This is the final episode of this train wreck year. But to recap in a way that goes beyond the specifically wrenching horror of Covid, I’m joined by my friends and regular guests Lauren Collins and Aida Alami. We’re going to chat about some of the OTHER big stories that shaped France in 2020.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Lauren Collins: https://twitter.com/laurenzcollins

Aida Alami: https://twitter.com/AidaAlami

Benjamin Griveaux scandal: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/14/world/europe/france-paris-mayor-benjamin-griveaux-macron.html

Agnès Buzyn drama: https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20200605-covid-agn%C3%A8s-buzyn-macron-mayor-paris-coronavirus

Gabriel Matzneff investigation: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/11/world/europe/gabriel-matzneff-pedophilia-france.html

Christophe Girard scandal: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/16/world/europe/christophe-girard-gabriel-matzneff-paris-france.html

Lies about masks: https://www.france24.com/en/20200405-coronavirus-abrupt-reversal-on-mask-policy-in-france-and-the-us-raises-new-questions

BLM and antiracism protests: https://www.france24.com/en/20200613-protesters-gather-in-paris-for-fresh-march-against-racism-and-police-brutality

Lauren's Assa Traoré profile: https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-europe/assa-traore-and-the-fight-for-black-lives-in-france

Knife attack: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/multiple-people-injured-in-knife-attack-outside-former-charlie-hebdo-offices/2020/09/25/a152d4ce-ff1d-11ea-b0e4-350e4e60cc91_story.html

Sonic boom over Paris: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54357839

Death of teacher Samuel Paty: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/10/30/france-nice-knife-attack-samuel-paty-murder-criminalizing-muslims/

France vs the world on laicité/Islamaphobia

Gerarld Darmanin and his anti-"ethnic aisle" stance: https://www.politico.eu/article/gerald-darmanin-france-complaint-religious-food-aisles-sparks-criticism/

France and separatism/loi sécurité globale: https://www.politico.eu/article/france-law-emmanuel-macron-islamist-separatism-security/

Macron vs the English-language media: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/16/macron-france-foreign-media-new-york-times

Ben Smith piece on Macron: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/15/business/media/macron-france-terrorism-american-islam.html

Vaccine delays in France: https://www.francetvinfo.fr/sante/maladie/coronavirus/vaccin/infographies-vaccination-contre-le-covid-19-la-france-est-pour-l-instant-tres-en-retard-sur-ses-voisins-europeens_4238653.html

Emily in Paris (ugh): https://www.france24.com/en/20201015-emily-in-paris-the-myth-of-la-vie-en-rose-lives-on