Podcast / American Prestige / Jun 3, 2026

Disneyland: Cold War Factory—With Roland Betancourt

Danny and Derek speak with Roland Betancourt, Chancellor’s Professor of Art History at UC Irvine, about Disneyland and the rise of automation in the US.

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.

Disneyland: Cold War Factory w/ Roland Betancourt / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Danny and Derek speak with Roland Betancourt, Chancellor's Professor of Art History at UC Irvine, about Disneyland and the rise of automation in the US. They talk about Walt Disney’s move from animation to theme parks, the relationship between amusement parks and industrial production, Cold War technology and Southern California, Disney’s use of automation and control, labor in the theme park, Disney World and Epcot, and more.

Grab your copy of Roland’s book Disneyland and the Rise of Automation: How Technology Created the Happiest Place on Earth.

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

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

Mickey Mouse in festive costume interacts with visitors at Shanghai Disney Resort in Shanghai, China.

(Tang Yanjun / China News Service / VCG via Getty Images)

Danny and Derek speak with Roland Betancourt, Chancellor’s Professor of Art History at UC Irvine, about Disneyland and the rise of automation in the US. They talk about Walt Disney’s move from animation to theme parks, the relationship between amusement parks and industrial production, Cold War technology and Southern California, Disney’s use of automation and control, labor in the theme park, Disney World and Epcot, and more.

Grab your copy of Roland’s book Disneyland and the Rise of Automation: How Technology Created the Happiest Place on Earth.

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

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.

Disneyland: Cold War Factory w/ Roland Betancourt / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Danny and Derek speak with Roland Betancourt, Chancellor's Professor of Art History at UC Irvine, about Disneyland and the rise of automation in the US. They talk about Walt Disney’s move from animation to theme parks, the relationship between amusement parks and industrial production, Cold War technology and Southern California, Disney’s use of automation and control, labor in the theme park, Disney World and Epcot, and more.

Grab your copy of Roland’s book Disneyland and the Rise of Automation: How Technology Created the Happiest Place on Earth.

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

Demonstrators participate in a “March on Wall Street” to call for economic justice on August 28, 2025, in New York City.

Monopoly v. Democracy—With Matt Stoller & Zephyr Teachout Monopoly v. Democracy—With Matt Stoller & Zephyr Teachout

Matt Stoller and Zephyr Teachout on how democracy is an economic issue.

Do Chatbots Really Belong in Schools?—With Tom Mullaney

Do Chatbots Really Belong in Schools?—With Tom Mullaney Do Chatbots Really Belong in Schools?—With Tom Mullaney

Paris Marx talk to Tom Mullaney about how generative AI has been adopted in K-12 education and the many concerns it presents for students and teachers.

Paris Marx

US President Donald Trump delivers a speech about the economy at Rockland Community College Fieldhouse in Suffern, New York.

Stopping Trump’s Slush Fund—Plus, the Transformations of Bill Gates Stopping Trump’s Slush Fund—Plus, the Transformations of Bill Gates

Rob Weissman of Public Citizen explains some of the key lawsuits challenging Trump, and Ben Tarnoff traces Bill Gates from software to philanthropy to the world of Jeffrey Epstein...

Jon Wiener

President Donald Trump looks on during an event in the Oval Office of the White House on May 21, 2026, in Washington, DC.

It’s the Corruption, Stupid—With David Sirota It’s the Corruption, Stupid—With David Sirota

David Sirota on how we got here and how we can claw our way out. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (R) meets Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi (L) in Tehran, Iran, on May 21, 2026.

Iran Talks Stall, Hezbollah Drones Limit the IDF, Cuba Pretexts Build Iran Talks Stall, Hezbollah Drones Limit the IDF, Cuba Pretexts Build

Danny and Derek have reconciled with their disappointment in the new Star Wars film and can now bring you the news roundup. 

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

Extraction Behind the Green Transition—With Thea Riofrancos

Extraction Behind the Green Transition—With Thea Riofrancos Extraction Behind the Green Transition—With Thea Riofrancos

Danny and Derek welcome back to the show political scientist Thea Riofrancos to talk about the politics of extraction in the global energy transition. 

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

x