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
Feb 11, 2024 • 1h 14min
S4E06: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
Ana and Dan watched a movie we did! For those unfamiliar with this off-the-radar franchise, it's a story about the adventures of wise Wookie whose sage is advice is often ignored by his lovable but misguided human friends. We hope you like it! There is IR and even a critique of capitalism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 5, 2024 • 51min
S4E05: THE COLONY
Ana and Dan put on their masks (the right way) and get to the script-doctoring! The Colony (2013) was so bad it birthed two new STN formats: First, we conduct a pathological exam on the movie and try to come up with ways that the patient could have been saved. Second, we sketch out Fishmas, a December-long celebration of Laurence Fishburne's scifi oeuvre. We are taking suggestions for what to cover, having already hit some highlights (Matrix, Event Horizon). There is some IR in this extremely boring movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 29, 2024 • 1h 1min
S4E04: I.S.S.
Ana and Dan ask you to notice the hum of the life-support system. If that goes silent, then you're definitely watching this movie, where someone draws attention to the hum of the life-support system so that you will notice when it goes silent. This is not a bad movie, it is a disappointing one. The wrong people sang, damnit! Also, please listen to the end because we need you all to weigh in: Is a wrap a sandwich? Oh, and yeah, there's IR in this movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 25, 2024 • 1h 21min
S4E03: THE TERROR
How's this for terror: Ana's beloved mutt got pancreatitis, thus this episode is really late. But, I did it! Here, here it is! And it's an excellent episode. Ana and Dan haven't cut their tongues out yet, so they can use them to talk about how much they both enjoyed The Terror, one of the best TV shows ever (in Ana's opinion, Dan is not quite as enamored). Compelling performances and fascinating characters, the real terror of the show comes from the oppressive dread of the arctic environment and the unreliability of human nature. God, it's good. I'm so sorry it took me so long to post this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 14, 2024 • 1h 11min
S4E02: THE SHINING
Hosts discuss Stanley Kubrick's version of The Shining and its differences from the book, exploring the tension and escalating events at the hotel, and the role of directors in eliciting performances from actors. They also talk about accepting offers to write with limited contact, phrases that haunt, and their plans for the new year.
13 snips
Jan 8, 2024 • 1h 2min
S4E01: THE EXPANSE S3E1-6
BELTALOWDA! Ana and Dan return to their roots to discuss the first half of season three of The Expanse. IS THERE IR IN THIS SHOW? IS THERE A CRITIQUE OF CAPITALISM? Exploring The Expanse's take on these issues is why Space the Nation exists -- but we never talked about S3 on the air. Journey with us into the past for the first time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 1, 2024 • 1h 11min
S3E52: REBEL MOON: PART ONE: A CHILD OF FIRE
Ana and Dan take Netflix's money and light it on fire. This movie looks kind of cool, but why did we watch it? Blame squarely falls on Dan, the one who suggested it! The movie features notably ineffective and reckless rebel organizing, fortunately overshadowed by the poorly designed Motherland dreadnought. There's laser-resistant wood, pay-as-you-can space pirates, and an impressively cool griffin. Amidst the chaos, there's a nod to international relations (IR), and the film's very existence is a critique of capitalism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 25, 2023 • 1h 31min
S3E51: OBAMA OR O'BUMMER: LEAVE THE WORLD
Ana and Dan sit down to binge Friends but get distracted by all those deer! That's so wild, so many deer just standing there! This is our second "Obama or O'Bummer" in a month, but you all really wanted us to talk about it, and we were curious ourselves. Now I wonder why we thought yet another example of prestige-bait science fiction was gonna be much different than other Obama picks! It's gorgeous and has a lot of ~ideas~ in it, but is it very satisfying? Listen and see! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 18, 2023 • 1h 11min
S3E50: SORRY TO BOTHER YOU
Ana and Dan stick to the script and break down the candy-colored communist dream machine "Sorry to Bother You," an unsubtle condemnation of late capitalism and wage slavery! Filled with dynamic performances and clever imagery, Boots Riley's fantastical bits may not land as hard as the uncomfortably close-to-home portrayals of microaggressions and moral compromise. This episode contains our longest Cancelvania travelogue yet; the movie contains IR. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 11, 2023 • 1h 10min
S3E49: OBAMA OR O'BUMMER: SEA OF TRANQUILITY
Ana and Dan stop their book tours to talk about Emily St. John Mandel's Sea of Tranquility for this first edition of "Obama or O'Bummer," in which we rate our former president's science fiction recommendations on a scale from one to seven almonds. Are you ready to explore the expanded MCU (Mandel Character Universe)? Check your timeline for glitches and get on board. There is some IR in this book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
