THE TRUTH ABOUT: 2 | History Defined

The 'Bleeding Edge' bleeds into 2026

Jason Dick and Sean Carswell discuss Thomas Pynchon’s 2013 novel “Bleeding Edge,” and how its story about the dot-com bubble and 9/11 applies to the present day, with politics and society dominated by AI, technology and venture capitalism firms running wild and the national security apparatus pushing war here, there…

Roll Call · Mar 5

That’s entertainment! Or not. State of the Union 2026

Jason Dick and Brandon Wetherbee discuss the artistic merits of the 2026 State of the Union, whether Hollywood or Washington is the entertainment capital and the reasons for sitting through President Donald Trump’s 1 hour, 47-minute, 43-second event. Show Notes:

Roll Call · Feb 25

Spotlight on the National Press Club, and its new president

Jason Dick and Mark Schoeff Jr. talk about Mark’s new position as president of the National Press Club and the club’s mission, press freedoms, how politicians and journalists interact and they even explain how legendary Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady fits into all this.  Show Notes:

Roll Call · Feb 13

Taking the ‘Vineland’ express to ‘One Battle After Another’ - Roll Call

Jason Dick and Sean Carswell discuss Thomas Pynchon’s novel “Vineland,” how it leads to Paul Thomas Anderson’s movie “One Battle After Another,” the conversation those two works have about American culture and politics, as well as the 1960s left, the Nixonian right, Reaganism, the drug war, Trumpism and, for good…

Roll Call · Oct 31, 2025

Immigration, race and ‘One Battle After Another’ - Roll Call

Jason Dick and Chris Johnson talk about how immigration and racial issues frame the action and plot in the Paul Thomas Anderson movie “One Battle After Another,” the salience of those issues in American history and culture and why movies still matter. Show Notes:

Roll Call · Oct 21, 2025

An Orwell movie for Orwellian times - Roll Call

Jason Dick talks with filmmaker Raoul Peck about his documentary “Orwell: 2+2=5,” the importance of stepping back from the news cycle to keep things in context and how degrading language leads to degrading humanity. Show Notes:

Roll Call · Oct 7, 2025

The great ‘meh’: Scenes from a shutdown - Roll Call

Jason Dick and Mary Ellen McIntire talk about how the government shutdown hasn't created much urgency on Capitol Hill.

Roll Call · Oct 3, 2025

Let’s get existential - Roll Call

Jason Dick and Molly Reynolds talk about the most significant things Congress has done this year and what kind of ripple effects could follow, as well as how lawmakers disenfranchise themselves when it comes to putting in the work.  Show Notes:

Roll Call · Sep 23, 2025

Revisiting friendly advice for the House, Senate - Roll Call

Back in December, before the current Congress convened, Jason Dick and Molly E. Reynolds discussed simple fixes the House and Senate could implement to make Congress work better for the public, the government and the institution. As they prepare for next week’s podcast to take stock of how things have…

Roll Call · Sep 18, 2025

They seem fine: Life after Congress - Roll Call

Poetry readings, brewing beer, helping out kids: Jason Dick and Jessica Wehrman talk about Roll Call’s revived Life After Congress feature and what former members do with their time; then, they round it out with a little wisdom from Henry Cabot Lodge. Show Notes:

Roll Call · Sep 10, 2025