What Now? With Trevor NoahWesley Morris: How Critics at Large See the Stories We Miss
Episode Details
EPISODE INFO
- Released
- December 25, 2025
- Duration
- 2h 15m
- Channel
- What Now? With Trevor Noah
- Watch on YouTube
- ▶ Open ↗
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
Trevor sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Wesley Morris for a wide-ranging conversation that uncovers the hidden stories in everyday culture. From Carlos Alcaraz’s accidental buzz cut becoming the real drama of the US Open (and why men rarely have to explain their appearance), to the deeper meaning behind by-gone baby names, looted ancient artifacts, and Trump’s complicated relationship with museums. They dive into why blockbuster movies have abandoned regular human stories, how Superman reboots reflect America’s shifting self-image, and why horror films and death-obsessed songs are dominating right now. Wesley breaks down the superpower of a “critic at large”: spotting trends everyone else misses and connecting them to what they really say about us. Thought-provoking, funny, and full of unexpected insights—this one will make you see the world a little differently. If you haven't already.... Subscribe to the channel here: http://bit.ly/SubscribeTrevorNoah Or follow the podcast on your other favorite platforms... SiriusXM - Apple Podcasts - https://bit.ly/WhatNowOnApplePodcasts Spotify - https://bit.ly/WhatNowOnSpotify 00:00:00 – Superman Movies Mirror America’s Mood Swings 00:00:32 – Trevor Roasts Wesley & Eugene’s “Old Man” Names 00:01:45 – Dead Names: Judith, Arnold, Ethel & Martha Ann 00:03:05 – Wesley Morris: The Superpower of a Critic at Large 00:04:36 – Names Are Dying — And Assimilation Is Killing Them 00:08:40 – Why Barack Didn’t Become the Next Big Baby Name 00:10:36 – Critic at Large vs Regular Critic: What’s the Difference? 00:12:33 – Would Wesley Write About Carlos Alcaraz’s Buzz Cut? 00:14:14 – US Open Fashion Chaos: From Wing Vents to Serena’s Outfits 00:15:11 – The Alcaraz Haircut: Accident or Rebellion? 00:18:15 – Carlos Had to Apologize for His Hair — Men Rarely Do 00:22:21 – When Women Cut Their Hair Short, It’s a Scandal 00:25:03 – The Hidden Burden: Appearance Pressure on Athletes 00:30:34 – How Wesley Decides What’s Worth Writing About 00:31:46 – Museum Etiquette Rant: Stop Cutting In Front of Paintings! 00:35:36 – Should Looted Art Go Back Home? The Big Debate 00:43:46 – Art Gains Meaning From Suffering & Displacement 00:46:44 – Should All Ancient Art Return to Egypt? 00:54:38 – Museums Dignify Civilizations — And Prove We Existed 01:01:33 – Trump’s Obsession With Museums & Controlling the Narrative 01:10:52 – Trump Is Shaped By Whoever Whispers In His Ear 01:27:08 – Horror Movies & “Die With a Smile”: Our Current Death Drive 01:28:20 – Superman Reboots Reflect America’s Self-Image 01:39:24 – Why We No Longer Get Human Stories Like Forrest Gump 02:04:17 – The Joy of Thinking Deeper About Culture 02:11:45 – Wesley’s Top Movies of the Year: Weapons, Sinners & More"
SPEAKERS
Trevor Noah
hostComedian and television/podcast host of "What Now? With Trevor Noah."
Wesley Morris
guestCulture and film critic and journalist; discusses his criticism work and plugs his ongoing show "Cannonball."
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of What Now? With Trevor Noah, featuring Trevor Noah and Wesley Morris, Wesley Morris: How Critics at Large See the Stories We Miss explores wesley Morris on culture’s hidden signals in names, art, politics Morris defines a critic at large as someone who uses specific cultural moments (like a celebrity haircut or a museum display) as evidence for broader social narratives that most people overlook.
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