Dispatch from the Zombie Apocalypse
194 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsDispatch from the Zombie Apocalypse provides a space to reckon with our demons, call out our enemies, and work together to build a better society. DZA is 100% fact-based and firmly grounded in the reality-based community; it rejects "post-truth" politics and holds everyone to account. Each episode contains suggested antidotes, as the purpose of this show is social change, not simply intellectual discourse. *DZA's host is Dr. Jason Scorse, who holds a PhD in Environmental Economics with a minor in Behavioral Economics from UC Berkeley. He has taught public policy since 2004.
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Episodes
The Rightwing Is Screaming Who They Are But Are We Listening?
June 18, 2024 17:35 - 28 minutes - 21.1 MBIn this episode Jason talks about the extremism the right is saying out loud and putting in writing that many people have yet to fully internalize, as well as how we should view those who don’t support all of the madness but still will vote for traitor trump anyway. The DZA website is here.
Time To Put MAGA In The Dustbin Of History
June 04, 2024 16:07 - 22 minutes - 17 MBIn this episode Jason talks about the 34 count felony conviction of traitor trump, his theory as to why Biden is going to win, why we need to win big, and the threat posed by the fascist GOP who have thrown the rule of law under the bus for their cult leader. The Adam Serwer article on the verdict is here, the article about Prof. Lichtman is here, and the DZA website is here.
How The Rightwing Shed Its Principles In The Pursuit of Power
May 21, 2024 18:23 - 26 minutes - 19.9 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the psychological traits and pathways by which the rightwing has shed its principles on its descent into fascism. The Scientific American piece on conspiracy thinking is here, the Matt Yglesias piece on how to help Democrats win in November is here, the Democratic Senate Committee is here, and the DZA website is here.
The Week I Was Surprised By The Depths of Rightwing Depravity In America
May 07, 2024 16:31 - 13.6 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the back-to-back Supreme Court cases heard on April 25 & 26, about abortion restrictions and traitor trump’s immunity, which have further shaken his faith in the republic, and reminded him to always remember his maxim: there is no bottom to rightwing depravity. The Adam Serwer article on the Supreme Court’s corruption is here and the DZA website is here.
Clear Thinking On The Israeli-Gaza War Six Months On
April 23, 2024 16:32 - 21 minutes - 15.9 MBIn this episode Jason discusses Biden’s handing of the Israeli-Gaza conflict and the striking parallels between Netanyahu and traitor trump. The DZA website is here.
This November We Will Definitely Find Out Who We Are
April 09, 2024 16:18 - 18 minutes - 14 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the clarity that this presidential election will bring, why he is feeling good about the prospects for democracy, and how the GOP appears to be committing political suicide. The Ruth Ben-Ghiat Bulwark podcast is here and the DZA website is here.
The Comeback Kid
March 26, 2024 14:45 - 21 minutes - 16.2 MBIn this episode Jason discusses Biden’s SOTU address and how it sets the tone for his comeback kid narrative that will help propel him to victory in November. Video of his SOTU is here, the SNL cold opener here, and the DZA website here.
What The Courts Won't Save Us Argument Really Means
March 12, 2024 15:51 - 27 minutes - 21.1 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the current state of the trials against traitor trump, along with the argument made by many in the pundit class that liberals were naïve to think that the courts would save us. The DZA website is here.
Maga Fascism: A Beginner's Guide
February 27, 2024 15:50 - 21 minutes - 15.6 MBIn this episode Jason discusses how the maga movement meets both the dictionary definition of fascism and also employs its most common propaganda techniques. The DZA website is here.
The Dominoes That May Fall If...
February 13, 2024 15:49 - 31 minutes - 23.5 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the horrible chaos and destruction that will almost certainly follow if Biden doesn’t win reelection, which will likely define the rest of our lives, and rightly so. The DZA website is here.
The Need For Liberal Realism And Sobriety In This Moment
January 30, 2024 15:49 - 32 minutes - 24.4 MBIn this episode Jason explores the ways in which some liberals justify the grievances of the right, dispels the many myths that still cloud our thinking about who the right are and what they believe, and talks about how to speak to persuadable voters, of which there aren’t very many. The DZA website is here.
Who Are We?
January 16, 2024 16:17 - 14 minutes - 10.7 MBIn this episode Jason discusses Biden’s January 5th speech at Valley Forge, how it sets the context for the election, and how the January 6th insurrection will rightly be one of the defining issues throughout the campaign. The link to Biden’s Jan 5 speech is here and the link to his first campaign ad here. The DZA website is here.
America Has Only One Job To Do In 2024
January 02, 2024 15:54 - 27 minutes - 20 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the stakes and prognosis for defeating trump in 2024. The DZA website is here.
An Ode To Tenderness As 2023 Comes To A Close
December 19, 2023 15:42 - 10 minutes - 7.69 MBIn this episode at the end of 2023 on the heals of a very difficult year ahead, Jason takes a moment to meditate on tenderness, which is rarely spoken about, but which may be the ultimate antidote to the nihilism and toxic masculinity that is on the rise. The DZA website is here.
Zero Tolerance For Nihilism
December 05, 2023 15:37 - 16 minutes - 12.4 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the nihilism of the left and right, and why it must be strongly rejected and replaced with a true warrior spirit. The DZA website is here.
Some Necessary Truths About The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
November 21, 2023 16:31 - 36 minutes - 27.1 MBIn this episode Jason outlines some facts about the history of this conflict and the state of Israel that many on the left seem to have missed, which are key to making reasoned judgments about the current state of affairs. The DZA website is here.
It's Time For Everyone To Rally Around Biden's Reelection
November 07, 2023 15:02 - 31 minutes - 24 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the incredibly high stakes if Biden doesn’t win next year, as well as the affirmative case for why he deserves to win. The article entitled Do you have the luxury and white privilege to NOT vote for Democrats in 2024? is here, the article on Biden’s ushering in a new economic paradigm is here, and Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address is here. The DZA website is here.
Practical Ethics Are Better Than Hope And Optimism
October 24, 2023 15:29 - 36 minutes - 27.2 MBIn this episode Jason provides some thoughts on how to actualize and operationalize ethics in daily life. The DZA website is here.
The Root Of Culture Is Cult
October 10, 2023 17:37 - 19 minutes - 14.2 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the paradox between the negative associations with cult and the positive associations with culture, and how we should ask hard questions about all cultures since they are just cults that have persisted for a long time with lots of followers. The DZA website is here.
What Happens When People Lack A Strong Ethical Core
September 26, 2023 15:33 - 29 minutes - 22.5 MBIn this episode Jason discusses how few people have strong ethical cores and how this leads to the awful state of affairs we find ourselves in. The DZA website is here.
The GOP Is A Boring Predictable Freak Show
September 12, 2023 14:09 - 26 minutes - 20.1 MBIn this episode Jason breaks down how beyond pitiful the current GOP is and how to respond to people who try to defend them and/or create some false equivalence with the Democratic Party. The DZA website is here.
Accountability For Powerful White Men In America
August 29, 2023 15:54 - 26 minutes - 20 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the incredible lack of accountability for powerful white men throughout American history and how that may be beginning to change. The Bulwark podcast mentioned is here and the DZA website is here.
Smith Drops The Hammer
August 15, 2023 15:16 - 26 minutes - 20 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the most recent indictment by Jack Smith for the Jan 6 insurrection charges, and outlines why the conservative and Republican movements will remain extremist authoritarian threats for the foreseeable future. The Tom Nichols article mentioned in the episode can be accessed here. The DZA website is here.
Our Default Options Are Destroying Us
August 02, 2023 01:16 - 23 minutes - 17.3 MBIn this episode Jason discusses default options and status quo bias and how we need to create new norms so that we can break the toxic inertia that afflicts us. The DZA website is here.
Disentangling Ourselves From The Horrors Of The Modern Food System
July 18, 2023 18:02 - 44 minutes - 33.7 MBIn this episode Jason breaks down the many horrors of the modern industrial animal agriculture system, both morally and environmentally, and how we all must break free from its evil. A short video worth watching is here and the DZA website is here.
Injustice Is America's Primary Problem Not Incivility
July 04, 2023 15:43 - 22 minutes - 16.9 MBIn this episode Jason discusses how calls for civility are often used to silence calls for justice and how the Supreme Court, which just completed one of its worst terms ever, are some of the biggest oppressors in the country. The DZA website is here.
Finally!
June 19, 2023 14:54 - 23 minutes - 17.9 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the DOJ indictment of trump and what the reactions reveal about the GOP. The DZA website is here.
Dark Brandon Strikes Again
June 06, 2023 16:29 - 14 minutes - 10.8 MBIn this episode Jason discusses President Biden’s great debt ceiling deal and muses and how this miracle came to pass. The DZA website is here.
Can Biden Rope-A-Dope His Way Out Of The Debt-Ceiling Crisis?
May 23, 2023 15:07 - 28 minutes - 22 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the severity of the debt-ceiling crisis and what this portends for the future of America. The DZA website is here.
Biden's Reelection And The Long Game
May 09, 2023 16:15 - 25 minutes - 19.4 MBIn this episode Jason discusses Biden’s bid for a second term and the big things he can accomplish with another four years. Here’s a link to Biden’s reelection intro video and the DZA website.
What The Post-Dobbs Landscape Reveals About the Supposed Pro-Life Movement
April 25, 2023 17:23 - 29 minutes - 22.4 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the actions the “pro-life” movement has taken since the Dobbs decision that reveal what they truly believe. The DZA website is here.
The GOP Sinks Ever Lower
April 11, 2023 14:23 - 34 minutes - 25.8 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the recent extremely depraved activity of the GOP and what it would take for Republicans to be a legitimate center-right party. Here is a link to the Bulwark episode where Charlie Sykes absolutely crushes it on the GOP and guns (the segment starts at 36:00). Here is the link to the DZA website.
The GWOT And The Iraq War Were Intellectually And Morally Bankrupt From The Start
March 28, 2023 16:13 - 39 minutes - 29.9 MBIn this episode Jason makes the case that Bush’s Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) and all that followed were intellectually and morally bankrupt from the very start, before the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq had even begun; they were destined to fail. David Corn’s piece on how Iraq War dissenters were marginalized is here and the DZA website is here.
Tech Companies Are Forcing Dystopia Upon Us And They Don’t Care
March 14, 2023 16:27 - 29 minutes - 22.4 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the incredible recklessness with which the major tech companies are deploying artificial intelligence and what to do about the coming misinformation apocalypse. The DZA website is here.
Surprising Ramifications Of The Ukraine War
February 28, 2023 16:17 - 22 minutes - 16.7 MBIn this episode Jason discusses some of the surprising results of the Ukraine War at the one-year mark. You can watch Biden’s remarks in Kviv here. The DZA website is here.
The State Of The Democratic Party Is Strong
February 14, 2023 16:48 - 24 minutes - 18.4 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the incredibly effective themes in Biden’s State of the Union address and the overall strength of the Democratic Party and brand going into 2024. The DZA website is here.
Those Who Don't Think trump Will Be Indicted Believe America Is Pathetic And Weak
January 31, 2023 15:54 - 21 minutes - 16.2 MBIn this episode Jason discusses why those who don't think trump will be indicted believe America is too weak to handle it, and why he has more faith in the system, despite its flaws and injustice. Here’s the article on leaders around the world who have been indicted and here’s the link to the DZA website.
We Must Continue To Fully Support Ukraine
January 17, 2023 16:14 - 22 minutes - 16.8 MBIn this episode Jason discusses why Ukraine deserves our full support and why our aid is such an incredible investment. The DZA website is here.
Joe Biden Kind Of Saved Western Civilization
January 03, 2023 16:10 - 36 minutes - 27.9 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the historic year President Biden and the Democrats had in 2022, assesses his 2022 predictions, and looks ahead to what needs to happen in 2023. The David Roberts interview of Congresswoman Castor is here, and the DZA website is here. Happy New Year!
Anti-Wokeness Is As Old As America
December 20, 2022 16:18 - 19 minutes - 14.6 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the backlash against wokeness and it what it says about the people who make this central to their identity. The DZA website is here.
The Left Wants To Help While The Right Wants To Harm
December 06, 2022 16:14 - 18 minutes - 13.7 MBIn this episode Jason breaks down the basic difference between the left and the right in America, and how the right’s cruelty has them trapped in a dark place from which they can’t escape. The DZA website is here.
The 2022 Midterm Results And The Next Two Years
November 22, 2022 16:10 - 31 minutes - 22.6 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the 2022 midterm results and how they set Democrats up nicely to defeat MAGA fascism again in 2024. The DZA website is here.
The 2022 Midterms Will Be Clarifying For Better Or Worse
November 08, 2022 15:26 - 15 minutes - 11.6 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the range of possible outcomes for the 2022 midterms and what they will say about America. The DZA website is here.
The GOP's Pivot On Russia Proves Orwell Was A Prophet
October 25, 2022 16:02 - 16 minutes - 12.1 MBIn this episode Jason discusses how the GOP’s complete 180 on Russia shows the prophetic nature of George Orwell’s understanding of fascism. The DZA website is here.
Deals With The Devil Always Go Bad
October 11, 2022 15:25 - 19 minutes - 14.8 MBIn this episode Jason discusses how the West tricked themselves into believing that dealing with the Russians and Saudis could be managed favorably, when deals with the devil always go bad. The DZA website is here.
No One Can Plead Ignorance Anymore
September 27, 2022 19:32 - 21 minutes - 15.9 MBIn this episode Jason discusses how no one can deny the reality of MAGA anymore, despite what it says about many of our fellow Americans, and how we can stop them from gaining more power. The interview with Gavin Newsom that is an outstanding example of strong liberalism is here. The DZA website is here.
More Of This Please
September 13, 2022 15:36 - 18 minutes - 13.5 MBIn this episode Jason discusses Biden’s pro-democracy speech in Philadelphia and provides more suggestions for how Democrats can hammer the MAGA fascists. The DZA website is here.
The Democrats Are Finally Acting Like A Majority Party
August 30, 2022 15:05 - 20 minutes - 14.9 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the Democrats newfound mojo and how they can build even more momentum to defeat the fascist Republicans. The DZA website is here.
The IRA Is A BFD
August 16, 2022 14:28 - 32 minutes - 24.1 MBIn this episode Jason discusses the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, which is mostly a climate bill but with some other great stuff. It’s a truly historic achievement that all progressives should celebrate. The David Roberts Volts podcast on the contents of the bill is here. The DZA website is here.
Holding Trump Accountable Is A Must
August 02, 2022 15:39 - 21 minutes - 15.8 MBIn this episode Jason discusses why the arguments against indicting Trump make no sense, and why not indicting him will make things much worse. The DZA website is here.