In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the #FreeBritney movement for Britney Spears and the conservatorship that inspired it.

Listen to our new limited podcast series, WELCOME TO YOUR FANTASY, for free only on Spotify. Click here to subscribe. 

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

• A New York Times documentary about pop star Britney Spears and the conservatorship under which she has lived since 2008 has sparked renewed concern about her wellbeing. Natalia recommended this New Republic article about disability and conservatorships and Anne-Helen Petersen’s Substack newsletter about the Britney phenomenon. Niki drew on this Vox explainer about the conservatorship.

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

• Natalia discussed Cecile Castranova’s article for The Hill, “CA School District’s Board Resigns After Unknowingly Talking About Parents in A Virtual Meeting.”
• Neil shared Daniel Silliman’s Christianity Today obituary, “Died: Carman, Christian Showman Who Topped Charts With Triumphant Fate.”
• Niki commented on Eric Schmitt and Helene Cooper’s New York Times article, “Promotions for Female Generals Were Delayed Over Fears of Trump’s Reaction.”

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the life and legacy of pornographer and free speech champion Larry Flynt.

Listen to our new limited podcast series, WELCOME TO YOUR FANTASY, for free only on Spotify. Click here to subscribe. 

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

• Larry Flynt, founder of the Hustler empire, died this month. Niki recommended historian Carolyn Bronstein’s book Battling Pornography: The American Feminist Anti-Pornography Movement, 1976-1986 and referred to this Politico article about the GOP abandoning the war on pornography. Natalia mentioned the documentary Hot Girls Wanted and Nicholas Kristof’s reporting on Pornhub. Neil mentioned our own episode on the life and legacy of Hugh Hefner. 

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

• Natalia shared the latest episode of BBC Radio 4’s show “Front Row,” featuring filmmaker Adam Curtis and Welcome to Your Fantasy.
• Neil recommended Leslie Brody’s book, Sometimes You Have to Lie: The Life and Times of Renegade Author, Harriet the Spy.
• Niki discussed Gabby Birenbaum’s Vox article, “ Raskin Makes an Impeachment Case at Trump’s Trial,” and the impeachment trial videos.

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the controversial tenure of freshman Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

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

• Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has been stripped of her committee assignments due to her outspoken support of outlandish theories, from QAnon to school shootings to “space lasers” causing forest fires. Niki referred to Michelle Goldberg’s New York Times opinion piece about Greene, and Natalia referenced the Atlantic documentary, “White Noise” and this New York Times article.
• We all recommend you subscribe and follow our new podcast, Welcome to Your Fantasy, premiering February 10, only on Spotify!

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

• Natalia commented on her own New York Times opinion piece, “Goodbye to the Cult of SoulCycle.”
• Neil talked about the documentary Assassins.
• Niki discussed MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell’s appearance on Newsmax.

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the life and legacy of television and radio legend, Larry King.

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

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

• TV and radio legend, Larry King, died last week at the age of 87. We discussed some of the retrospective pieces King’s sixty-year career produced, like this 2010 feature in the New York Times, and this 1988 article in the Los Angeles Times. Neil commented on a favorite Larry King interview of the country music star, K.T. Oslin, from 1996. Natalia mentioned a ProPublica piece on how King became unwittingly used in a Chinese disinformation campaign.

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

• Natalia commented on Brendan Dunne’s Complex article, “Nikolas Ajagu, the Here Who Wore Dior Jordan 1s to the Inauguration, Speaks.”
• Neil discussed Luke Mogelson’s long-form New Yorker piece, “Among the Insurrectionists.”
• Niki talked about Alex Kirshner’s Slate article, “What the Hell Is Going On With GameStop’s Stock?”