Critical Wade Theory

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...

This time, I respond to a critique ostensibly from my left. Admittedly, it was refreshing to face a purportedly left-leaning critique. Still, does the person have a valid point? Is Obamacare "extremely closer to Fascism than you allow yourself to think."? Do I "need to ditch the milquetoast Bourgeois liberal (faux) progressivism, and dive neck deep into Marxism-Leninism"? Well,...

Today I want to talk about G.I. Blues, a 1960 musical comedy starring Elvis Presley.

I largely debunk this right-wing argument: "History and economics teacher here. Economically speaking, Obamacare is the closest thing in this country we have to fascism. Let me explain. Communism is when the government takes over the means of production. Fascism is when there can be private ownership of business, but those businesses are told what to produce and what the product will be...&qu...

In today's episode, I have a Trumpified Bad News Roundup, plus a look at LBJ, and also the JFK-to-Trump pipeline, including a look at the Bay of Pigs, and yes, how JFK helped give rise to one of America's purported biggest enemies: Saddam Hussein!

Recently I did an episode called "More Right-Wing Memes = Fake Quotes, Fake Rebels" In that episode, I looked at a fake Obama quote, the real history behind deportations and war powers, and why outrage is applied selectively. Then I took apart the Republican claim of being “anti-tax,” showing how tax policy under Trump and the GOP actually protects wealth, expands patronage, and shifts t...

Don Lemon arrested! I also look at the sh*tty histories of 2 US Supreme Court Justices.

There’s a reason female monsters keep showing up in our stories, and it's not just because the male monsters need lady companions.

If you’ve watched a lot of films from the 60s, 70s, or 80s and thought, this music really knows what it’s doing, there’s a fair chance John Scott had something to do with it.

Think about the last fairy tale you encountered. It might not have been a dusty book with yellowed pages. It could have been a Disney film, a TV series, or even a video game. The characters feel familiar, but something is different. The princess hesitates. The villain has a backstory. The ending is no longer simple...

Originally released at the end of the 1980s, Michael Apted's The Long Way Home documented a singular cultural moment: Soviet underground rock legend Boris Grebenshchikov recording in the West during the brief, hopeful era of Glasnost. Decades later, the film has been painstakingly remastered and expanded from the only surviving 16mm print. Producer Steven Lawrence , who supervised the restorat...

Today I'm talking about BBQ Brawl: Flay vs. Symon, Season 1, Episode 2, “High Steaks,” which aired August 8, 2019. If you like big beef, pressure cooking, and a little chaos, this episode delivers. I’ve also got a cheap, low-effort recipe at the end.

Today, I want to talk about a band that barely existed, released one album, toured sparingly, and still managed to leave a permanent mark on indie music.

In this episode: More ICE stories unfold. I also look at the rise and legacy of George H. W. Bush, and how he helped bring us to our sorrowful state.  I also discuss Michael Dukakis and the Willie Horton smear that sunk his electoral chances.

If you grew up anywhere near a radio, a wedding dance floor, or an ’80s movie montage, you’ve heard the Pointer Sisters.

Calling out fascist tendencies is not “throwing the word around.” Pretending fascism only exists after it has fully succeeded is how it keeps happening. A correction: In my response, I mentioned Jewish Generals. There were no Jewish generals commanding troops in the Nazi military, so I was somewhat off. However, there actually were some high-ranking German officers of Jewish descent (Mischlinge, o...

In this episode, I continue responding to YouTube comments. In the original video this person responded to, I break down the myth of the “anti-tax” Republican and the claim that government waste is some neutral, non-partisan truth. I look at what actually happens when income taxes are cut: the burden doesn’t disappear, it gets shifted onto workers through sales taxes, payroll taxes, fees, and fine...

@MustardSkaven says in a YouTube comment: "'fascist' gets thrown around way too much. When a fascist is elected, that's the moment they're supposed to abolish voting, take out all competition to rule and consolidate all power. Obama, Trump, Biden, non of them have done that." This episode is my response.

Today, in this episode, I'm talking about Goodfellas.

I reply to the following YouTube comment on one of my episodes: "Did you get hammered in your own comments section ? States with no income tax and no sales tax have functioning and running governments"

Today, I'm exploring "Love," The Beatles' groundbreaking remix album released on November 20, 2006. This album was (and still is) a bold, reimagined take on the legendary band's music.

Time to do another Yooper-themed episode about the area where I live. Today, I'm taking about Marquette, Michigan.

...once violence is reframed as a technical problem, ethics disappear. Civilian deaths become “collateral damage.” Illegal invasions become “strategic interventions.” Torture becomes “enhanced interrogation.”

Today I want to talk about an actor many to know, but who I personally know in an incomplete way. That actor is F. Murray Abraham.

A billionaire cosmetics heir is behind Trump's Greenland greed. I also explain the weird, myth-based origins of the cosmetics company he inherited. Then I explore the most publicized scandal of the powerful right-wing media figure who tried (and failed) to get this billionaire cosmetics heir hired in political office.