The Assignment with Audie Cornish

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The Year in Pop Culture: AI, Gay Hockey, and Rage Bait

12/11/2025 • 20 min

What was this year in pop culture like? A scrappy Canadian gay hockey romance becomes the internet’s obsession while big-budget, star-packed shows are dwindling. AI rage-bait memes (some from government accounts) keep hijacking the national conversation. These are just some of the pop culture moments that defined 2025. Audie and New York Magazine staff writer Rebecca Alter break it down. -- This episode was produced by Madeleine Thompson. Senior Producer: Matt Martinez Technical Director: Dan Dzula Executive Producer: Steve Lickteig Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Putting the 'Giving' Back in Thanksgiving
Is the Economy OK? Why It Might Not Feel Like It to You
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s Next Act
“Love is Blind” Is About More Than Dating
Horror Used to Be Escapism. Now It’s a Mirror
What Zohran Mamdani’s Rise Says About the Future of the Left
Why Everyone Started Paying Attention to the WNBA
Why Orwell's '1984' is having a moment in 2025
Uncovering the Story of Police Torture in Chicago
How MAGA and Billionaires Are Reshaping What Media You Consume
How to Break the Cycle of Political Violence
How Algorithms Are Rewiring the Way We Talk
Why Are Shows Like ‘Hunting Wives' and ‘Yellowstone’ So Popular Now?
The Generation That Inherited Hurricane Katrina

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