Consumption Is Eating Art
May 22, 2026
51 min
11
40
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1,139 of 1,147
Episode 40 · May 22, 2026
Consumption Is Eating Art
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Pantsuit Politics Episodes Around May 22, 2026
Episode 1,139 of 1,147 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
51:11This episodeConsumption Is Eating Art
Summary
Beth’s daughter, Ellen, asked why our books aren’t on the bestseller list, and honestly? Great question, Ellen. That one question opens up the whole can of worms today: how popular consensus gets manufactured — from the mysterious black box of the New York Times bestseller list to music catalogs being protected like the financial assets they literally are, to the Vulture piece that confirmed what I’ve suspected for a while now, which is that nothing on your social media feed is actually organic. We also wade into the Michael Jackson biopic, which I have real feelings about, and we end in a much better place, talking about songs that have nothing to do with romantic love. I am warning you now that I cannot discuss Brandi Carlile without crying, so just be ready for that. — Sarah
Topics Discussed
Cultural Consensus and Its Impact
Art, Trust, and Marketing in the Digital Age
Outside of Politics: Nonlove Songs
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