Past Present

Past Present

By Niki, Neil, and NataliaHistory
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Past Present episodes

  • Episode 367: The Silicon Valley Bank Collapse

    In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.

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

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

    · Fueled by social media panic, depositors ran to withdraw from Silicon Valley Bank this month. Neil drew on this institutional history of the bank at Medium. Niki recommended historian Margaret O'Mara's book The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America, and Natalia referenced this POLITICO piece in which she is quoted. Natalia drew on this Derek Thompson Atlantic article and referenced this Wall Street Journal opinion piece.

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

    · Natalia recommended Chavie Lieber's Wall Street Journal article, "How Young Women Fight Loneliness –Walking Together in the Park by the Hundreds."

    · Neil shared about Maria Clara Cabo's New York Times article, "'Phantom' Ends. For Musicians, So Does the Gig of a Lifetime."

    · Niki discussed Susan Salai's Washington Times piece, "War on Government: 'Sovereign Citizens' Bring Surge of Violence."

    42 min
  • Episode 366: Judith Heumann and the Disability Rights Movement

    In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the life and legacy of disability rights activist Judith Heumann.

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

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

    · Disability rights activist Judith Heumann died earlier this month. Natalia recommended the documentary Crip Camp and this JSTOR Daily collection of sources in disability studies, as well as the blog Nursing Clio.

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

    · Natalia recommended Alexis Grenell's Nation column, "Why Do Republicans Keep Pretending to Be Jewish?"

    · Neil shared about a blog post on Daily Kos, "Tap Water Makes People Gay—Why Yes, Says DeSantis Appointee."

    · Niki discussed George Packer's Atlantic article, "A View of American History That Leads to One Conclusion."

    37 min
  • Episode 365: Student Loan Debt and the Supreme Court

    In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the Supreme Court's deliberation over the cancellation of student loan debt.

    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 seems poised to strike down President Biden's student loan forgiveness policy. Natalia referred to this CNBC timeline of the recent history of the student-loan cancellation movement and drew on this Washington Post essay about the devaluation of education as a public good. Neil drew on this Slate history about the culture of debt in the United States, and Niki used this explainer to elaborate the "major questions doctrine."

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

    · Natalia recommended Matt Yglesias' post, "Why Are Young Liberals So Depressed?" on his Substack, Slow Boring.

    · Neil shared about a new podcast, Recollecting Carter.

    · Niki discussed Maura Judkis' Washington Post article, "American Girl says the '90s are Ancient History. American Girls Agree."

    35 min
  • Episode 364: Jimmy Carter

    In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss Jimmy Carter's life and legacy.

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

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

    · President Jimmy Carter recently announced that he is entering hospice care. Natalia referenced this New York Times essay by Carter biographer Kai Bird, and Niki drew on this article in The Nation. We also drew on the late Leo Ribuffo's posthumously, recently published The Limits of Moderation: Jimmy Carter and the Limits of American Liberalism.

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

    · Natalia shared about Sandra Fox's new book, The Jews of Summer: Summer Camp and Jewish Culture in Postwar America.

    · Neil discussed Seth Abramovitch's Hollywood Reporter article, "Super Bowl Flashback: Michael Jackson Turned the Halftime Show into an Extravaganza in 1993."

    · Niki recommended journalist Jessica Valenti's Substack Abortion, Every Day.

    44 min
  • Episode 363: ChatGPT

    In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss ChatGPT.

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

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

    · The suddenly ubiquitous artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT is making many people nervous. Niki referred to this New Yorker article and this City Journal essay. Neil and Natalia drew on this New York Times article by technology columnist Kevin Roose. We all referenced this Discourse magazine essay about science fiction dystopianism.

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

    · Natalia recommended Dani Blum's New York Times article, "How the Language of Therapy Took Over Dating."

    · Neil discussed Jake Traylor's NBC News article, "A Nonstop Kentucky Prayer 'Revival' is Going Viral on TikTok, and People are Traveling Thousands of Miles to Take Part."

    · Niki shared journalist Erik Wemple's Twitter thread on the disconnect between the reporting of supposed election fraud and the beliefs of Fox News anchors involved.

    41 min
  • Episode 362: A History of Menopause

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

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

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

    · A New York Times magazine article about menopause recently went viral. Natalia drew from this Next Avenue review of Gail Collins' book. Neil referenced Menopause: The Musical, and Niki drew on this Public Books essay about women's ways of aging.

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

    · Natalia recommended the Netflix series Killer Sally.

    · Neil discussed Thomas Fuller's New York Times article, "Never Mind Your Wallet. Armed Robbers Want Your French Bulldog".

    · Niki shared historian Rick Perlstein's Forum essay, "They Want Your Child!"

    44 min
  • Episode 361: The History of Advanced Placement

    In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the history of the Advanced Placement program.

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

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

    • Florida governor Ron DeSantis has denounced the Advanced Placement African American Studies course as being too "woke." We drew on Annie Abrams' forthcoming book, Shortchanged: How Advanced Placement Cheats Students. Natalia referred to this Washington Post interview with AP director Trevor Packer and Niki discussed this Atlantic article on previous AP controversies. Neil referenced this Vox article on the specific controversies around AP history courses.

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

    • Natalia discussed Alaina Demopoulos' Guardian article, "'Watch this Creep': The Women Exposing Gym Harassment on TikTok."
    • Neil shared Michael Schulman's New Yorker article, "What Became of the Oscar Streaker?"
    • Niki recommended historian Matt Delmont's new book, Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II At Home and Abroad.
    48 min
  • Episode 360: A History of the Sleepover

    In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the history of the sleepover – and why they have become so complicated for parents today.

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

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

    • Parents have strong feelings about sleepovers. Niki referred to this Glamour roundup of sleepovers in pop culture, and Natalia drew on this Atlantic article. We all drew on this history of slumber parties and folklore from JSTOR Daily.

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

    • Natalia recommended Annie Abrams' forthcoming book, Shortchanged: How Advanced Placement Cheats Students.
    • Neil shared Elizabeth Hinton's American Historical Review essay, "The Last Great Battle of the West."
    • Niki discussed Ronan Farrow's book Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators.
    40 min
  • Episode 359: "Nepo Babies" and the History of Nepotism

    In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the "nepo baby" phenomenon.

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

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

    • Everyone seems to be talking about "nepo babies." Niki referred to Adam Bellow's Atlantic article about the promise of an updated nepotism. Natalia cited this New York Times essay about political nepotism, and Neil drew on this National Constitution Center article about the founders.

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

    • Natalia recommended the Bloomberg podcast, "The School Board Queen."
    • Neil shared Suzanna Krivulskaya's Religion Dispatches article, "Bad Preachers' Wives."
    • Niki discussed Erin Byers Murray's Nashville Lifestyles piece, "Nashville Public Library Introduces New Exhibit: Votes for Women."
    40 min
  • Episode 358: How Gas Stoves Became Political

    In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the political controversy over regulating gas stoves.

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

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

    • The Biden administration raised the possibility of a ban on gas stoves in new construction. Niki referred to this VICE article about the culture-wars issue this became. Natalia cited this Mother Jones article on the affective appeal of gas stoves. Niki also drew on this National Review essay about the racialized impact of the measure.

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

    • Natalia recommended the latest episode of Claire Bond Potter's podcast, Why Now, in which she interviews Ryan James Girdusky.
    • Neil shared about the podcast, The Trojan Horse Affair.
    • Niki discussed the Chicago Public Library's collection of Harold Washington's speeches.
    40 min

About Past Present

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Past Present brings together three historians to discuss what's happening in American politics and culture today. Natalia, Neil, and Niki bring historical insights to the news of the day, offering…

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