Episode 280: Gas Panics and the Colonial Pipeline Cybersecurity Breach

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the gas panic triggered by the recent cybersecurity breach at Colonial Pipeline.

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

• A cybersecurity breach at Colonial Pipeline caused panic, prompting motorists to line up at service stations up and down the East Coast. Natalia, Niki, and Neil all drew on historian Meg Jacobs’ work, and Natalia referred to Dan Taberski’s podcast Surviving Y2K. 

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

• Natalia discussed Julie Creswell’s New York Times article, “Diet Companies See Gains as Americans Try to Drop Pandemic Pounds.”

• Neil recommended Kathryn Hymes’ Atlantic article, “Why We Speak More Weirdly At Home.”

• Niki shared her CNN column, “The Drama in Stacey Abrams’ Political Thriller is Unfolding Off the Page.”

Episode 279: Peloton and the History of Product Recalls

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the recall of the latest Peloton exercise machine in historical context.

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

• Peloton, the digital fitness company made famous by its internet-connected stationery bike, is complying with a federal voluntary recall of its Tread+, which has killed one child and injured many other children and pets. Natalia referred to historian Richard Bushman’s book The Refinement of America: Persons, Houses, Cities. Niki referenced Ralph Nader’s 1965 book, Unsafe at Any Speed, and Natalia reported on the intense response in Peloton Facebook groups.  

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

• Natalia discussed Alison Bechdel’s book, The Secret to Superhuman Strength.

• Neil recommended historian Roberto Rey Agudo’s Washington Post op-ed, “On Cinco de Mayo, Americans speak ‘mock Spanish.’ Here’s why that’s a problem.”

• Niki shared her CNN column, “George W. Bush is a flawed messenger for Republicans.”

Episode 278: The Past and Future of the Office

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the history – and future – of office life.

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

• New York magazine published a sprawling collection of essays about experiences of office life. Natalia referred to this Atlantic article about the persistence of deep cleaning protocols despite evidence that the coronavirus does not spread on surfaces. Niki cited historian Jeanne Boydston’s book Home and Work: Housework, Wages, and the Ideology of Labor in the Early Republic. Natalia drew on Nikil Saval’s book Cubed: A Secret History of the Workplace and Anne-Helen Petersen’s Substack newsletter, “The Future of Remote Work is the Opposite of Lonely.” 

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

• Natalia discussed Katie Rosman’s New York Times article, “Girl, Wash Your Timeline”.

• Neil shared The Salt Lake Tribune’s obituary of Mormon scholar D. Michael Quinn, and historian Benjamin Park’s thread about his work.

• Niki recommended two Slate articles about writer Blake Bailey’s alleged history of sexual assault, one by Eve Crawford Peyton, and one by his former eighth grade students.

Episode 277: RuPaul and the History of Drag

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the cultural influence of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

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

• Reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race has just wrapped its thirteenth season. Niki and Natalia drew on Simon Doonan’s book Drag: The Complete Story. Natalia also referred to this Vulture article on the history of drag and this New Yorker profile of “female impersonator” Joseph Touchette. She also discussed the episode of Worn Stories featuring Doonan discussing his 1980s aerobics spandex. 

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

• Natalia discussed the ill-fated Chippendales skit, “The Politician,” viewable on her Instagram account.

• Neil shared Peter Knegt’s Canadian Broadcast Corporation column, “The Fruit Machine: Why Every Canadian Should Know About This Country’s Gay Purge.”

• Niki recommended the “Pets Are People” episode of This Day Pod, featuring Anne-Helen Peterson.  

Episode 276: A Roaring Twenties Redux?

In this week's episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the parallels between the 1920s and our current moment.

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

• As “post-pandemic life” becomes imaginable, predictions of a second “Roaring Twenties” are ubiquitous. Niki referred to her article about the promise and limits of such comparisons for CNN. Natalia drew on historian Helen Lefkowitz Horowitz’ Campus Life: Undergraduate Cultures from the End of the Eighteenth Century to the Present.

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

• Natalia discussed Rosanna Xia’s Los Angeles Times article, “DDT’s Toxic Legacy Can Harm Granddaughters of Women Exposed, Study Shows”.

• Neil recommended Chloe Angyal’s Washington Post article, “Ballet Directors Talk About ‘Fitness.’ That’s Still Code for Rail-Thin Dancers” and her forthcoming book, Turning Pointe: How a New Generation of Dancers is Saving Ballet from Itself

• Niki shared her own CNN opinion piece, “History Shows We Ignore Tucker Carlson at Our Peril.”

Episode 275: The Debate over School Reopening

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the debate over school reopening.

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

• When – and how – public schools should reopen has become a topic of intense controversy. Neil cited this Los Angeles Times piece about the “intractable learning loss” suffered by English Language Learners this year. Natalia referred to this New York Times article about whether “learning loss” should be assessed and to this Politico article about the demand by United Teachers of Los Angeles for free childcare as a condition of their return to the classroom. She also drew on this History Channel article about the trust in public schools that existed during the 1918 influenza pandemic. Niki cited historian Daniel Rodgers’ Age of Fracture, and each of our books: Classroom Wars, We Gather Together, and Messengers of the Right.  

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

• Natalia discussed the latest policing of Dr. Jill Biden’s self-presentation: her stockings.

• Neil discussed the HBO documentary Tina.

• Niki shared Gina Kolata’s New York Times article, “Kati Kariko Helped Shield the World From the Coronavirus.”

Episode 274: Beverly Cleary

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the life and legacy of the late children’s author Beverly Cleary.

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

• At the age of 104, children’s author Beverly Cleary has died. Natalia drew on this Bulwark article about Cleary’s apolitical appeal, and Niki referred to this Atlantic essay and this Vulture piece about her grasp of children’s emotional landscape. Neil and Natalia referred to this New York Times article about her books’ appeal to boys and girls. 

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

• Natalia recommended the podcast Stolen: the Search for Jermain.

• Neil discussed Phil Hoad’s Atavist article, “Cat and Mouse.”

• Niki shared Rebecca Onion’s Slate essay, “A Modern Feminist Classic Changed My Life. Was it Actually Garbage?”

Episode 273: The Atlanta and Boulder Mass Shootings

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the recent mass shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, and Boulder, Colorado.

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

• As public spaces reopen, so too have mass shootings returned. Neil referred to this Slate piece about the coverage of the Atlanta shootings, and Natalia cited Melissa Jeltsen’s article in The Cut, her own essay about massage in Nursing Clio, and Nicholas Kristof’s New York Times article, “How to Reduce Shootings.”

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

• Natalia recommended Joy Nicholson’s novel, The Tribes of Palos Verdes.

• Neil discussed Zoe Pickburn’s The Week article, “The Orphan Who Invented the Cupcake.”

• Niki shared David French’s Twitter thread about Sidney Powell.

Episode 272: Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Controversies

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the calls for Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York to resign.

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

• Amid charges that he covered up Covid-related deaths among nursing home residents and sexually harassed multiple women, New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo is being asked to resign. Natalia referred to Rebecca Traister’s article at The Cut and Zephyr Teachout’s essay in The Nation. Niki discussed this Washington Post article about Cuomo’s popular interviews with his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, this past summer.

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

• Natalia discussed the Sally Jesse Raphael Show episode about “women who love calendar men” as featured on the Welcome To Your Fantasy Instagram account.

• Neil recommended the new Netflix documentary series Murder Among the Mormons and historian Benjamin Park’s Religion Dispatches essays about the show.

• Niki shared the Twitter accounts of two historians writing about the Atlanta spa shootings: Melissa May Borja and Erika Lee.

Episode 271: The Interview: Oprah, Meghan, and Harry

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss Oprah Winfrey’s interview of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

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

• Perhaps the official beginning of Meghan and Harry’s life in America was their interview with Oprah Winfrey. Niki referenced her CNN piece on Piers Morgan’s reaction to the interview, and Natalia mentioned Trysh Travis and Timothy Aubry’s book on therapeutic culture and this Smithsonian magazine piece about the exhibit on Oprah’s legacy.

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

• Natalia discussed Marisa Meltzer’s book This Is Big: How the Founder of Weight Watchers Changed the World--And Me.

• Neil shared Ruth Graham and Elizabeth Dias’ New York Times article, “Beth Moore, a Prominent Evangelical, Splits with Southern Baptists.”  

• Niki recommended the 30 for 30 podcast episode, “March 11, 2020.”

Episode 270: The Controversy over Dr. Seuss

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the controversy over the decision to stop publishing six Dr. Seuss books.

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

• Theodore Geisel’s estate has removed six of his Dr. Seuss books from circulation, causing ire among conservatives citing it as an example of “cancel culture.” Natalia referred to writer Michael Harriot’s Twitter thread, this 1945 Frank Sinatra short film, “The House I Live In,” and Sophie Gilbert’s Atlantic article about Seuss’ embrace by progressive activists. Niki drew on this BBC piece about Seuss’ radicalism. 

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

• Natalia discussed Jack Harris’ Los Angeles Times article, “Jeff Grosso: The Life and Death of Skateboarding’s Soul.”

• Neil recommended Elon Green’s book, Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York.  

• Niki shared Soraya Nadia McDonald’s article at The Undefeated, “Billie Holliday Deserves Better.”

Episode 269: Minimum Wage and the Fight for $15

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the fight to raise the federal minimum wage.

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

• House Democrats have proposed a federally guaranteed fifteen-dollar an hour minimum wage as part of their coronavirus relief bill. Niki drew on this New York Times piece about the effective minimum wage, and Neil referenced this New Yorker article about fast food workers in Orlando. Natalia and Niki referred to the stickiness of the “Fight for 15” slogan, as described in this Atlantic article. 

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

• Natalia discussed the Leo Baeck Institute’s Shared History Project.

• Neil shared Olivia Rutigliano’s Truly Adventurous story, “The Dognapping of the Century.”  

• Niki recommended Lillian Stone’s article at The Takeout, “The Spudly History of Mister Potato Head.”

Episode 268: Britney Spears and the #FreeBritney Movement

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the #FreeBritney movement for Britney Spears and the conservatorship that inspired it.

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

• A New York Times documentary about pop star Britney Spears and the conservatorship under which she has lived since 2008 has sparked renewed concern about her wellbeing. Natalia recommended this New Republic article about disability and conservatorships and Anne-Helen Petersen’s Substack newsletter about the Britney phenomenon. Niki drew on this Vox explainer about the conservatorship.

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

• Natalia discussed Cecile Castranova’s article for The Hill, “CA School District’s Board Resigns After Unknowingly Talking About Parents in A Virtual Meeting.”

• Neil shared Daniel Silliman’s Christianity Today obituary, “Died: Carman, Christian Showman Who Topped Charts With Triumphant Fate.”  

• Niki commented on Eric Schmitt and Helene Cooper’s New York Times article, “Promotions for Female Generals Were Delayed Over Fears of Trump’s Reaction.”

Episode 267: Larry Flynt

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the life and legacy of pornographer and free speech champion Larry Flynt.

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

• Larry Flynt, founder of the Hustler empire, died this month. Niki recommended historian Carolyn Bronstein’s book Battling Pornography: The American Feminist Anti-Pornography Movement, 1976-1986 and referred to this Politico article about the GOP abandoning the war on pornography. Natalia mentioned the documentary Hot Girls Wanted and Nicholas Kristof’s reporting on Pornhub. Neil mentioned our own episode on the life and legacy of Hugh Hefner.

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

• Natalia shared the latest episode of BBC Radio 4’s show “Front Row,” featuring filmmaker Adam Curtis and Welcome to Your Fantasy.

• Neil recommended Leslie Brody’s book, Sometimes You Have to Lie: The Life and Times of Renegade Author, Harriet the Spy.  

• Niki discussed Gabby Birenbaum’s Vox article, “Rep. Raskin Makes an Impeachment Case at Trump’s Trial,” and the impeachment trial videos.

Episode 266: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the controversial tenure of freshman Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

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

• Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has been stripped of her committee assignments due to her outspoken support of outlandish theories, from QAnon to school shootings to “space lasers” causing forest fires. Niki referred to Michelle Goldberg’s New York Times opinion piece about Greene, and Natalia referenced the Atlantic documentary, “White Noise” and this New York Times article.

• We recommend you subscribe and follow our new podcast, Welcome to Your Fantasy, premiering February 10, only on Spotify!

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

• Natalia commented on her own New York Times opinion piece, “Goodbye to the Cult of SoulCycle.”

• Neil talked about the documentary Assassins.

• Niki discussed MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell’s appearance on Newsmax.

Episode 265: Larry King

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the life and legacy of television and radio legend, Larry King.

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

• TV and radio legend, Larry King, died last week at the age of 87. We discussed some of the retrospective pieces King’s sixty-year career produced, like this 2010 feature in the New York Times, and this 1988 article in the Los Angeles Times. Neil commented on a favorite Larry King interview of the country music star, K.T. Oslin, from 1996. Natalia mentioned a ProPublica piece on how King became unwittingly used in a Chinese disinformation campaign.  

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

• Natalia commented on Brendan Dunne’s Complex article, “Nikolas Ajagu, the Here Who Wore Dior Jordan 1s to the Inauguration, Speaks.”

• Neil discussed Luke Mogelson’s long-form New Yorker piece, “Among the Insurrectionists.”

• Niki talked about Alex Kirshner’s Slate article, “What the Hell Is Going On With GameStop’s Stock?”

Episode 264: The 1776 Report

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss “The 1776 Report” issued by the outgoing Trump administration.

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

• A day before President Trump left office, his administration issued “The 1776 Report” on American history, which President Biden promptly repudiated upon taking office. Natalia referred to her piece at NBC Think on the report and to her book, Classroom Wars: Language, Sex, and the Making of Contemporary Political Culture; Niki referred to her column at CNN and to Kevin Kruse’s column at MSNBC. Neil recommended Rebecca Onion’s analysis at Slate.

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

• Natalia recommended Sarah Carr’s Boston Globe article, “For Schoolchildren Struggling to Read, Covid-19 Has Been a Wrecking Ball.”

• Neil discussed Richard Goldstein’s New York Times obituary, “Hank Aaron, Home Run King Who Defied Racism, Dies at 86.”

• Niki shared Jim Tankersley and Michael D. Shear’s New York Times article, “Biden Seeks to Define His Presidency by an Early Emphasis on Equity.”

Episode 263: The Biden-Harris Inauguration

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss President-Elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.

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

• On January 20, President-Elect Joe Biden will be inaugurated to the office of the President. Niki referred to the book Before the Oath. Neil and Natalia referred to Rebecca Onion’s Slate piece on transitions.

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

• Natalia discussed Biden’s appointment of Alondra Nelson to Deputy Director of Science and Society.

• Neil recommended Becky Cooper’s book, We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a Half-Century of Silence.

• Niki commented on Paul Musgrave’s Washington Post piece, “Trump’s Presidential Library Will Be a Shrine to His Ego.”

Episode 262: The January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

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

• On January 6, armed rioters interrupted the joint session of Congress convened to certify the vote count of the Electoral College. Natalia referred to this Axios article rounding up conservative media response to the insurrection. Niki mentioned David Blight’s book, Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory. Neil discussed Eric Foner’s piece in The Nation and Karen L. Cox’s New York Times piece, both about the Civil War antecedents for the armed insurrection. Natalia drew on this Washington Post article about Ashli Babbitt, and Niki referenced her own writing on this topic at Vox and at CNN.  Natalia also commented on Caitlin Flanagan’s Atlantic article. And Neil mentioned his piece for The Week about the Congressional Republicans’ inaction regarding the president. Historian Megan Kate Nelson is assembling essays about the Capitol riot by historians here.

• Here are a list of Twitter handles of disinformation experts:

o   Hannah Allam (@HannahAllam)

o   Cristina López G. (@crislopezg)

o   Julia Carrie Wong (@juliacarriew)

o   Tess Owen (@misstessowen)

o   Jane Lytvynenko (@JaneLytv)

o   Joan Donovan (@BostonJoan)

o   Brandy Zadrozny (@BrandyZadrozny)

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

• Natalia discussed a funny social media gaffe at a popular home decor Instagram account.

• Neil recommended the new Netflix documentary series, Challenger: The Final Flight.

• Niki discussed the Netflix comedy series Derry Girls, and Patrick Radden Keefe’s book Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland.

Episode 261: The 2020 Presidential Election Certification

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the attempt by Republicans to undermine the final certification of President-Elect Joe Biden’s victory.

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

• On January 6, Congress will meet in a joint session to formally count the votes of the Electoral College. Natalia referred to Trevor Potter’s Washington Post piece underlining that this meeting should be purely ceremonial, not an opportunity for a referendum on the settled election. Niki elaborated on the useful historical context of John F. Kennedy’s election in 1960. Natalia and Niki drew on this Mother Jones article about the Compromise of 1877.

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

• Natalia recommended Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s NBC THINK piece, “Trump’s Call to Georgia Election Officials Highlights White House Bunker Mentality.”

• Neil discussed the new podcast, Smokescreen: Fake Priest.

• Niki recommended Tressie McMillan Cottom’s Medium article, “The Black Ton: From Bridgerton to Love & Hip Hop.”