In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the history of U.S.-Saudi relations in light of the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Trump administration’s policies toward transgender people, and the continued popularity of horror movies.

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

• The brutal death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has turned attention to the historical relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States. Niki referred to the data in this report about journalists killed in the line of duty.
• A memo from the Health and Human Services Department reveals that the Trump administration plans to further roll back the rights of transgender people. Natalia recommended the work of historian Jen Manion on the history of trans identity.
• In an age of digital streaming, horror movies remain a sure bet for box office success. Niki recommended Netflix horror series The Haunting of Hill House.

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

• Natalia recommended Jessica M. Goldstein’s Entertainment Weekly article, “’Britney Spears wanted to be a star’: An oral history of ‘…Baby, One More Time’.”
• Neil shared Tejal Rao’s New York Times article on the history of Kit Kat in Japan, “Big in Japan.”
• Niki discussed David Robson’s Atlantic article, “Neanderthals Suffered a Lot of Traumatic Injuries. So How Did They Live So Long?”

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, Niki, and guest historian Leah Wright Rigueur discuss black women and electoral politics, the closing of Sears, and corporate art patronage.

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

• Black women voters are a crucial electoral contingent, especially in the upcoming midterm elections. We spoke with Dr. Leah Wright Rigueur, author of The Loneliness of the Black Republican: Pragmatic Politics and the Pursuit of Power, about black women’s voting power today and in the past. Niki referenced Rachel Devlin’s book A Girl Stands at the Door, and Leah recommended Brittney Cooper’s Eloquent Rage, Ashley Farmer’s Remaking Black Power, Danielle McGuire’s At the Dark End of the Street, and Keisha Blain’s Set the World on Fire, as all good books for better understanding the long history of black women’s political activism.
• Sears is closing its doors for good. Natalia mentioned historian Louis Hyman’s viral Twitter thread on how the Sears catalog created opportunities for African Americans to shop during Jim Crow. She also recommended historian Lizabeth Cohen’s book A Consumer’s Republic and historian David K. Johnson’s forthcoming book Buying Gay: How Physique Entrepreneurs Sparked A Movement.
• We discussed how although art patronage is nothing new, 2018’s unapologetically corporate branding of art feels unprecedented.

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

• Natalia recommended Jessica Wilkerson’s Longreads article, “Living With Dolly Parton.”
• Neil shared the news that Judy Blume’s book Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. is being turned into a movie.
• Niki discussed W. David Marx’s Vox article, “An American campaign tee is trendy in Asia. Its popularity has nothing to do with the US.”

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the right’s obsession with George Soros conspiracy theories, the recent “grievance studies” hoax, and the rise of Bavarian folk dress as a form of hipsterism.

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

• Financier and philanthropist George Soros is increasingly at the center of conspiracy theories on the political right. Niki referred to this New York Times article on anti-Semitism in the Trump era.
• The Wall Street Journal broke the news of the most recent academic hoax, perpetuated to expose the outsize influence of “social justice ideology” on certain subfields of the humanities. Natalia wrote about this in a roundtable at the Chronicle of Higher Education, and she referred to Yascha Mounk’s article in the Atlantic in defense of the hoaxsters.
• Lederhosen and dirndls are all the rage among Bavarian hipsters, reported the New York Times. Natalia referred to this 2001 article about Germans’ ongoing struggle with nationalism in the decades after the fall of the Third Reich.

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

• Natalia shared recommended Karen Rain’s Medium article, “Yoga Guru Pattabhi Jois Assaulted Me for Years.”
• Neil reflected on the twentieth anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s death.
• Niki discussed Leah Groth’s Prevention article, “American Cheese is Melting Away, Thanks to Millennials.”

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the history of binge drinking, why McCarthyism is back in the news, and the political power of women’s rage.

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

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

• Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination hearing has brought attention to the prevalence of binge drinking among young people. Natalia referenced Matt Damon’s Saturday Night Live portrayal of Brett Kavanaugh, and cited Sarah Hepola’s memoir of binge drinking, Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget.
• McCarthyism is back in the news as Mitch McConnell has accused Democrats of such tactics. Neil mentioned a Jonah Goldberg essay in the National Review that argued Joe McCarthy had been right.
• A series of books out this fall look at women’s rage: Rebecca Traister’s Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger; Soraya Chemaly’s Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women’s Anger; and, Brittney Cooper’s Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower. Natalia added both Phyllis Schlafly’s Power of the Positive Woman and Audre Lorde’s “The Uses of Anger” as two other very different works on the politics of women’s rage.

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

• Natalia talked about her upcoming involvement in the event, “Yeah She Did: Witches Get Stuff Done” taking place in New York City on October 24.
• Neil commented on Joe Pinsker’s Atlantic article, “Why Some Parents Turn Boys’ Names Into Girls’ Names.”
• Niki discussed the expiration of the Violence Against Women Act.

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the history of high school yearbooks, how the Trump administration is defining immigrants as “public charges,” and the awful misogyny of Barstool Sports.

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

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

• High school yearbooks have been in the spotlight during the investigation of Brett Kavanaugh. Niki cited this Atlantic article that historicizes yearbooks and Natalia recommended historian Paula Fass’ book Outside In: Minorities and the Transformation of American Education for its use of yearbooks as historical sources.
• President Trump came to power promising to tighten immigration legislation, and a recent proposal promises to deny citizenship to those who make use of public services. Natalia recommended this Atlantic interview with historian Hidetaka Hirota about how today’s policies are rooted in 19th-century policies that targeted the Irish.
• If sports has always been a “boys’ club,” Barstool Sports has taken this sexism to new levels. Natalia recommended this Daily Beast article on the controversial website.

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

• Natalia shared her experience visiting the Storm King Art Center in Cornwall, NY.
• Neil commented on touring the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Abiquiú, New Mexico.
• Niki discussed historian Sarah Milov’s Washington Post piece, “Like the Tobacco Industry, E-Cigarette Manufacturers Are Targeting Children.”