In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the movement to defund the police.

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

• Calls to defund or abolish the police have become a rallying cry among protestors of racial violence. Niki discussed Derek Thompson’s call to “unbundle the police.” Natalia referred to this National Review piece that argues many communities want more policing, and to this Jacobin interview with criminologist Alex Vitale.

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

• Natalia recommended Lauren Sandler’s book This is All I Got: A New Mother’s Search for Home.
• Neil discussed Noah Ram’s org article, “‘Gator Bait’ chant faced opposition years ago. Nothing came of it.”
• Niki shared Kaitlyn Tiffany’s Atlantic article, “My Little Pony Fans Are Ready to Admit They Have a Nazi Problem.”

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss Bostock v. Clayton County, the recent Supreme Court decision protecting gay and transgender people from workplace discrimination.

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

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

• In an unexpected victory for LGBTQ activists, the Supreme Court decided last week that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects gay and transgender people from discrimination at work. Natalia and Niki referred to this helpful Slate piece on the legal theories of textualism and originalism, and to Rebecca Onion’s explanation of the legend behind the “because of sex” clause in the Civil Rights Act. Neil referenced our own conversation on Episode 22 about Justice Antonin Scalia’s judicial legacy.

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

• Natalia recommended the new podcast, Conspirituality.
• Neil discussed Eric Cervini’s new book, The Deviant’s War: The Homosexual vs. the United States of America.
• Niki shared Jennifer Schuessler’s New York Times article, “The Long Battle Over ‘Gone With the Wind.’” She also referred to Jacqueline Stewart’s CNN article, “Why We Can’t Turn Away from ‘Gone with the Wind.’”

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the life and legacy of playwright and AIDS activist Larry Kramer.

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

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

• Pioneering AIDS activist Larry Kramer died this month. Natalia referred to this Vulture interview about Kramer’s legacy. Neil commented on Kramer’s autobiographical play, The Normal Heart.

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

• Natalia recommended the Netflix documentary, Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution.
• Neil discussed Anastasia Dawson’s Tampa Bay Times article, “Giant Confederate flag lowered amid threats to set it on fire.”
• Niki shared Rick Noack’s Washington Post article, “Sweden blocks plan to honor woman who hit a neo-Nazi with a purse.”

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the recent protests over police brutality.

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

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

• The murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has set off protests over police brutality across the country and the world. Niki referenced this Slate article, and Neil referred to historian Elizabeth Hinton’s New York Times opinion piece. Natalia cited Anne-Helen Peterson’s coverage in Buzzfeed of small-town protests all over the country, and discussed those in Eastern Long Island in particular.

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

• Natalia shared Sugene Kwon’s digital children’s book, The Unforgettable Story of George Floyd.
• Neil commented on comedian Sarah Cooper’s viral “How-To” videos.
• Niki discussed the new season of the Slow Burn podcast, focusing on David Duke.

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the history of nursing homes in the moment of coronavirus.

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

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

• Nursing home residents are especially afflicted by the coronavirus. Natalia recommended this article in Washington Monthly about the politics of elder care. Niki referred to this history of the nursing home industry.

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

• Natalia discussed Jeremy W. Peters’ New York Times article, “They Predicted ‘The Crisis of 2020’… in 1991. So How Does This End?”
• Neil reflected on Jonathon Van Maren’s Christianity Today article, “Deathbed Apology: Norma McCorvey’s Pro-Life Friends Tell Another Story.”
• Niki shared the real history behind Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech which she discussed on “This Day in Esoteric History” podcast.