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

• In a victory for proponents of school choice and a major weakening of church-state separation, Maine will now be required to provide state funding to religious schools. Neil cited this Slate article about the ruling, and Natalia drew on this City Journal piece.

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

• Natalia discussed Amanda Mull’s Atlantic article, “Fashion Has Abandoned Human Taste.”
• Neil recommended Hugh Ryan’s book, The Women’s House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison.
• Niki shared about Patricia Bell-Scott’s book, The Firebrand and the First Lady: Portrait of a Friendship: Pauli Murray, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the Struggle for Social Justice.

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

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

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

• A national tampon shortage has until recently been dismissed as a minor inconvenience or even a punchline. We all drew on this Smithsonian history of menstrual products. Niki referred to this Atlantic essay on the history of the tampon, and Natalia to Lara Freidenfelds’ book, The Modern Period: Menstruation in Twentieth-Century America.

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

• Natalia shared about ProPublica’s new study of adult literacy and referred to this New York Times article about challenges to a popular literacy program.
• Neil recommended Sasha Issenberg’s book, The Engagement: America’s Quarter-Century Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage.
• Niki discussed Christopher Mathias’ HuffPost article, “Living With the Far-Right Insurgency in Idaho,” and her own column for CNN, “Arrests at Idaho Pride Event Could Be a Harbinger of Things to Come.”

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the long American tradition of June weddings.

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

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

• June wedding season is upon us, and after two years of delayed celebrations, it is especially packed. Natalia referred to this Harper’s Bazaar photo essay about representation and same-sex marriage, and to this Buzzfeed article, which is useful despite repeating a myth about bathing practices being related to June wedding date selection. Niki referred to this Atlantic article on the relationship between marriage, weddings, and adulthood.

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

• Natalia recommended Molly Worthen’s New York Times guest essay, “400 Years Ago They Would Be Witches. Today They Can Be Your Coach.”
• Neil shared about the HBO Max series, “It’s A Sin.”
• Niki recommended Rebecca Traister’s article for The Cut, “The Institutionalist: Where Did it All Go Wrong?”

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

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

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

• Yet another mass shooting, this one at a Texas elementary school, highlights the unique American obsession with gun rights. Niki referred to this NPR piece on the tape recording of NRA leadership after the 1999 Columbine school shooting, and Natalia drew on Susie Linfield’s New York Times guest essay on the photography of graphic violence.

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

• Natalia recommended this Kathryn Fiona Substack interview with a former Johnny Depp supporter, shared by technology writer Kat Tenbarge.
• Neil discussed Penelope Green’s New York Times obituary of Margot Heuman.
• Niki shared Maris Kreizman’s Esquire article, “The Legacy of Gone Girl.”