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.

Wedding cake

Past Present: Masterpiece Cakeshop, Presidential Pardons, and Separated Families

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In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, Donald Trump’s use of the presidential pardon, and the American tradition of separating families. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the baker who refused to make a […]

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Past Present: Twinks, a Manhattan Con Artist, and the Ford Mustang

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In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki debate the rise of the “twink” aesthetic, Manhattan con artist Anna Sorokin/Delvey, and the cultural endurance of the Ford Mustang. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: The New York Times has declared “the age of the twink.” Neil referred to this 2003 New York Times article on the

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Past Present Podcast:Incels, Mormonism and Race, and Millennials and Personal Finance

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In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate the “incel” community, the role of race in Mormon history, and the thrift-shaming of millennials. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: In the wake of a Toronto terrorist attack, “incels,” or involuntary celibates, are gaining attention. Niki referred to this New York Times article about Jordan Peterson.

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Past Present Podcast: “This is America,” NRATV, and Instagramming Museums

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In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia debate Childish Gambino’s viral video “This is America,” the launching of NRATV, and how Instagram is changing museums. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, generated major buzz with the release of the song and video “This is America.”

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Past Present Podcast: the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the Golden State Killer, and Remembering the Holocaust

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In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia debate the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the Golden State Killer, and the news that Americans are forgetting the Holocaust. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: At this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, comedian Michelle Wolf caused controversy. You can watch Wolf’s full performance here. Niki

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Past Present Podcast: Sean Hannity, Gayborhoods, and Running Tutus

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  In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate the Sean Hannity phenomenon, battles over the “gayborhood,” and the popularity of running tutus. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Conservative media personality Sean Hannity has attained new fame thanks to his proximity to President Trump. Niki referred to her Washington Post piece arguing Hannity is more

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Hack

Past Present Podcast: Bonus Episode 4 – The Equifax Hack

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In this episode of Past Present, Neil, Natalia, and Niki debate the Equifax hack. We discussed the Equifax hack in the context of the history of credit. Niki recommended historian Louis Hyman’s book Debtor Nation: The History of America in Red Ink. Natalia commented on the cultural sensitivity of exposing financial information in particular, citing

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