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Past Present

Past Present brings together three historians to discuss what's happening in American politics and culture today. Natalia, Neil, and Niki bring historical insights to the news of the day, offering listeners an alternative to the reflexive and polarized world of punditry. Interested in the world around you but exhausted by rote reactions and partisan talking points? You've come to the right place.
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Now displaying: 2022
Dec 20, 2022

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the history of ROTC.

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

Dec 13, 2022

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the history of prisoner exchanges.

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

Dec 6, 2022

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the resurgence of antisemitism in the United States.

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  • Former president Donald Trump dined at Mar-a-Lago with noted antisemites Kanye West and Nick Fuentes. Niki referred to this Arizona Mirror piece about the Kari Lake’s endorsement of an antisemite in Arizona. Natalia referenced this Washington Post article about the resurgence of an antisemitism many thought a relic of the past.

 

 

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

Nov 22, 2022

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the new weight loss drug, Ozempic.

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

Nov 15, 2022

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the results of the 2022 midterm elections.

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

Nov 8, 2022

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the past and uncertain future of affirmative action in higher education.

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

Nov 1, 2022

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the recent scourge of rats in New York City and elsewhere.

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

Oct 25, 2022

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the history of panics over contaminated Halloween candy.

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

Oct 18, 2022

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the senatorial campaign of John Fetterman and his recovery from a stroke.

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

Oct 11, 2022

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the Senate campaign of Herschel Walker and the controversy it has created.

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

Oct 4, 2022

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the political protests in Iran.

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

Sep 27, 2022

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the recent pickleball phenomenon.

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

Sep 20, 2022

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the averted railroad strike.

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

Sep 13, 2022

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the death of Queen Elizabeth II. 

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

Sep 6, 2022

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the life and legacy of Mikhail Gorbachev.

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

Aug 30, 2022

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss – and celebrate! - the publication of Niki’s new book, Partisans: The Conservative Revolutionaries Who Remade American Politics in the 1990s.

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  • Partisans drops on August 30, 2022. You can order Niki’s book here.

 

 

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

 

Aug 16, 2022

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the defamation trial of right-wing conspiracist Alex Jones.

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

Aug 9, 2022

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the history of third parties in American politics.

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

Aug 2, 2022

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the history of U.S. national parks.

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

Jul 26, 2022

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the growing popularity of prenuptial agreements.

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

Jul 19, 2022

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the images from outer space captured by the Webb telescope.

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

Jul 12, 2022

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the American tradition of travel to Europe.

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

Jul 5, 2022

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the outbreak of monkeypox in the United States.

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

 

Jun 28, 2022

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss Carson v. Makin, the Supreme Court decision that overturns Maine’s ban on giving public funds to private religious schools.

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

Jun 21, 2022

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the national tampon shortage and the history of feminine products.

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

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