What Rough Beast

This week we talk to Fred Kaplan, the national security columnist for Slate and author of seven books, including The Bomb: Presidents, Generals, and the Secret History of Nuclear War (his most recent non-fiction), The Insurgents: David Petraeus and the Plot to Change the American Way of War (which was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist), and his most recent, A Capital Calamity, a thriller-satire novel.We discuss:* The Venezuela “double tap” incident — why shooting survivors of a speedboat attack is literally the Pentagon’s textbook example of a “clearly unlawful order”* The end of Pax Americana — Trump may have cultivated the appearance of power at a catastrophic cost to actual American power, and what happens when Europe no longer needs us* Why no one is speaking out — the terrifying silence from military leaders and Republicans who know what’s happening is wrong, and what Trump’s threats against Mark Kelly reveal about the new rules* Trump’s mob politics — how his favorite movie (The Godfather) explains his foreign policy better than any traditional framework, and why strongmen from Putin to the Saudis appeal to him* What comes after — when other countries can finally “go their own way,” the resentment built up from decades of subjugation could leave America isolated and weakenedWhat Rough Beast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiaheffernan.substack.com/subscribe

Alex Karp and the Masturbating Girl. Is squirming in your seat erotic, pathological, subversive, insane? Alex Karp and Palantir believe it's genius. https://virginiaheffernan.substack.com/p/alex-karp-and-the-masturbating-girl This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiaheffernan.substack.com/subscribe

This week we talk to Cy Canterel (again!), about her recent video essay “Epstein, Elite Power Networks, and The Utility of Disgrace.” Cy is a New Orleans-based “feral scholar,” a media theorist/technologist decoding systems of power and meaning. We discussed:* World Systems Theory as a map for understanding elite power: How Immanuel Wallerstein’s framework reveals the parallel reality inhabited by the ultra-wealthy—a class that exists “state-free” by choice, moving agnostically between systems to extract resources* What the Epstein emails actually reveal: Beyond individual scandals, the documents show systematic patterns of how power consolidates—from the differential treatment of “core,” “semi-peripheral,” and “peripheral” actors to the strategic uses of disgrace itself* The death of meritocracy: How discovering the emotional immaturity, illiteracy, and sheer cognitive dysfunction behind some of our most powerful institutions forces us to confront what we were really being acculturated into* From neoliberalism to what comes next: Why it’s crucial not to reject everything that came before, and what figures like Zohran Mamdani might signal about a new paradigm that prioritizes collective flourishing over individual charisma* Self-regulation as revolutionary act: How showing up with a “still center” in the face of chaos—without capitulating or getting mealy-mouthed about principles—offers a model we desperately needCy’s recommendations:* Rob Horning - Writer who has a Substack called “Internal Exile” and wrote the essay “Mass Authentic”* David Chapman - Wacky but so smart about how he thinks about meaning* Sarah Perry - Philosopher who wrote a “Every Cradle Is a Grave,” about the ethics of birth and suicide* Richard Siken - Poet who won the Yale Series of Younger Poets for his book “Crush”; also wrote “War of the Foxes” and is a painterVirginia’s recommendation:* “Loved and Missed” by Susie Boyt - An incredibly moving novel about a woman who takes over the care of her granddaughter as her daughter contends with addiction. What Rough Beast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiaheffernan.substack.com/subscribe

This week we talk to Kristianna Smith. Kristianna Smith (they/she) is a visionary curious about how we bring our collective imagination to life. They are a liberation cultural worker, published author, facilitator, theatre artist, educator, gardener, experience alchemist, intuitive, and Queer Black Transformative Justice Mama. For over 15 years, Kristianna has been using play and theatre to dismantle institutional oppression and take up practices that move us closer to a structurally care-centered world. We discussed:* Why actions matter more than labels – How speaking about concrete policies first (free buses, taxing the wealthy) can cut through political propaganda and reach people where they are* Relationship as our most abundant resource – Why building genuine human connection makes it harder to “other” people and easier to have productive conflict* The courage to imagine beyond compromise – How we’ve been trained to only envision what we’re willing to settle for, and why naming what we actually want is essential for creating change* Cultural work across the political spectrum – Understanding that both the right and left are doing culture work, and why the left needs to be more intentional about building collective imagination* Harvesting chaos to build something new – How movements pick up the pieces when things fall apart and use them to construct the world we want to live in* Liberation as structural care – Kristianna’s vision of a world where systems exist to care for people and the planet, allowing everyone to move freely in their beingThis episode is free to all listeners, but please consider becoming a paid Magic + Loss subscriber.Thanks for reading Magic + Loss! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiaheffernan.substack.com/subscribe

This week we revisit a conversation from 2017 with Mark Bray, historian and author of Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook.Since this interview, Bray has faced escalating death threats and was forced to leave his position at Dartmouth after being falsely portrayed as a terrorist for his scholarly work documenting anti-fascism. After being called “Mr. Antifa” by Turning Point USA, the threats intensified to the point that he relocated to Spain. We’re replaying this conversation as a reminder of what anti-fascism actually is—and what happens to those who document it.We discussed:* The historical roots of anti-fascism — tracing the movement from 1920s Europe through the Spanish Civil War to modern militant organizing in the 1970s-80s* What anti-fascists actually do — the investigative work of tracking extremists online, alerting employers and communities, and why physical confrontation is typically a last resort* The “no platform” principle — why anti-fascists view fascism as violence incarnate rather than just another political opinion to be debated* Self-defense vs. “both sides” narratives — how media coverage often misrepresents defensive actions at counter-protests, especially when police protection is absent* Who becomes an anti-fascist — the evolution from punk scene defenders to a broader coalition including queer activists, union organizers, and Black Lives Matter participants* Why the threat was underestimated — drawing parallels between dismissing Mussolini and Hitler as “preening and goofy” and early responses to TrumpThis episode is free to all listeners, but please consider becoming a paid Magic + Loss subscriber. Thanks for reading Magic + Loss! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiaheffernan.substack.com/subscribe