Podcasts about misunderstood era

On this episode, past guests of Books with Betsy and I share our favorite books of 2024! Listen to hear about lots of great 2024 books and the excellent backlist we got to this year.    Books mentioned in this episode:    Betsy's Best Categorically (books that…):  Shocked me:  How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix  None of This is True by Lisa Jewell  The Night House by Jo Nesbø Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra  Made me Cry: North Woods by Daniel Mason  The Bee Sting by Paul Murray  Underrated: God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer by Joseph Earl Thomas  Witness by Jamel Brinkley  Victim by Andrew Boryga  Fire Exit by Morgan Talty  Recommend Widely: Erasure by Percival Everett  Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar  Hard to Recommend:  Yr Dead by Sam Sax  Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina  Made me Think About my Life Differently: When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era by Donovan X. Ramsey Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman    Books Highlighted by Guests: Mawuli Grant Agbefe:  Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever by Matt Singer  Having and Being Had by Eula Bliss  Your Face Belongs to Us: A Tale of AI, a Secretive Startup, and the End of Privacy by Kashmir Hill Mean Girl Feminism: How White Feminists Gaslight, Gatekeep, and Girlboss by Kim Hong Nguyen We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance by Kellie Carter Jackson Mapping the Stars: Celebrity, Metonymy and the Networked Politics of Identity by Claire Sisco King Sam Wilmes:  Such Kindness by Andre Dubus III  We Spread by Iain Read We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer  My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell   The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro Amie Medley:  Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen  Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan  Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel  North Woods by Daniel Mason  The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño Tanima Kazi:  The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi  One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig  Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig  Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose  The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose  Stacy Jezerowski:  We Solve Murders by Richard Osman  Beautiful Villain by Rebecca Kenney Sarah Sabet:  Klara & The Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro  Atonement by Ian McEwan  Men Have Called Her Crazy by Anna Marie Tendler The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden  The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen Anna Deem:  The Nix by Nathan Hill  Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk by Kathleen Hanna Cat Shieh:  Give Me Space But Don't Go Far: My Unlikely Friendship with Anxiety by Haley Weaver Bullshit Jobs: A Theory by David Graeber  Just Us: An American Conversation by Claudia Rankine The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates  I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee  Mo Smith:  The Truth About Melody Browne by Lisa Jewell The Lightning Bottles by Marissa Stapley  The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop All The Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker  Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens Leah @Dishingonbooks:  Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen  Grief is For People by Sloane Crosley Clean by Alia Trabucco Zerán  James by Percival Everett  A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole  Emily McClanathan:  Babel by R.F. Kuang  Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood by Gretchen Sisson  Mean Spirit by Linda Hogan  A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy by Tia Levings

This week on the GeekWire Podcast, our guest is entrepreneur and investor Ben Gilbert,  co-founder and co-host of the hit podcast Acquired. Ben and his colleague David Rosenthal have developed a huge following for their deep-dive, long-form podcasts telling the stories behind some of the most successful companies in the world, and they recently released Microsoft Volume II, the second installment in their epic exploration of the Redmond-based technology giant.  We talk about Microsoft's misunderstood era, with help from some archival highlights from GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop's interviews with Bill Gates over the years. It's a timely topic given Microsoft's 50th anniversary in 2025 and the company's resurgence as one of the most valuable and relevant companies in the tech industry with the rise of AI.  Before we jump in, we ask Ben to catch us up on all things Acquired. The podcast is the talk of Silicon Valley and Wall Street, as documented in a Wall Street Journal profile. Acquired just announced a live arena show coming up on Sept. 10 featuring Mark Zuckerberg at Chase Center in San Francisco, the home of the Golden State Warriors.  Edited and produced by Curt Milton.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Black and Published, Nikesha speaks with Donovan X. Ramsey, author of the book, When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era. The book, which was long listed for a National Book Award, is a work of narrative nonfiction exploring how Black America survived the crack epidemic. The book is born out of Donovan's work as a journalist and a Demos Emerging Voices Fellow. In our conversation, Donovan explains why giving context to what happened to Black people and the Black community during the crack epidemic is part of his God given purpose. Plus, the spiritual message he received about his writing that guides his career And, why he say the right substance at the wrong time can make us repeat the drug history we've already lived. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

In the Sunday Book Review, Tom Fox considers books that interest the compliance professional, the business executive, or anyone curious. It could be books about business, compliance, history, leadership, current events, or anything else that might interest me. In today's edition of the Sunday Book Review, Tom continues his summer exploration of books on crime. Today, he looks at the remaining five of the top ten books longlisted for the National Book Award in non-fiction. The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History by Ned Blackhawk King: A Life by Jonathan Eig A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, A History, A Memorial by Viet Thanh Nguyen The Slip: The New York City Street That Changed American Art Forever by Prudence Peiffer When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era by Donovan X. Ramsey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To understand what's behind existing wealth and opportunity gaps, history is sometimes our greatest teacher. But chances are when we think of the crack era, our minds go to how it was depicted in the media or political campaigns and policing in the 1980s and 1990s. Do we really know the individuals who suffered and what happened to them? And while people suffered, who profited? How do the failures of that epidemic continue to haunt and hold back our plight against drugs, as well as social justice and wealth equality today? Donovan Ramsey is our guest and the author of the new, acclaimed book WHEN CRACK WAS KING: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era. (This episode aired originally on July 31). Subscribe to Farnoosh's newsletter Get $300 in bonuses when you pre-order A Healthy State of Panic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ruling classes didn't build those cages to stay empty.

The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan's war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey's exacting analysis traces the path from the last triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to the devastating realities we live with today: a racist criminal justice system, continued mass incarceration and gentrification, and increased police brutality. When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World, 2023) follows four individuals to give us a startling portrait of crack's destruction and devastating legacy: Elgin Swift, an archetype of American industry and ambition and the son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a "crack house"; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict and sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, the longtime mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark's most legendary group of drug traffickers. Weaving together riveting research with the voices of survivors, When Crack Was King is a crucial reevaluation of the era and a powerful argument for providing historically violated communities with the resources they deserve. A journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America, Ramsey's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among a host of other outlets, and he's worked at such venerable newsrooms as the Los Angeles Times and the Marshall Project. A native of Columbus, Ohio, where he saw the crack epidemic firsthand, Donovan now lives in LA. When Crack was King, released to great acclaim, is his first book. Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America (Basic Books, 2017). A drug historian and writer, her second book, on the development of the opioid addiction medication industry, is under contract with the University of Chicago Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan's war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey's exacting analysis traces the path from the last triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to the devastating realities we live with today: a racist criminal justice system, continued mass incarceration and gentrification, and increased police brutality. When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World, 2023) follows four individuals to give us a startling portrait of crack's destruction and devastating legacy: Elgin Swift, an archetype of American industry and ambition and the son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a "crack house"; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict and sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, the longtime mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark's most legendary group of drug traffickers. Weaving together riveting research with the voices of survivors, When Crack Was King is a crucial reevaluation of the era and a powerful argument for providing historically violated communities with the resources they deserve. A journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America, Ramsey's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among a host of other outlets, and he's worked at such venerable newsrooms as the Los Angeles Times and the Marshall Project. A native of Columbus, Ohio, where he saw the crack epidemic firsthand, Donovan now lives in LA. When Crack was King, released to great acclaim, is his first book. Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America (Basic Books, 2017). A drug historian and writer, her second book, on the development of the opioid addiction medication industry, is under contract with the University of Chicago Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan's war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey's exacting analysis traces the path from the last triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to the devastating realities we live with today: a racist criminal justice system, continued mass incarceration and gentrification, and increased police brutality. When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World, 2023) follows four individuals to give us a startling portrait of crack's destruction and devastating legacy: Elgin Swift, an archetype of American industry and ambition and the son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a "crack house"; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict and sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, the longtime mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark's most legendary group of drug traffickers. Weaving together riveting research with the voices of survivors, When Crack Was King is a crucial reevaluation of the era and a powerful argument for providing historically violated communities with the resources they deserve. A journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America, Ramsey's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among a host of other outlets, and he's worked at such venerable newsrooms as the Los Angeles Times and the Marshall Project. A native of Columbus, Ohio, where he saw the crack epidemic firsthand, Donovan now lives in LA. When Crack was King, released to great acclaim, is his first book. Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America (Basic Books, 2017). A drug historian and writer, her second book, on the development of the opioid addiction medication industry, is under contract with the University of Chicago Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan's war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey's exacting analysis traces the path from the last triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to the devastating realities we live with today: a racist criminal justice system, continued mass incarceration and gentrification, and increased police brutality. When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World, 2023) follows four individuals to give us a startling portrait of crack's destruction and devastating legacy: Elgin Swift, an archetype of American industry and ambition and the son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a "crack house"; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict and sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, the longtime mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark's most legendary group of drug traffickers. Weaving together riveting research with the voices of survivors, When Crack Was King is a crucial reevaluation of the era and a powerful argument for providing historically violated communities with the resources they deserve. A journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America, Ramsey's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among a host of other outlets, and he's worked at such venerable newsrooms as the Los Angeles Times and the Marshall Project. A native of Columbus, Ohio, where he saw the crack epidemic firsthand, Donovan now lives in LA. When Crack was King, released to great acclaim, is his first book. Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America (Basic Books, 2017). A drug historian and writer, her second book, on the development of the opioid addiction medication industry, is under contract with the University of Chicago Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan's war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey's exacting analysis traces the path from the last triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to the devastating realities we live with today: a racist criminal justice system, continued mass incarceration and gentrification, and increased police brutality. When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World, 2023) follows four individuals to give us a startling portrait of crack's destruction and devastating legacy: Elgin Swift, an archetype of American industry and ambition and the son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a "crack house"; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict and sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, the longtime mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark's most legendary group of drug traffickers. Weaving together riveting research with the voices of survivors, When Crack Was King is a crucial reevaluation of the era and a powerful argument for providing historically violated communities with the resources they deserve. A journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America, Ramsey's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among a host of other outlets, and he's worked at such venerable newsrooms as the Los Angeles Times and the Marshall Project. A native of Columbus, Ohio, where he saw the crack epidemic firsthand, Donovan now lives in LA. When Crack was King, released to great acclaim, is his first book. Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America (Basic Books, 2017). A drug historian and writer, her second book, on the development of the opioid addiction medication industry, is under contract with the University of Chicago Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/drugs-addiction-and-recovery

The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan's war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey's exacting analysis traces the path from the last triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to the devastating realities we live with today: a racist criminal justice system, continued mass incarceration and gentrification, and increased police brutality. When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World, 2023) follows four individuals to give us a startling portrait of crack's destruction and devastating legacy: Elgin Swift, an archetype of American industry and ambition and the son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a "crack house"; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict and sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, the longtime mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark's most legendary group of drug traffickers. Weaving together riveting research with the voices of survivors, When Crack Was King is a crucial reevaluation of the era and a powerful argument for providing historically violated communities with the resources they deserve. A journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America, Ramsey's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among a host of other outlets, and he's worked at such venerable newsrooms as the Los Angeles Times and the Marshall Project. A native of Columbus, Ohio, where he saw the crack epidemic firsthand, Donovan now lives in LA. When Crack was King, released to great acclaim, is his first book. Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America (Basic Books, 2017). A drug historian and writer, her second book, on the development of the opioid addiction medication industry, is under contract with the University of Chicago Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan's war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey's exacting analysis traces the path from the last triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to the devastating realities we live with today: a racist criminal justice system, continued mass incarceration and gentrification, and increased police brutality. When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World, 2023) follows four individuals to give us a startling portrait of crack's destruction and devastating legacy: Elgin Swift, an archetype of American industry and ambition and the son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a "crack house"; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict and sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, the longtime mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark's most legendary group of drug traffickers. Weaving together riveting research with the voices of survivors, When Crack Was King is a crucial reevaluation of the era and a powerful argument for providing historically violated communities with the resources they deserve. A journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America, Ramsey's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among a host of other outlets, and he's worked at such venerable newsrooms as the Los Angeles Times and the Marshall Project. A native of Columbus, Ohio, where he saw the crack epidemic firsthand, Donovan now lives in LA. When Crack was King, released to great acclaim, is his first book. Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America (Basic Books, 2017). A drug historian and writer, her second book, on the development of the opioid addiction medication industry, is under contract with the University of Chicago Press. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The crack epidemic has had seismic impact on American culture, from music to TV and film. This week, Brittany Luse talks to Donovan X. Ramsey, author of When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era, about why pop culture can't let go of the "crack fiend" or the drug dealing anti-hero. They discuss how both those tropes miss some very big marks, where the stereotypes originated and who tried to set the record straight.You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at ibam@npr.org.

While Kris was on vacation, too much went down. Rest in Power to O'Shae Sibley, Brittney Griner taking time off for her mental health, Women's World Cup is showing OUT and girl....Lizzo?!?! Kris and Shana were outside on vacations at the Renaissance World Tour and in Jamaica, they are here to give you the recap. And Bad Queer discussions around calling organizations in and finding your community with an intersectional identity. Shoutouts: Shana: Queer Urban Orchestra - NYC's premier LGBTQA orchestra, providing a decade of innovative programming to the New York Community. Follow and catch a performance @queerurbanorchestra on IG Kris: Donovan X. Ramsey - author, journalist who just released a phenomenal book, “When Crack Was King - A People's History of a Misunderstood Era”. A “vivid and frank” (NPR) account of the crack cocaine era and a community's ultimate resilience, told through a cast of characters whose lives illuminate the dramatic rise and fall of the epidemic . Follow on IG @donovanxramseyAffiliates we actually love Support Lucky Skivvies and our pod by using coupon code badqueers10 for 10% off your next purchase. Treat your butt today.Shop NowEmail us for advice at badqueerspodcast@gmail.com or DM on InstagramFollow us @badqueerspod on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram & Tik TokLove our soundtrack? Check out Siena Liggins: @sienaligginsLike us? Love us? Leave a review The opinions expressed during this podcast are conversational in nature and expressed only for comedic purposes. Not all of the facts will be correct but we attempt to be as accurate as possible. BQ Media LLC, the hosts, nor any guest host(s) hold no liability over the conversations on this podcast and by using this podcast you understand that it is solely for entertainment purposes. Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use"...

To understand what's behind existing wealth and opportunity gaps, history is sometimes our greatest teacher. But chances are when we think of the crack era, our minds go to how it was depicted in the media or political campaigns and policing in the 1980s and 1990s. Do we really know the individuals who suffered and what happened to them? And while people suffered, who profited? How do the failures of that epidemic continue to haunt and hold back our plight against drugs, as well as social justice and wealth equality today? Donovan Ramsey is our guest and the author of the new, acclaimed book WHEN CRACK WAS KING: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you think of when you hear the term, “crack cocaine?” The drug is at the heart of an epidemic in the 1980's that destroyed lives. But for writer Donovan X. Ramsey, a lot of our assumptions and understandings about this era are actually mistruths. So he wrote When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era.  He tells Kai that the full truth reveals, “how deep the harm goes in America when it comes to anti-Blackness.” Send us your song for our summer playlist! What's a song that represents your personal diaspora story? Go to notesfromamerica.org and click on the “RECORD” button to leave a voice note with your answer. Tell us the name of that song and the artist, and a 1-minute story that goes along with it. We'll gather all of the songs and your stories in a Spotify playlist that we'll update all summer.  Tell us what you think. Instagram and Twitter: @noteswithkai. Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or going to Instagram and clicking on the link in our bio. “Notes from America” airs live on Sunday evenings at 6pm ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts. Tune into the show on Sunday nights via the stream on notesfromamerica.org or on WNYC's YouTube channel.

This week on The Maris Review, Maris talks with Donovan X. Ramsey about his new book, When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era, out now from One World Books. Donovan X. Ramsey is a journalist, author, and voice on issues of race, politics, and patterns of power in America. His reporting has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ, Ebony, and Essence. He has been a staff reporter at the Los Angeles Times, NewsOne, and theGrio and has served as an editor at The Marshall Project and Complex. Ramsey holds a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Morehouse College. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donovan X. Ramsey is a journalist and author who writes about issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America. His reporting has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among other outlets and he's been a staff reporter at the Los Angeles Times, NewsOne, and theGrio. He just released to much critical acclaim his debut book When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era, which explores how Black America survived the crack epidemic. Join us for this extremely important, riveting conversation which explores the origins of the crack epidemic of the 1980's and early 90's; the "war on drugs" and "just say no" era; criminal injustice and racism; the current opioid and fentanyl crisis; and more. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Journalist Donovan X. Ramsey joins us to talk about his illuminating narrative nonfiction book When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era. Donovan explains exactly what crack is, talks about the disparities in crack sentencing, and the ways the media and rap music influenced the era.The Stacks Book Club selection for July is Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. We will discuss the book on July 26th with Joel Christian Gill.You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/07/19/ep-276-donovan-x-ramseyEpisode TranscriptConnect with Donovan: Instagram | Twitter | WebsiteConnect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | SubscribeSUPPORT THE STACKSJoin The Stacks Pack on PatreonTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week's sponsors, click here.Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

DeRay, Kaya, De'Ara and Myles  cover the underreported news of the week on affirmative action — the irony of opposition, a push for adversity scores, and the future of diversity policies in Hollywood and corporate employment. DeRay interviews author and journalist Donovan Ramsey on the pod to chat about his newest book When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era.NewsDeRayGOP attorneys general tee off on large corporations over diversity policiesKayaWith End of Affirmative Action, a Push for a New Tool: Adversity ScoresDe'AraHollywood Diversity Initiatives May Be Challenged After Supreme Court Affirmative Action RulingMylesWhite women benefit most from affirmative action. So why do they oppose it? 

“When people think of the crack epidemic, they think of crime,” the journalist Donovan X. Ramsey tells David Remnick. “But they don't necessarily know the ways that it impacted the most vulnerable—the ways that it changed the lives of people who sold it, who were addicted to it, who loved people who sold it or were addicted to it.” Ramsey's new book, “When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era,” weaves the stories of four people who survived the epidemic into a historical analysis of how crack led to the erosion of dozens of American cities—but also of how the crack epidemic eventually ended. “I didn't know what life was like before crack,” Ramsey, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1987, says. “I wanted to understand the ways that it shaped our society.”

Notes and Links to Donovan X. Ramsey's Work    For Episode 192, Pete welcomes Donovan X. Ramsey, and the two discuss, among other things, his early relationship with language, formative and transformative writers like bell hooks, Zora Neale Hurston, Phillip Roth, Colson Whitehead, and the inimitable Toni Morrison, connotations and legal policies that are products of the mythmaking and propagandizing of the “crack era,” the emblematic stories of the people followed in Donovan's book, historical precedent for the over policing and oppression of Black people in the US, and optimism and pessimism to be seen in the stories of the crack era and of today.      Donovan X. Ramsey is a journalist, author, and an indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in America. His reporting has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ, WSJ Magazine, Ebony, and Essence, among other outlets. He has been a staff reporter at the Los Angeles Times, NewsOne, and theGrio. He has served as an editor at The Marshall Project and Complex. Ramsey's writing career has been focused entirely on amplifying the remarkable unheard stories of Black America. He believes in people-first narratives that center individuals and communities—not just issues. His memorable magazine work includes profiles of Deion Sanders, Killer Mike, and Bubba Wallace for GQ; and Bryan Stevenson and Ibram Kendi for WSJ Magazine. Ramsey is the author of When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era, a work of narrative nonfiction exploring how Black America survived the crack epidemic for One World, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House, the world's largest trade book publisher. He was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He holds degrees from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where he concentrated in magazine journalism, and Morehouse College, a historically black college in Atlanta. Today, he calls Los Angeles home.     Buy When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era   Donovan's Website   Review in The New York Times of When Crack Was King   Interview with The Los Angeles Times about When Crack Was King At about 2:55, Donovan gives background on his early reading and writing life   At about 6:00, Donovan and Pete fanboy over Toni Morrison, who Donovan calls “the greatest to ever do it”   At about 7:30, Donovan discusses his love of Phillip Roth's work, as well as that of Zora Neale Hurston and Colston Whitehead's work   At about 9:50, Donovan talks about ideas of representation and how he was taken care of intellectually   At about 12:30, Donovan references current writers who thrill and challenge him, including Colson Whitehead, Mat Johnson, and Stephen King, whose cover of It inspired the cover for When Crack Was King   At about 14:30, Donovan responds to Pete's questions about long form versus “longer form” and how he dove into the research   At about 17:50, Donovan cites jazz as a must when he's writing   At about 19:00, Pete points to “crack era laws” Donovan references that seemed to be seeds for the book, and Donovan responds by mentioning Isabel Wilkerson's The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration as an important “seed” for the book   At about 23:00, Donovan talks about the connotations that come with the word “crackhead,” as well as government and official language that served to dehumanize drug users and Black Americans    At about 26:20, Pete compliments and notes about a “good historical revision” in use of language that is not dehumanizing    At about 27:10, Pete marks the book's eight-part structure    At about 28:30, Pete points out the book's interesting and necessary historical background that is provided   At about 29:05, Donovan responds to Pete's asking about Nixon's “War on Drugs” and the preceding and succeeding years in drug and policing policies; he specifically speaks about Nixon's “Southern Strategy”    ***At about 33:10, The two discuss connections between events charted in the book with events of today and lament how, since history is cyclical,” there is little   At about 34:20, Pete and Donovan discuss the “inconsistent[cy}” in the US government's and society's view of drugs and punishment    At about 38:15, Donovan explains the Richard Pryor story and Lenny Bias' tragic death in the context of mythmaking and propaganda around crack cocaine   At about 40:10, The newspaper article “Jimmy's World” and the almost unbelievable circus around it is discussed    At about 44:20, “Gabo” weighs in on “Jimmy's World!”   At about 44:45, Donovan charts the historical consequences of racist tropes regarding drugs and their supposed transference of superhuman qualities for Blacks and other people of color   At about 47:25, The two discuss Kurt Schmoke's turn towards the decriminalization of drugs    At about 52:00, Donovan reflects on the economic ties between so much of society and the “War   At about 53:15, The two discuss the Democrats' emphasis on “tough on crime” in the crack era and beyond, as well as the need for making things right now, with the adjustment of laws and redress of past wrongs   At about 57:20, Pete discusses the importance of Dre Dre and other hip musicians as part of bringing the crack era to an end, as well as communities standing up to bring use down   At about 58:40, Donovan talks about pessimism that came after finishing the book in 2020, including the case of young Black men being barred from selling water in Atlanta    At about 1:02:25, Pete highlights the power of the individual stories in the book, including a beautiful andeote involving Shawn-Coach McCray   At about 1:04:00, Donovan responds to Pete's questions about any optimism he feels in examining the individual stories of Shawn, Lennie, Elgin, Kurt, and others   At about 1:06:50, Donovan talks about exciting upcoming projects, including podcast potential    At about 1:08:00, Donovan shouts out Reparations Club in Los Angeles, For Keeps Bookstore in Atlanta, and McNally Jackson Books in New York as good places to buy his book, as well as his social media/contact info    You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I'm @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I'm @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you're checking out this episode.    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!    NEW MERCH! You can browse and buy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChillsatWillPodcast    This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I'd love for your help in promoting what I'm convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com. Check out the next episode with Ethan Chatagnier, which airs today, July 18.    Ethan is the author of Singer Distance, a novel lauded by NPR Books and The Millions. His short fiction has appeared in a variety of literary journals including the Kenyon Review Online and he has won a Pushcart Prize and been listed as notable in the Best American Short Stories.     Again, the episode with Ethan will air today, July 18.  

Donovan X. Ramsey is a journalist and author of the new book When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era. “I've only ever wanted to write about Black people—and that includes the elements of our lives that are difficult. I've always prided myself on being able to metabolize that information and not really be harmed by it. And this book really taught me that writing and processing is not just something that you do in your head. That the information does go through you as you're trying to make sense of it. And it's not happening to you, right? It's not like a direct form of PTSD that you have, but you do experience some trauma when you open up your imagination in that way.” Show notes: @donovanxramsey donovanxramsey.com Ramsey on Longform Podcast When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era (One World • 2023) 02:00 Ramsey's Los Angeles Times archive 05:00 The Warmth of Other Suns (Isabel Wilkerson • Vintage • 2011) 35:00 "America's ‘crack' plague has roots in Nicaragua war" (Gary Webb • San Jose Mercury News • Aug 1996) 35:00 "Shadowy origins of ‘crack' epidemic" (Gary Webb • San Jose Mercury News • Aug 1996) 35:00 "War on drugs has unequal impact on black Americans" (Gary Webb • San Jose Mercury News • Aug 1996) 45:00 The 1619 Project (Nikole Hannah-Jones et al. • New York Times • 2019) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Liberty and Vanessa discuss The Mistress of Bhatia House, The Librarianist, The Centre, and more great books. Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher and never miss a book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. What do S.A. Cosby, Khaled Hosseini, Sarah Bakewell, and Yahdon Israel have in common? They've been guests on Book Riot's newest podcast, First Edition where BookRiot.com co-founder Jeff O'Neal explores the wide bookish world. Subscribe to hear them and stay to hear Book Riot's editors pick the "it" book of the month. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed On the Show: The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt The Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey The Deepest Map: The High-Stakes Race to Chart the World's Oceans by Laura Trethewey Chasing Shadows: My Life Tracking the Great White Shark by Greg Skomal and Ret Talbot  Kiss Mi, Mi Amor by Alana Quintana Albertson  When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era by Donovan X. Ramsey The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi Life on Other Planets: A Memoir of Finding My Place in the Universe by Aomawa Shields   The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy by Moiya McTier  The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein  Interesting Facts about Space by Emily Austin   Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper The Carnivale of Curiosities by Amiee Gibbs For a complete list of books discussed in this episode, visit our website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 191 Notes and Links to Sarah's Work       On Episode 191 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Sarah Fawn Montgomery, and the two discuss, among other things, her early reading and writing, storytelling, growing up in Central California, the ways in which blue-collar Americans have been depicted-or not depicted in literature, and salient themes in her essay collection, like nostalgia, father-daughter relationships, cycles of poverty and violence and trauma, and evolving ideas of home.      Sarah Fawn Montgomery is the author of Halfway from Home (Split/Lip Press, 2022), Quite Mad: An American Pharma Memoir (The Ohio State University Press, 2018) and the poetry chapbooks Regenerate: Poems of Mad Women (Dancing Girl Press, 2017), Leaving Tracks: A Prairie Guide (Finishing Line Press, 2017), and The Astronaut Checks His Watch (Finishing Line Press, 2014). Her work has been listed as notable in Best American Essays many times, and her poetry and prose have appeared in Brevity, Crab Orchard Review, DIAGRAM, Electric Literature, LitHub, New England Review, The Normal School, Passages North, Poetry Foundation, The Rumpus, Southeast Review, Terrain, and numerous other journals and anthologies. She holds an MFA in creative writing from California State University-Fresno and a PhD in English in creative writing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is an Associate Professor at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts.      Buy Halfway from Home: Essays   Sarah's Website   Review of Halfway from Home: Essays from Kirkus Review   Split Rock Review-Review of Halfway from Home   At about 2:20, Sarah talks about her early relationships with reading and writing, and about how she wanted to write stories about often-overlooked working-class people   At about 4:20, Sarah cites some early favorite books and writers, and she analyzes the ways she reads a favorite, Joan Didion, now differently than she did then   At about 7:00, The two discuss class and how it is talked about in our society (or not) and represented in literature    At about 9:00, Sarah discusses how she got excited about writing-she shouts out to a high school teacher who gave a meaningful and transformative journal assignment and invited Sarah to keep writing   At about 13:00, Sarah references nonfiction writers who thrilled her in college-like Audre Lorde, Sandra Cisneros, and Jamaica Kincaid-and thrill her today, like Chen Chen, Ada Limón, Donika Kelly, Saeed Jones, Dorothy Chan, and torrin a. greathouse     At about 14:40, Sarah recounts the genesis of her Halfway From Home collection and answers Pete's questions about making the individual essays cohere   At about 17:40, Pete summarizes the book's first essay and its “dig sites” and focus on her father's whimsy and her love of dirt-it's called “Excavation”    At about 19:00, Sarah speaks to the significance of “excavation” in the first story and beyond   At about 21:00, Pete compliments the story's “imagined ending” and Sarah speaks about its significance and background    At about 23:25, Sarah discusses the power and symbolism of fire and light, cold and darkness, as featured in her book   At about 26:10, The two discuss ideas of homes, serenity, and respite from traumas and chaos   At about 31:30, The two discuss her essay on cartography   At about 35:40, Pete muses   At about 37:00, The history of Sarah's family in mines is discussed, along with the multiple meanings of “descendants”   At about 40:50, Sarah talks about “complicating humanity,” especially with regards to her grandfather and grandmother   At about 42:15, Pete asks about the end of an essay and how Sarah approached its second-person address   At about 44:20, The two discuss nostalgia and its connections to the essays, the intriguing concept of saudade, and nostalgia's history as something to be discouraged   At about 48:35, Pete recounts how nostalgia has informed the podcast's ethos   At about 50:45, Sarah confesses to being “anti-time” (!) and the two reference a classic Saved by the Bell scene   At about 54:45, Cycles of violence as depicted in the essay are examined   At about 56:45, Sarah reflects on how she sees and saw he father throughout her collection and in more recent times   At about 1:01:00, Pete notes the ways in which women in Sarah's family are portrayed in her collection    At about 1:02:30, Pete compliments a beautiful scene with father and daughter and Sarah talks about the nostalgia associated with parents and childhood-Pete    At about 1:04:45, Sarah shares an interesting new project involving combatting ableist writing as default    At about 1:05:50, The two fan boy/girl over Alice Wong's work   At about 1:06:15, Sarah shouts out her publisher Split Lip Press as a place to buy her book   At about 1:06:45, Sarah gives out social media/contact information    You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow me on IG, where I'm @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where I'm @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch this and other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both my YouTube Channel and my podcast while you're checking out this episode.    Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl     Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting my one-man show, my DIY podcast and my extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!    NEW MERCH! You can browse and buy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChillsatWillPodcast    This is a passion project of mine, a DIY operation, and I'd love for your help in promoting what I'm convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.    Please tune in for Episode 192 with Donovan X Ramsey. He is a journalist, author, and indispensable voice on issues of identity, justice, and patterns of power in América; When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era comes out on June 11, i.e. the day this episode with Sarah has been published.  The episode will air on July 18.

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the federal case against Donald Trump involving national-security documents, Atlanta's Cop City training facility, and Elizabeth Gilbert's decision to delay her next book situated in Soviet-era Russia.    Join us for a live taping! Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C., Wednesday June 28, 7:30 p.m., Sixth & I. In-person and virtual tickets on sale now.   Here are some notes and references from this week's show:  Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America by Maggie Haberman Jonathan Swan, Charlie Savage, and Maggie Haberman for The New York Times: “The Radical Strategy Behind Trump's Promise to ‘Go After' Biden” Esteban L. Hernandez for Axios: “Denver's STAR set to expand amid tension over its future”  Patrick Quinn for Atlanta News First: “'Stop Cop City' Sen. Warnock interrupted during commencement address” Eat Pray Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert Mark Healy for GQ: “Women's Favorite Author to Women: Don't Get Married!” Elizabeth Gilbert on Twitter: “Important announcement about THE SNOW FOREST.” Mike Dash for Smithsonian Magazine: “For 40 Years, This Russian Family Was Cut Off From All Human Contact, Unaware of World War II” Philip Kennicott for The Washington Post: “Ukraine wants a boycott of Russian culture. It's already happening.” Franklin Foer for The Atlantic: “Eat, Pray, Pander” Peter Beaumont for The Guardian: “Author resigns from PEN America board amid row over Russian writers panel” Imogen West-Knights for Slate: “The Saga Over Elizabeth Gilbert's “Russian Novel” Has an Uncomfortable Lesson—and It's Not for Her” The Enigma of Clarence Thomas by Corey Robin    Here are this week's chatters: John: Simrin Singh for CBS News: “Phosphorus, essential element needed for life, detected in ocean on Saturn's moon”; William Harwood for CBS News: “New evidence of water plumes on Jupiter's moon Europa; could it support life?” Emily: The Forgotten Girls: A Memoir of Friendship and Lost Promise in Rural America by Monica Potts; When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era by Donovan X. Ramsey David: Muster Dogs on The ABC: “Five graziers from across Australia are given five Kelpie puppies from the same litter and set with the challenge of transforming these uniquely Australian dogs into champion muster dogs.” Listener chatter from Phil: Jay Caspian Kang for The New Yorker: “Notes on Losing”; Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis—Lessons from a Master by Brad Gilbert and Steve Jamison; John Dickerson for Slate: “Risk”   For this week's Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John discuss with Joel Anderson @byjoelanderson his podcast, Slow Burn: Becoming Justice Thomas.   In the next edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Peter Singer @PeterSinger about his book, Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed.    Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)   Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the federal case against Donald Trump involving national-security documents, Atlanta's Cop City training facility, and Elizabeth Gilbert's decision to delay her next book situated in Soviet-era Russia.    Join us for a live taping! Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C., Wednesday June 28, 7:30 p.m., Sixth & I. In-person and virtual tickets on sale now.   Here are some notes and references from this week's show:  Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America by Maggie Haberman Jonathan Swan, Charlie Savage, and Maggie Haberman for The New York Times: “The Radical Strategy Behind Trump's Promise to ‘Go After' Biden” Esteban L. Hernandez for Axios: “Denver's STAR set to expand amid tension over its future”  Patrick Quinn for Atlanta News First: “'Stop Cop City' Sen. Warnock interrupted during commencement address” Eat Pray Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert Mark Healy for GQ: “Women's Favorite Author to Women: Don't Get Married!” Elizabeth Gilbert on Twitter: “Important announcement about THE SNOW FOREST.” Mike Dash for Smithsonian Magazine: “For 40 Years, This Russian Family Was Cut Off From All Human Contact, Unaware of World War II” Philip Kennicott for The Washington Post: “Ukraine wants a boycott of Russian culture. It's already happening.” Franklin Foer for The Atlantic: “Eat, Pray, Pander” Peter Beaumont for The Guardian: “Author resigns from PEN America board amid row over Russian writers panel” Imogen West-Knights for Slate: “The Saga Over Elizabeth Gilbert's “Russian Novel” Has an Uncomfortable Lesson—and It's Not for Her” The Enigma of Clarence Thomas by Corey Robin    Here are this week's chatters: John: Simrin Singh for CBS News: “Phosphorus, essential element needed for life, detected in ocean on Saturn's moon”; William Harwood for CBS News: “New evidence of water plumes on Jupiter's moon Europa; could it support life?” Emily: The Forgotten Girls: A Memoir of Friendship and Lost Promise in Rural America by Monica Potts; When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era by Donovan X. Ramsey David: Muster Dogs on The ABC: “Five graziers from across Australia are given five Kelpie puppies from the same litter and set with the challenge of transforming these uniquely Australian dogs into champion muster dogs.” Listener chatter from Phil: Jay Caspian Kang for The New Yorker: “Notes on Losing”; Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis—Lessons from a Master by Brad Gilbert and Steve Jamison; John Dickerson for Slate: “Risk”   For this week's Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John discuss with Joel Anderson @byjoelanderson his podcast, Slow Burn: Becoming Justice Thomas.   In the next edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Peter Singer @PeterSinger about his book, Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed.    Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)   Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the federal case against Donald Trump involving national-security documents, Atlanta's Cop City training facility, and Elizabeth Gilbert's decision to delay her next book situated in Soviet-era Russia.    Join us for a live taping! Political Gabfest Live in Washington, D.C., Wednesday June 28, 7:30 p.m., Sixth & I. In-person and virtual tickets on sale now.   Here are some notes and references from this week's show:  Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America by Maggie Haberman Jonathan Swan, Charlie Savage, and Maggie Haberman for The New York Times: “The Radical Strategy Behind Trump's Promise to ‘Go After' Biden” Esteban L. Hernandez for Axios: “Denver's STAR set to expand amid tension over its future”  Patrick Quinn for Atlanta News First: “'Stop Cop City' Sen. Warnock interrupted during commencement address” Eat Pray Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert Mark Healy for GQ: “Women's Favorite Author to Women: Don't Get Married!” Elizabeth Gilbert on Twitter: “Important announcement about THE SNOW FOREST.” Mike Dash for Smithsonian Magazine: “For 40 Years, This Russian Family Was Cut Off From All Human Contact, Unaware of World War II” Philip Kennicott for The Washington Post: “Ukraine wants a boycott of Russian culture. It's already happening.” Franklin Foer for The Atlantic: “Eat, Pray, Pander” Peter Beaumont for The Guardian: “Author resigns from PEN America board amid row over Russian writers panel” Imogen West-Knights for Slate: “The Saga Over Elizabeth Gilbert's “Russian Novel” Has an Uncomfortable Lesson—and It's Not for Her” The Enigma of Clarence Thomas by Corey Robin    Here are this week's chatters: John: Simrin Singh for CBS News: “Phosphorus, essential element needed for life, detected in ocean on Saturn's moon”; William Harwood for CBS News: “New evidence of water plumes on Jupiter's moon Europa; could it support life?” Emily: The Forgotten Girls: A Memoir of Friendship and Lost Promise in Rural America by Monica Potts; When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era by Donovan X. Ramsey David: Muster Dogs on The ABC: “Five graziers from across Australia are given five Kelpie puppies from the same litter and set with the challenge of transforming these uniquely Australian dogs into champion muster dogs.” Listener chatter from Phil: Jay Caspian Kang for The New Yorker: “Notes on Losing”; Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis—Lessons from a Master by Brad Gilbert and Steve Jamison; John Dickerson for Slate: “Risk”   For this week's Slate Plus bonus segment, David, Emily, and John discuss with Joel Anderson @byjoelanderson his podcast, Slow Burn: Becoming Justice Thomas.   In the next edition of Gabfest Reads, Emily talks with Peter Singer @PeterSinger about his book, Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed.    Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com or Tweet us @SlateGabfest. (Messages may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)   Podcast production by Cheyna Roth Research by Julie Huygen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices