Episode 220: Quarantines

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the history of the quarantine.

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

• As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, quarantining is becoming a fact of life. Natalia referred to Anne Helen Petersen’s essay on selflessness and social isolation and recommended historian Howard Markel’s New York Times opinion piece.

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

• Natalia discussed the Netflix show Love is Blind.

• Neil recommended Nancy Hass’ New York Times Magazine article, “How Floral Arrangements Began to Take Over the Table – and the Entire Room.”

• Niki shared Livia Gershon’s JSTOR Daily article, “How Toothpaste Got Scientific Cred.”

Episode 219: Plastic Bag Bans

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the bans on single-use plastic bags.

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

• On March 1, a plastic bag ban went into effect in New York City. Neil referred to this Washington Post article about such bans around the world and Niki recommended this Atlantic piece on the rise of the plastic bag’s popularity. Natalia cited this Washington Post column by Alexandra Petri.

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

• Natalia recommended Martha Verbrugge and Drew Yingling’s article, “The Politics of Play: The Struggle Over Racial Segregation and Public Recreation in Washington, D.C., 1945-1950,” in Washington History.

• Neil discussed Choe Sang-Hun’s New York Times article, “He Blames ‘Evil’ for South Korea’s Coronavirus Surge. Officials Blame Him.”

• Niki shared Jason Lamberg’s Comdesres article, “The Origin of the Oxford Comma.”

Episode 218: Fat Activism

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the history of fat activism and the body positivity movement.

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

• In recent years, “body positivity” has become a buzzword. Natalia cited The Fat Studies Reader and this Campus Reform article about more extreme forms of fat liberation. Niki referred to this Bitch Media article about the connections between fat and queer liberation. We previously discussed plus-size models on Episode 98.  

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

• Natalia recommended Alexis Coe’s new biography of George Washington, You Never Forget Your First.

• Neil discussed Corey Kilgannon’s New York Times article, “The Truth About Alligators in the Sewers of New York.”

• Niki shared Crystal R. Sanders’ Washington Post article, “Katherine Johnson Should Also Be Remembered for Desegregating Higher Education.”

Episode 217: COVID-19 and Protective Face Masks

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss COVID-19 and the history of protective face masks.

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

• The threat of coronavirus has lately made protective face masks a fixture in many global cities. Natalia cited this Vox article about the hoarding of such masks. Neil referred to this Quartz piece about the broader use of face masks in Asian countries.

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

• Natalia recommended Mac Schwerin’s Vox article, “The Pungent Legacy of Axe Body Spray.”

• Neil discussed Davey Alba’s New York Times article, “Facial Recognition Moves Into a New Front: Schools.”

• Niki shared the “Whomst Among Us Let the Dogs Out?” episode from the podcast 99% Invisible.

Episode 216: A Proposal to "Make Federal Buildings Beautiful Again"

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss an architectural proposal to “Make Federal Buildings Beautiful Again”

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

• Conservative architectural organization the National Civic Art Society has drafted an executive order that establishes the style for federal buildings nationwide. Natalia cited this Intelligencer article about the false dichotomies on which the ensuing debate rests. Niki referred to Ross Douthat’s New York Times opinion piece on the issue. We also referred to a previous Past Present episode on classical statues.

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

• Natalia discussed the tenth season of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.

• Neil commented on Mitt Romney’s impeachment vote and Joseph Stuart’s Religion & Politics article about the place of Mormonism in the Republican Party.

• Niki recommended the new podcast, “Chasing Cosby.”

Episode 215: The 2020 Iowa Caucuses

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the debacle of this year’s Iowa caucuses.

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

• The 2020 Iowa caucus was a logistical disaster. Natalia cited this POLITICO piece about longer standing concerns about Iowa. Neil wrote about Pete Buttigieg’s historic showing in Iowa in his column for the Week.

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

• Natalia discussed the Amazon series “Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer.”

• Neil recommended the podcast “Monster: DC Sniper.”

• Niki discussed Rush Limbaugh receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Episode 214: Moderate Republicans

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the shrinking number of moderate Republicans in the GOP.

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

• Where have all the moderate Republicans gone? Neil wrote about Susan Collins and the end of moderate Republicans in his column for The Week. Niki shared Geoffrey Kabaservice’s book Rule and Ruin as the definitive history of moderate Republicans. Natalia discussed Ezra Klein’s recent New York Times piece on the different effect polarization has had on both parties, an argument he expands in his new book, Why We’re Polarized. Neil commented on how Republican suburban women have been moving away from the GOP during the Trump years, something he wrote about for the Atlantic in 2018.

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

• Natalia discussed the controversy surrounding Jeanine Cummins’ new book, American Dirt, and recommended the episode of “Latino USA” that discusses the controversy and Myriam Gurba’s review of the book for Tropics of Meta.

• Neil recommended the new Netflix series, “Cheer.” We discussed the history of cheerleading in Episode 125.

• Niki commented on Jerry Falwell, Jr.’s proposal for Virginia’s border counties to join West Virginia, something being referred to as “Vexit.”

Episode 213: Little Women

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss Greta Gerwig’s film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.

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

• Greta Gerwig’s Little Women has received enthusiastic critical praise. Natalia referred to this New York Times article about the nearly all-white cast, and Niki recommended this New Yorker article about Laura Dern’s portrayal of Marmee. Natalia also cited this American Conservative article about the absence of faith in the latest adaptation.

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

• Natalia discussed the rumored closing of Fairway supermarkets, and historian Dylan Gottlieb’s tweets on the topic.

• Neil recommended Rhonda Kaysen’s New York Times article, “Could the Avocado-Green Kitchen Make a Comeback?”

• Niki shared A.J. Willingham’s CNN article, “Mr. Peanut is Dead for Some Reason.”

Episode 212: Jeopardy!

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the longevity of the game show Jeopardy!

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

• Jeopardy! is in the news thanks to its GOAT tournament. Natalia referred to this Smithsonian article about the show’s origin story.

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

• Natalia recommended Sarah Schrank’s new book, Free and Natural: Nudity and the Cult of the American Body.

• Neil discussed Katie Reilly’s Time article, “Donald Trump is Promising ‘Big Action’ on School Prayer to Rally Evangelical Voters.”

• Niki shared Timothy Williams’ New York Times article, “Virginia Approves the E.R.A., Becoming the 38th State to Back It,” and Ben Hitchcock’s C-Ville Weekly article, “A Change is Gonna Come: New Democratic Government has Big Plans, Big Challenges Ahead.”

Episode 211: The Australian Bushfires

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the devastating bushfires in Australia.

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

• Fire is ravaging Australia. Natalia referred to this Washington Post piece about the politicization of the fires. Niki discussed the long history of bushfires in Australia.

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

• Natalia recommended Ashley Fetters’ Atlantic article, “The Boys Who Wear Shorts All Winter.”

• Neil discussed Campbell Robinson and Elizabeth Dias’ New York Times article, “United Methodist Church Announces Plan to Split Over Same-Sex Marriage.”

• Niki shared Afua Hirsch’s New York Times article, “Black Britons Know Why Meghan Wants Out.”

Episode 210: U.S. Embassy Attack in Baghdad

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the recent attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

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

• Iraqi militants stormed the American embassy in Baghdad last week. Neil referenced the recently leaked cable communications between Iran and Iraq. Natalia referred to this Middle East Eye essay on the historical significance of attacks on American embassies and to this Guardian piece on the history of U.S. embassies.

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

• Natalia recommended Margaret Atwood’s new novel, The Testaments, and referred to this Atlantic review of the book.

• Neil discussed Jason Horowitz’s New York Times article, “Pope Francis Apologizes After Slapping Away a Clinging Pilgrim.”

• Niki shared Sarah Holder’s Citylab article, “What Have We Done to Lunch?”

Episode 209: The "OK" Sign, Black Israelites, and CIA Disguises

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss controversy over the “OK” sign, the Black Israelite sect, and the history of CIA disguises.

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

•  When cadets flashed the “OK” sign, a gesture that has become a symbol of white power, an investigation by Army and Navy officials ensued. Natalia cited anthropologist Clifford Geertz’ “Thick Description: Toward an Interpretive Theory of Culture.” Niki recommended ProPublica’s ongoing coverage of white nationalism.

• Recent murders in Jersey City have directed new attention to the fringe sect that calls itself the Black Hebrew Israelites. Niki referred to this Code Switch interview with historian Marc Dollinger about his book, Black Power, Jewish Politics: Reinventing the Alliance in the 1960s.

• The CIA’s former Chief of Disguise has donated some of her collection to the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. Natalia recommended this Washington Post op-ed by Jonna Hiestand Mendez, the retiring chief, about her work as a CIA agent. Neil discussed Matthew Avery Sutton’s book, Double-Crossed: The Missionaries Who Spied for the United States During the Second World War.

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

• Natalia shared her own Public Seminar article, “The Precarious Labor of the Fitpro.”

• Neil discussed Christianity Today editorial, “Trump Should Be Removed From Office.”

• Niki discussed Rachel Tashjian’s GQ article, “Why the Codpiece Remains One of Menswear’s Most Essential Accessories,” and this Twitter thread about the timeless accessory.

Episode 208: Cockfighting, Athletic Doping, and Didone

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss a cockfighting ban in Puerto Rico, Russia’s Olympic ban for doping its athletes, and the dawn of a new era in fonts.

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

• The U.S. has enacted a ban on cockfighting in Puerto Rico. Neil cited anthropologist Clifford Geertz’s classic text on cockfighting in Bali.

• Due to doping violations, Russia has been banned from competing in the Olympics for the next four years. Natalia referred to this Smithsonian article on preventative measures against doping. Niki mentioned our previous segment on so-called “sex testing” and athletic competition in Episode 179.

• After a decade of minimalism, ornate fonts are making a comeback. Neil referred to this article about changes to the Helvetica font.

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

• Natalia discussed Olga Khazan’s Atlantic article, “Is it Weird to Wear Leggings at Work?”

• Neil recommended this New York Times Magazine feature, “The Twenty-Five Rooms that Influence the Way We Design.”

• Niki shared Max Ufberg’s Medium article, “The Decade We Marched For Our Lives.”

Episode 207: Virginity Tests, International Achievement Tests, and the End of the 2010s

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss virginity tests, international achievement tests, and the end of the 2010s.

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

• The rapper T.I. caused controversy when he said he subjects his daughter to a virginity test every year. Natalia referred to historian Hanne Blank’s book Virgin: The Untouched History. Niki cited our discussion of the evangelical purity movement on Episode 190.

• Children around the world took the PISA exam, and Americans had a mediocre showing. Natalia recommended the documentary A Place at the Table and journalist Dana Goldstein’s book The Teacher Wars.

• In a few weeks, the decade of the 2010s will be behind us. Niki recommended this article at Esquire on how the cultural gatekeepers lost their job in the decade.

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

• Natalia discussed Clarissa Jan-Lim’s Buzzfeed article, “Pinterest and The Knot Will Stop Promoting Wedding Content that Romanticizes Former Slave Plantations.”

• Neil commented on Chris Stedman’s Vox article, “Too Many Atheists Are Veering Dangerously Toward the Alt-Right.”

• Niki recommended the HBO show “The Watchmen.”

Episode 206: War Crimes, Controversial Food Takes, Indigenous Land Acknowledgments

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss President Trump’s pardons of war criminals, controversial opinions about food, and the practice of indigenous land acknowledgments.

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

• President Trump recently pardoned three American servicemen convicted of war crimes. Natalia referred to Adam Serwer’s Atlantic piece “The Cruelty is the Point” and this New Yorker article about the 19th-century origins of the military court system. Niki recommended reading up on the case of Eddie Gallagher to understand the implications of these pardons.

• When conservative academic Tom Nichols recently insulted Indian food on Twitter, the internet struck back. Natalia and Neil commented on Ruth Graham’s Slate piece on the intensity of social media food takes. Natalia recommended Krishnendu Ray’s book The Ethnic Restaurateur. Neil referred to Jane Desmond’s Newsweek article about Thanksgiving turkey.

• Long a practice in Canada and Australia, indigenous land acknowledgements are becoming more common in the United States.

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

• Natalia discussed Tom Farrey’s book Game On: How the Pressure to Win at All Costs Endangers Youth Sports and What Parents Can Do About It.

• Neil commented on Rick Perry telling Trump he was “chosen by God” which he wrote about in his column for The Week, “God’s Gift to America.”

• Niki recommended Samira Kawash’s Atlantic article, “Sugar Plums: They’re Not What You Think They Are.”

Episode 205: Pete Buttigieg, Groypers, and Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the political ascent of Pete Buttigieg, infighting within the far right, and the 50th anniversary of Sesame Street.

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

• “Mayor Pete,” once a long-shot candidate, is increasingly a serious contender for the Democratic presidential nomination. Natalia referred to Michael Kruse’s POLITICO piece about the electoral viability of a gay candidate. Neil noted Buttigieg had won the 2000 Profile in Courage Essay Contest for an essay on Bernie Sanders.

• Donald Trump, Jr. was recently shouted offstage at UCLA by protesters on the Right known as “Groypers.” Niki referred to Trump, Jr.’s new book, Triggered, and to this Southern Poverty Law Center article, “Stephen Miller’s Affinity for White Nationalism Revealed in Leaked Emails.”

• Sesame Street, the stalwart children’s television show, turns 50 this month. Neil referred to this Smithsonian article about the program’s origins in Black culture.

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

• Natalia discussed Sacha Baron Cohen’s keynote speech at the Anti-Defamation League.

• Neil shared Zachariah Chou’s New York Times opinion piece, “Why We’re Impeaching Our Student Body President Over Trump Jr.”

• Niki likened the revelation that Donald Trump Jr.’s book sales are driven by strategic bulk purchases to a similar scandal in the Nixon era.

Episode 204: LIVE! With Emily Bazelon, Author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki interviewed Emily Bazelon about her new book, Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration.

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

• Natalia recommended the work of New York Times editor Lindsay Crouse, particularly her latest feature, “I Was the Fastest Girl in America, Until I Joined Nike,” by Mary Cain.

• Neil shared Rebecca Makkai’s book, The Great Believers.

• Niki discussed Adele Peters’ Fast Company article, “How Memphis Transformed its Parks Named for Confederate Generals into Inclusive Spaces.”

• Emily talked about the 1927 Supreme Court case, McGrain v. Daugherty.

Episode 203: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Rep. Katie Hill, and Booing

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the assassination of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the scandal over Representative Katie Hill, and the booing of President Trump at a baseball game.

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

• ISIS leader Abu al-Baghdadi has been assassinated by United States forces. Niki referred to this piece at The Daily Beast. Neil noted the emergence of viral videos showing a side-by-side comparison of Trump’s announcement of al-Baghdadi’s death and Obama’s announcement about the killing of Osama bin Laden.

• U.S. Representative Katie Hill (D-CA) has resigned her position after an alleged sex scandal. Natalia cited this article at GenderIT.org about the problematic term “revenge porn.”

• President Trump was met with boos at a World Series game last week. Neil referred to this history of booing at Slate. Natalia recalled the longer history of presidential booing, written up at The Washington Post.

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

• Natalia recommended Susan Donaldson James’ ABC News article, “’Practice Babies’: 1 Orphan Raised by 8 Mothers.”

• Neil shared Rachel Wharton and Koren Shadmi’s New York Times illustrated history, “How Did the Diner Menu Get So Long?”

• Niki discussed Grayson Quay’s American Conservative article, “Franco’s Victory Was Necessary, But Ultimately Meaningless.”

Episode 202: Elijah Cummings, Homelessness, and Amusement Parks

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the life and legacy of U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings, the rising trend of homelessness, and a new documentary about a dangerous New Jersey amusement park.

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

• U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings has died. Niki referenced this Atlantic article about Cummings’ reluctant partisanship.

• Homelessness is on the rise, especially visible in Los Angeles. Natalia referred to this Washington Post article about the rise of “business improvement districts” and to the scholarship and teaching of historian Albert M. Camarillo.

• A new documentary highlights the cultural importance of the New Jersey amusement park, “Action Park.” Listener and historian Claire Potter suggested this segment based on this New York Times article. Natalia referred to this New York Times review, by historian Jackson Lears, of historian David Nasaw’s book on amusement in the United States.

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

• Natalia discussed historian Michael Zakim’s new book, Accounting for Capitalism: The World the Clerk Made.

• Neil shared David Yaffe-Bellany’s New York Times article, “Want Fries With That? McDonald’s Already Knows the Answer.”

• Niki recommended Dan Nosowitz’s Vox article, “Pumpkin Spice Has Taken Over Trader Joe’s. Here’s Why” and referred to our own Episode 103 about pumpkin spice.

Episode 201: Automation, Male Baldness, and Paula White

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the anxiety over automation, new treatments for male baldness, and the controversial Trump spiritual advisor Paula White.

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

• Automation and its effect on American jobs was a core theme at this month’s Democratic debate. Natalia referred to Rick Wartzman’s book The End of Loyalty: The Rise and Fall of Good Jobs in America, excerpted in POLITICO. Natalia also referenced this timeline chronicling fears of automation, at Medium.

• A raft of new products has emerged to fight an old problem: baldness. Natalia recommended Danielle Friedman’s InStyle article about the rebranding of baldness remedies by the wellness industry.

• Trump spiritual advisor Paula White has written a new book, endorsed by several evangelical leaders who once distanced themselves from her. Niki drew on Kelsey McKinney’s Buzzfeed article about televangelist Jim Bakker. In Episode 24, we discussed “Trump’s Evangelicals.”

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

• Natalia recommended a podcast on which she appears at a comedy club, “Nevertheless, She Existed.”

• Neil discussed Joseph Berger’s New York Times article, “How Amazon Has Transformed the Hasidic Economy.”

• Niki shared Austin Grossman’s Atlantic article, “Monocles Were Never Cool.”