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
May 22, 2021 • 55min
E23:Starship Troopers
Ana and Dan take on Paul Verhoeven's misunderstood and mismarketed military romp. Can you make such a faithful parody of fascist propaganda that it becomes... fascist propaganda? Do you want to know more? There is IR in this movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 15, 2021 • 1h 3min
E22: ALTERED CARBON
Ana and Dan stumble through a drizzly, neon-lit cityscape, beset by hard-as-nails dames and colorful assassins -- in the future. Join us for a slight detour through Ana's favorite micro-genre. There is IR in this book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 7, 2021 • 1h 1min
E21: THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER (UNLOCKED)
Ana and Dan talk about the hunkiest entry into the next Marvel phase and its ham-fisted but sincere investigation of this country's whiteness protection program. There is IR in this television series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 30, 2021 • 1h 9min
E20: SCHLOCK OR AWE: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA V1
Ana and Dan turn a roving red eye on what's schlocky, what's serviceable, and what's genuinely scary about 1978's Mormon science fiction masterpiece. There is IR in this television pilot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 23, 2021 • 1h 6min
E19: CANON FODDER: AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS
Ana and Dan bundle up for a trip way down South. We ask the questions: Is it possible to be racist without ever mentioning race? Can you really use paper to mark your path through a Cyclopean maze? And *why won't anyone listen to the dogs*? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 16, 2021 • 46min
E18: ARRIVAL
Ana and Dan tick through this time-warp gothic romance (so much mist!) and find lots to disagree about. There is IR in this movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 12, 2021 • 1h 12min
E17: The Three Body Problem
Ana and Dan discuss the relative value of an endorsement by Barack Obama. Is this actually a good book or just an interesting idea explored at overly exhaustive length? There is IR in this book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 2, 2021 • 1h 4min
E16: Zack Snyder's Justice League
Ana and Dan break into regularly scheduled programming to discuss the four-hour festival of heroic posing that lots of people asked for but no one really expected. Dan reveals his joy that The Flash is a member of The Tribe (it's canon now!). Ana can't stop giggling whenever someone says "motherbox." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 26, 2021 • 1h
E15: Galaxy Quest
By Grabthar's hammer, we tried to form a rudimentary lathe but Dan was never really serious about the craft. Still, we swore to never give up, never surrender! And I have one job on this podcast. It's stupid, but I'm going to do it. You may think "that's not right," but it's the little things in life and it's all real! Please enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 23, 2021 • 1h 4min
E14: The Left Hand of Darkness
Ana and Dan discuss the Le Guin's foundational feminist text -- and discover that its reputation as a book "about gender" doesn't quite do justice to a story that's also about bias, identity, and acceptance. You will laugh, you will cry. When you read the book. Hopefully the pod leaves you dry-eyed but mirthful! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
