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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.

Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner

June 3, 2026

Mickey Mouse in festive costume interacts with visitors at Shanghai Disney Resort in Shanghai, China. (Tang Yanjun / China News Service / VCG via Getty Images)

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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.

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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

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. and Israel Plan Iran Strikes, Ansar Allah Hits Saudi Arabia, Mass Protests Sweep France / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Neera Tanden has not yet posted a tirade about AP, and we’re starting to take it personally. In this week’s news: the U.S. and Israel prepare for renewed strikes against Iran after the midterms (1:07); an Ansar Allah/Houthi missile strike kills at least 73 people at a military camp in Yemen, while continued attacks force Saudi Arabia to cancel a major investment conference and Pakistan, Britain, Egypt, and France offer defensive support to the kingdom (7:52); Israeli settlers assault an American journalist and attack European diplomats, while Israeli forces detain dozens of volunteers in the West Bank (15:05); North Korea announces the resumption of anti-South Korean loudspeaker broadcasts amid unverified rumors that Kim Jong Un has died (19:12); drone strikes kill hundreds in Sudan and the disputed Abyei region (22:28); Ethiopia establishes a new interim administration in Tigray (25:02); the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to spread (27:01); Ukraine resumes attacks on Russian oil refineries, angering Trump (29:33); Steve Witkoff meets with Zelenskyy and Putin as the U.S. restores intelligence support for Ukraine (30:41); Russia signals a possible return to peace talks (32:28); massive protests over the high cost of living sweep France (37:30); and Haitian armed groups abduct four Salvadoran soldiers, prompting El Salvador to threaten military action (40:58).

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Derek DavisonDerek 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 BessnerTwitterDaniel Bessner is a historian of US foreign relations and is the author of, among other books, Imperialist Realism.


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