Opinion writer at The Week and co-host of the history podcast Past Present

Education

Voting Rights, Olympics Commentary, and Think Tanks

Past Present Episode 47

August 18, 2016 • by Neil J. Young, Nicole Hemmer and Natalia Mehlman Petrzela

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: This summer, courts struck down restrictive voting laws in North Carolina, Kansas, and Wisconsin. Niki pointed out that there have been only 31 cases of voter fraud since 2000. We recommended Ari Berman’s history of voting rights, Give Us ...

Voting Rights, Olympics Commentary, and Think Tanks

Multi Media

Khizr & Ghazala Khan, Roger Ailes, and Juicing

Past Present Episode 46

August 10, 2016 • by Neil J. Young, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela and Nicole Hemmer

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Khizr and Ghazala Khan’s appearance at the Democratic National Convention was only one among many speeches at both political conventions by parents who had lost their children. Neil argued that these speeches were effective because people felt sympathetic towards ...

Khizr & Ghazala Khan, Roger Ailes, and Juicing

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Veeps, Beach-Going, and the Olympic Doping Scandal

Past Present Episode 45

August 5, 2016 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Neil J. Young and Nicole Hemmer

On this week's episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate the changing role of the vice presidency, the history of beach-going, and the Russian doping scandal overshadowing the Rio Olympics. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have picked Tim Kaine and Mike ...

Veeps, Beach-Going, and the Olympic Doping Scandal

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Pokemon Go, Turkey’s Coup, and the Irony of Reform

Past Present Episode 44

July 27, 2016 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer and Neil J. Young

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: The whole world seems to be playing Pokemon Go. Natalia situated the app game in a history of bug collecting but also the long tradition of fears about technology. Neil noted fears about technology went back to the printing ...

Pokemon Go, Turkey’s Coup, and the Irony of Reform

Multi Media

Dallas, Conventions, and Vaccines

Past Present Episode 43

July 21, 2016 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer and Neil J. Young

In this week's episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate the police shooting in Dallas, the role of conventions in presidential politics, and the rise of anti-vaccine activism. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: The nation is grieving the death of five Dallas police officers, one of ...

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Pat Summitt, Hellerstedt, and the Democratic Sit-In

Past Present Episode 41

July 7, 2016 • by Neil J. Young, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela and Nicole Hemmer

On this week's episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki debate the legacy of basketball coach Pat Summitt, the place of Women's Whole Health v. Hellerstedt in America's abortion debate, and the House Democrats' sit-in over gun control. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: The winningest college basketball ...

Pat Summitt, Hellerstedt, and the Democratic Sit-In

Multi Media

Orlando – The City Beautiful, Histories of Violence, and Presidential Empathy

Past Present Episode 39

June 23, 2016 • by Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela and Neil J. Young

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: The world is focused on Orlando after the horrific shooting at the Pulse Nightclub. Neil talked about what it meant for this tragedy to take place in his hometown, something he wrote about for Public Seminar this week. Natalia ...

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Orlando, the City Beautiful

June 17, 2016 • by Neil J. Young

In May 1981, a sinkhole opened up in Winter Park, Florida, the tiny suburb just north of downtown Orlando. Over the course of that day the ground gave way, swallowing five Porsches from a repair shop, a small home, and the deep end of an Olympic-size swimming pool.

The event brought ...

Multi Media

Muhammad Ali, Brock Turner, and the First Woman Nominee

Past Present Episode 38

June 15, 2016 • by Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela and Neil J. Young

On this week's episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia debate the legacy of Muhammad Ali, the aftermath of the Brock Turner trial, and America's first woman nominated to the presidency by a major party. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Muhammad Ali died last week at the ...

Muhammad Ali, Brock Turner, and the First Woman Nominee

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Episode 37: Harambe the Gorilla, Baylor Football, and Peter Thiel’s Gawker Vendetta

June 7, 2016 • by Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela and Neil J. Young

On this week’s Past Present podcast, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss Harambe, Ken Starr at Baylor, and Peter Thiel’s attack on Gawker.

Episode 37: Harambe the Gorilla, Baylor Football, and Peter Thiel’s Gawker Vendetta

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Episode 28: Bathroom Politics, Spring Break, and the Heroin Crisis

April 14, 2016 • by Nicole Hemmer, Neil J. Young and Natalia Mehlman Petrzela

In this week's episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate the politics of public bathrooms, the history of Spring Break, and the origins of the American heroin crisis. Read more at Past and Present

Episode 28: Bathroom Politics, Spring Break, and the Heroin Crisis

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Episode 27: Hulk Hogan v Gawker, Parental Leave, and Bernie’s Scandinavia

April 5, 2016 • by Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela and Neil J. Young

In this week's episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil delve into the privacy laws protecting Hulk Hogan's sex tape, the fight for paid parental leave, and the left's love of Scandinavia. Read more at Past and Present