Is Donald Trump the chicken or the egg? On the cusp of his second administration, the hosts of dissect whether the president-elect is a cause or symptom of trends in popular culture.

Plus, Michelle brings all the nostalgia to the Christmas party.

(A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.)

Recommended in this episode:

“The Shape of Water” directed by Guillermo del Toro
“Yellowstone” created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson
“White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism” by Robin DiAngelo
‘Erasure” by Percival Everett
“American Fiction” directed by Cord Jefferson
‘The Elementary Particles” by Michel Houellebecq
“The Plot Against America” by Philip Roth
“It Can’t Happen Here” by Sinclair Lewis
“Reagan: His Life and Legend” by Max Boot

Thoughts about the show? Email us at matterofopinion@nytimes.com or leave a voicemail at (212) 556-7440.

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