What Rough Beast Episode 1: What's to Become of Us?
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Dec 28, 2024 Dive into the emotional rollercoaster of national pride and political despair following an election that took many by surprise. The hosts blend despair, gallows humor, and reflections on high school experiences while analyzing electoral integrity and societal pressures. Discussions about how wealth influences politics reveal the dangers of consolidating power. Plus, the allure of charismatic leaders and the psychological dynamics at play in today’s political landscape are explored. A call for media reform rounds out the conversation!
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Misleading Campaign Ads
- Virginia Heffernan recounts canvassing in Bethlehem and encountering kids who'd been targeted by misleading political ads.
- This anecdote highlights the manipulative tactics employed during the election.
The Return of the Repressed
- The repression of human nature under neoliberalism may have fueled a resurgence of medieval desires for violence and death.
- This return of the repressed id is reflected in the Trump phenomenon and the rise of figures like RFK Jr.
The Death Wish in Politics
- The obsession with death, violence, and even cannibalism in figures like Trump and within QAnon suggests a potential death wish.
- This raises questions about whether this reflects human nature or a cultural phenomenon.
