What do you think of recent podcasts?
Great? Good? So-so? Bad? Awful? Other?
I haven't listened to CTH in ~2 years. If all they do is shoot the shit - I have no interest. But they have Osita Nwanevu as a guest on today's show so I'm curious to have a listen if I get positive feedback in this thread.
812 - Sweeney Odd feat. Osita Nwanevu (3/5/24)
Contributing editor for the New Republic and columnist for The Guardian Osita Nwanevu returns to the show. We look at a new New Yorker piece on Joe Biden’s last campaign, and the president’s defiant refusal to change gears, adjust policies, or really do anything to address rather dismal polling ahead of the election.
Then, switching to the republicans, we look at the increasingly weird and anti-social tact of American conservatism and ask: can the modern right be assimilated into American culture? Find Osita’s newsletter here: https://www.ositanwanevu.com/ And check out the Flaming Hydra collective (featuring a lot of great writers & friends of the show) here: https://flaminghydra.com/
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Edit
I didn't realize Matt was still gone. I just assumed he came back already. Is there any hint at all when he'll come back?
Recent episodes I've heard have been fine, ones mostly about Palestine with relevant guests, like the Electronic Intifada guy, have been better but obviously a bit depressing. Matt can't be replaced, so until he's back I don't expect much.
Matt can't be replaced...
Oh, shit. I didn't know he was still gone. My interest is already waning.
I do miss Matt quite a bit. He always tried to relate current events to their historical context through a rough materialist framework. That was always the most engaging thing about the show for a history nerd like me: looking at current events through a grand narrative framework to make sense of it all. Neither Will nor Felix have a knack for thinking that way, though they have their own roles on the show that engage me to an extent.
Felix just plays CS while recording. He barely contributes. Will is pulling this sorry piece of shit week after week and it's gotta suck
Feels like they’re just kind of treading water until Matt gets back. A few recent episodes I’ve stopped listening to after just a little bit in because they aren’t really saying many interesting things. Looks like he put out another episode on the Spanish Civil War so maybe he’ll be on soon?
I kinda feel like a odd duck in that I actually like Chapo. I've stuck with Chapo pretty consistently, even through the post-Bernie doldrums. I've listened to a fair number of their episodes multiple times, even the much reviled Girl God episode. For me, Chapo is my default background noise when at work or taking a long drive or playing video games where I don't need to listen to dialogue.
For their recent stuff, it's not bad, although nothing amazing. They do have consistently good takes on Palestine, if not a lot of unique insights. On other topics they feel a bit late to the party, and there haven't been any particular stand-out reading series in the past few months.
