72: The Stories that Shaped France in 2020 with guests Lauren Collins and Aida Alami

This is the final episode of this train wreck year. But to recap in a way that goes beyond the specifically wrenching horror of Covid, I’m joined by my friends and regular guests Lauren Collins and Aida Alami. We’re going to chat about some of the OTHER big stories that shaped France in 2020. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Lauren Collins: https://twitter.com/laurenzcollins Aida Alami: https://twitter.com/AidaAlami Benjamin Griveaux scandal: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/14/world/europe/france-paris-mayor-benjamin-griveaux-macron.html Agnès Buzyn drama: https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20200605-covid-agn%C3%A8s-buzyn-macron-mayor-paris-coronavirus Gabriel Matzneff investigation: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/11/world/europe/gabriel-matzneff-pedophilia-france.html Christophe Girard scandal: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/16/world/europe/christophe-girard-gabriel-matzneff-paris-france.html Lies about masks: https://www.france24.com/en/20200405-coronavirus-abrupt-reversal-on-mask-policy-in-france-and-the-us-raises-new-questions BLM and antiracism protests: https://www.france24.com/en/20200613-protesters-gather-in-paris-for-fresh-march-against-racism-and-police-brutality Lauren's Assa Traoré profile: https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-europe/assa-traore-and-the-fight-for-black-lives-in-france Knife attack: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/multiple-people-injured-in-knife-attack-outside-former-charlie-hebdo-offices/2020/09/25/a152d4ce-ff1d-11ea-b0e4-350e4e60cc91_story.html Sonic boom over Paris: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54357839 Death of teacher Samuel Paty: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/10/30/france-nice-knife-attack-samuel-paty-murder-criminalizing-muslims/ France vs the world on laicité/Islamaphobia Gerarld Darmanin and his anti-"ethnic aisle" stance: https://www.politico.eu/article/gerald-darmanin-france-complaint-religious-food-aisles-sparks-criticism/ France and separatism/loi sécurité globale: https://www.politico.eu/article/france-law-emmanuel-macron-islamist-separatism-security/ Macron vs the English-language media: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/16/macron-france-foreign-media-new-york-times Ben Smith piece on Macron: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/15/business/media/macron-france-terrorism-american-islam.html Vaccine delays in France: https://www.francetvinfo.fr/sante/maladie/coronavirus/vaccin/infographies-vaccination-contre-le-covid-19-la-france-est-pour-l-instant-tres-en-retard-sur-ses-voisins-europeens_4238653.html Emily in Paris (ugh): https://www.france24.com/en/20201015-emily-in-paris-the-myth-of-la-vie-en-rose-lives-on