltered in London’s Ecuadorian embassy. They discuss the obsession with revenge on Assange and WikiLeaks under Mike Pompeo, the possibility of real justice for Assange, and some slivers of hope in the future of the WikiLeaks project. Then, to finish up the ep, we have a reading series from Maureen Dowd’s latest column on that kooky, adorkable senator who seems to love everyone’s hate, Kyrsten Sinema.
We liked this one from last month a lot, so we're unlocking it today. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse We do a deep dive into the history, culture, purpose, and various crimes of the Navy SEALs.
Attorney Steven Donziger faces sentencing for his criminal contempt charge. Will and Steven discuss updates on his case, the UN’s ruling his house arrest violates international law, and what can be done to support him. Information on Steven’s case and ways to support collected at https://www.freedonziger.com/ Rally before Steven’s sentencing at 500 Pearl st. at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 1. More info here: https://twitter.com/SDonziger/status/1440085788759236609 Call in to his sentencing, Oct. 1, 10:00 a.m. ET U.S.: (877) 266-8189 International: (409) 207-6980 More info here: https://twitter.com/SDonziger/status/1443617319163412490
We’re back to a normal-style ep after a week of interviews. We’re taking a look at the fast-tracked aid package to intelligence agents suffering unreality issues, the Biden administration addressing just the optics at the border, and AOC addressing just the optics of the Iron Dome bill. Finally, we having a reading series that functions as a bit of a coda to Will and Matt’s visit to Ozy Fest way back in 2018. One last time, go subscribe to https://www.youtube.com/chapotraphouse And go grab some of Simon Roy’s great posters over at https://shop.chapotraphouse.com/ More merch coming soon!
Felix talks to former governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich. Subscribe today for access to all premium episodes! www.patreon.com/chapotraphouse
Will talks to India Walton, the socialist candidate who won the Democratic primary for Mayor of Buffalo in June. They discuss the ongoing opposition to her campaign from the establishment incumbent she defeated in the primary and his corporate allies, how she plans to make Buffalo work for the city’s tenants and renters, and how she will address policing issues as the mayor of a large American city. If you’d like to learn more about India’s campaign or donate, go to: https://www.indiawalton.com/
Will and Matt talk to Kim Stanley Robinson, author of the Mars Trilogy, 2312 and last year’s Ministry for the Future. They discuss reckoning with climate change, science fiction literature as an attempt to conceive of our own future’s history, and what kinds of beliefs humans might need to survive that future.
We celebrate 20 years of 9/11 by taking a 2-part look at the political and cultural insanity of the era immediately following the attacks. Today, we look at the hysterical jingoism, veneration of idiotic leaders, politically enforced censorship, and the seminal war-blogger classic “The Pussification of the Western Male” We’ll continue on Thursday’s ep with looks at TV, Film and Culture from the era, plus another canonical 9/11 reading series. Stay tuned!
Canada Correspondent Dan Boeckner stops by to update us on the impending Canadian federal elections. We break down the parties and their platforms, from the Victims of Communism-respecters, to the Semen Retentionists. We also read an op-ed from the Toronto Sun on why Drake is the most dangerous and disrespectful man in Canada. Check out Dan’s podcast The Bottlemen wherever you get podcasts, and subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/DaBottlemen And find Dan’s patreon for his music here: https://www.patreon.com/operators
Once more into the breach of Afghanistan takes: the media now turns to our precious abandoned military ordnance to hand-wring over, and Britain continues to feel the cold shoulder of the Biden administration. We also cover China’s new gaming ban, and an effort to gin up a BDS movement against the Taliban.
We start off discussing Jeopardy!, Tesla Bots, and how all these conservative radio hosts keep dying of COVID. Then we talk about Tony Blair crying about Afghanistan and step inside Tom Friedman’s mind palace to explore the Taliban’s strategic cousin and nephew reserves.
We look at the brutal, stupid, and embarrassing end of our brutal, stupid, and embarrassing twenty year occupation of Afghanistan.
We review Obama’s 60th Birthday Bash on Martha’s Vineyard, which we were all of course invited to. Then, we take a look at the ongoing “Havana Syndrome” phenomenon, in which U.S. intelligence operatives continue to report un-diagnosable symptoms supposedly generated by a non-existent superweapon. Finally, we take a look back at everyone’s early pandemic “cuomosexual” phase.
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We start today looking at Democrats’ feckless failure to extend the eviction moratorium. That being a fairly dismal topic, we try to lighten things up with two reading series checking in with how some old friends of the show are handling their new post-election lives in DC.
We take a look at the 2007 Antoine Fuqua/Mark Wahlberg film “Shooter,” a fascinating relic of the 2nd G.W. administration that asks the question “what if a hardass marine sniper operator type fuckin merked Dick Cheney?” Also, Matt brings up some deep lore from the author Stephen Hunter’s other novels that really makes him seem like a fertile well of insane ideas.
This is the first episode of Chapo all-stars Derek Davison & Daniel Bessner’s new foreign policy podcast “American Prestige”. To get more, go here: http://patreon.com/americanprestige In the premiere episode of American Prestige, Danny and Derek get into the US's withdrawal from Afghanistan. Did the military intentionally botch the withdrawal? Has the imperial frontier contracted in any meaningful way? Will the Taliban gain legitimacy with the Afghan people? Plus, an in-depth interview with Stephen Wertheim, discussing his new book “Tomorrow, the World”, which explores how and why during World War II U.S. elites decided that their nation should, indeed must, dominate the world.
We’re joined by Chapo foreign policy desk Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner to check in with America’s various “oopsies”, “uh-ohs” and “oh butterfingers” accidentally enforcing our hegemony around the world. Derek and Danny have a new podcast, American Prestige, covering just this type of thing. If you like them on Chapo, be sure to go checkout their new show and, as always, Foreign Exchanges on substack. We’re putting the first episode of American Prestige in the Chapo feed so you can get a taste. http://patreon.com/americanprestige fx.substack.com
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We’re joined by Tides of History’s Patrick Wyman today to take a historical look on things, starting with a brief discussion of the assassination of Haitian president Moïse, and the increasing privatization of violence. We then turn to Patrick’s new book The Verge, examining the crucial years of the Renaissance, and investigating just how and why western Europe transformed from a global backwater to the world dominating colossus it became for the last few centuries. Finally, we ask who’s actually more threatening to the “elites”: JD Vance or Matthew McConaughey? Check out Patrick’s book The Verge here: https://www.twelvebooks.com/titles/patrick-wyman/the-verge/9781538701171/
What’s one band you’re ALWAYS thinking about? We start asking some universal questions. Then, we take a pair of articles that again push the idea of Biden as a transformational progressive president and ask who are they for? Why do we keep getting these? Aren’t we all just eating ice cream? C’mon man. Finally, we turn to the federalist to learn about the “flyover women”.
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Constitution - Washington Get in the Presidency, George. Episode 2 is up now on Stitcher Premium, with new episodes out on Fridays. To sign up and to get a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com/hell on your mobile or desktop browser, click start free trial, select a monthly plan, and use promo code HELL. You'll get access to Hell of Presidents, Time for My Stories and Blowback Season 2, so, pretty good deal.
It’s a jumbo sized Chapo today, starting with a return of our smash hit segment “Animal Facts” to start off with 20 min of levity and speculation on which of Nature’s magnificent creatures are conduits to the spiritual and/or extraterrestrial world. Then, after one of Will’s maybe sweatiest ever transitions, we move on to discussing the tragic Miami condo collapse and the narrowing aperture of improvement in American life. Finally, we read from two accounts of the last days of the Trump Administration, confirming a lot of what we suspected, and adding a few more juicy details of what Trump, Rudy and the gang were actually up to on Jan. 6. Also there’s a little bonus segment on “Woke Capitalism” and the future of “Trumpism” as a political project at the end.
NYC mayoral elections are tomorrow so we give our final review of the candidates - not great! Then we check in with a Chapo favorite we’ve not discussed in quite a bit but are happy to return to, offering a tentative defense of perhaps The Baseball Crank’s best ever take. Finally, a long and surprisingly thoughtful discussion of modern male intimacy.
Who were the U.S. Presidents? What did they do? How did they do it? Why should you care? Chapo Trap House's Matt Christman and Chris Wade will attempt to demystify all 46 U.S. Presidents in this new limited series podcast, discussing how these guys rose to power and how they executed that power as a product of the historical and material circumstances around them. All with the signature Christman flair of wit, recall and analysis, and the signature Wade flair of "getting Matt to do things". Available exclusively on Stitcher Premium starting July 2. To sign up and to get a free month of Stitcher Premium, go to stitcherpremium.com/hell on your mobile or desktop browser, click start free trial, select a monthly plan, and use promo code HELL.
Another triple reading series ep, we’re spoiling you listeners. We start off with a profile of Data For Progress’s new found clout with Dems in the drivers’ seat, but who’s data? And what progress? Then it’s on to the Federalist, for an author who’s simply furious that a living wage for fast food workers might make their precious burritos cost a few cents more. Finally, a doozy of a Slate piece about killing your dog.
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A loose and chill hang out ep as we come to you from Atlantic City after our successful appearance at the FRQNCY1 festival. We pitch some of our concepts to revitalize AC and solve America’s Trump problem in one tidy package, lament the purging of some truly wonderful cranks and goofys from twitter, then travel Into The Ray Donoverse.
The boys spend their last night in LA sitting around the fire pit, gazing at the Pacific Ocean, talking about animals and riffing about the dang politics. Tickets to Chapo’s upcoming live show THIS SATURDAY at the FRQNCY1 streaming festival here: https://frqncy.live/frqncy1
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We’re joined by TrueAnon for a round table on Israel through two in-depth reading series. Can Americans have opinions on Israel and Palestine, despite it being outside our lived experiences? Is middle eastern peace calling out, siren-like, to Joe Biden? Find out inside. Tickets to Chapo’s upcoming live show June 5th at the FRQNCY1 streaming festival here: https://frqncy.live/frqncy1 And hang out with Chris and Dan Boeckner watching some live music on Chapo’s twitch this saturday at twitch.tv/chapotraphouse
Felix is joined by journalist for AJ+ Mohammad Alsaafin for a wide ranging discussion on Palestinian resistance and the future of Zionism and the Palestinian cause. Sorry for the slightly abrupt outro, we lost the last few seconds of Mohammad’s audio, but please follow him at @malsaafin and check out and share this concise video explainer on Israeli apartheid he produced for AJ+: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MknerYjob0w And follow @ajplus on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
We congratulate Felix on defeating the scary monsters of Dark Souls during his successful fundraiser stream over the weekend, and also note the tiny but noticeable fissures opening up in the usually stifling discourse on Palestine. We then take a look at Bill Gates’ bro time with Jeffrey Epstein possibly being the cause of his recent divorce. Finally, there’s more UFO stuff in the news: limited hangout? New way to sell endless arms buildup? Or do the aliens just want our kindest bud? You be the judge. If you missed the stream and would like to donate to our various Palestinian supporting orgs, links here: Movement to Safeguard Palestinian Communities: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/icareaboutpeace/ Islamic Relief of Canada Palestinian Emergency Appeal: https://www.islamicreliefcanada.org/emergencies/palest Eye On Palestine: https://m.facebook.com/eyeonpalestine.offical/ And of course, tickets still on sale for our upcoming live show at the FRQNCY1 streaming festival: https://frqncy.live/frqncy1
Will catches up with lawyer Steven Donziger as the Chevron-backed case against him finally goes to trial. For background on Steven’s case, check out episodes 418, 503 & 523 For more information, go to www.makechevroncleanup.com. To learn more about or get involved with Steven’s case, or even dial in and listen to his hearing on March 10, go to https://www.freedonziger.org. You can follow him on Twitter: @SDonziger.
Topics for today include: Bustin’; The Junkie Horse; Elon SNL; Keir Starmer: Born To Lose; Ongoing Israeli assault on Palestinians (we will have a more in-depth interview on this topic after Eid); Elizabeth Warren persists; Return to the Workplace, Or Else. Get the Sarah Vaccine on Means TV here: https://means.tv/programs/sarahvaccine And of course, get tix to FRQNCY1 here: https://frqncy.live/frqncy1 And tune in to Felix’s FromSoftware stream this Saturday on twitch.tv/chapotraphouse to benefit: Movement to Safeguard Palestinian Communities Islamic Relief of Canada Palestinian Emergency Fund eye.on.palestine
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Will and Felix report from their trip to the zoo. We review the woke CIA ad, and then discuss restaurants finding themselves hurting for employees when their lazy, entitled potential workers aren’t “economically coerced” to labor for “poverty wages”. We’re then joined by journalist Zack Kopplin to discuss his new piece on how corrupt mineral mining contracts have played a big part in our 20 year occupation of Afghanistan. Then, more zoos, animals & apes talk. Follow Zack on twitter: @ZackKopplin Check out Zack’s piece here: https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/how-afghanistans-president-helped-his-brother-secure-lucrative-mining-deals-with-a-us-contractor And get tix for our show at the FRQNCY1 streaming festival here: https://frqncy.live/frqncy1
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Grab your tickets to our live appearance at the FRQNCY1 streaming festival this June 5th here: https://frqncy.live/frqncy1 The first part of this show we have an interview with journalist Cerise Castle covering a fairly harrowing story she’s been reporting on the proliferation and criminal activities of white supremacist cop gangs in the LA County Sheriff’s department. Then we turn to the lighter side with some riffs on boats, ghosts, and Andrew Sullivan’s high-T journey. Follow Cerise: @cerisecastle Check out Cerise’s series on LA Sheriff’s gangs in the Knock LA: https://knock-la.com/tradition-of-violence-lasd-gang-history/ And, the article on Bill Gates and vaccines Felix mentions: https://newrepublic.com/article/162000/bill-gates-impeded-global-access-covid-vaccines
Check out the first episode of Season 2 of Blowback. The new season of Blowback is on Stitcher Premium, and you can get a month free if you go to stitcher.com/premium, select a monthly plan and use the promo code: BLOWBACK. Once you sign up you can listen on your browser, or you can download the Stitcher app on your phone
Get tickets to FRQNCY1 Festival here: https://frqncy.live/frqncy1 Some more info about the festival and how it works here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/50090694 Brendan and Noah return to the show to discuss BLOWBACK, SEASON 2. We talk about the history of the Cuban revolution and the American response, the involvement of the mafia and U.S. clandestine services, and ongoing tensions in U.S.-Cuban relations. Then, we have classic reading series wherein Thomas Friedman reflects on two decades of being wrong about Afghanistan. Get flat, folks! The new season of Blowback is on Stitcher Premium, and you can get a month free if you go to stitcher.com/premium, select a monthly plan and use the promo code: BLOWBACK. Once you sign up you can listen on your browser, or you can download the Stitcher app on your phone.
Adam McKay stops by the pod to hear Felix’s pitch for a political rom-com, talk presidential animals, and discuss his new podcast Death at the Wing. Death at the Wing uses a series of deaths among NBA players in the 80’s as a lens to discuss the Reagan revolution, the war on drugs, and America’s shifting social and political landscape during that era. We get into all those issues with Adam, plus raccoons, tapirs, and samurai swords. Check out Death at the Wing here: https://www.threeuncannyfour.com/show/death-at-the-wing/
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Will discusses a new documentary on the shockingly successful grassroots effort to expand Medicaid through ballot initiative in Idaho with our friends Jim and Laura Kamoosi. Watch the film through the Santa Barbara International Film Festival at www.sbiff.org Find more information about the film here: www.reclaimidahofilm.com/
We spend the first half of the episode peeling back the many, many weird & gross layers of the whole Matt Gaetz saga. Then, we’re joined by journalist Ken Klippenstein to discuss his reporting on leaked Amazon internal documents detailing their heinous work conditions and baffling anti-union PR campaign. Check out Ken’s Amazon article in The Intercept: https://theintercept.com/2021/03/25/amazon-drivers-pee-bottles-union/
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Karina read all 353 pages of Biden’s proposed Immigration bill and joins Will to break down the good, the bad, and the same as it ever was in it. Follow Karina on Twitter: @KaryinBrooklyn
We discuss why everyone loves the big boat whomst stuck in canal, then talk about Joe Biden’s big press conference last week, as well as Biden firing of all his staffers dumb enough to report weed use on their background checks. Finally, we look at the Bessamer, AL Amazon union drive, and Amazon’s extremely ham-fisted public relations push against it.
It’s the Spring sex & relationships issue of Chapo! We’re joined by our Women’s correspondent Katherine Krueger who takes the popular TikTok trend “Questions for Boys” and applies it to the Dry Boys. We then turn to the National Review to ask why conservatives are suddenly so gaga about the Royal Family. Finally, we see if we can find common ground with Boss Ross Douthat about getting Americans horny. SMASH that preorder button for Amber’s new book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250269621 SUBSCRIBE TO DISCOURSE BLOG: get 30% off a new annual subscription to Discourse Blog at discourseblog.com/subscribe with code BIRTHDAY on Tuesday
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We take a look at Stars And Strife, a new Starz documentary by David Smick (“macroeconomic advisor to a select group of prominent global investment funds”). It’s a documentary cautioning against the dangers of populist extremism, featuring the sober, reasonable analysis of James Baker, Leon Panetta, Rahm Emanuel, Alan Greenspan and Larry Summers, among others, and is honestly just as wild and deranged as You Me Madness. This completes a kind of inadvertent trilogy of films exploring inside the dream world from the POV of the middle class (Can’t Get You Out of My Head), the wealthy cultural elites (You Me Madness) and now, economic-political elite (Stars and Strife)
This is a bonus episode of my series with Matt, Time For My Stories. I improperly mixed the audio at the beginning so you can't hear the promo code but it's TIME for a free month at stitcher.com/premium. not my fault btw.
For #InternationalWomensDay we review a film by Hollywood’s newest female auteur, who just happens to be the wife of former Treasury Secretary/Suicide Squad producer Steve Mnuchin. Yes, it’s Louise Linton’s “Me You Madness,” a film that dares ask the question “what if a bisexual woman HAD mental health issues?”
From episode 503, Will catches up with Steven Donziger, the human rights attorney who has been under house arrest for over 500 days as a result of his work suing oil giant Chevron for their reckless polluting of Ecuador. Since we last talked to Steven there’s been some movement in his case, so we’re getting an update and continuing to discuss the fairly obvious collusion between Chevron, private prosecutors, and the New York Judge involved. Catch up on Steven’s first appearance here: https://soundcloud.com/chapo-trap-house/418-the-cool-zone-feat-steven-donziger-41119 For more information, go to www.makechevroncleanup.com. To learn more about or get involved with Steven’s case, or even dial in and listen to his hearing on March 10, go to https://www.freedonziger.org. You can follow him on Twitter: @SDonziger.
Amber and Will are joined by author Catherine Liu to discuss her new book Virtue Hoarders: The Case Against the Professional Managerial Class. Amber takes us through her shopping guide of “PMC products” and we see what they can teach us about this class and its ideology. Check out Catherine's book here: https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/virtue-hoarders
Chapo UK correspondent Adam Curtis returns to discuss the limits of individualism, goodies and baddies, conspiracies, manipulation, and dancing, all through the themes and characters of his new film series Can’t Get You Out of My Head.
Coming soon. Jagamesh.
Ayyyyyy look at us. Against all odds, personal, political, technological, logistical, uhhh, hygenic-al, we made it to 500 dang episodes. We’re taking a moment to bask in our own greatness, and got all our favorite friends, past guests, and fellow podcasters to send in some toasts and/or roasts of the show. Seriously, it’s been great and thanks to all who’ve been along for the ride with us.
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Matt and Liz Bruenig stop by to talk KIDS. First, Matt walks us through what’s going on with the stimulus package, AEI’s insistence that mothers must never stop working, and why liberals are addicted to tax credits. Then we get mad at the damn crotchspawn with r/childfree, read some dear Prudie letters, and finally hold children accountable for long history of abusive behavior. Check out the Bruenigs podcast here: https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs And People’s Policy Project here: https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/ Shoutout to twitter's @demswatchdog for the $2000 check supercut. Our 500th episode is coming up and we’re putting together some best-of lists. Take a minute to vote for your favorite eps on this google poll. We’ll be collecting them into a top list and...I don’t know, doing something with them next week. Probably putting into a youtube radio stream. I’m just having fun here: https://forms.gle/4uouQHSY9vV3fo5JA
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A sampler platter of an ep as we talk about the Super Bowl, China’s “totalitarian” COVID response, the proudboy to Fed pipeline, and Nevada’s new proposal to allow blockchain companies to form municipal governments. Finally, we do our quarterly check-up on Rod Dreher to learn how he’s definitely NOT being blackmailed over pornography but definitely IS a stoolie. ALSO: We’re going to watch and do a live commentary on Mike Lindell’s “Absolute Proof” tomorrow night (Tues. 2/9), starting at 10 pm EST over on twitch.tv/chapotraphouse!
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Ben and Palma from Seeking Derangements stop by to discuss online harassment from Lincoln Project member John Weaver, Marjorie Taylor Green and the growing political power of Women Who Get Kicked Out of Places, and finally a reading series on the Bernie’s mitten privilege. Check out Seeking Derangements here: https://soundcloud.com/seeking-derangements And their Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/seekingderangements
A classic lo-fi no Will episode to relax/study to. We try to put some odds on various possible events of the Biden administration occurring, but mostly end up talking about casinos and marshmallow fluff and shit.
Will talks to David Osit, director of the acclaimed new documentary "Mayor,” a film about Musa Hadid, the charismatic mayor of Ramallah and the farcical Ianucci-like conditions that face municipal government under foreign military occupation. https://www.mayorfilm.com/
We discuss new developments around Saudi Arabia’s increasingly bizarre utopian megacity NEOM with writer Séamus Malekafzali. We then preview this week’s Biden inaugural ceremony, talk dem messaging around checks and wages, and examine one of the Trump administrations final acts of general bizarreness in its Statue Garden of American Heroes. Check out Séamus’ substack here: https://malekafzali.substack.com/ And subscribe to the damn youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/chapotraphouse
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A wake for @realDonaldTrump, one of the greatest posters of all time. Also, more fallout from the Capitol Hill riot, social media crack downs, pit bull moms & Hot Soup.
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We ring in the New Years with Trump’s second perfect phone call, Andrew Cuomo as Liberal Trump, Pelosi’s re-election, and end with some discourse on The Discourse.
Amber here with a quick plug for Labor Campaign for Single Payer, an organization of unions who are bringing more unions into the fight to win Medicare for All. Support links below: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/donate-to-labor-campaign-for-single-payer?source=website& While you're at it, also please give a pitch for our January 23-24 virtual strategy conference: https://www.laborforsinglepayer.org/medicare-for-all-strategy-conference/
We rub the magic wish dildo and review “Wonder Woman 1984”.
We all take our vaccine suppositories, discuss the stimulus, and talk Obama’s year-end TV list. But, most importantly, the Reading Series is back! We take a look at a recent New York Times op-ed that uses the Iliad to ask you to gently close your eyes and forget about all these pesky forever wars we seem to be embroiled in.
So, we’re talking about Joe Biden yelling at civil rights leaders, and the whole thing about Dr. Jill Biden’s title, and also the Jimmy Dore/AOC thing...but what’s important to note about this ep is it’s the one where Amber has a squirrel in her apartment. Kind of a more positive spiritual sequel to the cat shit episode.
After last week’s Cameron discussion we decided it was finally time to induct this film into the official Chapo Canon: it’s been a long time coming but here’s the AVATAR episode. Join us as we examine the most anti-imperialist blockbuster of the 21st century, argue that its subversiveness is precisely why this massive hit “made no cultural impact,” and explain how Avatar teaches us to shed our baby selves as we confront America’s role as the 9/11 do-er.
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We propose a revolutionary slate of Mario Kart reforms and innovations to potential future director of the Office of Budget and Management, Neera Tanden.
We’re joined by The New Republic’s Osita Nwanevu for a look into Obama’s legacy, his lasting grip on Democratic politics and culture, and how Biden’s administration might feel like a speed-run of his former boss’s 8 years. Then, we vibe out to some of our future Secretary of State’s groovy tunes. Read Osita’s piece on Obama’s new memoir in TNR here: https://newrepublic.com/article/160285/obama-promised-land-trump-biden
For the 57th anniversary of the JFK assassination, we're unlocking the first installment of our George H.W. Bush series. The first part of our in-depth look into the life and career of George H.W. Bush. Covering the many generations of Bush family history in the United States, his father’s business dealings with Nazi Germany, H.W.’s military career and education at Yale, and the intricate web of intelligence, finance, and industrial interests surrounding him that all point to one day: November 22, 1963.
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Fan favorite David Roth is back to talk Trump’s sad boi coup plotting, Democrats’ fragile new coalition, and Michael Bay movies. 🚨🚨 MERCH DROP ALERT 🚨🚨 New and restocked merch available at shop.chapotraphouse.com Caps! Pins! Posters! New colors! Re-stocked favorites! Check it out! Find all your Roth content at: www.defector.com and the Distraction podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-distraction-a-defector-podcast/id1525039108
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We’re joined by the Chapo Foreign Affairs desk of Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner to discuss what might change and what might continue in a foreign policy transition from Donald Trump to Joe Biden. Then, we get beamed aboard the MOTHERSHIP as we take a look at Daniel and Amber’s recent Jacobin article on Democrats’ material incentives to lose. Subscribe to Derek and Daniel’s substack Foreign Exchanges here: https://fx.substack.com/ And check out Daniel and Amber’s Jacobin piece here: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/11/democratic-party-2020-elections-campaign-donations-failure
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One day more… Join us tomorrow night for ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE, live on twitch.tv/chapotraphouse, starting at 7pm eastern.
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We’re joined by Dave Anthony and Josh Olson of The West Wing Thing podcast to discuss Aarons Sorkin’s latest attempt to recontextualize American politics as people getting epically owned by logic in court rooms: The Trial of the Chicago 7. Check out The West Wing Thing here: https://westwingthing.libsyn.com/ And check out their West Wing Reunion special, featuring many Chapos, on their patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/TheWestWingThing
We take the 2020 election cycle in for one final tune-up at the Beltway Garage. Featuring Virgil and Matt’s official final predictions for Presidential and Senate races, plus predictions of how an indecisive election night might pan out.
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Will talks to journalist Ollie Vargas about the victory for MAS in Bolivia, how it came about, and what it means for the future of the country. Follow Ollie @OVargas52 His colleague Camila is @camilateleSUR They contribute to Kawsachun News: https://twitter.com/KawsachunNews https://www.facebook.com/KawsachunNews/
To start off, you know we gotta talk some Toob’. Then it’s on to the resounding victory of Evo Morales and Luis Arce’s MAS party in the do-over Bolivian election following last year’s coup. This dovetails nicely into a story about Trump blowing off the intelligence briefings for milkshakes, which brings us to wonder what horrors might return to the intelligence agencies under a slightly-more-competant Biden administration. Finally we take a look at California’s prop 22, regarding classifying gig-based workers as employees. Let’s get one last big push for Nithya Raman for LA City Council: https://www.nithyaforthecity.com/
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Will, Matt and Felix absolutely refuse to go out like Stan Chera. We discuss Trump’s ongoing battle against COVID and a bizarrely chaste sext scandal around candidate for North Carolina senate Cal Cunningham. Then, Will and Matt are joined by actor and director Tim Robbins to talk satire in the age of Trump and his new radio play podcast “Bobbo Supreme”. You can find Tim's new pod here: https://www.patreon.com/TimRobbinsPresents
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President Trump got covid lmao
We talk Trump’s tax returns and Felix reveals the nature of Chapo corporate structure. We also do some debate preview and discuss Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. Not a lot of good news in this one, but join us tomorrow to live stream the 1st presidential debate so we can at least laugh together at two cranky old men calling each other liars for 2 hours. Debate Stream will start Tues. 9/29 a little after 8p.m. e.s.t. on twitch.tv/chapotraphouse
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We’re back gettin’ hot ‘n greasy in the Beltway Garage, gauging the pressure on SCOTUS appointments, kicking the remarkably stable tires on the presidential race, and selling you a slew of useless upgrades on this year’s contested Senate races. Check out Bad News Hughes' podcast You Can't Win: https://www.patreon.com/youcantwin Follow Bad News Hughes on Twitter http://twitter.com/getfiscal
We discuss Biden’s attempt to court the youth vote by assembling the Adventures and fighting the Hungry Games, then read a truly demonic piece on corporate spiritual advisors. Also, of course, Guns N’ Roses 1992 monster power balled hit “November Rain”. Thanks to YouTube user sonnymcs for the joe biden vapor wave track “S C R A N T O N R O O T S”.
Will talks to Jess Scarane, who is challenging incumbent Chris Coons for a U.S. Senate seat in Delaware. They discuss Delaware’s unique importance as a state, the limits of “compromise,” building power for progressive policies, and how to lift voters’ expectations for what they can demand from their politicians. Get involved with Jess’ campaign here: https://www.jessfordelaware.com/
We’re joined by Foreign Exchanges’ Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner to discuss Trump’s troop-disrespecting, Austrian domination of the Balkans, who the REAL losers and suckers are, and the roll of the military in America’s declining empire. Please subscribe to Foreign Exchanges on substack: https://fx.substack.com/
Defector’s Patrick Redford stops by to talk the (hopefully likely) fall of JKIII, NBA strikes, and whether robots go to hell. Check out defector.com for all your sports blog and media needs: www.defector.com
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It's a classic Will-less episode that kind of goes all over the place as we review the speakers list for this week's RNC. We talk about like, cars and tort reform a bunch, as well as a rising star in Republican politics. We'll be covering the RNC all week on Twitch from 9-11pm E.S.T. over on http://www.twitch.tv/chapotraphouse
We review the 1990 Barbet Schroeder film “Reversal of Fortune,” covering Alan Dershowitz’s representation of Danish vampire Claus von Bülow after he is accused of murdering his wife. Needless to say this depiction of Dershowitz raises a few eyebrows 30 years down the line. Keep your eyes on twitch.tv/chapotraphouse this Tuesday and Wednesday for coverage of the DNC.
Friend of the show Ike Barinholtz(MADtv, Eastbound & Down, Suicide Squad) joins us to talk cartoons, the Shapiros, a reading series from our favorite Chicagoland OpEd writer, and of course to discuss long-term effects of exposure to The Joker.
Writer and director Adam McKay (Vice, The Big Short, every movie you quoted endlessly with your homies ~2004-2012) stops by to talk film, the giant sucking memory hole of the Bush presidency, balancing humor with anger, and wrangling with SNL censors. Be on the lookout for a new season of Adam’s Jeffrey Epstein podcast coming up this September.
Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade, Handsome Furs, and Operators stops by to discuss some of the darker parts of Canadian history, including Mountie Gladio, Nazi connections in Ottawa, and Vancouver Island’s noted concentration of Satanists. Support Dan’s content over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/operators
Will’s away, but we’re joined by fan-favorite Derek Davison and host of the Tides of History podcast Patrick Wyman to discuss shrimp supply chains, the ongoing effects of the Bolivian coup, Israel and America’s militaries & the decline of empires. Derek and Patrick’s new writing substack: discontents.substack.com Bath Iron Works Strike Fund: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/LocalLodgeS6
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We start off this week looking at the roll of bullying in Massachusetts politics & the inauspicious beginning of the MLB season. From there we kind of transition into the ongoing normalization of COVID and Trump’s federal police goon squad in America. Then, after TTRPG’ing contested 2020 election scenarios, we kind of take a left turn towards Brazil’s Looney Tunes fascism, and stick the landing by reflecting on Mormons as the Perfect Americans.
R.I.P. Michael Brooks. Felix casts a protection spell on our sweet abuela Moon. Virgil breaks down Ilhan Omar’s “problem solving” primary challenger. Will administers Trump’s cognitive test on his cohosts. Then, Will and Felix talk to journalist Séamus Malekafzali about escalating tensions in Iran, Israeli training of U.S. cops, and the collapse of Lebanon’s financial sector. Support Ilhan Omar’s reelection campaign here: https://www.mobilize.us/ilhanomar/ and find Séamus’ writing here: https://www.seamus-malekafzali.com/
Candidate for LA City Council Nithya Raman returns to the show to talk to Will about making the runoffs in her race, addressing LA’s homelessness in the time of COVID and taking on entrenched police power in the wake of June’s George Floyd protests. Join Nithya at the March for Mely starting 2pm Sunday, July 19th, at the Northeast LAPD (3353 N. San Fernando Rd.) station and ending at the Trader Joe’s in Silverlake. Donate to Nithya’s campaign: https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/RamanforCityCouncil/ Volunteer for the campaign: https://www.nithyaforthecity.com/signup http://www.nithyaforthecity.com
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David Roth’s back to help us continue examining the cursed aesthetics of Trump-world food, the ongoing COVID disaster, the eternal relevance of Starship Troopers, and the Beautiful Boaters. David’s Starship Troopers piece: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/how-starship-troopers-aligns-with-our-moment-of-american-defeat
Ben and Palma of Seeking Derangements join Felix to examine several episodes of the hit Netflix reality makeover show “Queer Eye” Find Seeking Derangements on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seeking-derangements/id1503267615 Subscribe to Seeking Derangements on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/seekingderangements
We take a look at The Lincoln Project, a new political ad PAC founded by never-Trumpers taking aim at Donald Trump by bringing their conservativism into the open willing arms of the Democrats.
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Adam stops by to lament the untimely end of HBO’s Entourage, and demand its return under a Biden administration. We also talk about the thing with the Russian bounties, Obama’s re-emergence from retirement and Kevin D. Williamson’s weird fixation on leaf blowers.
Will discusses socialism, art, and the affects of their shared upbringing with playwright, actor and essayist Wallace Shawn.
Felix and Amber review the first episode of Showtime’s 2016 financial crime drama series “Billions”.
Matt and the prodigal Virgil return to the Beltway Garage to take a look at the state of the presidential race, tomorrow’s primaries in New York and Kentucky, and the slew of Qanon supporters running for office in 2020.
Felix reviews the first episode of Showtime’s long-running crime drama “Ray Donovan”
We’re joined inside our Cry Cube by the New Republic's Jen Pan to examine the current non-fiction best-seller, Robin DiAngelo’s “White Fragility.” You can find Jen's review of White Fragility here: https://newrepublic.com/article/156032/diversity-training-isnt-enough-pamela-newkirk-robin-diangelo-books-reviews
Chris picks Matt’s mind on a few topics from our rapidly evolving political moment, and some topics Matt’s brought up in his recent live streams.