In January, World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) Monday night show, Raw, moved to Netflix. The move comes around the time that a known WWE fan and Hall of Famer, President Donald Trump, entered the White House.

Josephine Riesman, author of Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America, argues that understanding WWE can help us understand Trump and his politics. This hour, we learn about WWE and its impact on Trump, and discuss the experience and appeal of watching wrestling.

GUESTS: 
Josephine Riesman: Author of Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America
Tim Kail: Creator of “The Work of Wrestling” website and podcast. He is also the host and producer of “The Sarah Lawrence College Podcast”

In January, World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) Monday night show, Raw, moved to Netflix. The move comes around the time that a known WWE fan and Hall of Famer, President Donald Trump, entered the White House.
Josephine Riesman, author of Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America, argues that understanding WWE can help us understand Trump and his politics. This hour, we learn about WWE and its impact on Trump, and discuss the experience and appeal of watching wrestling.
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Josephine Riesman: Author of <a href="https://josie.zone/ringmaster">Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America</a></li>
<li>Tim Kail: Creator of &ldquo;<a href="https://www.workofwrestling.com/">The Work of Wrestling</a>&rdquo; website and podcast. He is also the host and producer of &ldquo;The Sarah Lawrence College Podcast&rdquo;</li>
</ul>

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

The Colin McEnroe Show

How WWE got a chokehold on U.S. politics

Billboard

Stephen Colbert’s nearly-11-year run on The Late Show comes to an end tonight. And The Late Show’s nearly-33-year run on CBS comes to an end tonight, too.

This hour, as the late-night TV landscape rejiggers itself, a look at the state and future of late-night comedy.

Plus: A look at the FCC’s crusade against ABC (and, seemingly, Jimmy Kimmel). And: the banal horror of Jimmy Fallon.

GUESTS:
Eric Deggans: Critic-at-large at NPR, and he writes the Switching Codes Substack
Jon Greenaway: A writer and podcaster and the author of Capitalism: A Horror Story — Gothic Marxism and the Dark Side of the Radical Imagination
Jason Zinoman: Critic at large for the culture section of The New York Times, where he writes the On Comedy column

Music featured (in order):
Lost in a Wonderland – SNL Band
The Party’s Over – Nat King Cole
Colbert – Pivot Gang
ABC – Jackson 5
The FCC Song (from “Family Guy”) – Cast – Family Guy
Only A Fool Would Say That – Steely Dan

Stephen Colbert&rsquo;s nearly-11-year run on&nbsp;The Late Show&nbsp;comes to an end tonight. And&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/05/arts/television/stephen-colbert-the-late-show-carson-letterman-leno.html">The Late Show&rsquo;s nearly-33-year run on CBS comes to an end</a>&nbsp;tonight, too.
This hour, as the late-night TV landscape rejiggers itself, a look at the state and future of late-night comedy.
Plus: A look at the FCC&rsquo;s crusade against ABC (<a href="https://ericdeggans.substack.com/p/the-fcc-disney-and-kimmel-why-the">and, seemingly, Jimmy Kimmel</a>). And:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/the-banal-horror-of-jimmy-fallon">the banal horror of Jimmy Fallon</a>.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Eric Deggans:&nbsp;Critic-at-large at NPR, and he writes the&nbsp;<a href="https://ericdeggans.substack.com/">Switching Codes</a>&nbsp;Substack</li>
<li>Jon Greenaway:&nbsp;A writer and podcaster and the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740011/capitalism-a-horror-story-by-jon-greenaway/">Capitalism: A Horror Story &mdash; Gothic Marxism and the Dark Side of the Radical Imagination</a></li>
<li>Jason Zinoman:&nbsp;Critic at large for the culture section of&nbsp;The New York Times, where he writes the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/column/on-comedy">On Comedy</a>&nbsp;column</li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/NwJz49IJgcE">Lost in a Wonderland</a>&nbsp;&ndash; SNL Band</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/l12iPj-TQrM">The Party&rsquo;s Over</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Nat King Cole</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/EfePuh4kOvc">Colbert</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Pivot Gang</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/0NiqMUlaXFA">ABC</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Jackson 5</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/_ru0VHLumdI">The FCC Song</a>&nbsp;(from &ldquo;Family Guy&rdquo;) &ndash; Cast &ndash; Family Guy</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvz0TOm0zgI">Only A Fool Would Say That</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Steely Dan</li>
</ul>

As ‘The Late Show’ ends, a look at the state of late-night comedy

Do we really need politicians? What would our politics look like without them? These are some of the ideas that Yale political scientist Hélène Landemore explores in her work, including in the Connecticut Citizens’ Assembly, taking place this summer. Landemore joins us for the hour.

GUEST:
Hélène Landemore: Professor of Political Science at Yale University. Her new book is Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule

Music featured (in order):
Hands Across The Sea – John Philip Sousa as performed by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band
Can We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart – Stevie Wonder
People Have the Power – Patti Smith
Democracy – Leonard Cohen
Love Is Sweeping the Country – Chris Connor
Of Thee I Sing – Ella Fitzgerald

Do we really need politicians? What would our politics look like without them? These are some of the ideas that Yale political scientist H&eacute;l&egrave;ne Landemore explores in her work, including in the&nbsp;<a href="https://ct-citizens-assembly.org/">Connecticut Citizens&rsquo; Assembly</a>, taking place this summer. Landemore joins us for the hour.
GUEST:
<ul>
<li>H&eacute;l&egrave;ne Landemore:&nbsp;Professor of Political Science at Yale University. Her new book is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730879/politics-without-politicians-by-helene-landemore/">Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule</a></li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4x3LFlnfcg">Hands Across The Sea</a>&nbsp;&ndash; John Philip Sousa as performed by &ldquo;The President&rsquo;s Own&rdquo; United States Marine Band</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FWvHBodfoU">Can We Fix Our Nation&rsquo;s Broken Heart</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Stevie Wonder</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPR-HyGj2d0">People Have the Power</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Patti Smith</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU-RuR-qO4Y">Democracy</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Leonard Cohen</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYJ5Hhdmhs8">Love Is Sweeping the Country</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Chris Connor</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_hMdCzecDE">Of Thee I Sing</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Ella Fitzgerald</li>
</ul>

We don't need politicians. Hélène Landemore makes the case

The word "like" has been around for centuries, but it reached a new cultural prominence in the 1980s, partially thanks to Frank Zappa's song "Valley Girl." Since then, "like" has taken on a life of its own, inspiring strong emotions. This hour, we look at the meaning and evolution of "like." Plus, how movies like the now 30-year-old Clueless have impacted our language.

GUESTS:


Megan C. Reynolds: Former editor at Dwell and author of Like: A History of the English Language’s Most Hated (and Misunderstood) Word


Kory Stamper: Lexicographer and author of Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries


Veronica Litt: English Professor and author of Ugh! As If!: Clueless

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Colin McEnroe, Dylan Reyes, Robyn Doyon-Aitken, and Isaac Moss contributed to this show, which originally aired August 20, 2025.

The word "like" has been around for centuries, but it reached a new cultural prominence in the 1980s, partially thanks to Frank Zappa's song "Valley Girl." Since then, "like" has taken on a life of its own, inspiring strong emotions. This hour, we look at the meaning and evolution of "like." Plus, how movies like the now 30-year-old Clueless have impacted our language.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Megan C. Reynolds: Former editor at Dwell and author of <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/like-megan-c-reynolds?variant=43182606647330">Like: A History of the English Language&rsquo;s Most Hated (and Misunderstood) Word</a>
</li>
<li>
Kory Stamper: Lexicographer and author of <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/530504/word-by-word-by-kory-stamper/">Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries</a>
</li>
<li>
Veronica Litt: English Professor and author of <a href="https://ecwpress.com/products/ugh-as-if">Ugh! As If!: Clueless</a>
</li>
</ul>
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show">Amazon Music</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/">TuneIn</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-colin-mcenroe-show-connecticut-public-lXR08dxQSM5/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters">Subscribe to&nbsp;The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by&nbsp;The Colin McEnroe Show.
Join the conversation on&nbsp;<a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
Colin McEnroe, Dylan Reyes, Robyn Doyon-Aitken, and Isaac Moss contributed to this show, which originally aired August 20, 2025.

How WWE got a chokehold on U.S. politics

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