On the Media

This American War on Drugs


Listen Later

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has signaled that he'd like to revamp the war on drugs. We take a look at the history of the battle, and how sensational media depictions of crack, heroin, and meth have helped fuel it. Plus: our Breaking News Consumer’s Handbook: Drugs Edition. Then, a look at how America’s first drug czar used racist propaganda to outlaw marijuana. And why the debate between treatment and law enforcement is blurrier than you might think.

1. Our Breaking News Consumer's Handbook: Drugs Edition: a critical look at what the press gets wrong about drugs and drug addiction, featuring Dr. Debbie Dowell of the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionDr. Carl Hart of Columbia University, and author Maia Szalavitz.

2. Historian Alexandra Chasin and author Johann Hari tell the story of Harry Anslinger, the man who set our seeming eternal drug war in motion, and his ruthless pursuit of jazz singer Billie Holiday.

3. University of California Santa Cruz's Dr. Craig Reinarman examines how American presidents encouraged and harnessed hysteria around drugs for political gain.

4. Journalist Sam Quinones argues for the importance of aggressive policing in the effort to end America's opioid crisis.

On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing [email protected].

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

On the MediaBy WNYC Studios

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

8,848 ratings


More shows like On the Media

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,930 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

44,033 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,594 Listeners

The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The New Yorker Radio Hour

6,818 Listeners

The Political Scene | The New Yorker by The New Yorker

The Political Scene | The New Yorker

4,087 Listeners

On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti by WBUR

On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

3,993 Listeners

Reveal by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX

Reveal

8,487 Listeners

Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts by Slate Podcasts

Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts

3,565 Listeners

1A by NPR

1A

4,682 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

113,207 Listeners

Radio Atlantic by The Atlantic

Radio Atlantic

2,375 Listeners

Today, Explained by Vox

Today, Explained

10,312 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,456 Listeners

Strict Scrutiny by Crooked Media

Strict Scrutiny

5,836 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

16,291 Listeners

The Divided Dial by WNYC

The Divided Dial

15 Listeners