Episode 131: The Israeli Embassy, Tom Wolfe, and Sports Gambling

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil debate the movement of the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, the life and legacy of the late author Tom Wolfe, and the legalization of sports gambling.

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Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show:

President Trump officially moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and violence in Gaza ensued. Neil wrote about Trump’s stance in his Huffington Post column this week. Natalia recommended this Tablet article breaking down the context for the violence in Gaza. “New Journalism” pioneer Tom Wolfe died this week. Natalia cited two of her favorite Wolfe works, Radical Chic and Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers and Bonfire of the Vanities and recommended this Atlantic piece chronicling the neologisms Wolfe has coined. A Supreme Court ruling has lifted a ban on sports betting. Neil cited this NPR piece on the potential implications of the decision for college and amateur athletes.

In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:

Neil discussed the news that the Salt Lake Tribune has laid off a third of its newsroom. Natalia talked about the show “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and Laura Ansley’s analytical essay at Nursing Clio, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: Feminism, Mental Health, and Musicals Meet on the Boob Tube.” Niki shared Diane Peters’ JSTOR Daily article, “Treadmills Were Meant to be Atonement Machines.”