Podcast
Fake Presidents
Hosted by Buchman and Oren · EN
Remember when you could talk about politics without it being hazardous to your health? We think we've found a loophole. Each episode, Ben and Eric take a deep dive into a fictional American president from film or TV, to see just how much fiction there really is. It's a podcast sorta about politics and kinda about pop culture, hosted by two former politicos turned TV writer/producers who'd much rather talk about real movies and fake politics than fake movies and real politics.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Species Victims Unit (SPECIES II, 1998)
Apr 3000:38:52Tap to summarizeRichard Belzer -- comedian, author, legendary TV cop, famed conspiracy theorist -- plays the POTUS in this very R-rated sequel to 1995's very R-rated sci-fi frightener SPECIES. After playing Det. Munch on various Law & Orders, Homicide, The Wire, the X-files, multiple comedies, and a few other shows you've never heard of, how does Belzer's fake president fit into the "Munchiverse"? Could he secretly be... President Munch?!? We report. You decide.
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Fake Presidents at the Oscars
Mar 1100:38:30Tap to summarizeHow well do movies with fake presidents do at the Academy Awards? Let's find out...
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First Crypto Kid (FIRST KID, 1996)
Feb 100:49:38Tap to summarize1996's FIRST KID stars Sinbad as a secret service agent assigned to protect a bratty kid. The movie features one actor who is currently VERY searchable in the Epstein files, and another actor who is currently under arrest in the State of New Mexico. But that's not why we picked it. In fact, we picked it before we knew just how timely this movie would wind up being this very month. Oh, and it was directed David Mickey Evans, creator of THE SANDLOT, which is one of Ben's favorite movies. Got a suggestion for a future movie? Find us on Instagram, Bluesky, or Threads or email us at fakepresidents [at] gmail.com.
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The Golden Circle Of Life (KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE, 2017)
Dec 3100:48:44Tap to summarizeWhat does 2017's KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE (aka Kingsman 2) have to do with New Year's Eve, the holiday season, or even anything in the month of December? NOTHING! But our original choice wasn't streaming on any services this month, so we decided to finally circle around back to one of our fav fake presidential actors, the legendary Bruce Greenwood, last seen (by us) as the potus in NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS (aka National Treasure 2). This time out Bruce is the unnamed "President of the United States" in an R-rated, edgy, action comedy from a true British Knight, director and co-writer Matthew Vaughn, surrounded by a impressive cast including Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Halle Berry, Julianne Moore, Channing Tatum, Pedro Pascal, Emily Mortimer, and introducing the one and only Sir Elton John, in maybe his most outlandish performance ever in front of a camera. 00:00 Intro 04:30 Background 09:11 The Plot 15:53 Meet The President 26:06 Dissecting the POTUS 34:18 What does this movie say about 2017? 39:04 Legacy and Approval Ratings 43:36 Closing 45:27 Post-Credits Bit (Ben got something BIG in the mail) Find us on most social media sites @Fake_President (Instagram, Bluesky, Threads) or email us at fakepresidents [at] gmail.com to join the convo and suggest our next subject!
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Thanksgiving Potluck (HOUSE OF DYNAMITE, PLUR1BUS, MONSTERS VS. ALIENS)
Nov 2700:48:10Tap to summarizeEric watched a movie Ben didn't watch. Ben watched one Eric didn't watch. And together they watched a TV series that they both thought had a fake president in it, but didn't. Or did it? In this Thanksiving potluck of an episode where each host is bringing something to feast on, we've got Stephen Colbert as "The President" in Dreamworks' 2009 animated movie MONSTERS VS. ALIENS. We've got another round of Idris Elba, this time as "The President" in Kathryn Bigelow's new Netflix original HOUSE OF DYNAMITE. And we also talk a little about what Apple TV's new Vince Gilligan sci-fi series PLURIBUS may or may not have to say about presidential politics. Find us on most social networks at Fake_Presidents or email us at fakepresidents [at] gmail.com. 00:00 Intro 02:23 Monsters Vs. Aliens 20:00 Pluribus 28:42 House of Dynamite 45:00 Closing 45:57 Post-Credits Bit
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Abolish Ice (WAR OF THE WORLDS, 2025)
Aug 3001:06:52Tap to summarizeIce Cube and his two adult-ish children are Earth's last line of defense in the latest incarnation of H.G. Wells seminal, sci-fi classic WAR OF THE WORLDS. Eva Longoria, Clark Gregg, and Andrea Savage are in it, too, as is voice artist hall-of-famer Jim Meskimon as the "POTUS." It's a "movie" that is: - 60% Reaction shots of Ice Cube, staring at a screen - 39% Reycled stock footage where the makers had to blur the faces of people who wouldn't want to be in this movie - 1% anything resembling an actual movie Find us on Instagram, BlueSky, Threads, etc. at Fake_Presidents to suggest a BETTER MOVIE FOR US TO COVER. OR ANY MOVIE REALLY. Thank you. Maybe something from the 80s? We haven't done an 80s flick in a while.
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Acting President (HEADS OF STATE, 2025)
Jul 2301:02:47Tap to summarizeJohn Cena is an actor-turned-U.S. President and Idris Elba is a soldier-turned-U.K. Prime Minister in HEADS OF STATE, a brand new Amazon Prime action-buddy-comedy that at times feels straight from the 90s. But are the movie's politics straight from the 90s, too? And what connection might this movie have to Chris Rock's 2003 comedy HEAD OF STATE? Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, Jack Quaid, Carla Gugino, Paddy Considine, Sarah Niles, and Stephen Root round out the cast of ringers. Find us on all the socials (BlueSky, Instagram, Threads, etc.) at Fake_Presidents or email us at fakepresidents [at] gmail.com to join the convo -- and select our next fake potus to cover!
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ImPOTUSible (MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING, 2025)
Jun 2300:59:56Tap to summarizeThe world is on the brink of an AI-fueled global thermonuclear apocalpyse and only one superspy* can save it... and only one U.S. President can help him save it. Angela Bassett is that President in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING. How did she get elected? Will she get a second term? What's her approval ratings? That's our mission to figure out... (*Ethan Hunt is technically a spy, right? I mean that's why they do the whole mask thing?) Find us on Threads, BlueSky, and Instagram, or email us at fakepresidents [at] gmail.com if you want to join the convo... and suggest more fake presidents for us to cover!
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Department of Homelander Security (G20, 2025)
May 23, 202500:58:40Tap to summarizeWhat happens when crypto-minded terrorists led by Antony Starr (THE BOYS) take over a summit of world leaders in South Africa? It's up to Viola Davis as the U.S. President to take him down in Amazon Prime's G20. Clark Gregg (THE AVENGERS) is the homebound Vice President, Ramón Rodriquez (WILL TRENT) is the President's favorite secret service agent, Elizabeth Marvel (HOMELAND) is the brave-ish treasury secretery, Sabrina Impacciatore (WHITE LOTUS) is the head of the IMF (NOT the Impossible Missions Force), and did we mention that Anthony Anderson (KANGAROO JACK) is the first gentleman? G20 is available to stream RIGHT NOW on Amazon Prime Video. Find us on all the social medias at Fake_President or email us at fakepresidents [at] gmail.com to send us your questions, comments, and requests!
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Only Murders In The White House (THE RESIDENCE, 2025)
Apr 23, 202501:00:20Tap to summarizeIt's Wes Anderson meets PADDINGTON meets CLUE, all set in the White House. Well, not the ENTIRE White House. Just... THE RESIDENCE! This hit Netflix series from Shondaland presents an offbeat murder mystery wrapped up in some truly excellent production design. The series goes into details of how the White House works that have never been seen on screen before. But what about the Fake President? Did they give us enough detail there? Let's put our detective caps on and find out... Note: We actually manage to talk spoiler-free about the series for the majority of this episode. Unless, of course, you consider it a spoiler to find out that this is the first [REDACTED] American president we've covered on this podcast. Find us on Instagram, Threads, or Bluesky at Fake_Presidents, or email us at fakepresidents [at] gmail.com to join the conversation!
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