The Present Situation is a half narrative, half video-essay film about a small group of “extremely online” budding revolutionaries who kidnap a hedge-fund manager. Peppered throughout the narrative is a spectacle of video clips from a wide variety of sources (PBS documentaries, YouTube explainer videos, TikToks, old and current News Magazine programs, etc.)

Jones' inner demons threaten to take over her life unless she outruns the voices in her head and the ticking of time.

Close friendships are slowly pulled apart as a once shared dream is abandoned by one in favor of fatherhood.