Compact Podcast

Ashley Frawley, a British sociologist and writer, and Geoff Shullenberger, a cultural critic and editor, join a discussion on Republican midterm prospects, Trump’s war with Iran, and the dangers of political media bubbles. They explore France’s confusing riots, calls for authoritarian order, the decline of secular republicanism, and Houellebecq’s vision of a post-liberal Islamic technocracy.

Ashley Frawley, a sociologist and cultural critic, and Geoff Shullenberger, a writer on technology and politics, explore the proposed livestreaming of an execution and the spectacle of online violence. They discuss Foucault, masculinity, military technology, trans identity, and digital irony before turning to the AI bubble, speculative investment, and capitalism’s recurring crises.

A rape allegation at Cornell dominates the discourse; an attempted pilot hijacking of a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv is thwarted; and Lula and Flavio Bolsonaro advance past the first round of elections in Brazil. Ashley Frawley and Geoff Shullenberger join Matthew Schmitz. Compact Magazine is reader-supported. Become a member and gain unlimited access here.

Florida’s push to restrain OpenAI sparks a debate over grassroots backlash, regulatory capture, and the tech industry’s faith in unstoppable AI. The discussion turns to proxy warfare, terrorism’s evolution, and the prospect of digital conflict. It closes with a provocative look at anti-hazing campaigns, campus rituals, and the changing culture of student life.

Sociologist and cultural critic Ashley Frawley and writer-editor Geoff Shullenberger explore Indian-American identity, assimilation, class backlash, and the New Right. They examine Trump’s exclusion of news outlets and the risks of political silos, then turn to Britain’s uncertain path on Brexit, EU reentry, sovereignty, trade, and immigration. A timely discussion of why a flawed status quo can start looking attractive.

Ashley Frawley, a sociologist and writer, and Geoff Shullenberger, a cultural critic, examine Trump’s surprising support for Irish reunification, Canada’s possible European alignment, and the country’s imperial inheritance. They also discuss Macklemore’s cancellation over Palestine, celebrity activism, moral posturing, and the rise of a new foreign-policy cancel culture.

Sociologist and writer Ashley Frawley and cultural critic Geoff Shullenberger join a wide-ranging discussion of the Lindsay Clancy case, insanity defenses, and jury independence. They examine the AfD’s rise, Germany’s energy crisis, deindustrialization, and political collapse. The conversation also revisits 9/11, the wars that followed, post-9/11 safetyism, surveillance, and the search for higher aims in foreign policy.

Ashley Frawley, a sociologist and cultural critic, joins a wide-ranging discussion of America’s claims on Venezuelan oil, Trump’s territorial ambitions, and the strange socialist forms of capitalism. They examine identity fraud, tribal membership, cultural belonging, and appropriation, before turning to conservative media funding, manufactured opposition, and the convergence of left and right around bureaucratic decline.

A trade spat between the U.S. and Canada and how tariffs are being pitched as economic strategy. The rise of Flock license-plate cameras and a nationwide privacy backlash. A prominent senator’s dramatic shift in public persona and what that says about media and politics.

They unpack Trump's sudden shift on Korea and what unpredictable strategy might mean for alliances. They discuss intense media scrutiny and debates about responsibility after Jason Arday's death. They explore shifting public blame in the Lindsay Clancy case and how societal expectations shape narratives.