Chapo Trap House

An important announcement about the show. https://www.patreon.com/posts/89694571

We cover a spurt of stories about politicians being horny, starting with of course Lauren Boebert’s broadway handy. Then, have you seen this plane?: the air force loses an F-35 somewhere in South Carolina. Finally, we have a reading series on Mitt Romney’s self-mythologizing retirement announcement that eventually morphs into a rumination on the fate of empires.

Forgetful 9/11 to all our listeners. We start today’s show with an examination of the various kinks of American states. Then: Elon aka Mr. Too-Damn-Cap claims to have disabled starlink to scuttle a drone attack in Ukraine; and a chronical of the various humiliations Rudy aka Mr. Too-Damn-9/11 has suffered lately. Finally, a harrowing piece on the private companies attempting to foist metaverse VR into children's education. Link to Karl Stevens’ and Jaime Lee Curtis’ new graphic novel Will plugs at the end of the show: https://bookshop.org/p/books/mother-nature-jamie-lee-curtis/18322363?ean=9781787739130

We hope everyone had a nice labor day.. Today, we’ve got and episode of rivalries: Musk vs. the ADL, the Schlapps vs. Demonic possession, Men (all) vs. Houseplants, Diarrhea vs. Air Travel, and Techno-Libertarians vs. Mud.

Brendan & Noah a.k.a. The Blowback Boys stop by to discuss their new podcast season, covering 40+ years of covert crimes and international disorder flowing through Afghanistan. We discuss the emergence of political Islam, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Safari Club, BCCI, Charlie Wilson’s War, Rambo III and much more. Find all things Blowback & subscribe here: https://blowback.show/ Find Ben Clarkson’s amazing animated trailer, discussed in this episode, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb0r5aWGkCI NYC: Will & Hesse will be hosting a special Movie Mindset 35mm print screening of Howard Hawks’ RIO BRAVO on Saturday, September 2nd at the Roxy Theater! Tix here: https://www.roxycinemanewyork.com/screenings/rio-bravo/

Our live show from Toronto on 8/17. We pitch North American unification, review some Canadian history, and take you on a tour of the various freaks and goofs of Canadian media.

We talk to Alex Press about her reporting on the ongoing WGA & SAG-AFTRA strikes, with additional commentary from some of the striking entertainment workers we met on the picket lines in LA and NYC. Special thanks to the following for speaking to us: Bex Taylor-Klaus Catherine Schetina Jess McKenna John Hodgman Max Calder Read Alex's piece on the strikes in Jacobin here: https://jacobin.com/2023/07/hollywood-writers-actors-strike-studios-streaming

We’re joined by Justin Comer and Evan Jones of the Rock Hard Caucus podcast for their on-the-ground report from this year’s Iowa State Fair. Over the course of two days, Justin & Evan endured the brutal heat and hog stench of the Des Moines fairgrounds to see Mike Pence, Francis Suarez, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Marianne Williamson, RFK Jr. and more, all live and in the flesh. We get their takes on the Iowa political scene, what candidates can convincingly appear to be regular humans, and which of these freaks are worth paying attention to, if any. Find all things Rock Hard Caucus here: https://rockhardcauc.us/ And their Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/rockhardcaucus CANADA: this is your final chance to get tickets to Toronto on 8/17 and Montreal on 8/19! https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live

A chance meeting of Will & Hesse at a screening in NYC brings you a special bonus episode of Movie Mindset. In lieu of covering this summer’s cinematic event of Barbie/Oppenheimer, we discuss two westerns by American movie master Howard Hawks: 1959’s Rio Bravo and 1966’s El Dorado. We examine the essential place of The Western in American consciousness, and how the western is essentially about taking a bath with the homies.

Host of The Adam Friedland Show, Adam Friedland, returns to the show with a real alpha energy, asserting dominance of the podcast space with his new Talk Show Hosting kino. We discuss good food, old friends, work, war, being on the computer and much more. Subscribe to The Adam Friedland Show: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAdamFriedlandShow https://www.patreon.com/cumtown/posts CANADA: Toronto is basically sold out, but tickets still available for the Montreal show on Sat. Aug 19. https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live

David J. Roth returns to break down the MLB’s new pitch clock rule, Shohei Ohtani’s amazing season, and the Mets terribl- no, we’re not doing a baseball ep! We’re getting David’s takes on DeSantis’ amazing fail record & disgusting personal habits, the relative retail political strength of the GOP bench, and our need for a new WPA to put conservatives to work creating Broadway 2. Find more David Roth over at https://defector.com/

We’re talking normal guy stuff today, from embracing bronze age masculinity from a certain Pervert, to new perversions from a certain modern masculinity advocate. Also on the docket: Israel loses the Times editorial board, and Matt & Felix are held accountable for their deep state ties and banana crimes. CANADA: Toronto is basically sold out, but tickets still available for the Montreal show on Sat. Aug 19. https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live

Chris talks to the creators of The Venture Bros. about their new series-finale movie, and two decades of creating one of the best, funniest & most unique shows on TV. The Venture Bros.: Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart is out on Digital today, 7/21, and coming to Blu-ray on 7/25. This interview was conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Edit: sorry just realized this was accidentally set to "private" on soundcloud for two days and no one said anything about. rare "audience not complaining enough" moment. -cw We examine the continued agonies of Catturd, Charlie Kirk’s incompetent racism, RFK Jr’s donor fart party, and of course the quickly collapsing DeSantis campaign. Did DeSantis say “mmm…hungwy”? Well, empirically the answer is no, but spiritually the answer is yes. Tickets for our live shows in BOTH Montreal and Toronto available here at https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live

Our review of the feel-good sleeper indie hit of the summer, Astroid Cit- no, it's the new Jim Caviezel-starring anti-trafficking movie “The Sound of Freedom” Tickets for our live shows in BOTH Montreal and Toronto available here at https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live

Happy holiday weekend, sorry we’re a bit late. To give them credit, the dry boys actually rallied to record as usual on Monday, this time it’s Chris who’s been off grilling and chilling in the woods. Anyway, we’ve got takes on the recent Supreme Court rulings, Twitter’s continued degradation, and drama among the loser nerds behind the DeSantis campaign. Tickets for our live shows in BOTH Montreal and Toronto available here at https://www.chapotraphouse.com/live

The boys look at the Wagner Group failed(?) coup(??) of Russia(???) over the weekend(????). Then, some more on the submarine disaster, RFK Jr. and the people who believe current events as a factor of time’s linear progression are, in general, a “psyop”. TORONTO: tickets still available to our show there Thursday, August 17: https://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/10005ED4F0FB3932 Our friends Steven Donziger and Chris Smalls in association with Little Secret LA are going on tour this summer, find dates and tickets here: https://www.littlesecretla.org/hotlaborsummertour

We take some dirty talk tips from Rudy Giuliani’s emails; Consider our lost Submariners; Discuss RFK Jr.’s campaign requiring us to do homework; and imagine Ron DeSantis as one of Jesus’ disciples. NEW SHOW DATES! We will be in Canada this August: Thursday, August 17 - Toronto - Danforth Music Hall Saturday August 19 - Montreal - Corona Theater Tickets will be available for Patreon pre-order on Thursday, June 22nd and available for general public sale Friday, June 23rd. Watch for a Patreon blog post with more details. AND! We now have some collections of themed episode packs available for purchase on our new Patreon Digital Shop! Head over the patreon.com/chapotraphouse/shop to find collections of all our premium Movie Review episodes, all of Matt’s Inebriated Past Episodes + the Poppy series, and all of our TV review episodes + Felix’s This Is Sus series available for individual purchase.

Today we’re joined by journalist Ben Terris, who’s been sort of shadow-programming the show recently with his pieces on Sean McElwee, Diane Feinstein’s staff, Tommy Tuberville’s advisors and questions about Tim Scott’s virginity. We discuss Trump’s federal indictment over the “boxes hoax,” and the growing feeling that ol’ Donny might possibly maybe finally be kind of fucked. Then we talk to Ben about his new book “The Big Break,” and learn more about all the McElwee-esque DC creeps, weirdos and gamblers he’s come to know investigating the world of post-Trump Washington. You can find Ben’s book here: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/ben-terris/the-big-break/9781538708057/?lens=twelve

Today we’re joined by Professor Corey Robin, author of "The Reactionary Mind" and "The Enigma of Clarence Thomas," for a conversation all about one of the most powerful reactionaries in the world: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. We discuss the origins and contours of his conservative ideology, and how they reflect the development of race, class, law, power, conservatism and liberalism over his lifetime. You can pick up "The Enigma of Clarence Thomas" here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781627793834/theenigmaofclarencethomas

We take a look at Barack Obama’s new Netflix series “Working: What We Do All Day,” in which the former president examines the various trials, indignities and inequities of American work life and avoids asking: did I do that?

Debt ceiling showdown, losers of the Republican primaries, Pete Buttigieg’s Mind Cathedral, yes, yes, but we must focus on what’s really important: The Orcas are now in open revolt, and we need to strategize support for our cetacean brothers and sisters. LAST DAY to buy this round of merch from us, get it while it’s available: https://represent.com/store/chapo-trap-house

It’s Ted Lasso, folks! Yes, after many years of consternation around this show in the Discourse, many requests for review (and Will watching a bunch of that Good Doctor show and reporting back it was actually pretty ok), we decided to take a look at this footballing Yank and his relentless positivity. So, here’s our review of Ted Lasso and what it’s psychotic cheeriness says about TV and America.

Blake Masters (NOT THAT ONE, Blake is the creator of Showtime’s Brotherhood, and writer for Rubicon, Law & Order: LA, and Falling Water among many other shows) joins us to discuss the ongoing WGA writers’ strike. Will and Blake touch on the transforming landscape of Television, fair compensation in the age of streaming, standing creative professionals’ ground against AI, and how entertainment unions fit into the larger world of American organized labor. And also, how all TV writing eventually leads back to Columbo.

We cover some breaking 17th century news and look at the race car driving heir to the House of Habsburg, as well as the coronation of King Charles III, for a little modern-day Hell on Earth. Then, keeping with the theme of gratuitous puff-pieces in the Times, we look at “Liz” Holmes attempt to rebrand herself as a gee-shucks everyday mom and family woman ahead of her sentencing for medical fraud. Finally, we catch up on the ever-mounting corruption in the Supreme Court, and what our elected officials will fail to do about it. The piece about heart transplants Felix mentions in this: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/18/opinion/heart-transplant-donor.html New merch, including Hell on Earth designs and re-stocked Zapata Oil hats, available for order through May 24th here: https://represent.com/store/chapo-trap-house

We plan out what builds we’re going with using items from King Charles’ upcoming coronation. Then, we compare and contrast visions of masculinity within the Republican party using the models presented by Donald Trump and Josh Hawley, and start forecasting what the Trump v. Biden match-up might look like. Plus, we’ve got new Epstein revelations, and an update on a classic bit of William F. Buckley lore. New merch now available here: https://represent.com/store/chapo-trap-house Hell on Earth: The Original Podcast Soundtrack now available here: https://chapotraphouse.bandcamp.com/album/hell-on-earth-original-podcast-soundtrack

Welcome to Movie Mindset! In this inaugural episode, Will and Hesse guide you through two of the collaborations between director Tony Scott and star Denzel Washington, Man on Fire (2004) & Deja Vu (2006). Join us as the ultimate auteur of the action-thriller meets the ultimate American leading man in these two propulsive explorations of justice, time, duty, depression, vengeance, destiny and sick-ass explosions. This first episode of Movie Mindset is available for free anywhere you get podcasts. Subsequent episodes will be released exclusively for Chapo Trap House subscribers on Patreon at patreon.com/chapotraphouse.

We’re joined by author Lauren Oyler to discuss her new Harper’s article about her experience going on a cruise centered around Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP brand. We discuss performative crying, serial killer branded work-outs, vagina-themed everything, and selling self-actualization. Then, we catch up on an eventful few days in the media, with Musk’s Twitter checkpocalypse, and Tucker & Don Lemon getting the axe at Fox & CNN respectively.

We’re joined by the creative team behind the new film How To Blow Up A Pipeline (director Daniel Goldhaber, co-writer/producer/star Ariela Barer, co-writer/producer Jordan Sjol & producer/editor Dan Garber) to discuss their work on the movie. Will talks to the crew about adapting the non-fiction book to narrative film, developing characters’ sense of political motivation, the value and nature of propaganda, and of course, bombs. Then, Felix and Matt join back up to look at Biden’s recent trip to Ireland, and read from Spiked magazine’s lament of the President’s “woke conquest of Ireland”. There may be tickets left for the late show of our screening of John Carpenter’s “In The Mouth of Madness” at the Roxy Cinema on April 27th, come thru. Will and Hesse will be speaking at both screenings: https://www.roxycinemanewyork.com/screenings/chapo-trap-house-movie-mindset-presents-in-the-mouth-of-madness-35mm/

New details about Clarence Thomas’ billionaire benefactor Harlan Crow keep coming to light, forcing us to contemplate new questions like: What do Lenin, Mao and Hagrid’s Hut have in common? And, do Hitler’s napkins force us to confront the evil in the hearts of men? We contemplate this plus: DeSantis flails, Kanye’s school has no stairs, and the Dalai Lama sucks tongue. All this and more on today’s ep. Should be a few tickets left for the late show of our screening of John Carpenter’s “In The Mouth of Madness” at the Roxy Cinema on April 27th, come thru. Will and Hesse will be speaking at both screenings: https://www.roxycinemanewyork.com/screenings/chapo-trap-house-movie-mindset-presents-in-the-mouth-of-madness-35mm/

We’re joined by wonk whiz-kid @ettingermentum to discuss some of his recent elections analysis. We take a look at how today’s arraignment might affect Trump’s 2024 outlook, the electoral history of transphobia for the GOP, and analyze the art of losing from some recent Democratic stars. Follow @ettingermentum on Twitter And subscribe to his very good Substack here: https://ettingermentum.substack.com/ And keep an eye out for his livestreams at: http://twitch.tv/zevonmentum NYC! We are doing a special Movie Mindset mini-series launch party & screening of a 35 mm print of John Carpenter’s “In The Mouth of Madness” on Thursday, April 27th at the Roxy Cinema, followed by a special talk back pod recording with Will & Hesse. Tickets here: https://www.roxycinemanewyork.com/screenings/chapo-trap-house-movie-mindset-presents-in-the-mouth-of-madness-35mm/ And submit any questions for a Hell on Earth wrap up stream and/or ep over at [email protected]

We’re joined by author and scholar Norman Finkelstein to discuss his new book “I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get To It,” as well as a candid discussion of the political situation in Israel, the modern left, Obama’s legacy, and our old friend Alan Dershowitz. Find “I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get To It” here: https://itascabooks.com/products/ill-burn-that-bridge-when-i-get-to-it-heretical-thoughts-on-identity-politics-cancel-culture-and-academic-freedom

We’re joined by Celebrity Jeopardy! champion Ike Barinholtz to discuss Donald Trump’s potentially imminent arrest, the dismal state of the metaverse, the anti-vaxer quest for clean seed, and Ike’s new series with da god Mel Brooks, History of the World, Part II. Check out, History of the World, Part II, streaming now on Hulu: https://press.hulu.com/shows/history-of-the-world-part-ii/

Will talks to Betsy and Gloria, two LA public school teachers, ahead of the three-day teachers’ strike planned to begin this Tuesday. They discuss their demands, the conditions in the schools, engaging the local community, and challenges from the LA school district superintendent. Support the UTLA & SEIU 99 through the links here: https://linktr.ee/ctowne1115?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=c4187339-a6f3-459a-9e58-874764f6c580

We’ve got the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, saber rattling over a war against Mexican cartels, plus we meet a delightful new character out of the great state of Tennessee, wish a bittersweet farewell to an old friend, and FINALLY take those damn smoke detectors down a peg or two. All that and a side of meat salad in today’s ep.

Will and Hesse (@ZeroSuitCamus, @SSDERANGEMENTSS) review the films of 2022 in this special Academy Awards preview. This is also “episode 0” of our next mini-series, MOVIE MINDSET, in which Will and Hesse will give you the keys to unlock true movie consciousness. Series coming late April, details inside.

Beloved returning guest Brandon Wardell and soon-to-be-fan-favorite Jamel Johnson stop by to take a look at Mexican Elves, discuss if our penises are shriveling OR growing too much & celebrate Women’s History Month by praising the men who support them. And after that lineup, we address the real question of the week: Should women date podcasters? Brandon and Jamel have a new show, the Brandon Jamel Show. It’s out now wherever you get podcasts, links below: Pod: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brandon-jamel-show/id1675920175 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thebrandonjamelshow Insta: https://instagram.com/thebrandonjamelshow?igshid=NTdlMDg3MTY= Links to Brandon’s live shows here: https://linktr.ee/Brandonwardell

We’re joined by friend of the show Will Sommer to discuss his new book “Trust the Plan: The Rise of QAnon and the Conspiracy That Unhinged America”. We discuss the full shape of the conspiracy/movement now 5 years into its run, its effect on those who follow it, and where it might go from here. As well as all the bizarre cultural references, micro-celebrities & criminals that fill out the movement. Pick up Will’s book here: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/trust-the-plan-will-sommer?variant=40493482541090 And listen to Will’s podcast Fever Dreams here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fever-dreams/id1558716930

We give a slightly premature send-of to President Carter. Then, Nikki Haley enters the GOP primaries, WaPo ranks democratic primary possibilities, and MTG reveals she’s maybe the only congresswoman losing money on the job. Finally, we take a look at two journalists who are terrified at the possibility of being seduced & destroyed by Microsoft’s terrifying Bing AI.

Will talks to David Sirota of The Lever about the disastrous train derailment and toxic event in East Palestine, Ohio. They discuss national train policy, corporate responsibility, erosion of railway labor and safety protections, and of course, Pete Buttigieg’s Transportation department. Follow David's work at The Lever: https://www.levernews.com/

We discuss the increasingly bizarre obsession around “objects” being shot down in the sky, as well as the insane circumstance around the toxic event in Ohio (and we will have more on that later this week). Then, our annual review of the Super Bowl broadcast & advertising spectacle. Finally, we answer your Valentine’s day call-in questions! And, a note from Felix: Hey, this is Felix and I just wanted to get more eyes on my sister Lucy's incredible writing. she most recently put out this essay on the ephemeral and sad nature of devices in our lives that elucidates concepts that I have been struggling to articulate on the show. Please subscribe! thank you https://open.substack.com/pub/lucydiamondb/p/41-one-november-night-15-years-ago?r=3k2uk&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

We’re joined by Bomani Jones, host of Game Theory on HBO, to discuss pro-sports and labor, including NFL player health in the wake of Damar Hamlin’s recent hospitalization, and NBA player bargaining power. We also briefly touch on the rapid rise of sports gambling and of course, who we’ve got for this Sunday’s Big Game. Then, the boys are all together in LA this week and catch up on the Chinese Balloon, Kamala Harris, the Grammys, our favorite unfinished TV commercial storylines, the Book of Job, and more. Follow Bomani at @Bomani_Jones and watch Game Theory with Bomani Jones Friday's at 11pm on HBO and HBO Max.

A grab-bag of topics today: A novel idea for fixing policing from the Slow Boring blog; Eric Adams has a rat problem; Priest goes to hell; TikTok ban on the horizon; Prince Andrew in the tub; Andrew Tate’s jail posts.

We get a taste of the old Trump magic through his beautiful eulogy for one of his most loyal supporters, the wonderful Diamond. Then, we check in with America’s police forces through a(nother) unhinged new Sheriffs movement, and a cop who claims to to be able to discern 911 callers’ guilt through the tone of their voices. Finally, it’s time for a little Game of Thrones theory.

We’re joined by our pod-father Bryan Quinby to discuss the topic that brought us all together in the first place: Butt TV. Subscribe to the new home of all your Quinby Content: https://www.patreon.com/MurderXBryan

A man, a hammer, a nail, a door, history. Martin Luther sets off the protestant reformation and lays the groundwork for a century of violence in Europe. This first episode of Hell on Earth: The Thirty Years War and the Violent Birth Capitalism is available for free. Subsequent episodes will be released exclusively for Chapo Trap House subscribers on Patreon at patreon.com/chapotraphouse. Interactive atlas, bibliography and credits for the series can be found at: hellonearth.chapotraphouse.com

We’re joined by Ben and Hesse of Seeking Derangements to look at the bungled coup in Brazil, Matt Schlapp’s sexual harassment accusations and prince Harry’s explosive new book about getting frostbite on his dick. Finally, we read a New York Post story about parents whose kids hate them so much they have to hire deprogrammers. LINKS+PLUGS: Seeking Derangements patreon: https://www.patreon.com/seekingderangements Hell on Earth launch party, Littlefield, NYC 1/20/23: https://littlefieldnyc.com/event/?wfea_eb_id=479703214227 And Introducing DJ night, Elsewhere, NYC 1/18/23: https://www.elsewherebrooklyn.com/events/night-rippers-presented-by-audio-video-disco-18th-jan-the-loft-new-york-tickets Talking Simpsons @ SF Sketchfest feat. Matt, 1/25/23: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/talking-simpsons-10p-seating-tickets-500829052177

It’s finally time to return to Pandora: we review Avatar: The Way of Water. James Cameron expands and improves on his otherworldly saga of colonization and resistance in about every conceivable way, including revolutionary whale violence, CRAB MECHS, and competing visions of eternal life, one blessed & one damned. Saddle up your Skimwing and join us once again in this consciousness-raising blockbuster fantasy world of blue guys. Tickets for the Hell on Earth launch show/party @ Littlefield in NYC 1/20/23 here: https://littlefieldnyc.com/event/?wfea_eb_id=479703214227

In a sequel of sorts to one of our most beloved movie & holiday episodes, we enter a fantastic & amazingly realized world that could only spring from the singular genius of one of cinema’s great auteurs.

Our good friends Liz and Brace of TrueAnon stop by to help us send off The Year of the Smile. We discuss their mini-series on Synanon, a substance rehabilitation program turned violent cult, and how it relates to all sorts of American phenomenon: from 1950’s acid tests to the modern Troubled Teen Industry. We also discuss the state of our collapsing tech/media infrastructure, the Epstein case, and why the government should begin issuing quests to citizens. Check out TrueAnon’s excellent miniseries The Game starting here: https://soundcloud.com/trueanonpod/the-game-part-1-dopefiend, and the rest on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TrueAnonPod Tickets for the Hell on Earth launch show/party @ Littlefield in NYC 1/20/23 here: https://littlefieldnyc.com/event/?wfea_eb_id=479703214227