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

A former prickly TV personality tries to become a better man... a former president tries to refine his brand... on the pilot episode of the stupefyingly dull Netflix talk show MY NEXT GUEST NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION... WITH DAVID LETTERMAN (2018), the onetime innovator of late night is joined by Barack Obama for a gruelling conversation. PLUS: batten down the hatches for Ron Howard's "Hillbilly Elegy."

Michael and Us

#178 - The Lame Show with David Letterman

After he named names for HUAC, Elia Kazan made a movie about an informer. We watched ON THE WATERFRONT (1954), one of the great American films by the most famous American rat, and discuss its personal meaning for Kazan, and the historical context behind its powerful depiction of working-class New York. PLUS: a free-flowing discussion of celebrity and politics.

"Revisiting On the Waterfront" by Kathy M. Newman - https://www.jacobinmag.com/2014/07/revisiting-on-the-waterfront/

#180 - The Informer

In this spooky Halloween episode, we consider the politics of horror by looking at the ultimate slasher film, John Carpenter's classic HALLOWEEN (1978). We discuss the way that the horror genre has traditionally served as an outlet for society's fears and traumas, and how this suburban horror story in particular articulated a certain post-'60s, pre-Reagan reactionary current in America. Don't worry, we like this movie, we promise we won't ruin it for you. PLUS: eve-of-the-election punditry and childhood Halloween memories.

#182 - There Goes the Neighborhood

With Biden's victory all but confirmed, we discuss the aftermath of the U.S. presidential election: the narratives being spun to explain the results, Trump's response, why four years of Biden/McConnell will almost certainly be bad, and why there still may be cause of optimism. Then we discuss a movie for times like this: Charlie Chaplin's career-destroying anti-capitalist black MONSIEUR VERDOUX (1947), a film that told America, "Things are bad, and have always been bad."

#183 - Back to Brunch

We travel to Lumberton to plumb the dark depths of David Lynch's BLUE VELVET (1986), in which good and evil are forces that are intertwined - and not a strict dichotomy. We discuss how critics then and now have received the film's provocations, and our own relationships to Lynch's work. PLUS:  red states vs blue states, Joe Biden's cabinet, and Tim Allen's discovery of Marxism.

#185 - Red and Blue

We talk about part 3 of the Adam Curtis video essay series.

#127 - Century of the Self: Kill the Cop in Your Head

Andrew, Lucy, and Theo are joined by journalist Jim Malo to talk about Australia's (alleged) war crimes in Afghanistan, our dipshit media's response to those war crimes, and China using those war crimes to own Australia on Twitter.
***
Support our show and get exclusive bonus episodes by subscribing on Patreon: www.patreon.com/BoontaVista
***
Email the show at mailbag@boontavista.com! Call in and leave us a question or a message on 1800-317-515 to be answered on the show!
***
Twitter: twitter.com/boontavista
Website: boontavista.com
Merchandise: boontavista.com/merchandise
Twitch: twitch.tv/boontavista

EPISODE 177: Lifetime Bitch Award

Bonus Episodes

EPISODE 177: Lifetime Bitch Award (Feat. Jim Malo)

Basement show yall...
// Rich Dad $80 Board Game // Fostering Dialogue // Propaganda Feedback Loop // Shitting & Pissing // Stole Some Files // Java // Shadow Banned // Committed To Freedom & Excellence // Put Us Down For A Prayer // 

Street Fight Mail - P.O Box 82306 Columbus, OH 43202
Street Fight Radio Call In Show - (614) 655-3887

Rich Dad $80 Board Game

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
***
Support our show and get exclusive bonus episodes by subscribing on Patreon: www.patreon.com/BoontaVista
***
Email the show at mailbag@boontavista.com! Call in and leave us a question or a message on 1800-317-515 to be answered on the show!
***
Twitter: twitter.com/boontavista
Website: boontavista.com
Merchandise: boontavista.com/merchandise
Twitch: twitch.tv/boontavista

EPISODE 183: Fuck Around And Find Trout

Andrew, Ben, and Theo introduce everyone's favourite classic segment, The Poll Report. Plus: one dubious injustice and one less-dubious injustice in sunny old England, and Shane Warne's favourite flicks.***
Support our show and get exclusive bonus episodes by subscribing on Patreon: www.patreon.com/BoontaVista
***
Email the show at mailbag@boontavista.com! Call in and leave us a question or a message on 1800-317-515 to be answered on the show!
***
Twitter: twitter.com/boontavista
Website: boontavista.com
Merchandise: boontavista.com/merchandise
Twitch: twitch.tv/boontavista

EPISODE 184: Review With Tress MacNeille

A podcast about culture, politics, and our crumbling world. Hosted by Luke Savage and Will Sloan.

Exclusive subscriber-only episodes: https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus/overview