Episode 196: FBI on College Campuses, John Bolton, and Technology and Women's Voices

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss government surveillance of American universities, the political career of John Bolton, and the technological and cultural reasons women’s voices are often insulted as “shrill.”

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

• The FBI has urged U.S. universities to monitor certain students and scholars visiting from China. Natalia referred to this history of spying on campus from the Harvard Crimson.
• National security adviser John Bolton is the latest Trump appointee to have left the administration. Neil referred to this New Yorker profile of Mike Pompeo and Niki to this one of John Bolton.
• A New Yorker article describing how audio technology has historically been calibrated to male voices went viral. Niki referred to this BBC piece on women’s changing voices. Natalia recommended this article from The Cut on the policing of women’s voices.

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

• Natalia recommended Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s novel, Fleishman is in Trouble.
• Neil shared Brandon Ambrosino’s Politico piece, “’Someone’s Gotta Tell the Freakin’ Truth’: Jerry Falwell’s Aides Break Their Silence.”
• Niki discussed Daniel E. Slotnik’s New York Times article, “Chris March, Over-the-Top Fashion Designer, Dies at 56.”