Topic: Infotainment

Mazda drivers in the Seattle area report that their car infotainment systems are permanently stuck on the local NPR station. The "glitch" is caused by the station sending an improperly formatted RDS image tag that crashes the Mazda software.

Public distrust in mainstream outlets like NBC is leading audiences toward alternative figures like Alex Jones for entertainment and information. While often dismissed as conspiracy-driven, Jones is noted for his high engagement levels compared to traditional news. The shift is attributed to the "flooding the zone" tactics used by major media corporations.

A donor from Kuwait, using the pseudonym Planet Kaitan from the novel Dune, became an Associate Executive Producer for the show. The donor described the podcast as "activist infotainment" and received a "de-douching" ceremony.

Marty Kaplan argues that Americans are addicted to "infotainment" and fail to take to the streets like citizens in Brazil despite crumbling infrastructure and political corruption. The hosts mock the distraction of modern technology, imagining a future where Google Glass facilitates drug delivery while users watch reality television.

The hosts reject the label "infotainment" in favor of "analysis-otainment." A geologist donor provides a perspective on climate change, arguing that the Earth is technically still in an ice age based on polar glaciation.