Entertainment
Is Star Trek Right-Wing Or Left-Wing?
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Star Trek is often seen as a left-wing franchise. Thanks to cutting-edge technology (including replicators that can make anything you need), this moneyless society is often considered the embodiment of the old meme “Fully Automated Luxury Gay Space Communism.” With that being said, Trek has a far larger number of right-wing fans, and this often leads sections of the fandom to ask a simple question: “Why do conservatives watch Star Trek?” After trawling old messageboards and subreddits long enough, I found a tentative answer.
The general consensus online is that liberals like Star Trek for its emphasis on diversity and its portrayal of different groups coming together to solve problems through diplomacy and cultural understanding. Meanwhile, conservatives allegedly like Trek because they see Starfleet as a symbol of America and enjoy watching captains warping in and saving otherwise helpless alien societies (basically, world police on a galactic scale). As you might imagine, the internet considers these positions to be polar opposites. But Star Trek is all about Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, and, in an ironic twist, the franchise has proven that both liberal and conservative readings of its text are, more or less, correct!
Is Star Trek Left-Wing?
It’s not that hard to see why many consider Star Trek to be a left-wing franchise. Characters like Kirk and Picard have frequently insisted that their futuristic society has moved beyond the need or desire for money (this is largely thanks to the replicator). In this way, Trek thoroughly rejects capitalism, and writers go out of their way to mock 21st-century-style greed. The best example of this is the Ferengi, who are explicitly portrayed as a caricature of capitalist culture and, accordingly, always turned into the butt of the joke.
Star Trek also fully aligns with diversity, both in the stories (again, the future is all about IDIC) and its casting. Back in the ‘60s, The Original Series made Nichelle Nichols into an international icon, and she stayed on the show after Martin Luther King, Jr. told her that what she was doing (being a prominent Black actor during the Civil Rights era) was just as important as marching in the streets for freedom. Trek continued to emphasize diversity in the decades since, with the inclusion of more prominent Black characters, gay characters, trans characters, nonbinary characters, etc.
Finally, Star Trek often rejects prominent conservative values. Not only is Christianity practically non-existent in this franchise, but religion is often portrayed as a dangerous tool used to control others (like Kai Winn trying to force the Bajoran gospel in the classroom). Exceptionalism is more or less non-existent, with characters like Spock reminding us that no one person’s life is worth more than saving the lives of others.
Trek also rejects the notion of cowboy diplomacy: Kirk spends a lifetime shooting at Klingons and resents them for killing his son, but in The Undiscovered Country, he realizes the importance of laying his weapons down, forgiving his enemies, and using diplomacy to create a better future for billions of people.
Is Star Trek Right-Wing?
Star Trek still has great appeal to conservative audiences. For one thing, Star Trek has always stressed the importance of hierarchy, which is part and parcel to right-wing thought. We know exactly who’s in charge at all times, and that chain of command is frequently portrayed as vital to everyone’s survival.
Speaking of which, Starfleet is (despite the nominal emphasis on science and exploration) clearly the embodiment of Federation military might. Notably, we haven’t gotten any Trek series focusing on random space hippies; instead, we keep getting shows and movies focused on heroic military officers fighting hostile nations, terrorists, and other extremists, which clearly appeals to conservatives.
While Star Trek acknowledges the importance of diversity, the vast majority of the crew in any show or film are human. This is even lampshaded in The Undiscovered Country, in which the Federation is described as “nothing more than a homo sapiens only club.”
In general, human characters are easier for audiences of all stripes to relate to, but this arguably appeals more to conservatives. Not only does this franchise prominently feature tribalism, but it presents tribalism as necessary: now that humans have all united together, we have an easier time helping everyone in the galaxy learn and grow thanks to our superior wisdom.
That leads to the final point: Star Trek really is mostly about humans (most of them straight, white, and male) warping around the galaxy and solving everyone’s problems. In every alternate universe where Starfleet doesn’t exist (the Mirror Universe, the alternate reality of Picard Season 2, even the changed future in “City On the Edge of Forever”), the entire galaxy goes to sh*t. If you accept the premise that Starfleet is a stand-in for America, then the franchise has spent the better part of a century showing how everything falls apart without the United States intervening. Honestly, is it any wonder that conservatives love this message?
Shaka, When The Culture War Fell
What does all of this tell us about the political divide of the Star Trek fandom? That it is, on a pretty literal level, completely useless. Not because fans shouldn’t argue about their favorite media; heck, the entire internet was built on trivial fan debates! But Trek is the literal embodiment of its values, and with Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, it can mean (wait for it) infinite things to infinite people. It can be a liberal show, with its emphasis on diversity and socialized everything creating a utopia. And it can be a conservative show, with its emphasis on protecting that utopia through military might and strong leadership.
Will this keep people from arguing about politics in Star Trek when they hop online? Probably not. But maybe it will soften the discourse a bit when both sides learn that their favorite franchise isn’t simply one thing. Trek is bigger than all of us, and its values are correspondingly complex. That’s a good thing, of course: we can always come back to our favorite shows and movies to uncover new meaning. If all you’re watching Trek for is to find something to scream about on the internet, though, you need to take William Shatner’s controversial Saturday Night Live advice to heart and do one thing right away: get a life!
Entertainment
The Best New Show Of The Year Is A Supernatural Comedy Horror On AppleTV
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
The 2026 television season has been a little lackluster so far when it comes to original, new series. The Boroughs was a fun binge on Netflix, Margo’s Got Money Troubles was a good comedy, but nothing can compare to the surprising success of Widow’s Bay on AppleTV. It’s a horror comedy, which might be the hardest combination of genres to pull off, that plays out like Twin Peaks meets Parks and Recreation. No show will leave you laughing so hard in one episode, before traumatizing you in the next.
Widow’s Bay Is The Most Original Show In Years
That odd mix of shows makes sense since Widow’s Bay was created by Katie Dippold, a writer for Parks and Recreation. The series takes place in the island town of Widow’s Bay in New England when Mayor Tom (Matthew Rhys) decides to boost tourism to the small community. The catch is that the community, primarily Wyck (Stephen Root) believes the island is cursed.
It’s not a spoiler to say that yes, yes it is cursed, and yes, there are real horrors at work on the island. That’s not surprising. What is surprising is the dry humor and Matthew Rhys’ perfect facial expressions, as the town’s residents will deliver the most absurd lines with a perfectly straight face. If you vibed with the humor of Parks and Recreation, you know what you’re getting into with the odd residents of Widow’s Bay, especially Kate O’Flynn as Tom’s assistant, Patricia. There’s a sequence with her involving a shotgun that is destined to be a social media hit for years to come, and one of those moments that you’ll think, “I’d do the same thing.”
Slapstick Comedy, Horror, And Amazing Sight Gags
Before starting your binge of the first season, avoid as many spoilers as you can. Widow’s Bay sets up mysteries early on with the chained church bell, the strange basement room, a rolling fogbank, and, while it’s not a supernatural mystery, how many Diet Cokes can Town Hall employee Dale consume? His desk is filled to the brim with cans. That can’t be healthy.
Keep your eyes peeled while watching Widow’s Bay as the production team was heavily influenced by The Simpsons usage of sight gags. Some are called out with blatant shots, others exist in the background of a conversation, but put together, they make the town of Widow’s Bay an absurdist version of Twin Peaks.
No one had supernatural slapstick down on their 2026 Bingo card, but here we are. While Netflix pulled the plug on The Boroughs, Widow’s Bay has already been confirmed for a second season, which is good considering the stakes-raising season finale ends by revealing a whole new layer to the mystery of the island. We have a long wait until Season 2 premieres, giving you plenty of time to watch the show of the Summer, and you can still convince your friends you were a fan of Widow’s Bay before it was cool. ]
Widow’s Bay Season 1 is now streaming on AppleTV.
Entertainment
Don’t pay $199 for Windows 11 Pro when it’s currently just $13
TL;DR: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro is down to just $12.97, giving users an easy OS upgrade with advanced security, productivity tools, gaming features, and Copilot AI.
Some upgrades just feel right. This is one of them.
If your PC has been running a little sluggish or you’ve been meaning to bring your system up to speed, Windows 11 Pro is just $12.97 (reg. $199) — a rare, time-sensitive offer that rewards quick, savvy decisions.
Mashable Deals
This isn’t about chasing trends; it’s more about giving your computer the modern foundation it deserves. Windows 11 Pro brings a sleeker UI, better multitasking, and enhanced security — all in a one-time lifetime license.
Think of it as the difference between driving a reliable car and suddenly upgrading to one with a smarter dashboard, smoother handling, and built-in security features.
For professionals, creators, and power users, this upgrade also unlocks features like Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, BitLocker encryption, and seamless Azure AD integration — tools that make a real difference when you’re working across projects or managing sensitive data.
And yes, Windows 11 comes with Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant that can summarize pages, change settings, or even help you generate code on the fly. It’s like having a co-pilot (literally) inside your OS.
Mashable Deals
But you don’t need convincing — you already know a smart upgrade when you see one. Get Windows 11 Pro for just $12.97 (reg. $199).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Gene Roddenberry Secretly Fixed Star Trek’s Earliest Plot Hole
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Star Trek is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Part of why that is so impressive is that this franchise has managed to maintain the same continuity for so many years. Sure, the Kelvinverse rebooted everything for a few movies, and we occasionally get glimpses of alternate universes with their own twisted history. But the main Trek timeline, from The Original Series through Starfleet Academy, has remained the same, which is an amazing creative achievement. But it also leads to something as annoying as it is inevitable: plot holes!
There are many seeming plot holes throughout the franchise. Heck, Starfleet Academy introduced more than its fair share in only one season. However, the earliest plothole goes back to William Shatner’s very first episode, “Where No Man Has Gone Before.” This episode features a mock grave for James Tiberius Kirk that reads “James R. Kirk.” This weird screwup inspired decades of attempts by fans and creators to explain what happened. However, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry had a simple explanation from the very beginning. That is, the godlike character who created the tombstone was still fallible, meaning that this would be an in-universe screwup rather than a production error.
A Ghoulish Plot Hole
“Where No Man Has Gone Before” was actually the second pilot episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. It’s the episode that sold NBC on this new show, which isn’t surprising, because this is a great hour of television. Strange energy from the galactic barrier gives one of Captain Kirk’s best friends, Gary Mitchell, godlike powers. Those powers are getting stronger by the minute, so Kirk eventually has to make the difficult decision to kill his buddy in the name of keeping the entire ship (and quite possibly the entire galaxy) safe.
At one point, Mitchell uses his powers to summon a tombstone that reads “James R. Kirk.” It makes for a great threat, but there’s just one problem: the character’s name is James Tiberius Kirk. Incidentally, Gene Roddenberry seemingly knew Kirk’s middle name early on, even though it wasn’t officially revealed (outside of The Animated Series) until The Undiscovered Country. In the introduction to Star Trek: The Classic Episodes 1, Original Series writer D.C. Fontana claimed that once Roddenberry noticed the mistake, he came up with a quick and easy explanation. “Gary Mitchell had godlike powers, but at base he was human. He made a mistake.”
Powers Like A God, Mind Like A Human
Unfortunately, Roddenberry kept this plot hole explanation to himself. I say “unfortunately” because this mistake sent fans into a tizzy trying to explain the discrepancy. On top of that, various Star Trek writers tried their hands at providing explanations. One such explanation came from Michael Jan Friedman’s non-canonical My Brother’s Keeper series. In these books, when the future captain meets Gary Mitchell, he claims his middle name is “Racquetball.” Later, when Kirk steamrolls through a discussion, Mitchell says the man’s middle name should be “Rhinoceros.” Therefore, Friedman explained that the “James R. Kirk” on the tombstone is just an in-joke between former friends.
Additionally, the late, great Star Trek writer Peter David tried his hand at an explanation. In his novel Q-Squared, the events of “Where No Man Has Gone Before” take place in a parallel reality in which Kirk’s middle initial really is “R.” In this non-canonical book, we also find out that Mitchell’s powers came from briefly being possessed by Q, who had to pull himself together across all of time and space. Quick side note: while Marvel has really played out the concept of multiverses, Q-Squared is an amazing novel, and every Trek fan should read it at least once.
These writers did their best to explain where “James R. Kirk” came from. On top of this, fans have constantly debated this issue, all trying to one-up each other in coming up with a suitable explanation for this plothole. As it turns out, though, none of this debating and speculating was necessary because Gene Roddenberry had the perfect explanation ready. Namely, that having the power of a god isn’t the same as having the unlimited knowledge of a god. It’s short, it’s simple, and it’s effective. Most of all, it does what Star Trek has always done best: keep the sci-fi storytelling centered around humanity.
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