NBN Book of the Day - William Kiser, “The Business of Killing Indians: Scalp Warfare and the Violent Conquest of North America” (Yale UP, 2025)
In Cormac McCarthy's 1985 Western, Blood Meridian, the story follows infamous scalp hunter John Joel Glanton through the Mexican borderlands in the mid-19th century. How much of this story is myth, and how much history, asks Texas A&M-San Antonio history professor William Kiser. In his new book, The Business of Killing Indians: Scalp Warfare and the Violent Conquest of North America (Yale UP, 2025), Kiser argues that scalp hunting, or scalp warfare as it may more accurately be called, was in many ways more brutal, and more nuanced and complex, than popular imaginings often describe. By following the practice from 17th century New France to colonial and early republic New England, through to the southwestern borderlands and finally the California gold rush in the mid-19th century, Kiser uncovers important differences, as well as throughlines, from time to time and place to place. In doing so, The Business of Killing Indians shows that there is no one story of Native-settler relations, and that while structural forces like markets and colonialism matter a great deal, when it comes to violence, the devil truly lies in the details.
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New Books in Native American Studies - William Kiser, “The Business of Killing Indians: Scalp Warfare and the Violent Conquest of North America” (Yale UP, 2025)
In Cormac McCarthy's 1985 Western, Blood Meridian, the story follows infamous scalp hunter John Joel Glanton through the Mexican borderlands in the mid-19th century. How much of this story is myth, and how much history, asks Texas A&M-San Antonio history professor William Kiser. In his new book, The Business of Killing Indians: Scalp Warfare and the Violent Conquest of North America (Yale UP, 2025), Kiser argues that scalp hunting, or scalp warfare as it may more accurately be called, was in many ways more brutal, and more nuanced and complex, than popular imaginings often describe. By following the practice from 17th century New France to colonial and early republic New England, through to the southwestern borderlands and finally the California gold rush in the mid-19th century, Kiser uncovers important differences, as well as throughlines, from time to time and place to place. In doing so, The Business of Killing Indians shows that there is no one story of Native-settler relations, and that while structural forces like markets and colonialism matter a great deal, when it comes to violence, the devil truly lies in the details.
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Opening Arguments - Alito Fails to Understand a Kids’ Book — and Other Fascist Mega-Fails of the Week!
OA1153 - It's good news Friday! Here are some stories about American fascists losing or otherwise showing their asses in court, including (among others):
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The Supreme Court comes through strong for immigrant justice at 1 AM on a Saturday morning
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Samuel Alito fails to properly interpret a book written at a fourth grade level after having his Easter ruined by immigrant justice
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DOJ accidentally files an embarrassing internal memo into the record
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Sarah Palin’s tries and fails to sue the New York Times for libel for the second time
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one federal judge stops Trump's attempt to do the SAVE Act through an executive order, while another reverses an ICE kidnapping
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Neil Gorsuch does a genuinely good thing for non-citizens through a simple act of textualism
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DOJ pulls out one of the most ridiculous excuses for violating a court order in US legal history
Finally, a meta-footnote on why Matt is ready to join the calls to impeach national hero James Boasberg for his radical views on the utility of (what else) footnotes.
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SCOTUS’s decision in Monsalvo-Velasquez v. Bondi (4/22/25)
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Vermont federal district court order returning Rumeysa Ozturk to Vermont
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Courtlistener docket for D.V.D. v. DHS
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Courtlistener docket for American Oversight v. Hegseth
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What A Day - Job Cuts Come For the State Department
Secretary of State Marco Rubio spent part of his Thursday gilding President Donald Trump's lily, saying during an Oval Office Q&A with reporters that ‘no leader is working harder to prevent wars or end them.’ Rubio’s confident air, however, runs contrary to reports of fear and chaos reigning at the State Department under his leadership. Earlier this week, the agency released plans for a pretty sizable reorganization. They call for the elimination of hundreds of domestic positions and the axing of offices that focus on things like war crimes and global conflict. Nahal Toosi, senior foreign affairs correspondent for Politico, explains what the State Department reorganization will mean for American foreign diplomacy, and what it says about the Trump administration’s worldview.
And in headlines: Trump begged Russian President Vladimir Putin to “STOP” bombing Ukraine amid ongoing peace talks, Trump asked the Supreme Court to let his administration enforce its ban on trans troops in the military after a lower court judge put it on hold, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly had Signal installed on a desktop computer at the Pentagon.
Show Notes:
- Read Nahal Toosi's work - https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/04/17/trump-us-africa-relationship-column-00293046
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The NewsWorthy - ‘Vladimir, STOP!’, More Judges Block Trump & Cuddle Manager Retires – Friday, April 25, 2025
The news to know for Friday, April 25, 2025!
We’re talking about President Trump’s direct message to Russia’s leader in the aftermath of a brutal attack.
And the preparations underway for Pope Francis’ funeral this weekend, along with new court rulings over Trump’s policies on immigration, elections, and D-E-I.
Plus, the latest impact of tariffs on corporate America, how rules are changing for self-driving cars, and what to expect from a sold-out Stagecoach this year.
Those stories and even more news to know in about 10 minutes!
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Pod Save America - Elon Gets DOGE’d
As Tesla's losses mount, Elon Musk promises to step away from his work at DOGE and focus on his flailing car company. Trump and his top advisers flip-flop on China tariffs, even as Trump steers more cash into his own pocket by raffling off White House access to the top investors in his memecoin. Exclusive new polling shows Trump's weaknesses on immigration, even as the administration continues its crackdown and the courts push back. Jon and Dan discuss if Elon is gone for good or merely taking a sabbatical, whether DOGE will hold any sway without him, and how a high-profile exit from CBS's 60 Minutes is a troubling sign for media everywhere. Then, Jon and Dan sit down with Amanda Litman, the co-founder of Run For Something, to talk about her new book for Crooked Media Reads, When We’re in Charge, a brilliant guide for young people looking to get into leadership positions.
For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
The Best One Yet - 🕯️ “Everyone’s watching it” — Conclave’s Pope pop. Uber’s robo-VW-hippie-van taxi. The Great Capitalist Pause.
Since the Pope passed, streaming of “Conclave” is up 3,200%... It’s the power of Shelf IP.
Uber & VW just hooked up for robo-hippie-van taxis… It captures Uber’s Switzerland Strategy.
Every company’s put their investment plans on ice… We call it the Great Capitalist Pause.
Plus, Starbucks bought 200,000 Sharpies… now its new CEO wants a doodle on every cup.
$UBER $VWAGY $AMZN $NFLX
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Short Wave - This Telescope Could Find “Planet 9”
Read more of science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce's reporting here.
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The Indicator from Planet Money - Student loans are back, US travel is whack, and, AI, please, step back
On today's episode, we investigate falling foreign travel to the U.S., why student loan default collections are back, and why maaaaaaaybe being so friendly with our AI chatbot pals has a cost.
Related episodes:
Economists take on student loan forgiveness
Is AI overrated? (Apple / Spotify)
Is AI underrated? (Apple / Spotify)
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