Rationalish Wack and Matthews
-
- News
Two young researchers try to ask the right questions about world events and politics. Episodes every month. Come for the insight, stay for the puns.
-
74: How to Fix Congress
Here's a paradox: The best way to fix the House of Representives is have even more representatives in the House. I know what you're thinking: "You want more politicians?!"
Hold your horses, hear us out. We did real research for this one. Here is the article that led to this idea:
U.S. population keeps growing, but House of Representatives is same size as in Taft era
Also referenced in the episode are the following:
Representation in the House: The Wyoming Rule
Many voters say Congress is broken. Could proportional representation fix it?
Election results, 2022: Incumbent win rates by state -
73: Nathan Fielder
Deadpan delivery. Monotonal narration. Provocateur. Brilliant cultural critic of postmodern America. Funniest man alive. Sound familiar? Perhaps you are thinking of one the hosts of this podcast. Or perhaps you are thinking of Nathan Fielder, the Canadian who got his start on "This Hour has 22 Minutes" then went onto the Comedy Central show "Nathan For You" then to the bright lights of HBO for "The Rehearsal". Now he's back with a new show: "The Curse" on Showtime.
Listen to these two handsome men discuss the ouevre of Nathan Fielder. They reference the following articles in this chat:
New Yorker: Don't Worry, Nathan Fielder Also Hates Himself
Vulture: Nathan Fielder Is Out of His Mind (and Inside Yours) -
72: Killers of the Flower Moon
You may be wondering whether this is a movie podcast now. Truth is: We don't know! The important thing is that Martin Scorsese has a new picture out: "Killers of the Flower Moon." It's a formidable film, one that warrants discussion. Please enjoy this conversation between two cinephiles.
We reference the following resources in the episode:
Martin Scorsese: I Said Marvel Movies Aren’t Cinema. Let Me Explain.
Empire's Martin Scorsese Interview
'Killers of the Flower Moon' Sneaks Up on Key Milestone at Global Box Office
Plot summary help from: Killers of the Flower Moon Wikipedia -
71: Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan's latest film chronicles the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, aka "Father of the Atomic Bomb." Morgan and Eddie, film scholars as they are, reflect on the merits of the film, the life of its protagonist, the oeuvre of Nolan, interspersing witticisms and erudite musings along the way. Some of the materials were reference:
Derek Thompson: Oppenheimer: The Genius, the Film, and the Project that Changed the World
Adam Nayman: The Sheer Scale of Oppenheimer
Like Stories of Old: Why Oppenheimer Should (Not) Have Shown Real Nuclear Violence? -
70: Luddites!
In this episode, your two favorite researchers talk about the Writers Guild of America's strike and some shocking comparisons to the Luddites, courtesy of The Atlantic:
The Luddites of Hollywood - Gavin Mueller -
69: How to Build a City
In this episode, our two favorite young researchers discuss how to improve cities through great ideas that are not widespread but should be. We talk about how to diversify police forces, intergenerational housing, proportional representation, publicly funded arts programs and many more ideas. Here are some pieces we reference:
NY Times: Ireland Asks: What if Artists Could Ditch Their Day Jobs?
PBS: Dutch nursing home offers rent-free housing to students