John McMahon
@johnamcmahon.bsky.social
political theorist | podcasting at @notgreatbookstv.bsky.social and @delugecast.bsky.social | opinions mine not my institution's, obvi | he/him | occasional bad ♟️
Pinned
Not here much but you CAN find me at:
🕵️♀️ @notgreatbookstv.bsky.social for episode-by-episode breakdowns of The Americans (and Young Pope/New Pope)
🌐 @delugecast.bsky.social for a chapter-by-chapter analysis of the climate fiction epic The Deluge by Stephen Markley
🕵️♀️ @notgreatbookstv.bsky.social for episode-by-episode breakdowns of The Americans (and Young Pope/New Pope)
🌐 @delugecast.bsky.social for a chapter-by-chapter analysis of the climate fiction epic The Deluge by Stephen Markley
Reposted by John McMahon
The 2026 CFP for the Annual Conference is out! Members, check your inboxes or visit this link: associationforpoliticaltheory.org/content.aspx...
Non-members, APT membership is *free* and you can sign-up here: associationforpoliticaltheory.org/content.aspx...
See you in Ann Arbor, MI this fall!
Non-members, APT membership is *free* and you can sign-up here: associationforpoliticaltheory.org/content.aspx...
See you in Ann Arbor, MI this fall!
December 22, 2025 at 2:45 PM
The 2026 CFP for the Annual Conference is out! Members, check your inboxes or visit this link: associationforpoliticaltheory.org/content.aspx...
Non-members, APT membership is *free* and you can sign-up here: associationforpoliticaltheory.org/content.aspx...
See you in Ann Arbor, MI this fall!
Non-members, APT membership is *free* and you can sign-up here: associationforpoliticaltheory.org/content.aspx...
See you in Ann Arbor, MI this fall!
Reposted by John McMahon
Final program is now live: associationforpoliticaltheory.org/content.aspx...
See you in Chicago later this week!
See you in Chicago later this week!
Login - The Association for Political Theory
associationforpoliticaltheory.org
November 3, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Final program is now live: associationforpoliticaltheory.org/content.aspx...
See you in Chicago later this week!
See you in Chicago later this week!
We are hiring for a TT Asst. Prof. in American Politics. Open in terms of specialization, but candidates should be able to teach across the subfield.
Come join our small, friendly, efficacious department in upstate NY!
jobs.plattsburgh.edu/postings/15758
#polisky #psjobs #poliscijobs
Come join our small, friendly, efficacious department in upstate NY!
jobs.plattsburgh.edu/postings/15758
#polisky #psjobs #poliscijobs
Assistant Professor, American Politics
Expected to begin Fall 2026, the duties of this tenure-track position are expected to include instruction of three courses (e.g. introductory course in U.S. national politics, upper-level electives in...
jobs.plattsburgh.edu
November 3, 2025 at 12:15 PM
We are hiring for a TT Asst. Prof. in American Politics. Open in terms of specialization, but candidates should be able to teach across the subfield.
Come join our small, friendly, efficacious department in upstate NY!
jobs.plattsburgh.edu/postings/15758
#polisky #psjobs #poliscijobs
Come join our small, friendly, efficacious department in upstate NY!
jobs.plattsburgh.edu/postings/15758
#polisky #psjobs #poliscijobs
Reposted by John McMahon
A new episode: an interlude chapter lets us think about LLMs, journalism, climate politics, and the purpose of writing good sentences delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/07/22/w...
Interlude 8 (2030): Generic AI-generated weather pun about terrible politics
An LLM political analyst leans too hard on the weather puns to report on the political upheaval impacting climate legislation in the US — — Our theme music is from “I Can’t See the Milky Way Anymor…
delugecast.wordpress.com
July 22, 2025 at 6:49 PM
A new episode: an interlude chapter lets us think about LLMs, journalism, climate politics, and the purpose of writing good sentences delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/07/22/w...
Reposted by John McMahon
New episode, featuring two of the greatest scenes and one of the best needle drops in all of The Americans, and much much more
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/106-the-am...
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/106-the-am...
106. The Americans 5x10, "Darkroom" | Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast
Back on their own this week, Danielle and John descend into the basement to talk about The Americans Season 5 Episode 10, “Darkroom,” and BOY, is THIS an EPISODE!?! Your hosts unpack a series of scene...
notgreatbooksTV.podbean.com
July 17, 2025 at 3:02 PM
New episode, featuring two of the greatest scenes and one of the best needle drops in all of The Americans, and much much more
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/106-the-am...
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/106-the-am...
Reposted by John McMahon
This week's episode is a reason-revelation-salvation-redemption joint as Keeper kicks off Book III. The weather (and infinite sadness) persist, Keeper confronts and enacts white supremacy, and we wonder if Stephen Markley is a Christopher Nolan hater or fan
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/k...
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/k...
13. Keeper III (2030) – You’re a Sinner in the Storm of an Angry God
You push the boundaries of possibility for redemption as you once again fall into — but also explode — your familiar patterns.You feel the weather, the light, and the infinite sadness.&…
delugecast.wordpress.com
July 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
This week's episode is a reason-revelation-salvation-redemption joint as Keeper kicks off Book III. The weather (and infinite sadness) persist, Keeper confronts and enacts white supremacy, and we wonder if Stephen Markley is a Christopher Nolan hater or fan
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/k...
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/07/15/k...
Reposted by John McMahon
Jackie II: what does Jackie's meeting with, pitch to, and reflections on the "Sustainable Future Coalition" (🤮) tell us about nostalgia, green capitalism, and sexual politics?
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/07/01/j...
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/07/01/j...
12. Jackie II (2029) – Steer, Into the. Skid: Strategic Accommodation of the Persuadable Middle
Jackie spearheads a counterintuitive ratf*** of an advertising strategy for the worst corporations in the world as she navigates her sex life and fights off an anti-nostalgic nostalgia — — Our them…
delugecast.wordpress.com
July 10, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Jackie II: what does Jackie's meeting with, pitch to, and reflections on the "Sustainable Future Coalition" (🤮) tell us about nostalgia, green capitalism, and sexual politics?
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/07/01/j...
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/07/01/j...
Reposted by John McMahon
We are joined by the ever-brilliant @gorenlj.bsky.social for Americans S5E09 to cover the multiple returns of the repressed in the episode, IHOP designs, Henry's boarding school scheme, Martha in Moscow, dressing up as Marx, and a whole lot else
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/tk-tk-tk/
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/tk-tk-tk/
105. The Americans 5x9, "IHOP," with Lilly Goren | Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast
This week, John and Danielle are joined by one of their favorite recurring guests in the NQGB (Zencastr) studio, Lilly Goren! Together, they tackle The Americans 5x9, “IHOP.” They consider the develop...
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com
July 10, 2025 at 3:50 PM
We are joined by the ever-brilliant @gorenlj.bsky.social for Americans S5E09 to cover the multiple returns of the repressed in the episode, IHOP designs, Henry's boarding school scheme, Martha in Moscow, dressing up as Marx, and a whole lot else
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/tk-tk-tk/
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/tk-tk-tk/
Reposted by John McMahon
New episodes (as of last week)!
Amy Schiller joins to discuss White Lotus season 3, Nietzsche, simping for pop culture, Materialists, love and money, the cultural phenomenon of the new(ish) Pope, a bit of Zohran, and so much more.
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/104-the-wh...
Amy Schiller joins to discuss White Lotus season 3, Nietzsche, simping for pop culture, Materialists, love and money, the cultural phenomenon of the new(ish) Pope, a bit of Zohran, and so much more.
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/104-the-wh...
104. The White Lotus S3, Materialists, and Pope Bobby -- aka In THIS Sacred Economy?!, with Amy Schiller | Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast
Amy Schiller is back with John for a wide-ranging conversation about economies both sacred and profane. Together, they consider the May election of Pope Leo XIV as a pop culture phenomenon (2:36), the...
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com
July 10, 2025 at 3:50 PM
New episodes (as of last week)!
Amy Schiller joins to discuss White Lotus season 3, Nietzsche, simping for pop culture, Materialists, love and money, the cultural phenomenon of the new(ish) Pope, a bit of Zohran, and so much more.
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/104-the-wh...
Amy Schiller joins to discuss White Lotus season 3, Nietzsche, simping for pop culture, Materialists, love and money, the cultural phenomenon of the new(ish) Pope, a bit of Zohran, and so much more.
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/104-the-wh...
Reposted by John McMahon
Please read the July 4 Declaration from the leaders of SUNY University Faculty Senate, Faculty Council of Community Colleges, Student Association, and the CUNY University Faculty Senate, and become a signatory. Petition link in comments.
www.sunyufs.us/uploads/1/1/...
www.sunyufs.us/uploads/1/1/...
www.sunyufs.us
July 4, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Please read the July 4 Declaration from the leaders of SUNY University Faculty Senate, Faculty Council of Community Colleges, Student Association, and the CUNY University Faculty Senate, and become a signatory. Petition link in comments.
www.sunyufs.us/uploads/1/1/...
www.sunyufs.us/uploads/1/1/...
Reposted by John McMahon
On July 23, join APT from 12-2pm EDT for a virtual summer panel on navigating the political theory job market w/ @kdpham.bsky.social, Pinar Kemerli, and @kyebarker.bsky.social.
All are welcome - membership encouraged but not required. Register here for the zoom link: albany.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
All are welcome - membership encouraged but not required. Register here for the zoom link: albany.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: APT Summer Panel: Navigating the Political Theory Job Market. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
The Association for Political Theory is hosting its annual summer workshop on Navigating the Political Theory Job Market!
The aim of the workshop will be to provide guidance, advice, and tips that...
albany.zoom.us
July 8, 2025 at 4:12 PM
On July 23, join APT from 12-2pm EDT for a virtual summer panel on navigating the political theory job market w/ @kdpham.bsky.social, Pinar Kemerli, and @kyebarker.bsky.social.
All are welcome - membership encouraged but not required. Register here for the zoom link: albany.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
All are welcome - membership encouraged but not required. Register here for the zoom link: albany.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Coping with the world through fake podcast ads with @emilykcrandall.bsky.social for @delugecast.bsky.social
Our latest episode is brought to you by AeroFresh and GreenBookie$
We Are The Deluge podcast ads?
YouTube video by We Are the Deluge Podcast
www.youtube.com
June 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Coping with the world through fake podcast ads with @emilykcrandall.bsky.social for @delugecast.bsky.social
Reposted by John McMahon
Our most audacious (ridiculous?) formal conceit yet, ecofeminism, terrorism, non-violence, cancel culture, Kate Morris. We’re playing the hits.
AKA a podcast making a podcast about a podcast, you know you love it.
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/06/17/k...
AKA a podcast making a podcast about a podcast, you know you love it.
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/06/17/k...
Interlude 7 (2029): The Daily Deluge Podcast
Join your hosts Emily Crandall and John McMahon as they interview climate fiction podcasting experts John McMahon and Emily Crandall about Kate Morris’ interview on The Conversation podcast. They d…
delugecast.wordpress.com
June 17, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Our most audacious (ridiculous?) formal conceit yet, ecofeminism, terrorism, non-violence, cancel culture, Kate Morris. We’re playing the hits.
AKA a podcast making a podcast about a podcast, you know you love it.
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/06/17/k...
AKA a podcast making a podcast about a podcast, you know you love it.
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/06/17/k...
Reposted by John McMahon
New episode: Is the Book II headline splash taking place in 2029 or right now? delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/06/10/b...
Interlude 6 (2029): Crandall and McMahon Ponder the Bleak Future – Or is it the Present?
Alienated Young Men in 2029 Marveling at Markley’s Metafiction Multiplies Gaza as an “auto-kill” zone: when and how do people get politicized? — — Our theme music is from “I Can’t See t…
delugecast.wordpress.com
June 10, 2025 at 10:34 AM
New episode: Is the Book II headline splash taking place in 2029 or right now? delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/06/10/b...
Reposted by John McMahon
New ep on Ashir II. What are the limits of dispassionate empiricism, how does Ash's dispassionate empiricism interact with legislative policy negotiations?! Plus feminist philosophy office hours w/Dr. @emilykcrandall.bsky.social & the sexual politics of meat
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/06/03/a...
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/06/03/a...
11. Ashir II (2029) – Executive Summary on Sloppy Science and the Chaos of Reality
Ash struggles with the tension between the adequate and the possible — challenging coalitional concerns with dispassionate empiricism, disappointing climate hardliners, and ultimately present…
delugecast.wordpress.com
June 3, 2025 at 6:30 PM
New ep on Ashir II. What are the limits of dispassionate empiricism, how does Ash's dispassionate empiricism interact with legislative policy negotiations?! Plus feminist philosophy office hours w/Dr. @emilykcrandall.bsky.social & the sexual politics of meat
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/06/03/a...
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/06/03/a...
Reposted by John McMahon
If you're a fan of Stephen Markley's climate epic "The Deluge" and you're massive EPT nerd, you'll love this podcast 💚💚💚
Our first two episodes are OUT NOW!
Prologue: What is this podcast and why does this novel merit such analysis?!
Tony I: the meaning of science, the threats to and of climate science, and the depoliticization of science...plus absurdist Harrison Ford daydreaming
delugecast.wordpress.com
Prologue: What is this podcast and why does this novel merit such analysis?!
Tony I: the meaning of science, the threats to and of climate science, and the depoliticization of science...plus absurdist Harrison Ford daydreaming
delugecast.wordpress.com
We Are The Deluge Podcast
A chapter-by-chapter podcast about The Deluge by Stephen Markley, coming Fall 2024
delugecast.wordpress.com
June 3, 2025 at 6:15 PM
If you're a fan of Stephen Markley's climate epic "The Deluge" and you're massive EPT nerd, you'll love this podcast 💚💚💚
Reposted by John McMahon
New episode! An interlude posing the most important question of them all :can (more importantly, should) you rhyme "OK boomer" with "climate doomer"? We also talk about the legacies of Gore, McKibben and Hansen and how/why Markley engages them in the novel.
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/05/13/o...
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/05/13/o...
Interlude 5 (2028): OK, Boomer — Don’t Be A Climate Doomer
The Climate Old Guard Forges Ahead As They Exit the Stage, But Have They Learned Anything About Politics? — Our theme music is from “I Can’t See the Milky Way Anymore” by Alex Rudnick. We heartily …
delugecast.wordpress.com
May 13, 2025 at 6:26 PM
New episode! An interlude posing the most important question of them all :can (more importantly, should) you rhyme "OK boomer" with "climate doomer"? We also talk about the legacies of Gore, McKibben and Hansen and how/why Markley engages them in the novel.
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/05/13/o...
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/05/13/o...
Reposted by John McMahon
New episode: we + the characters of The Americans are all dissociating. Coping with multiple subjectivities, sex and death (the usual), and more. Plus, Mischa back and @dvh26.bsky.social is winning in her ongoing quest to predict the future (of the series) notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/100-the-am...
100. The Americans 5x5, "Lotus 1-2-3" | Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast
John and Danielle are back to dig into The Americans 5x5, “Lotus 1-2-3,” and they are DISSOCIATING as they do so! With that theme, your hosts consider how this approach helps Philip and Elizabeth cope...
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com
May 8, 2025 at 1:23 PM
New episode: we + the characters of The Americans are all dissociating. Coping with multiple subjectivities, sex and death (the usual), and more. Plus, Mischa back and @dvh26.bsky.social is winning in her ongoing quest to predict the future (of the series) notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/100-the-am...
Reposted by John McMahon
New episode on Shane II! Surveillance capitalism, the slow violence of climate change and what that means for human agency, oh so much Foucault, and surprise surprise, the weather is a character again. Plus, the eternal question: are you a Shane or a Kate?
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/05/06/s...
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/05/06/s...
10. Shane II (2028) – Slow Ends Our World: Society Must Not be Defended
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to follow us – and Shane – down the surveillance and dataveillance rabbit hole of copious Panopticon references in order to rendezvous w…
delugecast.wordpress.com
May 8, 2025 at 1:20 PM
New episode on Shane II! Surveillance capitalism, the slow violence of climate change and what that means for human agency, oh so much Foucault, and surprise surprise, the weather is a character again. Plus, the eternal question: are you a Shane or a Kate?
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/05/06/s...
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/05/06/s...
Earlier this week the SUNY Plattsburgh Faculty Senate passed a resolution defending higher ed, calling for a mutual academic defense compact, connecting to SUNY-wise University Faculty Senate efforts, protecting academic freedom, standing up for DEI, and more
drive.google.com/file/d/1wnZL...
drive.google.com/file/d/1wnZL...
May 8, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Earlier this week the SUNY Plattsburgh Faculty Senate passed a resolution defending higher ed, calling for a mutual academic defense compact, connecting to SUNY-wise University Faculty Senate efforts, protecting academic freedom, standing up for DEI, and more
drive.google.com/file/d/1wnZL...
drive.google.com/file/d/1wnZL...
Reposted by John McMahon
New episode! We are joined by @kennan.bsky.social to talk about the family and its impingements, bowling, the Jennings' fantasies of America, bugs, the return of [redacted!] and, improbably, Alex Chilton
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/98-the-ame...
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/98-the-ame...
98. The Americans 5x3, "The Midges," with Kennan Ferguson | Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast
This week, John and Danielle are joined by their friend and fellow political theorist Kennan Ferguson! Together, these three dig into Danielle’s take on Season 5 Episode 3, “The Midges,” using the fra...
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com
April 3, 2025 at 11:06 PM
New episode! We are joined by @kennan.bsky.social to talk about the family and its impingements, bowling, the Jennings' fantasies of America, bugs, the return of [redacted!] and, improbably, Alex Chilton
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/98-the-ame...
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/98-the-ame...
Reposted by John McMahon
New episode time: Matt II gives us another opportunity to discuss movement politics and movement theory as we dig deeper into Fierce Blue Fire confronting their inside-outside strategy for climate politics. Stick around for a rousing game of Fox or Lion!
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/04/01/m...
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/04/01/m...
9. Matt II (2028) – The Sensation of Density: Years of Boldness and Prudence
Energized despair. Fugazi. Climate politics on the inside and the outside. Machiavelli and Hanna Pitkin. This self-consciously literary chapter situates the reader (and your hosts) in the midst of …
delugecast.wordpress.com
April 2, 2025 at 12:14 AM
New episode time: Matt II gives us another opportunity to discuss movement politics and movement theory as we dig deeper into Fierce Blue Fire confronting their inside-outside strategy for climate politics. Stick around for a rousing game of Fox or Lion!
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/04/01/m...
delugecast.wordpress.com/2025/04/01/m...
Reposted by John McMahon
Our episode on Americans 502: the unwritten rules of (spy) families and (families of) spies, a Midwest jaunt with a @dvh26.bsky.social geoguessing adventure, Bennigans chat, Paige angst, a Phillip-Stan friendship breakdown and so much more.
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/97-the-ame...
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/97-the-ame...
97. The Americans 5x2, "Pests" | Not Quite Great Books: a TV podcast
Oh boy. John and Danielle are back at it for The Americans Season 5 Episode 2, “Pests.” Framing their discussion around “unofficial rules,” they consider how unwritten and unofficial rules structure t...
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com
April 2, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Our episode on Americans 502: the unwritten rules of (spy) families and (families of) spies, a Midwest jaunt with a @dvh26.bsky.social geoguessing adventure, Bennigans chat, Paige angst, a Phillip-Stan friendship breakdown and so much more.
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/97-the-ame...
notgreatbookstv.podbean.com/e/97-the-ame...
Reposted by John McMahon
The initiators of this statement realize that it will not feel safe for all members to sign, but hope that those who feel comfortable will sign and distribute it to others in their professional networks and departments.
There is also an option to sign the statement anonymously.
There is also an option to sign the statement anonymously.
March 24, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The initiators of this statement realize that it will not feel safe for all members to sign, but hope that those who feel comfortable will sign and distribute it to others in their professional networks and departments.
There is also an option to sign the statement anonymously.
There is also an option to sign the statement anonymously.
Reposted by John McMahon
We find ourselves in a crisis moment and must face it through collective action and clear articulations of our intent to defend our work as teachers and scholars.
While the statement focuses on the US, expressions of support are not limited to American scholars.
While the statement focuses on the US, expressions of support are not limited to American scholars.
March 24, 2025 at 8:58 PM
We find ourselves in a crisis moment and must face it through collective action and clear articulations of our intent to defend our work as teachers and scholars.
While the statement focuses on the US, expressions of support are not limited to American scholars.
While the statement focuses on the US, expressions of support are not limited to American scholars.