Welcome to Unpopular Front’s second crossover podcast extravaganza with Max Read of Read Max, who provides the best coverage of technology, culture, and society anywhere today. We went all out on this one: our conversation ranges from the news of Elon Musk turning “X” into a way to manipulate Congress, theories of venture class war against the professional-managerial class, the financialization of everything, surfing the endless vibe shifts, what the tech oligarchs are trying to get out of D.C., what is crypto-currency even, what is A.I. about, the crisis of institutions, new forms of subjectivity being created on the internet, commodity fetishism. Marx, Hegel on cybermobs, male loneliness, the culture of perpetual adolescence, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?…you name it! It was a lot of fun and even a little scary at times as we let ourselves go very speculative—if not to say, a little paranoid and out there. I’m not sure if we have any of the answers, but I think we do some adventurous and irresponsible theorizing. If you like either of our writing, I think you’ll enjoy this a lot. And if you do like it, please do let us know, so we can make it a regular thing.
You’ll also be able to find this on external podcast players.
I’m not sure what the posting schedule will be like the week of Christmas, so I’ll provide a couple of little updates now:
When The Clock Broke was nominated for the 2024 National Book Critics Circle Award.
If you can’t get enough of Max, also check out his recent appearance on the TrueAnon podcast.
This week marked the 7th anniversary of my piece on Murray Rothbard for The Baffler, which started the research project that resulted in the book.
Check out my friend political theorist Steven Klein on the What’s Left of Philosophy podcast with a very helpful overview of the work of critical theorist Jürgen Habermas.
On the Gnocchic Codices Substack, some interesting observations on what I guess you could call neo-neoconservativism.
In the new year, I’ll have a bunch of writing in other publications, including some exciting announcements.
If you don’t hear from me, have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and Happy New Year!
More Max Read/John Ganz collabs. The people demand it.
Maybe this is how we know the line between seediness and rectitude in MAGA. The latter is created by earnest non-white shopkeepers. The former can be found among white suburban guys who do, well, what you discuss here.
Regarding the 'war on PMC,' this always reminds me of 'Working Girl.' If only Melanie Griffith can get around Sigourney Weaver and talk with the Real Boss, then all can be well. I'm wondering about the history of evil mid-level managers in popular culture.
On another side note, I share your annoyance with certain conservatives who think MAGA is the intermediary stage to a new shared culture based on a love of Western classics. Guys, this is it. Right here. This is the culture.
The book you’re talking about at the beginning is Michel Feher, Rated Agency
Really interesting conversation. I don’t think enough is made about just how unhealthy it is to have a society taking in all of society’s thoughts constantly. It does feel like the only solution is to unplug as much as one can.
I was like ‘where is Ganz and the Bosskap theory now that he’s been right about everything?’
(Is it Bosskap? I cannot remember how to spell it.) Anyway, this needs to be a household word. Maybe it’ll be 2024’s word of the year!
Baaskap
Fascinating discussion to the end. Hope you guys revisit the subject(s) into 2025.
"In the new year, I’ll have a bunch of writing in other publications, including some exciting announcements about" -- about what? or is the suspense intentional...
Folks the Max Read gift guide this year was A++. The only Christmas gift I’m getting is coming from it.
If anyone wants to send me anymore dm me on some platform!
https://maxread.substack.com/p/the-read-max-gift-guide-2024?utm_source=post-banner&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=posts-open-in-app&triedRedirect=true
Gnoccic Codexes: Just saw and bookmarked for after my shift. Glancing looks like I'll be confused by his use of new neocons. Can you shed some light as a primer on what he means by this?