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Beltway Banthas #73: Barriss Offee, The Clone Wars and binary morality

by RetroZap Staff September 26, 2019

Barriss Offee bombed the Jedi Temple and framed another Jedi for the act of terror. She was right about the war, and the Jedi, but did something very wrong.

Beltway Banthas Interview: Glenn Beck on Star Wars, redemption and a culture of anger

by RetroZap Staff September 5, 2019

Stephen Kent and Glenn Beck talk about Star Wars, the power of fear, generational change and the evolution (plus consistency) of Star Wars’ message.

Beltway Banthas #72: The Fandom Reformation

by RetroZap Staff August 28, 2019

In the main segment Stephen Kent is joined by Matthew Neugebauer to analyze Star Wars fandom and its troubles over the decades by understanding the Protestant Reformation and the concept of a ‘legitimation crisis’. Basically, in social science, what does it take to unravel social order and how can that be applied to the life of Star Wars fans.

Beltway Banthas #71: What If We’re On the Wrong Side

by RetroZap Staff August 14, 2019

Welcome back Banthas! The Beltway Banthas podcast has returned with regular shows now through 2020. Starting off this new season of Star Wars & politics chatter, Stephen Kent is joined by guest host Nick DiColandrea for a dive into the political conscience of Padme Amidala. In Revenge of the Sith, she opens up to Anakin about her uncertainty with the Republic’s democratic virtue. What got Padme to the point of questioning her entire political position and that of the “democracy” she has served?

Beltway Banthas #70: The Last Fodder

by RetroZap Staff March 22, 2019

This is the final episode of Beltway Banthas, and a massive thank you to all the listeners and those interested in digging deeper int Star Wars politics.

Beltway Banthas #69: Racial, social and economic justice in Star Wars

by RetroZap Staff February 21, 2019

Star Wars deals very directly with questions of justice and injustice. Mohammad Shakibnia wrote an article for ElevenThirtyEight on the messages of social, racial and economic justice that can be derived from the Clone Wars

Beltway Banthas #68: The Not So Phantom Menace

by RetroZap Staff January 24, 2019

This week on Beltway Banthas, Robby Soave of Reason Magazine joins the show to talk the politics of Episode I: The Phantom Menace. We cover trade disputes, slavery on Tatooine, the aloof Jedi Order and Vladimir Putin.

Beltway Banthas #67: You were my brother! Now you’re a neoliberal shill

by RetroZap Staff January 3, 2019

This week on Beltway Banthas, a discussion of the prequel trilogy as George Lucas’ broadside against the neoliberal world order and capitalism. Stephen is joined by his brother, Michael Kent of the Toxic Schlock horror movie podcast to discuss and debate Lucas’ critique of neoliberalism since the 1980s and how well he executed his analysis in Star Wars.

Beltway Banthas #66: Politics, Grievance and Redemption

by RetroZap Staff December 20, 2018

Does the Star Wars franchise do a good job of exploring trauma of aggrieved parties like Rey, Luke, and Leia? What causes villains like Darth Vader and Kylo Ren to commit egregious actions, and how can they repent and atone?

Beltway Banthas #65: Jar Jar Binks and political ignorance

by RetroZap Staff December 6, 2018

Jar Jar Binks changed the course of galactic history during the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Love him or hate him, this bumbling alien is important. This week we review Jar Jar Binks rise and fall in politics, the impact he made and what we as citizens in a republic can learn from his story.

Beltway Banthas #64: Now The Rebellion Is Real For You

by RetroZap Staff November 22, 2018

Rogue One contains a powerful message about engaging in the world around you. Jyn Erso accepted oppression as a status quo while Cassian Andor was raised in the fight for freedom. On this weeks show we are joined by Kate Sanchez of But Why Tho? for a discussion of Cassion Andor’s complex, the midterm elections and why people get involved in politics.

Beltway Banthas #63: Powerful Light Powerful Dark

by RetroZap Staff November 8, 2018

Were the Jedi sincere in their pursuit of balancing the Force? Luke Skywalker didn’t seem to think so in The Last Jedi when describing the Jedi Order to an impressionable Rey. He sees balance as allowing for light and dark to co-exist, compliment and challenge the other. How far can one take this before people get hurt?

Ep #62: Politics in Star Wars Resistance, Chuck Wendig

by RetroZap Staff October 25, 2018

Swara Salih and John Liang of Beltway Banthas review the new Star Wars: Resistance series, plus assess and debate the firing of Chuck Wendig by Marvel. Is politics too hot for creators to voice their opinions?

Beltway Banthas

The only Star Wars podcast dedicated to exploring the politics of a galaxy far, far away and why they matter.