
New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie and freelance writer John Ganz delve into the world of 90s post-Cold War thrillers with Unclear and Present Danger, a podcast that explores America in an age of transition to lone superpower, at once triumphant and unsure of its role in the world.
| Publishes | Monthly | Episodes | 100 | Founded | 4 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureTV & Film | |||

On this week's episode of Unclear and Present Danger, Jamelle and John watch U.S. Marshals, the extremely lackluster sequel to The Fugitive which dispenses with a straightforward cat and mouse story in favor of a byzantine conspiracy involving govern... more
On this week's episode of Unclear and Present Danger, Jamelle and John were joined by Hilary Matfess of the University of Denver to discuss G.I. Jane, the 1997 military drama directed by Ridley Scott and starring Demi Moore and Viggo Mortenson. The d... more
The next episode of the podcast will be here soon, but while you wait, here is the most recent episode of our politics show on the Patreon. In it, we talk the most recent developments in the Trump administration's attack on Minnesota and what they mi... more
Jamelle and John are back for the new year with an episode on the 1997 thriller Murder at 1600, directed by Dwight Little and starring Wesley Snipes, Diane Lane, Alan Alda and Dennis Miller. It is yet another entry into the mini-boomlet of films whos... more
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Politics, history, and movies. 3 of my favorite things all brought together in an entertaining fashion by the two hosts.
I really expected to like this, it’s right up the alley of the type of movie podcast that I usually love. The problem is that one host seems to not understand story pacing, culture, or conflict.
I knew it ultimately wasn’t going to be for me when he said the movie a few good men did not have any compelling drama, interesting characters, or moral complex. Then it seemed like it just turned into the other host trying to sway him, so there was no real intelligent commentary.
He’s welcome to his o... more
This series is a great idea and features a pair of hosts whose work is consistently insightful and interesting.
It’s just that the conversations features
a shocking lack of institutional/pop culture knowledge on the part of both hosts, but especially Ganz. Many more Inaccuracies and groping for basic facts as they try to add context, than I would have expected from these hosts.
Bouie does try his best to keep it afloat, but the other guy seems like he lived under a rock when these films wer... more
I look forward to new episodes of this show and can’t get enough of it
Such a great review of some of my favorite 1990s films (well… some that are not too) and the politics that surrounded them. Each episode brings it back to today to add further context, but most of all it’s fun.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
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Apple Podcasts | #237 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Two journalists and writers dissect 1990s suspense and political thrillers through a lens of post-Cold War America, weaving film critique with debates on politics, media, and culture. Episodes span US government power, gender politics, and media manipulation, often connecting classic films to contemporary issues. The format blends detailed historical context with sharp, interdisciplinary commentary, making it a likely magnet for listeners who enjoy thoughtful analysis that crosses politics, film, and history. A notable strength is the dynamic host pairing and the willingness to tie cinematic choices to broader societal debates, though some listeners perceive occasional rhythm issues and strong partisan perspectives.
Potential listeners who... more
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Unclear and Present Danger launched 4 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Unclear and Present Danger include:
1. Hilary Matfess
2. Matt Duss
3. Max Read
4. Laura Hudson
5. Nick Wiger
6. Tony Gilroy
7. Beverly Gage
8. Nicole Hemmer
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