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Join Ben Hunt, Matt Zeigler and Jack Forehand as we break open the news to reveal the Nudging language behind the headlines. Media bias is real, but not in the way you think.
In the latest episode of Breaking News, we are joined by Epsilon Theory Co-Founder Rusty Guinn. We cover the latest developments in the 2024 election and explore how narratives are shaping the political landscape. We delve into the transition from Biden to Harris and examine the strategic implications and how it’s pushing us into what we’re calling our first “vibe election.” We also tackle the Fed’s independence and the potential for rate cuts, regardless of who wins. In our Tweet of the Week, we examine how AI-generated images and rapid Narrative formation are changing political discourse, potentially disconnecting us from factual reality. We wrap up with a surprising deep dive into Chumbawamba, using their story to reflect on the importance of folk culture and being “more mid” in our increasingly polarized world.
Great segment, and awesome to see Rusty.
I’m glad I hung in until Matt clarified the whole Chumbawumba side thread! The whole popular (not pop)-music-as-social-commentary rhymes well; in a previous world deplorables clinging to their Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger might have been the equivalent.
Now I’m stuck with Steve Goodman’s City of New Orleans in my head.
thanks @Cactus_Ed! And any more modern folk songs (like Goodman there), keep sharing them. "The whole popular (not pop)-music-as-social-commentary " but embedded in smaller communities - it’s such a cool variation to think about.
Great episode. Rusty is so good that Ben better watch out, lest he become Epsilon Theory’s Wally Pipp.
Modern folk song. The short movie this dude made in my head with these lyrics is still there years later.
(FYI the movie in my head has nothing to do with the video; I haven’t been impressed with any music videos made since 2000 or so except this one.)
Forgive the fact that I’m old, living in the past, and sick to my very soul of the endless overuse of the ice cream changes and descending progression (I, vii°, vi, V, IV… iykyk, as the kids say) I’ll return to this thread with some definitely non-hipster contributions.
Continuing in the Goodman vein the step-kids and I still love singing Alice’s Restaurant; a Thanksgiving tradition for us over most of the last 15 years. It’s among the less pointed of many tunes that - if they didn’t actually turn public opinion against the war - at least drop-kicked the momentum.
And of course Bruce Cockburn’s contributions from our northern neighbor.
No question pop music leans in politically. I scratch my head at Megan Thee Stallion and Lee Greenwood equally though.
last Thanksgiving my uncle and wife pulled up on the curb and then sat in the car for way too long. One of those, “you think they’re OK?” moments through the window of the house. “They’re not even talking, just kind of sitting, weird.” When they finally came in, and saw everybody looked a touch concerned, my uncle said, “Oh, did you see us outside? Alice’s Restaurant was playing. We couldn’t just not finish it!” The whole family accepted this answer in full, without further question or bother. Let he amongst us who has not let the entire song finish before entering the Thanksgiving celebration cast the first stone. FOLK SONGS. Great add-ons. And I might have to do a musicologist’s history of that descending chord progression on a future episode (because it’s pretty cool)
Cannot love this enough; tell your uncle I get it. I’d have been ashamed not to have walked out for a welfare check and finished the tune with them.
The steps’ dad used to post it on FaceBook every TG - probably on MySpace before that - and they all knew the lyrics front to back. Some things need to live on; sadly their dad did not. (The positivity of every aspect of that relationship spills into another thread on the forum, but I digress.)
I suppose if you feel led to examine that tired trope…
You can tie it into the protest pop theme with Whiter Shade of Pale. Somewhere there’s a mashup of some of the many tunes that rely on it: it would irritate me to go look for it.
I for one am eternally grateful for the rhythmic complexity of Tull, the harmonic uniqueness of, say, Smells Like Teen Spirit, or the rowdy hooligan joy of 1979.
Thanks!
One of the most impactful verses of the Rock vernacular- “What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground?” Still gets to me.
Canada’s bad ass. A true revolutionary. If I had to choose one album to take to a desert island, it would probably be Nothing But A Burning Light
I’m going to ask the question
Please answer if you can
Is there anybody’s children can tell me
What is the soul of a man?
I’ve travelled different countries
Travelled to the furthest lands
Couldn’t find nobody could tell me
What is the soul of a man
I saw a crowd stand talking
I just came up in time
Was teaching the lawyers and the doctors
That a man ain’t nothing but his mind
I read the Bible often
I try to read it right
As far as I can understand
It’s nothing but a burning light
When Christ taught in the temple
The people all stood amazed
Was teaching the lawyers and the doctors
How to raise a man from the grave
Indeed, Richard.
Keep that guy well away from the RPGs.