Red Scare Canon — Cultural References from the Subreddit

JC Penney (place) 2 — Department store chain mentioned in a story about exploiting a hole-free jeans guarantee to survive poverty.

Justice (person) 2 — A French electronic music duo mentioned as part of the millennial college soundtrack during a period of cultural transfo...

Spirited Away (film) 2 — Animated film whose scene of parents turning into pigs from eating fast food scarred a viewer as a child

Rhodesia (place) 2 — A historical state discussed by blue collar workers who fashion themselves as intellectuals instead of working

Apple Store (place) 2 — Retail location where a fictional story takes place involving a photo of Dasha Nekrasova causing a mall riot.

East Germany (place) 2 — The former German Democratic Republic, whose only remaining cultural export is the children's TV show Sandmännchen.

William James (person) 2 — Philosopher referenced in connection with 'mystical experiences' in a discussion about religious conversion and faith.

Mary Oliver (person) 2 — Poet whose 'Wild Geese' is quoted in full to argue against puritanism and for accepting one's carnal nature

True Blood (film) 2 — A TV show that one person's girlfriend was obsessed with to the point of experiencing 'limerence' over a character

Franzia (album) 2 — Boxed wine brand that Elizabeth Warren was allegedly drinking heavily according to DC rumors

DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) (concept) 2 — A mental health condition formerly known as multiple personality disorder, discussed in the context of a therapist alleg...

Serenity Prayer (concept) 2 — Traditional prayer attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr about accepting what cannot be changed, having courage to change what ...

Stanford University (place) 2 — An elite university whose undergraduate education is mentioned alongside a Harvard MBA as credentials that don't prevent...

Lidl (place) 2 — A European discount supermarket chain mentioned as one of the few stores open on Sundays and Mondays in a small town.

HomeGoods (place) 2 — A home decor retail chain that sells candles much cheaper than handmade versions at farmers markets.

Compact (place) 2 — Magazine that published Jacob Savage's essay 'The Lost Generation' about discrimination against young white men during t...

Dick Cavett (person) 2 — Television talk show host praised for thoughtful, non-gimmicky interviews in contrast to modern talk shows and podcasts.

Gracie Abrams (person) 2 — Music industry nepo baby cited as an example of the worst or lamest celebrity offspring benefiting from family connectio...

Mueller Report (concept) 2 — Investigation into Trump referenced as a previous example of liberals placing false hope in a solution that would not ma...

Joachim Trier (person) 2 — Film director whose new release 'Sentimental Value' was treated with inappropriate laughter by audiences as if it were a...

Alfred Hitchcock (person) 2 — Film director whose films are referenced in relation to feeling disassociated and manic in windy conditions.

Joshua Tree (place) 2 — A location referenced in a New York Times headline questioning the number of Airbnbs in the area.

Hare Krishna (concept) 2 — Religious movement that the Hindu sex cult associated with Tulsi Gabbard has ties to but is more extremist than.

Laissez-faire (concept) 2 — Free market economic ideology that is foundational to conservative ideology, contradicting their claims to be class warr...

Air Canada (place) 2 — Canadian airline whose 50,000 striking flight attendants were forced back to work by the Canadian government in less tha...

Nate Silver (person) 2 — Statistical analyst and election forecaster who people treat like a messiah or false prophet despite making models that ...

Domino's (place) 2 — Pizza chain criticized for charging forty dollars for delivery of low-quality pizza with plastic cheese, representing de...

Jeremy Allen White (person) 2 — Actor cited as an example of someone misidentified as 'ugly hot' when he is actually just conventionally handsome

Harry Sisson (person) 2 — Young Democratic pundit criticized on TAFS podcast for being uninformed, lacking original thoughts, and not knowing basi...

Wendy Williams (person) 2 — Media pioneer known for pop culture hot takes who is considered an influence on shows like Red Scare

Aldo Leopold (person) 2 — Conservation figure discussed by an old codger at a bar in connection with The Snow Leopard and conservation work

Seasonal Depression (concept) 2 — Depression linked to short, cold days affecting pale people who spend most time indoors, allegedly fixable with exercise...

Learned Helplessness (concept) 2 — Psychological condition being encouraged by internet communities that promote victimhood and discourage self-improvement...

Barry Jenkins (person) 2 — Film director criticized for spending four years making a Lion King movie, representing the decline of Black American ci...

GeoWizard (person) 2 — British YouTuber known for countryside trespass videos who was cancelled for supporting Reform UK, representing working-...

Virgin Mary (concept) 2 — A Catholic religious figure that Latin American converts to Protestantism are described as rejecting in favor of evangel...

Dopamine Fasting (concept) 2 — A practice of deliberately depriving oneself of information and stimulation to combat the negative effects of constant c...

John Krasinski (person) 2 — Actor from The Office whose film career failed to launch despite Hollywood's attempts and who is married to Emily Blunt

Barton Fink (film) 2 — Film that the poster intends to watch but can't find the right day to give it proper respect

Balloon Boy (person) 2 — Child at center of a 2009 hoax where his parents claimed he floated away in a homemade balloon, fondly remembered by pos...

Scott Bessent (person) 2 — US Treasury official accused of orchestrating an insider trading bailout for Argentina to benefit private investment fun...

SBF (person) 2 — Wealthy donor who contributed a million dollars to Zohran Mamdani's congressional campaign six months before being indic...

Betty Friedan (person) 2 — An intellectual mentioned alongside Camille Paglia as smart women who understood what they were rebelling against during...

Hannah Horvath (person) 2 — Character from Girls whose voice is used to mockingly describe a West Coast liberal woman obsessed with political purity...

Land Acknowledgements (concept) 2 — Canadian practice of recognizing Indigenous peoples' historical connection to land before public events, criticized as p...

The Verge (place) 2 — Technology news website whose reviewer gave a negative review to a fitness band due to its body fat percentage measureme...

Vampire Diaries (film) 2 — TV series praised as an example of the classic TV model with long seasons and consistent yearly releases

Chaos (book) 2 — Book about conspiracies including MKultra, Operation GLADIO, and alleged post-WWII state control of pop culture and arts

BattleBots (film) 2 — Robot combat TV show watched by a father who gave up cable news during midlife crisis

Confederate flag (concept) 2 — Symbol discussed in relation to a Virginia councilman who voted to remove Confederate flags from city property and recei...