Carson declines to jinx the Jays. Then it's time to lock in for one of our most theoretical conversations yet, in response to the Never Post podcast episode titled "A.I. and New American Fascism". Will chases it with a Canadian story about the possible non-renewal of a $16 million boost to federal music funding.

Correction: at pretty much the very end, I say Universal is the majority shareholder in NTS. They're not; they're merely the largest shareholder.

Scheduling note: the next Upsample will drop three weeks from now instead of two.

(4:07) Never Post episode overview

(14:18) Walter Benjamin

(21:13) Sora, OpenAI, and agitslop machines

(28:32) Hackers, free marketeers, and their fascist fear-monsters

(36:01) A CD with Aura - because you can't see it on the audio pod, it's Brighton Train by Madeleine Elkins (with Will on bass and Kevin Romain on drums) and it's out now!

(38:49) How does PragerU fit into this?!

(44:56) Activism around the Canada Music Fund and Budget 2025

(54:19) Will goes full Ezra

(58:24) Recommendations: Will - listen to radio show Self Soothe by Margeaux on NTS, Carson - listen to album Nested in Tangles by Hannah Frances

Canada Music Fund links:

• Letter/advocacy page
• Details of the fund
• Roots Music Canada piece by Heather Kitching

FIND US:

Will

-YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@williamchernoff/

-Rhythm Changes: https://www.rhythmchanges.ca/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/williamchernoff/

Carson

-YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ctworow/

-Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ctworow.bsky.social/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctworow/

Hosted by Carson Tworow & Will Chernoff. Edited and mixed by Will Chernoff. A Chernoff Music podcast. Theme music by Carson Tworow.