In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the legacy of late billionaire David Koch, the menace of bedbugs, and why so many people are choosing to remain friends after a breakup.
Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show:
- Billionaire libertarian and David Koch has died. Natalia referred to Jane Mayer’s New Yorker article that first brought major attention to the political influence of the Koch brothers.
- Bedbugs are in the news these days with outbreaks at the Trump Doral Resort and the New York Times. When political scientist David Karpf joked that Bret Stephens is a “bedbug,” the New York Times columnist emailed his provost. Niki recommended Karpf’s most recent book, Analytical Activism: Digital Listening and the New Political Strategy. Natalia referred to science journalist Brooke Borel’s book, Infested: How the Bed Bug Infiltrated our Bedrooms and Took Over the World.
- Why do people want to stay friends after a breakup, The Atlantic recently asked in an article by Ashley Fetters. Natalia recommended historian Nancy Cott’s book, Public Vows: A History of Marriage and the Nation, Christine Whelan’s book Why Smart Men Marry Smart Women, and Moira Weigel’s Labor of Love: The Invention of Dating.
In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:
- Natalia recommended Tara Westover’s memoir, Educated.
- Neil discussed International Dog Day, and specifically, George H.W. Bush’s dog Ranger.
- Niki shared Jamelle Bouie’s New York Times opinion piece, “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Understands Democracy Better than Republicans Do.”
