Doomscroll 42: Emma Vigeland

My guest is Gianmarco Soresi, a comedian and host of the Downside Podcast. We discuss comedy’s right-wing pivot and the long arc of entertainment merging with real world politics.In 2026, every big talk show is hosted by a comedian and this format dominates our political discourse. How did this initially progressive project shift course? Later, we discuss online cancel culture, free speech, the attention economy and how these topics are now transforming.You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

We explore the current crisis and recent history of the Democratic party. Emma describes her background and early entry into the world of politics. Doomscroll is confirmed “best produced show” but gets a -3 penalty on all Charisma rolls by the host.You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

My guest is Emma Vigeland, a co-host of The Majority Report. We discuss Jefferey Epstein’s sick obsession with “jerky”, nationalist affordability and the shifting media landscape. Later, we explore some of the most difficult topics on the left; popular backlash to activist rhetoric and more. What should the left bring to the table for midterms and 2028?You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

We dive deeper into pseudo-archaeology’s racist classifications and implicit myth structures. Later on, we explore the concept of sortition, Greek democracy and the early Aztec parliamentary system.You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

My guest is David Wengrow, an archeologist and professor at University College London. He joins me to discuss his best-selling book "The Dawn of Everything", co-authored with the late David Graeber, published in 2021. David Wengrow takes us on a powerful journey into the deep history of human societies. "The Dawn of Everything" offers a staggering historical survey and philosophical argument that reframes many of today’s assumptions about the origins of inequality.You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

We discuss online media strategies and the political movements taking place in Latin America. The region is shaped by neoliberal trade agreements, a resurgent Pink Tide and an uncanny mix of pro-US right-wing nationalism.You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

My guest is David Adler, a general coordinator of the Progressive International. Adler was aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, which sought to bring life-saving humanitarian aid to the shores of Gaza. Forty-two nautical miles from the coast, the flotilla was intercepted by Israeli naval forces. Flotilla crew members were kidnapped, imprisoned, subjected to physical abuse and psychological torture. David joins us to tell the story of this mission and the broader international solidarity movement for a free Palestine.You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

We explore World of Warcraft’s influence on crypto libertarianism, the Habermasian digital public sphere, and US private ownership of social media. Where does democratic legitimacy come from?

My guest is Ro Khanna, a congressional representative from California’s 17th district. We discuss Khanna's political and philosophical vision for American democracy, the crisis of runaway inequality and tech’s fair share in the social contract.You can get access to the full catalog for Doomscroll and more by becoming a paid supporter: www.patreon.com/joshuacitarella

David Adler, co-general director of the Progressive International, joins me to unpack the complex history of corporate colonialism in Latin America.The United States has a long history of intervention into the affairs of Latin American countries. After the recent abduction of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, Trump openly invoked the Monroe Doctrine, or as he calls it “the Donroe Doctrine”, to signal further hostility to other nations in the region.In this episode we focus on the strange case of Prospera — a libertarian city-state that promises to create a free market utopia. Beginning in 2017, Prospera Inc purchased land within the sovereign territory of Honduras. At the time, Honduras was under the narco-dictatorship of Juan Orlando Hernandez. (In a stroke of poetic injustice, JOH was convicted of drug trafficking in 2024 and pardoned by Donald Trump in 2025.) After the dictatorship, the Honduran congress overturned this unconstitutional decision with a unanimous vote across all parties. In retaliation, Prospera Inc is now suing the state of Honduras for a staggering 10.8 billion dollars, nearly 100x their investment and roughly 2/3rds of the annual state budget. Unsurprisingly, Prospera Inc is funded by Pronomos Capital whose investors include familiar characters such as Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen and Balaji Srinivasan.