Niki, Neil, and Natalia

Past Present

History EN ↓ 416 episodes

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.

Author

Niki, Neil, and Natalia

Episodes

Episode 63: Taiwan, the Oakland Fire, and Black Santa 13.12.2016 58:41

In this week's episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the future of the One-China policy, the tragedy of the Oakland fire, and the Mall of America's first black Santa.

Episode 62: Fidel Castro, Liberalism's Future, and Fake News 06.12.2016 1:02:35

In this week's episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate Fidel Castro's legacy, the future of liberalism, and the rise of fake news.

Episode 61: Trump University, Pence and Hamilton, and Turkeys Gone Wild 29.11.2016 55:31

In this week's episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki debate the Trump University fraud settlement, Mike Pence's reception at Hamilton, and the wild turkey's distaste for the wild.

Episode 60: International Adoption, Steve Bannon, and Safety-Pin Politics 22.11.2016 1:04:05

In this week's episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate the role of citizenship in international adoption, Steve Bannon's appointment as Trump's chief strategist, and the place of safety pins in sartorial politics.

Episode 59: Second Redemption, Glass Ceilings, and Global Populism 15.11.2016 59:38

In this week's special election episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia debate the onset of the Second Redemption, the highest and hardest glass ceiling, and the place of Donald Trump in global populism.

Episode 58: Standing Rock, the FBI, and Political Pundits 08.11.2016 54:53

In this week's episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil debate the standoff at Standing Rock, the political role of the FBI, and the role of political pundits.

Episode 57: The World Series, Texting and Driving, and Vegas, Baby! 01.11.2016 53:55

In this week's episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate the history of the world series, texting while driving, and the history of Vegas.

Episode 56: Rigged Elections, Wikileaks, and Self-Care 25.10.2016 59:19

In this week's episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki debate the history of rigged elections, Wikileaks, and the importance of self-care.

Episode 55: Sexual Harassment, Scary Clowns, and Pit Bull Bans 18.10.2016 55:51

In this week's episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate Donald Trump and sexual harassment and assault, the great clown scare of 2016, and pit bull bans.

Episode 54: Transparent, Wells Fargo, and Cable News 11.10.2016 53:52

In this week's episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia debate the place of Transparent in the history of LGBTQ representation on television, fraud at Wells Fargo, and the 20th anniversary of Fox News.

Episode 53: Presidential Debates, Stop and Frisk, and Fat Shaming 04.10.2016 54:17

In this week's episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the presidential debates, the constitutionality of stop and frisk, and obesity and medical care.

Episode 52: Brangelina, EpiPens, and Dr. Oz 27.09.2016 53:39

In this week's episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate the dissolution of the Jolie-Pitt marriage, the price of EpiPens, and Dr. Oz and medical entertainment.

Episode 51: Presidential Health, Free Pre-K, and Star Trek 20.09.2016 1:00:33

In this week's episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate secrecy and presidential health, New York City's universal pre-kindergarten, and the legacy of Star Trek.

Episode 50: Mother Teresa, the Alt-Right, and Taco Trucks 13.09.2016 52:18

In this week's episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia debate the canonization of Mother Teresa, the rise of the alt-right, and the menace of taco trucks.

Episode 49: Colin Kaepernick, Burkinis, and Crime at Walmart 06.09.2016 59:34

In this week's episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate Colin Kaepernick's protest against the national anthem, France's burkini ban, and Walmart's high crime rate.

Episode 48: Baton Rouge, Christian Intellectuals, and Teaching Trump 30.08.2016 58:18

In this week's episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia debate flood relief in Louisiana, the disappearance of Christian intellectuals, and teaching Trump in the classroom.

Gone Fishing 23.08.2016 2:34

We're out on vacation -- see you next week!

Episode 47: Voting Rights, Olympics Coverage, and Think Tanks 16.08.2016 56:34

On this week's episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia debate recent court decisions on voting rights, sexism in Olympics commentary, and corporate influence in think tanks.

Episode 46: Khizr & Ghazala Khan, Roger Ailes, and Juicing 09.08.2016 53:48

On this week's episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate the Khans and the politics of grief, Roger Ailes and sexual harassment at Fox News, and the history of juicing.

Episode 45: Veeps, Beach-Going, and the Olympic Doping Scandal 02.08.2016 57:12

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.

Episode 44: Pokemon Go, Turkey's Coup, and the Irony of Reform 26.07.2016 54:03

In this week's episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki debate the history of Pokemon Go, the near-coup in Turkey, and the unintended consequences of political reform.

Episode 43: Dallas, Conventions, and Vaccines 19.07.2016 59:13

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. Time stamps Dallas: 4:13 Conventions: 19:33 Vaccines: 35:23 WMH: 46:36

Episode 42: Elie Wiesel, Clinton's Emails, and Guns N Roses 12.07.2016 52:10

In this week's episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate Elie Wiesel's impact on Americans' memory of the Holocaust, the place of Clinton's email controversy in presidential scandals, and the legacy of Guns N Roses.

Episode 41: Pat Summitt, Hellerstedt, and the Democratic Sit-In 05.07.2016 56:27

In 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.

Episode 40: Brexit, Camps for Grownups, and Trump's Missing Campaign 28.06.2016 55:03

In this week's episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate the politics of Brexit, the growing popularity of adult summer camps, and Donald Trump's missing campaign. Time stamps: Brexit: 3:15 Camps: 15:00 Campaign In Absentia: 30:38 WMH: 44:08