Talking Points
The West Wing kids take on NAFTA, ten years after it happened. And STILL manage to get it wrong. Plus, Hunter Biden's shitty art.
Episodes
The West Wing Thing
Each week hosts Dave Anthony and Josh Olson watch and then discuss an episode of The West Wing.
And when you're done, join us on our new podcast, The Audit on The Lever
Episodes
Good Things Happen In Philly w/Special Guest Susan Saxe
This was supposed to be about the episode titled "Access," but pretty much nothing happens in it, so we thought we'd celebrate some of the amazing stuff that's happening in Philadelphia with activist Susan Saxe, and talk about the amazing docuseries PHILLY D.A.
The Supremes w/Special Guests Thomas Frank & Katie Halper
This is it, folks. West Wing episode one you've been waiting for. The most Bartlett-y solution ever. We had to bring in the big guns for this one, and we almost broke them. You can thank us for the grueling work we do by joining our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/TheWestWingThing
Vamping
This week, it’s all Thing, no Wing as Josh and Dave vamp for an hour. Screw you. The dog ate our homework.
Eppur Si Muove w/Special Guest Savannah LaMaison
Muppets and the relationship between female sexual fantasies and genital stimulation. It doesn't get any better than this, folks!
Full Disclosure w/Special Guest Pete D'Alessandro
This week, we zero in on an episode that gives us some fascinating insights into the very weird politics of West Wing writer and all around freak Lawrence O'Donnell as the West Wing gang takes on school vouchers.
An Khe
Josh and Dave celebrate Memorial Day the Wanglord way. Leo learns a hard lesson about politics that every five year old already knew. Lots of yelling.
The Warfare of Genghis Khan w/special guest Noah Kulwin
There's a new nuclear power in the world, and the West Wing kids have one day to figure out who it is as the show's slow transformation into 24 proceeds apace.
Slow News Day w/Special Guest Marianne Williamson
2020 Presidential candidate Marianne Williamson joins us to discuss what is easily one of the most quintessential and pernicious episodes of The West Wing, the one where they go after Social Security. For more on Marianne's candidate summit, go here: https://www.candidatesummit.com
The Benign Prerogative w/Special Guest Aaron Thorpe
Carcrash Johnson from the Trillbillies returns to help us survive a deep dive into the world of mandatory sentencing minimums and the tragic tale of a rich kid whose parents can't buy his way out of a drug sentence.
The Stormy Present w/Special Guest Felix Biederman
This week's episode deals with a Saudi uprising, so who better to come on and scream in horror but Chapo Traphouse's own Felix Biederman?
Abu el Banat w/Special Guests Katherine Krueger and Will Menaker
Just because it's a lousy episode of The West Wing doesn't mean you're not getting another great episode of The West Wing Thing! Our pals Will & Kath come back to help us dissect our favorite show, and to discuss their end of life plans. Special thanks to Nancy Pelosi for her amazing sacrifice. We talk a bit at the end about the Discourse Blog, a worker-owned co-op for culture and news from the left. Highly recommended. To subscribe, go here: discourseblog.com/subscribe
Shutdown w/Special Guest Briahna Joy Gray and an appearance from Adam McKay
Briahna Joy Gray returns for an epic dissection of one of the weirder West Wing episodes. PLUS we're joined by Adam McKay to discuss the explosion of outrage over his comments about Adam Sorkin's political leanings. Call in sick to work today, folks - this one is packed to the gills with goodness! Bad Faith: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bad-faith/id1531192509 Death At The Wing: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/death-at-the-wing/id1558869948...
Separation of Powers w/Special Guest Tom Sexton
This is it, folks. This is the episode where The West Wing Thing pisses the shoe. AND a new Misogyny Rundown song from the great Diesel Boots. Plus - GET US THAT SUTTER SCRIPT!!!!
Special bonus crossover episode - RUMBLE w/Michael & Us hosts Luke Savage & Will Sloan
Aaron Sorkin is this week's guest on Michael Moore's Rumble podcast, and it's so absolutely bonkers that we had to bring in Luke and Will to hold Dave down as he listens for the first time. Here's the Jamie Kennedy article referenced in this episode. https://www.thedailybeast.com/comedian-jamie-kennedy-on-how-he-ended-up-in-the-anti-abortion-propaganda-film-roe-v-wade
Disaster Relief w/Special Guest Robin Marie Averbeck
Robin Marie Averbeck joins us to discuss porn, Airforce One's ability to transcend the laws of physics, Bruce Springsteen, and why women watch The West Wing. Dave gets real angry at one or two points.
Constituency of One w/Special Guest Amy Westervelt
We're joined by journalist and podcaster Amy Westervelt to discuss the fact that coal is the only source of energy in the West Wing universe. Also, Josh Androsky stops by to discuss what's happening in Echo Park and how it ties into West Wing Brain. Many resources this week: Street Watch LA https://streetwatchla.com Groundgame LA https://www.groundgamela.org Selah https://www.selahnhc.org DSA https://www.dsausa.org NolympicsLA https://nolympicsla.com Knock LA https://knock-la.com https://www.cur...
Han w/Special Guest Daniel Bessner
Danny Bessner returns to discuss North Korea, lighting, and the dumbest thing Donna has ever said on The West Wing. Except not, apparently.
Jefferson Lives w/Special Guest Rebecca Bitton
Josh and Dave are joined by Rebecca Bitton to make sense of the post-Sorkin, post-assassination, post-25th amendment, post kidnapping West Wing world.
The Dogs Of War
Josh and Dave grapple with the realities of a Sorkin-less universe. Less misogyny, perhaps, but even more racism!
7A WF 83429 w/Special Guest Aaron Maté
Aaron Maté joins us to usher in the new era of West Wing, as we greet our new overlords, and clean up the mess Aaron Sorkin left when he took off. And, of course, a new theme song from Diesel Boots!
Twenty Five W/Special Guests Katie Halper & Matt Taibbi
We're joined by the hosts of the great Useful Idiots podcast to say goodby to Aaron Sorkin, as we discuss the Great Man's final episode of The West Wing. We also break down some fashion Don't, and discuss how to stalk and terrify women into marrying you.
Commencement w/Special Guest Branko Marcetic
We're joined by Branko Marcetic to break down the penultimate Sorkin episode and talk about the very incredibly good relationship between the Bartlett administration and the press, and how it reflects the very incredible good relationship between the press and the Biden administration. Plus, stalking and misogyny and Chekhov's No Bottle. Here's the piece we discuss on the show: https://jacobinmag.com/2021/02/for-profit-cable-news-misinformation-trump-cnn
Life On Mars w/Special guest David Sirota
Donna is perplexed by a bird, and we encounter some peak West Wing Brain as the great man's tenure winds down. Only two more Sorkin episodes!
Evidence of Things Not Seen
Josh and Dave fly naked this week. Misogyny, stalkerish behavior, two thousand dollar checks, and Michael Meyers all make appearances.
Angel Maintenance w/special guest Ashley Stevens
A brief chat about the slow news week we just had, then we dive into a white knuckle episode of The West Wing. Will everyone die in a fiery plane crash? Who could possibly guess how this episode turns out?
Privateers w/Special Guest Tanya Turner
We're joined by the Trillbilly's Tanya Turner to discuss Aaron Sorkin's courage in pointing out that whistle blowers are terrible people.
Red Haven's On Fire w/Special Guest Wyatt Cenac
Slow news week. Not much to cover. Wyatt stopped by to talk sports.
The California 47th w/Special Guest Aaron Thorpe
The gang flies to Orange County to help Rob Lowe exit the show gracefully. Plus, FUCK THE FRENCH, AM I RIGHT? THOSE GODDAM COWARDS!!!!
Inauguration Pt 2: Over There w/Special Guest Daniel Bessner
Daniel Bessner is back for Inauguration Part 2, as we dive deep, deep, deep into Aaron Sorkin's rewrite of Rwandan genocide.