Is James Talarico Winning or Is Ken Paxton Just Losing? (w/Rafi Schwartz)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.com (https://www.discourseblog.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7)
Today, the one and only Rafi is in the third chair! And there was a LOT to discuss. Including:
* We remember some websites: Quartz, Business Insider (née Insider), including their…INTERESTING vertical (https://www.businessinsider.com/discourse) (our attorney WILL be in touch)
* Trump admiring Ohio Senator Jon Husted’s ass (https://x.com/atrupar/status/2109788428082520423), which, hm
* That Cut article (https://www.thecut.com/article/glutemaxxing-butt-anxiety.html) about (straight) men’s alleged obsession with their asses
* Kimberly Guilfoyle being volun-told to resign (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/13/us/politics/kimberly-guilfoyle-resign.html) as the U.S. ambassador to Greece after a string of scandals
* The spectacularly stupid conspiracy theory (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/12/us/politics/james-talarico-ohio-texas-senate-race.html?unlocked_article_code=1.IFE.klUg.YSK5ukTZMIsJ&smid=url-share) alleging Texas Senate candidate James Talarico was missing from the campaign trail because was institutionalized and not down with a case of the flu
* Ken Paxton just casually standing around with wanted criminals (https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/ken-paxton-texas-senate-dubai-trip-b54292c3) in Dubai
* The state of the Texas Senate race and the fact that unfortunately, Talarico has zero juice
* And in our subscribers-only After Dark segment, we get into the biggest scandal of the week: Kelly Clarkson v. Art of Play in Brooklyn (https://www.curbed.com/article/art-of-play-owner-speaks-kelly-clarkson.html)
This week’s cultural recommendations:
* Jack recommends I Want to Be Famous: When Everybody and Nobody Is a Celebrity (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/805103/i-want-to-be-famous-by-bobby-finger-and-lindsey-weber/), by Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber
* Rafi recommends The Rouse (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/554904/the-rouse-by-china-mieville/), by China Miéville
* Aleks recommends beans…AGAIN!!!
Want to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here (http://discourseblog.com/subscribe). Then, follow these instructions:
Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.
Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.
And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@discourseblog)!
That’s it!
7 Oct 2026
What Is ‘The Project of Journalism’??? (w/Caitlin Schneider)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.com (https://www.discourseblog.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7)
After a week away caused by a chaotic confluence of Jack being OUT OF TOWN, Producer Sam being SICK, and the sun setting at SIX PEE-EM, we’re back! Slate’s Caitlin Schneider returns to the third chair to discuss:
* Jack saw Rosie O’Donnell IRL (https://www.amny.com/news/robert-de-niro-rosie-odonnell-epstein-files/)!!!! Also Robert DeNiro was there? And Rosanna Arquette? And yes, apparently the Toto song “Rosanna” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmOLtTGvsbM) was allegedly written (in part) about her.
* Jeremy O. Harris’ takedown of the media establishment on Vanity Fair’s interview series with Mark Guiducci (https://www.vanityfair.com/video/watch/vf-fair-game-jeremy-o-harris)
* VF’s “New Establishment” issue (https://www.vanityfair.com/story/the-new-establishment-2026), starring OpenAI’s Sam Altman (https://www.vanityfair.com/story/sam-altman-exclusive-interview-part-1), who looks bad in his Annie Leibovitz photoshoot
* The Paramount takeover of Warner Bros. becoming official, with Digger! being its final film lol
* David Ellison’s short-lived acting career (https://bsky.app/profile/snmrrw.bsky.social/post/3mx7xbfk5hs22), which may or may not explain the current Situation we’re all in
* And in this week’s subscribers-only After Dark segment, Caitlin introduces us to a new Rachel Dolezal (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/23/philadelphia-teacher-palestine-activist-lies)and Jack tells us about the drama surrounding Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ re-election campaign ad’s (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/29/us/sarah-huckabee-sanders-campaign-ad.html)alleged “anti-white racism”
This week’s cultural recommendations:
* Jack recommends Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor’s NAZA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIBRLEEaueo)
* Caitlin recommends Olivia Wilde’s The Invite (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ19I9q_hOQ)
* Aleks recommends cooking a big pot of beans (http://ranchogordo.com/collections/heirloom-beans)
Want to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here (http://discourseblog.com/subscribe). Then, follow these instructions:
Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.
Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.
And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@discourseblog)!
That’s it!
23 Sept 2026
The World Ed Sheeran Wants to Live in No Longer Exists (w/Katherine Krueger)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.discourseblog.com (https://www.discourseblog.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7)
The Intercept’s Katherine Krueger is back in the third chair this week as the Great Ed Sheeran Wars continue, including:
* His cousin, Jethro (incredible to be named Jethro Sheeran), disavowing him (https://www.complex.com/music/a/bernadette-giacomazzo/ed-sheeran-cousin-blasts-him)
* Sheeran crying not once (https://www.instagram.com/teddysphotos/reel/DdfY7JYirtn/?hl=en), but twice (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEsJIlN4B5M) at his Philadelphia show, including while reading a mealy-mouthed statement (https://www.npr.org/2026/09/19/nx-s1-5974977/ed-sheeran-gaza-catastrophic-unjustifiable-opens-solo-concert)
* This banger line from Caitlin’s blog, “The Shame of Ed Sheeran” (https://www.discourseblog.com/p/the-shame-of-ed-sheeran): “Sheeran’s argument that an “advocate for change” can also be apolitical is some of the dumbest and most bootlicker-y yapping I’ve ever seen, even if predictable for an artist of his size (big) and talent (low)”
* And in our subscribers-only After Dark segment, Katherine tells us the backstory behind this amazing tribute (https://x.com/projectmuhmmed/status/2102459595276894286?s=46) to her partner and Chapo Trap House host Will Menaker’s advocacy for Project Mohammed, a humanitarian initiative dedicated to providing essential care and resources to people in Gaza. Donate to them (https://chuffed.org/project/171225-help-the-people-of-gaza)!
This week’s cultural recommendations:
* Jack recommends: The Traitors: New Blood (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etFmodW3F7g), on NBC; The Celebrity Traitors UK (https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cjdx5g5r0033o) on BBC One; and The Great British Bake Off (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2P93GwpbhI) on Channel 4
* Katherine recommends Law & Order: Criminal Intent (https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/law-and-order-criminal-intent/7966436868657292112?cid=2601genttsexterndseo310065&utm_campaign=2601gentts&utm_source=ggl_ggl_1bx&utm_medium=ernd_seo_seoopt_1bx&utm_term=googleusers&utm_content=peacock&source=Media_Actions_Feed)
* Aleks recommends Donald Petrie’s Miss Congeniality (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwrEnPYHsyQ) and the Ninja Creami
Want to hear the full, extended episode on your favorite podcast app? First, subscribe to Discourse Blog here (http://discourseblog.com/subscribe). Then, follow these instructions:
Spotify: Tap the “Play” button and select “Link Account” to sync your Substack subscription and unlock it instantly.
Apple Podcasts & Others: Go to Settings in Substack > select Discourse Blog > scroll to the “private podcast feed” section > select “set up podcast” > then copy and paste the link it generates into your preferred app.
And don’t forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@discourseblog)!
That’s it!
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