In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the political ascent of Pete Buttigieg, infighting within the far right, and the 50th anniversary of Sesame Street.

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

• “Mayor Pete,” once a long-shot candidate, is increasingly a serious contender for the Democratic presidential nomination. Natalia referred to Michael Kruse’s POLITICO piece about the electoral viability of a gay candidate. Neil noted Buttigieg had won the 2000 Profile in Courage Essay Contest for an essay on Bernie Sanders.
• Donald Trump, Jr. was recently shouted offstage at UCLA by protesters on the Right known as “Groypers.” Niki referred to Trump, Jr.’s new book, Triggered, and to this Southern Poverty Law Center article, “Stephen Miller’s Affinity for White Nationalism Revealed in Leaked Emails.”
• Sesame Street, the stalwart children’s television show, turns 50 this month. Neil referred to this Smithsonian article about the program’s origins in Black culture.

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

• Natalia discussed Sacha Baron Cohen’s keynote speech at the Anti-Defamation League.
• Neil shared Zachariah Chou’s New York Times opinion piece, “Why We’re Impeaching Our Student Body President Over Trump Jr.”
• Niki likened the revelation that Donald Trump Jr.’s book sales are driven by strategic bulk purchases to a similar scandal in the Nixon era.

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki interviewed Emily Bazelon about her new book, Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecution and End Mass Incarceration.

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

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

• Natalia recommended the work of New York Times editor Lindsay Crouse, particularly her latest feature, “I Was the Fastest Girl in America, Until I Joined Nike,” by Mary Cain.
• Neil shared Rebecca Makkai’s book, The Great Believers.
• Niki discussed Adele Peters’ Fast Company article, “How Memphis Transformed its Parks Named for Confederate Generals into Inclusive Spaces.”
• Emily talked about the 1927 Supreme Court case, McGrain v. Daugherty.

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the assassination of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the scandal over Representative Katie Hill, and the booing of President Trump at a baseball game.

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

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

• ISIS leader Abu al-Baghdadi has been assassinated by United States forces. Niki referred to this piece at The Daily Beast. Neil noted the emergence of viral videos showing a side-by-side comparison of Trump’s announcement of al-Baghdadi’s death and Obama’s announcement about the killing of Osama bin Laden.
• S. Representative Katie Hill (D-CA) has resigned her position after an alleged sex scandal. Natalia cited this article at GenderIT.org about the problematic term “revenge porn.”
• President Trump was met with boos at a World Series game last week. Neil referred to this history of booing at Natalia recalled the longer history of presidential booing, written up at The Washington Post.

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

• Natalia recommended Susan Donaldson James’ ABC News article, “’Practice Babies’: 1 Orphan Raised by 8 Mothers.”
• Neil shared Rachel Wharton and Koren Shadmi’s New York Times illustrated history, “How Did the Diner Menu Get So Long?”
• Niki discussed Grayson Quay’s American Conservative article, “Franco’s Victory Was Necessary, But Ultimately Meaningless.”