In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the political ascent of Pete Buttigieg, infighting within the far right, and the 50th anniversary of Sesame Street.
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Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show:
“Mayor Pete,” once a long-shot candidate, is increasingly a serious contender for the Democratic presidential nomination. Natalia referred to Michael Kruse’s POLITICO piece about the electoral viability of a gay candidate. Neil noted Buttigieg had won the 2000 Profile in Courage Essay Contest for an essay on Bernie Sanders. Donald Trump, Jr. was recently shouted offstage at UCLA by protesters on the Right known as “Groypers.” Niki referred to Trump, Jr.’s new book, Triggered, and to this Southern Poverty Law Center article, “Stephen Miller’s Affinity for White Nationalism Revealed in Leaked Emails.” Sesame Street, the stalwart children’s television show, turns 50 this month. Neil referred to this Smithsonian article about the program’s origins in Black culture.
In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:
Natalia discussed Sacha Baron Cohen’s keynote speech at the Anti-Defamation League. Neil shared Zachariah Chou’s New York Times opinion piece, “Why We’re Impeaching Our Student Body President Over Trump Jr.” Niki likened the revelation that Donald Trump Jr.’s book sales are driven by strategic bulk purchases to a similar scandal in the Nixon era.