After Party with Emily Jashinsky

“Happy Hour”: The Pragmatic U.S. Foreign Policy, the Nuzzi Impression, and Thanksgiving Thoughts: Emily Answers YOUR Questions

Date: November 21, 2025
Host: Emily Jashinsky (MK Media)

Episode Overview

In this interactive “Happy Hour” edition of After Party, Emily Jashinsky dives into listeners' emails and questions, responding live as she reads them. The episode explores major cultural and political themes: shifts in country music nostalgia, the complexities of moving away from one's hometown, navigating political divides during the holidays, U.S. foreign policy pragmatism, media trust issues, and balancing news with humor. Throughout, Emily provides heartfelt, big-picture commentary and personal reflection in her trademark accessible and thoughtful tone.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Country Music Nostalgia Shift

Timestamps: 01:10–12:40

• Listener Reflections:

  • Ashley (01:10) shares her journey from leaving her Maryland small town, later returning to rural Wisconsin to raise a family, reflecting a trend discussed in Emily’s segment with Matt Taibbi about country artists reclaiming small-town roots.
  • “My hope for any young women, men who do feel a desire to chase their dreams is to do it. But when it’s time to build a family, you put their environment, not financial future, as the top priority.” —Ashley, read by Emily (02:20).

• Emily’s Analysis:

  • There is a generational and cultural shift in country music, from songs about fleeing small towns to yearning to return, with examples like Kelsea Ballerini, Taylor Swift, Sam Hunt, Morgan Wallen.
  • “It aligns with this desire for nostalgia that is growing in other areas of our culture. Thank goodness.” —Emily, echoing Ashley (03:15).
  • Country music acts as a cultural crossroads, blending influences from many traditions into a uniquely American sound.

• Historical Context:

  • Mention of Merle Haggard’s “Big City” (04:50) as another example of city-versus-country themes.

2. Modern Mobility and Family, Sacrifice, and Belonging

Timestamps: 12:40–20:00

• Listener Stories:

  • John (13:30) describes leaving a farming community for career advancement, now feeling the cost of living far from family.
  • “Small town living where you and your family are recognized feels right. I’m conflicted and sad that I feel like I’ve had to pursue this course to achieve something as basic as a salary that will allow me to buy a house and live a comfortable life.” —John, read by Emily (15:10).

• Societal Reflection:

  • Emily discusses how our “normal” of moving for school and work is historically unusual and may be shifting.
  • “It’s just totally routine and it’s like the strangest experience in human history… I have this very hot take… that we are in a chapter that will soon be over when it comes to nursing homes.” —Emily (16:10).
  • She suggests we may return to more multi-generational, community-based living out of emotional need.

3. Media Criticism and Matt Taibbi

Timestamps: 20:00–25:00

• Praise for Independent Media:

  • Multiple listeners note appreciation for Matt Taibbi’s willingness to challenge consensus, even on controversial topics.
  • “He wrote this piece… saying the Epstein story is starting to feel like Russiagate. That is a brave take. Basically, nobody is in that camp right now.” —Emily (23:30).

• Value of Dissent:

  • The media ecosystem needs dissenting voices to prevent groupthink, even when those views seem unpopular.

4. Navigating Political and Family Tensions at the Holidays

Timestamps: 25:00–39:15

• Listener Dilemmas:

  • Robin (26:00) seeks advice on handling relatives who celebrate or justify political violence, specifically around the reaction to Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
  • “It started on day one with a gross Second Amendment meme and multi post calling him a hate monger. I don’t know how to deal with people okay with a young father and husband being murdered for his political opinion.” —Robin, read by Emily (27:05).

• Emily’s Advice:

  • She recognizes the deep divide such events create, but urges humility, curiosity, and restraint.
  • “Nobody really sees themselves as the villain of their story… My rule for Thanksgiving: ask questions. If you keep asking questions, you can say what you believe in opposition, and maybe open a door.” —Emily (29:05).
  • Reference to upcoming Thanksgiving episode for more practical advice (31:30).

• Tough Boundaries:

  • “Some people just can’t be reasoned with… don’t push your family to the brink over it.” —Emily (33:40).

5. Faith, Loss, and Personal Growth

Timestamps: 39:15–44:50

• Listener Revival:

  • Christine (39:20) credits Emily’s work and the tragedy of Charlie Kirk’s death for inspiring a return to church.
  • “Between Charlie Kirk’s assassination and your Christianity, I’ve returned to church after a long time.” —Christine, read by Emily (39:40).

• Emily on Ritual and Faith:

  • Emily reflects on the importance of rituals and how modeled faith can inspire others.
  • “Part of building rituals into your life is super super important… it’s amazing how just out of curiosity or emotional exhaustion, people are throwing their hands up in the air and say, ‘Jesus, take the wheel.’” —Emily (42:00).

6. Trust, Skepticism, and Staying Informed

Timestamps: 44:50–49:00

• Growing Distrust in Media:

  • Sgreaser34 (45:10) asks how to stay informed amid falling media standards and rising skepticism.
  • “I think you just have to put more work in now… you have to approach all of this stuff from a posture of suspicion, sadly.” —Emily (45:40).

• Advice for Listeners:

  • Rely on various sources, read media critics, and remain wary of “if true” journalism that morphs narrative into supposed fact.

7. Podcast Logistics & Audience Engagement

Timestamps: 49:00–51:30

• Happy Hour Format:
  • Multiple listeners ask about availability of the show on YouTube versus podcast.
  • “Happy Hour is just for podcast listeners for now… it lets us be in your feed more often and remind you that we’re also a podcast.” —Emily (50:00).

8. Pragmatic US Foreign Policy & Saudi Arabia

Timestamps: 51:30–56:40

• Realpolitik with Saudi Arabia:

  • A listener asks about Trump and Biden’s approaches to Saudi Arabia and the Jamal Khashoggi assassination.
  • “US foreign policy is almost always about pragmatism more than it’s about humanitarian ideology… The entire moral panic over Khashoggi was insincere… The point is, with Trump at least, you know it’s practical, he doesn’t even put up a pretense.” —Emily (54:15).

• Broader Point:

  • The establishment’s outrage is selective; both parties are pragmatic when interests dictate, though Trump is more transparent.

9. Shifts in Drinking Culture

Timestamps: 56:40–59:40

• Listener’s Personal Story:

  • Tiffany shares personal loss due to alcoholism, understanding Gen Z rejection of millennial “drinking culture.”

• Cultural Reflection:

  • Emily ties Americans’ changing relationship with alcohol to broader post-industrial and technological shifts.
  • “It didn’t come from nowhere. It was because men in this rough industrial environment were struggling enormously…” —Emily (58:30).

10. Irish Reunification

Timestamps: 59:40–1:02:30

• Political Hypotheticals:
  • Christopher asks about the future of Irish reunification and religious/political implications.
  • Emily admits to not being an expert, but speculates declining religiosity will mute traditional concerns.

11. Levity, Humor, and The Viral Nuzzi Impression

Timestamps: 1:02:30–1:08:50

• Audience Cheers for Comedy:

  • Peter requests more comedic openings, referencing Emily’s viral dramatic reading of Olivia Nuzzi and Ryan Lizza coverage.
  • “What finally got me laughing loud was the transition to Masa Chips. Probably your greatest opening thus far.” —Peter, read by Emily (1:04:40).
  • Emily reflects on blending news and comedy, confessing she’s “not a performer, really,” but wants After Party to provide post-news levity, not just politics.

• On Content Growth:

  • “We’ve been going long enough now that I think we’re getting into a good rhythm and can start finding opportunities for creativity.” —Emily (1:06:20).

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On the Modern Mobility Norm:

  • “It’s like the strangest experience in human history… something only people have done en masse… in post-industrial societies.” —Emily (16:15)

• On Having Hard Conversations:

  • “If we can’t have these conversations with the people we love… nobody’s ever going to convince people who are so hardened.” —Emily (32:50)

• On Faith & Ritual:

  • “Part of building rituals into your life is super super important and not just being kind of loose… It’s amazing how just out of curiosity… people are throwing their hands up in the air.” —Emily (42:00)

• On Media Skepticism:

  • “You have to approach all of this stuff from a posture of suspicion, sadly, a posture of skepticism, which you kind of always should.” —Emily (45:45)

• On Comedy & News Saturation:

  • “It’s really hard not to be cringy… when you’re trying to bring levity into politics.” —Emily (1:07:10)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Start Time | |------------------------------------------------|------------| | Country music nostalgia & cultural shift | 01:10 | | Family, mobility, and generational reflection | 12:40 | | Matt Taibbi & media criticism | 20:00 | | Navigating holidays with political divisions | 25:00 | | Listener faith journeys and rituals | 39:15 | | Media trust and information overload | 44:50 | | Podcast logistics and episode format | 49:00 | | US-Saudi relations & foreign policy | 51:30 | | Cultural drinking attitudes | 56:40 | | Irish reunification discussion | 59:40 | | Oliva Nuzzi impression & blending humor/news | 1:02:30 |

Closing

Emily closes by teasing the upcoming Thanksgiving special with Inez Stepman and Rachel Bovard, encouraging listeners to seek connection, curiosity, and humility—even in tough political climates. She expresses deep gratitude for her audience and their honesty, wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and inviting them back for the next After Party.