That headline is just a direct quote from James Poniewozik's Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television, and the Fracturing of America. I was torn between that line from the book and this one:

Donald Trump is not a person.

Poniewozik's take is that "Donald Trump" is really a character that Donald Trump has been playing on television since at least the early 1980s.

"Television has entertained America, television has ensorcelled America, and with the election of Donald J. Trump, television has conquered America," Poniewozik writes. Audience of One is a cultural history of television and a television history of Donald Trump.

Poniewozik joins us for the hour.

That headline is just a direct quote from James Poniewozik's Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television, and the Fracturing of America. I was torn between that line from the book and this one:
<blockquote>
Donald Trump is not a person.
</blockquote>
Poniewozik's take is that "Donald Trump" is really a character that Donald Trump has been playing on television since at least the early 1980s.
"Television has entertained America, television has ensorcelled America, and with the election of Donald J. Trump, television has conquered America," Poniewozik writes. Audience of One is a cultural history of television and a television history of Donald Trump.
Poniewozik joins us for the hour.

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

Without TV, There's No Trump

On September 26, 2025, last year’s Best Picture Oscar winner, One Battle After Another, a loose adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland, hit wide release in theaters. And then 11 days later, on October 7, Pynchon published what might be his final novel, Shadow Ticket.

Not a bad year for an 89-year-old writer.

This hour, a look at the (maybe) reclusive Pynchon and the novels and stories he’s published, from Gravity’s Rainbow to Mason & Dixon and more.

Plus: a look at the two Paul Thomas Anderson movies that Pynchon’s work has inspired, Inherent Vice and One Battle After Another.

GUESTS:


David Cowart: Distinguished professor emeritus of English language and literature at the University of South Carolina and the author of a number of books, including Thomas Pynchon: The Art of Allusion and Thomas Pynchon and the Dark Passages of History


Ana Gavrilovska: A writer; you can find her work in Current Affairs, Uncut Magazine, Maggot Brain, and her Substack, Sick Sad Motherslug


Leonardo Goi: A journalist and film critic


Brian Slattery: A writer and musician

Music featured (in order):


Don Giovanni, K. 527: Overture – W.A. Mozart as performed by Claudio Abbado and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe

The most referenced piece of music in Pynchon’s catalogue.


Gravity’s Angel – Laurie Anderson


The Royal Scam – Steely Dan

Mentioned in Bleeding Edge.


Run Straight Down – Warren Zevon

Zevon attributed this song to overdosing on Pynchon — the opening words are just carcinogenic chemicals.


Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) – Bonzo Dog Band

Pynchon put out his own playlist for Inherent Vice. This was on it.


The Revolution Will Not Be Televised – Gil Scott-Heron

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 and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on April 15th, 2026.

On September 26, 2025, last year&rsquo;s Best Picture Oscar winner, One Battle After Another, a loose adaptation of Thomas Pynchon&rsquo;s novel Vineland, hit wide release in theaters. And then 11 days later, on October 7, Pynchon published what might be his final novel, Shadow Ticket.
Not a bad year for an 89-year-old writer.
This hour, a look at the (maybe) reclusive Pynchon and the novels and stories he&rsquo;s published, from Gravity&rsquo;s Rainbow to Mason &amp; Dixon and more.
Plus: a look at the two Paul Thomas Anderson movies that Pynchon&rsquo;s work has inspired, Inherent Vice and One Battle After Another.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
David Cowart: Distinguished professor emeritus of English language and literature at the University of South Carolina and the author of a number of books, including Thomas Pynchon: The Art of Allusion and Thomas Pynchon and the Dark Passages of History
</li>
<li>
Ana Gavrilovska: A writer; you can find her work in Current Affairs, Uncut Magazine, Maggot Brain, and her Substack, <a href="https://motherslug.substack.com">Sick Sad Motherslug</a>
</li>
<li>
Leonardo Goi: A journalist and film critic
</li>
<li>
Brian Slattery: A writer and musician
</li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://youtu.be/9NSxOsb05LU">Don Giovanni, K. 527: Overture</a> &ndash; W.A. Mozart as performed by Claudio Abbado and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe
The <a href="https://orbit.openlibhums.org/article/id/487/">most referenced</a> piece of music in Pynchon&rsquo;s catalogue.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://youtu.be/59_42dpYCSY">Gravity&rsquo;s Angel</a> &ndash; Laurie Anderson
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IU1ZdDfXTY">The Royal Scam</a> &ndash; Steely Dan
Mentioned in Bleeding Edge.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obp4vERunk0">Run Straight Down</a> &ndash; Warren Zevon
Zevon attributed this song to overdosing on Pynchon &mdash; the opening words are just carcinogenic chemicals.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY-UQkI7V1s">Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)</a> &ndash; Bonzo Dog Band
Pynchon put out his own playlist for&nbsp;Inherent Vice. This was on it.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZvWt29OG0s">The Revolution Will Not Be Televised</a> &ndash; Gil Scott-Heron
</li>
</ul>
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/">TuneIn</a>, <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 The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.
Join the conversation on <a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on April 15th, 2026.

Every weirdo in the world: A look at Thomas Pynchon

South Carolina. The clinic offered MMR vaccinations as the South Carolina Department of Health reported 876 cases of measles earlier in the week, most centered in Spartanburg County.

This hour, we look at the spread of measles in the United States. We also talk to health and science communicators who are working to tell the story of that disease in new ways.

GUESTS:
Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo: Director of the Pandemic Center at the Brown School of Public Health, and a Professor of Epidemiology
Brinda Adhikari: Award-winning executive producer, showrunner and journalist, who is Co-Host of the "Why Should I Trust You?" podcast
Teri Mills: Retired nurse educator, grandmother, and Board member and Vice President of Media for Grandparents for Vaccines

Music featured (in order):
Sickness – runo plum
Contagious – Ani DiFranco
Cat’s Got the Measles – The New Lost City Ramblers
Catch My Disease – Ben Lee
Soul Vaccination – Tower of Power
Grandma’s Hands – Bill Withers

South Carolina. The clinic offered MMR vaccinations as the South Carolina Department of Health reported 876 cases of measles earlier in the week, most centered in Spartanburg County.
This hour, we look at the spread of measles in the United States. We also talk to health and science communicators who are working to tell the story of that disease in new ways.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo:&nbsp;Director of the Pandemic Center at the Brown School of Public Health, and a Professor of Epidemiology</li>
<li>Brinda Adhikari:&nbsp;Award-winning executive producer, showrunner and journalist, who is Co-Host of the "<a href="https://www.whyshoulditrustyou.net/">Why Should I Trust You?</a>" podcast</li>
<li>Teri Mills:&nbsp;Retired nurse educator, grandmother, and Board member and Vice President of Media for&nbsp;<a href="https://grandparentsforvaccines.org/">Grandparents for Vaccines</a></li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yfFH1qT1B8">Sickness</a>&nbsp;&ndash; runo plum</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5wAJLiJjpM">Contagious</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Ani DiFranco</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWnwXABj8Is">Cat&rsquo;s Got the Measles</a>&nbsp;&ndash; The New Lost City Ramblers</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enhQYHxoNMY">Catch My Disease</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Ben Lee</li>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/fY7CKdW6ioU">Soul Vaccination</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Tower of Power</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NCwB9J14sE">Grandma&rsquo;s Hands</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Bill Withers</li>
</ul>

What do rising measles cases say about public health and trust?

Billboard

This hour we take a look at the state of immigration policy, after a week of ICE activity in Connecticut. We discuss what Americans actually want when it comes to immigration, the challenges of keeping track of immigration enforcement data, and a look at how the history of immigration policy in the United States is informing this present moment.

GUESTS:
Sister Mary Ellen Burns: Executive Director and Attorney at Apostle Immigrant Services in New Haven
Sarah Pierce: Director of Social Policy at Third Way
David Hausman: Assistant Professor at Berkeley Law who co-directs the Deportation Data Project
Nancy Foner: Distinguished Emerita Professor in the Department of Sociology at the Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She is author or editor of over 20 books, most recently Immigration: How the Past Shapes the Present

Music featured (in order):
One Body, One Blood – Tigran Hamasyan
Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos) – Dolly Parton
Immigrants (We Get The Job Done) – K'Naan (The Hamilton Mixtape)
Carwasheros / Lava Coches – Los Jornaleros Del Norte
Immigration Man – Graham Nash, David Crosby
City of Heroes – Billy Bragg

This hour we take a look at the state of immigration policy, after a week of ICE activity in Connecticut. We discuss what Americans actually want when it comes to immigration, the challenges of keeping track of immigration enforcement data, and a look at how the history of immigration policy in the United States is informing this present moment.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Sister Mary Ellen Burns:&nbsp;Executive Director and Attorney at Apostle Immigrant Services in New Haven</li>
<li>Sarah Pierce:&nbsp;Director of Social Policy at Third Way</li>
<li>David Hausman:&nbsp;Assistant Professor at Berkeley Law who co-directs the Deportation Data Project</li>
<li>Nancy Foner:&nbsp;Distinguished Emerita Professor in the Department of Sociology at the Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She is author or editor of over 20 books, most recently&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wiley.com/en-us/shop/general-introductory-history/immigration-how-the-past-shapes-the-present-p-9781509557912">Immigration: How the Past Shapes the Present</a></li>
</ul>
Music featured (in order):
<ul>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/yGsXGM8f0WA">One Body, One Blood</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Tigran Hamasyan</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEPUxpR64YE">Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Dolly Parton</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrtD9uQ9jq4">Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)</a>&nbsp;&ndash; K'Naan (The Hamilton Mixtape)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wDHto-C-9w">Carwasheros / Lava Coches</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Los Jornaleros Del Norte</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKrhCNmBvC8">Immigration Man</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Graham Nash, David Crosby</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKOW2ZikGW8">City of Heroes</a>&nbsp;&ndash; Billy Bragg</li>
</ul>

Without TV, There's No Trump

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