In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the current controversy over critical race theory.

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

• A series of legislative bills seek to ban the teaching of critical race theory in K-12 public institutions. At CNN, Niki looked at how the controversy over journalist Nikole Hannah-Smith’s appointment at the University of North Carolina is part of this larger battle. Natalia referred to historian Jonathan Zimmerman’s book Whose America?

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

• Natalia discussed the new “Little Island” development in New York City, described in this Wall Street Journal interview with developers Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg.
• Neil recommended historian Julie Golia’s book, Newspaper Confessions: A History of Advice Columns in a Pre-Internet Age.
• Niki reflected on Bob Dole and Michael Huffington blaming their election losses on immigrants in the 1990s.

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the gas panic triggered by the recent cybersecurity breach at Colonial Pipeline.

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

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

• A cybersecurity breach at Colonial Pipeline caused panic, prompting motorists to line up at service stations up and down the East Coast. Natalia, Niki, and Neil all drew on historian Meg Jacobs’ work, and Natalia referred to Dan Taberski’s podcast Surviving Y2K. 

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

• Natalia discussed Julie Creswell’s New York Times article, “Diet Companies See Gains as Americans Try to Drop Pandemic Pounds.”
• Neil recommended Kathryn Hymes’ Atlantic article, “Why We Speak More Weirdly At Home.”
• Niki shared her CNN column, “The Drama in Stacey Abrams’ Political Thriller is Unfolding Off the Page.”

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the recall of the latest Peloton exercise machine in historical context.

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

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

• Peloton, the digital fitness company made famous by its internet-connected stationery bike, is complying with a federal voluntary recall of its Tread+, which has killed one child and injured many other children and pets. Natalia referred to historian Richard Bushman’s book The Refinement of America: Persons, Houses, Cities. Niki referenced Ralph Nader’s 1965 book, Unsafe at Any Speed, and Natalia reported on the intense response in Peloton Facebook groups.

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

• Natalia discussed Alison Bechdel’s book, The Secret to Superhuman Strength.
• Neil recommended historian Roberto Rey Agudo’s Washington Post op-ed, “On Cinco de Mayo, Americans speak ‘mock Spanish.’ Here’s why that’s a problem.”
• Niki shared her CNN column, “George W. Bush is a flawed messenger for Republicans.”

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the history – and future – of office life.

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

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

• New York magazine published a sprawling collection of essays about experiences of office life. Natalia referred to this Atlantic article about the persistence of deep cleaning protocols despite evidence that the coronavirus does not spread on surfaces. Niki cited historian Jeanne Boydston’s book Home and Work: Housework, Wages, and the Ideology of Labor in the Early Republic. Natalia drew on Nikil Saval’s book Cubed: A Secret History of the Workplace and Anne-Helen Petersen’s Substack newsletter, “The Future of Remote Work is the Opposite of Lonely.”

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

• Natalia discussed Katie Rosman’s New York Times article, “Girl, Wash Your Timeline”.
• Neil shared The Salt Lake Tribune’s obituary of Mormon scholar Michael Quinn, and historian Benjamin Park’s thread about his work.
• Niki recommended two Slate articles about writer Blake Bailey’s alleged history of sexual assault, one by Eve Crawford Peyton, and one by his former eighth grade students.