In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate the “incel” community, the role of race in Mormon history, and the thrift-shaming of millennials.

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

• In the wake of a Toronto terrorist attack, “incels,” or involuntary celibates, are gaining attention. Niki referred to this New York Times article about Jordan Peterson. Natalia cited Jia Tolentino’s New Yorker article on the origins of incel rage, Ross Douthat’s New York Times op-ed raising the possibility of the redistribution of sex, and this Washington Post column by historian Melissa J. Gismondi. Niki referred to this paper by Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers.
• A hoax letter claiming the LDS Church was apologizing for its history of racism upset many. Natalia cited historian Sarah Barringer Gordon’s book The Mormon Question: Polygamy and Constitutional Conflict in Nineteenth Century America as well as historian Max Perry Mueller’s book Race and the Making of the Mormon People, which he discussed in an interview in The Atlantic. Neil referred to Linda Sillitoe’s book Salamander: The Story of the Mormon Forgery Murders.
• Financial planning recommendations to millennials are increasingly met with internet outrage. Natalia cited Rebecca Onion’s Slate article on the history of the thrift education movement, and Niki referred to historian Louis Hyman’s book Debtor Nation.

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

• Neil discussed the Guardian article, “Anne Frank’s ‘Dirty’ Jokes Found on Diary Pages She Covered Over.”
• Natalia talked about Historians on Hamilton: How a Blockbuster Musical is Restaging America’s Past, a new book edited by Claire Potter and Renée Romano.
• Niki shared this history of commercial flight in the 1930s and this WBUR segment on “What Happens When Someone on Your Flight Has a Medical Emergency.”

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil debate the movement of the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, the life and legacy of the late author Tom Wolfe, and the legalization of sports gambling.

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

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

• President Trump officially moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and violence in Gaza ensued. Neil wrote about Trump’s stance in his Huffington Post column this week. Natalia recommended this Tablet article breaking down the context for the violence in Gaza.
• “New Journalism” pioneer Tom Wolfe died this week. Natalia cited two of her favorite Wolfe works, Radical Chic and Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers and Bonfire of the Vanities and recommended this Atlantic piece chronicling the neologisms Wolfe has coined.
• A Supreme Court ruling has lifted a ban on sports betting. Neil cited this NPR piece on the potential implications of the decision for college and amateur athletes.

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

• Neil discussed the news that the Salt Lake Tribune has laid off a third of its newsroom.
• Natalia talked about the show “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and Laura Ansley’s analytical essay at Nursing Clio, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: Feminism, Mental Health, and Musicals Meet on the Boob Tube.”
• Niki shared Diane Peters’ JSTOR Daily article, “Treadmills Were Meant to be Atonement Machines.”

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia debate Childish Gambino’s viral video “This is America,” the launching of NRATV, and how Instagram is changing museums. 

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

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

• Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, generated major buzz with the release of the song and video “This is America.” Natalia referred to the various articles including this Washington Post piece that attempt to decode the richly allusive video. Contextualizing this work in the recent comments by Kanye West that “slavery was a choice,” Niki recommended this Washington Post piece by historian Leah Wright Rigueur and Natalia referenced this New York Times article by activist dream hampton as well as this GQ article.
• The National Rifle Association now has a television presence, NRATV, which promotes a pro-Trump politics and worldview.
• The popularity of sites like the Museum of Ice Cream shows how Instagram is changing how we consume culture. Natalia referred to historian Lawrence Levine’s classic book Highbrow, Lowbrow, Amanda Mull’s Eater article on Instagram’s effect on food consumption, and Will Storr’s book Selfie on the narcissistic currents that inspire our moment.

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

• Neil commented on the brewing controversy in the Southern Baptist Convention about Paige Patterson’s statements about women.
• Natalia shared Britni de la Cretaz’ Racked article, “’Honoring’ Female Baseball Players with the Lipstick They Were Required to Wear.”
• Niki recommended Alan Taylor’s photographic essay in the Atlantic, “A Look Back at Kilauea's Spectacular 1969 to 1974 Mauna Ulu Eruption.”

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia debate the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the Golden State Killer, and the news that Americans are forgetting the Holocaust. 

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

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

• At this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, comedian Michelle Wolf caused controversy. You can watch Wolf’s full performance here. Niki referenced Megan Garber’s Atlantic article, “The Slow, Awkward Death of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.” Natalia cited this Columbia Journalism Review article noting that some members of the WHCA are opting to bring journalism students rather than celebrities to the event.
• The Golden State Killer, who claimed fifty victims in the 1970s and 80s, has been apprehended thanks to DNA evidence. Neil recommended Sarah Zhang’s Atlantic article explaining how police investigators used genealogy websites to find the killer. (We discussed genetic testing websites on Episode 90.) Niki referred to Michelle McNamara’s posthumously published I’ll Be Gone in the Dark that helped solve the crime, and Neil referenced McNamara’s Los Angeles magazine article about how the serial killer terrorized California. Natalia recommended the Atlanta Monster podcast that chronicles a serial killer who victimized that city.
• A troubling report suggests Americans are decreasingly aware of the scale of the Holocaust. Natalia discussed Rebecca Onion’s Slate article historicizing this apparent illiteracy. Niki cited this Atlantic article considering Poland’s relationship to its role in the Holocaust along with Timothy Snyder’s Bloodlands and Jan Gross’ Neighbors.

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

• Neil shared Dana Goldstein’s New York Times article, “Teacher Pay is So Low in Some U.S. School Districts That They Are Recruiting Overseas.”
• Natalia discussed Kyle Swenson’s Washington Post article, “Harold Bornstein: Exiled from Trumpland, Doctor Now ‘Frightened and Sad’.”
• Niki discussed Pamela Burger’s JSTOR Daily article, “The Bloody History of the True Crime Genre.”

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate the Sean Hannity phenomenon, battles over the “gayborhood,” and the popularity of running tutus.

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

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

• Conservative media personality Sean Hannity has attained new fame thanks to his proximity to President Trump. Niki referred to her Washington Post piece arguing Hannity is more a promoter rather than a kingmaker and to Neil’s Huffington Post article arguing that Hannity is not a journalist. Natalia recommended a 2015 Chapo Trap House episode about Hannity’s persona.
• As “gayborhoods” have become bellwethers of gentrification, they have also resulted in turf wars. Niki cited George Chauncey’s classic work Gay New York as well as Margot Canaday’s The Straight State. We all commented on the findings of Adriana Brozyn and Amin Ghaziani’s study on “performative progressiveness” in Chicago gayborhoods.
• Tutus have become a surprisingly common running accessory at amateur road races. Niki referred to Natalia’s Well+Good article on the gendered history of jogging, and Natalia cited “turkey trots” as early examples of casual, and often costumed, road races.

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

• Neil shared Mark Rudd’s New York Times article “The Missing History of the Columbia ’68 Protests.”
• Natalia discussed her recent visit to the Greek island and former leper colony of Spinalonga and recommended Victoria Hislop’s novel The Island set there.
• Niki commented on Sarah Seo’s Washington Post piece “Why Our Response to the Starbucks Arrests Must Go Beyond Race.”