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
Apr 22, 2025 • 1h 11min
MICHAEL CLAYTON
Ana and Dan pause to commune with the horses just as dawn breaks. How is 2007's "Michael Clayton" related to science fiction? 1) Only alien technology explains how someone with Clooney's looks and charm is the office henchman and not running the place 2) It's the creation of Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy. This is good enough. Highly quotable, gorgeous, perhaps (in Ana's opinion) a perfect film in the vein of Alien: not a single shot or line of dialogue wasted, everyone in the movie performing at the same high level, endlessly re-watchable, satisfying without being trite. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 17, 2025 • 1h 16min
SEVERANCE S2 E6-10
Ana and Dan reintegrate to unpack the second half of Severance Season 2, from haunting standalone episodes to an action-packed finale. They explore the show's psychological and thematic depth: labor alienation, the inner child, and late-stage capitalism in a company town. We learn Harmony Cobel invented severance, Gemma was probably lured with a fake baby promise, and Cold Harbor might be killing innies one spreadsheet at a time. Also: Milchick dances, Gwendoline Christie fights, and the baby goat lives (for now). There's class war, metaphysical angst, and echoes of The Graduate, The Matrix, and every emotionally constipated Apple product demo. There’s IR in this episode, and a critique of capitalism bosses hate more than big words. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 9, 2025 • 1h
THE ELECTRIC STATE
Ana and Dan would not volunteer for a road trip across a ruined America, even if it involved Gen-X micro-targeted mid-90s nostalgia. We break down The Electric State, a film that raises big questions about AI labor and passive entertainment but then does nothing interesting or coherent with them. The most expensive film Netflix has ever made (no, seriously), yet everything looks like a student film shot in the mustard aisle. The Tuch Tuches it up! Giancarlo Esposito does chillingly casual menace! All in vain. There’s class war, robot angst, and echoes of Terminator, The Road, and that Fallout series I forgot to finish. There’s some IR in this episode, and a critique of capitalism that feels like a drone strike from above. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 1, 2025 • 1h 11min
MICKEY17
Ana and Dan would not volunteer to die over and over again, even to be a working-class counterpoint to an obvious Trump parody. We explore the existential horror of being a disposable clone in a world that treats human life like office supplies. There’s class war, clone angst, and echoes of Moon, The Prestige, and Severance. Also: One of us finds the romance compelling, the other is skeptical. There's some IR in this episode and a critique of capitalism that will hit you like a giant pill bug. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 21, 2025 • 1h 10min
SEVERANCE S2 E1-5
Ana and Dan's outies prefer two scoops of ice cream in a serving, but they (the ice cream scoops) must be the same flavor. Our return to Lumon coincides with our own intense interest in being able to disassociate from the real world! But trauma will reveal itself with or without you remembering it specifically. There is a critique of capitalism and some IR in this TV show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 10, 2025 • 1h 30min
THE POSTMAN
Ana and Dan didn't realize their "palate cleansing" entry into Nuclear Winter would be about the heroism of civil servants and fighting against a racist autocracy founded by businessman-turned-despot. There is IR in this movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 2, 2025 • 1h 9min
THREADS
Ana and Dan hang onto their shopping bags for this slog through one of the most downbeat takes on the apocalypse that is not actively promoting a cult. CONTENT WARNING: For people who watch the news. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 28, 2025 • 1h 17min
THE DAY AFTER
Ana and Dan would never leave Rusty outside the fallout shelter. We discuss the movie that made Gen X the nihilist losers we are—and find more humanity than we remembered. This is the first of three in our Nuclear Winter 2025 series (Threads and The Postman are dropping soon).CONTENT WARNING: Not intended as commentary on current events, but you may find yourself reminded. Also, there's some IR in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 13, 2025 • 1h 11min
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
Ana and Dan wish you a happy Valentine's Day, this podcast will erase itself as it plays. Revisiting this scifi art-house classic after 20 years reveals some of its deep flaws and something about Young Dan's wistful notions about bookish young men and Manic Pixie Dream Girls. If you loved this episode's saltiness about saccharine tales, perhaps it would make a good gift for the sober sweetheart of your dreams? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 3, 2025 • 1h 16min
THE PROPHECY
For the last day of Fishmas, my true love gave to me an extremely well-produced piece of sh*t—and a partridge in a pear tree! Dan and I dive into The Prophecy, an Audible Original that proves our thesis: Laurence Fishburne makes everything better. We attempt to untangle its apocalyptic theology, its oddly specific hydrology content (like, really specific), and its absolute refusal to acknowledge how national security actually works. Come for the biblical name drops, stay for the moment I realize I’ve accidentally hate-listened to the whole thing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
