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

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!

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

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] The Intercept’s Katherine Krueger returns to the third chair to discuss: * Sid Rosenberg’s beef with Mr. and Mrs. Met [https://x.com/sidrosenberg19/status/2042533024043073915] * Eric Swalwell’s resignation from Congress * Jack’s first bylines as an intern at The San Francisco Chronicle * Those photos of Justin Trudeau and and Katy Perry at Coachella [https://www.eonline.com/news/1430801/katy-perry-justin-trudeau-enjoy-coachella-date-night], which reminded us of that photo [https://www.eonline.com/news/763818/selena-gomez-and-orlando-bloom-s-storied-relationship-has-more-plot-points-than-you-realized-a-comprehensive-history] of Orlando Bloom and Selena Gomez * Trump claiming he didn’t the AI slop he posted was of him depicted as Jesus [https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/trump-posts-ai-image-himself-jesus-like-figure-drawing-outrage-2026-04-13/] * Speaking of Jesus, Trump is now feuding with the Pope [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/14/us/politics/trump-attacks-pope-midterms.html] lol * Doordash Grandma, welcome to the Resistance [https://x.com/atrupar/status/2043733918449381880], with a side quest where we remember Ken Bone * J.D. Vance’s 21-hour negotiations [https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/11/world/iran-war-trump-talks-pakistan] with Iran didn’t go well * The double-blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and how Trump is leading the speedrun of American decline on a global stage * Vance’s weird analogy about his wife skydiving [https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/jd-vance-uses-second-lady-222230798.html] * And in our After Dark segment available only to subscribers, we get into the alleged attack on Sam Altman’s house [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-raids-home-suspect-molotov-cocktail-openai-ceo-sam-altmans-house/] This week’s cultural recommendations: * Jack recommends Steven Sodebergh’s The Christophers [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2d1x7VuDmo] * Katherine recommends Jason Molina’s Songs: Ohia [https://songsohia.bandcamp.com/music] * Aleks recommends Rooster [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L00r5BGgP64], on HBO 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!