Critical Wade Theory

A widening war in the Middle East is sending economic and military shockwaves well beyond the region. Here's a little background. Then, when I record part 2, I will go more into Iran's history. That'll be fun!

Who or what are C.A.T.S. Eyes?

Today I'm talking about Elysium, the 2013 sci-fi action film directed by Neill Blomkamp, the same filmmaker who gave us District 9. When the movie came out, Blomkamp said something that stuck with a lot of people. He pushed back on the idea that it was speculative science fiction. His point was simple: this isn’t about the future. It’s about right now.

Today, I'm talking about something a lot of people quietly worry about. Could a sitting U.S. president override an election? Could one person nullify the vote and stay in power? Could you have goofy hair and orange skin, like some abysmal, apocalyptic hell clown who seems like everything wrong with this country personified?

What separates us from machines? What separates us from other animals? And maybe the harder question: what separates us from each other?

I look at a literally tortured man who still loved the war machine, as well as Dubya and his war based on lies.

The Beatles, particularly in their early years, played their guitars relatively high on their bodies, often described as "chin-high."

Huckabee's a right-wing apocalyptic loon, and his ideology might spell our doom.

Talking about a song that, for some people, arrived at exactly the right moment — late 2020, when the world felt uncertain, heavy, and honestly exhausting. The song is “Hold On to Me” by Sofia Carson.

Right-wing hysteria can always sink to new lows. The outrage over Bad Bunny is yet another example...and it also hints at some very dark truths about what MAGA is.

Who was Harry Partch? What was his "Delusion of the Fury" about? You can watch/hear a rendition of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQbkga12fvM&list=RDQQbkga12fvM

A comment on my episode "CWT642: The Violence That Came Home to England" made it about America. Here's why I don't want to engage much with that.

Artist Skinner and Allen Cordell Discuss 'ART SHOW! WITH CAPTAIN SKINNER'. Go ahead and watch this fun new show on YouTube!

Reply To: 'If Obamacare is legal, then the deportations are legal' (paraphrased)

I have a cold (or something), so this episode will probably come across as "low energy" (and I am not the most energetic person to begin with, so...) Anyway, I discuss Trump's lame "Noard of Peace" and how it's mostly catering to authoritarian leaders. I also focus on Egypt's politics, as an example of a country with plenty of problems.

Kyle Kauwika Harris Discusses ‘THE HUNTSMAN’. The Huntsman   released in theaters on Friday, February 6, and hit digital platforms — Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Vudu, YouTube — on February 10, 2026.  The film stars Shawn Ashmore ( X-Men ), Elizabeth Mitchell ( Lost ), Jessy Schram ( Mad Men ) and Garret Dillahunt ( Fear the Walking Dead ).

Trump has repeatedly used dehumanizing language like “vermin,” “animals,” and “poisoning the blood of our country” when speaking broadly about immigrants and “illegal aliens,” not just MS-13 or convicted criminals. Supporters often retroactively narrow his words to “only the worst criminals,” but that’s not how he consistently uses the language, nor how his audiences understand it.

This is a story about “Global Britain,” about “terrorism,” about law and order. But it’s also about memory. About denial. And about what happens when a nation built on empire tries to forget how it was built.

The Shirelles.

Today, we’re jumping into the glitter-splattered, drum-driven world of Adam and the Ants. Where do they fit in musically?

How we can (often) spot AI-generated writing.

Today’s episode begins with a newspaper. April 28th, 1952. The Daily Worker runs a front-page story exposing a practice among British troops in Malaya: headhunting.

If you were watching American television in 1985, you probably never saw $50,000 a Minute. Why did this gameshow pilot fail?

Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, announced that the operation in the Twin Cities is being wound down. “I have proposed, and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude,” Homan said Thursday morning. He added that a “significant drawdown” is already underway and will continue into next week. However, this will not end ICE's abuse...

About Lara St. John (from press release) : Lara St. John is a violinist who has performed as soloist with major orchestras around the world for more than four decades. In 2019, after publicly revealing her assault at age 14 by her teacher at the Curtis Institute, she became a leading advocate for accountability and justice in classical music. ' Since then, she has spoken at rallies, in the pre...