Okay, Walter. I get it. You're special. You were there. You've read it. You sat next to that person. You've lived there. You know people. You were in the room where it happened. Do you have to layer it so thickly every single time? I would never suggest a Jake Tapper variety of ;humility', but dang. I admire Matt and his integrity to no end, but your ego insertions are off-putting and wearing me out.
Omg Karen Bass, “…but mah housekeeper…” it belies her classism and disconnect. She’s more worried about the disruption on “the other side of town”, than the actual neighborhoods the rioting is taking place in. See Shellenberger’s article.
Also, as a side note, if you are a Mexican immigrant wanting to stay in the US, then why would you wave a Mexican flag while burning an American flag? You’re kind of making the point that you should be back in your own beloved country and out of the country you clearly hate, right?!
Jeff Chilters, Coffee and Covid, notes in his post yesterday that the riots are about charging remittances on funds sent back to home countries. It’s in the BBB. The Mexican president came to influence Congress about it. There’s a lot of money supporting other economies. Check out what he has to say. Thanks for the shout out.
What an interesting point in the discussion about 1985 that those in power can never let the middle and lower classes join up. It’s my understanding that’s exactly what happened in the Chinese Communist revolution. Probably Russia too.
Here’s a conspiracy theory for you, Goldstein is Big Brother.
The Party doesn’t just crush resistance—it manufactures it. That’s the real game. Goldstein is the “voice of freedom” by design, a symbol of rebellion who exists only to be hated, hunted, and used to justify control. It’s political subversion turned inside out: the illusion of dissent becomes the ultimate tool of power.
The Brotherhood was likely real at one point but as all bottom up movements are, co-opted by power (as my hypothesis of Occupy becoming the awoke movement). The name Big Brother is no coincidence. Therefore the books content is irrelevant, even if the content critiques oligarchical collectivism—because even truth, when curated by the regime, becomes part of the trap. Goldstein exists to catch people like Winston. The voice that claims to free you is the same voice that leads you straight to Room 101.
That’s the horror: Big Brother doesn’t silence the voice of freedom—he speaks through it.
After seeing ALL of the videos from January 6th, especially the ones that had been withheld from the trials & the public, I think we can describe the capitol protests as "mostly peaceful." Except, of course, for the poor woman who was shot in the face by a capitol policeman.
WALT!!!! Gd, man, we get it, Democrat = bad, everyone else = good-to-passable. I hope you get the spot at the cable news outlet of your choice that you seem to be priming yourself for. Can we take a small step back and acknowledge that, at best, we got 'pre-bunked' by Trump rallying campaign support by saying he's going to deport the 'really bad people,' just to turn around a few months in and start deporting people at essentially their place of work. If Trump ran on 'we're going to raid Home Depot's,' support for his immigration policy would have been significantly different. Now he's just chasing stats. I get that most if not all of the people he's rounding up here are illegal, but if they're getting picked up at their place of work that means . . . . they're working people, not unlike the waves of immigrants, of every conceivable background, who have come to this country to make a living. If we deport all of those people, we are opening up a different set of economic problems that we will have a hard time addressing. Also, just joking about the cable news thing, I do appreciate your POV's and never miss an episode. Thanks for your insights!
I saw Walter Kirn drinkin' a piña colada at Trader Vic's
Finally, someone else makes the Goldstein-Trump comparison. I’ve been making that comparison for years, but haven’t heard it elsewhere.
There’re few things more obnoxious than people calling the Trump administration “Orwellian.” As if 1984 were about a flamboyant businessman and television personality who becomes president and says wild shit, only to be immediately denounced for it by 85%+ of institutional media, academia, and entertainment.
Maybe Trump could be a villain in a dystopian novel, but it would have to be a new kind of story. The major dystopian novels all center around nameless, faceless ideologically controlled bureaucracies, not flamboyant personalities like Trump. Big Brother is not a personality, but is rather a mascot, a logo for the state.
If the Left wants to rewrite 1984, they should really do a sequel in which Goldstein overthrows the Party as the leader of a populist revolt. Goldstein can then be revealed as a self-serving demagogue who institutes a race-based caste system, creating a society even worse than the one that preceded it, leaving everyone longing for the days of stable Party control.
I’m not saying that’s at all our present reality. Just that if the Left wants to write Trump into 1984, that’s the only way to do it in a remotely convincing way.
Hey, guys, a suggestion for a future story. What’s your backstory? When and where did you meet. How did you decide to launch a podcast? At least one of your fans is curious.
I just received my copy of 1984 by Orwell. Hardback, used, Amzn, 1987, Penguin Random House, introduction by Julian Symonds, $13. ISBN 9780-679-417392. Nearly new. None of this 75th Anniversary crap.
Okay, Walter. I get it. You're special. You were there. You've read it. You sat next to that person. You've lived there. You know people. You were in the room where it happened. Do you have to layer it so thickly every single time? I would never suggest a Jake Tapper variety of ;humility', but dang. I admire Matt and his integrity to no end, but your ego insertions are off-putting and wearing me out.
Then don’t listen. I enjoy them both and find their personal experiences add to the conversation.
What Mr. Squirrel said. (You follow John Schindler?)
isn’t that part of his charm? he likes to create his lore.
Wow. Insulting. “creating his lore?”
Jealous?
Omg Karen Bass, “…but mah housekeeper…” it belies her classism and disconnect. She’s more worried about the disruption on “the other side of town”, than the actual neighborhoods the rioting is taking place in. See Shellenberger’s article.
https://youtu.be/5IsSpAOD6K8?si=7cAm6H1ivFHTx_xc
Also, as a side note, if you are a Mexican immigrant wanting to stay in the US, then why would you wave a Mexican flag while burning an American flag? You’re kind of making the point that you should be back in your own beloved country and out of the country you clearly hate, right?!
Jeff Chilters, Coffee and Covid, notes in his post yesterday that the riots are about charging remittances on funds sent back to home countries. It’s in the BBB. The Mexican president came to influence Congress about it. There’s a lot of money supporting other economies. Check out what he has to say. Thanks for the shout out.
And also the groups that are funding the rioters.
Yes. I was shocked to see how well organized nokings.org was. Zoom meetings. Training. Speakers.
Okay. Somebody explain what the hell riding cheetah dick means.
Guess: similar to “got a tiger by the tail” but considerably more painful.
Dog faced pony soldier?
What an interesting point in the discussion about 1985 that those in power can never let the middle and lower classes join up. It’s my understanding that’s exactly what happened in the Chinese Communist revolution. Probably Russia too.
Here’s a conspiracy theory for you, Goldstein is Big Brother.
The Party doesn’t just crush resistance—it manufactures it. That’s the real game. Goldstein is the “voice of freedom” by design, a symbol of rebellion who exists only to be hated, hunted, and used to justify control. It’s political subversion turned inside out: the illusion of dissent becomes the ultimate tool of power.
The Brotherhood was likely real at one point but as all bottom up movements are, co-opted by power (as my hypothesis of Occupy becoming the awoke movement). The name Big Brother is no coincidence. Therefore the books content is irrelevant, even if the content critiques oligarchical collectivism—because even truth, when curated by the regime, becomes part of the trap. Goldstein exists to catch people like Winston. The voice that claims to free you is the same voice that leads you straight to Room 101.
That’s the horror: Big Brother doesn’t silence the voice of freedom—he speaks through it.
Thought most considered this a likely scenario.
I don't think people in danger of deportation are going to these, would you?
I wouldn't, but I suspect that a great many of those protesting are here illegally.
After seeing ALL of the videos from January 6th, especially the ones that had been withheld from the trials & the public, I think we can describe the capitol protests as "mostly peaceful." Except, of course, for the poor woman who was shot in the face by a capitol policeman.
WALT!!!! Gd, man, we get it, Democrat = bad, everyone else = good-to-passable. I hope you get the spot at the cable news outlet of your choice that you seem to be priming yourself for. Can we take a small step back and acknowledge that, at best, we got 'pre-bunked' by Trump rallying campaign support by saying he's going to deport the 'really bad people,' just to turn around a few months in and start deporting people at essentially their place of work. If Trump ran on 'we're going to raid Home Depot's,' support for his immigration policy would have been significantly different. Now he's just chasing stats. I get that most if not all of the people he's rounding up here are illegal, but if they're getting picked up at their place of work that means . . . . they're working people, not unlike the waves of immigrants, of every conceivable background, who have come to this country to make a living. If we deport all of those people, we are opening up a different set of economic problems that we will have a hard time addressing. Also, just joking about the cable news thing, I do appreciate your POV's and never miss an episode. Thanks for your insights!
I saw Walter Kirn drinkin' a piña colada at Trader Vic's
His hair was perfect
Finally, someone else makes the Goldstein-Trump comparison. I’ve been making that comparison for years, but haven’t heard it elsewhere.
There’re few things more obnoxious than people calling the Trump administration “Orwellian.” As if 1984 were about a flamboyant businessman and television personality who becomes president and says wild shit, only to be immediately denounced for it by 85%+ of institutional media, academia, and entertainment.
Maybe Trump could be a villain in a dystopian novel, but it would have to be a new kind of story. The major dystopian novels all center around nameless, faceless ideologically controlled bureaucracies, not flamboyant personalities like Trump. Big Brother is not a personality, but is rather a mascot, a logo for the state.
If the Left wants to rewrite 1984, they should really do a sequel in which Goldstein overthrows the Party as the leader of a populist revolt. Goldstein can then be revealed as a self-serving demagogue who institutes a race-based caste system, creating a society even worse than the one that preceded it, leaving everyone longing for the days of stable Party control.
I’m not saying that’s at all our present reality. Just that if the Left wants to write Trump into 1984, that’s the only way to do it in a remotely convincing way.
Nothing would be more fitting than releasing a children's story entitled "Kamala and Her Big New D."
Maybe you two could discuss its fictitious contents?
Hey, guys, a suggestion for a future story. What’s your backstory? When and where did you meet. How did you decide to launch a podcast? At least one of your fans is curious.
Re the National Guard, a few of us are old enough to remember Kent State.
I just received my copy of 1984 by Orwell. Hardback, used, Amzn, 1987, Penguin Random House, introduction by Julian Symonds, $13. ISBN 9780-679-417392. Nearly new. None of this 75th Anniversary crap.
Would love to hear Matt and Walter give their take on this Jimmy Dore Show "Anti-ICE Riots Are A Deep State PsyOp!":
https://youtu.be/MaPXoNQXqz0?si=v3b3mVaohOSTudaF
and this from Glen Greenwald "Palantir EXPOSED: The New Deep State":
https://youtu.be/JypG_o7HWT0?si=RmVRXg6vwbQ0xiHS