Veteran political columnist Jeb Lund (@mobute) returns to the podcast to dissect Ella McCay, the baffling film that marks James L. Brooks’ return to the director’s chair after 15 years.

Set in 2008, the film stars Emma Mackey (no relation) as an idealistic young lieutenant-governor vaulted by circumstance into the governor’s seat, only to be immediately dragged down by a political scandal involving her dim, manipulative husband (Jack Lowden) who hopes to "co-govern" the state with her.

Jeb and I try our absolute best to explain the perplexing mysteries of Ella McCay. Why does it refuse to say what state it is set in? Why is it set in 2008? Why are actors in their thirties playing teenagers in flashbacks? Why is Julie Kavner narrating the entire movie like Marge Simpson as Ace Rothstein in Casino? Along the way, we discuss liberal Hollywood’s lingering fixation on The West Wing and Hillary Clinton even here in the second Trump administration, and we try to define our personal definitions of "Grocerycore" music, as this film could have been benefitted from a soundtrack of Obama-era radio hits.

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Trailer #1 for Ella McCay (James L. Brooks, 2025)

Trailer for the May 2026 release of Ella McCay in France 

“Lisa’s New Favorite Movie” - Ella McCay promo featuring Marge and Lisa Simpson