

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

Jun 23, 2025 • 55min
28 WEEKS LATER
An arthouse hit gets a safer sequel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 23, 2025 • 1h 12min
ENCORE: 28 DAYS LATER
In this re-release of a patron episode for all listeners, Ana and Dan introduce their infamous 28 Days Later recording with a surprisingly lighthearted (and at times weirdly funny) conversation about personal triggers they’ve encountered while making this podcast—especially in relation to 28 Days Later—and how those flashpoints have, somehow, deepened their friendship.Content warning: Discussion includes sexual assault and, in a way, antisemitism.Original description:Ana and Dan scrutinize Danny Boyle’s art-house zombie movie—one Dan could lecture on blindfolded with his hands tied behind his back. A debate: Is twenty-eight days long enough for society to give up hope and revert to a pure state of nature? How long do you have to be fighting zombies before you become like them? There is IR in this movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 12, 2025 • 1h 7min
THUNDERBOLTS*
Ana and Dan and Bob find their shame rooms and do the podcast from there. We liked this movie! All superhero movies are about trauma, but this one is about Trauma—a darkness leavened by the charm of its stars. There is a bit of IR in this movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 2, 2025 • 1h 23min
SINNERS
Ana and Dan will have the pickled garlic, thank you. A wildly inventive and expertly made popcorn movie, with sympathies for a few devils and more lore than you can shake a guitar at. There is IR and an implicit critique of a particular form of capitalism in this movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 29, 2025 • 55min
ENCORE: ROGUE ONE
From the heady days of May 2022: Dan and Ana would have the pilot give the plans directly to the rebels, but decide to watch the movie anyway. Can you make a great movie entirely premised on a retcon? Does it take extremists to goad rebellions into action? How would Adorno feel about all this? There is IR in this movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 29, 2025 • 1h 26min
ANDOR S2 E10-12
Ana and Dan hope you’re enjoying the leisurely pace of these episode drops, letting you linger in the all-too-brief glory that was Andor Season 2 even as it starts to fade into memory. There’s a bit of IR in this show. And if you're a patron, don’t miss our video chat on a post-Andor rewatch of Rogue One. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 18, 2025 • 1h 24min
ANDOR S2 E7-9
Ana and Dan aren’t too green to podcast in this volatile environment—they’ll be fine.NOTE: Dan repeatedly refers to the "KX" droids as "KY" droids, and I did nothing to stop him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 10, 2025 • 1h 25min
ANDOR S2 E4-6
Ana and Dan brush off the bourgeoisie’s cosplay rebellion to get to the real heart of revolutionary struggle: ignoring signs of drug abuse in loved ones. Star Wars for grown-ups continues to ask hard questions about means and ends—and doubles as a PSA for trauma-informed workplace policies. There’s IR and a critique of capitalism in this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 4, 2025 • 59min
G20
After seeing trailers for this action-amid-the-white-papers flick, Ana and Dan brainstormed the next wave of thrillers based on foreign policy gatherings: New from Netflix: THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, with Naomi Watts, Jason Isaacs, and Alison Pill. Hulu presents THE MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE. Paramount+ unveils a new prestige drama: UNESCO.Alas, G20—the actual movie—is not quite the geopolitical thrill ride we hoped for. EGOT-winner Viola Davis gives it her all, but the film doesn’t deserve her. Also: way less IR than you'd expect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 4, 2025 • 1h 23min
ANDOR S2 E1-3
Ana and Dan dance like no one is watching. Andor Season 2 is finally here—was it worth the wait? The first arc brings us sexpest fascists, sad droids, multiple rebellions in search of a group chat, Cassian in motivational speaker mode, Mad Men in space, and genocide served over light refreshments. We dig into imperial bureaucracy, Star Wars as labor economy, and why Tony Gilroy might be the last great showrunner of his kind. Yes, there is IR in this galaxy.Content warning: discussion includes sexual assault and real-world current events. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.