Episode 199: Whistleblowers, Church Arsons, and Co-Working Spaces

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the role of whistleblowers in American politics, the recent string of church arsons, and the trend of co-working spaces.

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

• An intelligence officer has filed a complaint regarding Donald Trump’s interactions with the president of Ukraine. We discussed the history of whistleblowing and Niki noted the role of Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon papers in shaping contemporary ideas about whistleblowing. Natalia referenced the founding fathers’ attention to protecting whistleblowers.
• The FBI is currently investigating a string of church arsons in El Paso, Texas. Natalia noted that the racist motivations behind many church arsons are often questioned by conservatives, such as Michelle Malkin.
• The co-working company WeWork may be going under. Natalia mentioned a New York Times Magazine profile of WeWork that detailed how work and socialization go hand in hand in these co-working spaces.

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

• Natalia discussed her recent CNN piece, “Why It’s So Scary When Trump Tweets about Civil War.”
• Neil shared the New York Times article, “Labradoodle Creator Says the Breed Is His Life’s Regret.”
• Niki talked about Lorelei Lee’s n+1 essay, “Cash/Consent.”