Past Present

Niki, Neil, and Natalia

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Past Present

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 listeners an alternative to the reflexive and polarized world of punditry. Interested in the world around you but exhausted by rote reactions and partisan talking points? You've come to the right place.

2 APR

Episode 406: Neil J. Young's "Coming Out Republican: A History of the Gay Right"

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss – and celebrate! – Neil’s new book, Coming Out Republican: A History of the Gay Right. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: · Coming Out Republican is now available for order. You can buy Neil’s book here. In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: · Natalia shared about the Gothamist article, “Stop the Schtup: Brooklyn Orthodox Women Join Sex Strike to Pressure Husbands Over Divorce.” · Neil commented on his forthcoming piece at The Revealer, “Reaching the Heartland: Gay Republicans’ Message to Religious Americans.” · Niki recommended Heather Radke’s book, Butts: A Backstory.

1 hr
19/12/2023

Episode 405: Controversies over Christmas “Classics”

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss controversies over Christmas “classics.” Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: · Beloved Christmas songs and movies, like so many cultural products, have come under new scrutiny recently. Neil’s Atlantic essay about Christmas controversies informed our whole conversation. We drew on this Atlantic essay that began the backlash against the film Love Actually, and Natalia referenced this interview with its director. Niki referred to this Variety essay about “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: · Natalia, Neil, and Niki reflected on eight years of making the show together and announced both Niki’s departure and Past Present’s first hiatus. Thank you, Niki. And listeners, see you in the spring!

40 min
12/12/2023

Episode 404: George Santos

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the strange career of now ex-Republican Congressman George Santos. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: · George Santos’ lies are so numerous, it is difficult to keep track of them. Niki referred to this Atlantic article about how Santos got elected, and Neil and Natalia referred to this one by Adam Serwer. We all drew on this New York Times history of expelled Congress members. In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: · Natalia declared her ambition to compete in the HYROX fitness competition. · Neil recommended the Slate podcast Dear Prudence and historian Julie Golia’s book, Newspaper Confessions: A History of Advice Columns in a Pre-Internet Age. · Niki discussed Rivka Galchen’s New Yorker article, “Inside the Illegal Cactus Trade.”

40 min
05/12/2023

Episode 403: Nikki Haley

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: · Nikki Haley recently secured the backing of the wealthy Koch Brothers, bringing more attention to her presidential run. Natalia referred to this multi-part POLITICO series on Haley’s career. Neil drew on this NPR piece, and Niki on this article from The Intercept. In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: · Natalia shared about her most recent MSNBC column, “How Feminists Have Failed Israeli Victims of Sexual Violence.” · Neil recommended Sopan Deb’s New York Times article, “Nom Nom Nom. What’s the Deal With Cookie Monster’s Cookies?” · Niki discussed the National Security Archive’s “Henry Kissinger: The Declassified Obituary.”

44 min
28/11/2023

Episode 402: Home Ownership and the History of Mortgages

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss Americans’ attachment to the thirty-year mortgage. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: · A thirty-year mortgage is an enticement to home ownership – if you can lock one in at a low interest rate. Niki cited this Washington Post article about the unfavorable market for millennial homebuyers, and Natalia referenced this New Yorker piece about the pitfalls of mortgages. We all drew on this Atlantic article about the resilience of the “ownership society” ideal. Natalia referred to this New York Times article about a landlord harassed by her tenant. In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: · Natalia shared about the paperback release of Myth America: Historians Take on the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past and a 60% holiday discount on the audiobook of Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America’s Exercise Obsession. · Neil recommended visiting the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale, California. · Niki discussed the latest episode of the What Next podcast, “Moms for Liberty Tanked at the Polls. This Guy Called It.”

41 min
21/11/2023

Episode 401: The History of Drive-Thru Dining

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the history of drive-thru dining. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: · Drive-through dining is more popular than ever since the pandemic. Neil drew on this Serious Eats history, and we all referred to this photo collection. In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: · Natalia recommended Eboo Patel’s essay for Inside Higher Ed, “Why Campuses Need Centers for Pluralism.” · Neil discussed Natasha Singer’s New York Times article, “This Florida District Banned Cellphones. Here’s What Happened.” · Niki shared about the latest episode of Unclear and Present Danger, on which she appears.

39 min
14/11/2023

Episode 400: The History of U.S. Divorce Laws

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the history of divorce law 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: · Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is a proponent of “covenant marriage,” an institutional arrangement that makes it much more difficult to get divorced. Natalia referred to this Atlantic article about the history of no-fault divorce. Niki drew on this JSTOR Daily piece on how women advocated for these changes and on this CNN piece as well. In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: · Natalia recommended the “Dog Eat Dog” episode of Season 4 of the History Channel’s Food That Built America program. · Neil discussed Bruce Weber’s New York Times obituary, “Bobby Knight, Basketball Coach Known for Trophies and Tantrums, Dies at 83.” · Niki shared about a new edited collection, LBJ’s America: The Life and Legacies of Lyndon Baines Johnson.

42 min
07/11/2023

Episode 399: Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican Chaos

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the drama around the election of the new Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: · Until this week, the new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was little known beyond Louisiana and ultraconservative circles. Natalia referenced this CNN piece about Johnson’s homophobic comments, and historian Matthew Dallek’s article for TIME. Neil referred to Niki’s latest CNN column. In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: · Natalia discussed Ksenia Svetlova’s New Republic piece, “Why We On the Israeli Left Feel Hit on Both Sides.” · Neil recommended historian Lauren Lassabe Shepherd’s Daily Beast article, “Could Mississippi Actually Elect a Democratic Governor?” · Niki shared about the Radiotopia podcast, “The Unmarked Graveyard: Stories from Hart Island.”

44 min

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 listeners an alternative to the reflexive and polarized world of punditry. Interested in the world around you but exhausted by rote reactions and partisan talking points? You've come to the right place.

Creator

Niki, Neil, and Natalia
Years Active

2015 - 2024
Episodes

416
Rating

Clean
Show Website

Past Present

Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated twice weekly