Marriage and politics are tough negotiations in ‘The Diplomat’

Keri Russell in the second season of <em>The Diplomat</em>.

In the Netflix drama The Diplomat, Keri Russell plays an ambassador who’s thrust into an international incident with massive stakes. She’s also sorting through a tumultuous marriage with her husband, a hotshot veteran diplomat (Rufus Sewell). The series combines the tension of Homeland with the administrative drama of The West Wing. The Diplomat just returned for a new season, so in this encore episode, we revisit our conversation about the series.

(Image credit: Alex Bailey)

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Author: Stephen Thompson

Diving into the Black Manosphere

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The manosphere is a sprawling online ecosystem aimed at disgruntled men. Now a subset of the manosphere aimed at Black men is exposing cracks in Black voters’ steadfast support of Democrats. On this episode, we take a look at how the Black manosphere came to be and wonder: could this loose community of aggrieved dudes swing the election?

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Author: Gene Demby

There can only be one pope in the delightfully preposterous ‘Conclave’

Ralph Fiennes in <em>Conclave.</em>

The new movie Conclave is a fun and twisty political thriller. Ralph Fiennes plays a cardinal tasked to managing the secretive process in which the pope is replaced. The film offers plenty of scandals, surprises, and dark horses, along with some strong commentary on the state of the Catholic church. Directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front), the film also stars Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini.

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Author: Stephen Thompson

Brabus Unveiled Its First-Ever Motorhome, And It’s A 40-Foot Beast

(Brabus)

At every turn, Brabus seems to impress, be it an utterly powerful supercar or an astonishingly luxe speedboat. But motorhomes were unfamiliar territory for the company, until now: The Brabus Big Boy 1200 lives up to its name in every way, and then some.

The custom car company knows precisely what they’ve got on their hands: A blacked-out, 40-foot motorhome that reads more “Bruce Wayne” than “Route 66 road trip.” Of the stunning launch, Brabus rightfully says: “It’s big. It’s wide. And it takes you anywhere you want.”

(Brabus)

It boasts more than 300 square feet of living space across a sleek, blacked-out interior: If you’re into the looks of the recently launched Brabus Rocket GTS, for instance, this might be the motorhome upgrade for you. Boasting a bedroom and living space, plus a bathroom straight out of a modern luxury hotel, the rig travels just about anywhere thanks to hydraulically extendable supports that level it out on (nearly) any surface. A bed above the cockpit furthers its usability across the country.

(Brabus)

A large closet and a 43-inch 4K television are part of the trappings of this next-level motorhome, and it also includes an integrated Playstation 5 system for gaming on the go. The comforts of home are surprisingly well within reach with the Brabus Big Boy 1200’s master bedroom, too. There’s even gray Brabus leather upholstery throughout, not unlike the kind found in its jaw-dropping automobiles.

(Brabus)

A wine fridge and coffee machine support a modern, customizable kitchen hub, which can even mimic a dining room with the right furniture arrangement, Brabus notes. To ensure a seamless ride and full operation of the included heating and A/C systems, the Big Boy 1200 is even outfitted with eight solar panels (on the roof) and an on-board energy storage system. Not bad for an RV.

(Brabus)

Of the seriously cool Brabus Masterpiece Motorhome, the company noted it was “born out of the idea to create a BRABUS luxury experience that moves with you, that adapts to your personality and that quite literally transforms ‘anywhere’ into ‘home.’” If first looks live up to the hype, they’ve succeeded at that aim (and transformed the RV space in the process). Find more details online (and request pricing) now via Brabus.

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Author: Beau Hayhoe