Podcast / American Prestige / Dec 30, 2025

Masculinity, the Manosphere, and Climate Politics

On this episode of American Prestige: Daniel Waite Penny discusses the new season of Carbon Bros.

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.

Masculinity, the Manosphere, and Climate Politics w/ Daniel Waite Penny | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Danny and Derek speak with journalist and cultural critic Daniel Waite Penny to discuss the relationship between masculinity, the manosphere, and climate politics, as explored in the new season of Drilled, Carbon Bros. They talk about the “manosphere,” libertarians promoting techno-fixes, and Silicon Valley elites pushing solutions like space colonization; how gendered ideas about strength, autonomy, and grievance have fused with climate denial and hostility toward environmental regulation; where these dynamics fit within broader shifts in political economy and the interests of fossil capital; and the roots of these alignments, their role in contemporary right-wing politics, and what they mean for efforts to build public support for climate action.

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

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

Pumpjacks lift oil from wells at the Midway-Sunset Oil Field, California’s largest, in Fellows, near Taft, on October 17, 2025.

(Robyn Beck / AFP via Getty Images)

Danny and Derek speak with journalist and cultural critic Daniel Waite Penny to discuss the relationship between masculinity, the manosphere, and climate politics, as explored in the new season of Drilled, Carbon Bros. They talk about the “manosphere,” libertarians promoting techno-fixes; Silicon Valley elites pushing solutions like space colonization; how gendered ideas about strength, autonomy, and grievance have fused with climate denial and hostility toward environmental regulation; where these dynamics fit within broader shifts in political economy and the interests of fossil capital; the roots of these alignments, their role in contemporary right-wing politics, and what they mean for efforts to build public support for climate action.

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

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.

U.S.-Iran Talks, West Bank Rule Changes, Cuba Fuel Crisis | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Danny and Derek feel that their ice dance routine was strong, but ultimately respect the IOC judges. In this week’s news: the first round of indirect U.S.-Iran talks begin in Oman (0:31); new Israeli security cabinet measures move forward de facto annexation in the West Bank (4:26); Indonesia is prepared to send troops for a proposed Gaza stabilization force (7:23); Israel uses its 2023 law to revoke the citizenship of Palestinian Israelis for the first time (9:07); RSF forces launch drone strikes in Sudan’s Kordofan region and open a new offensive in Blue Nile state (11:08); fighting resumes around Uvira in the eastern DRC (14:43); elections are held in Bangladesh (17:57), Thailand (19:58), Japan (22:08), and Portugal (23:26); the new START deal with Russia expires (25:24); the Trump administration sets a June deadline to end the Ukraine war (27:47); Keir Starmer faces political fallout over his connection to Jeffrey Epstein (29:43); Haiti’s transitional council dissolves without organizing elections (31:52); Cuba approaches collapse as fuel shortages worsen (33:54); organizers prepare for the inaugural “Board of Peace” meeting (37:40); Trump orders the Pentagon to purchase coal-based electricity (39:17); and the FAA briefly shuts down airspace over El Paso after a misidentified party balloon (41:08).

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

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

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Daniel Bessner

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

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.

More from The Nation

Memphis vs. Musk, With Representative Justin J. Pearson

Memphis vs. Musk, With Representative Justin J. Pearson Memphis vs. Musk, With Representative Justin J. Pearson

“No matter how many billions you have, you don't have enough to buy our lives.”

Shilpi Chhotray

All Revolution Is Based on Land, with Leah Penniman

All Revolution Is Based on Land, with Leah Penniman All Revolution Is Based on Land, with Leah Penniman

On A People's Climate: What the soil can teach us in the fight for climate justice.

Shilpi Chhotray

The Water Remembers, With Amy Bowers Cordalis

The Water Remembers, With Amy Bowers Cordalis The Water Remembers, With Amy Bowers Cordalis

On A People's Climate: The largest dam removal in US history.

Shilpi Chhotray

It’s Never a Strategy to Remain Quiet, With Nick Tilsen

It’s Never a Strategy to Remain Quiet, With Nick Tilsen It’s Never a Strategy to Remain Quiet, With Nick Tilsen

On A People's Climate: A call for big, bad, bold courage.

Shilpi Chhotray

Mass Movements, With Patrisse Cullors

Mass Movements, With Patrisse Cullors Mass Movements, With Patrisse Cullors

On Episode 2 of A People's Climate: This is when people-powered movements matter most.

Shilpi Chhotray

An Unreasonable Woman, With Diane Wilson

An Unreasonable Woman, With Diane Wilson An Unreasonable Woman, With Diane Wilson

On A People's Climate: one woman’s fight against one of the most powerful chemical companies in the world.

Shilpi Chhotray

x