Podcast Summary: “Happy Hour”: Inside The White House Press Corps, Separating Art from the Artist, Big Tech Troubles: Emily Answers YOUR Questions
Podcast: After Party with Emily Jashinsky
Host: Emily Jashinsky, MK Media
Episode Date: December 12, 2025
Episode Theme:
A lively, big-picture “Happy Hour” episode where Emily Jashinsky responds to listener questions on politics, media culture, personal taste, technology, and journalism. Highlights include insights into the White House press corps, honest thoughts on separating art from the artist, navigating big tech, and musings on the impact of personal life on public discourse. Emily blends humor with behind-the-scenes commentary, offering both industry perspective and candid personal takes.
Table of Contents
Q&A Highlights & Main Topics
1. Will "Liberal Republicans" or "Progressive Conservatives" Re-emerge?
(04:00–07:20)
- Emily discusses the blurred lines in today’s political spectrum, questioning what a "liberal Republican" even means in the Trump era.
- Notes the growing complexity, where stances on economics and social issues no longer align neatly.
- Offers skepticism that we’ll see clear archetypes like those from the 20th century.
2. TV Taste: Secret Lives of Mormon Wives vs. Real Housewives
(07:20–10:26)
- Emily admits she disliked "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives," describing it as having an “overly performed” feeling, in contrast with the more "human" Real Housewives.
- Explains the appeal of shows with documentary leanings, referencing her favorite, "Grey Gardens."
3. Emily's Fitness Routine & Favorite Cheat Meal
(10:26–11:55)
- Candidly admits to not having a consistent workout routine and humorously details a love for Taco Bell, deep dish pizza, and meatball subs (“I cheat a lot — we'll put it that way.”)
- Jokes about someday finding time for more exercise.
4. Separating Art from the Artist: R. Kelly, Woody Allen, Louis CK
(11:55–19:10)
- Engages with a listener’s struggle about enjoying music from controversial artists.
- Emily is open-minded about consuming art separate from artists' morals but recognizes that real-life events influence interpretation.
- Discusses Camille Paglia's critique of seeing artists as moral beacons (quotes Paglia: “a sentimental canard of Victorian moralism.”)
- Cites personal experiences with Woody Allen, Louis CK, and acknowledges everyone’s limits: “Sometimes it just is impossible to enjoy...frivolous art from people that you look back on and you’re like, oh, that’s kind of gross.”
5. Festive Plans & Cocktail Content
(19:10–22:58)
- Responds to a suggestion for a "Christmas after party," featuring cocktails and food pairings.
- Explains production schedule downtime during the holidays, but floats ideas for future live events, possibly with mixologist Chris Bedford.
6. The Big Tech & Robot Revolution
(22:58–28:45)
- Discusses society’s readiness for humanoid robots, referencing evolutionary biologists Brett Weinstein & Heather Heying’s “hypernovelty” concept.
- Explains the difference between integrating new tech (like the watch) versus the rapid pace and overwhelming societal effects of modern algorithmic social media.
- Expresses skepticism about humanity’s ability to adapt healthily, especially since the explosion of social media.
7. Behind-the-Scenes in the White House Press Corps
(28:45–35:56)
- Tells the story of her first time in the White House briefing room during the Trump administration.
- Reveals the room’s surprising smallness and lack of luxury.
- Details the process for journalists (“hard pass”), the day-to-day routine, waiting for press briefings, and the reality of “eating out of vending machines”—not glam at all.
- Evokes the historical weight of rooms like the Oval Office.
- Describes the role of the White House Correspondents Association and changes under different administrations.
- Shares respect for veteran journalists: “They all have these Forrest Gump lives...incredible timelines.”
- Stresses the seriousness of conveying history accurately, noting some don’t take that privilege seriously.
Key Quotes & Memorable Moments
On Political Identity:
“It’s so hard to define what constitutes a liberal Republican or progressive conservative… our definition of liberal, progressive, and conservative right now is sort of scrambled.”
— Emily Jashinsky (04:42)
On Reality TV:
“I don’t like it when I feel like the women are performing for the show… I could just smell it off of my screen.”
— Emily Jashinsky on Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (08:55)
On Cheat Meals:
“I had Taco Bell this week, and I cheat a lot — we’ll put it that way. I love deep dish pizza. That’s up there. A meatball sub. I love a meatball sub.”
— Emily Jashinsky (11:36)
On Separating Art and the Artist:
“I’ve never had a hard time separating art from artist…to the extent that we know about an artist’s sort of moral conduct…it should weigh on us.”
— Emily (12:21)
“Camille Paglia has a great line… seeing the artist as, you know, a moral standard bearer is, quote, ‘a sentimental canard of Victorian moralism.’”
— Emily quoting Camille Paglia (14:00)
On Hypernovelty and Tech:
“I started to see what Brett Weinstein and Heather Heying refer to as hypernovelty…technology evolving so quickly that human evolution is not able to adapt.”
— Emily (24:10)
On Entering the White House Briefing Room:
“Everyone says the same thing at first… It’s really small. Like, it’s really small. Way smaller than it looks on TV.”
— Emily (29:35)
“It’s also…kind of drab, is that it’s…it’s a little rundown. Definitely, like, the kitchen and stuff…I’m eating out of the vending machine. Because if you want to go somewhere else, you have to leave campus, go back through security—it's kind of a pain.”
— Emily (32:10)
On Veteran Journalists:
“Older journalists all have Forrest Gump stories…they all have these lives that are like Forrest Gump lives.”
— Emily (34:53)
Important Timestamps
- [04:00] – Redefining political identities: Liberal Republicans & Progressive Conservatives
- [07:20] – TV Taste: Reality TV authenticity
- [10:26] – Emily’s workout (or lack thereof) and favorite indulgent foods
- [11:55] – Separation of art and artist; R. Kelly, Woody Allen, Louis CK
- [19:10] – Holiday specials and behind-the-scenes production plans
- [22:58] – Technology, hypernovelty, and humanity’s adaptability
- [28:45] – First experience in the White House press briefing room
- [29:35] – Size and feel of the press room
- [32:10] – Not-so-glamorous details (vending machines, mosquitoes)
- [34:53] – The “Forrest Gump” nature of seasoned journalists’ careers
Original Tone & Language:
Emily maintains a conversational, humorous, and candid tone throughout—self-aware, quick to poke fun at herself, but also serious about the influence and responsibility of media.
Summary Usefulness:
This summary provides a roadmap for listeners keen to jump into particular discussions, while also capturing Emily’s journalist’s eye, humor, and pop culture savvy. Whether you’re interested in the insider mechanics of the White House press room, how tech is changing society, or grappling with the moral ambiguity of pop culture, this episode offers thought-provoking perspective and a few good laughs.