Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

You know it’s bad when the Project 2025 people have to create training videos on “How To Be Normal”.

GOP baffled that ‘we don’t care if you die’ is not a winning slogan.

Relentless negativity is not a sign that you are more realistic.

Humiliatingly small and eclipsed by the derision of millions.

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

Innocent people do not delay justice.

“The defense has a certain level of trust in defendant that the government does not.”

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

It is not hopeless, and we are not helpless.

If you are still in the gop, you are either an extremist yourself, or in bed with those who are.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Dear Washington Post, you are the darkness now.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

I have other things to bitch about but those will have to wait.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

So fucking stupid, and still doing a tremendous amount of damage.

When I was faster i was always behind.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

Lick the third rail, it tastes like chocolate!

These are not very smart people, and things got out of hand.

Republicans do not trust women.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / One of Our Jackals Has a Podcast (Open Thread)

One of Our Jackals Has a Podcast (Open Thread)

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Well, this doesn’t fit under Artists in Our Midst, and it doesn’t fit under Authors for Our Midst, but since we like to share and promote the creative work of our BJ peeps, we bring you brendancalling and his podcast.  brendancalling is an interesting guy, I hope you’ll read on!

by brendancalling

Thanks to Balloon Juice for the exposure!

Some of you may remember the blog called Booman Tribune, which was run and founded by Martin Longman in 2005. For many years he was anonymously known only as BooMan. Booman Tribune was a progressive community site with contributor diaries, much like Daily Kos. A decade or so ago he dropped the anonymity, ended the diary feature, and renamed the site Progress Pond, where I occasionally contribute as a front-pager as well. You also may know Martin from his many years writing at the Washington Monthly’s Political Animal blog, which has other great veterans like Kevin Drum, Steve Benen, Ed Kilgore and Nancy LeTourneau. Before all that, he worked for ACORN as a county coordinator and he’s done work for Howard Dean’s Democracy for America, too.

Most of you jackals know me from comments here at the blog, and my sporadic music threads. I also used to host Drinking Liberally in Philadelphia, back when our chapter was something of ground zero for the progressive blogosphere: Susie Madrak, Duncan Black, Upyernoz, Jim Cappazola, and many more were regulars. We got a bunch of great guests back then too: John Fetterman visited when he was running against Toomey, then mayoral candidate Michael Nutter dropped by, Joe Trippi showed up at a couple of times. Later, I wound up writing for Raw Story for a year or two.

About a year ago, Martin asked if I wanted to co-host a podcast together, and not thinking about how much work goes into editing, I said yes: thus, the Progress Pondcast was born. “Cantankerous progressive commentary on news, politics, culture, and whatever else we’re complaining about this week.”

If we were Public Enemy, the politically-charged hip hop band, Marty would be Chuck D—the guy with the knowledge—and I’d be Flava Flav, making jokes and cracking wise. Marty’s got a really deep knowledge about parliamentary procedures. For example, he predicted long before anyone else (to my knowledge), that we’d end up with some sort of bipartisan “functional majority” in the House, the one that pays our bills and allocates spending—which is where we are today.

In this most recent episode—lucky 13–we discussed the RNC shitshow, and the jaw-dropping willingness of Republicans to dispose of their dignity as they pretended to like Kid Rock’s “music.” We also talked about Balloon Juice commenter DougJ’s relentless trolling of the FTNYT, the overwhelming creepiness of JD Vance and Matt Gaetz, and we have a special guest: freelance journalist and folk singer Bill Hangley, who recently wrote “The Case for Kamala”, which in hindsight seems damned prescient. We also check out Bill’s new single, “For My Father, Who Loves the Law.” It’s a great song, and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we did.

A lot goes into doing these podcasts—it takes about three or four hours to edit the raw material down to a one-hour episode, and that’s if nothing goes wrong—but I think the important thing for the listener is that they hear us having fun, and that’s what we try to do. Well, that, and provide a unique perspective on the news and culture, and if you give us a listen I’ll think you’ll agree that we’re a little different.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the latest episode Give us a listen, and if you enjoy it, like and subscribe!

Spotify.
Apple.
Amazon.
Castbox.
I Heart Radio

And since it’s late evening, this is an open thread, too!

Reader Interactions

78Comments

  6. 6.

    brendancalling

    I’m guessing this thread will start slow because folks have to get a listen in…

    That’s good, because I’m at open mic and have to play soon.

  9. 9.

    brendancalling

    Podcasting, BTW, is pretty easy. It takes a little tech skill, but not as much as you’d think. Mainly, it’s the time. Editing takes up time.

    But eventually, this is gonna be my JOB. I love editing, taking the raw coal and polishing it into a diamond.

  12. 12.

    Suzanne

    Ooooh I will give a listen! Tomorrow!

    Mr. Suzanne has a podcast and the editing wears on him.

  14. 14.

    Lyrebird

    @Martin Longman: Thank you for your writing, I used to read your Tribune back in the day…  before I had kids.  Gotta go feed some of them, but best wishes to you!

  18. 18.

    WaterGirl

    @Martin Longman: Say, maybe you will remember this?  There was a commenter on Booman Tribune – maybe “somebody from some blue state, maybe NC” who was a frequent commenter and was as good as anybody on the front page?

    Seems like “blue” might have been in the nym?  Does that ring any bells for you?

  19. 19.

    WaterGirl

    So, brendan or Martin,

    A lot goes into doing these podcasts—it takes about three or four hours to edit the raw material down to a one-hour episode

    How long do you talk in order to end up with an hour of a good podcast?

  21. 21.

    Martin Longman

    @WaterGirl: that varies a lot. I think at first we didn’t know what the hell we were doing so we probably babbled for several hours. But more recently, we’re talking for less than two hours, only some of which is definitely intended to be part of the show. But sometimes the best parts are the stuff we never intended to share.

  26. 26.

    UncleEbeneezer

    Cool.  I will check this our tomorrow when I’m driving around.

    Just curious, as (I think) you are a Philly guy, just curious if you know Kurt Rosenwinkel’s music.  He’s one of my favorite jazz guitarists and is absolutely amazing.

  30. 30.

    Jackie

    @WaterGirl: Can we drop the couch now? Too much of a good thing… I’m sure shillbilly Vance has many more things we can bounce off of😏

  33. 33.

    brendancalling

    @WaterGirl: we talk for up to two hours, then I edit it down (cutting out false starts, adding clips) to about an hour.

     

    I’m at open mic, time for me to play, back in 10!!

  37. 37.

    brendancalling

    BTW, a big reason I wanted to share the Pondcast here is because the jackal community is so great and embracing. I’ve dropped links elsewhere, but BJ is the only one I actually wanted to do a post. Y’all are just so fucking awesome (and I know you’ve seen me on my bad days and gave me grace).

  42. 42.

    brendancalling

    @JaySinWA: HAHAHAHA!

    I can see it in my mind, OMG. Someone needs to get R. Crumb to do a cartoon of JDV gratifying himself on a couch.

  46. 46.

    WaterGirl

    @Martin Longman: Yes, that’s him!  He really was a great and thoughtful commenter, and so knowledgeable!

    I was sad when he stopped commenting.

    I guess the “blue” I remembered was from “Dem” and Tarheel is NC.

  50. 50.

    Jackie

    Completely off topic, but I think significant:

    “The number of migrants unlawfully crossing the U.S. southern border has continued to drop markedly in July, nearing a threshold that would require officials to lift a partial ban on asylum claims enacted by President Biden,” CBS News reports.

    “July is on track to see the fifth consecutive monthly drop in migrant apprehensions along the U.S.-Mexico border and the lowest level in illegal immigration there since the fall of 2020, during the Trump administration.”

    I think President Joe alluded to this tonight.👍🏻

  51. 51.

    JaySinWA

    @brendancalling:

    Is R. Crumb still alive? You could probably ask one of the AI “Art” generators to do one for you. But in either case it’s one of those things that even if you can do it, you should be asking should you do it.

  52. 52.

    brendancalling

    @WaterGirl: LOL.

    back to THD. I haven’t thought about them in years. THD was a thoughtful, kind, and wise person. And always seemed to have a finger on the pulse.

  54. 54.

    brendancalling

    So folks, I know you have to listen before you comment, but… whaddya think? Is it good? Fun? What could be better? What would make us into a “must-listen”? I trust y’all will be blunt but kind.

    in the next episode or two we have a PA state rep dropping by, who witnessed the PAGOP booing the Capitol Hill cops. It’ll be good.

    Wjat would you like to hear? I’d love to have WG on to talk about the organizing aspect of BJ.

  56. 56.

    brendancalling

    Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our Patreon if you want to help us keep the lights on: patreon.com/ProgressPondcast

    THANK YOU SO MUCH to Balloon Juice and Watergirl in particular for giving us a boost. It’s hard to get started with any endeavor, and we are so grateful to you for giving us a plug and an opportunity to reach a bigger audience. I’ve posted links to our show at other sites in comments, but Balloon Juice was the SPECIFIC and ONLY place I asked for a front page, because I knew y’all would be receptive amd enjoy our blathering. Thank you so much, I love you to the moon and back.

  57. 57.

    BigJimSlade

    Hi @brendancalling! Your history all rings quite familiar. I still read Kevin Calpundit Drum pretty regularly (and I enjoyed Steve Benen, Ed Kilgore and Nancy LeTourneau at WM, as well), too!  I didn’t realize how prominent Philadelphia was in the blogging world, but I do recall frequenting a blog called something like Rittenhouse Square. I was a booman regular, too, though I may not have commented much, if at all, there. And Duncan’s site, too.  It makes me think, “brendancalling, and I was there too, and you know what they said, well it was pretty much true!”  Anyway, thanks!

  61. 61.

    caphilldcne

    Thanks for this, I love knowing about this podcast and I do still sometimes peruse Booman Tribune!  Thanks for all you do!

  62. 62.

    BigJimSlade

    Hey, I’m late to reading the comments – I see Booman is here, too! Hey Martin, I second all the other thanks up above :-)

  64. 64.

    BR

    What is with GOP VPs and their weird relationships with their spouses:

    TRUMP: “Folks, don’t believe what the failing fake news media says about JD here. He’s a real family man, loves his wife, even though she’s picky. He’s always telling me she’s so picky, you wouldn’t believe it. ‘So fussy’, he says. But he says it’s fine. So fussy, but fine.”

    bsky.app/profile/ubernostrum.bsky.social/post/3ky3gzenxdc2n

  65. 65.

    ArchTeryx

    @brendancalling: Eschaton’s been that way for a long, long time. All too often Duncan thinks it’s edgy just to run with the Very Online Left and throw peanuts from the peanut gallery, and let his cuckooland comment sections take care of themselves.

  68. 68.

    Yutsano

    @NotMax: ​Pretty sweet so far although I haven’t had much time to play with it. I keep ending up busy after work somehow.

  70. 70.

    opiejeanne

    What happened to Leto? Did he get injured again? I just saw in an earlier thread, probably now dead that indicated he was in PT.

  71. 71.

    BR

    The line “we will not go back” is resonating in a way that I don’t think anything has since “yes we can”. I’m seeing it everywhere.

  72. 72.

    Martin

    So, catching daughter up on what’s going on politically. She’s getting a lot of it, but social media is a bit uneven. She’s a lot more excited to vote for Harris than Biden. Her social seems to be as well. I asked if she was interested in volunteering for the campaign. She shrugged. We talked a bit about what would energize her to volunteer. AOC would. Pete would. We couldn’t come up with a 3rd name. While we were talking I pulled up that photo of Harris in college. I held it up and got an expression from her that she was clearly trying to hide and asked if she’d volunteer for this person, and she gave a look that she’d do a lot for that person. I told her that was Harris in college and she lost her goddamn shit.

    So, there’s an unconventional campaign strategy here that will get at least a certain subset of zoomer on board.

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