Jake Tapper’s career trajectory is an object lesson in how to succeed in corporate media. The formula generally goes like this: go after the fringes of the left and the right––but mostly the left. Never offend any traditional centers of power. Mug. Constantly mug for the camera. Hitch your brand to “The Troops” And-always, always––attack from the neoconservative right.
 
As previously discussed in our John McCain News Brief, the issue with John McCain was less so about the man himself but what he represented: posturing National Security state jingoism at the heart of America’s civic religion; a phony notion of self-importance that animates US militarism. Just the same, this week’s episode is less about Tapper and more about what he represents: the dead center of American corporate media; hollow, faux-adversarialism marked by military worship; less interested in original reporting than serving as a bouncer for Club Acceptable Opinion.  

We are joined on this week's episode by journalist Natasha Lennard.

Episode 55: Jake Tapper and the Art of Faux-Adversarialism

The gang is joined by Christian Parenti, who talks about the birth of actually-existing capitalism narrated in his latest book, Radical Hamilton. We open by discussing a series of new cancellations and why this moralistic approach to politics lets institutions and the powerful off the hook. Next, we're joined by Christian who makes a spirited case for revisiting the Developmentalist model of Hamilton's "American School." 

*** Become a patron to hear the remainder of this interview: http://www.patreon.com/deadpundits *** 

Find out more about this book here: https://www.versobooks.com/books/3186-radical-hamilton

Hamilton and the Invention of Actually-Existing Capitalism w/ Christian Parenti

And introducing, on lead vocals, guitar and bass...it’s Mr. Billy Corgan. Yes we’re talking through the legendary frontman and sole consistent member of gen x rock titans Smashing Pumpkins, a person who is constantly portrayed as either alt-rock’s greatest villain or saint, depending on who you’re asking. And today we’re joined by Struggle Sessions Leslie Lee III to dive into some of Mr. Corgan’s most intimate thoughts and feelings about his life and career through the best access we have...his mid-2000’s LiveJournal called simply “BillyBlog”.

Check out Struggle Session at sesh.plus

Songs
Smashing Pumpkins - Zero
Smashing Pumpkins - Nothing and Everything (Live on Pulse 1988)
Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock
Smashing Pumpkins - For Martha
Smashing Pumpkins - Transmission (Live, featuring Peter Hook)
Billy Corgan - Take Me Out to the Ball Game

And Introducing

#81 BILLY CORGAN! (ft. Leslie Lee III)

Matt goes off live on http://www.twitch.tv/chapotraphouse

Grill Stream

113 - Friday Vibestream (No Politics) 11.20.20

114 - Obungler and Drumpf Fistfight in Heaven 11.23.20

117 - The Defenestration of Prog 11.30.20

122 - The Road to Carcosa 12.10.20

Matt goes off live on http://www.twitch.tv/chapotraphouse

Topics: Who raided the Capitol and how they got like that

134 - The Vulgar Boatmen 01.11.21

molly o'brien from And Introducing... and InfiniteCast comes on to talk about the intricacies of meaning of whether you wanted to make out with will turner or jack sparrow
follow her @missmollymary & @andintropod
https://soundcloud.com/and-intro-pod
https://soundcloud.com/infinite-cast

outro: https://youtu.be/GI6CfKcMhjY

https://www.patreon.com/generationloss

110 // Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Lucy, Andrew, and Ben talk about getting parenting advice from the man who stole your car, the cow that stayed at-large from authorities for far too long, big fish dicks, and living at the airport Kirbying the security guards.

Read Jesse's paper here: https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v658/feature/

Outro music: Fish - Mr Scruff
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EPISODE 183: Fuck Around And Find Trout

Bonus Episodes

Welcome to the Nazbol Vortex, where Breadtubers, Boogaloo Boys, and Q-Anon battle it out for engagement. In this episode, we talk about streamers and podcasters, Twitter posters, pseudonyms, Jacobin's "irony" and the DSA/CIA activism trap. Honorable mention to Sam Seder and the Majority Report and their old friends at the Daily Kos. Thanks to Jason Selvig of The Good Liars for the intro!