Given the not-terribly-uplifting streak of episodes we've had lately, we thought it was time for a Know Your Enemy movie night, and were joined by the podcast's intrepid producer, Jesse Brenneman, for a conversation about Paul Thomas Anderson's 2025 film, One Battle After Another. Its tagline—"When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own"—suggests why all three of us absolutely loved it. We discuss: the film's relationship to the contemporary United States, and what it might reveal about our political situation; how it portrays both the left and the right; the family drama at the heart of the film, and the connection between origin and identity, personally and politically; the way Ronald Reagan haunts a surprising number of its scenes; and more! Spoiler alert: we offer a quick plot summary for those who haven't (yet!) seen One Battle After Another, but that does mean certain surprises will be spoiled for you.Sources:Sam Adler-Bell, "<a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/one-battle-after-another-american-assassination-culture.html">The Fantasy of Assassination Culture</a>," New York Magazine, Nov 1, 2025Armond White, "<a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/09/there-will-be-bloodlust-in-one-battle-after-another/">There Will Be Bloodlust in One Battle After Another</a>," National Review, Sept 26, 2025Richard Brody, "<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/the-real-battle-of-one-battle-after-another">The Real Battle of 'One Battle After Another</a>,'" New Yorker, Oct 7, 2025...and don't forget to subscribe to <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy">Know Your Enemy on Patreon</a> for access to all of our bonus episodes!

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