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Darby Saxbe's avatar

My husband just convinced me to watch The Diplomat with him! (He watched the whole thing but is very kindly rewatching starting with season 1). It's not as good as Veep in my book but it's got potential.

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Matt Ball's avatar

Thanks, Dr. Bloom! I agree re: McEwan, and The Diplomat, too. Season 3 is, at least what we've seen, easily the best.

I disagree about Douthat. IMO, he is a net negative in the world, and the people he gives a platform to are also, on net, a negative. (I do get the liberal urge to show how liberal we are by praising at least some conservatives.)

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Paul Bloom's avatar

I don't get the second part of your critique of Douthat. Surely you don't think the only good interviews are of good and decent people?

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Matt Ball's avatar

Well, at this moment, kinda. Everyone is inundated by anger and doom and divisiveness.

Promoting listening to Steve Bannon is not something I would do. Promoting a podcast host who basically sees everything through his own personal beliefs (You should only go to church to worship [my] god), etc.

I also think he's a lousy interviewer. Your example with Thiel: Why not explore what Thiel is thinking, rather than just saying "YES OR NO?" over and over? What is the point if not to explore complexities?

IMO, this is a great discussion of being a good podcast host, vs being a tool

https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/revisionist-history/the-joe-rogan-intervention

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Alice Nah's avatar

Thank you for all these suggestions. I should try watching Moneyball -- I know nothing about baseball but my best friend is a huge fan of it. Also, I was wondering if you personally prefer fiction or nonfiction in general.

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Nachman Oz's avatar

+1 on Douthat!

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Douglas Thompson's avatar

Good calls.

Book: Dominion (Tom Holland), TV Series: The Sandbaggers (available on Youtube, watch successively if possible; hang in through first few episodes).

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Jan's avatar

Thank you Paul

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