Podcast / American Prestige / Sep 3, 2024

Woke Iron Man

On this episode of American Prestige, Spencer Ackerman on leftist politics and comic books.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Woke Iron Man w/ Spencer Ackerman | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

On this episode of American Prestige, Danny and Derek welcome back AP mega-guest Spencer Ackerman, author of the Forever Wars newsletter and soon-to-be-published issues of Marvel Comics’ Iron Man. The group explores Spencer’s inspiration to pursue more work in the world of comic books, writing for a character who is a defense contractor, bringing left-wing messaging into the medium, the sand box of Marvel Comics vs. the behemoth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, plus Spencer’s impressions on some major current events.

NOTE: This interview was recorded on 8/30/24, prior to reports that the Israeli military had recovered the bodies of six hostages inside Gaza.

Click hear to learn how to pre-order Iron Man & get free merch!

More of Spencer’s work:

Further Reading:

 

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

(Taurin Clarke via Forever Wars)

On this episode of American Prestige, Danny and Derek welcome back AP mega-guest Spencer Ackerman, author of the Forever Wars newsletter and soon-to-be-published issues of Marvel Comics’ Iron Man. We explore Spencer’s inspiration to pursue more work in the world of comic books, writing for a character who is a defense contractor, bringing left-wing messaging into the medium, the sand box of Marvel Comics vs. the behemoth of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, plus Spencer’s impressions on some major current events.

Note: This interview was recorded on 8/30/24, prior to reports that the Israeli military had recovered the bodies of six hostages inside Gaza.

Click hear to learn how to preorder Iron Man & get free merch!

More of Spencer’s work:

Further Reading:

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

The Political Economy of Porn w/ Molly Lambert | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Danny and Derek welcome to the show Molly Lambert, creator of the JENNAWORLD podcast, to talk about the rise of the modern porn industry and its roots in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley. They discuss the medium’s origins in underground stag films and the porno chic era; the shift to home video and the corporate studio model; breakout stars like Ginger Lynn Allen and Jenna Jameson; porn as an outsider industry mirroring Hollywood; gender, labor, and power in late-20th-century media; the relationship between pornography and evolving feminist politics; porn’s role in the VHS–Betamax war; and how the internet, OnlyFans, and content platforms have affected a formerly professionalized industry.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Derek Davison

Derek Davison is a writer and analyst specializing in international affairs and US foreign policy. He is the publisher of the Foreign Exchanges newsletter, cohost of the American Prestige podcast, and former editor of LobeLog.

Daniel Bessner

Daniel Bessner is an historian of US foreign relations, and cohost of American Prestige, a podcast on international affairs.

More from The Nation

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani looks on as New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during the grand opening of the Urban League Empowerment Center in Harlem, New York City, on November 12, 2025.

Mamdani's Socialism—and Us; Plus, Football and Concussions Mamdani's Socialism—and Us; Plus, Football and Concussions

On this episode of Start Making Sense, Bhaskar Sunkara analyzes the constraints New York’s new mayor will face, and Dave Zirin comments on brain injuries among football players.

Jon Wiener

US investor and philanthropist Alexander Soros, son of Hungarian-US investor and philanthropist George Soros, speaks during a ceremony to accept on behalf of his father the 2025 Civil Rights Prize of the Sinti and Roma, on October 23, 2025, in Berlin, Germany.

Liberal Philanthropy and the Fight for Democracy, With David Callahan  Liberal Philanthropy and the Fight for Democracy, With David Callahan 

On the latest Nation Podcast.

D.D. Guttenplan and David Callahan

Reframing Resistance, Live From NYC Climate Week

Reframing Resistance, Live From NYC Climate Week Reframing Resistance, Live From NYC Climate Week

It’s the season finale of A People’s Climate.

Shilpi Chhotray

Cooling vent fans are seen on the roof of a Digital Realty data center in Ashburn, Virginia. on November 12, 2025.

Data Centers Are a Climate Enemy Data Centers Are a Climate Enemy

On this episode of Tech Won't Save Us: Ketan Joshi on how data centers are a climate justice issue.

Paris Marx

Trump Condemns Marjorie Taylor Greene, Praises Mamdani—Plus, Alice Waters on “a School Lunch Revolution”

Trump Condemns Marjorie Taylor Greene, Praises Mamdani—Plus, Alice Waters on “a School Lunch Revolution” Trump Condemns Marjorie Taylor Greene, Praises Mamdani—Plus, Alice Waters on “a School Lunch Revolution”

On this episode of Start Making Sense, Harold Meyerson comments on Washington politics, and the founder of Chez Panisse describes her project for kids.

Jon Wiener

Moses Malone

Moses Malone Gets Biblical Moses Malone Gets Biblical

On Edge of Sports: Paul Knepper on his new book on Moses Malone, and Arya comes back to talk all things NBA.

Dave Zirin

x