Accio Politics

Join us as we talk about chapter 2, "Spinner's End" and its politics (alongside some talk about Bellatrix, Narcissa, Sirius, Severus, and Wormtail). We also talk about this insight into Snape's humble abode and whether or not he wanted Sirius dead. Bonus Segment for Patrons: A look into MACUSA. Want access to bonus content and more? Become a Patron for as little as $2/month by heading over to www....

We're already on HBP (which is, incidentally, Helene's favorite book in the series). Helene and Adri talk about the politics of Foreign Affairs and Public Relations when it comes to the two ministers (one muggle, one wizard) and wonder about how we're supposed to feel about Dementors "breeding" (in a nutshell: not good).  Bonus Segment for Patrons: Logistics of Wizarding World/Muggle World Politic...

We're off this week but we wanted to leave you with some bonus content that was exclusive to Patrons until now. Did you enjoy this segment? Get more bonus content like this by becoming a Patron for as little as $2/month by heading over to  www.patreon.com/acciopolitics  

We're off this week but we wanted to leave you with some bonus content that was exclusive to Patrons until now. Did you enjoy this segment? Get more bonus content like this by becoming a Patron for as little as $2/month by heading over to www.patreon.com/acciopolitics  

The last episode of season 5 is upon us! On this episode, Adri and Helene talk about the movie adaptation, discussing the various elements that make up a film.  Want more exclusive content? Become a Patron of the show and get bonus content while supporting the show!     Become a Patron for as little as $2/month by heading over to www.patreon.com/acciopolitics This week's Patron-exclusive includes...

We did it. We did it, Joe!   We're done with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix , so you know what that means: one whole episode devoted to the entire novel. Your hosts Adri and Helene zoomed out from our chapter to chapter format to bring you all the piping hot takes that can only be given after we read the books as adults through a different lens. We talked about how our ideas of what the...

We've come to the end... The end of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix , that is! Hosts Helene and Adri talk about the final chapter of book 5 in the Harry Potter series through the lens of Grief and the Price of War. Helene delves deeply into the stages of grief, as Harry is personifying them in this chapter (so very well, may we add), while Adri likens Harry's return from the Ministry to...

Helene and special guest Kat from the Alohomora! podcast talk about chapter 37 of Order of the Phoenix: "The Lost Prophecy." Join us as we discuss the politics of premeditation and strategy, along with Dumbledore and Harry's complicated relationship and the potential motivations behind Dumbledore's actions throughout the series. We also take a look at the stages of grief and the different ways Har...

Helene and Adri talk about how things are not looking up for Matt Gaetz, as well as chapter 36 of OotP. In discussing this chapter, we talk about the politics of pain and retributive justice as the ministry becomes a bit more crowded than anticipated. We also cover how Voldemort and Dumbledore come face to face in the Ministry of Magic while Harry comes to terms with Sirius' death. Want more bonus...

Well, we're finally here. We're at that chapter in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix where Sirius is hit by a curse and disappears into the Veil at the Department of Mysteries. Someone give Adri all the tissues, please and thank you.   When we read this chapter, we had very different takes on what the politics of the chapter were. Helene talks about how this chapter is about the politics o...

Helene is back and talking to Adri about chapter 34 of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, "The Department of Mysteries." We talk about the politics of classified information and leadership as the golden and silver trio sneak into the Department of Mysteries. Patrons get access to exclusive content on a weekly basis. This week for Patrons only, we're talking about the mother of all mothers:...

In this episode, guest host Aureo Potts (@09aureo) joins Adri to talk about chapter 33 of OotP where Hermione leads Harry and Umbridge to the Forbidden Forest in a hair-brained scheme to get Umbridge off their back. While upon first encountering this chapter, we may not have thought about the implications of Centaurs having been given parcels of land to live on, this time, it hit us like a freight...

Special guest Rex Hadden joins Adri for a conversation on how chapter 32 is driven by the politics of sabotage and surveillance. Umbridge tries to sabotage Harry's attempts at contacting the outside world while Hermione's actions can be seen as sabotage since she is trying to distract Umbridge from the truth. While this is happening, the methods through which Umbridge relies on to sabotage the lea...

Content Warning: Police Brutality We're talking about police brutality in this episode, which includes a brief history of how police came to be in America, how Umbridge and the Aurors' treatment of Hagrid ties into our understanding of police brutality and excessive use of force, and how we can also see that dynamic at Hogwarts.  Support our show for as little as $2/momth by becoming a Patron: www...

Before today's episode, we thought that chapter 30, "Grawp" was a bit of a throwaway chapter. Not anymore. As we delve into this chapter through the lens of politics, specifically the politics of the colonial mindset and forced displacement, we notice that there are many nuances within the chapter that are illustrative of how the wizarding world operates in relation to other magical creatures.  Wa...

This week, we're tackling the legendary chapter where McGonagall faces off against Umbridge over Harry and the Weasley twins complete their Hogwarts career in the most unorthodox of manners. We talk about how speaking truth to power doesn't necessarily mean that you don't shield yourself from any negative consequences or prepare for that eventuality and how allegiance is one of the most important...

In this episode, Helene and Adri tackle the differences between the politics of anarchy and the politics of norms. They also discuss the ethical dilemma of having a potion like veritaserum in the wizarding world, as well as Hermione's enchantment that led Marietta to have very unfortunate skin problems related to blabbing a secret.  Support the show by becoming a Patron: www.patreon.com/acciopolit...

In this episode, we talk about the iconic chapter where Dumbledore makes a break for it when Fudge thinks he's got the upper hand on the whole Harry/Dumbledore situation because Umbridge has apprehended Harry red-handed. In current news, we cover the rise in attacks against people of Asian descent, specifically the murder of 8 people in Georgia across three massage parlors, and how white supremacy...

We cover chapter 26 of OotP and talk about news in the United States (Georgia Republicans restricting access to voting, the COVID Relief Package), as well as news from across the pond (Meghan and Harry's interview with the incomparable Oprah and how race politics inform the Firm's treatment of them). This chapter is where the news of Harry's interview has come out and the tide starts to turn in Ha...

Harry goes on a very awkward date with Cho in this chapter, and Helene and Adri get into the politics of suspicion and scapegoating. We also talk about Hagrid's similarities to Harry, and wonder what it would have looked like had Hagrid also taken Neville under his wing from day 1.  Wondering where you can get extra content for our episodes while supporting our podcast? Become a Patron by hopping...

Masculinity and invasion of privacy. What do they have in common? Chapter 24 of OotP, of course! In this episode, we talk about current news (unsurprisingly QAnon is still prevalent in our politics), Harry's journey through masculinity (and how other characters display this trait), and the invasion of privacy present in this chapter (and in the Ministry and Hogwarts, as the trace tracks students o...

Texas is under snow and without power, Texas Senator and noted Insurrectionist Ted Cruz flees to Cancun to then throw his daughters under the bus when it becomes a media PHENOMENON (your honor, my daughters made me do it, I swear! Women lead us men astray, let's focus on them and how to hold them accountable), and we cover chapter 23 of Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix.   We can empathize w...

For chapter 22 of OotP, special guest Mike from the Potterless Podcast, joins Helene and Adri in talking about the 45th President's second impeachment trial, the world building involved in creating St. Mungo's, how people can create narratives based on limited facts and bias, and our love for Ginny Weasley. Support our podcast by becoming a Patron: www. Patreon.com/AccioPolitics Patrons get a bonu...

A few years ago, Erin and Adri covered the politics of Christmas and how the series was designed around this loose idea of cultural Christianity, even in the wizarding world. Today, we expand on this theme of cultural Christianity as default by having a conversation about what it's like to be a Jewish person living in a majority Christian world with special guest Shoshana, who gives us glimpses of...

In this jam-packed chapter, Harry discovers what those winged horses he can now see are called and the reason why he can see them while others can't, he kisses Cho, gets some emotional intelligence intel from Hermione, and he has a terrifying dream from the point of view of an actual snake. We talk about the nuances of the politics of privilege and perspective, one being about what others cannot s...