Omnishambles

Nicholas Dames, a Columbia University professor of English and editor of Public Books, explores the power of literature as political resistance. He discusses the vital role of political imagination in fostering community and empathy, using George Eliot's 'Middlemarch' as a guide for empathetic action. The conversation dives into students' anxieties about their futures, the contrast between stoicism and engagement during political upheaval, and the implications of parenthood on children's autonomy and beliefs. Dames challenges contemporary figures like Elon Musk, emphasizing the importance of imaginative richness.

You’re listening to What Rough Beast!We are Virginia Heffernan and Stephen Metcalf, and today we’re talking with Eric Reinhart, a physician-anthropologist of law, psychiatry, and public health and a psychoanalytic clinician in Chicago. A recent piece of his, “RFK Jr.’s Mental Health Bait and Switch,” recently appeared in The New Republic. In this episode, we talk about:⭐️ How the politics of health and mental healthcare are intertwined, and how clinical approaches often focus too narrowly on individual interventions rather than addressing broader social determinants of health⭐️ The weaponization of mental health critiques by political figures like RFK Jr. and the Trump administration, who accurately identify problems in our healthcare system but propose destructive rather than constructive solutions⭐️ How mental health "destigmatization" has benefited some groups while further marginalizing others, particularly those with serious mental illness⭐️ The need for community-based care models and public infrastructure that values neighbor-to-neighbor support rather than solely relying on medical professionals⭐️ The connection between eugenicist ideologies and certain public health approaches that prioritize individual responsibility over structural solutionsThis episode is free to all listeners, but please consider becoming a paid Magic + Loss subscriber. Every dollar goes to the continued fight against fascism.What Rough Beast is a reader-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiaheffernan.substack.com/subscribe

You’re listening to What Rough Beast!We are Virginia Heffernan and Stephen Metcalf, and today we’re talking with Ben Tarnoff, whose latest book is Internet for the People: The Fight for Our Digital Future. We discuss:⭐️ How the dynamics between Trump and Musk reveal surprising power shifts, with Musk emerging as the dominant figure in what many describe as an unexpected alliance⭐️ The deep connections between toxic masculinity and tech culture, including how Silicon Valley's ethos of "conquest" and "elimination of opponents" aligns with MAGA politics⭐️ How wealth in tech capitalism is socially created but privately owned, and how this contradiction is filtered through gendered thinking about individualism versus interdependency⭐️ The performance of hyper-masculinity across socioeconomic spectrums, from struggling men to billionaires like Bezos, Zuckerberg, and Musk⭐️ The potential fractures within Trump's coalition and what they might mean for the future of his administration and American politicsThis episode is free to all listeners, but please consider becoming a paid Magic + Loss subscriber. Every dollar goes to the continued fight against fascism. What Rough Beast is a reader-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiaheffernan.substack.com/subscribe

You’re listening to What Rough Beast!We are Virginia Heffernan and Stephen Metcalf, and today we’re talking with Nika Dubrovsky, artist, author and founder of the Museum of Care with her late husband, the anthropologist David Graeber. We discuss:⭐️ The collapse of empires: Nika draws fascinating parallels between the fall of the Soviet Union and current trends in American society, suggesting we may be witnessing the collapse of the American empire similar to how the Soviet system unexpectedly disappeared "from one day to another."⭐️ The Museum of Care: An innovative project Nika conceived with her late husband David Graeber during COVID, reimagining museum spaces as networks of care rather than consumption, with a physical location now developing in St. Vincent using an abandoned ship.⭐️ Decolonizing the Enlightenment: Exploring how Enlightenment ideas weren't solely Western European inventions but developed through conversations with indigenous populations and in places like Madagascar, challenging traditional historical narratives.⭐️ Feminist economic theory: Nika shares David Graeber's perspective that "the best thing that happened in the 20th century is feminism," explaining how their work recognizes the undervalued care work primarily performed by women in cultural institutions.⭐️ Finding community amid collapse: Even as empires fall, we can create meaningful communities based on "solidarity and mutual aid" rather than utopian ideals.To hear our discussion, you’ll need to be a paid Magic + Loss subscriber. So if you’re not a subscriber, please sign up now! Subscriptions are $6 per month or $60 for the year. (Can’t afford a subscription? Send us an email and we’ll give you a freebie, no questions asked.) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiaheffernan.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit virginiaheffernan.substack.comYou’re listening to What Rough Beast!We are Virginia Heffernan and Stephen Metcalf, and today we’re talking with Brooke Harrington, author of Offshore: Stealth Wealth and the New Colonialism and a professor of sociology at Dartmouth, about:⭐️ The rise of the "broligarchy": how today's tech billionaire bros are playing a whole different game than old-sch…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit virginiaheffernan.substack.comYou’re listening to What Rough Beast!We are Virginia Heffernan and Stephen Metcalf, and today we’re talking with Baratunde Thurston about: ⭐️ The accelerated harm in current politics: how quickly harmful policies are being implemented, affecting immigrants, LGBTQ+ communities, federal workers, and international relations.⭐️ The crisis of democracy and c…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit virginiaheffernan.substack.com“The professors are the enemy,” says J.D. Vance. Are they, really?This week on What Rough Beast, Stephen Metcalf and Virginia Heffernan speak with Wesleyan President Michael Roth about Trump’s authoritarian coup and what universities must do.As the coup gains speed, and rightwing campaigns to destabilize universities notch victories, Roth has taken a pu…

What are we all whining about? On this episode of “What Rough Beast,” the great Turkish journalist Aslı Aydıntaşbaş tells Americans to grow up. To finish of Musk and MAGA, we need to marshal the power of the states. Fire up those famous checks and balances. Don’t be scared of infighting. And—for heaven’s sake—get an emcee with rizz. To Virginia, this sounds easier said than done. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiaheffernan.substack.com/subscribe

Delve into the astonishing influence of Elon Musk as a reporter shares shocking insights from her investigative work. Discover how Musk's reach extends beyond the U.S., leaving unsettling implications for civil service and international politics. Notably, hear about repercussions in Germany that amplify concerns over his controversial impact. This discussion is a captivating glimpse into the interconnectedness of power and technology.

Miriam Elder, a former Moscow correspondent for The Guardian and opinion writer, discusses the pitfalls of internal exile in today's political climate. She offers insights on resisting apathy and the importance of staying engaged despite temptations to withdraw. The conversation delves into the emotional toll of American politics, strategies for reclaiming agency, and the significance of community activism. Elder's reflections challenge listeners to rethink their role in confronting social injustices while highlighting the resilience required to navigate turbulent times.