Topic: Tropes

The show closes with a montage of media figures repeatedly using the phrase "Russian playbook" to describe various political events. The hosts sign off from the Texas Hill Country and Silicon Valley, promising to return on Sunday. The final audio clip features a humorous dismissal of "conspiracy theories" and a reference to "My Little Pony."

The hosts critique Fox News and Sean Hannity for adopting the same "walls are closing in" tropes previously used by liberal media against Donald Trump. The segment focuses on allegations that the Biden family is compromised by foreign business interests in Ukraine and China.

Dr. Leana Wen's media appearances are analyzed alongside broader television tropes regarding the casting of minority women in authoritative or antagonistic roles. The discussion explores how news personalities and fictional characters are framed to influence public perception.

Former White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham released a book detailing Donald Trump's "unstable" behavior. The hosts refer to their "Trump Rotation" website, which lists 59 recurring media tropes used to attack Trump, ranging from "Russian agent" to "cheeseburgers." They argue these stories are no longer news but a repetitive psychological operation.

Anecdotes from the Austin area describe intense personal anxiety among teachers and Jewish residents regarding a potential Trump re-election. One individual expressed fear that "white supremacists will be unleashed," citing the "very fine people" trope from the Charlottesville protests. The discussion suggests that media narratives have convinced a segment of the population that social unrest will only cease if Trump loses the election.

CNN analyst Kirsten Powers accused President Trump of using "racial tropes" and following a "white supremacist playbook" by questioning the intelligence of black public figures like Don Lemon, Maxine Waters, and LeBron James. The term "trope" is analyzed as a figurative use of language that the media is using to build a case of systemic racism against the administration.

A comparison is made between Max Brooks' book "World War Z" and the Brad Pitt film adaptation. The discussion highlights how Hollywood prefers "hero" narratives over the book's theme of "collective action" and diffuse adaptation. Panelists from the Lear Center discuss the "Trojan Horse" method of sneaking nuanced or political messages into big-budget films through popular source material.

A new media trope is identified involving the phrase "No Plan B," used by various officials and news outlets regarding the Iran nuclear deal and other diplomatic efforts. The repetition of the phrase across different networks suggests a coordinated messaging strategy or a shared linguistic script among pundits.

A montage of news clips shows various anchors using the exact same "The Juice is Loose" phrasing to report on OJ Simpson's parole. The hosts highlight this as an example of the lack of original thought and the scripted nature of mainstream broadcast news.

The hosts critique the TV show "Madam Secretary" for its reliance on anti-Muslim plotlines despite Hollywood's outward progressive stance. The episode concludes with a reminder of the upcoming Thursday broadcast, a final "Value for Value" appeal, and a series of sound mixes featuring Maxine Waters and the "I-word" (impeachment).

President Obama's campaign rhetoric in Ohio is analyzed, specifically his use of the "Come on, man!" sports trope and the phrase "Okie Doke." The President is accused of being out of touch for using dated imagery like "punching a clock" and for suggesting that Donald Trump cannot represent the working class because of his wealthy background.

The hosts discuss common inaccuracies in television depictions of technology, such as the "90-second trace" for phone calls. They criticize shows like NCIS for depicting hackers guessing complex passwords based on personal details like a pet's name. They contrast these tropes with the more realistic "human hacking" shown in the series Mr. Robot.

The television show NCIS is characterized as a government propaganda machine, specifically citing a season finale involving American children radicalized by a cult. The plot features characters being lured into a trap in Syria and the use of a "crude version" of Morse code. The segment mocks the unrealistic depiction of terrorist communication methods in mainstream media.

The episode concludes with a humorous clip from the TV show Castle illustrating the absurd portrayal of computer reboots and system crashes in popular media. The hosts sign off with a reminder of the upcoming "666" episode on Sunday and a final musical montage. The program ends with its signature "best podcast in the universe" declaration and a call for continued listener support.

A Velveeta shells and cheese advertisement featuring a ham radio operator is analyzed for its use of the number 33 on a display. The hosts discuss the recurring appearance of "33" in news stories and marketing as a potential signal or "wink" indicating a sham or specific agenda. This leads to a broader discussion on how mainstream media often mirrors themes discussed on the podcast.

The forensic science depicted in the TV show "Bones" is ridiculed for a scene where a character identifies a specific cookbook by running a typeface through a fictional Library of Congress database.

Rielle Hunter, the mistress of former Senator John Edwards, described their relationship as a "love story" in a recent interview. The discussion mocks the interviewer's use of the phrase "That's a great question," calling it a lazy media trope. The hosts suggest a "fine jar" for journalists who use such clichés on television.

The hosts discuss the overuse of specific transitionary phrases such as "turns out" and "the fact of the matter." These terms are identified as linguistic crutches used to pivot between statements or to sound authoritative in media contexts. Listeners are invited to suggest better alternatives for these common verbal habits.

An episode of NCIS: Los Angeles featured a scene where a character "broke the internet" to stop a video upload. The dialogue used technical jargon, including "VNC controller" and "stack buffer overflow," in a nonsensical manner. This is identified as a propaganda technique to convince the public that the government possesses total control over global digital infrastructure.

The series finale of 24 is criticized for its use of unrealistic forensic technology, specifically a scene involving facial recognition from a reflection on a 22nd-floor window. The hosts argue such "magic" software is depicted in media to make the public believe in the omnipotence of government surveillance. This is contrasted with the mundane reality of failing internet connections at major hotels.