The Four Most Shocking Political Documentaries on Netflix 

Many critics of Donald Trump have been quick to compare his presidency to a reality TV show and draw parallels from the quick turnover in his cabinet to elimination shows like Survivor. But in reality, the Trump administration is prime documentary fodder in the making.

But until the future, when our modern political crisis is fascinating instead of immediately relevant, you’ll have to satisfy yourself with the documentaries we already have. Whether you want some context for what’s happening in the world of politics right nowBut until the future, when our modern political crisis is fascinating instead of immediately relevant, you’ll have to satisfy yourself with the documentaries we already have. Whether you want some context for what’s happening in the world of politics right now or you’re looking for a crash course in political science that doesn’t require any reading, Netflix has a documentary for your streaming needs. Here are the four juiciest, most engrossing political documentaries for your viewing pleasure.

1. Get Me Roger Stone

Roger Stone is a political player who idolizes Richard Nixon and revels in his own distasteful moral conduct. He also, by his own account, played a critical role in electing Donald J. Trump to the highest office in America. Get Me Roger Stone chronicles Stone’s rise to power, a tale that is rife with sordid details and shocking secrets.. Stone is so slimy that it’s difficult to look away, which is kind of a bummer because attention is exactly what he wants. Watch this documentary anyway. Stone is so slimy that it’s difficult to look away, which is kind of a bummer because attention is exactly what he wants. Watch this documentary anyway.

2. Requiem for the American Dream

Back when discourse meant cogent political analysis instead of Twitter threads, Noam Chomsky was the Discourse King, and this documentary makes it easy to see why, Noam Chomsky was the Discourse King, and this documentary makes it easy to see why. In Requiem for the American Dream, Chomsky systematically dismantles preconceptions about the nature of wealth distribution throughout America, and how the concentration of the majority of capital among the elite few has contributed to the disintegration of the middle class. Watch this documentary if you want to sound smart at your next office happy hour, but only talk about it when the boss isn’t around.

3. The Propaganda Game

The Propaganda Game deals with the North Korean propaganda machine and offers unique insight into the psyche of one of the world’s most cloistered nations. Filmmaker Álvaro Longoria blends his own footage and interviews with archival material pulled from the news to fascinating effect. This documentary feels particularly relevant as tensions rise between the United States and North Korea. Watch this documentary for a study in media manipulation.

4. Nobody Speak: Trial of the Free Press

This Netflix Original documentary follows the downfall of media gossip site Gawker, as enacted through a Hulk Hogan lawsuit and bankrolled by Silicon Valley villain Peter Thiel, whom Gawker outed in 2007. There are more questions about the role of the press in today’s America, and this film poses a fascinating query about where we draw the line between freedom of the press and slander. Watch this documentary if you’re a media geek.