Episode 327: The “Great Replacement” Conspiracy Theory

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory.

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

• A deadly mass shooting in Buffalo, NY brought renewed attention to the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory widely circulated among white supremacists. Niki drew on this New Yorker article about the European origins of this idea and her own New York Times essay on the role of media in amplifying it. Natalia discussed Samuel Huntington’s Foreign Policy essay, “The Hispanic Challenge.” Neil referenced this Nation article about Renaud Camus.

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

• Natalia made a plea for more coverage of how summer camp directors are gearing up for their third pandemic summer. Those stories haven’t been written, but here’s a History Channel video she recorded on the history of summer camps.

• Neil discussed Trip Mickle’s New York Times article, “Farewell to the iPod.”

• Niki shared her congratulations and gratitude for historian Brian Balogh, on the occasion of his retirement from the University of Virginia.

Episode 326: The History of Adoption

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the history of adoption in the United States.

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

• The phrase “domestic supply of infants” in a footnote to the leaked draft Supreme Court decision regarding abortion has horrified many Americans. Niki referred to this Atlantic article about the intense process of adopting a baby. Natalia referenced this New York Times essay about Gabrielle Glaser’s book adoption and historian Rickie Solinger’s essay on race and illegitimacy.

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

• Natalia recommended Jessica Bennett’s New York Times essay, “Pamela Anderson, Amber Heard, and the Limits of the Feminist Redemption Plot.”

• Neil discussed Milla Surjadi’s Duke Chronicle article, “Student Commencement Address Bears Striking Resemblance to 2014 Student Address.”

• Niki shared scholar Carla Cevasco’s Twitter thread regarding infant feeding.

Episode 325: The End of Roe v. Wade

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss a leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court that overturns Roe v. Wade.

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

• Politico published a leaked draft opinion, penned by Justice Samuel Alito, in which the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade opinion. Natalia referred to historian Jill Lepore’s New Yorker article and Niki drew on Jennifer Schuessler’s New York Times piece regarding the contested history of abortion. Niki recommended historian Leslie Reagan’s book When Abortion Was a Crime, and Natalia cited Jamelle Bouie’s New York Times opinion piece on the culture wars.

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

• Natalia commented on the quantity of coverage of Congressman Madison Cawthorn’s masculinity, and the silence regarding the salience of his disability.

• Neil discussed Robert D. McFadden’s New York Times obituary, “Judith Jones, Editor of Literature and Culinary Delight, Dies at 93” and the HBO Max show, “Julia.”

• Niki recommended the new play, “Suffs.”

Episode 324: Elon Musk, Twitter, and the History of Media Oligarchs

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss Elon Musk’s bid to buy Twitter.

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

• Billionaire Elon Musk made a successful $44 billion bid to acquire Twitter. Niki referred to this Los Angeles Times article about the limits of Elon Musk’s “free speech absolutism.” Natalia referenced this New York Times article about billionaire investors in the press. We all drew on this Psyche piece on the history of media ownership and its perils.

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

• Natalia recommended Kendall Taggart, John Templon, Anthony Cormier, and Jason Leopold’s Buzzfeed News investigative report, “Profit, Pain, and Private Equity.”

• Neil shared the launch of the anti-racism publication, The Emancipator.

• Niki discussed James Pogue’s Vanity Fair article, “Inside the New Right, Where Peter Thiel is Placing His Biggest Bets,” and this edition of John Ganz’ Substack, Unpopular Front.

Episode 323: Coachella and the History of Music Festivals

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss Coachella and the history of music festivals.

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

• The Coachella music festival has become a major cultural and commercial event. We all drew on this BBC chronology of music festivals, and Natalia referred to this piece in High Times. Neil referenced this Bloomberg article about the urbanization of music festivals and this Los Angeles Magazine article about the city’s regional experience of music festivals.

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

• Natalia recommended the new Netflix documentary, White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie and Fitch.

• Neil discussed the film, The Eyes of Tammy Faye.

• Niki shared her latest CNN column, “’The First Lady’ is a Harsh Reminder of This Dissonant Truth.”

Episode 322: The Enormous Popularity of True Crime

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the ongoing popularity of the true crime genre.

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

• ·When journalist Brendan Koerner took to Twitter to call out a podcast for using his work without attribution, he drew attention to the broader appetite for true crime content. Neil recommended the podcast series Someone Knows Something, and Natalia referred to the “Dead Blondes” season on the podcast You Must Remember This and this Los Angeles Review of Books essay. She also cited an NPR segment about the how podcasters should cover true crime stories.

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

• Natalia recommended Derek Thompson’s Atlantic article, “Why American Teens Are So Sad”.

• Neil shared Tom Junod and Paula Lavigne’s ESPN article, “Untold.”

• Niki discussed the new podcast, Fiasco: The AIDS Crisis.

Episode 321: The Latest Battles over Marriage

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss recent developments in the politics of sex and marriage.

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

• Republicans have both been sounding alarms about pedophilia and attempting to relax age-of-consent laws. Natalia referred to historian Clayton Howard’s book, The Closet and the Cul-de-Sac: The Politics of Sexual Privacy in Northern California and Niki referenced Andrew Sullivan’s 1995 book, Virtually Normal: An Argument About Homosexuality. Neil and Natalia drew on Frank Bruni’s New York Times opinion piece.

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

• Natalia recommended Anne-Helen Petersen’s Bustle article, “Britney Falls in Love.”

• Neil discussed Rebecca Mead’s New Yorker article, “Could Leopards Be Paid for Their Spots.”

• Niki shared Taylor Lorenz’ Washington Post article, “Internet ‘algospeak’ is changing our language in real time, ‘nip nops’ to ‘le dollar bean’.”

Episode 320: U.S. Demographics and the History of Population Panics

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss concerns over population decline.

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

• The rate of population growth in the United States is declining. Natalia referred to this Smithsonian article about longstanding fears about overpopulation and this Washington Post opinion piece by historian Mytheli Sreenivas. Neil drew on this Vox article.

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

• Natalia shared about her new column at Observer, “The Quick Study.”

• Neil discussed Daniel Victor’s New York Times article, “Flamingo No. 492 Is Still on the Run 17 Years Later”.

• Niki discussed Jill Wine-Banks’ NBC Think piece, “Trump’s Phone Log Gap Could Be Much Worse than Nixon’s Watergate Tape Erasures” and this Atlas Obscura essay on Rose Mary Woods.

Episode 319: “The Great Resignation”

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss “The Great Resignation.”

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

• “The Great Resignation” has become a common trope in conversations about work and jobs in our current political culture. Natalia referred to this Atlantic article on the positive potential of such employment churn, and Niki cited this Vox piece on the burst of unionization spurred by pandemic dislocations.

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

• Natalia shared Jonathan Chait’s Intelligencer article, “Democrats Must Defeat the Left’s War on Educational Achievement.”

• Neil recommended the Hulu series, “The Dropout”.

• Niki discussed the confirmation hearings of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Episode 318: Netflix's "Love Is Blind" and the History of TV Dating Shows

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the popularity of the Netflix show "Love Is Blind."

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

• The second season of Love Is Blind is the latest in a long history of TV dating shows to capture the attention of the American public. Natalia recommended the podcast This Is Dating and referred to this Vox essay on and this New York Times piece about Love Is Blind. Niki referenced this New Yorker piece and Neil discussed this Washington Post article on dating shows as cultural ciphers. Neil also drew from this Vanity Fair piece about the history of queer representation on TV dating shows.

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

• Natalia recommended Jenny Nordberg’s New York Times article, “Cissy Wallin and the Case that Killed #MeToo in Sweden.”

• Neil discussed Rachel Aviv’s New Yorker article, “The German Experiment that Placed Foster Children with Pedophiles.”

• Niki shared a new Secret Service report, “Hot Yoga Tallahassee: A Case Study of Misogynistic Extremism.”

Episode 317: Gas Prices and the History of Energy Shocks

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss rising gas prices and the history of energy crises.

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

• Gas prices are surging, and Americans are frustrated. We all drew on historian Meg Jacobs’ book, Panic at the Pump: The Energy Crisis and the Transformation of American Politics in the 1970s. Natalia referred to this Atlantic article about the fiction of “energy independence.” Niki referred to this Washington Post article on the historical relationship around oil between Russia and western nations.

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

• Natalia shared Alex Hawgood’s New York Times article, “What is Bigorexia?”

• Neil recommended Henry Fountain’s New York Times article, “At the Bottom of an Icy Sea, One of History’s Great Wrecks Found.”

• Niki discussed Peggy McGlone’s Washington Post piece, “Smithsonian to Give Back Its Collection of Benin Bronzes.”

Episode 316: The Russia-Ukraine War

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the American response to the escalating war between Russia and Ukraine.

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

• Russia has invaded Ukraine as the world watches. Natalia referred to philosopher Jason Stanley’s article in TIME about denazification and this New Yorker interview with political scientist John Mearsheimer. Neil cited this POLITICO interview with Fiona Hill, and Niki recommended M.E. Sarotte’s book Not One Inch: America, Russia, and the Making of the Post-Cold War Stalemate.

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

• Natalia recommended the second season of the Netflix series, Dirty John.

• Neil discussed the legacy of college basketball coaching legend “Coach K.”

• Niki shared about historian Lily Geismer’s new book, Left Behind: The Democrats’ Failed Attempt to Solve Inequality.

Episode 315: The Mystery and History of Havana Syndrome

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the mysterious illness known as Havana Syndrome affecting U.S. diplomats around the world.

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

• Over 200 members of the U.S. Foreign Service and intelligence community have reported strange symptoms, including headaches, nausea, and memory loss, that many believe have been caused by a deliberate attack. The symptoms were first reported in 2016 by American diplomats in Cuba, leading to it being named Havana Syndrome, but since then they have been reported throughout the world. A recent report concluded that most of these cases could be attributed to undiagnosed illnesses or other benign causes, but they did not rule out that some cases could have been caused by an “external energy source.” We mentioned a 2018 New Yorker investigation of the syndrome, and discussed the history of the Soviet Union using microwaves against American diplomats.

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

• Natalia discussed her recent piece for Global Sports Matter, “Building a Better Movement Culture Will Require Inclusion and Creativity.”

• Neil commented on the life and legacy of Dr. Paul Farmer and shared Tracy Kidder’s New York Times remembrance, “He Wanted to Make the Whole World His Patient.”

• Niki shared the Jefferson Scholars Foundation’s webinar, “Crisis in Ukraine: The Origins of the Next War in Europe.”

Episode 314: Canada's Freedom Convoy

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the convoy of truckers that has occupied Ottawa, Canada.

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

• A convoy of truckers and their allies, totaling about 8,000 people, has gathered in the center of Ottawa, Canada, in protest of what they consider excessive COVID prevention policy. Natalia referred to Michelle Goldberg’s New York Times column about the protest, and Niki referred to Dahlia Lithwick’s Slate article on its narrow appeal.

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

• Natalia discussed Elizabeth Williams’ New York Times article, “A Child’s TikTok Stardom Opens Doors. Then A Gunman Arrives.”

• Neil recommended Alex Marzano-Lesnevich’s book, The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir.

• Niki reflected on the long life of the phrase “well behaved women seldom make history,” coined by historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich.

Episode 313: Women's Activewear and the History of Sports Bras

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss a controversial new Adidas ad for sports bras.

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

• Adidas went viral earlier this month for tweeting twenty-five sets of bare breasts in order to promote a new line of sports bras. Niki discussed this Time cover about breastfeeding. Neil referred to this Atlantic article about using breasts to sell products, and Natalia drew on historian Martha Verbrugge’s book Active Bodies and this Elle feature about changing activewear trends. Natalia also referred to holdings in the Smithsonian’s Jogbra collection.

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

• Natalia reflected on the life and legacy of the late fitness pioneer Patricia Moreno.

• Neil discussed the Netflix reality show Selling Tampa.

• Niki recommended Seth Stevenson’s Slate piece, “The Moment Sarah Palin’s Testimony Fell Apart.”

Episode 312: The History of Emoji

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the cultural significance of emoji, in light of the release of new forms.

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

• The Unicode Consortium has released dozens of new emoji, including a pregnant man, a melting face, and multiple new family configurations. Natalia referred to this Atlantic essay and to this BBC piece, and Niki to this essay on Science Friday.

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

• Natalia discussed the range of causes currently motivating student protests, including this walkout in Poway, California.

• Neil shared Dr. Amanda Joy Calhoun’s Stat News article, “How Black Hair Racism Affects Mental Health.”

• Niki recommended Jamelle Bouie’s New York Times piece, “We Still Can’t See American Slavery For What It Was.”

Episode 311: Justice Breyer's Retirement and the Future of the Supreme Court

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer’s decision to retire.

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

• Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has announced he will retire at the end of his term, a move many say is reflective of his pragmatism. Natalia referred to this New York Times piece about Breyer’s effort to eschew ideology and to this Teen Vogue article about the need for him to retire during a Democratic presidency. Niki drew on this Atlantic essay on the illusion of impartiality.

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

• Natalia shared Michael Powell’s New York Times article, “How It Feels to Be an Asian Student in An Elite Public School.”

• Neil commented on Emily Baker-White’s Buzzfeed article, “Nothing Sacred: These Apps Reserve the Right to Sell Your Prayers.”

• Niki discussed right-wing radio host Dan Bongino’s relish for deplatforming.

Episode 310: The Biden Administration's First Year

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss President Biden’s first year in office.

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

• Public opinion of President Biden’s first year in office is polarized. Neil and Niki referred to Jamelle Bouie’s New York Times opinion piece comparing Biden and Reagan’s first years as president. Neil also discussed the POLITICO/Morning Consult report card on Biden’s first year. Natalia drew on this POLITICO essay about the substantial time remaining for the Biden administration to prove itself.

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

• Natalia discussed Rainesford Stauffer’s new Teen Vogue advice column “Work in Progress” and Elizabeth Spiers’ New York Times guest essay, “In Defense of Jeremy Strong (And All The Strivers With No Chill).”

• Neil reflected on the death of fashion editor André Leon Talley.

• Niki recommended Rebecca Traister’s book Big Girls Don’t Cry: The Election That Changed Everything for American Women.

Episode 309: Wordle and the History of Word Games

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the historical significance of the current craze over the online game Wordle.

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

• When a Brooklyn software engineer designed a word game as an act of love, he didn’t know Wordle would become an online phenomenon. Neil referred to this Smithsonian Magazine article on the history of the crossword puzzle and Niki to the history of mahjong.

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

• Natalia shared Stephanie H. Murray’s The Week article, “Politics Closed American Schools Last Year. Now Politics Are Keeping Them Open.”

• Neil recommended Emily Hopkins and Melissa Sanchez’ ProPublica article, “Chicago’s ‘Race-Neutral’ Traffic Cameras Ticket Black and Latino Drivers The Most.”

• Niki discussed John Ortved’s New York Times article, “That Cloud of Smoke is Not a Mirage.”

Episode 308: The History of Rest and Relaxation

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

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

• As boundaries between work and home have become blurred during the pandemic, Americans have been thinking more deliberately about rest and relaxation. Neil drew on Judith Shulevitz’ New York Times piece about “bringing back the Sabbath” and this Atlantic review about her book on this topic. Natalia referred to historian Sarah Milov’s history of the cigarette and her discussion of the office “smoke break.”

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

• Natalia shared the C-SPAN lesson plan based on the lecture she gave on “The Making of American Fitness Culture.”

• Neil discussed Brittany Gibson’s POLITICO piece, “They Stormed the Capitol. Now They’re Running for Office.”

• Niki recommended Brad Plumer’s Vox article, “How America Got Addicted to Road Salt—And Why That’s A Problem.”