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Artwork for Unclear and Present Danger

Unclear and Present Danger

Jamelle Bouie and John Ganz
Mission: Impossible
A Time To Kill
Nuclear Weapons
Post-Cold War Era
Nixon
City Hall
CIA
Brian De Palma
Tom Cruise
Johnny Mnemonic
New South
Clinton Presidency
Racism
John Grisham
Capital Punishment
Broken Arrow
Executive Decision
Fail Safe
Watergate
Oliver Stone

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.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes95Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Unclear and Present Danger

Latest Episodes

Wag the Dog tells the story of a scandal-ridden president whose chief spin doctor, Conrad Brean (De Niro), decides to distract the public with a fictional war with Albania. To pull this off, he hires Stanley Motss (Hoffman), a prominent Hollywood pro... more

Every week, we do a political discussion show over at the Patreon. We wanted to offer you a preview of that show in the form of a full episode, which happens to be our most recent episode, on the Graham Platner affair in Maine. If you like our discus... more

On this week’s episode of Unclear and Present Danger, Jamelle and John watched Tomorrow Never Dies, the 1997 action thriller, the eighteenth film in the James Bond series and the second to star Pierce Brosnan as fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Direct... more

On this week’s episode of Unclear and Present Danger, Jamelle and John watched the (rightfully) forgotten thriller The Jackal, a loose adaptation of The Day of the Jackal directed by Michael Caton-Jones and starring Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, Sidney... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Matt Duss
Former foreign policy advisor to Bernie Sanders, affiliated with the Center for International Policy
Center for International Policy
Episode: Enemy of the State
Max Read
Proprietor of the Max Read Substack
Substack
Episode: Air Force One
Laura Hudson
Writer and editor who formerly worked at Wired and The Verge
Wired, The Verge
Episode: Hackers (feat. Laura Hudson)
Nick Wiger
Host of Doughboys and Get Played
Doughboys
Episode: Executive Decision (feat. Nick Wiger)
Tony Gilroy
Writer and director known for his work on the Bourne films, Michael Clayton and the recent Star Wars series Andor.
Episode: Crimson Tide (feat. Tony Gilroy)
Beverly Gage
Professor of history at Yale and author of 'G-Man, J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century'
Yale University
Episode: J. Edgar (feat. Beverly Gage)
Nicole Hemmer
Associate professor of history and director of the Rogers Center for the American Presidency
Vanderbilt University
Episode: Nixon (feat. Nicole Hemmer)

Hosts

Jamelle Bouie
Columnist with the New York Times opinion section and host for Unclear and Present Danger, who provides insights into politics and culture, especially through the lens of film.
John Ganz
Freelance writer and author, known for insightful commentary and engaging discussion on political and cultural issues, particularly in film.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • 90s politics

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pds2152
    United Statesa month ago
  • Smart and insightful

    Two very smart people talk about US politics in the 1990s and today, and there is also some movie talk! Love every episode even if I haven’t seen the film

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Al Paton
    Australia3 months ago
  • My only complaint…

    Is that they don’t put out more content.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ham Slides
    United States3 months ago
  • Informative and entertaining

    I love it but especially John Ganz’s riffs and pithy summarizations of obscure moments in history and politics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dfm1969
    United States4 months ago
  • The Assignment

    Only Jamelle’s audio was included in the podcast. Long chunks of dead air. Corrected podcast being released soon?

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    sfager
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many find the mix of commentary on nostalgia and cultural critique highly engaging.
Listeners appreciate the insightful analyses that weave together films and 90s political context.
Some listeners express frustration with how one of the hosts dominates conversations, which detracts from the overall listening experience.
A recurring theme is the hosts' ability to provoke thought about contemporary issues through the lens of films from their youth.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#175
Japan/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Crimson Tide (feat. Tony Gilroy)
Q: When you were doing research for Andor, were you reading or revisiting history about European revolutions?
Yes, I've been studying revolutions throughout history, including the French and Russian Revolutions, and it has shaped my approach to storytelling.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Unclear and Present Danger

What is Unclear and Present Danger about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content primarily navigates through the landscape of 1990s thrillers, analyzing how these movies reflect and critique the political and cultural climate of the post-Cold War era. The discussions often highlight themes such as American militarism, political power dynamics, and societal attitudes during this transitional time. Through a combination of insightful analysis and personal nostalgia, the hosts examine not only the films themselves but also their implications on contemporary issues, thus enriching the audience's understanding of both the art of filmmaking and its broader historical context. The podcast features engaging dialogues that intertwine entertainment with serious discussions about politics, culture, and history, making ... more

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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. 5-4
4. If Books Could Kill
5. In Bed With The Right

How many episodes of Unclear and Present Danger are there?

Unclear and Present Danger launched 4 years ago and published 95 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. Matt Duss
2. Max Read
3. Laura Hudson
4. Nick Wiger
5. Tony Gilroy
6. Beverly Gage
7. Nicole Hemmer

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.

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