Normally

Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down a wild week of news, starting with the midair attack aboard a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. After an altercation between the pilots sent the aircraft into a rapid descent, passengers and crew intervened and the plane ultimately landed safely in Saudi Arabia. 

Then, Mary Katharine and Karol turn to Britain, terrorism and immigration before examining Zohran Mamdani’s plan to combat antisemitism in New York City. Karol argues the proposal fails to adequately address attacks against Jewish New Yorkers, anti-Zionism and recent campus unrest.

Plus, they dig into the disturbing allegations surrounding a Cornell University fraternity case, the conflicting accounts at the center of the civil complaint, and why due process still matters even when the alleged conduct is deeply troubling.

Finally, Sen. Eric Schmitt’s questioning of former special counsel Jack Smith produces an extraordinarily uncomfortable Senate moment after Schmitt appears to get a key detail wrong—prompting Mary Katharine and Karol to break down what happened and the reaction in the hearing room.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down a wild weekend in politics, from the backlash surrounding Vivek Ramaswamy to growing frustration among voters over the economy, gas prices, tariffs, immigration, and the direction of the Republican Party.

Then, is “Woke 2.0” already taking shape? Mary Katharine and Karol examine renewed debates over race and identity politics, the controversy surrounding claims about recent deaths of Black Americans, and why they believe some of the rhetoric echoes the political and cultural battles of 2020. They also discuss the reaction to allegations involving Mary Peltola and what it says about changing standards on the political left.

Plus, the conversation turns from politics to culture with a fascinating look at trad-wife influencer culture, the dangers of turning your personal life into an online brand, and the pressure created by audience capture. Finally, Justin Verlander’s retirement provides a very different picture of marriage, fatherhood, sports, and family—with Kate Upton and their children joining him for an emotional farewell.

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On this episode of Normally, Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz celebrate the show’s two-year anniversary before diving into the biggest political, cultural, and education stories of the week.

Mary Katharine and Karol discuss Nikole Hannah-Jones’ account of her daughter’s public-school experience, including their views on school choice, selective schools, testing, classroom discipline and accountability. Karol argues that many of the problems Hannah-Jones describes are connected to education policies she previously supported, while the hosts debate what the story says about the larger fight over public education.

They also react to President Donald Trump’s appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, his comments about Iran, his meeting with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the administration’s dispute with members of the White House press corps, and the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Plus, a Massachusetts bar faces backlash after making one night mask-optional, and Mary Katharine and Karol tackle the latest Gen Z etiquette debates: college freshmen quitting after only weeks on campus, bringing iced coffee to job interviews, and whether younger adults are getting enough practice navigating uncomfortable social situations.

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Mary Katharine Ham is joined by Defending Education’s Erika Sanzi for a deep dive into Nikole Hannah-Jones’ revealing new essay about her daughter’s education—and the questions it raises about school choice, testing, discipline, accountability, and America’s public schools.

After years of advocating for integration and criticizing selective schools, Hannah-Jones writes about her daughter’s difficult experience in a New York City public school and her eventual decision to attend a more academically challenging high school. Mary Katharine and Erika examine what the story says about putting ideology ahead of individual students, low academic expectations, classroom disruption, standardized testing, school funding, and whether the education establishment is learning the right lessons.

Plus, Erika gives an update on Defending Education’s legal fight involving compelled speech and preferred pronouns at UC Berkeley. Then, Mary Katharine and Erika tackle the “mental load” debate in marriage—and make the case for appreciating spouses who are better at calendars, organization, bills, and finding the car keys.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz are back with Normalish takes on crime, free speech, politics, pop culture — and why sometimes the secret to a happy marriage is simply being nice about the new bowls.

First, they examine a series of criminal justice controversies, including developments involving San Francisco’s law-enforcement oversight system, Virginia’s parole board and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. A federal judge has referred Krasner and a senior prosecutor to federal authorities for potential investigation over their conduct in a post-conviction murder case; Krasner disputes the judge’s findings and plans to appeal.

Then, Karol and Mary Katharine dive into the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour following his pro-Palestinian remarks at MetLife Stadium. Tour promoter Messina Touring Group said multiple venues would not host concerts with Macklemore on the lineup, while Sheeran has said the decision was made by promoters and venues rather than by him. Other supporting acts subsequently withdrew from the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.

The conversation expands into a broader debate over political expression, boycotts, free speech and consequences in entertainment. They also discuss Mahmoud Khalil’s lawsuit against Columbia University and NBA player Kyle Kuzma’s public comments about Palestinians, Hamas and Israel.

Finally, they lighten things up with some relationship advice inspired by a viral debate about husbands, wives and replacing perfectly functional cereal bowls. Their takeaway: you don’t have to care about the bowls — but being nice to your spouse is free.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz are back with Normalish takes as Washington’s artificial intelligence panic reaches a new level.

They break down the growing calls to slow AI development, concerns raised by former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, and the unlikely convergence of Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon around tougher AI restrictions. Mary Katharine and Karol debate the genuine risks of advanced AI, whether government regulators are equipped to handle them, and whether some of the push for regulation could benefit the biggest players already dominating the industry.

Then, the conversation turns to a series of Republican controversies — including the backlash surrounding Texas candidate Bo French, the debate over presidential pardons, and President Donald Trump’s proposal for $5,000 dividend checks. The hosts discuss the potential cost, inflation concerns, the national debt, and whether sending Americans another round of government checks would ultimately make affordability problems worse. Trump has publicly proposed a $5,000 payment to adult Americans contingent on Republicans retaining congressional control; the proposal would require congressional approval and could cost more than $1 trillion.

Plus, Mary Katharine and Karol tackle the fight over green cards and public benefits before examining Mississippi’s literacy gains and the debate over whether powerful teachers’ unions are standing in the way of education reform.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz mark two somber anniversaries while looking at what they mean for America today: 25 years since the September 11 terrorist attacks and one year since the murder of Charlie Kirk.

Mary Katharine and Karol reflect on their own memories of 9/11, the fear and uncertainty Americans experienced in the aftermath, and the extraordinary heroism of first responders and ordinary citizens. They also discuss how younger generations understand the attacks, the rise of 9/11 conspiracy theories, and how parents can teach their children about that day while emphasizing courage, service and resilience.

Then, one year after Charlie Kirk was murdered at Utah Valley University, they examine his legacy, the reaction to his death and what his loss means for political debate and free speech on college campuses. They also dig into new college free-speech rankings and their concerns about students who say shouting down speakers—or even using violence in some circumstances—is acceptable.

Finally, things get lighter as Mary Katharine and Karol tackle relationships, honesty in marriage and the viral “haircut” debate before asking why Gen Z is struggling with dating. Is the dreaded “ick” keeping people from giving promising relationships a chance—and have dating apps and online culture made finding a partner unnecessarily complicated?

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz check in on what they call the increasingly bizarre ideas coming from America’s socialist left—from attacks on the “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality to claims that GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are “fascistic” and part of a supposed war on fat people.

They also dig into resurfaced comments from Democratic congressional candidate William Lawrence criticizing the nuclear family and capitalism, and Mary Katharine and Karol explain why they believe Republicans should make the fight against socialism a major issue heading into the midterms.

Plus, the hosts react to the Pod Save America guys’ confusion over “blood libel” and Passover, debate why progressive cities seem determined to make private philanthropy harder, and look at the Dell family’s massive investment in Trump Accounts for American children. They also discuss Caleb Hammer’s tough-love approach to financial literacy and why younger Americans may need to hear some uncomfortable truths about spending.

Finally, Nike’s stock struggles spark a larger conversation about corporate politics, Colin Kaepernick, Dylan Mulvaney, and whether years of alienating customers are finally catching up with one of America’s most recognizable brands.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down the latest developments in the Charlie Kirk murder case after a Utah judge rules that prosecutors have presented enough evidence for Tyler Robinson to stand trial, with the death penalty remaining on the table.

They examine the legal arguments surrounding the case and the explosion of conspiracy theories that has followed Kirk's killing. Mary Katharine and Karol discuss Candace Owens' claims, the true-crime culture surrounding real-life tragedies, and why people can become so invested in online theories that contradictory evidence no longer changes their minds.

Then, the conversation turns to the Democratic Party. Sen. Ed Markey defeats Rep. Seth Moulton in the Massachusetts Democratic Senate primary after Moulton previously walked back his criticism of biological males competing in women's sports. Meanwhile, old comments from James Talarico resurface in which he connected capitalism with white supremacy, raising questions about his attempt to distance himself from his previous progressive positions.

Plus, Abdul El-Sayed's past comments claiming the American dream is easier to achieve in Canada come under scrutiny, and Mary Katharine and Karol look at the looming college enrollment bust as universities such as Syracuse struggle with declining demand, soaring costs, administrative bloat, and questions about the value of a college degree.

Finally, they take on the threatened Seattle teachers strike, including teacher compensation, declining enrollment, school budgets, and the growing battle between teachers unions and public-school districts.

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Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down the growing controversy surrounding Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and left-wing streamer Hasan Piker. As El-Sayed attempts to distance himself from Piker, his past appearances and campaign events with the controversial streamer are coming under new scrutiny. Mary Katharine and Karol examine what the relationship could mean for El-Sayed’s race against Mike Rogers — and why Piker may become a much bigger problem for Democrats heading into future elections.

Then, they debate the Trump administration’s new Venezuela oil agreement and whether expanding American access to Venezuela’s massive oil reserves represents smart geopolitical strategy or risks crossing the line into government intervention. They also look at renewed economic pressure on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and whether the balance of power in the global oil market could be shifting toward the Western Hemisphere.

Plus, a federal court ruling sparks a major First Amendment and immigration debate: Should non-citizens living in America be protected from deportation over political speech? Mary Katharine and Karol tackle free speech, immigration vetting, constitutional rights, and a legal battle that could ultimately move higher through the federal courts.

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