BB - if you haven't has a chance to listen to Matt Taibbi/Walter Kirn on their podcast, you might find last Friday's (3/21/25) very interesting. Walter's take on the Luigi Mangione situation from the perspective as a novelist and screenwriter is very much in line with actual converges with narrative. From the transcript:
“I know I’m right about Luigi coming back because he was a construct from the start, and the setup was too elaborate for his character to disappear. He was obviously meant to counter Elon and “the oligarchs”, and now that Elon is front and center, his nemesis must return. That’s showbiz.” America, you are too innocent to live. You don’t understand that psychological and media operations can be combined with real news in a way that is meant to leverage and influence public opinion. That’s what’s going on here. Do I know the mechanics of it? No, because I’m not the author of it. I don’t know exactly how this guy was found or found himself, or what combination of voluntary and organic genius on the part of Luigi and maybe help from others he got. And the others could be everyone from an Antifa cell to a foreign or American intelligence agency. Who knows?
But I’m telling you, I can read a script and the script has to make sense to the masses, so it can’t be that complicated..."
(I completely missed the fact they dressed him in the same sweater as Oswald for his InTouch cover.) As noted they do a transcript but I prefer to listen, as tone makes it more enjoyable.
(As a writer, you might enjoy their takes on short stories in the latter part of the Friday podcast - I would have never put a Grimms fairy tale with Goodus and Gallant.)
I am so glad you are doing this. Thank you!
BB - if you haven't has a chance to listen to Matt Taibbi/Walter Kirn on their podcast, you might find last Friday's (3/21/25) very interesting. Walter's take on the Luigi Mangione situation from the perspective as a novelist and screenwriter is very much in line with actual converges with narrative. From the transcript:
“I know I’m right about Luigi coming back because he was a construct from the start, and the setup was too elaborate for his character to disappear. He was obviously meant to counter Elon and “the oligarchs”, and now that Elon is front and center, his nemesis must return. That’s showbiz.” America, you are too innocent to live. You don’t understand that psychological and media operations can be combined with real news in a way that is meant to leverage and influence public opinion. That’s what’s going on here. Do I know the mechanics of it? No, because I’m not the author of it. I don’t know exactly how this guy was found or found himself, or what combination of voluntary and organic genius on the part of Luigi and maybe help from others he got. And the others could be everyone from an Antifa cell to a foreign or American intelligence agency. Who knows?
But I’m telling you, I can read a script and the script has to make sense to the masses, so it can’t be that complicated..."
(I completely missed the fact they dressed him in the same sweater as Oswald for his InTouch cover.) As noted they do a transcript but I prefer to listen, as tone makes it more enjoyable.
https://www.racket.news/p/transcript-america-this-week-mar-782?utm_source=%2Finbox&utm_medium=reader2
(As a writer, you might enjoy their takes on short stories in the latter part of the Friday podcast - I would have never put a Grimms fairy tale with Goodus and Gallant.)