Unclear and Present Danger
Jamelle Bouie and John GanzNew 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 | Twice monthly | Episodes | 103 | Founded | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureTV & Film | |||
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Latest Episodes
On this week’s episode of Unclear and Present Danger, Jamelle and John are joined by Vinson Cunningham of the New Yorker to discuss Bulworth, the 1998 black comedy (no pun intended) written, directed by and starring Warren Beatty. After working throu... more
On this week’s episode of Unclear and Present Danger, Jamelle and John watch the 1998 Lifetime film Oklahoma City: A Survivor’s Story, starring Kathy Baker as Priscilla Salyers, a real-life U.S. Customs employee who survived the 1995 bombing of the A... more
On this week’s episode of Unclear and Present Danger, Jamelle and John watch the 1998 action thriller Mercury Rising, directed by Harold Becker and starring Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin, and Miko Hughes. The film follows FBI agent Art Jeffries, who goe... more
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
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- Great podcast
If you are expecting in depth review of the films (which it seems like a few of the low reviewers were), this podcast will probably disappoint you. They are interested in how the films provide a window into their contemporary political world. Hard to find two better guides for that than these two! Go elsewhere for pop culture analysis.
Apple Podcasts5StevenCrawford
United States2 months ago - Great films but contrarian hosts
I’ve listened to 5 episodes and have yet to find one that the hosts don’t find some reason to overly criticize and throw blanket terms like all of these great dad thrillers were “subliminally mediocre”.
I would be so enthused to talk about these great films but we all know that negativity garners the most engagement on the internet. One saving grace is the both of the hosts political knowledge and finding ways to segue it (sometimes) to the film.
It’s one thing to have constructive criticism b... more
Apple Podcasts2jaegerCRUnited States2 months ago - Excellent
Politics, history, and movies. 3 of my favorite things all brought together in an entertaining fashion by the two hosts.
Apple Podcasts5ShaverCLUnited States3 months ago - Do they understand movies or culture?
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
Apple Podcasts2DeewighthcgdghiciUnited States3 months ago - Disappointing and surprising
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
Apple Podcasts1Ralph Smith 90210United States5 months ago
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Apple Podcasts | #116 |  Finland/TV & Film |
Apple Podcasts | #226 |  Switzerland/TV & Film |
Apple Podcasts | #228 |  Austria/TV & Film |
Apple Podcasts | #230 |  Taiwan/TV & Film |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Unclear and Present Danger
What is Unclear and Present Danger about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Two highly informed hosts explore 1990s political thrillers and their cultural impact, weaving together history, media, and current events. Episodes frequently dissect how films reflect and shape public discourse, with a focus on policy, power, and ideology in post–Cold War America. Notable strengths include rigorous political context, interdisciplinary connections between film and politics, and a knack for drawing contemporary relevance from retro content. The format often features probing analysis, witty banter, and a willingness to challenge conventional movie criticism, making it appealing to listeners who crave deeper context beyond popcorn-level reviews.
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Which podcasts are similar to Unclear and Present Danger?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Unclear and Present Danger:
1. Know Your Enemy
2. Blank Check with Griffin & David
3. The Distraction: A Defector Podcast
4. Time To Say Goodbye
5. 5-4
How many episodes of Unclear and Present Danger are there?
Unclear and Present Danger launched 5 years ago and published 103 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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What guests have appeared on Unclear and Present Danger?
Recent guests on Unclear and Present Danger include:
1. Vinson Cunningham
2. Hilary Matfess
3. Matt Duss
4. Max Read
5. Laura Hudson
6. Nick Wiger
7. Tony Gilroy
8. Beverly Gage
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.