The only podcast of consequence is back with a quick run through the week in news courtesy of the ever-bulging WGAS NewsBag, a look at some bad movie criticism, and a spoiler-heavy discussion of the end of season two of HBO’s excellent The White Lotus. Listen, if you must! Has something we said, or failed to say, made you FEEL something? You can tell us all about it on Facebook or Twitter, leave a comment on the show’s page on our website, or you can send us an email here. Enjoy!

Show Rundown
Open — On the reparability and and modularity of modern life, or the distinct lack thereof
10:45 — WGAS NewsBag: Commonly Misspelled and Mispronounced Names Edition. First up, Brittney Griner and Viktor Bout
26:49 — Raphael Warnock defeats Herschel Walker in Georgia Senate runoff
35:40 — Kyrsten Sinema breaks with the Democrats, declares herself independent of your binary, man
48:58 — Possible major breakthrough in fusion technology
54:09 — Ongoing “Twitter Files” media meltdown
1:01:35 — A bad review of The Whale from Slate
1:14:12 — Another example of content owners behaving badly in Our Bogus Future
1:19:45 — Wrap-up! Lawrence Krauss chats with Cormac McCarthy, thoughts onViolent Night, The Fabelmans, Emancipation, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and Don’t Worry Darling, along with an extended conversation about the abiding cynicism at the heart of The While Lotus

Relevant Linkage

FT: Extend phone lifetimes to cut environmental threat

NYT: Who Is Viktor Bout, the Arms Dealer in the Swap for Brittney Griner?

The Detroit News: Trump claims he turned down prisoner swap for Michigan's Whelan

CNN: Russia demanded that a spy held in Germany be freed in exchange for Paul Whelan

AP: Democratic Sen. Warnock wins Georgia runoff against Walker

CNBC: Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema leaves Democratic Party to become independent

SCIENCE: With historic explosion, a long sought fusion breakthrough

Slate: Brendan Fraser Deserves an Oscar for The Whale, but the Movie? She Blows. This awards hopeful’s problems run much deeper than fatphobia.

Deadline: ‘Westworld’ & ‘The Nevers‘ Pulled Off HBO Max, Marking Victorian Drama’s Formal End

Insider: Major League Baseball used at least two types of balls again this year, and evidence points to a third