Podcast Summary: Federalist Radio Hour

Episode: 2025 In Pop Culture: Great Jeans, Rob Reiner, And Hollywood’s Retreat From Woke
Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Matt Kittle
Guest: Christian Toto (Founder of HollywoodInToto.com, host of Hollywood in Toto podcast)

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the shifting landscape of Hollywood and pop culture in 2025, examining the retreat from overt “woke” messaging, the intersection of politics and entertainment, the legacy and tragic end of Rob Reiner, and a lively rundown of the year’s best and worst films. Guest Christian Toto offers his unique, right-of-center insights on pop culture, audience trends, and the complicated impact of ideology in entertainment.

Key Discussion Points

1. Hollywood’s “Course Correction” on Woke Messaging

[02:19]

• Shift in Attitudes:
  Christian Toto observes a noticeable decline in aggressive woke messaging in entertainment, attributing this shift to declining revenues and viewership:

  "It's a bit of a course correction… the industry is starting to acknowledge that, hey, this isn't working. This isn't really drawing eyeballs like we thought it might or that we hoped it might." — Christian Toto [02:19]

• Comedy as a Bellwether:
  Comedy reflects this cultural shift, with artists reclaiming some freedom of expression, especially in standup, podcasts, and smaller platforms.

2. Sydney Sweeney and the Pop Culture "Backpedal"

[03:49 – 07:14]

• Sydney Sweeney’s Journey:
  Toto discusses Sweeney's infamous American Eagle "good jeans" ad, which drew minor, vocal backlash but no immediate apology from her — a rare moment of resistance. However, with recent movie flops, Sweeney made some public concessions, highlighting the pressure artists feel to appease Hollywood's prevailing politics.
• Conservative Support Lacking:
  Toto criticizes the conservative audience for failing to “walk the walk” when rare artists push back on woke culture:

  "Not that she's conservative… just standing up to the woke mob… I think conservatives should have rallied around Christie and said, hey, I'm going to go see that movie. But that's not happening." — Christian Toto [06:14]

3. The Complexity of Supporting Non-Woke Art

[08:38]

• Consumer Apathy:
  Kittle notes a broader apathy toward Hollywood, prompted by changes in viewing habits and the erosion of traditional moviegoing.
• Hollywood Responds to Dollars:
  Examples like "The Passion of the Christ" and "Richard Jewell" are referenced as cases where audience dollars significantly impacted industry trends—but missed opportunities abound.

4. Politics, Culture & the Case of Rob Reiner

[11:48 – 15:26]

• Rob Reiner’s Murder:
  The hosts address the tragic news of Rob Reiner's murder by his son, contextualizing it within a polarized, highly politicized cultural environment.
• Social Media & Trump’s Response:
  Toto criticizes former President Trump’s response to Reiner's death as “gross, inexcusable… helps no one. It makes the right a target.” [15:26]

5. Year in Film: The Best of 2025

[19:20 – 26:36]

• Oscar Buzz:
  "One Battle After Another" is considered the frontrunner—an “aggressively hard left movie,” per Toto, that’s sure to sweep awards.
• Standout Picks:
  • Marty Supreme:
    Toto's pick for Best Film (“It’s a ride… beautifully told, imaginative, fresh, exciting.” [19:20])
  • Song Sung Blue:
    Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star in this Neil Diamond-inspired biopic. Toto calls it "almost like a jukebox musical," warning, “some creative license here, but it sticks closely to the real story.” [22:02]
  • Other Notables:
    • Weapons: “A terrific horror movie that had a lot of depth to it.” [24:18]
    • Sinners: “A vampire movie, but it’s so much more than that… craftsmanship through the roof.” [24:18]
    • Is This Thing On?: Bradley Cooper directs; Will Arnett stars. “A fascinating subject matter about self-discovery and creativity.” [24:54]
    • Jay Kelly: “Drama about a movie star reflecting on being a bad dad… Clooney is quite good in it, shockingly so. Sandler shines in a dramatic supporting role.” [25:24]

6. Films to Avoid: The Worst of 2025

[29:49 – 34:38]

• The Alto Night Nights:
  “A gangster movie with Robert De Niro in two roles… wildly distracting. Absolute dud.” [29:49]
• Mickey 17:
  Futuristic cloning tale; “heavy-handed politics… a bust.” [31:15]
• Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues:
  “Unnecessary… a small book could be filled with all the ways this went wrong.” Cameos from Elton John and Paul McCartney do not redeem it. [33:14]

7. Holiday Films: Favorites and Flops

[35:39 – 41:06]

• Favorites:
  • Elf (2003):
    Celebrated for its innocence, timelessness, and Will Ferrell’s performance.

    “It just doesn’t age. It just gets better and richer and funnier and more sweet with every year.” — Christian Toto [38:51]

  • It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street:
    Emblematic of a bygone era of sweetness and optimism in film.
• Least Favorites:
  • Deck the Halls:
    “Terrible movie… dreadful.” [35:44]
  • Christmas with the Cranks:
    “Watchable, nothing more.” [35:45]
  • The deluge of forgettable Netflix/Hallmark holiday movies:
    “I get physically exhausted by it,” Toto remarks, but concedes that people enjoy them and they serve their audience. [42:00]

8. The State of Culture: Why Hollywood Has Changed

[40:03]

• Loss of Sweetness:
  Toto laments the disappearance of innocence and optimism once found in “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
• Current Trends:
  Darkness, edge, and cynicism now dominate, with even Christmas movies adopting “action comedy bent or some sort of gimmick or twist.” [40:18]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hollywood and Woke Culture:

  "You know, when a Stephen King, a Halle Berry, a Scarlett Johansson… bow to the woke mob, what chance do we have?" — Christian Toto [09:54]

• On Comedic Freedom Returning:

  “Comedies are on the comeback trail. I can say what I want to say and let the audience decide if it’s funny or offensive.” — Christian Toto [02:19]

• On Christmas Classics:

  “Elf is my favorite Christmas movie… I notice something new about his performance… it just gets better and richer and funnier and more sweet with every year.” — Christian Toto [38:51]

• On Hallmark/Netflix Holiday Movies:

  “It is the same movie over and over again… just with a different cast, perhaps a different setting.” — Matt Kittle [42:00]

Additional Recommendations and Plugs

• Christian Toto’s Work:
  • Website: HollywoodInToto.com
  • Twitter: @HollywoodInToto / Instagram: @RealHollywoodInToto
• Hollywood in Toto Podcast:
  Focuses on right-of-center artists, connecting pop culture dots others miss.
• Short on Hollywood:
  A weekly, under-one-minute video with Toto’s take on Hollywood headlines.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Woke Culture Receding: [02:19]
• Sydney Sweeney Discussion: [03:49 – 07:14]
• Political Infusion in Pop Culture; Rob Reiner's Death: [11:48 – 15:26]
• Trump’s Comments on Rob Reiner: [15:26]
• Oscar Buzz and Top Films: [19:20 – 26:36]
• Worst Movies of the Year: [29:49 – 34:38]
• Spinal Tap 2 Review: [33:14]
• Holiday Movie Roundup: [35:39 – 41:06]
• Why Hollywood Changed: [40:03]
• Final Thoughts & Plugs: [42:30 – 43:25]

Tone and Language

The conversation is lively, opinionated, and laced with humor and cultural references, reflecting skepticism toward Hollywood’s political trends and fondness for classics with lasting appeal. Both host and guest offer frank, personal takes, blending nostalgia, criticism, and practical advice for audiences seeking substance over spectacle in pop culture.