Episode 260: Hallmark Christmas Movies

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the popularity of Hallmark Christmas movies.

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

• The Hallmark Christmas movie is a bona fide super-genre. Niki referred to this New Yorker article about how the form took over cable television, and Natalia drew on this piece at The Lily about the tradition of hate-watching the films.

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

• Natalia recommended Noreen Malone’s Slate article, “How the School Reopening Debate is Tearing One Elite Community Apart.”

• Neil discussed the Netflix series, Casa de Flores.

• Niki shared Kat Eschner’s Smithsonian Magazine article, “The Un-Christmassy Origin of Gingerbread Houses.”

Episode 259: Hillsong Church and Celebrity Christianity

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the popularity of the global evangelical megachurch Hillsong.

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

• Hillsong celebrity pastor Carl Lentz has come under fire for inappropriate behavior, including adultery. Natalia and Neil referred to Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s GQ profile of Lentz, and Neil discussed the history of the seeker-sensitive movement. Natalia referred to David French’s post about hypocrisy among evangelical leaders.

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

• Natalia recommended Stella Bugbee’s article at The Cut, “Our Shared Unsharing.”

• Neil shared Robert Moss’ Serious Eats article, “How Ambrosia Became a Southern Christmas Tradition.”

• Niki commented on her CNN article, “The Christmas Spirit Powerful, Even in 2020.”

Episode 258: The Queen's Gambit

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the Netflix series "The Queen’s Gambit."

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

• The Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit has become the pandemic’s latest must-see TV. Niki referred to the role of African-American character Jolene, discussed in this Bitch article, and to her own piece on female leads for CNN. Neil cited this piece on Russian prowess at chess from Slate.

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

• Natalia shared New York City mayoral candidate Dianne Morales’ Twitter thread about her portrayal in a New York Times roundup.

• Neil discussed Caitlin Flanagan’s Atlantic article, “Don’t Subject Your Kids to Rudolph.”

• Niki recommended Marianna Cerini’s CNN article, “A Cozy History of the Ugly Christmas Sweater.”

Episode 257: Dolly Parton

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the enduring popularity of Dolly Parton.

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

• Dolly Parton has just added public health benefactor to her long list of career accomplishments. Natalia referred to Sarah Smarsh’s writing about Parton, and Niki referenced the podcast Dolly Parton’s America and the longstanding appeal of 9 to 5.

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

• Natalia recommended the HBO series The Undoing and this Los Angeles Times profile of Hugh Grant.

• Neil discussed the “The Cabbage Patch Riots” episode of the Decoder Ring podcast.

• Niki shared Alissa Wilkinson’s Vox article, “Advent, Explained.”

Episode 256: Thanksgiving and COVID-19

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss this year’s “Covid Thanksgiving.”

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

• For many families, Thanksgiving will look very different this year. Niki wrote about the myth that the “Greatest Generation” was naturally self-sacrificing. Neil referred to this Takeout article about Sarah Josepha Hale’s role in establishing Thanksgiving. Natalia referenced Depression-era Thanksgiving hacks like “mock duck” and conservative Charlie Kirk’s rant about the left-wing war on Thanksgiving.

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

• Natalia shared Jackie Salo’s New York Post article, “Star SoulCycle Instructors Accused of Sex with Clients, Fat-Shaming, Racism, and More.”

• Neil discussed New Zealand’s recent election results.

• Niki recommended Joe Coscarelli’s New York Times article, “How Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ Finally Hit No. 1.”

Episode 255: A Possible Coronavirus Vaccine

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the announcement of a new coronavirus vaccine from Pfizer.

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

• Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has announced a promising new coronavirus vaccine. Niki referred to historian Joanna Radin’s Washington Post piece on the connections between cattle breeding and vaccine distribution and political scientist Dan Drezner’s article about the Trump administration’s cavalier approach to the Covid-19 crisis. Natalia recommended The Daily episode on the Pfizer announcement.

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

• Natalia recommended historian Emily Contois’ Jezebel article, “That Shape He Can’t Forget.”

• Neil discussed the new Showtime docuseries, The Reagans.

• Niki shared this post on the New England Historical Society blog, “How the Grinch Became a Star of Stage and Screen.”

Episode 254: The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

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

• Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. is the President-Elect of the United States. Natalia mentioned this New York Times interview with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in reference to possible challenges within the Democratic coalition.

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

• Natalia recommended historian Rebecca de Schweinitz’ book Age in America: The Colonial Era to the Present.

• Neil shared Brett White’s Decider article, “Coco: The Groundbreaking Gay Character on ‘The Golden Girls’ Left Behind.”

• Niki discussed Christina Morales’ New York Times article, “Biden to Restore a White House Tradition of Presidential Pets.”

Episode 253: Sacha Baron Cohen and Satire in the Trump Era

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen’s new Borat movie.

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

• Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest sendup of American political culture. Niki and Neil commented on Sam Thielman’s NBC Think review, and Natalia cited this BBC piece from a Kazakh perspective. Niki also drew on Maureen Dowd’s interview with Baron Cohen.

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

• Natalia discussed her recent essay for Marker, “How Long Can Gyms Survive?”

• Neil recommended Stephen Hudak’s Orlando Sentinel article, “Story of Ocoee Massacre Finally Being Told.”

• Niki shared her recent episode, “Election Night Sunday,” of This Day in Esoteric Political History podcast.

Episode 252: "Emily in Paris" and American Francophilia

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the hit Netflix series Emily in Paris.

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

• Emily in Paris is a hit on Netflix, perhaps due in equal parts to escapism and hate-watching. Natalia referenced her Well + Good roundup of Parisian fitness, and the show Younger. Niki discussed the novel The Ugly American. Neil referred to this article in the New York Times about young Parisians’ reactions to Emily in Paris.

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

• Natalia recommended the Netflix series, I Am a Killer.

• Neil discussed his recent column for The Week, “The double-edged sword of Pope Francis’ same-sex union comments.”

• Niki shared Cindy Ott’s Environmental History article, “Object Analysis of the Great Pumpkin.”

Episode 251: Court Packing

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the debate over “court packing.”

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

• The Senate confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett have raised questions about the ethics of “court packing.” Neil recommended this Politico piece about the historical significance of FDR’s court packing. Natalia referenced Jamelle Bouie’s column defending the act, and Niki wrote about the nineteenth century history of the term for CNN. Natalia and Neil also referred back to our Past Present episode about originalism.

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

• Natalia shared Rose Thomas Bannister’s Public Seminar essay, “The Question About Religion Someone Should Have Asked Amy Coney Barrett.”

• Neil recommended Aaron Griffin’s new book, God’s Law and Order: The Politics of Punishment in Evangelical America.

• Niki discussed Season 3 of the NPR podcast, Motive.

Episode 250: Trump, Coronavirus, and Presidential Health

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss how the White House became a coronavirus hot spot.

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

• President Donald Trump tested positive for the coronavirus, and much of his inner circle quickly reported positive diagnoses as well. Natalia referred to this Vanity Fair article linking the slow response to the pandemic to its early prevalence in blue states, and to this Lawfare article about presidential illness and secrecy. Niki referenced this Politico piece about how the GOP is attempting to spin Trump’s diagnosis.

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

• Natalia raged about the egregious failures of the New York City Department of Education.

• Neil recommended William Finnegan’s book, Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life.

• Niki shared historians Gill Frank and Lauren Gutterman’s Jezebel piece, “How the Girl Watching Fad of the 1960s Taught Men to Harass Women.”

Episode 249: The Proud Boys

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the far-right, neo-fascist group, the Proud Boys.

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

• At last week’s presidential debate, President Trump drew attention to the all-male street gang, the Proud Boys, when he told them to “stand back and stand by.” Niki commented on the group’s founder, Gavin McInnes. Natalia discussed how the example of the early 20th century psychologist G. Stanley Hall provided a sort of erudite analogue to the Proud Boys. Neil mentioned Niki’s 2016 piece for Vox on the media’s interest in the alt-right’s aesthetics as a way to think about the Proud Boys’ Fred Perry uniform.

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

• Natalia discussed the news of Trump testing positive for coronavirus.

• Neil commented on his recent Twitter thread about the history of comparing coming out as gay to coming out as Republican.

• Niki talked about her recent piece for CNN, “Trump’s call for freelance poll-watchers summons a dark history.”

Episode 248: Ruth Bader Ginsburg

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

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

• At age 87, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died earlier this month. Natalia referred to historian Jeffrey Melnick’s Twitter thread on the appropriative nature of the term “Notorious RBG” and to the book by the same title. Niki recommended reporter Danielle Kurtzleben’s coverage of Ginsburg’s legacy and endorsed Howard Fineman’s characterization, in the Washington Post, of Mitch McConnell as the “apex predator” of American politics. Neil commented on Michelle Goldberg’s analysis in the New York Times. Natalia recommended Rebecca Traister’s article about the significance of RBG’s cult status.

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

• Natalia discussed Stephanie Winston Wolkoff’s book, Melania and Me.

• Neil recommended the new podcast, Racket: Inside the Gold Club.

• Niki talked about the importance of registering to vote and recommended two books: Carol Anderson’s One Person, No Vote and Ari Berman’s Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America.

Episode 247: The Controversy over "Cuties"

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the controversial new Netflix film, Cuties.

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

• Cuties, a French independent film released in the United States has inspired opposition. Niki referred to the connection between the critics’ fear of perversion and the current furor over pedophilia among some on the Right, discussed in Rolling Stone.

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

• Natalia discussed Matthew Remski’s Medium GEN article, “Inside Kelly Brogan’s Covid-Denying, Vax-Resistant Conspiracy Machine.”

• Neil shared Doug Mack’s Lonely Planet article, “From Neon Shovels to Crystal Skulls – the Wild History of the Memphis Pyramid.”

• Niki recommended Amanda Mull’s Atlantic article, “Why Everything is Sold Out.”

Episode 246: Jessica Krug and Racial Identity Theft

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the racial dissembling of historian Jessica Krug.

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

• George Washington University historian Jessica Krug has been posing as a Black woman for years, and recently outed herself online. Neil referred to Martha Sandweiss’ book, Passing Strange: A Gilded Tale of Love and Deception Across the Color Line. Natalia referenced this interview with Rachel Dolezal.

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

• Natalia discussed the controversy over enforcing “video-on” while teaching remotely.

• Neil shared about Matthew Gilbert’s Boston Globe article, “The Brits do crime shows really, really well.”

• Niki recommended John Hodgman’s book, Vacationland, as well as his podcast, Judge John Hodgman.

Episode 245: Ron Jeremy and the Adult Film Industry's #MeToo Problem

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss new charges of sexual assault against porn actor Ron Jeremy.

On this week’s Past Present episode, Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, and Neil J. Young discuss new charges of sexual assault against porn actor Ron Jeremy.

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

• More than a dozen women have come forward to accuse porn actor Ron Jeremy of sexual assault. Natalia referred to historian Estelle B. Freedman’s book, Redefining Rape: Sexual Violence in the Era of Suffrage and Segregation and to Lorelei Lee’s personal essay about sex work in n+1.

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

• Natalia discussed this petition put forth by the New York City dance community.

• Neil shared about the HBO documentary, Welcome to Chechnya.

• Niki recommended Nellie Bowles’ New York Times article, “God Is Dead. So is the Office. These People Want to Save Both.”

Episode 244: Lovecraft Country

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the new HBO series, Lovecraft Country.

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

• Lovecraft Country is attracting attention for its blend of historical drama and horror. Niki discussed this hybrid genre, as explained at Vox. She also mentioned the documentary, Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror. Neil compared Lovecraft Country to Colson Whitehead’s recent novel, The Underground Railroad. Natalia referred to this history of the “sundown town” at Slate and to historian Allyson Hobbs’ work on The Negro Motorist Green Book.

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

• Natalia recommended the Netflix series, Selling Sunset.

• Neil reflected on Jerry Falwell Jr.’s resignation as president of Liberty University amid an alleged sex scandal.

• Niki discussed Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman’s new book, Big Friendship.

Episode 243: The 2020 Democratic National Convention

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

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

• This week, the Democratic Party is holding its national convention – entirely online. Neil referred to Ed Kilgore’s New York magazine article about the role of television in shaping conventions.

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

• Natalia recommended Teresa Ghilarducci’s Bloomberg Opinion piece, “Remote College is Still More Valuable than a Gap Year.”

• Neil shared the new podcast series, “Forgotten: Women of Juárez.”

• Niki discussed Jaya Saxena’s Atlas Obscura article, “Rhode Island Has One Great Culinary Invention, and it’s Coffee Milk.”

Episode 242: The Biden-Harris Ticket

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss presidential hopeful Joe Biden’s selection of Kamala Harris as his running mate.

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

• Kamala Harris is the 2020 Democratic vice-presidential candidate. Niki wrote about the significance of her candidacy for Inside Story magazine. Natalia referenced historian Martha Jones’ Washington Post essay; Niki referred to Jamelle Bouie’s New York Times op-ed on Harris’ blackness. Natalia cited this Jacobin article criticizing Harris and to pieces like this one paying new attention to the 1948 vice-presidential candidacy of Charlotta Bass. We previously discussed Kamala Harris on Episode 195 last year.

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

• Natalia shared Evgenia Peretz’s Vanity Fair article, “Keeping Up with the Millers: Stephen Miller and his Wife, Katie, Found Love in a Hateful Place.”

• Neil recommended Padma Lakshmi’s new Hulu show, “Taste the Nation.”

• Niki discussed the Luminary podcast, “Fiasco.”

Episode 241: QAnon

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the conspiracy theory known as QAnon.

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

• Spread online, QAnon is a conspiracy theory that claims “deep state” traitors, connected to a cabal of pedophiles, are plotting to undermine President Trump and the United States. Niki and Neil referred to Adrienne LaFrance’s Atlantic essay contextualizing “Q”’s prophecies. Natalia referred to this Rolling Stone article about the late John F. Kennedy, Jr.’s role in the QAnon imagination.

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

• Natalia recommended Irina Aleksander’s New York Times Magazine article, “Sweatpants Forever.”

• Neil discussed the controversy over Ellen DeGeneres’ behavior on set – and how her celebrity defenders aren’t helping her case.

• Niki talked about Barrett Swanson’s New Republic article, “What I Learned From the Worst Novelist in the English Language.”