The West Wing Thing

It's flashback time as the gang struggles with what to do with a right wing black guy who doesn't seem to actually exist. If you want to do something that matters, sign up and help Nithya Raman kick the Pelosi/Clinton - endorsed ass of David Ryu in LA CD 4. This is VERY important, folks! https://www.nithyaforthecity.com/signup

Now that America has, for the first time in history, assassinated a foreign official, what's next? Also, why don't people understand they owe Democrats their vote?

Bad Faith and Chapo Trap House's Virgil Texas joins us for some West Wing tax wonkery. Recorded as Trump entered Walter Reade. We take no responsibility for the events of the 10,000 news cycles that will have happened since then. All Hail President Pence! And be sure to check out Bad Faith, with Virgil and Briahna Joy Gray!

It's the first episode of Aaron Sorkin's last season! New episodes! New theme song! New explosions of incoherent rage! Old guests! Josh & Dave paddle down the river of the 4th season premiere, and get jumped by Tom and Terence from The Trillbilly Workers Party.

It's our third season finale, we're joined by the brilliant and hilarious Wil Anderson, and all we can say is... Aaron Sorkin. Boy, I don't know.

The gang gets into a 24-style moral quandary as we force yet another person we admire tremendously to watch The West Wing with us. This is starting to feel abusive.

The kids deal with the most devastating attack ad in the history of the world, and we learn more about CJ's inability to act normal around attractive men. Also, if you want to know what the real west wing staff makes, go here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/July-1-2020-Report-FINAL.pdf

We introduce our guest, educator and activist Ashley Stevens, to the joys and horrors of The West Wing, with an episode about WMDs and FDR, and now we feel really bad.

After whipping through this dud of an episode, Josh and Dave hit the mailbag.

Professional Sorkin hater Rachel Larris joins us to talk about THAT episode. Our new theme song finally tells you the truth about us, and Josh's Joe Kennedy III rant closes out this very special episode of Josh And Dave Try To Get Canceled.

Only Aaron Sorkin could write an episode of The West Wing about Ireland without including a single Irish character. We rectify that by talking to an actual leprechaun.

Is it possible? A West Wing Thing without the Misogyny Rundown? Don't worry, though - the kids make it up with a stirring defense of NAFTA and some very weird pranks. Plus, Josh Androsky, Comms director for Nithya Raman, drops by and we force him to watch an episode. Because that's what we do to people we love. https://www.nithyaforthecity.com

Is it possible that this week's Misogyny Rundown is the worst ever? And that it's not even the worst thing about this episode?

Luke Savage returns as the kids go to Puerto Rico to discuss Affirmative Action with CJ's dad.

Dave and Josh welcome Oliver Willis to witness one of the more jaw dropping episodes of your favorite show. Learn why we can't have nice things as Jed and the Wingnut kids do their best to ensure that cancer doesn't get cured. Also, here's a link to free-floating agent of chaos Brian Siano's article referenced in the episode: https://www.briansiano.com/2015/04/04/science-and-public-relations-skeptic-v-7-no-1-1999/

The most explosive plot in West Wing history comes to a shattering climax. You won't believe your ears.

We love Bartlet so much we've been walking around in a daze for two weeks. Plus, the things we do to women. AND an all new segment with an all new song from Diesel Boots. What more could you ask for, folks?

This episode takes the Misogyny Rundown to whole new heights. Our special guest, sex worker Savanna LaMaison, helps us break down some of its awfulness.

This week, the West Wing skates over the Death Penalty and "Indian" affairs as only the West Wing can. Also - if you want some truly inane and absurd entertaining with no redeeming social merit whatsoever, join Josh, Dave, Diesel Boots, Gareth, Will and Matt for a screening of The Apple. We promise absolutely NO West Wing content: https://vimeo.com/428161678/c92c70b811

In which the show gets too sexy, and Diesel Boots graces us with a newer and even timelier version of our theme song.

Head hunters, gods, war crimes, pennies and the birth of The Newsroom. This one's got it all!

This week, the West Wing takes on the Israel Palestine conflict, where to get C4, and fashion tips.

Amber joins us from her deep dive into Aaron Sorkin. This one's epic, folks!

It's the third season of The West Wing Thing, and we start off with the bang made by Josh and Dave crashing into the rocks of the two part season premiere.

It's the second season finale as we dive deep into Two Cathedrals with the one and only David Sirota! And don't worry - we'll be back next week.

Recorded as LA was being shut down, Josh and Dave romp through a piquant and heady brew of misogyny and stupid right wing tax plans with Trillbilly Tom Sexton.

The West Wing tackles Haiti as only the West Wing can - by pretending America never did anything bad in Haiti. Hilarity ensues. Plus - If you like Diesel Boots' songs for our show, you can now buy any and all of them straight from the source! https://collynmccoy.bandcamp.com/releases

In which Tobey takes days to figure out the bleeding obvious, Sam and Ainsley argue the ERA, and we offer up an assignment for any one of our diligent listeners to take on.

The importance of always telling truth, and always laughing at how silly women and their concerns are. Plus, we talk about that Aaron Sorkin interview in the New York Times, and Josh rants about the "Film By" credit.

Matt Stoller joins us to explain why we don't like Hamilton, which neither of us have seen. But he's right. He also explains why what we do here matters. Plus, we talk about a dopey episode of The West Wing.

Luke Savage returns just in time to watch The West Wing get everything about NAFTA wrong. Trigger Warning - this episode contains Don Henley content. Proceed accordingly.

This week, the West Wing takes on the very serious problem of progressives who are just whiny children who don't understand the realities of politics. Plus - will Ainsley pee on the president's rug?

Ha ha ha ha! People who smoke pot always want to eat stuff. Ha ha ha ha ha! Plus a very special rewrite of The West Wing that fixes everything.

What is it with women and paint, and why must they constantly sit in it?

In which we ask the very wonderful and brilliant Alex Press to watch her very first episode of West Wing, then force her to talk about it.

A good deal of time is spent discussing pancake syrup, but we ignore all that to discuss how The West Wing kids are always losing.

A very special episode, in which we take a break from discussing the terrible effect of The West Wing's politics, and talk about it's equally terrible impact on mental health.

In light of recent events, we put together this special 9/11 episode of The West Wing Thing with special guest, Chapo Trap House's Matt Christman. Let's talk Isaac & Ishmael, folks!

Katherine Krueger and Chapo Trap House's Will Menaker loved it so much, they came back this week to discuss a very smarty pants episode of The West Wing.

West Wing superfans Katherine Krueger and Chapo Trap House's Will Menaker join us to set us straight on the greatest television show in history.

In which Josh (the one on The West Wing, not our beloved co-host) explodes in a fit of misogynistic rage. Hilarity ensues.

"The Lame Duck Congress" In which Sorkin explains the reasons why it's wrong for a politician to do their job.

"And It's Surely To Their Credit" Bartlet comes perilously close to getting laid, and the great John Larroquette gets to say what the rest of us are thinking.

"In This White House" Everybody's favorite Good Republican finally comes to The West Wing. It's Ainsley Hayes, folks! This is how you government!

"The Midterms" Josh finally explodes, but then Dave blows up even more. THE most iconic scene in the history of the show

Episodes 1&2 In the Shadow of Two Gunmen We're back! And we're joined by TV writer/producer John Rogers, creator of LEVERAGE, who explains - among other things - that it's possible to run a TV series withOUT screwing your writers out of money.

Episode 22 "What Kind of Day Has It Been?" It's the action packed finale of the first season of The West Wing, and we celebrate by talking with Luke Savage, whose Current Affairs article HOW LIBERALS FELL IN LOVE WITH THE WEST WING is the seminal work in the field. We'll be taking a brief break, but we'll be back shortly with season 3 of The West Wing Thing, in which we discuss season 2 of The West Wing. Confused? Ask Dave. He'll explain.

Episode 21 "Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics" In which Josh and Dave hype the other West Wing podcast, attempt to bring back the word "pud," reveal who can beat Trump in a debate, and discuss what might actually be the worst line ever uttered on The West Wing. And on The West Wing, the gang sacrifices a live cow to the great god Bipartisanship, and we explain why that's dopey.

Episode 20 "Mandatory Minimums" Joey Lucas is back, Josh wears his special suit, and the mating habits of emotionally stunted man-boys take center stage. Plus, the dark West Wing past of a Democratic presidential hopeful is laid bare for all to see.

Episode 19 "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet" In an obvious response to our many criticisms of the show, Leo and the gang determine to buckle down and get real about using the power of the White House to actually get something done.