Being socialist while playing a ruthless capitalist w The Gilded Age star, no spoilers allowed - Morgan Spector (S1E16)

Morgan watches Love Island gasp and Jenny makes George Russell say modern pickup lines to her.

It is Thursday, August 7th, 2025, and this is What Should We Talk About? With Jenny Yang! On-location in the great state of New York. We left the city for that upstate country air. Mmmm. Smells like God’s Country. This is your weekly catchup time with smart and funny people to find joy in an unjust world. We discuss topics submitted by our guests and you, the listener. Any topic! From pop culture to the personal and political. Current, old! Big, small! Nerdy, petty!

Catch shorter preview episodes wherever you pod. But if you want FULL episodes UNCUT, become a Paid Subscriber at jennyyang.substack.com. (This week, paid subscribers hear about Jenny’s “socialist past,” how Morgan became so politically aware, why it’s so hard for people to support the humanity of Palestinians, and who we think SHOULD be running for elected office. And if Jenny gets it together the part of this convo when Morgan and Jenny talk Love Island USA lol.) You get access to Substack-only bonus episodes (like our recent one about Zohran Mamdani), and community chats. So if this episode cuts out mid convo – don’t get mad - get subscribing. jennyyang.substack.com.

My guest today is an actor and producer, graduate of Reed College and the prestigious American Conservatory Theater who is based in New York with his wife and daughter. He produced the 2020 documentary “The Big Scary S-Word”(https://www.socialismmovie.com/) about how socialism is actually deeply American. Upcoming on television, he will be seen in BLACK RABBIT for Netflix. He received critical acclaim, including a Critics Choice Nomination, for his work in David Simon’s "The Plot Against America.” (https://www.hbomax.com/shows/plot-against-america/7bc1933f-edc9-4c6c-b669-3c8894804536) He is best known as George Russell, the turn of the century Railroad Capitalist slash Robber Baron on the HBO award winning series “The Gilded Age” (https://www.hbomax.com/shows/gilded-age/2537da31-ff99-4195-a53e-e0e1ddb1d67e) from Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes. Let’s welcome to the pod, the internet’s Railroad Daddy, MORGAN SPECTOR!

And as always on the final mic, heard but not seen, my sweetie and co-producer of life, Corey Higgs (http://okletsbrand.com/).

On today’s agenda:

1. PODCAST UPDATES

2. What does it mean to be a Railroad Daddy?

3. A scene from the movie “Marriage Story” is being used by the government to scare away wolves.

4. How can we live beautiful lives while human rights atrocities are happening?

THE FREE PREVIEW ENDS HERE - My ONLYPAIDS get the rest of the episode for real talk.

5. What happened to make us so “political”?

6. Superman saved Palestine?

7. Should we even care about American electoral politics anymore?

8. ACTION ITEMS (place for you to make note of some things you want to try or do from today’s chat)

Because you don’t want to feel like you are losing your mind and because we long for a better world filled with fun, love, joy, and cool shit. This is What Should We Talk About? With Jenny Yang.

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