016 - The Afterbirth of a Revolution, Part Two

Explicit content warning

03/26/23 • 137 min

The finale of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the debauched presidency of Romania's final autocrat, the Trump-analogous Traian Băsescu, the restoration of confidence and economy alike under the administration of former schoolteacher Klaus Johannis, and the present issues facing the country, most notably being a border crisis, a NATO bid, and the looming threat of Russian invasion.

Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (16/16)

Music: "Tú Serás Mi Baby" by Les Surfs; main theme from The Conversation (1974); "Intermission" by Blur; "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen; Laura Palmer's theme from Twin Peaks (1990); "Break" by Beenzino; "Sonido Amazonico" by Los Mirlos; "Don't You Just Know It" by Huey 'Piano' Smith; "A Little Chaos" by Peter Gregson; "Then He Kissed Me" by The Crystals, best known as the aural accompaniment to the Copacabana long-take in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas (1990).

Outro: "Beyond the Sea" by Bobby Darin.

Referenced: news about Hungary's present-day autocracy (AP); news about Moldova's change in legal language (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6); HyperNormalisation, a fascinating 2016 BBC documentary by Adam Curtis (YouTube/Vimeo); Seth Meyers roasting Donald Trump at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner (1, 2, 3); that time Băsescu and his cronies embezzled $1.1b of EU funds meant for a Danube Delta project (1, 2); Andrew Tate arrested in Romania (reddit); Romania barred from the Schengen free-travel zone (1, 2, 3).

Corrections: None, for now. (However, do note that Elena Băsescu hasn't done anything since the EU.)

Kris's best-reviewed book: A Wintry Scene in Chequamegon (available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book forms)

Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (16/16)

Outro: "Beyond the Sea" by Bobby Darin.

Corrections: None, for now. (However, do note that Elena Băsescu hasn't done anything since the EU.)

Kris's best-reviewed book: A Wintry Scene in Chequamegon (available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book forms)

Previous Episode

015 - The Afterbirth of a Revolution, Part One

The fifteenth of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the immediate chaos following the execution of the Ceaușescus - a chaos likely orchestrated by provisional president Ion Iliescu in order to legitimatize his seizure of the throne - and a handful of similarly-corrupt figures who colluded with the international elite to surreptitiously privatize Romania's state industries during her period of supposed-liberalization and reconstruction.

Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (15/16)

Music: the Dark Fantasy Studio catalog; "Sixteen Tons" by 'Tennessee' Ernie Ford; "Cbat" by Hudson Mohawke; "Who Let The Dogs Out" by Baha Men; "Move It Like This" by Baha Men.

Outro: "Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin.

Referenced: The Patriot Front (1, 2, 3, 4, 5); Muffins (Liam Kyle Sullivan); the infographic on the 30 most expensive buildings; a Salina Turda photo gallery (stock); 'Movile Cave', the poison cave (BBC); Kevin McCarthy Chose Ambition Over Honesty On January 6th (MSNBC); Kevin McCarthy elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives (NBC News); "I'm just chillin in cedar rapids" (YT); Hillary Clinton tries the cold chai (YT); The Story of 'Who Let The Dogs Out' by Baha Men (Vice); Courage The Cowardly Dog, S01E03, "Hothead", the Floyd scene (YT).

Corrections: Oh, I totally had one... but what was it?

Kris's most recent book: Square Bones, a collection of dialogue scenes (short stories told strictly as dialogue duets; available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book forms)