Scandal

Out of all the politic-themed TV shows out there these days, “Scandal” is the most realistic, intriguing and addicting. The show centers around the career and personal life of superwoman-esque, intelligent and efficient woman Olivia Pope, played by Kerry Washington. From her outfits to her attitude to her work ethic, Olivia Pope is basically perfect; I’m pretty sure every girl who watches the show wants to be her when they grow up. After leaving her job at the White House, Pope starts her own crisis management firm, Olivia Pope and Associates, and works to keep politicians public appearances as clean as possible, which requires sometimes dangerous attempts to hide illegal activity. On top of political drama, the show also adds a twist in Olivia’s personal life. She is unmarried and in love with Fitzgerald Grant who just happens to be the President of the United States. Their affair stirs up, well, scandal in the second season when the pregnant First Lady finds out about the affair and demands a divorce. The President is forced to choose between his public appearance, job and country or his love for Olivia Pope. “Scandal” is the perfect show to watch during the government shutdown since it shows what really goes on behind closed doors in the White House.   

 

National Treasure

If you’re looking for a high quality political disaster thriller, look no further than Disney’s “National Treasure.” This timeless American classic follows historian Ben Gates, played by the always wonderful Nicolas Cage, as he attempts to stop the forces of evil from finding the lost treasures of our nation’s forefathers. The struggle quickly intensifies when Gates has to steal the Declaration of Independence in order to solve the mystery and prevent the bad guys from taking it first, leading to a nationwide manhunt for Gates led by the FBI. This film has all the hallmarks of a classic Nicolas Cage film: extremely loud explosions, mumbled dialogues, unrealistic car chases and a plethora of Cage’s trademark anger and intensity. Also look out for the sequel, in which Cage ups the ante by stealing not only the Declaration of Independence, but also the President himself, a disaster even the Tea Party couldn’t conceive. 

 

Dr. Strangelove

The recent government shutdown reminds me of the crazy shenanigans in the film “Dr. Strangelove.” The plot of this movie is centered on the worst possible mistake any government could have ever made, but thankfully never did. For any individuals who are not familiar, the movie showcases a crazy Army general who takes advantage of the United States nuclear first-strike capabilities to attack Russia during the Cold War. The movie revolves around the United States government’s attempt to remove the threat of an all-out nuclear war. It’s a political scientist’s worst nightmare turned reality: a chain reaction that leads to mutually assured destruction. The movie shows us how easy it would have been for a corrupt military authority to guarantee the end of the human race. This truly funny and witty movie tinged with some dark humor ultimately reveals how close the human race came to ending itself only a few short decades ago – and how close we could be again.