5 chapters across the catalog
The discussion covers the ubiquity of racial slurs in early 20th-century American life, from song titles on the Billboard charts to household products. It then moves to the 1960s and 70s, highlighting Muhammad Ali's refusal to serve in Vietnam and Richard Pryor's use of the word to achieve crossover comedic success.
A clip from the 1970s BBC film "News Benders" depicts a journalist being recruited into a secret organization that "plans the news" for the upcoming year. The dialogue suggests that hard-hitting journalism is often traded for "soufflés" (soft content) once a reporter joins the establishment. The hosts compare this fictional recruitment to the modern patterns of media manipulation and predictable news cycles.
The conversation explores the racial tensions inherent in the Cosby case, comparing its societal impact to the trials of O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson. The hosts question the narrative of a Black man "randomly assaulting" women in the 1970s without consequence, given the era's extreme racial volatility. They argue that these stories are often used by the media to ferment emotional investment and social division.
The hosts review a Biden campaign ad targeted at Black voters, which promised to end cash bail and decriminalize marijuana. They mock Biden's "Soul of America" slogan as an outdated 1970s reference and question the sincerity of his promises given his long legislative history.
Scientific writer Helen Pilcher recounts the 1970s case of Sam Schuman, who was told he had three months to live due to terminal cancer. Schuman died exactly on schedule, but an autopsy revealed only a tiny, non-lethal tumor. His doctor concluded he died not from cancer, but from the belief that he was dying. The hosts link this to the current 24/7 news cycle's impact on mortality.
