What Happened to the American Cinematic Universe?
cold war II is a culture war, too
By Shyam Sankar
Culture
The Killer Inside YouDec 13
pirate wires #130 // a season of sociopathic justification for a businessmanâs assassination from academia, media, and government, the violent reaction it has normalized, and the chaos it foretells
Mike Solana
The Greatest Generation Built the Haiku Stairs, Now the Nerf Culture Wants Them GoneDec 11
the haiku stairs â a popular hawaiian tourist attraction with significant military history â is under threat of closure thanks to local political games
Richard Dewey and Mike Gallo
Progressives Lose Their Minds Following Healthcare CEO AssassinationDec 6
after united healthcare ceo brian thompson was fatally shot by a masked killer in new york city, the response from progressives was glee
Kevin Chaiken
Moon Should Be a StateDec 3
pirate wires #129 // the case for an america that grows, breaking down the moon thesis
Mike Solana
The Health Gurus of HereticonNov 23
a closer look at the state of âhealth twitter,â as framed by the recent discussions of two prominent authorities at the worldâs greatest conference for heretics
Riley Nork
Anti-Trump Feminists Declare Sex Strike (Men Generally Cool With It)Nov 13
enraged by trumpâs win, radical feminists in the 4b movement are shaving their heads and pledging no dating, marriage, sex or kids. their male relatives find it refreshing.
Ethan Holmes
What Went Down at Hereticon II: Apocalypse Ball (Day Two)Nov 1
a brief recap of the bangers you missed at the second day of hereticon II (admit it, you have fomo)
Pirate WiresWhat Went Down at Hereticon II: Apocalypse Ball (Day One)Oct 30
a brief recap of the bangers you missed at the first day of hereticon II (admit it, you have fomo)
Pirate Wires
Let the Birdmen FlyOct 3
how the national park service's 'yosemite mafia' is abusing federal power to enrich themselves, quash investigations, and threaten the adventurous american spirit
Brendan Weinstein
We Are the Media NowJun 30
techcrunchâs wild spiral into madness reminds us of the stakes, a brief history of ânewâ media, and notes from pirate wires â what we knew, what we learned along the way, and where weâre going
Mike Solana
Does Testosterone Make You Gay?May 15
scientists have tried for years to determine the cause of human sexuality, but female-to-male transsexuals and roided male bodybuilders may have already figured it out
Sanjana Friedman
Revolution of the BroletariatMay 6
from the christ-like resurrection of americaâs frat boy to the chadification of tech, anti-masculinity is over; chad maximalism has arrived
Mike Solana
CCP Landlords MatterMar 19
a florida law that would prevent citizens of foreign adversaries like china from buying agricultural land and land near military bases has been halted by an activist judge for being racist
River Page
Florida Just Banned Lab-Grown Meat, I Tried to Find Out WhyMar 14
is the conservative war on cultivated meat a matter of protecting the beef lobby, protecting consumers, or a third more mysterious thing (owning the libs)?
River Page
I Took The North Face's Anti-Racism Course To Get a 20% Discount On GearMar 6
north face is offering a 20% discount on gear to europeans who take their anti-racism course, and river took it so you don't have to
River Page
The Princess and the GirlbossFeb 23
why is every new disney female protagonist being pigeonholed into the girlboss archetype?
Kat Rosenfield
Conspiracy TheoryFeb 20
pirate wires #113 // taylorâs demon bowl, the coordinates of power, torched waymo brings all the commies to the yard, âtech broâ press, and rise of the new elite
Mike Solana
Making (up) HistoryFeb 15
the industry 23 // super bowl gaslighting, the White House is on TikTok, hostile tech billionaires, tech links
Mike Solana
The Executive Physical: Behind the Velvet Rope of Healthcare for the 1%Feb 13
inside the intensive, three-day, no-expenses-spared medical check-ups catering solely to the ultra-rich and selective
Will Manidis
Why You Should Read the BibleFeb 7
as a foundational text of the western canon and the world's largest religion, the bible is key to understanding art, literature, and occasionally, the news.
River Page
The Ethos of the Divine AgeJan 28
why now is the time to build the greatest era of human civilization â and accelerate our world into the divine age
@bayeslord and Nadia Asparouhova
The Atlantic's Phantom Nazi ProblemJan 13
there are major factual issues with jonathan m. katzâs âatlanticâ article, âsubstack has a nazi problemâ
Jesse Singal
Overton CollapseJan 9
pirate wires #111 // from harvard's "yay hamas" campaign to the end of DEI?; twitter abolished the Official Narrative, now culture's up for grabs, and anything is possible
Mike Solana
The Craziest S**t that Happened on Planes in 2023Dec 28
happy new year: pilots on shrooms, passengers weaponizing urine, planes without windows, mid-flight emergency exit mishaps, tiffany of course, and more
River Page
Diversity, Equity, and DelusionDec 21
pirate wires #110 // from vibe shift to backlash, DEI is under siege; court rulings, academia's refusal to comply, and tech at a crossroads
Mike Solana
Abolish KwanzaaDec 8
how a holiday created by a LAPD-armed black nationalist and convicted torturer who advocated the genocide of all white people became mainstream
River Page
Black Friday is DeadNov 24
the glory days of stampedes, brawls, and shootouts over parking spaces are over. the old black friday is dead. long live the new black friday.
River Page
This Thanksgiving, Let Your Racist Uncle CookNov 22
a treatise against all those "confront your racist relatives at thanksgiving" articles
River Page
Meet the Transsexual Hijabis Welcoming the Muslim New World Order Nov 9
muslim immigration in the west has become a hot button issue. for some, it's just hot.
River Page
The Brief, Glorious, Basic Business History of Americaâs Favorite Spice (Pumpkin)Oct 31
how starbucks changed the meaning of fall forever
River Page
SwimOct 8
the story of lake sam rayburn is a reminder that america used to build real, meaningful, big infrastructure projects that brought human flourishing to entire regions. what happened?
River Page
We Can't Assimilate Them AllOct 1
why are lgbt activists in hamtramck, michigan shocked that their all-muslim city government isn't socially progressive?
River Page
TestocalypseSep 24
is our species in danger of facing a historical fertility crisis, or are western men just insecure about their masculinity?
Jordan Castro
Rage Against the Wooden ManSep 4
pirate wires #105 // the internet made up a group of people at a version of burning man that doesn't exist, then celebrated a catastrophe that didn't happen. it was really weird and embarrassing.
Mike Solana
A Tale of Two KarensAug 8
pirate wires #102 // the "center for countering digital hate," a little bit of barbie, and what happens when atlas (fed up soccer moms) shrug? paging karen (please come back we're sorry)
Mike Solana
We Ought to Have More CreaturesAug 2
the case for domesticating raccoons, capuchin monkeys, culpeos, and even dik-diks to be our companions
River Page
Ben and Jerryâs LifestyleJul 20
on the â#landbackâ movement, social media turning americaâs #1 ice cream brand into a keyboard warrior, and why you canât âbud lightâ ben & jerryâs
River Page
A Fiery But Mostly Peaceful ConversationJul 17
solana sits down with ben smith and kmele foster for a conversation about the rise and fall of new media, internet censorship, threads vs. twitter, and the future of the press
Mike Solana
The Cyborgian Denizens of DIDTokJul 12
on "multiple personality" tiktok, to be is to be perceived
River Page
SubhumanJun 22
pirate wires #99 // an unthinkable voyage to titanic concludes, marxists seize the discourse, dehumanizing "tech bros," and a final thought on risk for glory
Mike Solana
Debatable TacticsJun 19
pirate wires #98 // vice magazine still exists; rogan v. "the science" (but really a jealous media); reflecting back on covid authoritarianism, and onto the next pandemic
Mike Solana
Eat, Pray, CringeJun 13
elizabeth gilbertâs pointless self-cancellation perpetuates a destructive trend toward censorship in publishing, but also hints at a hopeful vibe shift
Kat Rosenfield
Mostly Peaceful Aztec EmpireJun 7
after a video game trailer featuring an aztec warrior goes viral, posters bravely stand up against human sacrifice â and the knee-jerk defense of a uniquely evil society
River Page
Taylor Swift's Fans Don't Understand MenMay 29
through her artistry and public persona, taylor swift has cultivated a uniquely ball-busting fanbase which is now demanding that she break up with her boyfriend. his crime? riffing with the fellas.
River Page
Encyclopedia TitanicaMay 26
pirate wires #96 // google nukes a whole ass historical record, our shapeshifting internet rewires the human mind, and is this the end of history? millennials hit hardest.
Mike Solana
How 'Karen' Became the Most Powerful Slur in AmericaMay 23
what began as an innocuous customer service meme now has the power to ruin the lives of one specific group of americans: white women
River Page
The Black Cleopatra Documentary is Worse Than You ThinkMay 20
this isnât mere âdiversity in casting"
River Page
Donât Be a Bigot, Itâs âHouselessâ NowMay 14
in a complicated game of cultural domination, the american activist's rapidly accelerating war on language comes for the word "homeless"
River Page
BASE REALITY: An Interview with GrimesMay 10
the dawn of ai: technocracy v. the artist class, grimes trains an AI clone, simulation theory, the optimistic moral imperative, abundance, and waking up the cosmic robot gods
Mike Solana
Chicago Serial Killer: Real or Sham?May 9
when a string of âaccidentalâ drownings in chicago started to seem suspicious, a tiktoker took it upon himself to investigate; millions tuned in to see if the vigilante influencer could crack the case
Nick Russo
What Grimes Is Doing With AI, ExplainedMay 8
a comprehensive list of grimes ai songs, plus everything you need to know about what she's doing with ai and music
Brandon Gorrell
How to Safely Navigate Our Haunted Transsexual InternetMay 5
pirate wires #95 // trans bud light the musical, the daily wire's symbiotic relationship with dylan mulvaney, and our internet's designed to make us go insane. let's fix it.
Mike Solana
Jordan Neely Wouldnât Be Dead in a State HospitalMay 4
jordan neely's tragic death had nothing to do with race and everything to do with the state's inability to deal with chronic mental illness
River Page
Cultural Appropriation is an American AssetMay 3
There is no American culture without appropriation, the whole world is doing it now, and weâre the only ones who feel bad about it. We shouldnât.
River Page
We Donât Have a Child Labor Problem, We Have an Immigration ProblemApr 30
the biden administration has facilitated a system of human trafficking that has upended 100 years of progress on child labor. stopping 16-year-olds in iowa from serving beer wonât change that
River Page
The Strange and Fascinating World of r/methApr 23
a guided tour of the meth subreddit â a shadow-people-haunted forest of madness and intrigue
River Page
Why Do Women Online Blow Relationship Issues Out Of Proportion?Apr 20
why women online constantly encourage one another to escalate small or nonexistent misdeeds into existential relationship threats
Diana Fleischman
Pro-partying Group Wins Election at Stanford in Rebuke of Campus LeftistsApr 17
stanford just overwhelmingly elected two student leaders who ran on a campaign to restore the "organic, wacky, and inclusive spontaneity that made Stanford so special"
Nick Russo
Respectability Politics WorksApr 14
that is, if you have an actual goal
River Page
Gaslight: The "Sensitivity Readers" Erasing Western HistoryMar 31
an army of nameless, faceless âsensitivity readers,â emboldened by a cannibalistic institutional culture, are altering some of the most beloved works of fiction in the english language
Kat Rosenfield
The Yaoi To Trans PipelineMar 22
the yaoi to trans pipeline exists, the real debate is over why
River Page
The Tradwife Craze Is About EnvyMar 21
tradwifes aren't about patriarchy, white supremacy, sexual fetishism, or indoctrination â it's about women staying home, a luxury most can't afford
River Page
The Culture Wars Go In One Direction: Around In A CircleMar 16
why the sedate culture wars of the 80s and 90s were replaced by a world where anyone can become a âtradâ or âtransâ influencer, as long as they can guess what those audiences guess they want to hear
Oliver Bateman Does the Work
Washing the Whale (With Dove)Mar 15
fat activists and a soap company are angry about brenden fraser's oscar win for his portrayal of a fat person in the whale. why did it strike such a chord?
River Page
We Need to Be Living ForeverMar 10
pirate wires #91 // anti-aging tiktok trend, change: vice or virtue?, a healthy dose of tech optimism, and remembering what matters (immortality)
Mike Solana
Collapse Support: The Doomsday Prophets of RedditMar 4
inside the 25,000+ community of people convinced the world is coming to an end imminently, and at its most extreme, valorizes climate-anxiety suicides as martyrdom
Sanjana Friedman
Why Have Over 20 Percent Of Bisexuals Had Long Covid?Feb 27
the CDC designated long covid as a protected class. why does it have a disproportionate number of women, transgender people, and bisexuals?
River Page
Milk WarsFeb 18
the untold story of pious vegan ideologues, militant activists, and raw milk maxxers in a battle for the soul of america
Zachary Emmanuel
America Can't Decide What An Adult IsFeb 17
why is leonardo dicaprio a âcreepâ for dating younger women, but cher is a âcougarâ for dating younger men? is 25 too young to consent to elective surgery? should 16-year-olds be voting?
River Page
The New York Times Response To The GLAAD Trans LetterFeb 17
full text of the new york times response to the glaad trans letter, and glaad's response to the new york times response
Brandon Gorrell
The New York Times Turns Its Back On The Far LeftFeb 17
the rainbow lobby takes on the gray lady over its trans coverage
Max Meyer
We Asked OnlyFans Creators What They're Thinking About AI-Generated PornFeb 14
will ai-generated content put human creators out of business, or will they leverage it to create fantasies for their fans on demand?
River Page
Vibes in the MachineFeb 10
pirate wires #89 // twitter cracks reveal a vibe shift, #metoo v. a kindly juiced up god of gym bro justice, media moves, low interest rate phenomena, and dawn of a new paradigm
Mike Solana
My Tweet About AI Porn Went Viral, And What It Taught Me Was UpsettingFeb 1
we've all reacted to the AI porn that portrays people who donât actually exist. but what would your reaction be if the face on the fake porn was yours?
River Page
The Twitch Creator Busted For Looking At AI Porn Of Fellow Streamers, ExplainedJan 31
breaking down a developing scandal that's a near perfect mix of tabloid gossip and AI ethics
Brandon Gorrell
Cage The ChickensJan 27
colorado's affluent justice zealots launder their disdain for poor people with new law that masquerades as animal welfare
River Page
American FuturaJan 24
pirate wires #88 // great gas stove debate of 2023, collapse of american futura (the jetsons basically), bad art is terrorism no offense, and advice for tech bros: you need to be culturemaxxing
Mike Solana
What Should We Do With The New Fentanyl Vaccine?Jan 18
amid Americaâs intractable opioid epidemic, a fentanyl vaccine offers a tantalizing glimmer of hope, and presents us with a perilous choice: should addicts be forced to take it?
Nick Russo
Transmaxxing: the Incel-To-Transwoman PipelineJan 3
why a community of depressed young men with nothing to lose is convinced the only way out of their misery is gender transition
Sanjana Friedman
Choose Good QuestsNov 24
ready player one. what did you get done this week?
Trae Stephens and Markie Wagner
NIH-Funded "Food Pyramid" Rates Lucky Charms Healthier Than SteakNov 11
40% of Americans are obese, 71.6% of adults over 20 are overweight, and for the first time in decades, life expectancy is falling due to chronic illness. wtf is going on?
Justin Mares
Coomer Conversion TherapyOct 25
is being gay a choice? meet ex-gay twitter, a community of bisexual men who believe they can turn themselves straight with "hetero hypnosis porn"
River Page
Alex Jones Didnât Kill HimselfOct 10
a primer on the jones trial, and exposing the live wires of american power
Max Meyer
The Sugar Babies of Stanford UniversitySep 14
from overnight social media fame to sugar-baby side hustles, america's elite young women are changing the rules of sex and class
Nikola Buskirk
The Burning of America's LibraryAug 6
amidst wide concern over the rise of the right wing "book ban," a reality check, an exploration of the activist librarian, and a question: have we lost america's neutral public spaces?
Kat Rosenfield
Brodega MindsetJul 12
pirate wires #73 // bodegas: the unlikely nexus of american culture, rise of the brodega mindset, and greta thunberg's anti-bro war on nuclear power
Mike Solana
No homoJun 27
pirate wires #72 // from big tech to america's classroom, what are "gay rights" in a world without gay people?
Mike Solana
EliteMay 31
pirate wires #70 // who are the âelite,â and what happens when they turn on each other? the rise of musk: new kind of status for a new kind of country
Mike Solana
Daydream BelieverMay 25
an interview with mitch horowitz, author of occult america, on "damned data," the stubbornly natural occurrence of the supernatural, and how to make a wish come true.
Mike Solana
Intermission at the Ministry of TruthMay 18
federal "disinformation board" falls apart, chief censor nina jankowicz resigns, and what the hell is going on at the washington post (cont'd)
Santi Ruiz
Vanishing People: the Population CrisisMay 13
for us to solve the challenges ahead, there needs to be an "us"
Ryan McEntush
What the Hell Is Going On at the Washington PostMay 4
pirate wires #69 // all-out partisan war on musk, the washington post's hunter biden laptop fiasco, and journos please stop tweeting (that's an order)
Mike Solana
Freedom is for NazisApr 12
pirate wires #68 // the rise of "moderate" political censorship, "astonishing individual freedom," and nourishing the soul's desire
Mike Solana
Let's Burn BooksFeb 9
pirate wires #62 // book bans coast to coast, math is racist, and okay listen: if our only options are censor or be censored, no hard feelings but it's time to torch the libraries
Mike Solana
NeuroticJan 7
pirate wires #59 // covid narrative whiplash, the persistent craziness of lockdown forever squad, a little bit of insurrection, and maybe we should go outside
Mike Solana
Variant XiDec 14
pirate wires #58 // recalling UFOs, the invisible virus, war on nuclear meets the war on space, and americaâs vanishing act
Mike Solana
Be Less CrazyNov 18
pirate wires #57 // inflation won't happen, doesn't exist, doesn't matter, is a good thing actually; tech anti-trust croynism; and why are broken people only ever blaming things that work?
Mike Solana
The Two-Front War on Academic StandardsAug 13
a deep dive into the equity hustlers destroying American education from top to bottom
Max Meyer
American Spaceman, Body and SoulJul 27
pirate wires #48 // bernie sanders vs. apollo, bluecheck anti-moon crew logs on, billionaires in space!, and the slow redrafting of our heroic history continues
Mike Solana
Who are the starseeds?Mar 26
a journey into the esoteric faith shaping the american fringe
Katherine Dee
Are Furries Freaks?Feb 27
from fursuits and sex stuff to literal communism, a primer for the unlikely subculture living on the frontlines of our culture war
Sonya Mann
Extract or DieDec 22
pirate wires #23 // san francisco techxodus (fact vs. twitter), strip mining palo alto for silicon (i guess), anatomy of a city hall disaster, and fight or flight?
Mike Solana
Tether, Part IIDec 15
a journey through the dream world, and home again
Mike SolanaTether, Part IDec 14
reality crash, and a new state of being
Mike Solana