Throughline

From BTS to Squid Game to high-end beauty standards, South Korea reigns as a global exporter of pop culture and entertainment. How does a country go from a war-decimated state just 70 years ago, to a major driver of global soft power? Through war, occupation, economic crisis, and national strategy, comes a global phenomenon - the Korean wave.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's been over a century since a self-described socialist was a viable candidate for president of the United States. And that first socialist candidate, Eugene V. Debs, didn't just capture significant votes, he created a new and enduring populist politics deep in the American grain. This week, the story of Eugene V. Debs and the creation of American socialism.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Unseen, they stalk their targets from thousands of feet in the air. Operators are piloting them from military bases halfway across the world. At any moment, they could launch a strike that comes without warning. The attack drone was supposed to be a symbol of the era of precision warfare — a way to wage wars with fewer casualties on both sides. It's a technology that's been honed since it was first dreamed up during World War 1. But are drones actually precise enough? Do drones desensitize us to the casualties of civilians caught between us and our enemies? In this episode, we will explore the past, present and future of drone warfare.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

How did a small group of Islamic students go from local vigilantes to one of the most infamous and enigmatic forces in the world? The Taliban is a name that has haunted the American imagination since 2001. The scenes of the group's brutality repeatedly played in the Western media, while true, perhaps obscure our ability to see the complex origins of the Taliban and how they impact the lives of Afghans. It's a shadow that reaches across the vast ancient Afghan homeland, the reputation of the modern state, and throughout global politics. At the end of the US war in Afghanistan we go back to the end of the Soviet Occupation and the start of the Afghan civil war to look at the rise of the Taliban.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Afghanistan has, for centuries, been at the center of the world. Long before the U.S. invasion — before the U.S. was even a nation — countless civilizations intersected there, weaving together a colorful tapestry of foods, languages, ethnicities and visions of what Afghanistan was and could be. The story of Afghanistan is too often told from the perspective of outsiders who tried to invade it (and always failed) earning it the nickname "Graveyard of Empires." In this episode, we're shifting the perspective. We'll journey through the centuries alongside Afghan mystical poets. We'll turn the radio dial to hear songs of love and liberation. We'll meet the queen who built the first primary school for girls in the country. And we'll take a closer look at Afghanistan's centuries-long experiment to create a unified nation.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Inflation is affecting everything from gas prices to groceries, leaving many feeling the pinch in their budgets. Personal stories from Lemon Grove highlight the emotional toll of rising costs. A historical look reveals how past U.S. governments have tackled inflation, including a notable community rally in Queens and President Nixon's surprising televised address to freeze prices. The evolving role of the Federal Reserve and its interactions with political leaders like Clinton and Greenspan add layers to the complexities of managing economic stability.

In this engaging discussion, Nikole Hannah-Jones, an investigative journalist at The New York Times and creator of the 1619 Project, dives into the complexities of historical narratives. She challenges conventional perspectives on American history, focusing on the importance of centering Black American experiences. The conversation also examines the backlash against the 1619 Project, revealing the ideological conflicts that arise when confronting uncomfortable truths. Hannah-Jones emphasizes the necessity of inclusive histories to foster understanding and promote equality.

Elizabeth Tandy Shermer, an associate professor of history, and Josh Mitchell, a Wall Street Journal reporter, dive into the historical evolution of student loans and the staggering $1.7 trillion debt burden. They discuss the post-WWII GI Bill as a double-edged sword, democratizing education yet excluding marginalized groups. The rise of Sallie Mae and its impact on student financing reveals an exploitative relationship with banks, while the late 20th century experience highlights growing inequality in access to higher education.

Explore the chaotic summer of 1967 when a police raid in Detroit ignited widespread civil unrest across America. Discover the groundbreaking Kerner Commission's shocking findings on the roots of violence: inequality, racism, and police brutality. Reflect on how these issues, highlighted in the report, resonate with today's societal tensions. The struggles within law enforcement and the emotional fallout from the commission's conclusions reveal the complex interplay of politics and race relations that continue to challenge America.

School District 28 is located in one of the most racially and ethnically diverse places in the U.S.: Queens, N.Y. But the neighborhood served by this school district has two sides – a Northside and a Southside. To put it simply, the Southside is Black and the farther north you go, the fewer Black people you see. But it wasn't always like this.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy