Know Your Enemy One Podcast After Another (w/ Jesse Brenneman)
14 snips
Dec 8, 2025 
Join Jesse Brenneman, a producer and movie correspondent, as he dives into Paul Thomas Anderson's thought-provoking film, One Battle After Another. The conversation reveals the film's critique of contemporary U.S. politics, showcasing a mix of left and right dynamics. Explore themes of family, identity, and the haunting presence of Ronald Reagan. Discover how the narrative intertwines revolutionary politics with personal connections, and laugh at the humor embedded in its serious undertones. It's a wild ride through the film’s rich, political landscape!
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A Plausible Alternate-Reality Of Militancy
- Paul Thomas Anderson crafts a timely alternate-reality about militant leftism and its 21st-century hangover.
- The film imagines organized revolutionary violence that largely doesn't exist in contemporary U.S. politics.
State Power Depicted As Unchecked Force
- The movie portrays state power as unconstrained and menacing, equating federal agents with military force.
- Scenes with a former HSI agent and indiscriminate raids make that coercive capability feel wholly believable.
Villains Are Both Ridiculous And Frightening
- Right-wing villains blend grotesque seriousness with comic absurdity, from Lockjaw to the Christmas Adventurers.
- That tonal mix makes them both ridiculous and terrifying, heightening the film's menace.
