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The State News discusses issues and the cultural impact of entertainment news including TV & film, fashion, music and more.
Welcome back to House Lights, your one stop shop for everything you need to hear about this week in the world of entertainment. As always, I'm your host Liz Nas, and I will flub up the intro. And I'm well I'm with my other host Claire Donahoe. Who's just under civic duty.
Claire:Yes. She voted. I voted earlier today, everyone.
Liz:And we are joined by our wonderful, wonderful guest. Why don't you introduce yourself? Reza Gupta. And you what do you do here at C News?
Reza:I work under Claire. I'm a copy editor.
Liz:How is it working under Claire first? Let's just go ahead and put that on camera.
Reza:I like it when you show up.
Liz:Okay. Woah. I was out
Claire:of office for a couple weeks there.
Liz:And she and she was late today.
Claire:Okay. Well, continue answering carefully because
Liz:but yeah.
Reza:We coffee desk.
Liz:Obviously, she was late today because she was performing her civic duty.
Reza:She was voting.
Claire:Yes.
Liz:And that's super important. And so today, we're gonna talk about politics. Not like that. Like, it's gonna be super un unbiased, and we're gonna talk about
Claire:And funny.
Liz:And funny.
Claire:Because tonight is the election, and nobody wants to think about the unfunny side of politics, which is everything else.
Liz:Right. So we're just gonna focus on the fake politics, specifically politics in popular media. Pop culture, if you would. And so, you know, we brought on Reza who just, she knows a lot. She knows a lot about the the popular media on politics.
Reza:And I just that's a compliment or not.
Liz:Oh, no. If I
Reza:hear it,
Claire:it is compliment.
Reza:Hear it. I'm so glad.
Liz:With the nerds in this podcast room. It absolutely is. Absolutely. Yes. Because, like, one of my just, like, I just read a lot of sorry.
Liz:I just read a lot of books about politics. I didn't mean for it to sound like that when I started saying that, but, I mean, I do. And so I also and I also watch a lot of TV and movies about politics. So let's talk about it. And the number one thing that me and Reza and now Claire, I've introduced to
Claire:Yes.
Liz:Her to is our love for Veep. Veep? Yes. And that is the show with, Julia Louis Dreyfus. She is the vice president, and I think that a lot of people are, like, returning to the show recently because there's a lot of I don't know whether it's, like, insinuated or fake, like, implications, but, like, a lot of people are connecting with her and,
Reza:like, Kamala Harris. Yeah. No. I see a lot of comparisons of Kamala's, like, campaign to what Selena Meyer, which is Julia's character in the show. Like, things that are happening then, especially as, like, election results are coming out.
Reza:They're, like, pulling out episode clips and being, like, oh my god. This is so deep coded.
Liz:Yeah. And I I mean, that's actually really scary that people are saying that about the election results because in Veep, she spoiler alert guys. In Veep, when she's running for president, she, like, has to go through, like, a tie breaker and, like, a runoff election. So let's, like, maybe not put that, like, into the air that we're gonna have, like, an election that goes like, either way, that goes until, like, January.
Claire:This is supposed to be funny.
Liz:This is yeah. We're not thinking about that. No. But, like, Twitter has been going crazy.
Reza:I I can't look at Twitter
Claire:as well. Either. No. I don't even have a Twitter But the for this reason.
Liz:But the best part of having Twitter is, like, there'll be, like, an actual, like, real tweet from politician, and then on top of it will be, like, a clip from, like, no context me
Reza:or, like,
Liz:a from no context west wing. Mhmm. And that's just, like, my favorite thing in the world. So but, yeah, I just I I think that with Veep, it, like, pulls I I think it's actually a lot like reality of politics, and I wanted to get your sort of thought. But, actually, first, I wanna ask Claire what she thought of the one episode that I sent her.
Claire:Yes. So just I'll tell you what's going on. I watched one episode of Veep Yeah.
Liz:Earlier this week. 1, episode 8, tears.
Claire:Tears. I thought it was wonderful. I laughed out loud many times. It felt like I told Liz, like, the Arrested Development of politics. And that is maybe also because there is a character from Arrested Development in the show.
Claire:But either way, yes. I think, funnily enough, I was recommended Veep a couple of months ago, and then I just never got around to watching it. But now I absolutely will be, like, starting from the beginning and Okay. Good.
Liz:Watching through. Yeah. So just so everyone knows.
Claire:I thought it was really interesting from what I could tell in the 30 minutes that I did see of how they portrayed, like, the the tears. I mean, like, her emotions and, like, she would get on stage and tear up, and they'd be like, not again. Like, she's not supposed to do this. Like, the orchestration of, like, her is that a word? Orchestration.
Claire:Yeah. Sure. Yeah.
Liz:Okay. Thanks, guys. Totally is.
Claire:Of, like, her emotions was really interesting. Like, they were all planning whether or not she would cry at her campaign or whether or not she would break down even in, like, a private meeting with, like, the the governor,
Liz:I think. Yeah.
Claire:And And she's in Ohio, which just was emotional for many reasons because because you're in Ohio. Exhausted campaigning in Ohio just in general. I don't know. I I thought it was really funny. And I thought the back and forth, how everyone kept a straight face.
Claire:I mean, I guess that's why I kinda thought it was like Arrested Development, like the or even The Office or just something without the laugh track, I guess. Just the, like, quick banter, and then the scene would just cut. Oh, wow. Feel like I don't know. It's a good watch, everyone.
Liz:It's a good watch.
Claire:I'm saying this on 30 minutes, so I can't wait to see how I feel after an hour or a season. Like, a season of it, really.
Liz:No. Like, I, like, I started Veep probably, like, towards the end of sophomore year, and then I, like, moved to Grand Rapids for the summer for an internship. And, like, I pretty much, like, lived alone for all summer. And so, like, every night and every morning, like, before I went to work, I would just sit down and, like, watch Veep and, like, while I was getting ready, I would, like
Reza:That's a crazy way
Liz:to start your day. Start and end, by the way. Yeah. It's like it's like a book and
Claire:This is, like, formative. And it's The show is formative.
Liz:This show is very formative for me. It's my number 2 favorite show of all time. We'll get to my number 1 Oh. Which we are also talking about today. I do love political shows.
Liz:Political shows. There's, there well, there's something about, like, the intersection for me of, like, comedy and politics because, like, I normally love, like, a sitcom sort of base show. Like, I love my number one show, which we'll talk about, which is Parks and Rec. I love, like, Modern Family, like, in the first couple seasons. How Much Your Mother is one of my favorites.
Liz:Always Sunny in Philadelphia. And I feel like I don't know if you guys have watched It's Always Sunny.
Claire:No. But I've I've seen clips Yeah.
Liz:And I've Yeah. Yeah. I just feel like they're very similar as to, like this is gonna sound bad, but, like, all the Veep characters are just, like, terrible people and so are, like, the all the characters and It's Always Sunny. And, like, I just find that really, like, funny. Like, I find, like, watching, like, characters who are just, like, awful people, unreliable narrator type Mhmm.
Liz:Stories and it's, like, it's
Reza:really I get that. Like, I've been I've actually watched Veep relatively recently. I think I started in like September and then I ended mid October. Mhmm. But I've been watching The Sopranos which like you wouldn't like to like compare the 2.
Reza:But I mean, they're all in the mafia. They all suck, you know, like they kill people and then beep. It's, you know, different. But Yeah. Having them all be terrible people who know how to have quick wit, like, that's fun.
Liz:Yeah. No. The the banter is, like, really, really quick, and I am like the dialogue is really quick, and that's why I really, really like about it. And then, also, just, like, do you, like, do you think that's how politics or I guess that's, like, what like, every show I feel like that's why I wanna have this, like, podcast episode because it's, like, there's so many depictions of politics and in, like, different ways. But, like, specifically in, like, Veep and Parks and Rec, it's, like, very much, like, oh, like, politics is a mess.
Liz:All the people in it are always making the wrong decisions. All, like, everybody is really insecure in politics. I'm like, do we think that's true? Super loaded question. But
Reza:I think yeah. I mean, I feel like I mean, like, we talked about with the Veep episode that you watched, Claire, like, everything seemed very orchestrated. Like, there's so much effort put in into, like, preserving that image that, like, I would think you have to be, like, a little stupid to think, like, okay, like, maybe Koma is yelling at, like, a stop a staff member, like, being, like, where are the polls? Where are the polls? You know?
Reza:Like, what's happening? And I think the benefit of having those shows is you get to actually, like, see behind the curtain a little bit. And I know that politicians have actually, like, watched feet but been, like, that's actually way too accurate. Like, I cannot be continuous.
Liz:Yeah. Yeah. Especially, like, like, DC staffers on Twitter are really funny about it.
Claire:Yeah.
Liz:Because they'll, like, quote, tweet stuff with, like, reactions, like, from Veep and be, like, this is literally my office right now. And that's, like, really scary because, like, that makes me feel like there's a lot of offices that just are, like, not run well at all then.
Reza:And I'm, like, oh god. Oh god. Our entire Crest Street run by, like, Mike McClintock.
Liz:Oh my god. Alright. No. Literally. But, like, I think that's how it actually is.
Liz:But then I look at a show like Parks and Rec Mhmm. Which I also love, but for, like, different all those characters are, like, good. And they all just, like, want the best for their, like, local government. Mhmm. And I feel like that is maybe a difference between, like, local and, like, national politics.
Liz:Because, like, on a local level, you really do have to have, like, that, like, passion for Yeah. Small government, like, small scale things. Yeah. But there's also, like, a really funny comparison in that show where they'll, like, they'll do scenes where they have community meetings. And it's just people, like, absolutely, like, tearing apart the smallest little things about their government.
Liz:And I think that that is also probably like, it is also pretty accurate Yeah. When it comes to community engagement. Like
Claire:I'm gonna say, I feel like from my understanding, I don't know. But a political journalist was who recommended Veep to me and was like, this is the most accurate it's gonna get. Like, you should watch the show because I feel truly like it's accurate. And I was like, okay. Good to know.
Claire:Yeah.
Liz:So,
Claire:yeah, to have someone in the field say that, I was like, okay. I'm gonna guess that maybe the banter isn't always as spot on, but the chaos or, like, like, orchestrating things is, like I don't know. It felt almost like in the episode I watched, it felt like she was kind of a, like, puppet for a bit. Like, they as she's walking there, running up to her, telling her what to say, telling her endorse, don't endorse, back and forth. And you just realized, like, she never made the decision.
Claire:She's just emotionally exhausted, and that's why, you know, she's crying on stage Mhmm. 3 times. But it I think that seems to be what's probably most accurate. I'm sure there's banter, and I'm sure people hopefully, funny where they work. But
Liz:That's the thing. Like, it's also, like, when we look at other depictions, which I I wanna get into, like, House of Cards and stuff, and, like, that's, like that show is very, very dark about politics. It's, like, everybody's corrupt. By the way, House of Cards, probably one of the worst depictions of political journalists that I've ever seen. Like, there's, like, the negative about them?
Liz:Like, negative about them in a way that, like, there's one lady political journalist that just, like, is totally corrupt, like, is, like, sleeping with Kevin Spacey's character
Reza:Okay.
Liz:To, like, get all her information. And it's, like, well, that certainly can't be. That certainly can't be. Like, maybe, like, a couple, like, national journalists. But don't paint
Claire:that picture.
Liz:No. Like, don't paint that picture of just, like, lady political journalist with ambition? Lady political journalist. Yeah. I don't know why you called her lady.
Liz:I'm like, I don't know. Madam. Yeah. Yeah. This madam political journalist.
Liz:But you're right. And it's just kinda messed up. But I think that, like, that show is, like, oh, like, these people that are, like, like, the the main guy, he's, like, a swing voter for, Congress. Right? And he is, like, killing people Oh.
Liz:To, like, get what like, he like, end of season 1, he, like, kills Lot of spoilers. Like, another another congressman or whatever because he wasn't, like, falling in line with, like, getting this guy to the presidency and or, like, endorsing people. And I'm, like, well, I don't know if I feel like that's, like, another side of extreme of, like, what politics isn't. Because I don't know if it's, like, I would rather have, like, that funny, sort of, they're awful people depiction of politics, which, like, people, like, seem to connect with, then, like, this scary, corrupt, other extreme Like this evil Like this evil. And I don't I feel like that is probably a little bit more dramatized then.
Reza:I also feel like when they're going the evil route when it comes to political, like, pop media, it's either like, okay, these people are killing everyone and they're like horrible nasty people or it's like they're genuinely just soulless. Like, have you guys watched The Politician?
Liz:So please explain to us The Politician. Yeah. All I gotta do is funny off off, Mike, me and Rosa were talking and you were explaining to me that it's with Ben Platt and I was like, oh, I know this. And then I realized that in middle school I probably just listened to the original soundtrack.
Reza:Of like Dear Evan Hansen. Of like Dear Evan Hansen. Okay. Well, he's still playing a high schooler in this one.
Liz:Of course. Ben Platt certainly does do those things.
Reza:Yeah. It basically starts with this one guy who's, like, obsessed with the idea of becoming president, and he's, like, tracked them all, I think, till Nixon, which he considers to have invented, like, the modern presidency. And he's, like, okay. I need to go to Harvard. I need to join these clubs.
Reza:I need to go to this school. I'm, like, I need to, like, follow this exact life plan, and then it, like, derails. And then he goes crazy because he's, like, I need one student body president in order to get into Harvard. And then, I don't know, you see him, like, go through a VP pick where he's, like, which minority vote matters the most? Do I need to care about the Haitian vote in my, like, California public school?
Reza:Like, it's that kind of ridiculous. And you see him like speaking to people and it's very obvious that he's only motivated through his, like, political, you know, aspirations versus, like, oh, I'm trying to help people. He just wants, like, the title of president.
Liz:Yeah. Yeah. No. I think I think that kind of, like, leans on the idea of, like, Veep. Because I feel like in Veep, they have a lot of those, like, conversations of, like, you know, who do like, the I was watching one last so I was I was feeling very anxious about the election last night.
Liz:Mhmm. And so I wanted to watch something political because, like, without it being the news while I was, like, doing anything
Claire:like the news.
Liz:Right now. So I just, like but I needed, like, background noise while I was doing my work, and so I put on Veep, and obviously. And, like, in this episode, she's about to announce, like, spoiler alert, Claire. She's about to announce her presidency. And what's your name?
Liz:You gotta count it. But, and she has to pick between, like, putting this children's choir first
Reza:Yeah.
Liz:In the line or, like, this mom who's fighting for universal childcare and she has, like, pick who she's putting, like, next to her, like, on the podium, like, based on how important the issue is. And it's just, like, really soulless and, like but, like, they do it in such a funny way. But I think there is probably an intersection of, like, oh, like, that's probably true, and it probably isn't funny all the time.
Claire:It's not like It gave me like, that gives me even a little more I don't know if the word is sympathy, but I guess I don't know. Having all these people kind of tell you what you have to say, and then you're the one that has to do it, or she has to make the call to put you know, she's the deciding factor, technically. Like, that's what the public sees of who she puts next to her on the podium. Mhmm. That almost gives me a little bit more sympathy.
Claire:I wanna say, like, sympathy for politicians.
Reza:I know. But I get that.
Liz:But I get what you're saying. Yeah. I guess
Claire:it once again, the lone episode that I watched. I'm like, I I said out loud in my living room, I would never want to do this job. I don't care how passionate Yeah. I was or how deeply I loved, like, the political world or truly genuinely cared about making change. To have all those people coming at you, all these angles, always reading something, always trying to figure out what's going on, and then you're just like
Liz:I don't know, like, the right language for this,
Claire:but you're like the vessel that just has to kinda say it and be, like, the face of it. That would be so no no wonder she tried 3 times in the episode I watched, and no wonder it'd be stressful to
Liz:I could never be a politician. No. I'm so yeah. No. And I think in, like, all of these shows, like, it's very, like, very much, like, I would not wanna be a politician, by the way.
Liz:That is
Claire:The decision is made very quickly. Yeah. Right. Except
Liz:for and I don't have you guys watched West Wing?
Claire:No.
Liz:Except for West Wing, which is Aaron Sorkin's just, it's magnificent. And, you know, he he stops, like, season 4, and then it gets a little bit worse. But, you know, you gotta you gotta keep up because it it's it's just a great show. It's so long. It's taken me a full year to watch it.
Liz:I'm finally, I'm down to the last two episodes. And so I'm gonna finish it this week as Election comes in. It's kinda like I don't know. It's kind of like fun that that's when I'm, like, finishing it. It's thematic if
Claire:Making the election fun this year.
Liz:Making the election fun this year. That's what House Line's all about. Am I right, Lighter? So true. But, anyways, like, that show, like, really, portrays, like, politicians as, like, superheroes.
Liz:And not even, like, politicians because, like, obviously, the president is, like, a very noble guy in this show. But, like, really the staffers The team. Like, the team around them is, like, really, like, all superheroes. They have to, like, run everything on top. And I I do believe that, like, the you know?
Liz:Yeah. That staffers probably are the ones that are, like, always rolling the boat. The boat. But, like, it really puts, like, a spotlight and, like, a, I don't know, rose colored glasses on politics because everything ends up so well, like, for them all the time. Good.
Liz:They're always for some reason, like, Jed Bartlett is, like, the most liberal president, and he has zero pushback on any of his things. And it's like, this is a fake America. Someone had a really
Claire:great dream one night, and they woke up and they're like, let's design this
Reza:Right.
Claire:This place.
Liz:Aaron Sorkin just did a lot of coke. But that's that. No. That that's beside the point. Either
Claire:way, a beautiful imagined reality
Liz:Oh, yeah. Came from it. So Exactly. And it's also, like, instant oh my gosh. You have to.
Liz:Because it's like Listen on. Hulu. No. Oh. HBO next.
Liz:Oh, okay. No. Sorry. I did catch myself. But, not sponsored by HBO Max.
Liz:But, yeah. West Wing's really good be if it makes you if you wanna feel good about politics
Claire:Yeah. Because I or stress. I would love to feel good about politics. So I think I will.
Reza:Because I was gonna ask, like, when you were saying, like, watching the political shows besides West Wing, like, makes you feel depressed. If that was the same for, like, other workplace, like, comedy or media. Like, if you think about, like, Grey's Anatomy, which is honestly not the best example, but it's like It is technically
Liz:a workplace. Yeah. Yeah. I I don't know because, like, The Office doesn't make me feel, like, depressed or anything. Yeah.
Liz:Like, that I mean, I don't really feel much when I watch The Office. Yeah. I'm sorry, guys. I don't like The Office.
Reza:I don't have an emote I I can't even laugh, to
Liz:be honest, most of the time. Wait. Just, like, in general or, like No. No. What?
Liz:What? No. No.
Reza:When I'm watching The Office I'm like, woah. I'm just like, okay. You said that. Let's let you know? Sometimes the cuts are funny, but I prefer, I think, the quick, like, banter of, like, beep.
Liz:Exactly. Yeah. No. I I'm the exact same way. But I yeah.
Liz:I don't know. What was your question? It was the thing. It was the sad.
Reza:Like, do do you think it's just, like, it being, like, political workplace, the other
Claire:thing that's
Reza:depressed or
Liz:It must be because I think it's just, like, a lot of them are just so close to our reality. Mhmm. And there's so many characters that they portray as, like, comically bad at their jobs. And it's, like, they're the ones that are, like, making decisions. And it's, like, that's Yeah.
Liz:That's funny. You guys are funny.
Claire:But also this is what I want to do professionally.
Liz:Right. I wanna cover this professionally and to know that, like, all of this is going on behind Or at least
Claire:some of it. Yeah.
Liz:Or at least some of it like that. Like, other not people killing people. I don't I really don't
Claire:think that's a thing.
Reza:You think you'd be like the Leon West of Veep?
Liz:Dude, that's so sick. I like to think of myself as more of the Danny from West Wing. But no. That's that's actually one of the this is a point that I will make. Okay.
Liz:All of these political shows paint journalists to be, like, pretty bad. Right. Not just like bad, but just like they don't, like, as incompetent or, like, flirting with their sources. Like But just like Danny and the West Wing and the and, like, the the chief of, like, staff Mhmm. Of the White House are, like, having low key an affair.
Liz:Like and I'm and, like, they're really friends, but they're, like, friends with benefits. And I'm like, guys, I don't think that happens all that often. Or maybe I'm just a naive little baby. Am I right? Anyways I don't have an answer to that.
Liz:Not doing that. I'm not.
Reza:No idea what to say to that.
Liz:Yeah. But yeah. No. So I I will say that's one thing about the political shows that I don't love.
Claire:Maybe it's someone see, I just once again, I wanna know how these shows came to be. Is it someone like, I think about this with the show Suits. I'm watching Suits. And I think about
Liz:I never watched And,
Claire:like, did the writer of this show, like, was his roommate in college, pre law, and he was just like, I'm turning this into a show, and I'm using all the good and also bad stuff you say about it? Or I I'm I'm like like, the jokes I make in suits are to mock you type of thing. Maybe it's not directed at 1 guy, and I'm sure.
Liz:But I wrote 2 songs a lot. Really need to No.
Claire:So with political shows, like, it just makes me wonder, did the writers of these shows did they work in a place like this and they quit? And they're like, let me turn to screenplay writing and write this show. I I just wanna know.
Reza:It kinda reminds me of, you know, that one scandal? I think it came out in, like, 2018 about this Grey's Anatomy, like, script writer who's faking cancer and a bunch of other illnesses. And then she put that stuff in the show, and she's like, no. Like, I'm going through it, so I know what it's like. And so she made a bunch of characters she had personal beef with, like, go through this horrible trauma What?
Reza:That she just made up. Just like she was like, yeah. No. I have chemo. She didn't have chemo.
Reza:She had Pilates.
Claire:That's insane. A writer on Grey's Anatomy.
Reza:Yeah. That's, like, why all that, like, crazy stuff happens, like, in the middle. I don't know where the middle of that show is actually,
Liz:but, like I don't either,
Claire:but, wow. I did not know that. No. You don't need to
Liz:have You can just work with the show.
Claire:To yeah. You you don't and you certainly don't need to lie about Yeah. What? Like, I don't care if you're a doctor writing Grey's Anatomy. I don't know how you're getting that information out of your programming.
Claire:It's like WebMD it.
Reza:WebMD it. Like, I don't
Liz:Yeah. WebMD I I trust you. I don't know what that's about.
Claire:Do you have a doctor best friend who you're consulting while writing the episodes? I don't know what your method is, but you don't need to lie about being both. That's so weird.
Reza:I
Liz:know. Going back to, like, the politics thing, I think, like, specifically, we were we were talking about also, we wanna talk about succession. Mhmm. Specifically, like, the the America decides episode. That is, like, based on, like, real material.
Liz:That's, like, based on the Murdoch family and, like, Fox News and stuff like that. Mhmm. So and I'm also I'm reading a book right now about the Fox News. Anyways Oh. But because I I don't know if you know, I read political books.
Liz:So
Claire:What's that movie?
Liz:Bombshell? Bombshell. Yeah.
Claire:Yes. Did you 2 watch that?
Liz:Yes. I watched Bombshell. Derail. Okay. Oh, yeah.
Liz:I like that. Well, me and you, we were just talking about, like, all the journalism movies that we watched too.
Claire:I didn't watch Bombshell yet, but I did watch She Said, which I really like. That's not necessarily political, but it's just depiction of journalism Yeah. That I like.
Liz:Bombshell was good. She Said was better. That's all I'm gonna say.
Claire:Anyway, sorry.
Liz:But yeah. But, like, I think a lot of these shows, like, probably have just, like, material that people are using as parody. I don't know if they just I don't know if they know people in it. I'm sure, like, when you're writing a show, like, loosely based on the Murdoch family, you probably have, like, some insight into the family, and you'll know someone. But I think a lot of it is just, like, parody material.
Claire:And I feel like you can tell when it's not well researched or if, you know, you're watching a show about journalism, let's say, and you're like, this is so off. Clearly, someone who wrote this show has absolutely not even a connection, but not even the vaguest idea.
Liz:Not even an idea.
Claire:They just wanted to write a show about this. So it's just I don't know. I feel like you can kind of tell, which makes the good ones really good because Right.
Liz:I can't honestly because I was trying to think because I, you know, I wouldn't have diverse set of opinions. I don't know if there's any, like, bad political shows that I can think of. I don't know. Is the politician bad?
Reza:The politician was actually really good. You should watch it. Maybe I should all watch
Claire:that. Okay.
Liz:I'll put it on my list. That's so many things to watch. But
Reza:And it's like a Ryan Murphy show, so you know it's like a little weird.
Liz:Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. Should we get a maybe we should get Damonte in here to do his little explainer for us,
Claire:shall we? We shall.
Liz:Maybe that will be the bad one. We'll decide. Damonte, you are being put in the hot seat to explain a show that none of us have seen, and we will decide if it is a good political show or not a good political show from the maybe 2 or 3 sentences you have.
Demonte:Nice. Alright. So the show I have is, Desi about?
Liz:What are we laughing about, guys? Share with the class.
Demonte:I have a little,
Liz:Do you have a cheat sheet? Yes. Cheat sheet? Okay. Go ahead.
Liz:Yeah. No. Hey. That's okay. We're not gonna look at it.
Liz:We're just gonna Well, one pager was fine.
Demonte:But but yeah. The show's designated survivor.
Liz:Yes.
Demonte:It originally aired on ABC, but then it became a Netflix show. But basically, the show is about this, low level cabinet member. His name is Tom Kirkman. He I think he was the leader of HUD, like, housing government redevelopments. And, basically well, yes.
Demonte:That, and it was like the state of the union, presidents, vice president of Congress gets together. And he was named designated survivor, which for our viewers or listeners, and this is the actual thing, every state of the union address, there is one cabinet member that is selected to be designated survivor. In other words, they stay down in a they stay in a hunkered down bunker to where, God forbid, if there was an attack on the US government and the president is killed, vice president is killed, secret, supreme court, everyone, they become president of the United States. So he's watching the the address, and, you know, there was an attack on the Capitol. And everyone everyone was killed, so he became president of the United States.
Demonte:So now he not only had to figure out who was behind, like, the terrorist attack, but he had to, like, effectively move into the White House from being, like, a low level cabinet member to, like, commander in chief within last few hours.
Reza:Wait. Is
Claire:this and you said this is
Liz:a this is a real thing. This is
Demonte:a real thing. Yeah. Wait.
Liz:Let me get the cash sweep in
Claire:the the
Liz:concept of designating survivor safety.
Claire:So, like, whoever gets
Reza:elected president will be choosing someone. Mhmm.
Demonte:So That's so it is done. And, you know, like, say for example, I'll use, like
Liz:Why are you laughing? Import.
Claire:And they live? Sorry. They live in the bunker?
Demonte:No. Well All
Claire:the time. How do they know when to get down there? Wait. Wait.
Demonte:Wait. So Sorry. Whenever there is a, state of union address, they don't stay in
Liz:there. Okay.
Demonte:The day or the morning of, they are picked by, I guess, the chief of staff or the president saying, hey. Imagine, you know, Liz is, like, her secretary, and I'm, like, chief of staff. I thought you were
Liz:just gonna say, imagine Liz is president. Like, how, like, if we're, like, if the state is, like, flared, you bunker down.
Demonte:It's like, Liz, you're designated survivor. You're gonna have a secret service agent. You're gonna just hunker down in the bunker while the address is happening. They stay in there. But, again, if it is, like, some kinda attack on the government and, you know, they become president.
Liz:Okay. So it's only during those addresses that they would need to to see. Okay.
Reza:So we just gotta keep an eye out for who's missing?
Liz:Yeah. Okay. No. Wow.
Demonte:And, that's really interesting. Yeah. And I think the last state of the union dress, media networks actually reported on who was the designated survivor
Liz:Who was it?
Demonte:Which I forgot. I forgot.
Claire:Keeping the mystery.
Liz:Maybe next year, we'll, like You said, like, they
Reza:were gonna be the bunker. Now I was just imagining them, like, living off of food scraps
Liz:for 4 years.
Reza:Yeah. Like
Claire:Also, why would you okay. Why would you choose a low level cabinet member if there was going to be a chance that they would be the president? Wouldn't you choose someone who, if God forbid, everyone died, you would feel comfortable with
Liz:moving I'm not putting I'm sorry. I'm not putting on the guy. Yeah.
Demonte:So this is Saint Hussein. According to the Internet, the last secretary oh my god. My mind is is a legend day, guys.
Liz:It's a legend day, guys.
Demonte:So the last designated survivor, like, for the state of union dress was, secretary of education's, Miguel card Cardona. So
Claire:Secretary of education.
Demonte:Yes.
Reza:Right, guy?
Claire:Okay. Well, keep him safe. Yeah. Wow. Yeah.
Liz:Keep him keep him in your thoughts, guys. When?
Demonte:In regards Yeah. It's like it already happened. How old is he? He's 49 years old. Okay.
Liz:I feel like he could
Claire:just put him on, like, what our current,
Liz:like Way better. You know? Yeah. Way better.
Claire:That would be
Demonte:crazy. But yeah. No. That would be even I
Liz:would say no. Can you say no?
Reza:Yeah. Can you be like, I
Demonte:don't know. Sure.
Claire:Not not even can't I don't wanna go down,
Liz:but I don't wanna become president. Wants to say no.
Reza:They I will be like, oh, but, like, the president really wants you specifically. Right.
Liz:Right. But then imagine it happens and then you have to and then you have an ABC show.
Demonte:So I have a there's, like, a little twist that came in the show. You know? Like, Tom Kirkland, who's now president.
Liz:Right.
Demonte:The morning he was chose to be, designated survivor, he was set to be fired by the president.
Liz:So Wait. The moment the president Yeah.
Reza:Why would he
Demonte:So it wasn't the president that chose him as his
Liz:chief of staff.
Claire:Come on, guys.
Demonte:So but yeah. No. He's, like, set to, like, fire, like, canned. Okay. Can't.
Demonte:Then he became president of the United States. So you're, like, folks saying, oh, you're behind, like, the attack. You're about to lose your job.
Liz:Oh. You
Demonte:killed the president. Woah.
Liz:That'd be crazy. That'd be a level of pettiness that I don't think anybody should get to to be, like That's
Claire:really I feel like I need to watch this.
Liz:Yeah. I
Claire:feel like I'm leaning towards
Liz:good political Yeah.
Claire:Because you've convinced us.
Demonte:Yes. It's a great show. I would say the first two seasons, it was on ABC. Absolutely great. Peak television.
Demonte:Season 3, ABC canceled the show, but Netflix picked up. And I don't wanna spoil anything, but they just kinda messed up the whole show and was canceled. Not very stirred.
Liz:Doesn't see that. Yeah. Arrest of development. That's what I was thinking. Yeah.
Demonte:Arrest of oh my god.
Liz:That makes
Reza:me so mad.
Demonte:But I No. Yeah. No. It
Liz:was so bad.
Reza:How did they even find out about the designated survivor? Because that's, like, not taught in your gov class.
Liz:Guys, if you can't find something in your AP gov class, it doesn't exist.
Claire:That's what I'm saying.
Reza:But, like, I mean, this guy screenwriter, like, how
Liz:he he has He knows
Claire:how to Yeah. Yeah. How would you know? And how would you know how to portray it accurately unless Mhmm. He he interviewed the education guy,
Liz:Miguel.
Demonte:Yes. So, you know, just like the definition of a designated survivor and not to, like, gap on about it. But it's according to Wikipedia where it says, in the United States designated survivor is a person in a presidential line of succession who's kept distant from others in line when they are gathered together, to reduce the chance that everyone in line will be unable to take over the presidency in a catastrophic or mass casualty event. So This
Liz:is a crazy I
Claire:didn't learn.
Reza:I saw a designated survivor in, like, the group chat, and I was imagining, like, the TV show survivor.
Claire:That's what I also thought.
Liz:It was Oh, yes. My favorite political show. Yeah. Then we used survivor, like Are you sure?
Claire:Is it, like, survivor, like, White House people?
Reza:Pull off.
Liz:Yeah. Yeah.
Reza:Sounds like, you
Claire:know, strange democracy there.
Liz:True. Maybe.
Demonte:Yeah. Like, CBS News have, like, a whole Censored.
Liz:Oh. We're gonna edit that out.
Demonte:Let's start from the top. CBS News have, like, a whole article about, like, who who was designated survivor for 20 20 four's, state of the union address. So you know?
Reza:Check that out, guys.
Liz:That's so interesting.
Claire:Everyone do your homework on this and watch the show.
Demonte:Check out state news.
Liz:Boom. Boom. Yeah. Any closing thoughts, guys, on political shows in general? You know, what are we thinking?
Claire:I think I'm gonna have to start watching some feel good political shows
Liz:Nice. Going forward Yeah. I agree.
Claire:To de stress in, like, a strange way. I think it's kind of interesting that even though they kind of stress us out or are kind of sad, the depiction sometimes, you're like, is this really what it's like? It can also be strangely comforting. Yeah. So, like, it's nice
Liz:to watch it. Behind the scenes.
Claire:Yeah. Yeah. Like pregame.
Liz:Yeah. Like pregameing. Yeah. And that's all we have to say. Let's go pregame this election.
Liz:Just kidding, guys.
Reza:No. We got We're not doing
Liz:that. We're gonna we're actually gonna have pizza.
Claire:And that's it. Pizza.
Liz:Pizza and a lot of hopes and dreams. We'll see you next week on House Lights. Bye.