The War on Cars
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HOLIDAY BONUS EPISODE: Hess for the Holidays
🕑 Added 2023-12-21 11:01:01 +0000 UTCHello, friends!
Just in time for Christmas, here's a extra bonus episode all about one of our favorite holiday traditions: the annual release of the Hess Truck.
Since 1964, the Hess Corporation has released a toy truck for the holiday season, something that’s highly anticipated by children and collectors alike. Models have included gas tankers, fire trucks, motorcycles, RVs, race cars, and even a Space Shuttle, almost all in the fossil fuel company’s iconic green-and-white color scheme. But this year, perhaps reflecting the times, the Hess Corporation has released a Police Truck and Cruiser, “a specialized law enforcement response team that will inspire and unleash the inner hero in everyone.” We’re not sure what kind of trouble is brewing in Santa’s workshop, but the truck looks like what would arrive in response to a terrorist attack. Meanwhile, the cruiser — the smaller truck-within-the-truck — is an “armored-response vehicle” that gives off big Cybertruck vibes… if the Cybertruck included a battering ram and could actually drive off-road. Or up steep inclines.
It was such a drastic departure from previous models that Steve DaSilva of Jalopnik wrote, in a piece titled "The Hess Truck's Back And It's Worse Than Ever," that the beloved holiday tradition has been "infected...with the fascist stink of police militarization." Oof.
In this Patreon exclusive, Aaron, Sarah and I talk about the 2023 Hess Truck and what it says about the state of the world. Plus, since we’re not the target audience for this toy or its marketing, I asked my 10-year-old son for his thoughts on his annual Hanukkah present.
Also, you'll note that I said "extra bonus episode" up above. We'll be back next week with one more Patreon bonus to close out the year.
On behalf of all three of us, thanks for your support.
Happy holidays!
Doug
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LINKS:
Watch the 2023 Hess Truck ad on YouTube.
Learn more about the history of the Hess Truck.
Watch a review of the latest Hess Police Truck and Cruiser from Pixarprime10 on Youtube.
Buy tickets for our live show at Caveat in NYC on Wednesday, January 31st @ 7 PM. Guest to be announced very shortly!
Comments
Francois Laforge
Ironic that an oil and gas company would be promoting a vehicle that looks like an electric vehicle
The War on Cars
Thanks! And we didn't want to rain on the toy parade either and totally get why kids - including my son - think these are cool. But we were definitely feeling validated by that Jalopnik piece!
Thomas Eckert
Thank you for making this episode. When I first saw the ads for these I immediately cringed. Then I questioned myself "Am I become too woke, destroyer of fun?" but the unease stayed with me. I think this kind of advertising is really sinister in the same way candy cigarettes were.
