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.

Wonder Woman

Past Present Podcast: The Cosby Trial, Wonder Woman, and Fidget Spinners

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In this week’s episode of Past Present, Niki, Natalia, and Neil debate jury selection in the Bill Cosby trial, Wonder Woman and feminism, and the fidget spinner. The Cosby Trial In light of jury selection that has begun for Bill Cosby’s sexual assault trial, we discussed the history of trial-by-jury. Commentators have drawn links between […]

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University Commencement

Past Present Podcast: HBCUs, Rebecca Tuvel, and Commencement Speeches

Podcast /

In this week’s episode of Past Present, Neil, Natalia, and Niki debate historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), the Rebecca Tuvel controversy, and commencement speeches. HBCUs Donald Trump recently suggested that a federal program that finances construction projects on historically black college and university campuses may be unconstitutional. But a few days later, he expressed

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Music Festival

Past Present Podcast: Fyre Festival, the 1992 LA Uprisings, and North Korea

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In this week’s episode of Past Present, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the causes of the Fyre Festival fiasco, the anniversary of the LA uprisings, and the history of US-North Korea relations. Fyre Festival After the last-minute cancellation of the Fyre Festival, we discussed the history of music festivals and how they have become VIP

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Supreme Court

Past Present Podcast: The Graham Rule, the Nuclear Option, and Pepsi Protesting

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In this week’s episode of Past Present, Neil, Natalia, and Niki debate Mike Pence’s rules for women colleagues, the end of the Senate filibuster, and Pepsi’s attempt to coopt Black Lives Matter.   The Graham Rule A recent profile of Mike Pence’s wife, Karen, in the Washington Post resurrected a detail Mike Pence shared in

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Mall

Past Present Podcast: Universal Basic Income, Scientific Racism, and Malls

Podcast /

In this week’s episode of Past Present, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate the push for universal basic income, the rising visibility of scientific racism, and the disappearance of shopping malls.  Universal Basic Income The call for a Universal Basic Income has become popular again, thanks in part to attention Andy Stern has received for his

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