Nicole Hemmer

Nicole Hemmer is a contributing editor to US News & World Report and host of the Past Present podcast. She works as a research associate at the University of Virginia's Miller Center and the University of Sydney's US Studies Centre.

michael pollan cooked fact check

Past Present Podcast: Apple v. US, Michael Pollan, and Guantanamo Bay

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On this week’s Past Present podcast, Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, and Neil Young discuss Apple vs. the US, Michael Pollan’s “Cooked,” and Guantanamo Bay. Apple vs U.S. The federal government has sued Apple to develop technology that will allow it to access the locked iPhone of the San Bernardino terrorists. Neil noted the government […]

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Kendrick Lamar

Past Present Podcast: Antonin Scalia, Samantha Bee, and the Grammys

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On this week’s Past Present podcast, Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, and Neil Young discuss Antonin Scalia, Samantha Bee and women in comedy, and the Grammy Awards. Replacing Scalia The death of Antonin Scalia has opened up a spot on the Supreme Court and created a political controversy about his replacement. Niki noted Scalia’s reputation

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Beyonce Formation

Past Present Podcast: The Zika Virus, Beyonce’s Formulation, and Hillary Clinton’s Feminism Problem

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On this week’s Past Present podcast, Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, and Neil Young discuss the Zika virus, Beyonce’s “Formation,” and Hillary Clinton’s feminism problem. The Zika Virus The mosquito-borne virus is ravaging Brazil, but starting to spread globally. Natalia pointed to how rubella outbreaks in the 1960s helped change European abortion laws, a relevant

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Oscars

Past Present Podcast: #OscarsSoWhite, Oprah and Weight Watchers, and the Iowa Caucus

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On this week’s Past Present podcast, Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, and Neil Young discuss #OscarsSoWhite, Oprah Winfrey and the history of Weight Watchers, and why Iowa’s caucus goes first. #OscarsSoWhite For the second year in a row, the Academy Awards will feature only white nominees in the acting categories, leading to an #OscarsSoWhite boycott.

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new york values

Past Present Podcast: Flint’s Water, New York Values, and Wheaton College

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  On this week’s Past Present podcast, Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, and Neil Young discuss Flint’s water crisis, New York values, and Wheaton College. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: The water crisis in Flint, Michigan, is the latest challenge this post-industrial town has faced. Niki recommended the book,

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David Bowie

Past Present Podcast: David Bowie, Bikini Bodies, and Natural Born Citizens

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  On this week’s Past Present podcast, Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, and Neil Young discuss David Bowie, bikini bods, and Ted Cruz and natural born citizenship. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Fans around the world have mourned the death of David Bowie. Niki remembered she first encountered Bowie

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oregon white guys

Past Present Podcast: The Oregon Standoff, Executive Orders, and Downton Abbey

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On this week’s Past Present podcast, Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, and Neil Young discuss the Oregon standoff, President Obama and executive orders, and Downton Abbey. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: The grievances listed by armed militants in the Oregon standoff include the federal government’s ownership and regulation of

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