Past Present

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the drama surrounding Brett Kavanaugh's upcoming Supreme Court confirmation, fraternity hazing, and the booming natural beauty industry.

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

• Conservative Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's candidacy is being marred by sexual assault allegations. Natalia recommended Anita Hill's New York Times' op-ed about the historical echoes with her own experience.
• The hazards of fraternity hazing are back in the news after the death of a student at the Riverside campus of the University of California. Natalia recommended Nicholas Syrett's book The Company He Keeps: A History of White College Fraternities and Paula Fass' The Damned and the Beautiful: American Youth in the 1920s. She also suggested Caitlin Flanagan's Atlantic article on the symbiotic relationship between fraternities and universities.
• "Natural beauty" is an ill-defined, but booming, segment of the beauty industry. Niki recommended Upton Sinclair's 1906 book The Jungle and Natalia recommended Kathy Peiss' book, Hope In a Jar: The Making of America's Beauty Culture.

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

• Natalia discussed Dave Philipps' New York Times article, "A Breakthrough for U.S. Troops: Combat-Ready Pizza."
• Neil reflected on Noah Nash's Military Times article, "These Four-Legged Military Heroes Will Soon Have An Award All Their Own."
• Niki shared Julia Moskin's New York Times article, "Ranch Nation."

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the new reality show Making It, the 2008 financial collapse ten years later, and the death of Walter Mischel, the social psychologist who created the "marshmallow test."

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

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

• Making It, a crafting competition show hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, is widely considered a welcome break from the cutthroat culture of reality television and of politics. Natalia recommended this American Conservative article on the limits of television crafting.
• Ten years after the economic crash of 2008, its effects are still felt. Natalia cited M.H. Miller's New York Times essay, "I Came of Age During the 2008 Financial Crisis. I'm Still Angry About It". Neil recommended the New York Times' entire Sunday Business section's retrospective on this topic.
• Social psychologist Walter Mischel, best known for orchestrating the "marshmallow test" that famously connected children's ability to delay gratification with their long-term prospects for success, has died. Natalia referred to Oscar Lewis' 1961 book, Children of Sanchez: Autobiography of a Mexican Family.

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

• Natalia discussed Stanford University's decision to remove the name of Junipero Serra from a major building and street.
• Neil reflected on Sigal Samuel's Atlantic article, "The Sex-Abuse Scandal is Growing Faster Than the Church Can Contain It."
• Niki shared Nadra Nittle's Vox article, "Students Are Waging War On Sexist and Racist Dress Codes – And They're Winning."

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss Nike's controversial signing of Colin Kaepernick as the face of their Just Do It campaign, the anonymous New York Times op-ed written by a senior Trump administration official, and the recent death of Robin Leach.

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

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

• Colin Kaepernick, best known for "taking a knee" to protest racism and police brutality in America, is the face of Nike's 30th anniversary "Just Do It" campaign. Natalia wrote about the announcement in the context of Nike's history of adventurous branding at The Washington Post and referred to social psychologist Jonathan Haidt's tweets about the implications of brands capitalizing on political polarization.
• The New York Times published a rare, anonymous op-ed from a senior official in the Trump administration. Natalia referenced Dahlia Lithwick's comments on Trumpcast and Jordan Taylor's Washington Post essay about the role of anonymity in American political history.
• Robin Leach, best known as host of the 1980s television show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, has died. Niki referred to David Brooks' 2000 book Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There.

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

• Natalia discussed Ted Cruz' warning that Democrats would bring "tofu, silicon, and dyed hair" to Texas.
• Neil reflected on the gendered dynamics in the new film Crazy Rich Asians.
• Niki shared Michael Rosenwald's Washington Post article, "Roe v. Wade's forgotten loser: The remarkable story of Dallas prosecutor Henry Wade."

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the life and legacy of Senator John McCain, the recent scandals in the Catholic Church, and the latest panic over loneliness.

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

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

• Senator John McCain, a leading light of the Republican Party, died last month of brain cancer. Natalia referenced this critical assessment of McCain's career and character in Rolling Stone.
• The Catholic Church in the United States is racked with scandal as revelations of decades of abuse – and of cover-ups – are coming to light. Niki cited the Boston Globe's 2002 reporting of the "Spotlight" series that uncovered abuses at the hands of clergy in Boston-area parishes. Natalia recommended historian William Cossen's "Made By History" at the Washington Post piece about the increased power of the clergy in the wake of church scandals and Christine Kenneally's Buzzfeed investigative report of abuse at a Catholic orphanage in Vermont.
• Talk of a "loneliness epidemic" has become epidemic itself. Niki referenced Robert Putnam's landmark 2000 book, Bowling Alone. Natalia recommended the Call Your Girlfriend podcast's episode about female friendship.

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

• Natalia discussed her "Made By History" at the Washington Post piece, "As Swimsuit Season Ends, Pursuit of the 'Bikini Body' Endures."
• Neil shared Ben Zimmer's Wall Street Journal article, "The History of the Dogcatcher Insult."
• Niki reflected on the historical significance of TV Guide as a form of conservative media.

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the release of Unhinged: An Insider's Account of the White House, a new book by former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman.

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

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

• Former White House Staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman has released a book about her time in the Trump White House. Natalia recommended Leah Wright Rigueur's book The Loneliness of the Black Republican: Pragmatic Politics and the Pursuit of Power and Niki suggested her review of Manigault Newman's book in

We will be back in September with new episodes!

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the history of Latinos in the Hamptons, the problem of grift in Washington, and the sudden popularity of rosé wine.

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

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

• Latino immigration has transformed Eastern Long Island. Natalia referenced this New York Times article on the political tensions caused by this demographic shift.
• Trump administration Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross is being sued for bilking millions from his business associates. Natalia recommended Emily Jane Fox's book BORN TRUMP: Inside America's First Family.
• Rosé wine has become the lifestyle drink of the moment. Neil referenced the rosé shortage in the Hamptons in 2014, which received national press.

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

• Natalia discussed the apology by Los Angeles County for forcibly sterilizing Latina woman from 1968-1974.
• Neil commented on how airlines are cracking down on passengers who take advantage of their policy for emotional support animals.
• Niki recommended Ann Deslandes' JSTOR Daily article, "The Bold Future of the Outer Space Treaty.

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia debate the history of the institutionalization of children, the thankless job of refereeing youth sports, and the legacy of the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, one year after the Unite the Right rally.

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

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

• Coverage of family separation is revealing many abuses visited upon children detained in state facilities. Natalia mentioned this WNYC history of immigration detainment and this PBS retrospective on deinstitutionalization. She also recommended journalist Alex Beam's book Gracefully Insane and this ProPublica coverage of the organizations that operate shelters.
• Violence against youth sports referees has become disturbingly common. Natalia cited the work of sociologist Hilary Levey Friedman on competitive childhood, including this Atlantic article.
• One year ago, violence in Charlottesville captured national attention. Niki has released a podcast series, A12, considering these events one year out. Niki also recommended historian Kathleen Belew's new book, Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America.

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

• Natalia commented on Gustavo Arellano's Los Angeles Times article, "Of Course Latinos Can Assimilate Into American Society. Just Look at Whittier."
• Neil discussed the JSTOR Daily article, "The Complicated Politics Of… Refrigerators."
• Niki shared Tyler Parry's article for Black Perspectives, "A Brief History of the 'Black Friend'."

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate Sacha Baron Cohen's new show, the viability of a "yoga vote," and the demographic shift bringing about the disappearance of the middle child.

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

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

• British prankster and social critic Sacha Baron Cohen has a new show, "Who Is America?" Niki recommended this New York Times article comparing the tactics of conservative James O'Keefe to those employed by Baron Cohen. She also referred to this Smithsonian magazine article about turn-of-the-century undercover women reporters.
• Congressman Tim Ryan of Ohio told The Intercept he would court "the yoga vote" should he run for president in 2020. Natalia referred to a conversation on the 538 Blog that dismissed "the yoga vote" as today's "soccer mom." Natalia also recommended Michelle Goldberg's book The Goddess Pose: The Audacious Life of Indra Devi and the "Bikram" series produced by ESPN's "30 For 30" podcast.
• The middle child "is going extinct," announced The Cut Niki recalled Paul Ehrlich's 1968 book, The Population Bomb, while Natalia recommended Julia Belluz' Vox article that contextualized these findings in broader demographic shifts.

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

• Natalia shared Brian Feldman's New York magazine article, "The Most Important Video Game on The Planet."
• Neil discussed the miniseries "A Very English Scandal."
• Niki recommended Alexis Madrigal's Atlantic article, "Why No One Answers Their Phone Anymore."

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate the definition of treason, the significance of linguistic accents, and a new practice of prescribing outdoor play.

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

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

• President Trump's behavior at his joint press conference with Vladimir Putin has earned him the epithet of "traitor" by many critics. Niki referenced this article at the Washington Post's "Made By History" by Gail Savage.
• Roberto Rey Agudo's New York Times op-ed made the provocative case that "Everyone Has an Accent." Natalia referred to this Bustle article about "the chameleon effect," and Neil cited this Chicago Reader article about the Chicago accent. Natalia recommended this New York Times article about Hollywood dialect coaches and the rise of accuracy in portraying regional accents onscreen.
• Some doctors are writing prescriptions for children to engage in outdoor play.

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

• Natalia shared about the launch of the new feminist press, Dottir, and one of its first titles, a children's book called Not My Idea.
• Neil discussed the history of double negatives.
• Niki commented on the death of John Stormer who she wrote about in her Washington Post "Made By History" article, "How The Right Became Addicted to Conspiracies."

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the children rescued from a Thai cave, the Trump administration's approach to breastfeeding policy, and the fleece vests that have become a staple uniform of the finance industry.

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

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

• A Thai boys' soccer team was rescued from a flooded cave as the world watched. Niki referred to comedian Stephen Colbert linking the rescue to the Trump administration's family separation policy. She also commented on the longstanding media fascination with stories of being trapped underground; Natalia commented on how the trope shows up in literature, such as Edgar Allan Poe's 1846 story, "The Cask of Amontillado," and Neil mentioned it as a theme of the Netflix show, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," a program we discussed on Episode 30.
• The Trump administration shocked many when it moved to weaken an international breastfeeding resolution. Natalia recommended Suzanne Barston's book Bottled Up: How the Way We Feed Babies Has Come to Define Motherhood, and It Shouldn't, historian Jessica Martucci's Back to the Breast: Natural Motherhood and Breastfeeding in America, and her own article at the Society for U.S. Intellectual History Blog.
• The Instagram parody account @midtownuniform has brought attention to a new sartorial staple of the Wall Street set: the fleece vest. Natalia cited this Wall Street Journal article on the finance-industry fashion of the show Billions.

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

• Natalia recommended Dan Nosowitz's Atlas Obscura article, "Why Are There Palm Trees in Los Angeles?"
• Neil discussed the origins of 911 telephone service and its racist misuses which he wrote about for the Huffington Post.
• Niki spoke about Joe Heim's Washington Post article, "Sacred Ground: Now Reclaimed: A Charlottesville Story."