Past Present

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss convict firefighters, China's new social credit system, and the history of Chanukah.

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

• California's latest wave of forest fires is being battled in part by inmates in the state's prisons through a program that was instated in the 1940s. Natalia cited historian Heather Ann Thompson's book Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971.
• Since 2014, the Chinese government has been building a "social credit system" to track – and reward and punish – its citizens' behaviors. We commented on this piece on the dystopian comparisons being made by cultural observers of these measures.
• Chanukah is upon us and the Jewish "Festival of Lights" has an oft-overlooked military history. Niki and Natalia both recommended this Forward article about the significance of rationing oil.

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

• Natalia recommended historian Matthew Pressman's new book, On Press: The Liberal Values That Shaped the News.
• Neil shared Julia Jacobs' New York Times article, "Bush's Letter to Clinton Cemented a Presidential Traditions, Historians Say."
• Niki discussed Seyward Darby and Glenna Gordon's Topic article, "The Secret Weapons of the Far Right."

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss segregation academies, the death of an American missionary, and the declining market share of lingerie giant Victoria's Secret.

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

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

• Mississippi Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith, who is in a runoff contest to hold on to her Senate seat, sparked backlash when she made an offhand comment about a "public hanging" that many perceived as racist. The fact that Hyde-Smith attended a "segregation academy," as reported by this Jackson Free Press article Natalia recommended, shed important light on how she developed such a worldview.
• Last week, American missionary John Allen Chau was killed when he traveled to the remote island of North Sentinel. Niki recommended this viral thread by Twitter user @RespectableLaw on the historical context for the hostility of the Sentinelese to outsiders. Neil discussed the case of evangelical Jim Elliot, who was killed on a mission in Ecuador. Natalia recommended Sadatru Sen's book, Disciplining Punishment: Colonialism and Convict Society in the Andaman Islands and Jonathan Zimmerman's Innocents Abroad: American Teachers in the American Century.
• Lingerie giant Victoria's Secret is losing market share, and CMO Ed Razek hasn't been shy about disdaining new upstarts like Third Love. Natalia cited this Slate article about the founding of Victoria's Secret to cater to men's shopping needs. Natalia also recommended Elizabeth Matelski's Reducing Bodies: Mass Culture and the Female Figure in Postwar America and this episode of the Sexing History podcast about "sweater girls."

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

• Natalia discussed the new movie Ralph Breaks the Internet.
• Neil recommended Natalie Escobar's Atlantic article, "The Changing Ways Parents React to Their Kids Coming Out of the Closet."
• Niki shared Joe Pinsker's Atlantic article, "The 30-Year Reign of Lunchables."

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the aftermath of the midterm elections with special guest, Slate senior political correspondent Jamelle Bouie, the revocation of CNN journalist Jim Acosta's "hard pass" to the White House, and the supposed radicalization of children's literature.

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

• Demands for recounts and accusations of voter suppression and fraud defined the immediate aftermath of the midterm elections earlier this month. We sat down with Slate senior political correspondent Jamelle Bouie to discuss his analysis of the aftermath and how it fits into histories of disenfranchisement in the United States.
• After a heated exchange between President Trump and CNN reporter Jim Acosta, the White House downgraded his White House access. Niki recommended historian Martha Jones' Washington Post article on how women journalists of color have routinely been denied full access to the events they cover.
• Children's books promoting progressive politics have been selling well, prompting the Atlantic to announce a "radicalization" of children's literature. Natalia recommended this Slate piece that discussed a disproportionate emphasis on rebellious girls and pointed out a controversy over the children's book P is for Palestine that indicated the limits of this "radicalization." Neil recommended historian Julia Mickenberg's book Learning from the Left: Children's Literature, The Cold War, and Radical Politics in the United States.

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

• Natalia discussed her Washington Post article, "Why A Right-Wing Extremist Targeted a Yoga Studio."
• Neil recommended the YouTube clip, "Comparing Every Version of A Star is Born."
• Niki shared Tim Alberta's Politico article, "How the GOP Gave Up on Porn."

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the midterm elections, the alt-right social media platform Gab, and Movember.

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

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

• We discussed whether the midterm elections resulted in the "blue wave" Democrats anticipated.
• Gab, launched as a "free-speech Twitter," has become a platform for the alt-Right. Niki recommended Kathleen Belew's book Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America.
• "Movember" launched in 2003 in Australia as a way to raise awareness about men's health. Natalia recommended this Atlantic article questioning the utility of awareness campaigns.

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

• Natalia shared the ESPN 30 for 30 Podcast's episode "The Six Who Sat."
• Neil discussed Melissa McCarthy's new film, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"
• Niki recommended Ben H. Winters' book, Underground Airlines.

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the massacre of Jews at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue, the closing of rural hospitals, and the political reawakening of women in Orange County, California.

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

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

• The largest murder of Jews in the United States took place last month at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Natalia referred to writer Yascha Mounk's tweet about the resistance of the media to acknowledge anti-Semitism as racism. Niki referred to her discussion of anti-Semitism and the alt-Right in her podcast series A12.
• Rural hospitals are closing, depriving Americans in these regions of crucial medical services. Natalia recommended historian Gabriel Rosenberg's book on the idealization of rural life, The 4-H Harvest: Sexuality and the State in Rural America.
• Motivated by antipathy to Trump, previously politically disengaged suburban mothers in Orange County are organizing in advance of the midterms. Natalia cited historian Lisa McGirr's Suburban Warriors: The Origins of the New American Right as an important political history of the region. Neil mentioned his recent Atlantic article on white women's changing political affinities in the age of Trump.

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

• Natalia recommended Jordan Smith's Runner's World article, "Kelly Herron After Chasing Down Alleged Attacker: We Do Not Have To 'Let It Go'."
• Neil shared Ruth Graham's Slate article, "Two Shotguns: What Happened at Ruby Ridge?"
• Niki discussed Keia Mastraianni's Bon Appetit article, "'Election Cake' Makes a Modern Resurgence."

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the history of U.S.-Saudi relations in light of the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Trump administration's policies toward transgender people, and the continued popularity of horror movies.

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

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

• The brutal death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has turned attention to the historical relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States. Niki referred to the data in this report about journalists killed in the line of duty.
• A memo from the Health and Human Services Department reveals that the Trump administration plans to further roll back the rights of transgender people. Natalia recommended the work of historian Jen Manion on the history of trans identity.
• In an age of digital streaming, horror movies remain a sure bet for box office success. Niki recommended Netflix horror series The Haunting of Hill House.

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

• Natalia recommended Jessica M. Goldstein's Entertainment Weekly article, "'Britney Spears wanted to be a star': An oral history of '…Baby, One More Time'."
• Neil shared Tejal Rao's New York Times article on the history of Kit Kat in Japan, "Big in Japan."
• Niki discussed David Robson's Atlantic article, "Neanderthals Suffered a Lot of Traumatic Injuries. So How Did They Live So Long?"

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, Niki, and guest historian Leah Wright Rigueur discuss black women and electoral politics, the closing of Sears, and corporate art patronage.

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

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

• Black women voters are a crucial electoral contingent, especially in the upcoming midterm elections. We spoke with Dr. Leah Wright Rigueur, author of The Loneliness of the Black Republican: Pragmatic Politics and the Pursuit of Power, about black women's voting power today and in the past. Niki referenced Rachel Devlin's book A Girl Stands at the Door, and Leah recommended Brittney Cooper's Eloquent Rage, Ashley Farmer's Remaking Black Power, Danielle McGuire's At the Dark End of the Street, and Keisha Blain's Set the World on Fire, as all good books for better understanding the long history of black women's political activism.
• Sears is closing its doors for good. Natalia mentioned historian Louis Hyman's viral Twitter thread on how the Sears catalog created opportunities for African Americans to shop during Jim Crow. She also recommended historian Lizabeth Cohen's book A Consumer's Republic and historian David K. Johnson's forthcoming book Buying Gay: How Physique Entrepreneurs Sparked A Movement.
• We discussed how although art patronage is nothing new, 2018's unapologetically corporate branding of art feels unprecedented.

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

• Natalia recommended Jessica Wilkerson's Longreads article, "Living With Dolly Parton."
• Neil shared the news that Judy Blume's book Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. is being turned into a movie.
• Niki discussed W. David Marx's Vox article, "An American campaign tee is trendy in Asia. Its popularity has nothing to do with the US."

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the right's obsession with George Soros conspiracy theories, the recent "grievance studies" hoax, and the rise of Bavarian folk dress as a form of hipsterism.

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

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

• Financier and philanthropist George Soros is increasingly at the center of conspiracy theories on the political right. Niki referred to this New York Times article on anti-Semitism in the Trump era.
• The Wall Street Journal broke the news of the most recent academic hoax, perpetuated to expose the outsize influence of "social justice ideology" on certain subfields of the humanities. Natalia wrote about this in a roundtable at the Chronicle of Higher Education, and she referred to Yascha Mounk's article in the Atlantic in defense of the hoaxsters.
• Lederhosen and dirndls are all the rage among Bavarian hipsters, reported the New York Times. Natalia referred to this 2001 article about Germans' ongoing struggle with nationalism in the decades after the fall of the Third Reich.

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

• Natalia shared recommended Karen Rain's Medium article, "Yoga Guru Pattabhi Jois Assaulted Me for Years."
• Neil reflected on the twentieth anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death.
• Niki discussed Leah Groth's Prevention article, "American Cheese is Melting Away, Thanks to Millennials."

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the history of binge drinking, why McCarthyism is back in the news, and the political power of women's rage.

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

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

• Brett Kavanaugh's nomination hearing has brought attention to the prevalence of binge drinking among young people. Natalia referenced Matt Damon's Saturday Night Live portrayal of Brett Kavanaugh, and cited Sarah Hepola's memoir of binge drinking, Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget.
• McCarthyism is back in the news as Mitch McConnell has accused Democrats of such tactics. Neil mentioned a Jonah Goldberg essay in the National Review that argued Joe McCarthy had been right.
• A series of books out this fall look at women's rage: Rebecca Traister's Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger; Soraya Chemaly's Rage Becomes Her: The Power of Women's Anger; and, Brittney Cooper's Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower. Natalia added both Phyllis Schlafly's Power of the Positive Woman and Audre Lorde's "The Uses of Anger" as two other very different works on the politics of women's rage.

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

• Natalia talked about her upcoming involvement in the event, "Yeah She Did: Witches Get Stuff Done" taking place in New York City on October 24.
• Neil commented on Joe Pinsker's Atlantic article, "Why Some Parents Turn Boys' Names Into Girls' Names."
• Niki discussed the expiration of the Violence Against Women Act.

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the history of high school yearbooks, how the Trump administration is defining immigrants as "public charges," and the awful misogyny of Barstool Sports.

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

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

• High school yearbooks have been in the spotlight during the investigation of Brett Kavanaugh. Niki cited this Atlantic article that historicizes yearbooks and Natalia recommended historian Paula Fass' book Outside In: Minorities and the Transformation of American Education for its use of yearbooks as historical sources.
• President Trump came to power promising to tighten immigration legislation, and a recent proposal promises to deny citizenship to those who make use of public services. Natalia recommended this Atlantic interview with historian Hidetaka Hirota about how today's policies are rooted in 19th-century policies that targeted the Irish.
• If sports has always been a "boys' club," Barstool Sports has taken this sexism to new levels. Natalia recommended this Daily Beast article on the controversial website.

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

• Natalia shared her experience visiting the Storm King Art Center in Cornwall, NY.
• Neil commented on touring the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Abiquiú, New Mexico.
• Niki discussed historian Sarah Milov's Washington Post piece, "Like the Tobacco Industry, E-Cigarette Manufacturers Are Targeting Children."