Watch this episode on YouTube. Today, we're taste-testing a variety of gas station meat sticks while discussing the latest silly news, from Trump's trial to Elizabeth Warren's problem with green texts. You're not going to want to miss this episode!
From Bill Clinton playing his saxophone on The Arsenio Hall Show to Barack Obama referencing Jay-Z's song "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," politicians have used music not only to construct their personal presidential identities but to create the broader identity of the American presidency. Through music, candidates can appear relatable, show cultural competency, communicate values and ideas, or connect with a specific constituency. On a less explicit level, episodes such as Clinton's sax-playing and Obama's shoulder brush operate as aural and visual articulations of race and racial identity. But why do candidates choose to engage with race in this manner? And why do supporters and detractors on YouTube and the Twittersphere similarly engage with race when they create music videos or remixes in homage to their favorite candidates?
With Barack Obama, Ben Carson, Kamala Harris, and Donald Trump as case studies, Tracks on the Trail: Popular Music, Race, and the US Presidency (U Michigan Press, 2023) sheds light on the factors that motivate candidates and constituents alike to articulate race through music on the campaign trail and shows how the racialization of sound intersects with other markers of difference and ultimately shapes the public discourse surrounding candidates, popular music, and the meanings attached to race in the 21st century. Gorzelany-Mostak explores musical engagement broadly, including official music in the form of candidate playlists and launch event setlists, as well as unofficial music in the form of newly composed campaign songs, mashups, parodies, and remixes.
This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars.
As the first week of the first criminal trial of a former President in U.S. history wraps up, we prepare for our special coverage of People v. Trump by stepping back to remember how we got here. Why is Donald Trump being prosecuted for paying off Stormy Daniels, anyway? Who are all of these people? How good is the prosecution’s case, really? And what can we expect from the defense?
We also answer a few patron questions about the trial, after which subscribers will enjoy a dramatic rendition of the best bit of this week’s gag order violation hearing: Trump attorney Todd Blanche’s struggle to convince the court that his client’s retweets are not, as a matter of law, endorsements.
PATRON EXTRA! Beginning now, Patreon subscribers will enjoy longer episodes with special bonus content as part of our special coverage of People v. Trump: Thomas and Matt’s readings from our favorite parts of the daily trial transcripts. Subscribe at www.patreon.law/law for the good stuff!
We'll tell you about a severe weather threat across several American states, as well as which major university called off its graduation ceremony for security reasons, and why disgraced Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein got his rape conviction overturned.
Plus, new pollution rules could force coal plants to close, refunds are going out to many Amazon Ring customers, and this year's NFL Draft broke records.
Those stories and more news to know in just over 10 minutes!
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Thursday in former President Donald Trump’s presidential immunity case. Trump’s lawyer tried to assert that there’s almost no situation under which a sitting president can face criminal charges, not even ordering a military coup or sharing nuclear secrets. It is a landmark case with big implications for both this year’s election as well as some of the other criminal cases Trump faces. Leah Litman, co-host of Crooked’s “Strict Scrutiny,” says Trump’s team is trying to normalize conduct that is inconsistent with democracy and the rule of law.
And in headlines: Pro-Palestinian protests spread to more college campuses, Manhattan’s DA vowed to retry Harvey Weinstein after the producer’s New York rape conviction was overturned, and Apple forecasted a bleak outlook for its Vision Pro headsets.
Ten years ago, Flint, Mich. switched water sources to the Flint River. The lack of corrosion control in the pipes caused lead to leach into the water supply of tens of thousands of residents. Pediatrician Mona Hanna-Attisha recognized a public health crisis in the making and gathered data proving the negative health impact on Flint's young children. In doing so, she and community organizers in Flint sparked a national conversation about lead in the U.S. water system that persists today.
Today on the show, host Emily Kwong and science correspondent Pien Huang talk about the state of Flint and other cities with lead pipes. Efforts to replace these pipes hinge on proposed changes to the EPA's Lead and Copper Rule.
Have questions or comments for us to consider for a future episode? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear from you!
The nine Supreme Court justices have a major question before them. Is a current or former president immune from prosecution?
Former President Donald Trump is facing prosecution for alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Trump argues that his actions as president are protected from prosecution under presidential immunity.
Trump lawyer John Sauer argued Thursday before the Supreme Court that unless a president is first impeached and convicted by the Senate, he is immune from prosecution, explains John Malcolm, senior legal fellow and vice president for the Institute for Constitutional Government at The Heritage Foundation. (Heritage founded The Daily Signal in 2014.)
Now, Malcolm says, the justices have to answer three questions in order to make a decision in the Trump case:
One, is there a blanket immunity for a president's official actions because he was not impeached and convicted by the Senate? Two, what is a private action and what is an official action? And three, if the court rejects John Sauer’s, absolute immunity argument, will there be any other kind of immunity that might attach to an official action?
We brought up a surprise guest for our Live TBOY show in NYC: Marc Lore, the founder of the most iconic ecommerce brands of all time — and the most energetic entrepreneur we’ve ever met…
Marc sold Diapers.com to Amazon for $550M, he sold Jet.com to Walmart for $3.3B, he owns an NBA team, he’s building a tech city in the desert, and he just raised nearly $1B for Wonder to disrupt the restaurant industry.
He almost left the interview in the middle of the show because he had a business idea he wanted to get a head start on.
We’re kidding (but not really). Marc is just that exciting, smart, and unique. So we wanted to share this entire chat from our live performance with you, our whole podcast audience. Because few people in life are as motivating as this legendary New Yorker, Marc Lore.
The TikTok ban that has been floating around Washington since the last administration has been signed into law. What does that mean for users, creators and the court battles ahead?
Guest:
Louise Matsakis, reporter covering tech and China.
Dillon White, TikToker under the handle @dadchats
Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.