Referenced Resources

People

• SPEAKER_02 - Introduced as “Mr. President” by SPEAKER_02, engaged in a conversation about the podcast’s last episode and broader societal issues.
• SPEAKER_03 - Identified as “Mr. President,” engaged in a conversation about the podcast’s last episode and broader societal issues.
• Brendan McDonald - Referred to by SPEAKER_00 as having listened to him talk for “no less than 10,000 hours over the last 22 years,” and is released from this professional responsibility in a document.
• Mark Maron - The host of the podcast, signing a pseudo-legal document to release Brendan McDonald from listening to him talk.
• Bill Russell - Mentioned as the “greatest champion of North American sports” who experienced pre-game nerves.
• Michelle - Mentioned in the context of SPEAKER_03’s values and their relationship.
• Pete Susan - Mentioned as SPEAKER_03’s “old photographer from the white house” with whom he plays “Word with Friends.”
• Malia - SPEAKER_03’s daughter, who had a conversation with him about climate change hopelessness.
• James Tirico - A young state rep from Texas, mentioned as a talented individual who is good at debating and having conversations with those who disagree.
• John Lewis - Mentioned in the context of the Civil Rights Movement and the March on Selma.
• George Bush - Mentioned as having supported democracy promotion.
• Bill Clinton - Mentioned as having supported democracy promotion.
• Marco Rubio - Mentioned as having apparently supported democracy promotion.
• Governor Abbott - Mentioned in the context of law enforcement and federal authority in Texas.
• Ted Cruz - Mentioned as a U.S. Senator who lent credence to the idea of military exercises in Texas being a precursor to a “one world government.”
• Nelson Mandela - Mentioned as an example of someone who faced significant hardship and imprisonment for their beliefs.
• Steve Miller - Mentioned in the context of criteria for hiring and promoting people in businesses.

Organizations

• The White House - Mentioned in the context of SPEAKER_03’s time there and his photographer.
• Fox News - Mentioned in the context of how they might have responded to a hypothetical situation involving federal intervention in Texas.
• Pentagon - Mentioned in the context of military exercises and readiness.
• Department of Defense - Implied through the mention of the Pentagon and Secretary of Defense.
• FBI - Mentioned as an institution that should be playing things straight and looking at facts.
• Justice Department - Mentioned as an institution that should be playing things straight and looking at facts.
• The Klan - Mentioned as a group that has been part of America’s history of conflict.
• The Moral Majority - Mentioned as a group with a “holier than thou superiority” similar to some progressive language.
• Superbowl - Mentioned as an event where a sense of unity might be heard.
• Olympics - Mentioned as an event where a sense of unity might be heard.
• National Guard - Mentioned in the hypothetical scenario of federal intervention in Texas.

Documents

• A pseudo-legal document - Created by SPEAKER_00 to honor the last episode of the podcast, releasing Brendan McDonald from listening to SPEAKER_00 talk.

Tools

• Planet shirt - Mentioned as what SPEAKER_00 decided to wear for the podcast recording.
• Smartphone - Mentioned as a device that was not widely around when SPEAKER_03 came into office in 2009, but became prevalent around 2010.
• Facebook - Mentioned as a social media platform that was taking off around 2010.
• Twitter - Mentioned as a social media platform that was taking off around 2010.
• TikTok - Mentioned as a platform that SPEAKER_03’s brain doesn’t register in the same way as his niece’s.
• Instagram - Mentioned in the context of how much power it has now compared to 2015, and as a platform for posting material goods.
• YouTube - Implied through the mention of video content.
• Word with Friends - A game played on a phone by SPEAKER_03 with Pete Susan.
• MySpace - Mentioned as SPEAKER_03’s social media platform in the past.
• Meetup - Described as an early social media application that helped volunteers organize themselves to meet in person.
• TikTok reels - Mentioned as a mechanism that can capture attention and send users down a narrow track.
• Phones - Mentioned in the context of their design, social media app setup, and the science behind making them addictive.
• Personal computers - Implied through the discussion of digital media and the internet.
• Internet - Mentioned as existing before SPEAKER_03 became president, but with different prevalence of certain technologies.

Technologies

• Podcasting - The central medium of the interview, discussed in its evolution and impact.
• Social Media - A broad category discussed extensively in terms of its impact on connection, politics, and culture.
• The Internet - Mentioned as a foundational technology for modern communication and social media.
• Digital media - Implied through the discussion of online platforms and content.
• Video - Mentioned in the context of content on websites and social media.
• Audio - Mentioned as the format SPEAKER_00’s show exclusively uses, making it harder to clip.
• Algorithms - Discussed as a powerful mechanism on platforms like TikTok that can narrow a user’s world.
• Smartphones - Discussed in their rise to prominence and impact on communication and campaigning.
• Email - Mentioned in the context of receiving hostile and nasty trolling garbage.
• DEI policy - Mentioned in the context of corporations and their relationship to political winds.
• Propaganda - Mentioned in the context of World War II and its impact on establishing journalistic standards.
• Market-based economics - SPEAKER_03’s belief in this system, tied to freedom.
• State-run economics - Mentioned as generally not working well.