On this very special episode, we share some of the most important individual paragraphs of writing in our lives - paragraphs that have planted acorns in our brains that have grown over time into mighty oaks. We revisit Thomas Mann, Christopher Hitchens, Jean-Luc Godard, and other luminaries. PLUS: Checking in on Bari Weiss at CBS.

Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

Our classic Leonard Cohen episode - https://www.patreon.com/posts/186-new-skin-for-44083560

Past Essential Paragraphs discussions:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-essential-28574337

https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-essential-36315183

The tweet that Luke cites in the opening discussion - https://x.com/mattpolprof/status/1976069728541245770

We finally reach the end of Season Two of Aaron Sorkin's THE NEWSROOM. The two-parter finale ELECTION NIGHT PART I and II sends us on a nostalgic reverie back to the 2012 - the last election before everything changed. PLUS: Government shutdowns and Kamala Harris's memoir.

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/661-our-are-envy-140674442

Sitting in New York, not much happening. Sitting in Cleveland, not much happening. How about we go to Florida? We discuss Jim Jarmusch's breakout film STRANGER THAN PARADISE (1984), a film that heroically swan against the current of Reagan-era culture and politics.

Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

OTTAWA - See Luke take part in a live podcast recording at Press Forward's Future of Independent Media Summit on Friday, October 3 - https://press-forward.ca/introducing-the-2025-future-of-independent-media-summit-in-ottawa/

NEW YORK - See Will present Plan 9 from Outer Space and sign copies of his book Ed Wood: Made in Hollywood USA at Metrograph on Thursday, October 9 - https://metrograph.com/film/?vista_film_id=9999004527

" 'Protect Empathy at All Costs. And Live Groovy Lives.' An Interview with Jim Jarmusch" by Bilge Ebiri - https://www.vulture.com/article/jim-jarmusch-father-mother-sister-brother-interview.html

In light of recent revelations about legendary Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser, we delved back into the Walking Tall cinematic universe with the final entry in the franchise to date, the Kevin Sorbo vehicle WALKING TALL: LONE JUSTICE (2007). In this entry, the stick-wielding sheriff moves from the rural south to big-city Dallas. PLUS: We investigate the National Review's list of the best conservative movies.

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/659-into-pusser-140245478

Lurking in the deep, dark depths of Tubi, we found an ultra-low-budget, gender-swapped rip-off of Get Out... with Eric Roberts in the Bradley Whitford role. You are not prepared for WOKE (2024). PLUS: The Jimmy Kimmel scandal gives us renewed reason to ask: is politics downstream from culture?

Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every month - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

It's time to lose ourselves in the music, the moment. At the behest of our Superdelegate patron tier, we investigate the online phenomenon known as (deep, heavy sigh) EPIC RAP BATTLES OF HISTORY... and find ourselves meditating on the evolution of online humour. PLUS: Two legendary New York filmmakers weigh in on the mayoral race, and Armond White sticks up for Leni Riefenstahl!

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/657-epic-crap-139676354

By popular demand, we discuss John Boorman's notorious post-sexual-revolution fantasy freakout ZARDOZ (1974), in which Sean Connery in a red diaper reconnects a future dystopia with its loins. PLUS: We discuss the man of the hour, our modern Cicero, Mr. Jimmy Kimmel.

Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

"Rand Paul brings back antiwoke capitalism" by Carl Beijer - https://www.peoplesline.org/p/rand-paul-brings-back-antiwoke-capitalism

Sometimes we just want to watch a good movie. That's why we're taking a trip to the San Fernando Valley to discuss Paul Thomas Anderson's breakthrough film, BOOGIE NIGHTS (1997). Ever heard of it? PLUS: Jeffrey Epstein and the British government.

PATREON-EXCLUSIVE EPISODE - https://www.patreon.com/posts/139157291

Leni Riefenstahl remains the most famous of all Nazi propagandists, but to what extent can films like Triumph of the Will be rescued from their fascist origins. The revelatory new documentary RIEFENSTAHL (2024) argues persuasively: not at all.

Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

"Fascinating Fascism" by Susan Sontag - https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1975/02/06/fascinating-fascism/

Kevin Sorbo wants you to know that having a gun and using it is perfectly compatible with Christianity. We discuss THE RELIANT (2019), a right-wing Christian movie in which the Second Amendment survives the fall of civilization. PLUS: Speaking of right-wing movies, it looks like ol' Sheriff Buford Pusser was hiding a secret.

Join us on Patreon for an extra episode every week - https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus

Our classic episode on the original Walking Tall - https://www.patreon.com/posts/503-suggested-by-99355800