Month: June 2025

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The Allusionist - 211. Four Letter Words: -gate

The other day was the 53rd anniversary of the break-in at the Watergate Hotel, which not only caused a lot of political uproar, it had a big linguistic legacy: the suffix -gate to mean a scandal. Today, as part of Four Letter Word season, we have a list of -gates - royal, sporting, political, food, showbiz - it's a non-exhaustive list because there are so many, and new ones are being spawned all the time. Content warning for all sorts of bad human behaviour.

At theallusionist.org/gate you'll find a transcript of this episode, plus links to more information about many of the -gates, and to the rest of Four Letter Word season.

Also check theallusionist.org/events for upcoming live shows, including a special collab with Material Girls podcast, and an event with Samin Nosrat for her new book Good Things.

Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses about every episode, livestreams with me and my collection of dictionaries, and the charming and supportive Allusioverse Discord community.

This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman, on the unceded ancestral and traditional territory of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. The music is by Martin Austwick. Download his songs at palebirdmusic.com and listen to his podcasts Song By Song and Neutrino Watch.

Find the Allusionist at youtube.com/allusionistshow, instagram.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow, @allusionistshow.bsky.social… If I’m there, I’m there as @allusionistshow. 

Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk compellingly about your product, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Understance, a growing Vancouver BC company making thoughtfully designed, pretty and comfy bras, undies and sleepwear. They’re having a sale on June 26-July 1 so get over there and stock up at understance.com or at their stores in Vancouver, Burnaby, Calgary and Toronto.

• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running your online forever home. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

• Home Chef, meal kits that fit your needs. For a limited time, Home Chef is offering Allusionist listeners fifty per cent off and free shipping on your first box, plus free dessert for life, at HomeChef.com/allusionist.

• Rosetta Stone, immersive and effective language learning. Allusionist listeners get 50% off unlimited access to all 25 language courses, for life: go to rosettastone.com/allusionist.

• Quince, luxurious clothing and homewares at prices 50-80% lower than comparable brands. Go to Quince.com/allusionist for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.



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WSJ Minute Briefing - U.S. Home Sales Rise Slightly in May, But Remain Near Historic Lows

Plus: Israel continues to hammer Iran but says that it’s looking to wrap up the war with its rival soon. The U.S. warns of possible retaliation from strikes on Iran. And New York plans to build a nuclear power plant. Alex Ossola hosts.


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Marketplace All-in-One - Are federal cuts threatening food safety?

Last week, a listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat meals sold at Walmart and Kroger led to hospitalizations and three deaths. Major DOGE cuts targeted administrative and communications staff at food safety agencies, and some experts worry there could be further weakening of America's food safety systems. We'll hear more. But first: We'll give an update on oil markets and the Middle East, and learn about the work left to do on the big tax and spending bill.

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Focus on Africa - Inside Cape Town’s gang wars

The South African city of Cape Town is one of the wealthiest cities in Africa, but it's also one of the most unequal. The city has now become the country's gang capital with more than a hundred gangs fighting for control of the lucrative drugs trade. We hear from a local journalist who grew up near one of the most volatile communities in the country, Hanover Park.

Also, why the UNESCO protected town of Djenne in Mali is becoming a burden for locals.

And the African diaspora community wanting to lay claim to a tiny piece of land, tucked betweeen Sudan and Egypt.

Presenter: Charles Gitonga Producers: Amie Liebowitz, Yvette Twagiramariya and Nyasha Michelle in London, with Richard Kagoe in Nairobi. Technical Producer: Jonathan Greer Senior Journalist: Karnie Sharp Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi

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Good Bad Billionaire - Coming soon: Good Bad Dead Billionaire

We’re back – but with a difference! Find out how some of the world's most famous dead billionaires made their money. Meet five billionaires who helped build the United States of America. First up: oil tycoon John D Rockefeller, the world’s first billionaire. Simon Jack and Zing Tsjeng also revisit the lives of motor magnate Henry Ford, the aviator and filmmaker Howard Hughes, Walmart founder Sam Walton, and Hetty Green - once dubbed “The Witch of Wall Street”. These iconic billionaires may be dead, but their fingerprints are everywhere in modern industry - in business trusts, IPOs, and mass production. They did it all first, but how did they make their billions? Season 4 of Good Bad Dead billionaire starts on Monday 7 July 2025. And this season, we really want to know what you think - are they good, bad, or just another billionaire? Email goodbadbillionaire@bbc.co.uk or send a voice message or text to 001 917 686 1176. Don’t forget to leave your name. We might read your comments out.

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The Commentary Magazine Podcast - Destroying Nuclear Sites Is Good, Not Bad

Today's podcast explores the strange disappointment of so-called "arms control" experts at the effort to eliminate Iran's nuclear program—which they seem to oppose on the grounds that it threatens efforts on paper to control nuclear proliferation. Also, Trump as a gift to the Jewish people and the dangers of tomorrow's NYC mayoral primary. Give a listen.


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Newshour - What will Iran do next?

After the US's unprecedented strikes over the weekend, the future of Iran's nuclear programme remains uncertain. Israel has sent a new wave of strikes hitting, among other targets, Evin prison which is home to many political prisoners. The US President Donald Trump has indicated he would not rule out regime change in the country.

Also on the programme, our first glimpse through a powerful new telescope, set atop a mountain in Chile; and, how online conspiracy theories are poising a danger to cancer treatments.

(Photo: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in southern Tehran, Iran, 4 June, 2025. Credit: Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency/Reuters)

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Bad Faith - Episode 484 Promo – Can the Left Learn From Zohran? (w/ Ross Barkan)

Subscribe to Bad Faith on Patreon to instantly unlock this episode and our entire premium episode library: http://patreon.com/badfaithpodcast

Journalist & author of CUOMO: Return of the Dark Prince Ross Barkan returns to Bad Faith to discuss with Brie his tight coverage of the New York City mayoral race. Barkan worked closely with socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani back when Zohran managed Ross' 2017 State Senate campaign, and he can offer unique insight into how Mamdani has managed to surge to the top of the polls against corrupt, billionaire-backed sex pest and former governor Andrew Cuomo. Also discussed: what it means to run a good campaign, what we might expect to see on election day, and what the left can learn from Zohran no matter the outcome.

Subscribe to Bad Faith on YouTube for video of this episode. Find Bad Faith on Twitter (@badfaithpod) and Instagram (@badfaithpod).

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Native America Calling - Monday, June 23, 2025 – Deb Haaland’s next chapter in public service

Deb Haaland’s (Laguna Pueblo) political star rose fast, from heading her state party to congresswoman to U.S. Secretary of the Interior. Each step of the way she blazed a trail for Native women. As the head of the agency that oversees Indian Affairs, Haaland championed a first-of-its-kind documentation of the U.S. Government’s role in the Indian Boarding School Era, drawing on both public records and first-hand testimony from survivors and their descendants. Now, she aims to become the first female Native American governor in her home state of New Mexico. We’ll hear from Haaland about her legacy as Interior Secretary and her hopes for the future.

The Grand Coulee Dam in Washington State. It’s one of the factors endangering salmon along the Columbia River. (Photo: Bureau of Reclamation via Flickr/CC)

We’ll also get perspectives on the historic agreement between the federal government and Northwest tribes to protect endangered salmon, and the equally historic decision by President Donald Trump to rescind that agreement. We’ll discuss what it means for salmon and the trust in the federal government.

GUESTS

Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo), former U.S. Secretary of the Interior

Erik Holt (Nez Perce), chairman of the Nez Perce Tribe Fish and Wildlife Commission

Jeremy Takala (Yakama), member of the Yakama Nation tribal council and the chair of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission

 

Break 1 Music: On the Road Missing Home (Corn Dance) (song) Sheldon Sundown (artist) Hand Drum/Smoke N’ Round Dance (album)

Break 2 Music: The Wild One (song) Link Wray (artist)