Past Present

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the process of selecting the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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

• At the time of our recording, the House of Representatives was still without a Speaker. Niki referred to Timothy Shenk's new book, Realigners. Natalia cited this National Review article, and Neil drew on this NPR piece.

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

• Natalia recommended the new social reading app, Threadable.
• Neil discussed the southern tradition of the "groom's cake," explained in Southern Living magazine.
• Niki shared Robert Moss' Epicurious article, "How Celery Went From Victorian Centerpiece to Football Snack."

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss – and celebrate! – Natalia's new book Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America's Exercise Obsession.

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

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

• Fit Nation is now available for order. You can buy here.

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

• Natalia talked about the new Hulu series, "Fleishman is in Trouble."
• Neil commented on Season 3 of the podcast, Blowback, which focuses on the Korean War.
• Niki recommended the Contingent Magazine, and discussed Sara Mohr's piece, "Penelope Garcia's Criminal Minds."

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

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

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

• The presence of required Junior ROTC courses in American public schools made news last week. Neil referenced this Army history of ROTC. Natalia referred to this PBS segment about the debates over reinstating ROTC, and Niki drew on this Washington Times article about bridging the military recruitment gap.

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

• Natalia shared Alex Vadukul's New York Times article, "Luddite Teens Don't Want Your Likes."
• Neil discussed Michelle Debczak's Mental Floss article, "The Tumultuous History of Tinsel."
• Niki recommended the podcast "If Books Could Kill."

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

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

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

• WNBA player Brittney Griner has returned home from Russian detainment. Neil referenced this New Yorker article about Trump's aberrant approach to hostage policy. Niki referred to this NPR piece about the case of Bowe Bergdahl.

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

• Natalia talked about the labor dispute at The New School.
• Neil discussed the death of former Rep. Jim Kolbe, and his most recent piece for the Washington Post, "Activism Convinced Just Enough Republicans to Support Same-Sex Marriage."
• Niki shared about Michael M. Grynbaum's New York Times article, "Elon Musk, Matt Taibbi, and a Very Modern Media Maelstrom."

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the resurgence of antisemitism in the United States.

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

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

• Former president Donald Trump dined at Mar-a-Lago with noted antisemites Kanye West and Nick Fuentes. Niki referred to this Arizona Mirror piece about the Kari Lake's endorsement of an antisemite in Arizona. Natalia referenced this Washington Post article about the resurgence of an antisemitism many thought a relic of the past.

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

• Natalia shared about the jewelry designer Rachie Shnay.
• Neil recommended the podcast Bone Valley.
• Niki discussed Rossi Anastopoulo's Slate article, "The Extremely American History of Pecan Pie."

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the new weight loss drug, Ozempic.

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

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

• Ozempic, an injectable used for diabetes treatment, is also hailed for its use as a diet drug and hated for its intense side effects. Neil referenced this Wall Street Journal article about the ritzy circles in which Ozempic has become popular. Niki drew on this Reuters piece about the history of weight loss drugs.

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

• Natalia recommended historian Kathryn J. McGarr's new book, City of Newsmen: Public Lies and Professional Secrets in Cold War Washington.
• Neil discussed Ruth Graham's New York Times article, "Old Latin Mass Finds New American Audience, Despite Pope's Disapproval."
• Niki shared about historian Beverly Gage's new book, G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century.

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the results of the 2022 midterm elections.

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

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

• The much-anticipated "red wave" of Republican victories never materialized in the midterm elections. Natalia referred to this Intelligener piece about the role of crime in New York-area elections, and Niki drew on this article about what these results indicate regarding Trump's presidential prospects. Natalia spoke to NBC about the GOP's performance in Florida.

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

• Natalia discussed Lagos and Brooklyn-based fashion brand Busayo NYC.
• Neil recommended Eley Williams' novel, The Liar's Dictionary, and this companion article from The New Yorker.
• Niki discussed Malcolm Harris' Intelligencer article, "The Rise of Influencer Capital."

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the past and uncertain future of affirmative action in higher education.

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

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

• Affirmative action is the next progressive policy under threat by the current Supreme Court. Niki cited this Slate piece by historian Ellen D. Wu. Natalia referenced historian David C. Cecelski's book, Along Freedom Road. We all drew on this helpful history of the term in the New York Times.

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

• Natalia discussed this episode of the New York Times "First Person" podcast.
• Neil discussed restaurant critic Gael Greene's New York Times obituary.
• Niki recommended Rachel Monroe's New Yorker article, "The Disturbing Rise of Amateur Predator-Hunting Stings."

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the recent scourge of rats in New York City and elsewhere.

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

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

• New York City is experiencing a surge in the rat population. Natalia referenced this New York magazine article about now omnipresent dining sheds and the rats they attract. Niki referred to Robert Sullivan's research on rats and the rat-free idyll that is Alberta, Canada. Neil discussed this article about 19th-century British practice of rat catching and breeding. Niki discussed rat-catching in the 1970s on this episode of her This Day in Esoteric Political History

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

• Natalia discussed CBS LA's report, "Holocaust Museum of LA Flooded With Antisemitic Messages After Offering Kanye West A Private Tour."
• Neil commented on David Masciotra's New Republic article, "The Growing Religious Alliance to Ban LGBTQ Books."
• Niki talked about Pat Buchanan and the resurgent embrace of Christian nationalism, as she explores in Partisans.

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the history of panics over contaminated Halloween candy.

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

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

• Panics over "Halloween sadism" have resurged yearly for decades. Niki referred to historian Paul M. Renfro's book Stranger Danger: Family Values, Childhood, and the American Carceral State and Natalia cited this Wall Street Journal article about fentanyl abuse. All of us drew on the research of Joel Best.

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

• Natalia shared Geoffrey Mak's essay for The Nation, "I Wanted a Boyfriend. My Life Coach Told Me to Become a Commodity."
• Neil commented on the Netflix show, "UNTOLD: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist."
• Niki discussed Kaarima Moyer-Nocchi and Adrien Miller's Epicurious article, "Who Invented Mac and Cheese? This American Favorite Has Ancient Roman Roots."