In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the life and legacy of Colin Powell, the United States’ first Black Secretary of State.

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

• Colin Powell died earlier this month of complications from the coronavirus, prompting discussion of the legacy of his term as Secretary of State, and especially of the Powell Doctrine. Neil mentioned Michael Hirsh’s support for the Powell Doctrine in a recent piece for Foreign Policy. Niki referred to Leah Wright Rigueur’s book, The Loneliness of the Black Republican, and to historian Peniel Joseph’s CNN piece about Powell’s legacy.

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

• Natalia discussed the latest episode of the Conspirituality podcast on which she appears.
• Neil recommended the HBO Max documentary series, The Way Down.
• Niki shared Emily Nussbaum’s New Yorker article, “Difficult Women: How 'Sex and the City' Lost Its Good Name.”

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the inflation currently affecting the U.S. economy.

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

• “Shadow inflation” is affecting many American industries, in which services are being scaled back as prices remain the same or increase. Niki referred to this Vox article about the changes since the inflation of the 1970s.

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

• Natalia discussed the New York Times magazine article, “The Park Bench is an Endangered Species.”
• Neil reflected on the latest film in the 007 franchise, “No Time to Die.”
• Niki shared CNN anchor Jake Tapper’s discussion of the Sacklers’ role in the opioid crisis.

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen.

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

• The Congressional testimony of whistleblower Frances Haugen is raising new questions about the social effects of Facebook’s global market domination. Niki referred to this interview with Facebook expert Siva Vaidhyanathan and Haugen’s 60 Minutes interview. Natalia drew on this NPR history of whistleblowing.

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

• Natalia discussed Apoorva Mandavilli’s New York Times article, “A New Vaccine Strategy for Children: One Dose, For Now” – and the correction issued about it.
• Neil recommended the Romanian documentary, Collective.
• Niki shared Noam Cohen’s Wired article, “One Woman’s Mission to Rewrite Nazi History on Wikipedia.”

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the history of veganism in light of an eviscerating review of the new plant-based menu at the New York restaurant Eleven Madison Park.

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

• Innovative fine dining restaurant Eleven Madison Park has earned mixed reviews for its newly vegan menu. Natalia cited historian Adam Shprintzen’s book The Vegetarian Crusade: The Rise of An American Reform Movement, 1817-1921. Niki cited the 1971 book Diet for a Small Planet along with Aymann Ismail’s Slate piece on the complications that plant-based pork substitutes present to Muslims and Amirah Mercer’s Eater essay on how she found empowerment in the history of Black veganism.

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

• Natalia commented on the latest season of the NBC series This Is Us.
• Neil shared his column for The Week, “Big Brother’s Historic Black Victory Shows the Future of Reality TV.”
• Niki discussed her column for CNN, “Britney Spears’ Bid for Freedom Comes at a Crucial Moment.”