Topic: Marvel

The Walt Disney Company has entered a three-year licensing deal with OpenAI, investing $1 billion in the firm. Users will be able to use the "Sora" platform to create 30-second clips featuring over 200 characters from the Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars universes. While the current deal excludes human actor likenesses, it is expected that licensing for voices and faces will follow.

Former Marvel CFO and President Robert Steffens has filed a lawsuit against Disney, alleging he was denied a promotion because of his age and race. Steffens claims he was told the company could not award the job to "another old white guy" and that Disney maintained an official effort to promote employees based on BIPOC signifiers. The complaint describes Disney's actions as willful, malicious, and in disregard of Steffens' rights.

The White House released the latest National Climate Assessment, warning that every region of the U.S. is currently experiencing the worsening effects of climate change. Climate scientist Kate Marvel stated that the current generation is the last one capable of making a meaningful difference. The report notes that billion-dollar weather disasters now occur every three weeks on average, and while U.S. emissions are falling, the transition to wind and solar is not happening fast enough.

A discussion regarding activist investor Nelson Peltz and former Marvel owner Ike Perlmutter attempting a leverage buyout or board takeover of Disney. The move is characterized as an effort to strip the company of "woke" influences following a period of financial decline.

The upcoming Marvel film "The Eternals," starring Angelina Jolie, is identified as a potential "tentpole" release for the Thanksgiving season. The plot involves a group of beings who have guided humanity unseen for centuries. The hosts speculate on whether the public is reaching "superhero fatigue."

Director Chloe Zhao faces a backlash in China after old interviews surfaced where she criticized the regime. As a result, the release of her film "Nomadland" is in jeopardy, and Disney faces a potential financial disaster with her upcoming Marvel film, "The Eternals." The hosts suggest Disney may remove her name from the credits to appease Chinese censors.

Director Chloe Zhao, the first Asian woman to win a Golden Globe for Best Director, is facing a state-led boycott in China after internet users rediscovered a 2013 interview where she was critical of the regime. Chinese authorities have removed the release date for her film "Nomadland" and censored related hashtags on social media. This development poses a significant financial risk for her upcoming Disney/Marvel film, "The Eternals."

Movie producer Chris Fenton discusses the extensive influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Hollywood productions. Using *Iron Man 3* as an example, Fenton explains how the CCP requires films to be shot in China and feature Chinese actors to gain market access. This exchange is part of a broader strategy by the CCP to build its own film industry and manage its domestic population through controlled entertainment.

Natalie Portman is set to play a female version of Thor, a casting decision that has sparked significant debate among online trolls and fans. The discussion shifts to the quality of modern movies and the unique appeal of the Fast and Furious franchise as ideal viewing material during flights.

NASA scientist Kate Marvel appeared on Alec Baldwin's podcast, claiming that humans are responsible for "over 100%" of current global warming. She argued that without human intervention, the Earth would be cooling due to a slight decrease in the Sun's output. The hosts criticize the "arrogance" of the scientific community and the complexity of the data models used to attribute warming to human activity.

Climate scientist Kate Marvel discusses the inherent flaws in current climate models during an appearance on the Freakonomics podcast. She identifies clouds as the "wild card" of climate science because they are difficult to simulate due to their scale, ranging from tiny dust particles to massive atmospheric formations. The hosts interpret these admissions as a sign that the scientific community is beginning to "back off" from previous certainties regarding global warming.

Marvel Comics introduced a new drag queen superhero named Shade in the fourth edition of the "Iceman" series. The character is a mutant who uses drag-inspired powers. The move is discussed as part of a broader cultural trend toward celebrating gender transitions and "fabulousness" in mainstream media.

John C. Dvorak critiques the film "Avengers: Infinity War," calling it the worst movie ever made. He discusses the film's ending and symbolic themes related to global governance, while expressing a preference for the "Deadpool" franchise.

The 90th Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, recorded the lowest television ratings in the history of the broadcast with approximately 26 to 29 million viewers. Critics suggest the decline is due to the "Me Too" movement's preachy tone, political jokes targeting Donald Trump, and a lack of blockbuster films among the nominees. Discussion also highlights a shift in millennial viewing habits, with younger audiences expressing a lack of interest in the traditional movie-going experience.

The release of Marvel's *Black Panther* is discussed in the context of racial identity politics and media representation. While the film is praised for its predominantly African-American cast and director Ryan Coogler, the hosts criticize the "mean-spirited" social media memes telling white people to stay away from theaters. They argue that the media is using the film to further polarize the public along racial lines.

Alaska Airlines is officially retiring the Virgin America brand following their merger, a move the hosts lament due to Virgin's superior service. In other news, Marvel Comics is reportedly canceling eight titles, including Ghost Rider. The hosts predict this will be a major topic of mourning across the "tech podcast" circuit.

The latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report shows that US high school seniors are losing ground in math and reading, with only 37% judged college-ready. A Jimmy Kimmel "Man on the Street" segment illustrates this decline, showing young adults who can name numerous Marvel characters but cannot identify US presidents or the Vice President.

Financial analysis suggests the era of comic book movie dominance may be reaching a "bubble top" as return on investment for franchises like Spider-Man declines. While Disney remains bullish following its $4 billion acquisition of Marvel, critics argue that market saturation is leading to diminishing returns. The segment also touches on the obsessive nature of comic book fans and their focus on continuity and world-building.

A Disney-owned cartoon, "Marvel Superhero Squad," is accused of pushing global warming propaganda to children aged 4 to 8. In one episode, a character named "Flatman" is mocked for suggesting the sun causes warming, while a "super genius" character corrects him by citing greenhouse gases and factory pollution. The hosts describe this as "slave training" for young children.

Adam Curry discusses a meeting with Don Cambou, producer of the History Channel show Modern Marvels. They compare the No Agenda producer credit system to the Hollywood model. The hosts also joke about the No Agenda knight rings appearing in future crime dramas like Law & Order as a way to identify "nights" of the show.