Space the Nation
Space the Nation
On Space the Nation, we take our love of science fiction (and fantasy and horror) and smash it together with our professional passions: international relations (as brought to the table by Tufts University professor and Washington Post columnist Dan Drezner) and cultural criticism (as brought to the table by political columnist Ana Marie Cox). It's a highly informed but hilarious conversation that starts with an examination of a particular text (everything from Ursula K. LeGuin to the MCU, Star Trek to Colson Whitehead) and veers into current events, mental health practices and imagined conversations between Ted Cruz and the Predator. For people who like white papers and graphic novels, Chapo Trap House and what Political Science Twitter used to be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 27, 2021 • 55min
THE EXPANSE S6 E3: FORCE PROJECTION
Ana and Dan disarm at the last minute, do you think that was a mistake? Holden makes a big decision without checking in with anyone else, Monica embeds with UNN troops, and we get lovely cameos from Expanse characters of Christmas past. Who is "belter enough"? Which union do the sex workers on Ceres belong? Is re-animating a loved one an idea that never goes horribly wrong? There is IR in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 18, 2021 • 1h 3min
EXPANSE S6 E2: THE AZURE DRAGON
When Ana and Dan worked in the Belt, they drank and had women but were *back on the line* every morning, not like Free Navy kids these days. So many questions raised in this episode, many about who pays for journalism in the middle-distant future (Substack? Spon-con? The UN? Time for a blogger ethics panel!*) and others relating to what exactly it means to be a mercenary -- versus, you know, a freedom fighter. Marco's man bun: the true big bad of the season? The show's sense of humor has returned! There is IR in this episode.*A blogger ethics panel joke? I haven't heard that punchline in years... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 11, 2021 • 55min
THE EXPANSE S6 E1: STRANGE DOGS
Ana and Dan feed the strange bird things some human food, I mean what could go wrong? It's six months into the war with the Free Navy: the Roci crew looks haggard, Avasarala has a zero-gravity kink and Marco is sporting a man bun. Is it wise to use a mercenary force when you're doing a mission to boost morale? Can we expect more West Wingian walk-and-talks from Monica and Avasarala? Was Jared Harris too busy spouting psychohistory nonsense to get killed onscreen as would be fair and decent? There is IR in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 4, 2021 • 1h 4min
E49: THE LAST POLICEMAN
Ana and Dan punch in for work even though, I mean, really, what's the point? Ben Winter's "existential detective story" explores the meaning of morality and law and work if we're all going to die anyway. I mean, on the earlier side. What's the difference between "work" and "craft"? What's on your Bucket List? Would Ana drink if she knew the world was ending??? There is IR in this novel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 24, 2021 • 1h 2min
E48: HAPPY SPACEGIVING!
Ana and Dan sit down to feast on a table laden with the books and movies of their past. Hear what movie helped Dan survive writing his last couple books! What book helped Ana survive the early Trump Era! There isn't much IR in this episode, but there is a special surprise if you listen through the end. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 22, 2021 • 45min
E47: EVENT HORIZON
Ana and Dan venture down the terrifying but pointless hall of whirling blades to figure out why this Alien rip-off has all but disappeared. Sometimes a derivative movie surpasses its source material, which is not this movie. But sometimes a copy of a copy is just a hoot to watch. Watch this movie if only for the greatest line reading of Lawrence Fishburne's career. There is IR (barely) in this movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 12, 2021 • 1h 3min
E46: SCHLOCK OR AWE? WATERWORLD
Ana and Dan raise the sails on the trimaran and attempt to cut their way through this terrible, terrible movie. It's as bad as you've heard it is! But it's a target-rich environment for various barbs and harps and prompts yet more musings on what separates "good bad" movies from "bad bad" movies. There is IR in this film! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 5, 2021 • 1h 12min
E45: DUNE 2021 (UNLOCKED)
Ana and Dan put on their boots slip-fashion and walk into the desert for the much-anticipated Dune re-make. Perhaps you've heard of it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 1, 2021 • 1h 12min
E44: ALIENS
Ana and Dan wake from hypersleep to find the universe just as oppressed under capitalism as it was when they pushed the alien out of the airlock. Speaking of aliens: What is a joke about undocumented immigrants doing in this movie? Is Paul Riser's corporate lackey the original tech bro? And, finally, is this movie as good as the original? There is IR in this movie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 22, 2021 • 1h 2min
E43: FOUNDATION
Dan and Ana crunch the numbers on this AppleTV adaptation of the Isaac Asimov classic. Actually, we explain why crunching numbers does not work the way that Asimov or David S. Goyer thinks it does! On the other hand, any show with Lee Pace and Jared Harris in it axiomatically cannot be al bad. Also, more Ted Lasso commentary! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
