We're Speedrunning America's Decline (w/Katherine Krueger)

It's Still So Funny How Much Trump Hates His Kids (w/Aleks and Jack)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.com [https://www.discourseblog.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] We continue to innovate the form by choosing to NOT have a third chair this week (might this experiment be the result of no one being available to record? we’ll never know), so it’s just Aleks and Jack discussing: * Jack doing a tight 10 on the Strait of Hormuz * Boots Riley’s latest film, I Love Boosters (we’re not fans) * Trump’s very convincing [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/president-says-try-attend-son-wedding-not-good-timing-iran-war-rcna346398]excuse for missing Don Jr.’s wedding to Bettina Anderson * Trump describing his son as “a person who I’ve known for a long time” * The DNC 2024 election autopsy is finally here [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/dnc-releases-2024-autopsy-chair-apologizing-creating-even-bigger-distr-rcna345963] (sort of) and everyone is mad at DNC Chair Ken Martin [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/23/dnc-chair-ken-martin-democrats-election] * And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, we chat about the recent reporting alleging that Bari Weiss’ reign over CBS News might be curtailed after the merger between Warner Bros.-Discovery and Paramount This week’s cultural recommendations: * Jack recommends the DEBUT LP from Discourse Blog’s own Paul Blest and his band Long Relief, Win Some, Lose Some [https://selfawarerecords.bandcamp.com/album/win-some-lose-some] * Aleks recommends Charli XCX’s new songs, “Rock Music” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox1Eemj8FDo] and “SS26” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twLhSqabby0] Want to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here [http://discourseblog.com/subscribe]. Then, follow these instructions: Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly. Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app. And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@discourseblog]! That’s it!

Fuck Israel for Making Us Defend the New York Times (and Nick Kristof)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.com [https://www.discourseblog.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] In a SHOCKING turn of events (Aleks was out of town), JACK is hosting this week’s episode, wherein The Intercept’s Katherine Krueger returns to discuss: * New York State is eying banning potassium bromate [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/dining/bromated-flour-ban-new-york-pizza-bagels.html], AKA the chemical that makes bagels taste so damn good * Speaking of chemicals worth dying for, you can pry Katherine’s vape [https://www.discourseblog.com/p/pry-my-juul-from-my-cold-dead-hands] from her cold, dead hands * Remembering Some Blogs (or the time Katherine tweeted about her “personal 9/11” and it caused a lot of drama at work) * Protests [https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/protesters-demand-york-times-retract-190033441.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAD9V7pC7hin3D7rqDLGHXsPylS9iB4aczq_MqyOG-R6LSSeQbCChkvd3W9GRVtX8zFaGWyFlOV6UOMIwYESy3NuaCPvpykSGRhJ66bMZKIKoWL6QTtged1vDoGvnF_po0Dhf4A3_XQwXbDLvhqAUTWhyUCHWfDDWAknl0f9k042y] outside the New York Times building demanding the paper retract Nicholas Kristof’s piece, “The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians” [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/opinion/israel-palestinians-sexual-violence.html] * Benjamin Netanyahu? Mad [https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2054911103692337300] * The Free Press? Mad [https://x.com/infinite_jaz/status/2056418691705635200] * The overuse and misuse of “blood libel” [https://x.com/mahmoudkhalel/status/2054002021406003217] * CBS Evening News anchor Tony Du-poop-il didn’t plan for his reporting trip to China [https://www.status.news/p/tony-dokoupil-cbs-evening-news-taiwan-bari-weiss] very well * And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, Sam unpacks the BIG DRAMA involving Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, Barack Obama, and breakfast tacos This week’s cultural recommendations: * Katherine recommends Ben Lerner’s new book, Transcription [https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374618599/transcription/] * Sam recommends Curry Barker’s new movie, Obsession [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMC8kkwbIQQ] * Jack recommends prescription sunglasses Want to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here [http://discourseblog.com/subscribe]. Then, follow these instructions: Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly. Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app. And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@discourseblog]! That’s it!

MAGA Is Eating Up AI Slop (w/Jack Crosbie)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.com [https://www.discourseblog.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] Newly minted Rolling Stone senior writer Jack “Cros” Crobie is back in the third chair to discuss: * How having a W2 job can make you a little bit (or a lot of bit) libertarian * Trump saying he doesn’t care at all [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-not-thinking-american-finances-iran-talk-rcna344785] about the impact of the Iran war on Americans’ finances * A quick aside about The Devil Wears Prada 2 (listen/watch our subscribers-only ep [https://www.discourseblog.com/p/the-devil-wears-prada-2-is-pro-boss]!) * A chat about how Spencer Pratt opened his run for mayor [https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/spencer-pratt-los-angeles-mayoral-campaign-maga-1235559215/] of Los Angeles with an incredible AI slop video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6CTtdX8VcA] depicting himself as Batman that Republicans are absolutely eating up, munch munch crunch crunch * Cros’ theory on why MAGA loves these hyper-stylized fake videos and images so damn much * A detour into how badly the Bush family is aging * How evil is like IBS * And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, we talk FBI Director Kash Patel going ballistic [https://x.com/Acyn/status/2054271883823173801] in a Senate hearing about his alleged drinking on the job This week’s cultural recommendations: * Jack recommends Cats: The Jellicle Ball [https://catsthejellicleball.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaignid=23087567655&utm_adgroupid=187150537592&utm_adid=777914800958&utm_term=cats%20the%20jellicle%20ball&utm_matchtype=b&utm_campaign&utm_adgroup&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23087567655&gbraid=0AAAAA_KCfwe8NB0QAw03srXO57PgWgfI2&gclid=CjwKCAjwwpDQBhAuEiwAa-4WoyAng7jYC2b95NMy6VRRJVV0xRgFrtN-Ny8Vx8IgVUAD8rB7zrG6VxoC9FoQAvD_BwE], now on Broadway * Cros recommends the second seasons of Running Point [https://www.netflix.com/title/81483318] and Beef [https://www.netflix.com/title/81447461], both on Netflix * Aleks recommends Veronica Mars [https://www.netflix.com/title/70298927], newly on Netflix Want to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here [http://discourseblog.com/subscribe]. Then, follow these instructions: Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly. Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app. And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@discourseblog]! That’s it!

Abolish the White House Correspondents Dinner (w/Rafi Schwartz)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.com [https://www.discourseblog.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] ! IMPORTANT PROGRAMMING NOTE!We’re taking next week (May 5, 2026) off! We’ll be back the following week with a new episode (May 12, 2026). The Week’s Rafi Schwartz returns to the third chair to discuss: * What foods are better soggy * Kelsey Grammer’s 2021 collaboration with Gristedes [https://www.gettyimages.in/detail/news-photo/kelsey-grammer-is-seen-at-gristedes-on-september-16-2021-in-news-photo/1235303872]?? * Was the shooting a FALSE FLAG OP [https://x.com/hasanthehun/status/2048227523918737493] to speed up the construction [https://www.offmessage.net/p/do-not-authorize-trump-ballroom] of the White House ballroom????????? * Kash Patel reportedly being cucked [https://x.com/alexbronzini/status/2048212720466428256?s=46&t=iAcN8o0If9PWifrT6SPHDg] mid-shooting :( * Suspected WHCD shooter Cole Allen’s blog-worthy manifesto [https://nypost.com/2026/04/26/us-news/read-whcd-gunman-cole-allens-full-anti-trump-manifesto/] * The Free Press’ Olivia Reingold going straight-to-cam [https://x.com/olivia_reingold/status/2048203825241043036?s=46&t=iAcN8o0If9PWifrT6SPHDg] * The bleak conditions under which Trump assassination attempts keep happening * A deep-dive on the mentalist Oz Pearlman [https://x.com/nkulw/status/2048808590434095588?s=46&t=iAcN8o0If9PWifrT6SPHDg], the entertainment at the WHCD * This photo [https://x.com/Microinteracti1/status/2048312807410602207] of Stephen Miller; this video [https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/2048374202713993364?s=20] of RFK Jr. and Cheryl Hines * Our excitement for TMZ opening a DC bureau * And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, we get into the very funny Vanity Fair [https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/tony-dokoupil?srsltid=AfmBOopqrD56NDyS7QP4xxKcm9MZv0SplV2-SmESDl_ioExW09bsDlWB]profile [https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/tony-dokoupil?srsltid=AfmBOopqrD56NDyS7QP4xxKcm9MZv0SplV2-SmESDl_ioExW09bsDlWB]of CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil (or as we call him, Du-poop-ul) This week’s cultural recommendations: * John Frankenheimer’s The Manchurian Candidate [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc8LpuM5Bhs] (and NOT!!! the Jonathan Demme remake) * Rafi recommends Judd Apatow’s The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling [https://www.hbomax.com/shows/zen-diaries-of-garry-shandling/4d375692-343f-4e23-9005-0b268e856eca] * Aleks recommends AMC Lincoln Square [https://www.amctheatres.com/movie-theatres/new-york-city/amc-lincoln-square-13] in New York City Want to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here [http://discourseblog.com/subscribe]. Then, follow these instructions: Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly. Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app. And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@discourseblog]! That’s it!

Whatever You Do, Don't Call Kash Patel (an Alleged) Drunk

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.com [https://www.discourseblog.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] Producer Sam is BACK in the third chair to discuss: * Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigns [https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/20/politics/lori-chavez-deremer-labor-secretary-out-trump]; Tim Apple said, “Also, me” [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/20/technology/tim-cook-apple-ceo-steps-down.html] * Checking in on Ellen DeGeneres (she’s back in America [https://www.dailymail.com/tvshowbiz/article-15536295/Ellen-DeGeneres-seen-27M-Montecito-mansion.html]! sort of) * Speaking of problematic lesbians, Rosie O’Donnell is MAD [https://uinterview.com/news/rosie-odonnell-shares-she-wrote-to-disgraced-ex-rep-eric-swalwell-that-he-broke-her-heart-after-donating-to-him-men-suck/] at disgraced former Congressman Eric Swalwell * Also Producer Sam has been sitting on a Rosie O’Donnell impression??? * FBI Director Kash Patel is suing [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/20/us/politics/kash-patel-atlantic-article-alcohol-drinking-fbi-lawsuit.html] The Atlantic $250 million for alleging he is drunk on the job [https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/04/kash-patel-fbi-director-drinking-absences/686839/] * We remember who was on the various CSIs. Did you remember that Gary Sinise was the star of CSI: NY? (And randomly Sela Ward was on it????) * The great reconsideration of Lena Dunham upon the release of her new memoir, Famesick [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/609917/famesick-by-lena-dunham/] * Which reminded us of the uh, not so thinly veiled rumors of Jack Antonoff’s affair with a teenage Lorde [https://dfta.show/files/Lorde%20and%20Jack%20Antonoff%20-.pptx%20(2).pdf] * And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, Jack finally saw Kristoffer Borgli’s The Drama [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zmKcUa4Xxk] and we had to get into it! This week’s cultural recommendations: * Jack recommends Canada Dry seltzer [https://www.canadadry.com/] * Sam recommends the Blowback [https://blowback.show/Season-1] podcast * Aleks recommends the fifth and final season of Hacks [https://www.hbomax.com/shows/hacks/67e940b7-aab2-46ce-a62b-c7308cde9de7] on HBO Max Want to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here [http://discourseblog.com/subscribe]. Then, follow these instructions: Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly. Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app. And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@discourseblog]! That’s it!