House of Magdalena by Illesha Magdalena

House of Magdalena by Illesha Magdalena

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The Stories Jamie Lee Curtis Tried to Hide, and the Ones Missing from Headlines
From Gaza to Hind Rajab to Awdah Hathaleen, these are the stories mainstream news ignores
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Illesha Magdalena
From The Hunting Wives to The Voice of Hind Rajab, and More
What I’m watching, reading, and thinking about this week, from powerful documentaries to guilty pleasure TV and everything in between
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Illesha Magdalena
What I’m Listening To: August New Releases, Pro-Palestine Anthems, Underground Archives & More
Paid subs get the full playlist, release guide, and behind-the-scenes notes
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Illesha Magdalena

July 2025

Pop Culture Is Political
Building a syllabus of resistance through TV, music, and media
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Illesha Magdalena
Too Real for Reality TV: Huda, Leah & Nour Can't Be Contained
Why unapologetic Middle Eastern women keep breaking reality TV’s mold
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Illesha Magdalena
What Queer Arabs, Zionist Amy Schumer, & Love Island’s Racism Scandals Tell Us About Reality TV
How these intertwined stories expose reality shows’ struggles with inclusion, politics, and accountability
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Illesha Magdalena
What to Watch in July 2025: Some Political Subtext & Some Delicious Trash
Your monthly breakdown of TV, film & pop culture that actually means something
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Illesha Magdalena

June 2025

Not Your Reality TV Villains
Middle Eastern women on reality TV, online hate, plus a call for action in D.C.
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Illesha Magdalena
Chef Max La Manna Supports Palestine
Why don’t more celebrities stand with Palestine like Max La Manna is?
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Illesha Magdalena
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Screens & Silence: Palestine, Iran, and the New Cultural Frontlines
From queer Arab cinema to Love Island - this week in culture and activism
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Illesha Magdalena
Pop Culture Messiness: Palestinian Voices, Celebrity Fails & Red Flags
From Love Island drama to Thom Yorke’s silence: this week’s deep dive into celebrities, activism, and what you might have missed
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Illesha Magdalena
From Gaza to Groceries: Resistance TV, Food Dye Warnings, and Faith in Crisis
A new Palestinian streaming platform, toxic food dyes, and the Pope's ceasefire calls
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Illesha Magdalena
© 2025 Illesha Magdalena
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