Luv Bin Men, ’Ate Grooming Gangs, and I Vote This week, it’s the super chaos configuration of Milo, Hussein, and Nate discussing a recent story in the Times about how a local, locked Facebook group influenced an election in Greater Manchester by basically posting nonstop about how the Labour candidate was running a grooming gang. We also talk about terrible UK local news, how to read the temperature of the nation from Facebook comments, and much more. If you want access to our Patreon bonus epis...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 394
We did it again. No theme, just riffs, with lots of Riley's fanciest desires explained and ruthlessly dunked on. Please enjoy this Balthasar Speedboat featuring friends of the show Pierre Novellie and Alex Kealy. Learn about Google Maps. Learn about nightclub reviews in former USSR countries. You will enjoy--that is an order! To get the whole thing, visit our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/51461851 Please consider donating to charities helping Palestinian people here: https://www.is...
May 21, 2021•10 min•Ep. 393
This week we're joined by Aron Keller ( @aronkeller ) of the anti-occupation advocacy group Na'amod to discuss the recent events in Gaza and the communications strategies (particularly the deranged ones) of the Israeli government. We also discuss Dave Cameron's released Greensill texts and assess why he's basically one of those retired Italian construction workers who hangs out at building sites giving unsolicited advice. Please consider donating to charities helping Palestinian people here: htt...
May 17, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 392
During World War II and the early Cold War there were a group of English intelligence operatives who spied for the Soviet Union. All of them basically walked around with huge neon signs attached to them that said 'I am a spy for the Soviet Union,' but due to the diamond-hard class solidarity of Britain's establishment, everyone forced themselves to not notice this. We brought on Alice to discuss the Cambridge Spies and we hope you enjoy it. To get the whole episode, sign up to Patreon here: http...
May 16, 2021•10 min•Ep. 391
Labour MP Jon Cruddas has written the best approximation of what can be considered “Starmerism’s offer to British workers.” While some elements - eg a job guarantee - are better than nothing (but even then, run their own risk of rebuilding a modern workhouse depending on the shape of the policy), even at best, their desirability and strategy for achieving them are based on a vision of the economy that nobody under 70 would recognise as realistic. So come on an annoying journey through Blue Labou...
May 15, 2021•11 min•Ep. 390
Ed and Jathan from This Machine Kills ( @machinekillspod ) are back to discuss another titan of the tech industry. Amazon's annual leader to shareholders has been released, and in it they advance a sort of inverse labour theory of value (who can be surprised!), with hilarious results. It's scale is now approaching a level that is hard to comprehend, so come with us across the event horizon. But first, we discuss Labour's performance in the elections and the leadership's steadfast ability to not ...
May 10, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 389
What if Black Mirror did This Is Us? What if your kid wanted to upload themselves to their dang phone? What if a Lib Dem wrote one of the worst TV dramas to ever exist? All of this, and more, in the TF review of Years and Years (episodes 1 and 2). We hope it doesn't count as a spoiler alert to say it is bad. Get the whole episode on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/50911906 We support the London Renters Union, which helps people defeat their slumlords and avoid eviction. If you want to sup...
May 06, 2021•10 min•Ep. 388
May 6th will mark regional local elections in the UK, to include the London mayoral election. Considering that 4 of the 5 of us are based in London, this does in fact affect us. However, all polling indicates that Sadiq Khan will win again on a platform of More Cops and handing all decisions to property developers, with the remaining candidates all basically wanting More Cops. Sian Berry? Bad. Laurence Fox? Don't make me laugh. Shaun Bailey? Joke. Brian Rose? Okay, he's extremely bad also, but t...
May 03, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 387
This was supposed to be a hard-hitting episode with an interview about Russia and leftism in Russian politics, but we had a classic TF season 1 moment when the recording failed. So, here's what we were able to salvage from the episode, with a great review of the recent UK op-ed about feeding yourself slop to trigger the woke left. We love this island, we love the times we live in, and we (unironically) love you. If you want to get the whole episode, it's on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/...
May 03, 2021•11 min•Ep. 386
Contrary to popular belief, we were not the people who broke the story about Lex Greensill and supply chain finance -- we just fell in love with it because it was the perfect intersection of all our interests (tech bullshit, obvious fraud, Australians, guys). However, someone who has been on this story since its inception is Financial Times journalist Rob Smith ( @BondHack ), and he's on the show today to review what's happened in this big ol' mess-er-idoo. If you want access to our Patreon bonu...
May 01, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 385
This week, we're joined by author and podcaster Musa Okwonga ( @Okwonga ) to discuss the aborted attempt to create a European Super League of football, a deep dive into why football clubs have such abysmal finances, why there are so many Russian gangsters "investing" in the beautiful game, and much more. If you want access to our Patreon bonus episodes, early releases of free episodes, and powerful Discord server, sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/trashfuture We support the London Renters Un...
Apr 26, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 384
This week, we've brought on Nish Kumar ( @mrnishkumar ) to once again listen to a horrible 'taut, sexy, political thriller' by a former MP -- this time one by Vince Cable. It sucks really bad but Riley, Milo, Hussein, and Alice had a great time and Nish suffered the English curse yet again. If you want to hear the whole thing, and hundreds of other bonus episodes, sign up to Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/50309210 We support the London Renters Union, which helps people defeat their ...
Apr 25, 2021•11 min•Ep. 383
We've been very happy that you, the fans, have enjoyed Britainology so much. In an attempt to bridge the gap between our two cultures, Nate has brought on two fellow Midwesterners ( Francis Horton from Hell of a Way, a native of St. Louis, Missouri; Joe Kassabian from Lions Led by Donkeys, a native of Detroit, Michigan) to flip the script on Milo. Now it's the good-natured Midwestern oafs in the driver's seat, and we explain the name of the region itself, why ICP had such appeal to our generatio...
Apr 21, 2021•12 min•Ep. 382
This week, we're speaking with IPPR researcher and friend of the show Laurie Laybourn-Langton ( @Laurie_L_L ) about his new book 'Planet on Fire: A Manifesto for the Age of Environmental Breakdown' (co-authored with Matthew Lawrence). We also talk about a deeply stupid SPAC that JD Vance is hawking, and some other stuff about the whole climate thing. Yes, the guy who runs the SPAC is named Jeff W. Ubben. You can buy Laurie's book here (it debuts on April 20): https://www.versobooks.com/books/370...
Apr 20, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 381
We're back again to explain the eccentricities and fault lines of this truly normal island. This week, Milo and Nate discuss the 1970s in Britain, why everything went downhill, why the decade radicalised the Boomers, and why the TV from that era is.... not good. Hope you enjoy! If you want more Britainology, you can get it on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/48881406 We support the London Renters Union, which helps people defeat their slumlords and avoid eviction. If you want to suppor...
Apr 19, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 380
Contrary to popular belief, we were not the people who broke the story about Lex Greensill and supply chain finance -- we just fell in love with it because it was the perfect intersection of all our interests (tech bullshit, obvious fraud, Australians, guys). However, someone who has been on this story since its inception is Financial Times journalist Rob Smith ( @BondHack ), and he's on the show today to review what's happened in this big ol' mess-er-idoo. Get the whole thing on Patreon here: h...
Apr 15, 2021•11 min•Ep. 379
“We’re bringing the jobs back!” has long been the rallying cry of the right, but what kinds of businesses are actually coming back to places like Lordstown, Ohio? We are joined by Bryan Quinby ( @murderxbryan ) of Street Fight Radio to do a deep dive on Lordstown Motors - a “too good to be true” electric car manufacturer that has set up shop in the town of the same name. It’s all well and good when rich people take money off one another, but what about the workers who believe their lives are get...
Apr 12, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 378
You asked for it, you got it, and now you get to hear an episode of Balthasar primarily concerned with a 2010s-era nightclub in Toronto whose primary selling point was its luxurious women's toilets. Enjoy! Get the whole thing on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/49762393 We support the London Renters Union, which helps people defeat their slumlords and avoid eviction. If you want to support them as well, you can here: https://londonrentersunion.org/donate Here's a central location to d...
Apr 08, 2021•11 min•Ep. 377
We sat down with Leslie Kern ( @LellyK )--feminist geographer, academic, and author of Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man-Made World--to discuss what it means that "a feminist city is a police free city," in the wake of a slew of misogynistic, racist, and otherwise generally brutal actions attributed to London's finest. First, though, we take a look with some satisfaction at Deliveroo's shoddy IPO performance. If you want access to our Patreon bonus episodes and powerful Discord server, sign...
Apr 06, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 376
Get grußpilled with Corner Späti's Nick Babkitis and the BBC's own Dr Xand van Tulleken on the topic of the EU's vaccine disaster, what the hell is going on in Germany, why Russians don't want the Sputnik vaccine, and what happens if an injection makes a German guy British. Hope you enjoy! If you want the full episode, get it on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/49456593 We support the London Renters Union, which helps people defeat their slumlords and avoid eviction. If you want to support...
Apr 01, 2021•11 min•Ep. 375
This week, we’re joined by Sam Knight of the District Sentinel (@TheDCSentinel) to discuss a U.S. Supreme Court case that may make it even harder for union organizers to meet with farm labourers in the US. With the exceptionally rational and normal composition of the Court, chances are good that this could make things even worse. We also discuss Prince Harry becoming the chief engagement officer at a mental health startup in the US, because why wouldn’t he. If you want to read Sam’s article, it’...
Mar 29, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 374
This week, Nate and Milo address the important issue: why is there a culture of getting on it and getting completely blasted out of your mind? What is a big night out? What is the sesh? What is the deal with those guys in the picture? To help our investigation, we brought on nightlife expert and journalist Tom Usher ( @Tom_Usher_ ) to discuss. If you want the whole episode, get it on Patreon at the $5 tier here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/49347912 We support the London Renters Union, which he...
Mar 29, 2021•11 min•Ep. 373
We've finally taken the time to discuss NFTs, and in so doing we brought on two working artists -- musician Dan Boeckner and cartoonist Matt Lubchansky -- to discuss the new liberation that comes from putting your art on the blockchain. Zero negative side effects here! Nothing to worry about. If you want to hear the whole episode, get it on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/49156897 We support the London Renters Union, which helps people defeat their slumlords and avoid eviction. If you wan...
Mar 26, 2021•10 min•Ep. 372
Journalist Vincent Bevins ( @vinncent ) joins the gang to discuss the unravelling of Brazil's Lava Jato corruption investigation, the seismic impact of Lula's re-emergence as a political contender on Bolsonarismo, and some idiotic responses to same. Also, Britain's long love affair with statues and nukes heats up once again. If you want access to our Patreon bonus episodes and powerful Discord server, sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/trashfuture We support the London Renters Union, which he...
Mar 22, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 371
In this episode, Milo takes Nate on the most inscrutable journey yet: a vision of British 1980s/90s sitcoms that are too cockney to be parsed without a translator. Yes, it's the 'Heroes and Villains' episode of Only Fools and Horses, perhaps the most British thing Nate has had to encounter yet, and the one that did the most to break his spirit. Hope you enjoy! This episode is on the $10 tier, which gets you all our bonus content and a second Britainology each month -- access it on Patreon at the...
Mar 21, 2021•10 min•Ep. 370
Boonta Vista's Andrew and Trashfuture's Riley are back with a brand new "show within a show" about the lasting cultural impact of September 11. In the first episode they introduce the show and discuss Oliver Stone's World Trade Center, the commoditisation of tragedy, memorial NASCAR races and a two word phrase from that fateful day that lives on in cultural infamy. Just like the Boney Island Whitefish before it, further episodes of American Psychosis will be dropping monthly on both the Trashfut...
Mar 20, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 369
This week, we've brought on Aaron Thorpe ( @thotteusstevens ) of the Trillbillies and A Time of Monsters podcasts, to discuss the British royal family and the recent Oprah interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. What is the deal with this institution? Why do British people simply accept this? Get it all explained here. If you want the whole episode, you can access it on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/48881406 We support the London Renters Union, which helps people defeat their slu...
Mar 18, 2021•11 min•Ep. 368
We explore a fun new start up that solves the most difficult problem of paying down debt: the user interface. Then, we go on to explore the strange triangulations in British politics of who can compete to give nurses a more reasonable pittance. Will Starmer be easily outmanoeuvred by the Tories, who will continue to successfully implement their patronage model of the economy? Of course he will! If you want access to our Patreon bonus episodes and powerful Discord server, sign up here: https://ww...
Mar 15, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 367
We finally got around to the thing that everyone told us to do: review Guy Ritchie's King Arthur movie, a film in which the early medieval legend is rendered as a tale of East London geezers. To verify its accuracy, we brought on friends of the show Eleanor Janega ( @GoingMedieval ) and Patrick Wyman ( @Patrick_Wyman ). Are you not entertained? If you want to hear the whole thing, get it on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/48594825 We support the London Renters Union, which helps people de...
Mar 12, 2021•10 min•Ep. 366
Algorithm jockey and financial wizard Emily (@theemilyaccount) talks about how the Tech Boom, enabled as it was by overly restrictive monetary and fiscal policy, is starting to come apart at the seams. Was it a bubble? Is it popping? Too early to say, but not too early to enjoy a little schadenfreude! We also explore the nature and role of ARKK, the actively managed ETF beloved by redditors, and hated by the rest of Wall Street for all the wrong reasons. Plus, Johannes Vonk and the Clogheads ret...
Mar 09, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 365
