Beltway Banthas

Hello there. This is the 14th episode of Beltway Banthas, now proudly a member of the RetroZap family and podcast network! We are really excited for this next chapter in the podcast as we continue to explore the politics of Star Wars, and how Star Wars has impacted our own worlds politics. That is what this show is all about!! Our guest today is Mike O’ Connor, author of the piece “Sounding Like a Separatist” (Retrozap, Newsweek, RawStory) which offers a liberal interpretation of the Star Wars story. We loved the piece and brought Mike on to talk about it and have some fun banter around the topic. Beltway Banthas is a non-partisan podcast and we are committed to journeying through the many layers of Star Wars fandom and the sagas inner workings. We are committed to respectful, fun and honest discourse. No posturing. Star Wars is for everyone and there is room for lots of interpretations. Except for Mace Windu is Snoke. That may be a bridge too far. We want to hear from you! You can send us your thoughts on the show and topics at…[email protected] Find us on Twitter @BeltwayBanthas Facebook.com/beltwaybanthas Instagram @BeltwayBanthasPodcast Find us on RetroZap: http://www.retrozap.com/beltway-banthas Twitter @Retrozapped @itsjusttirso @stephen_kent89

Hello Banthas! This is a special release of Beltway Banthas that we are excited for you to hear. Stephen has a chat with James Floyd (Club Jade, Big Shiny Robot and StarWars.com), the “force” behind the #WearStarWarsEveryday project. Find out more and get involved at www.GoFundMe.com/WearStarWars2016 and if you contribute, do so ON FRIDAY September 30th. Mention Beltway Banthas in your submission. We want to show the podcast world what awesome listeners we have on this show. May the Force be with you!

This week, we will have order! In this episode we delve into the character of Mas Amedda, that horned blue guy who lingers behind Palpatine throughout the prequels. Yes he is important. Yes he is powerful. His political career is meteoric and something fascinating that we discuss with Mike DeRose of the "You Seek Knowledge" podcast. Mike was an Amedda fan before it was cool. Connect with Mike on Twitter @LiveTheForce Tirso and Stephen also discuss Mark Hamill backing California legislation, Star Wars Rebels and dish bantha fodder. Our audience is amazing and so is this project. #WearStarWarsEveryDay founder James Floyd has a GoFundMe up to benefit the Collateral Repair Project, which helps urban refugees with emergency aid, education, and community building in Amman, Jordan. Please consider checking out this project and giving ON Force Friday, Sept 30th, that is ON Friday the 30th. Cite Beltway Banthas in the description of your donation! Let's show the Star Wars universe that the Force is strong with our audience. Link: https://www.gofundme.com/WearStarWars2016 Find Tirso Perez on Twitter @ItsJustTirso Stephen Kent @Stephen_Kent89 Please do leave us a review on iTunes and shoot us email! We'd love to hear your thoughts on the topics and get your feedback. May the Force be with you this week

This week on Beltway Banthas, the politics of Harrison Ford. The actor behind Han Solo is mysterious, edgy and also a warm hearted, committed activist. We have long been fascinated by the work Ford has done outside of acting, whether is it environmental work, documentaries, speaking gigs with the Clintons or saving lost hikers in his helicopter. To better understand Ford, we welcome to the show the hosts of The Fordcast Podcast, Lauren Milberger and Rachel Leishman. They run a fantastic podcast that chronicles the career of Ford in a thoughtful and comedic package. Check out The Fordcast Podcast and follow them on Twitter @TheFordcastPC @RachelLeishman and @LaurenMilberger Have thoughts on the show? Ideas for episodes or a SW fan theory you want to share? Email us at [email protected] Twitter: @BeltwayBanthas @stephen_Kent89 @ItsJustTirso Leave a review on iTunes! It means a lot and helps get the show to more people. May the Force be with you!

Welcome back to another installment of Beltway Banthas! This week in the world of Star Wars we all got to experience the amazing trailer for the upcoming Rogue One film. In this weeks episode we dive into the politics of Nostalgia. We discuss the polarization between original fans and prequel fans and how that relates to our politics today. With the help of special guest Riley Blanton of the Star Wars Report, we pose questions regarding the greatness of America and it's connection to our galaxy far, far away. Stay connected with the show on twitter @BeltwayBanthas @Stephen_Kent89 @ItsJustTirso @TheRileyGuy , Remember to help the show by leaving us a review and rating on iTunes, and as always...May the Fore be with you!

Hello banthas! This week we are happy to bring to you an interview with Tamara Keith, White House Correspondent for NPR and co-host of the NPR Politics podcast. Tamara is a HUGE Star Wars fan and we have a fun discussion about her fandom, her thoughts on new films, old films, Leia, Emperor Trumpatine and more. Review our podcast on iTunes! Every rating helps get this podcast to more people. Connect with us on Twitter @BeltwayBanthas Stephen @Stephen_Kent89 and Tamara at @TamaraKeithNPR Subscribe to NPR Politics for a great weekly podcast and news recaps. You won't regret it!

Welcome back friends & banthas! This weeks episode is packed with Star Wars & politics fun. Our UK contributor Swara Salih is LIVE with us in DC. First we lead we dig into the story last week that Daisy Ridley left Instagram after backlash from a "political" statement on gun violence. The latest is that she says she got off Instagram to be away from a phone more, but the timing does suggest she needed to step away from the onslaught of negativity. Daisy is an intensely positive force online. We hope she comes back! We are also joined by Bria LaVorgna of Tosche Station to talk about the role of monarchies in Star Wars. There are kings & queens galore. Why? Find Bria on Twitter at @ChaosBRia Lastly, Crackpot or Jackpot? Rey Palpatine..... Have a theory you want to share? Email us at [email protected] Connect with us on Twitter @Beltway Banthas @Stephen_Kent89 @ItsJustTirso @SwaraSalih1 Drop us a review on iTunes. It makes a huge difference to the show and hearing your feedback makes our show better everytime. May the Force be with you!

As a continuation of our interview series, today we bring to you a conversation on Star Wars & politics with Rep. Jason Saine of NCs 97th district. This is a really insightful conversation about the rough and tumble of being in politics, as well as how Star Wars fandom plays into the value set and daily grind of a Fan/Lawmaker. Jason makes some really good points about Star Wars and the call to civic duty, as well the nature of who is in power...are they Rebels or the Empire. Star Wars shows us two or three times. insurgent rebels becoming the government. Jason Saine has been through something similar during his time in politics. Leave us a review on iTunes, let us know how we are doing. Connect on Twitter @BeltwayBanthas and with Rep. Saine @JasonSaine97th Email us thoughts, questions and ideas for episodes/guests at [email protected]

What a crazy month. In the world of Star Wars we all just experienced in person or through the power of Internet, Star Wars Celebration. Here in the world of current events and politics, lots has changed as well. In this weeks episode the Beltway Banthas share with you some audio from AEI's book talk on "The World According to Star Wars", a love letter to Star Wars by Cass Sunstein (former head of regulatory affairs in the White House under the Obama Admin). Cass talks through the chapters of his book, offering a broad view of why Star Wars was successful, and what lessons we can take away from it as observers of politics. This is a book we highly recommend..for a larger view of the Force. We are also joined by Zuri Davis (Rare Politics) for a dissection of the shooting in Dallas, and the deep & worsening racial divide in America today. This is a part of our developing series "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." The dynamic between people of color and police can be looked at through the prism of Yoda's warning to Anakin, so we dive into this tough topic. Thanks for coming on this wild ride of Star Wars + Politics with us! Drop us a review on iTunes and connect with the show on Twitter. @BeltwayBanthas @Stephen_Kent89 @ItsJustTirso @Zuri_Davis

Surprise! We have a bonus episode this week from Star Wars Celebration London! Our senior foreign correspondent, Swara Salih, attended the convention and spoke with Bryan Young of Full of Sith, and Riley Blanton of the Star Wars Report about politics & Star Wars. They are really nice people and fun chats so check this out. You can follow Swara on Twitter at @SwaraSalih1 Full of Sith podcast at @FullofSith and Bryan @Swankmotron and the Star Wars Report at @StarWarsReport and Riley @TheRileyGuy Norma episode next Thursday is on the way! Have a great week.