October 30 - November 5, 2016
1. The Cracked Podcast - "Trump Country: What the Media Doesn't Want You To Know"
The title of this episode may sound conspiratorial, and I'll admit that Cracked does traffic in some stories that skirt around the fringes of popular opinion. But this podcast blows open a hard truth that many tend to forget around election time: people supporting a movement are, at their root, still people. From incidents like the "basket of deplorables" comment on the left, and any number of exclamations about a rigged election on the right, it's evident that our capacity for incremental criticism is fairly low. It's hard to give any ground to someone you perceive opposing your own ideals, and it's much easier to submit to an all-or-nothing mentality. Cracked sets out to debunk the fact that all Trump supporters are dumb rednecks, appealing to the possibility that environment and circumstance shape opinions more than inherent moral character. This essential reality, that groups are comprised of individuals, must be salvaged from the preemptive aftermath of November 8th. The balanced tone and presentation of ideas on this episode is a mighty fine place to start.
2. This American Life - "Seriously? (#599)"
This American Life prizes themselves as a integrity driven news outlet, delivering top notch journalism covering human experience in American and beyond. While I've generally found this to be the case, this particular episode is a bit more charged. It lacks just a smidge of balanced perspective, but it still serves the stories judiciously. At it's core the episode examines the state of the "fact" in this political moment. Depending on your needs, facts can been villified, repurposed or dismissed altogether. In addition to some excellent existential probing, the episode features an original composition by Sara Bareilles performed by Leslie Odom Jr., imagining what President Obama might be thinking (and not saying) about this election. Finally some unquestionable beauty amidst the fervor!
3. This American Life - "Will I Know Anyone At This Party? (#600)"
Continuing with the theme of political divisiveness, we move to this cheekily named episode from This American Life. This edition of the show focuses on the crossroads the Republican party seems to be facing after nominating a candidate who actively changed his party affiliation multiple times throughout the 2000's. The meat of the show focuses on the community of St. Cloud, Minnesota and how immigration has served as a wedge to divide people with a sense of place. This section in and of itself was sufficient enough to be a complete episode, but the TAL team also pulls in excerpts from the right-leaning podcast Ricochet and two original compositions imagining the inner monologues of RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. Politics is always better with music, especially when that music is performed by Neil Patrick Harris.
4. Strangers - "The Truth"
Strangers brings us an episode that is not at all politically related, but singularly more compelling than even the juiciest of revelations about e-mail or tour bus audio. This gripping story follows a woman torn apart by love and betrayal that really does make the contentiousness of the election seem petty. Yes, I know the stakes of a single family pale in comparison to choosing a leader to run perhaps the most influential country in the world, but I challenge anyone to listen to this woman's story and care at all about the candidate she supports.
The title of this episode may sound conspiratorial, and I'll admit that Cracked does traffic in some stories that skirt around the fringes of popular opinion. But this podcast blows open a hard truth that many tend to forget around election time: people supporting a movement are, at their root, still people. From incidents like the "basket of deplorables" comment on the left, and any number of exclamations about a rigged election on the right, it's evident that our capacity for incremental criticism is fairly low. It's hard to give any ground to someone you perceive opposing your own ideals, and it's much easier to submit to an all-or-nothing mentality. Cracked sets out to debunk the fact that all Trump supporters are dumb rednecks, appealing to the possibility that environment and circumstance shape opinions more than inherent moral character. This essential reality, that groups are comprised of individuals, must be salvaged from the preemptive aftermath of November 8th. The balanced tone and presentation of ideas on this episode is a mighty fine place to start.
2. This American Life - "Seriously? (#599)"
This American Life prizes themselves as a integrity driven news outlet, delivering top notch journalism covering human experience in American and beyond. While I've generally found this to be the case, this particular episode is a bit more charged. It lacks just a smidge of balanced perspective, but it still serves the stories judiciously. At it's core the episode examines the state of the "fact" in this political moment. Depending on your needs, facts can been villified, repurposed or dismissed altogether. In addition to some excellent existential probing, the episode features an original composition by Sara Bareilles performed by Leslie Odom Jr., imagining what President Obama might be thinking (and not saying) about this election. Finally some unquestionable beauty amidst the fervor!
3. This American Life - "Will I Know Anyone At This Party? (#600)"
Continuing with the theme of political divisiveness, we move to this cheekily named episode from This American Life. This edition of the show focuses on the crossroads the Republican party seems to be facing after nominating a candidate who actively changed his party affiliation multiple times throughout the 2000's. The meat of the show focuses on the community of St. Cloud, Minnesota and how immigration has served as a wedge to divide people with a sense of place. This section in and of itself was sufficient enough to be a complete episode, but the TAL team also pulls in excerpts from the right-leaning podcast Ricochet and two original compositions imagining the inner monologues of RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. Politics is always better with music, especially when that music is performed by Neil Patrick Harris.
4. Strangers - "The Truth"
Strangers brings us an episode that is not at all politically related, but singularly more compelling than even the juiciest of revelations about e-mail or tour bus audio. This gripping story follows a woman torn apart by love and betrayal that really does make the contentiousness of the election seem petty. Yes, I know the stakes of a single family pale in comparison to choosing a leader to run perhaps the most influential country in the world, but I challenge anyone to listen to this woman's story and care at all about the candidate she supports.
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