Past Present

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss rising gas prices and the history of energy crises.

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

• Gas prices are surging, and Americans are frustrated. We all drew on historian Meg Jacobs' book, Panic at the Pump: The Energy Crisis and the Transformation of American Politics in the 1970s. Natalia referred to this Atlantic article about the fiction of "energy independence." Niki referred to this Washington Post article on the historical relationship around oil between Russia and western nations.

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

• Natalia shared Alex Hawgood's New York Times article, "What is Bigorexia?"
• Neil recommended Henry Fountain's New York Times article, "At the Bottom of an Icy Sea, One of History's Great Wrecks Found."
• Niki discussed Peggy McGlone's Washington Post piece, "Smithsonian to Give Back Its Collection of Benin Bronzes."

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the American response to the escalating war between Russia and Ukraine.

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

• Russia has invaded Ukraine as the world watches. Natalia referred to philosopher Jason Stanley's article in TIME about denazification and this New Yorker interview with political scientist John Mearsheimer. Neil cited this POLITICO interview with Fiona Hill, and Niki recommended M.E. Sarotte's book Not One Inch: America, Russia, and the Making of the Post-Cold War Stalemate.

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

• Natalia recommended the second season of the Netflix series, Dirty John.
• Neil discussed the legacy of college basketball coaching legend "Coach K."
• Niki shared about historian Lily Geismer's new book, Left Behind: The Democrats' Failed Attempt to Solve Inequality.

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the mysterious illness known as Havana Syndrome affecting U.S. diplomats around the world.

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

• Over 200 members of the U.S. Foreign Service and intelligence community have reported strange symptoms, including headaches, nausea, and memory loss, that many believe have been caused by a deliberate attack. The symptoms were first reported in 2016 by American diplomats in Cuba, leading to it being named Havana Syndrome, but since then they have been reported throughout the world. A recent report concluded that most of these cases could be attributed to undiagnosed illnesses or other benign causes, but they did not rule out that some cases could have been caused by an "external energy source." We mentioned a 2018 New Yorker investigation of the syndrome, and discussed the history of the Soviet Union using microwaves against American diplomats.

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

• Natalia discussed her recent piece for Global Sports Matter, "Building a Better Movement Culture Will Require Inclusion and Creativity."
• Neil commented on the life and legacy of Dr. Paul Farmer and shared Tracy Kidder's New York Times remembrance, "He Wanted to Make the Whole World His Patient."
• Niki shared the Jefferson Scholars Foundation's webinar, "Crisis in Ukraine: The Origins of the Next War in Europe."

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the convoy of truckers that has occupied Ottawa, Canada.

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

• A convoy of truckers and their allies, totaling about 8,000 people, has gathered in the center of Ottawa, Canada, in protest of what they consider excessive COVID prevention policy. Natalia referred to Michelle Goldberg's New York Times column about the protest, and Niki referred to Dahlia Lithwick's Slate article on its narrow appeal.

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

• Natalia discussed Elizabeth Williams' New York Times article, "A Child's TikTok Stardom Opens Doors. Then A Gunman Arrives."
• Neil recommended Alex Marzano-Lesnevich's book, The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir.
• Niki reflected on the long life of the phrase "well behaved women seldom make history," coined by historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich.

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss a controversial new Adidas ad for sports bras.

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

• Adidas went viral earlier this month for tweeting twenty-five sets of bare breasts in order to promote a new line of sports bras. Niki discussed this Time cover about breastfeeding. Neil referred to this Atlantic article about using breasts to sell products, and Natalia drew on historian Martha Verbrugge's book Active Bodies and this Elle feature about changing activewear trends. Natalia also referred to holdings in the Smithsonian's Jogbra collection.

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

• Natalia reflected on the life and legacy of the late fitness pioneer Patricia Moreno.
• Neil discussed the Netflix reality show Selling Tampa.
• Niki recommended Seth Stevenson's Slate piece, "The Moment Sarah Palin's Testimony Fell Apart."

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the cultural significance of emoji, in light of the release of new forms.

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

• The Unicode Consortium has released dozens of new emoji, including a pregnant man, a melting face, and multiple new family configurations. Natalia referred to this Atlantic essay and to this BBC piece, and Niki to this essay on Science Friday.

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

• Natalia discussed the range of causes currently motivating student protests, including this walkout in Poway, California.
• Neil shared Dr. Amanda Joy Calhoun's Stat News article, "How Black Hair Racism Affects Mental Health."
• Niki recommended Jamelle Bouie's New York Times piece, "We Still Can't See American Slavery For What It Was."

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer's decision to retire.

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

• Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has announced he will retire at the end of his term, a move many say is reflective of his pragmatism. Natalia referred to this New York Times piece about Breyer's effort to eschew ideology and to this Teen Vogue article about the need for him to retire during a Democratic presidency. Niki drew on this Atlantic essay on the illusion of impartiality.

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

• Natalia shared Michael Powell's New York Times article, "How It Feels to Be an Asian Student in An Elite Public School."
• Neil commented on Emily Baker-White's Buzzfeed article, "Nothing Sacred: These Apps Reserve the Right to Sell Your Prayers."
• Niki discussed right-wing radio host Dan Bongino's relish for deplatforming.

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss President Biden's first year in office.

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

• Public opinion of President Biden's first year in office is polarized. Neil and Niki referred to Jamelle Bouie's New York Times opinion piece comparing Biden and Reagan's first years as president. Neil also discussed the POLITICO/Morning Consult report card on Biden's first year. Natalia drew on this POLITICO essay about the substantial time remaining for the Biden administration to prove itself.

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

• Natalia discussed Rainesford Stauffer's new Teen Vogue advice column "Work in Progress" and Elizabeth Spiers' New York Times guest essay, "In Defense of Jeremy Strong (And All The Strivers With No Chill)."
• Neil reflected on the death of fashion editor André Leon Talley.
• Niki recommended Rebecca Traister's book Big Girls Don't Cry: The Election That Changed Everything for American Women.

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the historical significance of the current craze over the online game Wordle.

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

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

• When a Brooklyn software engineer designed a word game as an act of love, he didn't know Wordle would become an online phenomenon. Neil referred to this Smithsonian Magazine article on the history of the crossword puzzle and Niki to the history of mahjong.

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

• Natalia shared Stephanie H. Murray's The Week article, "Politics Closed American Schools Last Year. Now Politics Are Keeping Them Open."
• Neil recommended Emily Hopkins and Melissa Sanchez' ProPublica article, "Chicago's 'Race-Neutral' Traffic Cameras Ticket Black and Latino Drivers The Most."
• Niki discussed John Ortved's New York Times article, "That Cloud of Smoke is Not a Mirage."

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

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

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

• As boundaries between work and home have become blurred during the pandemic, Americans have been thinking more deliberately about rest and relaxation. Neil drew on Judith Shulevitz' New York Times piece about "bringing back the Sabbath" and this Atlantic review about her book on this topic. Natalia referred to historian Sarah Milov's history of the cigarette and her discussion of the office "smoke break."

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

• Natalia shared the C-SPAN lesson plan based on the lecture she gave on "The Making of American Fitness Culture."
• Neil discussed Brittany Gibson's POLITICO piece, "They Stormed the Capitol. Now They're Running for Office."
• Niki recommended Brad Plumer's Vox article, "How America Got Addicted to Road Salt—And Why That's A Problem."