'Modern Treatise's Editor's Choice: Best In Media 2020
2020 does not need another lamenting explainer; the cleverness of those have been exhausted. Chances are that your media consumption has drastically increased since last year. Maybe it’s because of the pandemic; perhaps because of the election; possibly you could be monitoring social unrest, or maybe you were laid-off or worked from home and have nothing better to do. Being that the vaccine will likely not proliferate as quickly as we would like, you probably still have a lot of media consumption left. Taking this into account, the editors of Modern Treatise have compiled a list of what we believe to the be best podcasts, shows, and films of 2020. This list presents everything from the best podcast for catching-up on African affairs to what YouTube channel you should be watching. We also reflect on the most momentous issues of the year. Hopefully, by viewing our recommendations, you will be able to return to your place of work better informed and more cultured for the coming year.
POLITICS
The elections of 2020 provided the chance for mainstream media and the pundit-class to address their predictive failings of 2016 and more general shortcomings as public political luminaries. Despite endless chatter on the efforts to dodge further embarrassing miscalculations, we saw very little - if any - progress towards a mainstream media enlightenment. However, there are still pockets of solace across the political spectrum that provide novel, insightful, and intelligent coverage. Below we have curated a list of our favorite political podcasts from the past year. We here at Modern Treatise’s politics desk understand the need and want for better political journalism and hope that 2021 provides a supportive milieu for thought, discourse, and intellectualism more generally.
Conservative Podcast: Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Beyond the witty title, Cooke and Williamson of the National Review provide a collegiate and inviting atmosphere for the rambling musings of two gentlemen who happen to be conservatives. It often feels as though you’ve found yourself stuck in a Chesterfield sofa, amidst a sea of oil naval engagement scenes and dark burled wood, amongst some friendly fogeys. Intelligent, but not pretentious, Mad Dogs and Englishmen has been a comfort for many on the right who have viewed the now exiting administration as an affront or an embarrassment.
Libertarian Podcast: The Fifth Column
Hosting a selection of great minds from the Libertarian persuasion, The Fifth Column with Foster, Welch, and Moynihan, provides a glimpse into modern Libertarian thought often overlooked by mainstream outlets. Humorous and oddly optimistic, the podcast is true to Libertarian principles applied to the modern American context. While Libertarian perspectives are often publicly jaded by a want for destruction and dismantling, this podcast serves as a beneficial ‘positive’ political energy focusing on possibility rather than defeatist nihilism.
Social Democratic Podcast: Radio Jacobin
Though Jacobin often is hamstrung by mind numbing academic-ese and esotericism, Radio Jacobin seems to cut the fat and get to the meat of matters. Though perhaps less constant in style and topics than others on this list, Radio Jacobin provides insights and discussions that are more accessible than most from the far-left. With a wide breadth of issues covered, Radio Jacobin is an effective tool to keep one updated on the political developments from the social democratic sphere.
Social Liberal Podcast: Talking Politics
A standard bearer for consistently interesting and non-condescending coverage, Talking Politics’ weekly show feels serious and reputable without the self-aggrandizement found in mainstream media. An informative political ‘variety show’, Talking Politics makes the conversations we ought to be having more interesting. Though entertaining and not ticker-tape reporting in fashion, it allows for one to stay abreast of developments in greater depth than cable news allows.
Political News Program: Rising
The millennial-driven daily political news program co-hosted by Krystal Ball (representing the new left) and Saagar Enjeti (representing the new right) acts as a voice for anti-establishment Americans. By presenting a politically diverse array of voices (including idealized establishmentarians), they discuss and debate policy and strategy. Couple that with the co-host dissecting and critiquing the state of American politics from within their political camps. Thus, Krystal and Saager provide a vision into a world where the left and right debate is defined by the degree to which one uses the government to uplift Americans as opposed to simply catering to elite interests.
International
History did not stop because of COVID-19. Border clashes between India and China, a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the increasing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and the global rise of Chinese influence have occurred as COVID-19 spread and the US presidential election raged. To help make sense of it all, we have compiled a list of podcasts that will help categorize the complexities of international affairs and give you a better understanding of what the world will look like in 2021.
Africa Podcast: China in Africa
At Modern Treatise, we have a view of Africa not shared by many: that Africa, far from being hopeless, is a region of the world with tremendous economic opportunity. No podcast exemplifies that better than China in Africa. Hosted by Eric Olander and Cobus von Staden and affiliated with SupChina, the same publication that produces Sinica, this podcast dives into the complexities of Africa's emerging markets and how China is attempting to navigate them. No other podcast explores the nuances of African political and economic life in relation to the world like China in Africa.
China Podcast: Sinica
Much of the analysis of Chinese affairs follows the same structure: analysts applying Pekingology to try to understand China from an external point of view. That is not the formula of the Sinica Podcast. Sinica, SupChina’s flagship podcast hosted by Kaiser Kuo and Jeremy Goldkorn, invites guests on the help navigate the Chinese politics, economics, and culture from the Chinese perspective. Doing this removes the veil of foreign misunderstanding and provides a deeper understanding of China’s rise from the Chinese perspective.
Latin America Podcast: Latin America In Focus
Produced by Americas Society (AS) and Council of America (COA) and hosted by Mexico City based Editor-In-Chief, Carin Zissis, this podcasts aims to accomplish both organizations’ shared, unique mission to educate its audience on the sociopolitical and economic issues of Latin America and the Spanish Caribbean. Zississ also touches upon topics regarding the descendants of the Latin American diaspora abroad such as voting trends and pop culture. The show airs three times a month and offers enough variety to match Modern Treatise’s own.
Middle East Podcast: Babel
Here is a question that has vexed the politically and culturally curious for decades: how does one understand the Middle East? A good place to start is to listen to Babel. Babel, hosted by Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explores the Middle East on a macro and micro levels. Podcasts have ranged from a series on China’s growing relationship with the Middle East to a glimpse of how Palestinian Christians celebrate Christmas. This podcast shows that there is more happening in the Middle East than battles over terror and territory.
UK Podcast: Payne’s Politics
Political podcasts can be exhausting. Like their cable TV counterparts, many hosts are too occupied trying to enrage instead of attempting to engage. Payne’s Politics does not have that problem. The podcast, hosted by Sebastian Payne of the Financial Times, invites guest commentators to debate and analyze British politics from the perspective of people who take politics seriously and who do not view it as merely a tribalistic game.
Pop Culture
The 21st century spawned the Internet Age that has allowed for unparalleled innovation in the realm of arts and media. Streaming services have given this generation immediate access to a plethora of content whose quality and number rival and arguable exceed that of prior Golden Ages. Online film and art platforms have given an outlet to those who’d normally go unnoticed but are instead launched into fame and notoriety that rival that of the traditional Hollywood elites. This has never been more impressive or possible than in the age of COVID-19 where artistic industries have had to adapt and cater toward at home viewership.
Film of the Year: Da Five Bloods
In one of the most dramatically messy films of the year, Spike Lee's Da Five Bloods focuses on a group of Vietnam vets from politically and ideologically diverse backgrounds returning to the nation in search of gold they discovered and buried during the war. Thus, what starts out as a treasure hunt, quickly descends into the long-ranging psychological and social impact the war had on veterans and the victims alike.
Moreover, with Spike Lee's touch to the film, there are no heroes and no villains. Where everyone appears to be justified in their response and position on the circumstances they must deal with. Making Da Five Bloods a close second to arguably the great Apocalypse Now.
Documentary of the Year: Tiger King
Perhaps the most memorable part of the first lockdown, the saga that is Tiger King follows Joe Exotic and his merry band of big-cat-loving Okies through the rise and fall of the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park. A Machiavellian tale of infighting for the throne, the setting is beyond surreal and the characters bizarre. Educational would be a stretch, but entertaining for sure. This show leaves one thankful that we are currently barred from the wild world outside. Trump even considered pardoning Joe, I dare not spoil the show by saying for what.
Drama Series of the Year: The Crown
Being a member of the royal family ain’t easy, and season four of The Crown underscores that with the tremulous relationships between Prince Charles & Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth’s quest to hold the family together to the backdrop of changing roles and historic family revelations that threaten the allure of the royal’s public persona.
In the political realm, we see the unprecedented and at-times tense relationship between Margert Thatcher (the first female prime minister) and the Queen. As through their differences and agreements on domestic and foreign policy. Plus, their upbringings, divided by class and their inherent different governing styles. Illuminate their 11 and half year relationship, woman to woman.
With such a broad palette of stories to tell within its 10 episode limit, The Crown manages to weave its narratives with panache.
Comedy Series of the Year: Insecure
Season four of Insecure saw our main millennial female protagonists Issa and Molly's friendship blowup after three seasons of slow-burning tensions, slights, and backhanded compliments come to ahead. The rift between the two starts after Molly becomes jealous of Issa's growing friendship with her new business associate Condola. From there, a series of miscommunications and unspoken assumptions lead to a dramatic breakup.
Aside from their broken friendship, Molly's romance with Andrew disintegrate due to her placing the advancement of her career, and self-centeredness gets in the way. Issa reconnects with her ex-boyfriend Lawrence after finding out and hiding their past relationship from Condola, whom he was briefly dating but left due to Condola's inability to commit. And just as Issa and Lawrence redeclare their love for one another, Condola reveals she is pregnant.
Much like the series title, season four showed us how one's insecurities can get in the way of our interpersonal relationships. And how open and honest communication is the key to healing the ties that bind.
YouTuber of the Year: Junskitchen
While Top Chef and Hell’s Kitchen rule the airwaves with frantic episodes of chefs trying to meet both time limits and high standards, Jun Yoshizuki opts for a much more cool-headed Zen display of his culinary talents on his YouTube channel. Junskitchen begins with iconic images of Yoshizuki’s trips to local gardens and markets for produce pickups as he is joined by sidekicks and channel cat costars, Nagi and Kohaku. The trio’s peaceful videography introduces serene recordings of Yoshizuki’s dish preparations that range from Japanese comfort food to unique takes on fast food items. Should you need a stress free night of cooking to take your mind of cooking, let the soft but informative voice of Junkitchen’s host soothe your mind and tastebuds.
Pop Culture Podcast: GLoP Culture
GLoP Culture is a paradox: it both celebrates and ridicules contemporary culture. Hosted by Dispatch editor Jonah Goldberg, Commentary editor John Podhorwitz, and TV producer Rob Long, this trio meet to escape the political world they primarily inhabit and reminisce on culture's past and speculate on its future while also making fun at some of the ridiculous elements emerging on screen culture. It is a podcast with a comedic tone that presents three prominent writers discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of American life that involve us all.
Society
2020 has brought its fair share of trials and tribulations with issues phasing nearly every major sphere of life. From civil unrest due to either government ineptness or authoritarianism at the hands of exotic viral plagues to most major markets crashing thanks to the closing of businesses under quarantine, there has been no shortage of news like there is employment. The new age of information has allowed modern audiences to become hyper-aware of all that is currently plaguing the world while inspiring further forward seeking action.
Business/Economics Podcast: BBC Business Daily
Hosted by 25-year broadcast veteran, Ed Butler, this podcast offers the same kind of journalistic excellence as its associated print newspaper. Butler reports on global economics and associated political policy as well as delving into local UK topics of interest. Though it regularly delves into high levels such as job displacement due to Artificial Intelligence, there is plenty for the casual listener to enjoy such as one episode featuring productivity decline in the age of Zoom.
Domestic Issue of the Year: Police Brutality
After a multitude of high profile events captured on video that portrayed law enforcement officers using excessive force on unarmed black men, a wave of protests struck the country. These events headed by Black Lives Matter defied the current legal system and COVID-19 restrictions, while also sparking conversation and debate regarding the funding of police departments and the reassessing of their role in societies. The past election definitely fed off the myriad of racial tensions across the country, with no resolution in sight.
International Issue of the Year: COVID-19
A viral pandemic not seen since centuries prior with ramifications that shook the very foundations of global infrastructure, the COVID-19 virus has rocked the foundations of every modern society in almost every realm. The resulting government-enforced quarantines have changed how we interact, work, live, eat, and has either disrupted or halted economic progress altogether. The virus itself, whose origins are believed to be Chinese wet markets, proves deadly enough to wipe out the vulnerable populations of even developed countries, showing no signs of reducing its effect on the world.
Contributing Writers: Connor Bryant (editor-in-chief & senior international editor), Kenny Santos (senior editor), Tripp Whalen (senior politics editor), and David Nole (publisher).
