

Yoni Appelbaum On Migration Within America
24 snips Feb 21, 2025
Yoni Appelbaum, a journalist and deputy executive editor at The Atlantic, dives into the intricate history of zoning in America. He reveals the surprising racist origins of these laws and how they continue to affect poor communities today. Growing up as an Orthodox Jew in Boston, Yoni shares his personal journey from politics to journalism. The discussion also touches on the significance of mobility in early America, the challenges faced by immigrants, and how progressivism inadvertently restricts upward movement for marginalized groups.
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Early Political Involvement
- Yoni Appelbaum volunteered for Paul Tsongas' presidential campaign as a teenager.
- He stuffed envelopes and answered phones, gaining early experience in politics.
Yeshiva Experience
- After high school, Yoni Appelbaum spent a year at a yeshiva in Jerusalem.
- This experience allowed him to focus on studying for its own sake, outside the American career-driven mindset.
Path to Journalism
- Yoni Appelbaum, while procrastinating, corrected Ta-Nehisi Coates in a blog comment section.
- Coates recognized Appelbaum's historical knowledge and helped him get a writing position at The Atlantic.