Joe and Robert are back for a midweek check-in on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18, Episode 2—and things quickly spiral from Girl Group fatigue to larger questions about whether Drag Race has officially lost the plot. Along the way, they unpack the ethics of watching the show in 2026, RuPaul’s role in the franchise machine, and why communal viewing might be the last thing keeping Drag Race alive.

Joe recounts a chaotic Whole Foods run and sets the tone with some early-morning nonsense

Robert responds to lingering “allegations” made against him across the Afterthought Media universe

A deep dive into why the Girl Group challenge continues to underwhelm—and actively embarrass—the queens

A comparison between Drag Race’s creative stagnation and long-running institutions like SNL and The Simpsons

Joe argues that RuPaul has become more “face of the brand” than active creative force—and what that means for the show’s future

A discussion on whether Drag Race is designed to be watched socially rather than alone

Robert predicts the upcoming RDR Live challenge will once again fall into the show’s creative rut

A listener asks whether there is an ethical way to consume Drag Race in 2026

Joe and Robert debate Paramount+, corporate media, and the moral gymnastics of still loving a problematic franchise

They explore alternatives like bar viewing parties, supporting local queer spaces, and tipping local queens

Joe gives a heartfelt thank-you to a listener whose voicemail arrived at exactly the right moment

The “Mr. Tendernism” TikTok barbecue controversy as an analogy for RuPaul’s current role in Drag Race

Why viral fame, brand dilution, and overexposure eventually turn on everyone

A brief but pointed check-in on the ongoing Ginger Minj discourse—and why the stories keep unraveling

Nostalgia for Drag Race moments that genuinely shocked even production

Joe and Robert agree: Drag Race no longer feels like an event. With challenges recycled, stakes lowered, and the franchise stretched thin across platforms and continents, the show may need a radical reset—or at least fewer All Stars seasons—to regain its spark. Still, as long as the queens and the community remain, there’s something worth holding onto.

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RulaskaThoughts is Afterthought Media’s midweek Drag Race discussion, where Joe Betance and rotating co-hosts go deeper, wider, and occasionally completely off the rails.

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