Space the Nation
Space the Nation
On Space the Nation, we take our love of science fiction (and fantasy and horror) and smash it together with our professional passions: international relations (as brought to the table by Tufts University professor and Washington Post columnist Dan Drezner) and cultural criticism (as brought to the table by political columnist Ana Marie Cox). It's a highly informed but hilarious conversation that starts with an examination of a particular text (everything from Ursula K. LeGuin to the MCU, Star Trek to Colson Whitehead) and veers into current events, mental health practices and imagined conversations between Ted Cruz and the Predator. For people who like white papers and graphic novels, Chapo Trap House and what Political Science Twitter used to be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 29, 2025 • 1h 17min
TRON: LEGACY
Ana and Dan get the high scores on Galactic Narcissists and check out the middle entry in this middling franchise. There's some interesting stuff about non-attachment that gets promptly disregarded for Plot Reasons and also a hot program that who will later go on to direct Don't Worry Darling, a movie with exactly as much insight into video games as this one. Not much IR in this movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 16, 2025 • 27min
EXTRA: THE ANDOR MOMENT
"I have friends everywhere." How does a quote from a Star Wars prequel wind up the unofficial slogan for a national movement? Indivisible's Ezra Levin joins Ana for a special Dan-less episode to talk about how Andor infiltrated anti-Trump protests and who he'll be cosplaying as on Halloween.Find out about the No Kings protest near you here. Remember this: Try.There is IR in this podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 13, 2025 • 1h 11min
TRON
Ana and Dan challenge each other to a round of Space Paranoids, the hit video game kids are into these days! It's the summer of Tron: Ares and so we're diving into the surprisingly light movie footprint of the franchise. It's the second-best Bruce Boxleitner movie you'll see all year! There's a bit of IR in this movie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 6, 2025 • 1h 12min
SNEAKERS
Ana and Dan dive into the classic film Sneakers, paying tribute to Robert Redford and exploring its relevance today. They compare it to other 90s hacker films, revealing its unique Bay Area inspirations. The hosts share behind-the-scenes stories from the star-studded cast and analyze the film's themes of information power and capitalism. They discuss what has aged well and what hasn't, while uncovering clever infiltration tactics used in the plot. Join them for a nostalgic yet insightful look at this timeless gem!
Oct 6, 2025 • 1h 10min
ALIEN: COVENANT
Ana and Dan land on an Earth-like planet and don't think it's suspicious at all. Touch things! Don't wear masks! What could go wrong? Part of our comprehensive coverage of the Alien franchise (by which I mean, I made Dan watch it), Alien: Covenant is notable mainly for Ridley Scott's surface-level capitulation to audience wishes (more xenomorph, less God stuff!) while still engineering a sizeable "f--- you" into the subtext. Also, Michael Fassbender fingers his flute. There is some IR in this movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 16, 2025 • 1h 12min
ALIEN 3
Ana and Dan prefer the prison planet, thank you. Ana coaxed Dan into watching the Alien franchise entry once praised by Vox as "far from the worst Alien movie!" Now, I owe him a "Buckaroo Banzai" or something. There is not much international relations in this movie, but Weyland-Yutani ordered the inclusion of a critique of capitalism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 8, 2025 • 1h 1min
ALIEN: EARTH
Dan and Ana tear the slicer off a paper-cutter (which are still necessary in the year 2120) and enter into battle with a newly speedy xenomorph. There are many other creepy crawlies and just as many unwise corporate decisions. Cats beware.Ana is just making it out of Covid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 7, 2025 • 1h 5min
WE KNOW WHAT WE DID LAST SUMMER (2025)
Dan and Ana take you on a trip through their summer media consumption, including The Last of Us second season, Blindsight, Murderbot, Foundation, Strange New Worlds and many more! Just in time for a week past Labor Day!(Ana had Covid.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 25, 2025 • 1h 12min
WAR OF THE WORLDS (2025)
Ana and Dan settle into their computer screens for this time capsule of 2020 cinema, a "screenlife" take on H.G. Wells' public-domain IP. Gen X viewers will appreciate Ice Cube's Big Dad Energy and... it's very GIF-able? Watch the GIFs, not the movie. There's shockingly little IR in this movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 19, 2025 • 1h 25min
FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS
Dan and Ana are back! Perhaps you've heard a little something about the (latest) movie intended to relaunch the Marvel brand. It's worked out so well that three weeks after its release, you may have already decided not to see it! (As many people have.)Apologies for the delay—late capitalism, travel, heat death of the universe, etc. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
