10 chapters across the catalog
The final segment of donor acknowledgments included contributions from San Francisco, Connecticut, and Iowa. The hosts noted a slight increase in "troll room" participants compared to the previous week. The "Value for Value" philosophy was given a final mention, emphasizing that listener support is what prevents the need for an "exit strategy" for the podcast.
Viscount of Hamilton, 100th Birthday, Stephen King
Sir Anthony 7, Viscount of Hamilton, noted that episode 1408 shares its number with a Stephen King story about a haunted hotel. Sarah Hamro donated in honor of her father-in-law, Ray DeSimone, who celebrated his 100th birthday. The segment also acknowledges several other birthday donations and "townhouse-selling karma" for a producer near Fort Meade.
COVID Shame and the Psychology of Infection Stigma
The concept of "COVID shame" is explored, referencing Stephen King's tweet labeling Senator Rick Scott's infection a symptom of "stupidity." Dr. Donnelly Snipes explains that this shame stems from a feeling of anger at oneself for failing to follow perceived social rules or government mandates.
An anonymous donor in San Francisco described the city's atmosphere as resembling a chapter from Stephen King's *The Stand*. The hosts officially designate episode 1226 as the "No Agenda Coronavirus Special" and thank their producers for supporting the "clandestine broadcast." They emphasize the value of their deconstruction in helping listeners navigate the "fake amygdala-swelling" media environment.
A brief linguistic detour occurs regarding the word "askance," which one host was previously unfamiliar with. They discuss its use as an adverb and reference Stephen King's advice that "adverbs are not your friend" in writing. The segment transitions back to Horowitz's boat insurance and the relative safety of his house in Florida.
Washington Free Beacon, Hillary Clinton Misery Mashup
The Washington Free Beacon produced a video montage interspersing clips of Hillary Clinton's aggressive campaign speeches with scenes of Kathy Bates from the film Misery. The edit focuses on Clinton's "Why aren't I 50 points ahead?" remark, drawing a satirical comparison between the candidate's public persona and the Stephen King character.
Sorghum is highlighted as a "criminally underrated grain" in a recent episode of "The Walking Dead," noted for its drought tolerance and food potential. The grain is also mentioned in Stephen King's "11.22.63" miniseries on Hulu, which follows a time traveler attempting to stop the Kennedy assassination. The discussion explores the "resistance" of time to being changed by historical interference.
A remake of Stephen King's It is scheduled for 2015, promising a more violent depiction of the horror story. This coincides with the "evil clown" news cycle, suggesting a coordinated cultural push. In response to increasing digital surveillance, the hosts express a preference for old-fashioned Bakelite landline phones over modern mobile devices.
A 17-year-old student in San Francisco was suspended for writing a "dark poem" about the Sandy Hook tragedy. The incident is cited as an example of extreme zero-tolerance policies in schools following national tragedies.
Conflict Minerals and Swine Flu in The Stand
The Dodd-Frank Act includes a consumer protection provision requiring manufacturers to certify that their products are free of "conflict minerals" from the Congo. In a separate observation, a clip from the 1994 miniseries "The Stand" is highlighted for its background radio chatter mentioning "swine flu" years before the 2009 pandemic. This is presented as an example of the "global elite" placing clues about future events in popular media.
