No tyrant can fully control a people if they believe in something higher than their worldly ruler. This is reason all memory of the Jedi must be wiped out by the Empire. The Force is a threat. Ashwin Verghese of the Internation Campaign for Tibet sees this struggle playing out between the Tibetan people and the Chinese government. He joined Beltway Banthas to share his fandom, talk about Tibet, China, Yoda, Naboo and the future of Star Wars. Follow Ashwin Verghese: https://twitter.com/Ashwin_Tib...
Apr 30, 2020•51 min
Mayor Betsy Hodges may be the former mayor of Minneapolis and now Washington, D.C., but she's really a citizen of Tatooine. In this special interview episode, the progressive activist and mayor joins Beltway Banthas to share how Star Wars saved her life ( The Mary Sue ). Beyond her personal story, which is a remarkable one, Stephen Kent and Betsy Hodges trace how Star Wars explains redemption and why that matters for the world we live in. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this w...
Apr 16, 2020•52 min
To supplement your social distancing we have a bonus episode with Ben Domenech, publisher of The Federalist. Ben and Stephen review the ending of the sequel trilogy and the case for The Mandalorian as the future of Star Wars storytelling. Ben makes a compelling point about why Star Wars raises some questions about the value and trade off's of democracy, and why people like Anakin Skywalker end of wanting something else. Sign up for the podcast newsletter here This is a public episode. If you'd l...
Apr 02, 2020•59 min
Season 7 of The Clone Wars is live on Disney+ and it's as political as ever. In Episode 5, Ahsoka Tano enters the underworld of Coruscant and meets people struggling to survive on the most opulent planet in the galaxy. Characters have to make real hard moral choices given the constraints of their economic status, which is the making of a great Beltway Banthas episode. Bernie Sanders organizer Mohammed Shakibnia joins the show to dissect The Clone Wars political themes. Plus! Herb Scribner of the...
Mar 26, 2020•1 hr 6 min
Gene Park may have been the very first Star Wars fan to buy a ticket for Episode I: The Phantom Menace. It's true! In this special Bantha interview, Washington Post gaming reporter Gene Park talks about his Star Wars fandom and how storytelling methods from video games have crept in and out of blockbuster films. Gene memorably wrote in for WaPo about how the ‘ Rise of Skywalker’ embraces all the worst parts of video game storytelling' and he's on the podcast to explain why that is, but why he's ...
Mar 19, 2020•38 min
Beltway Banthas is back! In Episode 81, host Stephen Kent and guest host Maggie Lovitt (SAG AFTRA actress and contributor to Cantina Cast) review the latest Star Wars news including The High Republic era and The Rise of Skywalker novelization. We discuss theories around central planning and how some of the classic mistakes of governance might apply to the oddities in Star Wars storytelling since 2015. In our main segment, Maggie and Stephen discuss the principles of Star Wars that improve Americ...
Mar 12, 2020•1 hr 2 min
Look around the world today and you will see otherwise advanced societies overrun by misinformation, myth and conspiratorial thinking. Information echo chambers and media disruption has helped to polarize communities on everything from political viewpoints to opinions on Star Wars. Buzzfeed's Ryan Broderick wrote The “ Star Wars” Misinformation Hell Is The New Future Of Everything " and he couldn't be more right. On this episode, Stephen Kent and guest Andrew Kenlon discuss the rise of #ReleaseT...
Jan 09, 2020•58 min
What a merry time of year it is!! Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker crashed into theaters and has concluded the 42 year run of the Skywalker story that started in 1977. Stephen Kent saw it opening night and again the first weekend, and this is your REVIEW episode of the film. Stephen is joined by friends of the show to look at how The Rise of Skywalker does as a conclusion to STAR WARS, the good, the great, the bad and the ugly. We also feature reviews from LISTENERS : John Liang, Mike...
Dec 28, 2019•1 hr 25 min
The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters this week! To discuss the hype and stakes for the film, comedian and baritone geek Andrew Heaton joins Beltway Banthas. We get into the return of Emperor Palpatine, Rey, fanboys vs The Last Jedi and Heaton's recent interview of Jonathan Last, who notoriously penned "The Case For Empire" in the Weekly Standard. Andrew Heaton and Stephen Kent review how and if the political right's penchant for trolling online tracks with Star Wars fandom and the common argument...
Dec 17, 2019•1 hr 7 min
The world loves The Mandalorian! This week on Beltway Banthas, guests Josh Gilliland (The Legal Geeks Podcast) and Gio Insignares (WUSA Channel 9 DC) join to discuss the new Star Wars series on Disney+. We review the show itself, Baby Yoda and the legal questions raised by the entire profession of bounty hunting. Gilliland helps us understand The Mandalorian in a whole new way. Then, Stephen reviews Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost cookbook from Insight Editions just in...
Nov 28, 2019•1 hr 3 min
This week on Beltway Banthas, the one and only Kennedy of Fox Business joins the show to share her Star Wars stories. You know her from Fox News, or perhaps from her time as a VJ on MTV. Either way, the Force is strong with this one. Kennedy and Stephen talk about everything from Luke vs Han, Jar Jar and the Leia bikini to U.S. foreign policy and Deadliest Catch. Before the interview, John Liang gets Stephen up to speed on the latest in Star Wars canon with the release of 'Resistance Reborn.' Th...
Nov 14, 2019•47 min
This week on Beltway Banthas, author Michael Harris joins the show to preview his upcoming book, " Welcome to the Rebellion : A new hope in radical politics. Michael and Stephen discuss how Star Wars can inspire a young, new-left movement to confront the most pressing issues of the day for progressives: capitalism, income inequality, climate, nationalism and more. To start things off, we review the big trailer release for The Rise of Skywalker, get into "Bendemption" and Stephen goes over his ex...
Oct 31, 2019•1 hr 15 min
Welcome back for another great show! This week Riley Blanton of The Star Wars Report and Mouse & Castle joins the show for a whirlwind of political chatter about a galaxy, far, far away. If you noticed the international controversy surrounding the NBA and their handling of political statements about the Hong Kong protests, this issue extends far beyond pro basketball. Disney actively makes some of the same calculations and accommodations for the Chinese Communist Party, as does every other A...
Oct 17, 2019•1 hr
During The Clone Wars a young Jedi turned against the war and Jedi Order's involvement in it. Convinced she had no other way to send a message of disaffection, Barriss Offee bombed the Jedi Temple and framed another Jedi for the act of terror. She was right about the war, and the Jedi, but did something very wrong. This week Danielle Adams, progressive and climate activist, joins the show as guest host to take us into the story of Barriss Offee and why it matters. We also dive into a few rumors ...
Sep 26, 2019•1 hr 6 min
Hold on to something! This week we've got a bonus episode of Beltway Banthas, a conversation with Glenn Beck, radio show host and founder of Blaze Media. Stephen Kent met up with Glenn at FreedomFest in Las Vegas to talk about his earliest memories with Star Wars, lessons on the political power of fear, generational change and the evolution (plus consistency) of Star Wars' message. Now, THIS is podcasting!! If you follow this show closely you know that Stephen started appearing of Glenn's show r...
Sep 05, 2019•45 min
The week on Beltway Banthas, in a 90-minute marathon run, we cover a lot of ground on Star Wars, politics and religion. In the main segment Stephen Kent is joined by Matthew Neugebauer to analyze Star Wars fandom and its troubles over the decades. A video from Wisecrack serves as the starting point for an analogy of fandom by understanding Protestant Reformation and the concept of a 'legitimation crisis'. Basically, in social science, what does it take to unravel social order and how can that be...
Aug 28, 2019•1 hr 23 min
Welcome back Banthas! The Beltway Banthas podcast has returned with regular shows now through 2020. Starting off this new season of Star Wars & politics chatter, Stephen Kent is joined by guest host Nick DiColandrea for a dive into the political conscience of Padme Amidala. In Revenge of the Sith , she opens up to Anakin about her uncertainty with the Republic's democratic virtue. What got Padme to the point of questioning her entire political position and that of the "democracy" she has ser...
Aug 14, 2019•1 hr 11 min
Hello Banthas! Since it's launch in 2015 during the heat of the presidential primaries for 2016, Beltway Banthas has been a proud home of political discourse within Star Wars fandom. We've featured prominent politicians, journalists and political operatives on the show to explore how Star Wars impacted their worldview and careers. 70 official episodes and well over 120 episodes including interviews and bonus content. The Force of Star Wars' politics is strong. Let's discuss! Follow Joe Tavano @ ...
Mar 22, 2019•1 hr
Star Wars deals very directly with questions of justice and injustice. Mohammad Shakibnia wrote an article for ElevenThirtyEight on the messages of social, racial and economic justice than can be derived from the Clone Wars animated series. He joins the podcast this month to co-pilot the show and discuss these themes with host Stephen Kent. Stephen and Mohammad get into the weeds of Clone Wars era politics, talk about Star Wars Celebration, their entry into fandom and share Bantha Fodder. This i...
Feb 21, 2019•1 hr 3 min
This week on Beltway Banthas, Robby Soave of Reason Magazine joins the show to talk the politics of Episode I: The Phantom Menace. We cover trade disputes, slavery on Tatooine, the aloof Jedi Order and Vladimir Putin. Robby and Stephen get into the weeds of Star Wars Episode I and also share thoughts on the Gillette controversy, the Women's March and what is like to write a book. Follow Robby Soave on Twitter @ RobbySoave This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscri...
Jan 24, 2019•50 min
This week on Beltway Banthas, a discussion of the prequel trilogy as George Lucas' broadside against the neoliberal world order and capitalism. Stephen is joined by his brother, Michael Kent of the Toxic Schlock horror movie podcast to discuss and debate Lucas' critique of neoliberalism since the 1980's and how well he executed his analysis in Star Wars. Michael and Stephen also chat about the role horror played in Star Wars early on, old Star Wars horror novels and the battle between Netflix an...
Jan 03, 2019•1 hr 20 min
Dr. Andrea Letamendi ( Lattes with Leia, The Arkham Sessions ) joins Swara as they discuss not only one of the central themes of Star Wars, but also redemption and the grievance of galactic victims, both individual and galaxy wide. Does the franchise do a good job of exploring trauma of aggrieved parties like Rey, Luke, and Leia? What causes villains like Darth Vader and Kylo Ren to commit egregious actions, and how can they repent and atone? Swara and Drea also talk a bit about Episode IX title...
Dec 21, 2018•1 hr 5 min
Jar Jar Binks changed the course of galactic history during the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Love him or hate him, this bumbling alien is important. This week we review Jar Jar Binks rise and fall in politics, the impact he made and what we as citizens in a republic can learn from his story. Swara and Stephen also react to some new Star Wars books, talk trash about some real-world politicians and opine on the latest Star Wars news making the rounds this week. Connect with Us Join us now on our Dis...
Dec 06, 2018•1 hr 11 min
Rogue One contains a powerful message about engaging in the world around you. Jyn Erso accepted oppression as a status quo while Cassian Andor was raised in the fight for freedom. On this weeks show we are joined by Kate Sanchez of But Why Tho? for a discussion of Cassion Andor's complex, the midterm elections and why people get involved in politics. We also react to news of a new Cassian Andor series coming on Disney Plus, assess the "blue wave" and offer some Bantha Fodder as usual. Thanks to ...
Nov 22, 2018•1 hr 18 min
Were the Jedi sincere in their pursuit of balancing the Force? Luke Skywalker didn't seem to think so in The Last Jedi when describing the Jedi Order to an impressionable Rey. He sees balance as allowing for light and dark to co-exist, compliment and challenge the other. How far can one take this before people get hurt? In this episode, Swara and Stephen discuss the wildly varied outcome of the 2018 midterm election. It was a purple spatter more than a blue wave. Is there something Star Wars can...
Nov 08, 2018•51 min
Welcome back! This week Swara Salih and producer John Liang dig into the new Star Wars series "Resistance". There are several rich political elements in the background of the animated series, and we leave no stone unturned. Also, Star Wars author Chuck Wendig was fired by Marvel and taken off the future Star Wars comics. He presumably won't be used by LucasFilm and Disney for books in the future. Wendig is notably the author of the Aftermath series and is known for his aggressive political rheto...
Oct 25, 2018•58 min
Are Russian bots behind the divide around The Last Jedi? Stephen chatted with researcher Morten Bay to discuss the results of his study on Twitter reaction to the film. Swara and Stephen discuss whether or not Russian bots and trolls amplified the negative reaction to the film. Stephen and Swara also hash out their reactions to the new animated series Resistance, dish out their Bantha Fodder, and much more! Connect with Us Join us now on our Discord channel to keep this episodes' conversation go...
Oct 11, 2018•1 hr 9 min
Welcome back to Beltway Banthas and brace yourself for a ride through hyperspace in higher quality audio with host, Stephen Kent . The show had some hiccups this week with the whole team migrating to new homes and getting unpacked, but Stephen found a closet and an article in SyFyWire about Star Wars politics to review. Ana Marie Cox and Cher Martinetti sounded off on how RD-D2 and other characters would vote in a piece titled " SPACE THE NATION: R2-D2 IS A LIBERTARIAN ". Naturally, this is prov...
Sep 27, 2018•31 min
Welcome back to Beltway Banthas! Swara and Stephen are BOTH moving this week to new homes and this was as good a time as any to share some audio from over the summer. Stephen met up with New York Times op-ed columnist Ross Douthat for a discussion on Star Wars and politics. It's a well rounded conversation with a lot of focus on Star Wars strengths AND weaknesses. We hope you enjoy and aren't distracted by the ambient noise of the conference. Here are supplemental materials for Douthat's writing...
Sep 20, 2018•30 min
Bethany Lacina is an associate professor of political science at the University of Rochester and she took a dive into "Star Wars Twitter" to get a better understanding of fandom and why it's so toxic. She looked at the vitriol surround Kelly Marie Tran and wrote "How common is such harassment? In my research, I have investigated this phenomenon on Twitter, where offensive language and hate speech have a modest but clear presence — not because of automated accounts (“bots”) but because of humans....
Sep 13, 2018•38 min
