Pushkin. I'm David Remnickin each week on the New Yorker radio hour.

My colleagues and I unpack what's happening in a very complicated world.

You'll hear from the New Yorker's award-winning reporters and thinkers.

Jilani Cobb on race and justice. Jillapour on American history. and Thinkers and

Jil Lepore on American history, Vincent Cunningham and Gia Tolantino on

culture, Bill McKibbon on climate change and many more.

To get the context behind events in the news,

listen to the New Yorker radio hour,

wherever you get your podcast. This is talk easy. I'm joined by actor Kate Blanchit. For over 25 years,

Blanchit has been as vital as any performer we have. Some of my personal favorite performances of hers come in projects like Elizabeth, the talented Mr. Ripley, the gift, the aviator, Babel, Carol, Manifesto, and Mrs America.

She was in two films in 2021, Don't Look Up,

an apocalyptic satire directed by Anna McKay,

and Nightmare Alley, which was nominated for four Oscars this past week, including Best Picture.

Set in the late 30s, early 40s, it tells the story of Stanton Carlyle, played by Bradley Cooper, an ambitious

Carney turned renowned psychic. Performing alongside his wife Molly, played

by Rooney Mara, the clairvoyant couple begins to impress the wealthy elite of

Buffalo.

It's here during a show that Stanton meets his match in psychologist Dr. Lilleth Ritter, who suspects he's not the omniscient medium he claims to be.

Here's an early scene between the two of them from the film Nightmare Alley.

Mr. Kerala, come in. Alley. We're at war. I'm aware.

How did you know it was me?

What brings you here?

...