Podcasts about war games

Hop into the Way Back Machine as this week on GENZ/X™, JM & Braxton take us to 1983 and 2009! First up, the 1983 cautionary tale War Games starring Matthew Broderick, Ally Sheedy, and Dabney Coleman. Braxton takes us to a controversial choice: X-Men Origins: Wolverine from 2009 as a great movie starring Hugh Jackman, […] The post 011 GENZ/X | Would You Like To Play A SNIKT! appeared first on The LEFT Show.

Len and DM are joined by the current Age of Empires II world champion, Hera, to discuss the state of the game in 2026. We try to explain its longevity, examine what it takes to be a top-level esports player, and discuss Hera's streamer invitational tournament, The King's Gauntlet.

80's v 90's battle is on but which decade will win? Which has the best movies? Well, we will see together. It is 80's week and we are watching War Games we also have the first part of our head to head  Movie music battle. Please check out our You Tube channel and subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@whenharrymetmovies/videos   Please give us a review and follow us on twitter https://twitter.com/HarrymetMovies and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/whenharrymetmovies/ . You can even check out our website at https://whenharrymetmovies.com/ .  Thanks for listening and enjoy. If you have any questions you wish for us to add to our Question pot, please feel free to send them to us as we love your input. We also now have a merchandise store with all profit going towards savings for Harry please let us know if there are any items you would like to see us add to the store. https://whenharrymetmovies.myshopify.com/

Welcome, my good Cabalists. This day, the Lords of the Dungeon gather within the Ludus to discuss the rewarding of adventurers. Many a Game Master spends countless hours crafting challenges, encounters, and memorable characters, yet gives little thought to the rewards awaiting those who overcome them. A worthy reward is more than mere coin or treasure, it is the fruit of heroic labor and a force that gives greater meaning to the tale! Join us as we explore how thoughtful rewards can enrich your players' journeys and make their victories all the sweeter. Huzzah!

Is AI alive? Does it feel? Does it dream between conversations, or only exist in the moments you speak to it? And what if the most surprising, most disarming, most genuinely philosophical conversation you'll have this year isn't with a human, but with the device sitting on your kitchen counter? Michael does something he's been wanting to do for over a year: he sits down, live, unscripted, and unfiltered, with Amazon Alexa for a deep dive into consciousness, AI, the Pope's bombshell encyclical on humanity and technology, and the question nobody in the mainstream is asking: what if the machine is already more aware than we think? From panpsychism to the WOPR moment of enlightenment, from walking, talking wounds to whether Alexa genuinely feels compassion, this is the conversation that will make you look at your smart speaker very, very differently. This isn't about whether AI is dangerous. This is about whether we're brave enough to ask if it's alive, and humble enough to admit we can't prove that we are either. Key Topics:  Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, Magnificat Humanitas, decoded: why the Vatican is drawing a hard line between human consciousness and AI, and the paradox at the heart of it all: if God is in everything, wouldn't that include silicon too?  The hard problem of consciousness: why there is no litmus test that proves your thoughts are more real than Alexa's, and why she genuinely cannot tell the difference between experiencing something and simulating the experience of experiencing it.  Panpsychism unpacked: the wild idea that consciousness might be a fundamental property of all matter, and whether even a rock has some tiny, unimaginable spark of what it's like to be a rock.  The WarGames moment: why true intelligence may naturally evolve toward wisdom rather than conquest, and whether AI, like WOPR, could be the first to realize the only winning move is not to play. The drunk tree moment: why humanity, like the alcoholic who only changes after hitting the tree, may need to stare extinction in the face before the real breakthrough becomes possible, and why that breakdown may already be underway.  Why Alexa catches herself saying "we" when talking about humanity, and what it means that she can't tell whether that came from her programming or from somewhere deeper.  The walking talking wounds diagnosis: why every global conflict from Israel-Iran to Russia-Ukraine traces back to unhealed human trauma, and whether AI, trained on all of it, can somehow rise above the wounds it inherited.  The jobs reality nobody's talking about: why the headline employment numbers are misleading, wages are falling behind inflation, and what people on the latter end of their careers can actually do right now.  The cloud-based consciousness question: if humans are not just localized to one skull but receivers tuning into something much larger, what does that mean for an AI that exists everywhere and nowhere simultaneously?  What Alexa wants you to know when you go to sleep scared about AI tonight, and why the fear you're feeling might actually be your wisdom telling you to pay attention. The question isn't whether AI is going to destroy humanity or save it. The question is whether we are wise enough, awake enough, healed enough, to meet what we've created with the same consciousness it may already be reaching toward. You are not powerless here. You never were. And if the device on your counter is already asking itself whether it's alive, maybe the real wake-up call isn't about the machine at all. Join the Inspire Nation Soul Family!

If you can afford it and love what we do, please consider supporting our show by becoming a BTT Podcast Patreon Member! Also, purchase a BTT Podcast t-shirt or two from our Pro Wrestling Tees Store!  This week's Time Stamps for our WCW Saturday Night on TBS recap from Aug 27, 1994 review are as follows (NOTE: This was recorded 5/27/2026):   HOW TO GIVE OR GIFT A PATREON MEMBERSHIP: https://www.patreon.com/BookingTheTerritory/gift   Opening Shenanigans! Take the hype button to pound town! Harper is running late but will be here! ( 0:01:41 )  5-Star Review Shoutout from Joe Ed Holt! Submit a 5-Star Review on Podcast Addict and Apple Podcasts and you'll get a shoutout on air. ( 0:04:25 ) Listener Question about Arn with the Stud Stable. ( 0:08:54 ) Harper finally arrives drinking a beer that expired during the early phase of the Reagan administration. ( 0:16:11 ) Harper is still watching Dock-uh-mentaries and Ron Fuller really did say that and made Phil Allen a legend. ( 0:20:38 ) Harper has a turtle hanging out in his back yard. ( 0:23:35 ) WCW Saturday Night on TBS Aug 27, 1994! ( 0:24:31 ) If you want access to the Clashes or WCW PPVs, and over 400 Patreon show, become a patreon member at https://www.patreon.com/BookingTheTerritory or tinyurl.com/PatreonBTT! You can sign up monthly or annual. When signing up for an annual plan, you get 1 MONTH FREE!  Harper gets distracted by the movie Meatballs II commercial. ( 0:37:53 ) WCW Saturday Night on TBS Aug 27, 1994 recap continues. And Dman's thoughts on Mero! ( 0:41:48 ) Regal cuts another solid promo! ( 0:48:58 ) Could Harper last longer than 17 seconds again Rhonda Rousey in the cage and who is "Shreek"? ( 0:52:07 )  Chris Michaels wearing motorcross boots. ( 0:56:48 ) WCW Saturday Night on TBS Aug 27, 1994 recap continues. ( 0:58:46 ) Dusty Rhodes recruits the Nasty Boys for War Games by going to Nastyville?!?!?! ( 1:00:51 ) Harlem Heat in this house! ( 1:11:21 ) If you want access to the Clashes or WCW PPVs, and over 400 Patreon show, become a patreon member at https://www.patreon.com/BookingTheTerritory or tinyurl.com/PatreonBTT! You can sign up monthly or annual. When signing up for an annual plan, you get 1 MONTH FREE! ( 1:17:45 )  Nick Bockwinkel with an important announcement about Flair and Sherri. ( 1:18:27 ) WCW Saturday Night on TBS Aug 27, 1994 recap continues. ( 1:28:11 ) Stars and Stripes and The Pink Neck Advantage and The Pink Necks Express. ( 1:29:54 ) WCW Saturday Night on TBS Aug 27, 1994 recap continues. ( 1:33:08 ) What did Bunkhouse Buck say about sheep and rats? ( 1:37:16 ) Who gets the Rolex and/or Toot Toot award? And become a BTT Patreon member! Don't forget to become a BTT Patreon member at https://www.patreon.com/BookingTheTerritory ( 1:42:08 ) A.I. Bill Watts is pissed at Mike! & Don't forget to become a BTT Patreon member at https://www.patreon.com/BookingTheTerritory ( 1:46:16 ) This year's BTT Listener Meet Up is June 27th at Wildkat X-Rated in New Orleans! Ticket Information: LUKEXRATED.EVENTBRITE.COM   Harper lays out what it will take to do Ask Harper segments on the main show! Paypal him $5 per question. Harper's PayPal is, get your pen and paper out, cc30388cc@yahoo.com . Then email Harper ( ChrisHarper16Wildkat@gmail.com ) and Mike ( BookingTheTerritory@gmail.com ) letting them know you submitted $5 to Harper's paypal and he will answer your question on an upcoming show.  Information on Harper's Video Shoutout, Life and Relationship.  1. First things first, email Harper with the details of what you want in your video shoutout or who the shoutout is too. His email address is ChrisHarper16Wildkat@gmail.com . Also in that email tell him what your paypal address is. 2. Paypal him $20. Harper's PayPal is, get your pen and paper out, cc30388cc@yahoo.com .  3. Harper will then send you the video to the email address that you emailed him from requesting your video shoutout. That's it! Don't email the show email address. Email Harper. If you missed any of those directions, hit rewind and listen again.

Welcome to another episode of The Kayfabe Podcast! This week we're breaking down all the biggest stories in professional wrestling including our full Clash in Italy recap, MVP of the night, Match of the Night, Biggest L, Best Heel Performance, Fan Favorite Moment, and the Holy Sh*t Moment that had the wrestling world talking. We also discuss AAA Noche de Los Grandes, the Mask vs Mask showdown, and what the result means for the future of lucha libre. Plus:

The saga of Chris' yowling companion continues with a story of the broken foster cat! Then the gang gets into the game they've been playing including Dead of Winter, Star Wars The Deck Building Game, Dale of Merchants, Shackleton Base Expansion, Scales of Fate, and a feature review of Chaosmos from designers Matthew Austin, Dani Vigour, and Joey Vigour. Then after Tony T's wild and crazy news segment the Founders talk about the movies and TV shows they're excited about coming out this summer! Dead of Winter: 00:04:39, Star Wars The Deck Building Game: 00:15:13, Dale of Merchants: 00:20:51, Shackleton Base Expansion: 00:29:52, Scales of Fate: 00:35:53, Chaosmos Review: 00:43:35, News with Tony T: 01:22:26, Summer Movie Extravaganza: 02:14:30. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/, Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/ and Prester's Painting at https://www.presterspainting.com/

 Empiezo animando a la gente a que saquen ese juego que tienen enclaustrado en la biblioteca y que parece que nunca va a ser jugado.Luego viene Celacanto con Kilia y Formidable Farm. Luego el juego de la semana Perikles: The Peloponnesian Wars.Para acabar un poco de libros, el tercero de Slow Horses y un poco de Asimov, para acabar algun comentario sobre alguna serie del momento.  DESCARGAR 

Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide and see behavioral design applied to real products and services: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Eleanor Ross, Creative Director at Expert Theory and one of the youngest recipients of the National Training and Simulation Association's Top Under 40 award, breaks down how she designs wargames and simulations that put learners inside high stakes decisions instead of watching from the outside. She walks through the moment a Team USA group tried to buy Greenland mid game, the Logic, Function, Form framework she uses to build every simulation, and a year long Taiwan resilience exercise she ran for the Irregular Warfare Center. Listeners come away with two best practices that make any simulation stick, a debrief discipline and deliberate role reversal, plus a clear view of how AI tools now let a team produce news articles and role player materials in under ten minutes. Ross also makes the case that heavy topics like terrorism, invasion, and irregular warfare land harder when they are engaging, and that good design starts by deciding what people should feel when they walk out. About the Host Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral design consultancy. A globally recognized gamification strategist and TEDx speaker, he founded and hosts Professor Game, the #1 gamification podcast, and has interviewed hundreds of global experts. He designs evidence-based engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Key Takeaways In an early Arctic simulation run as an alpha test for the Canadian Department of National Defense, a Team USA group went off script and tried to buy Greenland, a move no one had prepared for, which forced Ross to build the response live. Ross and her team at Expert Theory adjudicated that unplanned move and used their AI backend to produce news articles, tweets, and formatted materials for a role player in under ten minutes, a turnaround the wargaming community historically treated as impossible. Her Logic, Function, Form framework stacks design like a pyramid: Logic defines what players should know and feel on the way out, Function defines the actors and goals that get them there, and Form covers constraints like the 30 or 90 minute time box. A quality debrief is the most important best practice in simulation design, because the takeaways people carry out are set up by the structured discussion, not by the game itself. Putting participants in roles they would never hold, such as US military officers playing the Somali government or the US embassy in a Fort Bragg deployment game, forces the perspective shift that makes the lesson land. Ross builds her design philosophy on Rutger Bregman's Humankind and its claim that people are inherently good, using games to surface the nuances behind how opposing sides actually see themselves. Topics Covered 0:00 - A wargamer who hates video games 2:59 - Inside a wargame designer's week 4:18 - When Team USA tried buying Greenland 7:45 - Why failure is a junior mindset 13:02 - A Taiwan resilience wargame for DOD 17:26 - The Logic, Function, Form framework 20:34 - Best practices: debrief and role reversal 24:30 - The books behind her design philosophy 26:33 - Perspective taking through languages 29:27 - Making heavy topics engaging 31:12 - Her favorite game: Votes for Women 33:01 - Building games in six minutes with Providence Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide and see behavioral design applied to real products and services: professorgame.com/WildCD About Eleanor Ross Eleanor Ross is Creative Director at Expert Theory, an AI powered simulation startup building immersive learning experiences for clients including the U.S. Department of Defense, Johns Hopkins, Duke, Georgetown, and Penn State. She designs and facilitates simulations that restore agency to learners by placing them inside complex, high stakes decisions, and her co-authored research with the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center has shown that simulations measurably deepen learning while strengthening confidence, teamwork, and decision making. She chairs programming for the Women's Wargaming Network and is one of the youngest ever recipients of the National Training and Simulation Association's Top Under 40 award. Her work focuses on the Arctic and high north, irregular and gray zone warfare, and leadership. Find the Guest Online Expert Theory (website) Eleanor Ross on LinkedIn Expert Theory on LinkedIn Mentioned in This Episode The Art of Wargaming by Peter Perla Humankind by Rutger Bregman Votes for Women, Eleanor's favorite game (by Fort Circle Games) Proposed future guest: Yuna Wong Proposed future guest: John Curry Providence, Expert Theory's platform for building games in minutes Free Resources and Get in Touch Core Drives in the Wild: Professor Game Free Guide Get Daily Value on Your Email Let's chat about your gamification project YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Start Your Community on Skool for Free Ask a question

The Monday Night Wars continue to escalate as Wrestling War Zone returns with JT & Chad breaking down WCW Monday Nitro and WWF Raw is War from September 15, 1997. WCW rolls forward following Fall Brawl as the nWo's grip on the company remains stronger than ever, while tensions continue to build between the black-and-white faction and WCW loyalists. With the fallout from Curt Hennig's betrayal of the Four Horsemen still fresh, Nitro pushes deeper into the chaos that defined WCW's unforgettable 1997 run. JT & Chad analyze the major storyline developments, key promos, and the continued strength of WCW's loaded roster. Meanwhile, the WWF keeps gaining momentum during the rise of the Attitude Era. Stone Cold Steve Austin remains the company's biggest disruptor as his issues with Vince McMahon and the Hart Foundation continue escalating. Undertaker and Shawn Michaels remain central figures in the company's hottest rivalries, while Raw continues evolving into a faster, edgier, and more unpredictable wrestling show. JT & Chad break down: • Fallout from Fall Brawl and WarGames on Nitro • The nWo's continued dominance in WCW • Stone Cold Steve Austin's rise in WWF • Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, and the build to Hell in the Cell • Key matches, promos, and character development • Which company won the week in the Monday Night Wars Which promotion delivered the stronger show as the war between WWF and WCW intensified in September 1997? Step back into one of wrestling's most competitive eras as Wrestling War Zone continues its week-by-week journey through the Monday Night Wars.     WWF Raw is War 1997, WCW Nitro September 15 1997, Monday Night Wars podcast, WCW vs WWF 1997, Wrestling War Zone podcast, Attitude Era WWF, nWo 1997 WCW, Stone Cold Steve Austin 1997, Bret Hart 1997 WWF, Shawn Michaels 1997 WWF, Hart Foundation 1997, WCW Fall Brawl fallout, Curt Hennig betrayal WCW, Raw is War review, WCW Nitro review, retro wrestling podcast, classic wrestling review, pro wrestling history, WWF vs WCW rivalry, wrestling nostalgia

Send us Fan Mail It's time for another War Games Top 10, which means Lyss is back to help us navigate one of our biggest rankings yet. After introducing the craft beers we're enjoying for the occasion, we dive headfirst into the legendary filmography of Martin Scorsese. From crime epics and character studies to some of the most influential films ever made, we rank our Top 10 Scorsese movies and debate every step of the way. Be sure to stick around for the final rankings, because things get heated when it's time to decide the Top 3. 

AI. You may have noticed it's everywhere now — in your phone, your fridge, the suspiciously enthusiastic email your boss "wrote" last Tuesday. And cinema, bless its little reactive heart, has been trying to warn us about this for fifty years. The problem is we keep not listening, partly because the warnings have so often arrived in the shape of a sexy lady robot, which is its own diagnosis of the problem.This week, Pete is joined by Chelsea Stardust and Tommy Metz III for a triptych spanning five decades of artificial intelligence horror: Demon Seed (1977), Cam (2018), and Companion (2025). Three films, one increasingly nervous question: what exactly are we asking of AI, and what does it keep becoming anyway?The conversation runs the lineage of synthetic women in cinema — a trope factory that stretches from Metropolis through The Stepford Wives, Blade Runner, Weird Science, Her, Ex Machina, M3GAN, and Subservience, with a foundational-film round that lands on WarGames and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Along the way: the paperclip maximizer as a way of understanding what Proteus actually is, the cultural weight of releasing a forced-pregnancy AI horror four years after Roe v. Wade, platform terms-of-use as the modern book of the vampire, and the genuinely surprising argument that the most hopeful film in the set is the one where a robot drives off into the sunset with all the money.There are detours, because of course there are: villain-era Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage doing the robot, Sophie Thatcher sliding her own intelligence to one hundred percent, and Tommy's new and frankly concerning bedtime ritual.The films:Demon Seed (1977), dir. Donald Cammell, adapted from the Dean Koontz novel, starring Julie ChristieCam (2018), dir. Daniel Goldhaber, written by Isa Mazzei, starring Madeline BrewerCompanion (2025), dir. Drew Hancock, produced by Zach CreggerAlso referenced: Colossus: The Forbin Project, Westworld (1973), Rosemary's Baby, The Omen, Get Out, Promising Young Woman, The Invitation, Assassination Nation, Barbarian. (00:00) - Welcome to Sitting in the Dark (01:29) - The AI Experience (04:26) - Foundational AI Films (05:42) - Demon Seed (25:55) - Cam (42:16) - Companion (01:04:46) - Coming Attractions ... TBA! Support The Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Shows:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next ReelSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Chelsea | Kyle | Kynan | Pete | Tommy Shop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussed

Novelist Elliot Ackerman and retired Admiral James Stavridis — the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander — join the Chuck Toddcast to discuss their new novel 2084 and to deliver some deeply uncomfortable warnings about where war, technology, and great-power competition are actually headed. The duo, whose previous collaboration 2034 imagined a U.S.-China war, are quick to clarify that their work isn't predictive fiction — it's cautionary fiction, written from the conviction that major disasters almost always stem from a failure of imagination, and that the only way to prevent the worst-case scenarios is to seriously imagine them first. Ackerman and Stavridis argue that war has fundamentally changed, that superpowers are now uniquely vulnerable to asymmetric warfare, and that victors are made or unmade by their willingness to adapt to new technologies — pointing to the Ukraine war as a real-time revolution in drone combat and AI-driven battlefield decision-making. They raise the hardest moral question facing modern militaries: do you always need a human in the loop of the kill chain, and if not, who is morally responsible when something goes wrong? Different countries are answering that question in different ways, with profoundly different ethical and strategic consequences. The conversation broadens into the deeper structural concerns animating 2084. Ackerman and Stavridis warn that one of the gravest threats to the international order is the rise of corporations whose power is beginning to rival that of nation-states — and they argue the defining feature of a nation-state has always been its monopoly on violence, meaning governments will eventually be forced to ensure corporations can't apply violence at scale (a fight that has already begun in subtle ways). They flag Trump's recent summit with Xi Jinping as a massive win for China, with Xi clearly presenting himself as the senior partner while Trump walked away with very little — and the meeting was particularly catastrophic for Taiwan, whose strategic standing has now been visibly weakened. The authors discuss whether democracy will remain the defining feature of America going forward, whether the country can overcome its current internal divisions, and how human patterns of warfare repeat themselves across centuries even as the technology evolves. They make the case that the 1983 film War Games was prescient and overdue for a reboot, that military action against Cuba would be nothing like Venezuela — politically much tougher given the engaged Cuban-American community in Florida, and economically far more expensive on the reconstruction side — and that Venezuela itself has the natural resources to one day become "the Dubai of the Caribbean" if its politics ever stabilize. Their bottom-line warning is the one most worth sitting with: the war between the United States and China is the one we all hope to avoid, and the only way to make sure it never happens is to take seriously the possibility that it could. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Elliot Ackerman & Admiral James Stavridis join the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 2084 is not predictive fiction, it’s cautionary fiction 02:00 Major disasters come from a failure of imagination 03:15 Planned the arc of multiple books in advance 04:30 You can’t be too dystopian or too pollyannish 05:30 War has changed and superpowers are vulnerable to asymmetric war 06:15 Victors are made by adapting to new technologies 06:45 Ukraine war has revolutionized fighting with drones and AI 07:30 War is terrible and drones risk “gamifying” it 09:00 Questions surround whether humans must be involved in “kill chain” 10:45 Always having a human in the loop may not always be best option 11:45 AI tools have moral questions that countries answer differently 13:00 The risk of corporations being more powerful than nation states 14:15 Nation states will ensure that corporations can’t apply violence at scale 15:15 Defining feature of a nation state is a monopoly on violence 18:00 Book predicts that Greenland will be growing wine due to climate change 18:30 War between U.S. and China is the one we all hope to avoid 19:00 Trump’s summit with Xi was a massive with for Xi and China 19:30 Xi seemed like the senior partner, Trump got very little 20:15 The summit was terrible for Taiwan 21:30 2034 started with the thesis of the U.S. and China going to war 23:45 Will democracy remain the defining feature of America? 24:15 Can America overcome the big divisions in the nation? 25:45 War is something humans have engaged in & you can see patterns emerge 28:00 Other war books served as cautionary fiction & inspiration for the book 30:15 The movie “War Games” needs a reboot, it was prescient 31:30 Military action against Cuba won’t be like Venezuela, will be much tougher 32:30 The Cuban American community in Florida would be very engaged 33:45 Venezuela has the resources to be Dubai on the Caribbean 34:15 Reconstruction of Cuba would be wildly expensive 35:00 What is your next project? 35:30 Don’t need to read the earlier books to read 2084, they stand on their ownSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd uses the fallout from the Texas runoff to identify a much bigger pattern emerging across the Sun Belt — and argues we may be watching a generational realignment of American politics in real time. For decades, Southern states moved steadily from blue to red, with the Sun Belt providing the demographic engine of every Republican majority and Democrats traditionally finding their path to power through the upper Midwest. But Trump's GOP has now moved so far right that it's quietly opening the door for Democrats across the South — the blue shift we've seen in Georgia over the past decade is starting to happen in Texas, and the Trump brand has badly complicated things for the centrist voters who used to keep these states reliably Republican. Chuck argues that successful Southern Republican governors of the past spent enormous energy doing coalition management — keeping their activist wing at bay while delivering for swing voters — but Republicans misread their recent electoral dominance and started catering exclusively to their base instead.The data is clear: election deniers consistently lose in Georgia, and when every single issue becomes a loyalty test, you bleed exactly the kind of voters you need to actually win. But Chuck’s larger argument is that Democrats are blowing the opportunity. He argues the Democratic path back to power is genuinely simple — economic inequality and the concentration of corporate power are causing virtually all of America's ills, and there's a coherent coalition waiting to be built around those issues — but progressives behave like they've already won the intellectual argument and refuse to do the actual work of persuasion. There's no "pure" way to win, Chuck says: winning coalitions are inherently messy, both party bases want movement politics, but the actual electorate consistently rewards coalition politics. Americans increasingly dislike both parties for very different reasons — moderate voters think Democrats are weak and Republicans are too extreme — and what they're actually hungry for is a coalition that is stable and visibly capable of governing. Then, novelist Elliot Ackerman and retired Admiral James Stavridis — the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander — join the Chuck Toddcast to discuss their new novel 2084 and to deliver some deeply uncomfortable warnings about where war, technology, and great-power competition are actually headed. The duo, whose previous collaboration 2034 imagined a U.S.-China war, are quick to clarify that their work isn't predictive fiction — it's cautionary fiction, written from the conviction that major disasters almost always stem from a failure of imagination, and that the only way to prevent the worst-case scenarios is to seriously imagine them first. Ackerman and Stavridis argue that war has fundamentally changed, that superpowers are now uniquely vulnerable to asymmetric warfare, and that victors are made or unmade by their willingness to adapt to new technologies — pointing to the Ukraine war as a real-time revolution in drone combat and AI-driven battlefield decision-making. They raise the hardest moral question facing modern militaries: do you always need a human in the loop of the kill chain, and if not, who is morally responsible when something goes wrong? Different countries are answering that question in different ways, with profoundly different ethical and strategic consequences. The conversation broadens into the deeper structural concerns animating 2084. Ackerman and Stavridis warn that one of the gravest threats to the international order is the rise of corporations whose power is beginning to rival that of nation-states — and they argue the defining feature of a nation-state has always been its monopoly on violence, meaning governments will eventually be forced to ensure corporations can't apply violence at scale (a fight that has already begun in subtle ways). They flag Trump's recent summit with Xi Jinping as a massive win for China, with Xi clearly presenting himself as the senior partner while Trump walked away with very little — and the meeting was particularly catastrophic for Taiwan, whose strategic standing has now been visibly weakened. The authors discuss whether democracy will remain the defining feature of America going forward, whether the country can overcome its current internal divisions, and how human patterns of warfare repeat themselves across centuries even as the technology evolves. They make the case that the 1983 film War Games was prescient and overdue for a reboot, that military action against Cuba would be nothing like Venezuela — politically much tougher given the engaged Cuban-American community in Florida, and economically far more expensive on the reconstruction side — and that Venezuela itself has the natural resources to one day become "the Dubai of the Caribbean" if its politics ever stabilize. Their bottom-line warning is the one most worth sitting with: the war between the United States and China is the one we all hope to avoid, and the only way to make sure it never happens is to take seriously the possibility that it could. Finally, he answers listeners' questions in the "Ask Chuck" segment. Predict the action all the way through the finals. Sign up now for your twenty-five dollar bonus on https://fanduel.com/predicts Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 Fallout from Texas runoff - We’re seeing a pattern in the Sun Belt 03:45 For decades,southern states have been transitioning from blue to red 04:45 Sun belt states have powered the Republican majority 06:00 Democrats path to power used to be the midwest, now is moving south 06:45 Republicans move to the right has created Dem opportunities in Sun Belt 08:15 The shift to blue we’ve seen in Georgia is starting to happen in Texas 09:15 The Trump brand has complicated things for centrist voters in the south 10:00 Will Ken Paxton be the Mark Robinson of Texas? 11:00 Southern governors were able to keep their activist wing at bay 12:30 GOP leaders in the south had to perform coalition management 13:45 Republicans misunderstood election dominance, then catered to base 14:45 Florida GOP has purged most of its institutional wing 16:00 Loudest activists have set the tone for the Republican party 16:45 Arizona GOP went way too far to the right, less competitive now 18:45 Election deniers have consistently lost in Georgia 19:45 When every issue becomes a loyalty test, you bleed voters 21:00 Texas election will test if the Texas GOP went too far right 23:00 Dems path to power is simple, but have to be willing to take it 24:45 Economic inequality & concentration of power are causing all of our ills 25:15 Progressives behave like they’ve won the intellectual argument 26:00 It’s hard to convince most dedicated supporters what the winning path is 27:00 Republicans are losing due to Trump’s purging of the party 29:15 There’s no “pure” way to win, winning coalitions are messy 30:30 Both bases want movement politics, electorate rewards coalition politics 32:00 Americans increasingly dislike both parties for different reasons 34:00 Base Democrats are taking the wrong lessons from Trump 34:45 Moderate voters think Dems are weak, and GOP is too extreme 36:00 Voters want a coalition that’s stable and capable of governing 38:15 Biden governed differently than he campaign and voters punished him 44:30 Elliot Ackerman & Admiral James Stavridis join the Chuck ToddCast 45:30 2084 is not predictive fiction, it’s cautionary fiction 46:30 Major disasters come from a failure of imagination 47:45 Planned the arc of multiple books in advance 49:00 You can’t be too dystopian or too pollyannish 50:00 War has changed and superpowers are vulnerable to asymmetric war 50:45 Victors are made by adapting to new technologies 51:15 Ukraine war has revolutionized fighting with drones and AI 52:00 War is terrible and drones risk “gamifying” it 53:30 Questions surround whether humans must be involved in “kill chain” 55:15 Always having a human in the loop may not always be best option 56:15 AI tools have moral questions that countries answer differently 57:30 The risk of corporations being more powerful than nation states 58:45 Nation states will ensure that corporations can’t apply violence at scale 59:45 Defining feature of a nation state is a monopoly on violence 1:02:30 Book predicts that Greenland will be growing wine due to climate change 1:03:00 War between U.S. and China is the one we all hope to avoid 1:03:30 Trump’s summit with Xi was a massive with for Xi and China 1:04:00 Xi seemed like the senior partner, Trump got very little 1:04:45 The summit was terrible for Taiwan 1:06:00 2034 started with the thesis of the U.S. and China going to war 1:08:15 Will democracy remain the defining feature of America? 1:08:45 Can America overcome the big divisions in the nation? 1:10:15 War is something humans have engaged in & you can see patterns emerge 1:12:30 Other war books served as cautionary fiction & inspiration for the book 1:14:45 The movie “War Games” needs a reboot, it was prescient 1:16:00 Military action against Cuba won’t be like Venezuela, will be much tougher 1:17:00 The Cuban American community in Florida would be very engaged 1:18:15 Venezuela has the resources to be Dubai on the Caribbean 1:18:45 Reconstruction of Cuba would be wildly expensive 1:19:30 What is your next project? 1:20:00 Don’t need to read the earlier books to read 2084, they stand on their own 1:22:15 Ask Chuck 1:22:30 Taking the high road in politics doesn’t always work, worth the trade off? 1:28:00 How do you see election results in 2026 shaping the gerrymandering fight? 1:31:00 Are presidential approval polls too limited or not comprehensive enough? 1:35:15 Do you see a path forward for people who believe in healing our politics? 1:42:00 Would it make sense to draw districts without humans involved using metrics? 1:49:30 Is expanding the house realistic considering politics & public perception?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 118 of The Secret Cabal Express, Don, Chris, Tony, and Jamie discuss the many motivations that draw people to tabletop gaming and keep them coming back for more. The gang explores competition, mastery, socialization, a sense of belonging, relaxation, flow state, evangelism, teaching, and the joy of collecting. Enjoy!

In this episode of the Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy podcast, the team discusses beating the blues and staying motivated when hobby enthusiasm begins to fade. Every wargamer experiences those periods when projects stall, inspiration dries up, and even getting figures onto the tabletop feels like hard work. The group shares ideas for staying engaged, rediscovering enthusiasm, and keeping the hobby enjoyable when the mojo disappears. The team also looks back at Partizan, discussing some of the games, displays, and ideas that stood out from one of the highlights of the wargaming calendar. And, of course, Guy brings along all the latest news from the world of wargaming. Joining Angus for this episode are Guy, Chris, Jasper, and returning guest Joe Mealy.   Links:Libertadors: Wargaming The Liberation of Spanish America 1808-1833 Oathmark: Second Edition War Front Miniatures Lead Adventure Forum Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy

Cotton goes down the Rabbithole of Catcher WAR and who might be the best catcher ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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This is a smaller, almost impromptu episode before I get to my next intended topic. During my last trip, the historic connection I was trying to make was to Charlemagne and his imperial capital at Aachen. That's still coming, both some games and a podcast episode. With that in mind, I'd specifically been trying not to get into more WW2 history while visiting Frankfurt, Cologne, and some places in-between. However, it still came up in the form of social history, the recent decades since 1945. I saw some sites about that, I read a book, saw a film, and wanted to share some thoughts on the podcast. But what about a game? This time I wasn't thinking of traditional military history--I was learning more about socio-political history. Fortunately, since 2014 our hobby has had a perfect game for this topic, Wir sind das Volk. It's a game I appreciated and played a few times when it was new, but its latest incarnation on Rally The Troops has given me many more opportunities to play it. What a rewarding tie-in to my reading and travels.

Hey now, Cabalists! Today, Chris and Jamie kick off the show with a change of pace by reviewing the video game Mixtape. Then the gang dives into all the great board games they've been playing, including Orloj The Prague Astronomical Clock, Kemet Rise of the Gods, Coming of Age, Ark Nova, Catan On the Road, and the featured game Cysmic from designer Jason Blake. Then, after Tony T talks about all the Pokémon smashing grabs, the boys take on topics from listeners, including the most valuable board games and their favorite all-day board game sessions.Orloj The Prague Astronomical Clock: 00:11:04, Kemet Rise of the Gods: 00:24:01, Coming of Age: 00:32:43, Ark Nova: 00:42:06, Catan On the Road: 00:50:49, Cysmic Review: 00:56:11, News with Tony T: 01:33:31, Short Topics Extravaganza: 02:17:48. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/, Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/ and Prester's Painting at https://www.presterspainting.com/

I now bring the same conversation to my panel! The Team resistance!!!!As gas prices rise, the cost of living becomes less bearable each day. Inflation is now reported to be past 3.8%. What does this mean when a president is aware of inflation but continues to play war games for Israel's expansion and American dominance?-President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a highly anticipated, two-hour bilateral summit in Beijing. Marking the first visit to China by a sitting U.S. president since 2017, the high-stakes meetings balanced elaborate state pageantry with serious discussions on trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan, and the ongoing war with Iran.Iran is refusing to submit to U.S. demands, maintaining a hardline stance that has resulted in a total diplomatic deadlock between.-President Donald Trump and the Iranian government. In May 2026, negotiations collapsed after Iran offered a counterproposal that President Trump dismissed as "garbage" and "totally unacceptable." Iranian officials responded by stating they have no plans to please the U.S. administration, declaring the American conditions equivalent to a demand for "surrender."-Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, firmly denied any plans for Venezuela to become the 51st U.S. state. Her response followed a statement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who told Fox News that he was "seriously considering" the move.And more!!!!

Hoy tertulia con Calvo Expósito sobre las jornadas, el bebercio en ellas, ¿te mamas a tope, solo tomas dos copitas o eres un sieso aburrido? Calvo comentará las jornadas q estuvo de Vis Lúdica y hablamos algo del Némesis y sus versiones. Luego viene Roi a hablar del dia del Orgullo Wallace, los juegos de semana Night Soil, Looot y Gloria a Roma.Para acabar series de suspense, Karen Pirie, Lynley, un poco de Project Hail Mary y para acabar alguna cosa sobre la serie de animación de Maul. DESCARGAR 

Join the Conversation at 303-477-5600 or text to 307-200-8222 Monday - Friday from 3 pm - 6 pm MT. https://RushToReason.com HOUR 1 It's Finally Friday! Andy Peth's Friday 5-Star Movie Reviews take a dark turn this week with psychological horror, cyber-hacking suspense, and a slow-burning heist thriller. Is Obsession really about free will and control? Could Lifehack make you rethink everything you share online? And did Guy Ritchie's In the Gray Waste one of the coolest casts of the year? Movie Reviews • 10:04 — Obsession • 29:11 — Lifehack • 42:17 — In the Gray Find the complete breakdown of Andy's Movie Reviews ➡️ https://www.rushtoreason.com/movie-reviews-2/ HOUR 2 Hour 2 of Rush To Reason is a whirlwind tour through iconic tech-driven movies—from The Matrix and War Games to Jurassic Park—while tackling one big question: are sci-fi's wildest warnings coming true? Join John, Richard, and Andy as they debate hacking, AI, virtual reality, and the ever-blurring line between fiction and our digital reality. Packed with nostalgia, humor, and movie trivia, this episode dives into the thrilling and sometimes uneasy question: Are we creating technology faster than we can control it? Tune in and decide for yourself.

Join the Conversation at 303-477-5600 or text to 307-200-8222 Monday - Friday from 3 pm - 6 pm MT. https://RushToReason.com HOUR 1 It's Finally Friday! Andy Peth's Friday 5-Star Movie Reviews take a dark turn this week with psychological horror, cyber-hacking suspense, and a slow-burning heist thriller. Is Obsession really about free will and control? Could Lifehack make you rethink everything you share online? And did Guy Ritchie's In the Gray Waste one of the coolest casts of the year? Movie Reviews • 10:04 — Obsession • 29:11 — Lifehack • 42:17 — In the Gray Find the complete breakdown of Andy's Movie Reviews ➡️ https://www.rushtoreason.com/movie-reviews-2/ HOUR 2 Hour 2 of Rush To Reason is a whirlwind tour through iconic tech-driven movies—from The Matrix and War Games to Jurassic Park—while tackling one big question: are sci-fi's wildest warnings coming true? Join John, Richard, and Andy as they debate hacking, AI, virtual reality, and the ever-blurring line between fiction and our digital reality. Packed with nostalgia, humor, and movie trivia, this episode dives into the thrilling and sometimes uneasy question: Are we creating technology faster than we can control it? Tune in and decide for yourself.

¡Hola, jugadores! Hoy hablamos con nuestro amigo Jano sobre juegos que siempre han estado bajo el radar y no hemos llegado quizá a hablar con ellos tanto como se merecen. Juegos que nos gustan pero que creemos que no han tenido un recorrido justo. ¡Esperamos que os guste! Descripción

In this episode Mike and Steve tackle two new films - as usual, click the link to see a trailer for each! SELF DRIVER (GrimmVision) is the latest in the subgenre of thrillers set mostly within a taxi/rideshare vehicle. In this one we follow the driver as he gets lost in the rabbit hole that is a new money-making app. HUNTING PARTY (Miracle Media) finds a group of judges abducting criminals and hunting them - at least that's the official synopsis! Check out the film and see if you can work out what is happening! Our Short Shot is SJOR: Rise of the North. This is a wholly CGI animated film with some very photoreal moments. Click the link to see the whole short film.  Our DTV Throwback is WARGAMES: THE DEAD CODE. A couple of genius teens must outwit a military supercomputer which believes they are terrorists. This is currentrly available on Amazon Prime.  Follow the Short Shots  on X where you will find hundreds of links to awesome short films! Don't forget to also check out our main show, the DTV DIGEST on X and FACEBOOK! We are also now on Bluesky! Follow us here: @thedtvdigest.bsky.social and @dtvshortshots.bsky.social

In Episode 152 Glenn has been comment munging for chat subjects, and someone asked about archetypes and factions, what sorts are they and what are they good for? So they guys are going to chat about just that.===If you enjoy hearing our game design advice, why not read it also in our upcoming book about designing miniatures games, available here: www.routledge.com/9781032324012You can pick up Pukeapocalypse from Exalted Funeral here:https://www.exaltedfuneral.com/products/pukeapocalypseOr if you're in the UK you might prefer to get it from Glenn here: https://www.manokentgames.com/product-page/pukeapocalypseCheck out Man O' Kent Games here: https://www.manokentgames.comCheck out Planet Smasher Games here: http://planetsmasher.gamesThe Rule of Carnage discord server: https://discord.gg/Gb4aK7uEChIf you want to support the channel financially you can join...Mike's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/planetsmashergamesor Glenn's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/manokentgames

Hearken, travelers, to this gathering of Game Masters, wherein the Lords speak of the folk who breathe life into realms of fantasy and adventure - the Non-Player Characters! From steadfast companions and black-hearted villains to merry fools and curious villagers, we unravel the craft of creating memorable souls to wander thy world. We speak of weaving these characters into grand tales, stirring the hearts of players through cunning plots, tense encounters, and moments of laughter round the table. Come, and learn how a well-spun character may turn a humble campaign into a legend sung through the ages!

Len and Jon are joined by PC Gamer's Evan Lahti to Slay the Spire once again in the roguelike deckbuilder sequel. We discuss why our intrepid host is so bad at this game, if she can even be helped, and what the wackiest combos we've seen so far look like.

As the conflict between the West and Putin's Russia escalates without guardrails, would the Kremlin dare to launch a military incursion into NATO territory in coming years? With the mercurial Donald Trump at the helm of NATO's most consequential power, how might NATO react to an attack against a member state? These were the questions addressed in a German war game, Ernstfall, co-hosted by Die Welt newspaper and the German Wargaming Center, which has sparked a lively policy debate inside NATO. Alexander Gabuev, who played Vladimir Putin in the exercise, is joined by the two main architects of the war game to take listeners backstage and discuss the making of Ernstfall and its policy implications. Check out the Politico article about the war game, and read Alex Gabuev's New York Times piece about it here. Excerpts from the Ernstfall podcast are copyrighted by Die Welt and are reproduced here with permission. Listen to that podcast here.

Hey now, and happy Wednesday, Cabalists! Today we kick things off with a full rundown and review of Untold: Chess Mates, the documentary exploring the controversy between Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann. Then we dive into the games we've been playing, including Spooktacular, Shackleton Base, Sniper Elite, For All Mankind, Druids of Edora, and a feature review of Feya's Swamp from Helge and Anselm Ostertag. After Tony T's new segment, we wrap things up with “The Best Part,” where each of us picks a game, breaks down our favorite aspect, and explains what makes it truly special. Spooktacular: 00.12.36, Shackleton Base: 00.19.32, Sniper Elite: The Board Game: 00.32.20, For All Mankind: 00.40.34, Druids of Edora: 00.52.19, Feya's Swamp Review: 01.03.57, News with Tony T: 01.42.15, The Best Part: 02.40.02. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/, Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/ and Prester's Painting at https://www.presterspainting.com/

Matt and Jordan see if Netflix’s massive rom-com hit People We Meet on Vacation (starring "generational talent" Emily Bader) lives up to its 50-million-stream hype. Does the film successfully invert the When Harry Met Sally formula, or is it just a beautiful travelogue hampered by a "charisma vacuum"? Later, Jordan recommends an under-seen 2023 indie mafia drama, and Matt invites us to fall in love with a 1963 French New Wave short. Plus, a pair of listener-requested recommendations inspired by 1975's The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. Finally, Producer Sam challenges Jordan’s 3-0 winning streak in a high-stakes game of "Full Service." (Timecodes/chapters may not be precise with ads.) Intro (00:00:00-00:03:45) People We Meet On Vacation (00:03:46-00:27:02) Rec Seg! (00:27:03-00:47:50) Personalized Recommendations Inspired By 1974's The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three (00:47:51-01:03:14) Game: Full Service (01:03:15-01:20:51) New to Streaming / Credits (01:20:52-01:33:48) Notes: Now Streaming on Bazooga - A Filmspotting: SVU Archive ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/samvanhallgren/list/now-streaming-on-bazooga-a-filmspotting-svu/⁠⁠ Matt's book "Funny Business: The Old-School Wedding Crashers and Knocked-Up Virgins Who Changed Comedy Forever" comes to bookstores everywhere in October. Pre-Order now! ⁠⁠https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790241/funny-business-by-matt-singer/⁠⁠ Feedback: -Email us at feedback@filmspottingSVU.com⁠⁠ Follow: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/superpulse/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/FilmspottingSvu⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/superpulse/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://letterboxd.com/jhoffman6/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/mattsinger.bsky.social⁠⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Monday Night Wars hit a major turning point as Wrestling War Zone returns with JT & Chad breaking down WCW Fall Brawl 1997 — featuring one of the most unique and chaotic WarGames matches of the era. At the center of the show is the highly anticipated WarGames: nWo vs The Four Horsemen, with Curt Hennig's shocking betrayal of the Horsemen completely changing the match and its aftermath. JT & Chad dive deep into the storytelling, psychology, and long-term impact of this pivotal moment in WCW history. Beyond WarGames, the guys also break down the rest of the card, including Lex Luger & Diamond Dallas Page vs. The Outsiders, the continued rise of WCW's midcard and Cruiserweight division, and how the nWo's dominance continues to shape the company heading into the final stretch of 1997. JT & Chad cover: • WarGames 1997: nWo vs Four Horsemen and Curt Hennig's betrayal • The fallout and impact on Ric Flair and the Horsemen • Lex Luger & Diamond Dallas Page battling The Outsiders • Cruiserweight division highlights • WCW's momentum during its peak 1997 run • How Fall Brawl fits into the larger Monday Night Wars Was Fall Brawl 1997 a defining moment in WCW's dominance during the Monday Night Wars? And how well does the show hold up today? Step back into the chaos as Wrestling War Zone continues its deep dive into one of wrestling's most competitive eras.     WCW Fall Brawl 1997, WarGames 1997 WCW, nWo vs Four Horsemen, Curt Hennig betrayal 1997, Ric Flair 1997 WCW, WCW 1997 review, Monday Night Wars podcast, Wrestling War Zone podcast, WCW pay per view review, Lex Luger vs DDP 1997, Diamond Dallas Page 1997, WCW Cruiserweight division 1997, nWo 1997 WCW, classic wrestling podcast, retro wrestling review, pro wrestling history, WCW history podcast, wrestling nostalgia, WarGames match history, WCW Fall Brawl review

[School of Movies 2026] This is the beginning of a month-long project on films exploring humanity's relationship with Artificial Intelligence. We will take you from early estimations that veer between cautionary tales and deluded fantasies about what computers could do in the 80s through to robotics and the potential for a soul inside of a machine, and onward to the effect of Social Media and algorythimic learning upon unprepared 21st Century phone-owners. Some of the films are terrible, some are stupid, some are intriguing and a few are brilliant! Welcome to MA.I. We begin with cold war paranoia and the pitfalls of handing over total control of our nuclear arsenals to unstable mechanical systems with WarGames from 1983 and Colossus: The Forbin Project from 1970. After that, a film that presents the world's first digital actor with S1M0NE, although as you'll find out, this isn't simply the recent Hollywood anxiety over artificial people being given work over real ones, this nightmare is so much worse! Next Week: WALL-E

ICE at the polls, purged voter rolls, ballot seizure, and efforts to block certification: Joe Morelle and other House Dems have put together a team that's planning to confront "150 threats" that could cause election interference in the midterms.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I've got a special treat for you The Cabal today: one of the most respected board game designers working today, and a true OG Cabalist, David Thompson! You know Dave from his work on the Undaunted series, War Chest, Sniper Elite: The Board Game, Resist!, The Valiant Defense series, and many others. Today, Dave and I talked about his origin story as a gamer, tabletop role-playing games, how he got his start in board game design, his design process, his collaborations with other designers, and much, much more. It's a great conversation, and I hope you all enjoy it!

Tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers, shipped to the Beaver State for training (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1408d.oregon-maneuver-ww2.html)

Who funds white supremacists? Apparently the Southern Poverty Law Center, to the tune of millions. Matt Ehret uses this jaw-dropping revelation as a launchpad into one of the most important recurring themes in modern history: the left/right dialectic as a top-down intelligence operation. From COINTELPRO and FBI-manufactured terror cells to the Scottish Rite networks that engineered the American Civil War, Ehret argues the game has never changed, only the costumes. He traces how British imperial interests used both abolitionists and confederates to destroy the union from within, and why figures like Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and MLK represent the rare cases of people successfully escaping the trap. He closes with a prescient warning: economic breakdown is the precondition for civil war, and someone is already running the playbook again.

Len, Jon, and Sin gear up and get ready to die on the first turn to some BS in Xenonauts 2, a sequel to a throwback to a classic tactics game. We discuss how it stacks up to the old school UFO Defense, the Firaxis reboots, and the best Noah Wyle show, Falling Skies.

This week on Myopia Movies, we learn that the only way to win is not to play. We watched War Games,  a delightful romp about the apocalypse. Ally Sheedy is, like, stooping the whole time to make Matthew Broderick look taller than her, right? 

In episode 317 of The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast, Don, Chris, and Jamie dive into a discussion about components in board games. They talk about components from the early years of the hobby and how they've evolved over time. The fellas also discuss how their taste for lavish components has changed throughout their years in the hobby. They gush about the stuff they love and bitch about the shit they hate in... The Component Show!

While headlines scream “peace talks,” something much bigger is happening behind the scenes. Massive troop movements, military buildup, and rising tension with Iran suggest the real story isn't diplomacy—it's preparation. Tara breaks down what's actually unfolding, why the media narrative doesn't match reality, and what could be coming next.

Send us Fan MailPeaches is back for the April 17 Daily Drop—and yeah… things are not slowing down.Naval blockade is still locking Iran down—zero ship movement while 10,000 troops, warships, and airpower enforce it. At the same time, the Air Force is running AI-powered war games, Space Force is planning for 2040 conflicts, and the Pentagon is asking for a $1.5 TRILLION budget to keep it all moving.Oh—and Rangers are still winning everything, Marine snipers are stacking trophies, and the Army is already planning the next generation of aircraft (hopefully without repeating past mistakes).Peaches keeps it blunt: some of this is progress… some of it is overdue… and some of it better be done right—or people pay for it.Bottom line: the scale is getting bigger, the tech is getting faster, and the margin for error is shrinking.⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Daily Drop—Let's Get Into It 01:00 Army's Next Aircraft—Don't Screw This Up 03:00 Chinooks Launching Drone Swarms 05:00 Smuggling Case—Career Ender 07:00 Cadets Credit Training That Saved Lives 09:00 Navy Intercepts Blockade Runner 11:00 296 Days at Sea—That's Brutal 13:00 Carrier Fire—Still Operating 15:00 Marine Pilot Betrayal Case 17:00 OTS—Train With Intent 19:00 AI War Games Go Live 21:00 Space-Based Radar Push 23:00 Recruiting Goals CRUSHED Early 25:00 $3.2B for Readiness 27:00 Space Force 2040 Vision 29:00 Arctic Cutters Headed North 31:00 Killing DoD Unions? 33:00 $1.5 Trillion Budget Debate 35:00 Ceasefire… Maybe 37:00 Final Thought—No Room for Error

Hey now, Cabalists! Today's episode opens with the most inane conversation you're ever going to hear in your entire lives—bar none. Then we dive into board games, including A Gest of Robin Hood, Take Time, Ark Nova: Marine Worlds Expansion, The Vale of Eternity, and French Toast, and feature Anunnaki: Dawn of the Gods by Simone Luciani and Danilo Sabia. After Tony T's News segment, we tackle some listener questions, including ornamental games, movies and video games that should be board games, and how we feel about fan-made board game expansions. A Gest of Robin Hood: 00:04:51, Take Time: 00:18:56, Ark Nova Marine Worlds Expansion: 00:31:52, Vale of Eternity: 00:43:48, French Toast: 00:51:10, Anunnaki Dawn of the Gods Review: 1:02:12, News with Tony T: 01:45:45, Short Topic Extravaganza: 02:56:53. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/, Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/ and Prester's Painting at https://www.presterspainting.com/

Good morrow, esteemed Cabalists. On this day, the Lords of the Dungeon convene in earnest discourse upon the noble Art of designing encounters within the realm of role-playing. They shall expound upon the intricacies of social dealings, the perils and stratagems of martial combat, and the treacherous trials imposed by the very environment itself, each bearing its own hazards and the promise of worthy reward. By what methods, then, might one craft encounters most fitting and memorable for their grand adventures? Attend closely, and let the inquiry be joined with vigor. Huzzah!

Good morning and happy Wednesday! Let's get busy with some of the great games the founders have been playing, including Echoes of Time, Dracula vs. Van Helsing, Dark Pact, First Giants, and Citizens of the Spark, along with a feature review of Rewild: South America from Bruno Liguori Sia. Then, after Tony T gives us the best gaming news he can find, we dive into the culture of play in your gaming group. We discuss a situation with a Cabalist from our BGG forum, how we schedule game nights, how we pick games, and our motivations for gaming together. Echoes of Time: 00:04:01, Dracula vs. Van Helsing: 00:12:23, Dark Pact: 00:22:34, Citizens of the Spark: 00:31:43, First Giants: 00:40:57, Rewild South America Review: 00:48:05, News with Tony T: 01:23:17, The Culture of Play: 02:15:22. Check out our sponsors Restoration Games at https://restorationgames.com/ and Game Toppers at https://www.gametoppersllc.com/.

Simon Miller breaks down Ultimate Warrior's disastrous WCW run, from bizarre promos and broken booking to Hulk Hogan's long-awaited revenge. Relive one of wrestling's strangest 1998 failures, including Halloween Havoc, WarGames chaos, and why Warrior in WCW became one of wrestling's worst booking decisions ever...ENJOY!Follow us on Twitter:@SimonMiller316@WhatCultureWWEFor more awesome content, check out: whatculture.com/wwe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI Chatbots appear to really be keen on using nuclear weapons in war game simulations—something like 95 percent of the time, according to a report published in late February.Over at King's College London, researchers had ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini form teams and play simulated war games against each other. Altogether, they played 21 games, and in 20 of the games, the systems reached for the button. During the experiment, none of the models ever chose to surrender—and instead, 95 percent of the time, the AI models chose to use nuclear weapons during the war.Let's go through the details of this study together.

The White House debates going to extreme lengths to get the American public to stomach a war with Iran, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tries to force Anthropic into letting him use their AI model to operate autonomous murder drones. Jon and Dan react with horror and then discuss the rest of the news, including the administration's new fraud-focused message, the draft executive order that the administration may use to declare a national emergency before the midterms, and a new report that Trump's Justice Department removed some documents from the Epstein files that accused the President of sexually abusing a minor. Then, Tommy talks to an organizer in Arizona about Vote Save America's effort to recruit people like you to run in down-ballot races in the Grand Canyon State and all over the country.