Past Present

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the inflation currently affecting the U.S. economy.

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

• "Shadow inflation" is affecting many American industries, in which services are being scaled back as prices remain the same or increase. Niki referred to this Vox article about the changes since the inflation of the 1970s.

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

• Natalia discussed the New York Times magazine article, "The Park Bench is an Endangered Species."
• Neil reflected on the latest film in the 007 franchise, "No Time to Die."
• Niki shared CNN anchor Jake Tapper's discussion of the Sacklers' role in the opioid crisis.

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen.

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

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

• The Congressional testimony of whistleblower Frances Haugen is raising new questions about the social effects of Facebook's global market domination. Niki referred to this interview with Facebook expert Siva Vaidhyanathan and Haugen's 60 Minutes interview. Natalia drew on this NPR history of whistleblowing.

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

• Natalia discussed Apoorva Mandavilli's New York Times article, "A New Vaccine Strategy for Children: One Dose, For Now" – and the correction issued about it.
• Neil recommended the Romanian documentary, Collective.
• Niki shared Noam Cohen's Wired article, "One Woman's Mission to Rewrite Nazi History on Wikipedia."

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the history of veganism in light of an eviscerating review of the new plant-based menu at the New York restaurant Eleven Madison Park.

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

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

• Innovative fine dining restaurant Eleven Madison Park has earned mixed reviews for its newly vegan menu. Natalia cited historian Adam Shprintzen's book The Vegetarian Crusade: The Rise of An American Reform Movement, 1817-1921. Niki cited the 1971 book Diet for a Small Planet along with Aymann Ismail's Slate piece on the complications that plant-based pork substitutes present to Muslims and Amirah Mercer's Eater essay on how she found empowerment in the history of Black veganism.

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

• Natalia commented on the latest season of the NBC series This Is Us.
• Neil shared his column for The Week, "Big Brother's Historic Black Victory Shows the Future of Reality TV."
• Niki discussed her column for CNN, "Britney Spears' Bid for Freedom Comes at a Crucial Moment."

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the disappearance of Gabby Petito and the media frenzy that has ensued.

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

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

• The disappearance and death of aspiring influencer Gabby Petito has set off a national media frenzy, sparked in part by social media sleuths who unpacked the case in real time on TikTok. Natalia referred to this Buzzfeed article about the "influencer" angle on the case, and all of us drew on this NPR piece on "missing white woman syndrome." Neil discussed the true crime podcasts Finding Cleo and Women of Juarez, and Natalia recommended journalist Connie Walker's extensive work on violence against indigenous women. Natalia also referred to the American Murder episode about Shannan Watts, scholar Alyssa Smith's work on the spectacle of violence in the true crime genre, and this WNYC segment about how to do "ethical true crime."

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

• Natalia recommended Monica Chin's article for The Verge, "File Not Found."
• Neil discussed George Holliday's obituary, the man who filmed the Rodney King video, in the Los Angeles Times.
• Niki shared Jacob Soboroff and Ken Dilanian's NBC article, "DHS Seeks Contractor to Run Migrant Detention Facility at Gitmo, Guards Who Speak Haitian Creole."

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the popularity of the drug Ivermectin as a treatment for the coronavirus – despite lack of evidence of its effectiveness.

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

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

• Ivermectin, a drug commonly used to treat parasitic infections in livestock, is flying off the shelves as a remedy for the coronavirus. Natalia referred to this Washington Post article about medical abuses, and Niki referenced the history of "patent medicines."

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

• Natalia recommended the Amazon documentary series LulaRich.
• Neil discussed the news that Dan Quayle told Mike Pence he had no authority to overturn the 2020 election results.
• Niki commented on the tenth anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the implications of the new restrictions on abortion rights in Texas.

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

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

• The Supreme Court has failed to strike down a Texas law that drastically restricts abortion rights. Natalia referred to this Vogue article about "what six weeks pregnant looks like," and Niki discussed this Public Seminar piece. Niki and Natalia drew on Lina Maria-Murillo's Washington Post essay about the history of American women seeking abortions in Mexico.

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

• Natalia discussed Kate Taylor's Business Insider article, "Brandy Melville's CEO Doesn't Want Black People to Wear the Brand's Clothing."
• Neil commented on the new FX series, "Impeachment: American Crime Story."
• Niki recommended Shannon Melero's article, "The Peloton Takeover Is Almost Complete."

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the past and present of U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan.

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

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

• After nearly two decades, President Biden announced that all American troops were leaving Afghanistan, which quickly fell to the Taliban. Natalia referred to Jeremy Varon's Washington Post piece about the antiwar movement, and to this conversation at Public Seminar between historians Claire Bond Potter and Amanda Demmer.

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

• Natalia recommended the Netflix series The Chair.
• Neil discussed James Poniewozik's New York Times article, "How TV Went From David Brent to Ted Lasso."
• Niki talked about the political significance of the gubernatorial recall election underway in California.

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the rise – and fate – of the "ethnic food aisle" at the American grocery store.

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

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

• The New York Times published an article about the debate over the ethnic food aisle, which is both undeniably ethnocentric and an important sales channel for purveyors of such products. Natalia referenced chef David Chang's opposition to the phenomenon and this debacle over a "clean Chinese" restaurant in New York City.

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

• Natalia discussed sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom's new gig at the New York Times.
• Neil shared about the new podcast, "No Place Like Home."
• Niki recommended Claire Lampen's The Cut article, "Wondering What To Do With that Cuomosexual Cashmere?"

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the pandemic.

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

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

• The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, postponed for a year, are in full swing despite the ongoing pandemic. Natalia mentioned this NPR piece about the unfair treatment of Paralympics competitor Becca Meyers, and Neil referred to the ambiguity over whether breastfeeding mothers could bring their babies into the Olympic Village. Natalia discussed this New York Times piece about past gymnasts who have been injured in competition. Neil mentioned his column for The Week on conservative media's attack on Team USA.

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

• Natalia discussed the Netflix series, "Never Have I Ever."
• Neil commented on the HBO documentary, The Weight of Gold.
• Niki talked about Mary Robinette Kowal's New York Times essay, "Wally Funk is Defying Gravity and 60 Years of Exclusion From Space."

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the mass protests in Cuba.

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

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

• The streets of Cuba are filled with protestors enraged by the poor handling of the pandemic and the excesses of the police state. Natalia mentioned Cuba scholar Rebecca Bodenheimer's Twitter account and this POLITICO piece. Niki drew on this NPR segment about the role of artists in the uprising.

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

• Natalia discussed Michael Kranish's Washington Post article, "How Tucker Carlson Became the Voice of White Grievance."
• Neil shared the podcast "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill."
• Niki commented on two new books about the last year of the Trump presidency, by Michael Wolff and Michael C. Bender.