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
Aug 7, 2026 • 54min
DISAPPOINTMENTS DAY
In which our heroes discuss recent non-great things in the realm of science fiction, including Disclosure Day as well as M3GAN and Greenland 2s. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 7, 2026 • 2min
STILL HERE, STILL
We're still dedicated to producing the podcast, we're still here, we still appreciate your support! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 15, 2026 • 1h 14min
WORLD WAR Z (2013)
A lively dive into the chaotic making of a major zombie blockbuster and how the film strayed from its source. They track late reshoots, tone shifts, and the PG-13 choice. Conversations jump from action set pieces in South Korea and Jerusalem to odd production nitpicks and clever Easter eggs. There is also a look at themes like capitalism and the movie's video-game pacing.
Jun 1, 2026 • 1h 15min
ROBOCOP (1987)
Well, is there a critique of capitalism in this movie? I'll buy that for a dollar!Commentary on, among other things: Corporate malfeasance, the carceral state, the market's encroachment on bodily autonomy, disability justice, and parody of ultraviolence done in service of capital? ACAB except Robocop, that's what I say. There is also IR in this movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 29, 2026 • 1h
ENCORE: KINDRED (1979)
What better way to end our celebration of mothers with this meditation on generational trauma—as well as the grit and grace it takes to survive. This is not Octavia Butler's novel with the most transparent commentary on the Current Troubles, it goes deeper than that: It raises questions about repair from trauma, what it is possible to heal, and when wounds have to be honored rather than salved. A perfect accompaniment to preparations for our country's 250th birthday! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 24, 2026 • 51min
GRAVITY (2013)
The George Clooney Rule of competence porn ("If the movie contains Clooney, it contains competence.") overwhelms the argument that Gravity may not, at its core, really be competence porn so much as "barely-made-it-out-and-needed-a-male-presence-to-survive porn." Your space mileage may vary! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
12 snips
May 23, 2026 • 46min
ENCORE: ARRIVAL (2016)
They debate a divisive sci-fi film's visuals, soundtrack, and a luminous lead performance. Conversation centers on linguistics accuracy, the twist about language and time, and tense international reactions to an ambiguous message. Moral dilemmas about parenting and sacrifice get a sharp airing alongside discussions of motifs like palindromes and gender representation.
May 13, 2026 • 53min
ENCORE: EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (2022)
We continue with encore presentations of mothers in space for May. Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert use slapstick, sci-fi, and hotdog fingers in this hallucinatory exploration of agency and commitment and the everything bagel. There's IR and a critique of capitalism in this movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
50 snips
May 13, 2026 • 1h 11min
THE MERCY OF THE GODS (2024)
The minds behind The Expanse are back with a novel about academic infighting and enormous space bugs. Dan identifies with one of the characters! It's a brutal look at how humanity does and doesn't survive contact with utter cruelty. There is lots of IR (and academic intrigue!) in this book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 6, 2026 • 1h 12min
ENCORE: ALIENS (1986)
Mothers: Can't live with them, can't have existed without them. Science fiction is dominated my male voices, some of them have mommy issues. Here are some of our mommy issues. (Octavia Butler, author of one of encores, is the only creator to be exploring the issue from the inside.)First up is Aliens, the ultimate not-without-my-daughter text. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
