The "Things Blowing Up" Briefing

About this episode

The episode discusses the cognitive dissonance in current political and economic events, including military briefings and the reckoning for tech giants.

Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman break down a week of absolute cognitive dissonance: a President receiving military briefings via two-minute "action" reels, an economy that seems to be running on Wile E. Coyote physics, and a landmark legal reckoning for the tech giants who built our fractured reality. From charging electric cars at gas stations that sell steak to the "suicide mission" plans for Kharg Island, it’s a deep dive into the crumbling facade of the American empire. The Michael Bay Briefing: NBC reveals that Donald Trump’s primary source for Iran war updates is a "things blowing up" compilation. The Wile E. Coyote Economy: Why the markets remain eerily calm while the petrodollar system is in flames. The Great Tech Reckoning: Landmark judgments against Meta and YouTube for mental health damages could be the "Big Tobacco moment" for Silicon Valley. The CBS Exodus: Ratings are cratering as the network pivots toward billionaire-friendly propaganda. Culture Corner: Nick struggles through the "dystopian burnout" of Paradise, while Jared survives the 760-page psychological warfare of Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow. If you’re listening to this preview, head over to…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jared Yates Sexton, Nick Hauselman

Topics covered

• cognitive dissonance
• military briefings
• economy
• tech giants
• media ratings
• cultural commentary

Keywords

• cognitive dissonance
• military briefings
• Wile E. Coyote economy
• tech reckoning
• media ratings
• Paradise
• Gravity’s Rainbow

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NBC, Meta, YouTube, CBS

Books & works: Gravity’s Rainbow

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