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Past Present

Past Present brings together three historians to discuss what's happening in American politics and culture today. Natalia, Neil, and Niki bring historical insights to the news of the day, offering listeners an alternative to the reflexive and polarized world of punditry. Interested in the world around you but exhausted by rote reactions and partisan talking points? You've come to the right place.
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Now displaying: 2017
Dec 26, 2017

 

In this week's episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss a feud between African-American intellectuals Cornel West and Ta-Nehisi Coates, the electoral prospects for southern Democrats, and why LaCroix Sparkling Water has become an obsession.

 

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

 

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

 

  

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

Dec 19, 2017

In this week's episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia debate the viral New Yorker short story “Cat Person”, the disproportionately high maternal death rate among black women, and the Elf on the Shelf phenomenon.

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

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

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

Dec 12, 2017

In this week's episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil debate the resurgence of etiquette books, the announcement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal engagement, and President Trump’s decision to limit the size of two national monuments.

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

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

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

Dec 5, 2017

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate the purchase of Time Inc. by the Meredith Corporation, sexual assault claims at a chain of massage spas, and net neutrality.

 

Support Past Present on Patreon for as little as $1 a month: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

Nov 28, 2017

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia debate the recent reckoning with Bill Clinton’s legacy, the state of the New York City subway, and the new tax reform measure.

Support Past Present for as little as $1 a month: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

Nov 21, 2017

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate Liz Smith and the history of gossip columns, whether interracial friendships are possible, and evangelical responses to Roy Moore’s pedophilia scandal.

 

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

Nov 14, 2017

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia debate the Democratic wins in the recent off-year elections, the doubling of Twitter’s character limit, and the release of a postage stamp based on Ezra Jack Keats’ The Snowy Day.

 

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

Nov 7, 2017

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate Kevin Spacey’s coming out amid charges of pedophilia, the 21st century company town, and the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

Support Past Present on Patreon for as little as $1 a month: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

Oct 31, 2017

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki debate the declassification of the JFK files, Joni Mitchell, and our age of anxiety.

Support Past Present on Patreon for as little as $1 a month: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

Oct 24, 2017

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the Girl Scouts in light of the Boy Scouts’ recent decision to admit girls, #MeToo activism, and how Michael Friedman’s recent death of HIV/AIDS helps us understand the illness in historical context.

Oct 17, 2017

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia debate alleged sexual predator Harvey Weinstein and the culture that enables him, the history of the pumpkin spice phenomenon, and the controversy over a Dove soap advertisement.

Oct 10, 2017

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil debate a fatal stabbing at a Bronx high school, the history of the romance novel and its critics, and the evolution of the game show genre.

Oct 3, 2017

In this week's flashback episode, we revisit our segment on the history of Hawaii.

Sep 26, 2017

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki debate the Equifax hack.

Sep 19, 2017

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate the historical origins of Antifa, cultural appropriation, and the role of contract labor in an unequal society.

Sep 12, 2017

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil debate the White House's announcement to end DACA, the death of New Age guru and publisher Louise Hay, and the prospect of an all-female Lord of the Flies remake.

Sep 5, 2017

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia debate the natural and political implications of Hurricane Harvey, President Trump’s pardon of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and the legacy of Princess Diana two decades after her death.

Aug 29, 2017

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate Trump’s proposal for Afghanistan, plus-size clothing, and why swearing is on the rise.

Aug 22, 2017

In this week's episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate the role of neo-Nazis in the white nationalist violence in Charlottesville, the Google memo, and the political power of blondeness. 

Aug 15, 2017

In this week's episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki debate lying about Vietnam, multi-level marketing companies, and the privatization of public roads.

Aug 8, 2017

In this week's episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil debate the place of MS-13 in the history of street gangs, R. Kelly's sex cult, and the controversy over the first woman actor to play Doctor Who.

Aug 2, 2017

In this week's episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate Trump's divisive speech before the Boy Scouts, the return of eugenics in criminal justice, and the rising wave of elopements.

Jul 25, 2017

In this week's special live episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia debate funding cuts for libraries, the history of the Hamptons, and the legacy of the Summer of Love.

Jul 18, 2017

On this week’s episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia debate Republicans’ increasing distrust of higher education, the reverse Great Migration of African Americans to the South, and the last remaining fleeing immigrants sign in California.

Jul 11, 2017

In this week's episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate the case of Charlie Gard and parental rights, the new Xennial generation, and how New York City made Donald Trump.

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