Unclear and Present Danger Wag the Dog
9 snips
Nov 15, 2025 A scandal-ridden president distracts the public with a fake war in Albania, orchestrated by a Hollywood producer. The hosts critique the film's lazy satire and its commentary on Washington politics, comparing it to real-life scandals like Clinton's. They explore the impracticalities of fabricating a war and the film's moral shortcomings. While praising Hoffman and De Niro's performances, they argue the film lacks the depth of sharper political satires. Ultimately, they suggest viewing it as a quirky 90s relic rather than a compelling critique.
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Episode notes
Manufactured Crises Don’t Mirror Reality
- Wag the Dog dramatizes a White House spin that manufactures a fake war to distract voters from scandal.
- The hosts argue the film is cynically naive about real political processes and consequences.
1997 News Echoes The Film’s Themes
- The hosts read 1997 New York Times items showing the political context of Wag the Dog's release.
- They link contemporary saber-rattling (e.g., Panama, Venezuela) to the film’s themes about manufactured crises.
Satire Needs Institutional Understanding
- John Ganz finds the movie toothless and superficial despite its satirical claims.
- He argues the film insults viewers by pretending realism while lacking institutional knowledge.
