Past Present

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Episode 237: Student Visas Jul 14, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss student visas and the most recent immigration restrictions put forth by the Trump administration.

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Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:

President Donald Trump has threatened that international students attending American universities that are teaching entirely online must return to their home countries. Niki referred to Adam Serwer's 2018 Atlantic article, "The Cruelty is the Point," and to this Washington Post opinion piece about how this measure advances Stephen Miller's restrictionist agenda. Natalia drew on this piece at The Conversation about the impact of a reduction of international students on American universities and society.

In our regular closing feature, What's Making History:

Natalia discussed the controversy over Goya Foods CEO Robert Unanue's support of President Trump.
Neil recommended historian Paul Renfro's new book, Stranger Danger: Family Values, Childhood, and the American Carceral State.
Niki talked about the recent SCOTUS decision affirming Native American land rights in Oklahoma and recommended the podcast This Land as well as Episode 159 of this podcast.

Episode 236: Social Media Deplatforming Jul 07, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the deplatforming of extremists by social media sites from Reddit to YouTube.

Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:

Social media platforms like Reddit are taking a harder line on regulating extremist content. Natalia referred to this article about the undisclosed relationship between Ben Shapiro's conservative sites and Facebook, and to this Vice piece about the effectiveness of social media bans. Niki referenced this New York Times article about YouTube radicalization.

In our regular closing feature, What's Making History:

Natalia recommended Alec MacGillis' ProPublica article, "How Dollar Stores Became Magnets for Crime and Killing."
Neil discussed the unique moment in cultural writing and reporting right now, pointing to New Yorker food critic Hannah Goldfield's recent reviews of takeout restaurants and frozen food and to Vinson Cunningham's essay on the African-American playwright, Lorraine Hansberry.
Niki shared Elaina Plott's New York Times article, "The Fall of Jeff Sessions, and What Came After."

Episode 235: Defund the Police Jun 30, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the movement to defund the police.

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Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:

Calls to defund or abolish the police have become a rallying cry among protestors of racial violence. Niki discussed Derek Thompson's call to "unbundle the police." Natalia referred to this National Review piece that argues many communities want more policing, and to this Jacobin interview with criminologist Alex Vitale.

In our regular closing feature, What's Making History:

Natalia recommended Lauren Sandler's book This is All I Got: A New Mother's Search for Home.
Neil discussed Noah Ram's org article, "'Gator Bait' chant faced opposition years ago. Nothing came of it."
Niki shared Kaitlyn Tiffany's Atlantic article, "My Little Pony Fans Are Ready to Admit They Have a Nazi Problem."

Episode 234: Bostock v. Clayton County Jun 23, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss Bostock v. Clayton County, the recent Supreme Court decision protecting gay and transgender people from workplace discrimination.

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Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:

In an unexpected victory for LGBTQ activists, the Supreme Court decided last week that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects gay and transgender people from discrimination at work. Natalia and Niki referred to this helpful Slate piece on the legal theories of textualism and originalism, and to Rebecca Onion's explanation of the legend behind the "because of sex" clause in the Civil Rights Act. Neil referenced our own conversation on Episode 22 about Justice Antonin Scalia's judicial legacy.

In our regular closing feature, What's Making History:

Natalia recommended the new podcast, Conspirituality.
Neil discussed Eric Cervini's new book, The Deviant's War: The Homosexual vs. the United States of America.
Niki shared Jennifer Schuessler's New York Times article, "The Long Battle Over 'Gone With the Wind.'" She also referred to Jacqueline Stewart's CNN article, "Why We Can't Turn Away from 'Gone with the Wind.'"

Episode 233: Larry Kramer, Playwright and AIDS Activist Jun 16, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the life and legacy of playwright and AIDS activist Larry Kramer.

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Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:

Pioneering AIDS activist Larry Kramer died this month. Natalia referred to this Vulture interview about Kramer's legacy. Neil commented on Kramer's autobiographical play, The Normal Heart.

In our regular closing feature, What's Making History:

Natalia recommended the Netflix documentary, Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution.
Neil discussed Anastasia Dawson's Tampa Bay Times article, "Giant Confederate flag lowered amid threats to set it on fire."
Niki shared Rick Noack's Washington Post article, "Sweden blocks plan to honor woman who hit a neo-Nazi with a purse."

Episode 232: Police Violence Jun 09, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the recent protests over police brutality.

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Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:

The murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has set off protests over police brutality across the country and the world. Niki referenced this Slate article, and Neil referred to historian Elizabeth Hinton's New York Times opinion piece. Natalia cited Anne-Helen Peterson's coverage in Buzzfeed of small-town protests all over the country, and discussed those in Eastern Long Island in particular.

In our regular closing feature, What's Making History:

Natalia shared Sugene Kwon's digital children's book, The Unforgettable Story of George Floyd.
Neil commented on comedian Sarah Cooper's viral "How-To" videos.
Niki discussed the new season of the Slow Burn podcast, focusing on David Duke.

Episode 231: Nursing Homes during Coronavirus Jun 02, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the history of nursing homes in the moment of coronavirus.

Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:

Nursing home residents are especially afflicted by the coronavirus. Natalia recommended this article in Washington Monthly about the politics of elder care. Niki referred to this history of the nursing home industry.

In our regular closing feature, What's Making History:

Natalia discussed Jeremy W. Peters' New York Times article, "They Predicted 'The Crisis of 2020'… in 1991. So How Does This End?"
Neil reflected on Jonathon Van Maren's Christianity Today article, "Deathbed Apology: Norma McCorvey's Pro-Life Friends Tell Another Story."
Niki shared the real history behind Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman?" speech which she discussed on "This Day in Esoteric History" podcast.

Episode 230: The Inspectors General Firings May 26, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss President Trump's recent firings of four Inspectors General.

Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:

President Trump has been on a spree of castigating, and dismissing, Inspectors General. Neil referred to this NPR article about the historical function of the Inspector General in American history. He also wrote about the firings in his column for The Week.

In our regular closing feature, What's Making History:

Natalia recommended the new podcast, "Wind of Change."
Neil reflected on the future of reality television, inspired by this article at Variety.
Niki commented on Molly Ball's new book, Pelosi.

Episode 229: Little Richard May 19, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the life and legacy of Little Richard.

Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:

Musical legend Little Richard died this month of bone cancer. Niki referred to Margot Canaday's book The Straight State: Sexuality and Citizenship in Twentieth-Century America and George Chauncey's book Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940. Natalia recommended this GQ article on Little Richard's inimitable style. Neil commented on Little Richard's appearances at the 1988 Grammy Awards and on The Dick Cavett Show in 1970.

In our regular closing feature, What's Making History:

Natalia recommended Joshua Greenberg's Washington Post article, "Will Covid-19 End the Use of Paper Money?"
Neil commented on Evan Osnos' New Yorker article, "How Greenwich Republicans Learned to Love Trump."
Niki discussed this interview she did at The Intercept, "Are Trump and the Anti-Lockdown Militias Itching for Violence?"

Episode 228: Ahmaud Arbery May 12, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.

Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:

25-year old Ahmaud Arbery was murdered while running in Satilla Shores, Georgia. Natalia cited this piece at The Conversation by sociologist Rashawn Ray, and tweeted this thread about the racialized history of running. Neil referenced the history of Stand Your Ground laws in Florida.

In our regular closing feature, What's Making History:

Natalia reflected on the announcement that Crew is filing for bankruptcy.
Neil commented on the Netflix show Hollywood.
Niki discussed Ed O'Loughlin and Mihir Zaveri's New York Times article, "Irish Return an Old Favor, Helping Native Americans Battling the Virus."

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