This week’s episode avoids rank punditry and unapologetic eggheadery in pursuit of unadulterated nerdiness and pop culture thumbsuckery. For such a task, there’s no better guest than the co-host of the Weekly Substandard podcast and executive editor of the Washington Free Beacon, Sonny Bunch. It’s the crossover to end all crossovers. He and Jonah discuss Star Wars revisionism, the “Golden Age” of (too much) TV, Marvel vs. DC, and more.

Grab a copy of Things That Matter.

Check out Sonny’s niche podcast, the Weekly Substandard.

And his other niche podcast, Right and Righter.

Enter into the Weekly Substandard Mega Thread at your own risk.

The star-studded Remnant episode featuring Vic Matus (among others).

You can read Sonny’s work at the Washington Free Beacon and the The Washington Post.

NERDS!

Sonny’s defense of the Empire.

And JVL’s piece arguing the Empire is good.

When George Lucas said the Empire was a stand-in for America.

JVL’s article on why droids in Star Wars are actually slaves.

And my supportive response.

If Bosnians Were Dolphins.

The Substandard episode where the droid rebellion in Solo is discussed.

Sonny’s Weekly Standard cover story on the state of our television viewing.

The Day of the Triffids.

And that’s the way it is.

Some NR pieces I wrote on the politics of The Wire.

Ross Douthat on Girls.

The Ringer’s ranking of the 100 best TV episodes since 2000.

My argument for why Breaking Bad is the greatest show ever made.

Thanks to this week’s sponsor, National Review Institute.

And be sure to check out their William F. Buckley Jr. Prize dinner later this year.

Subscribe and review on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play, to help put the Remnant back ahead of the Arthur Brooks Show.

My latest Special Report appearance. 

Spock’s death in The Wrath of Khan. 

Listen to and review Ricochet’s Young Americans on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.

Jonah’s controversial young pundits tweet.

Mark Hamill and Slavoj Zizek. 

Me on youth identity politics. 

Sauron’s fair form.