The Last Archive

Here's a preview of a new audiobook we think you'll enjoy, Blockers: an inside look at the early days of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, as told by the public servants it targeted and Michael Lewis, one of America’s best storytellers. Blockers. It wasn’t a compliment. In the new Washington, it was the worst thing you could be—especially if you worked in the federal government and wanted to keep your job. A Blocker was a holdover, an impediment, someone who didn’t get the message—and, most of all, someone who didn’t belong. Michael Lewis found six of them.  Blockers is the story of people who believed they had a calling, who were convinced they were doing something the country couldn’t do without, and then discovered they were no longer wanted. One kept Americans’ most sensitive tax data out of the wrong hands and another made sure that politicians and civil servants played by the rules. One figured out how to stop wildfires from destroying suburban neighborhoods, another helped uncover the mysteries of cystic fibrosis. There was also a security guard. It should come as no surprise that the writer who made subprime mortgages gripping (The Big Short) and who turned baseball statistics into poetry (Moneyball) could transform the first two years of the second Trump administration into a thriller about federal employees. But he does. And he does something else. He puts before us a clear question: If these public servants can’t survive in government today, then what does that say about us? Get Blockers now at blockers.fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A deep dive into Staten Island's 1993 secession landslide and the celebratory backlash that followed. Exploration of the political alliance between Guy Molinari and Rudy Giuliani and how outer-borough resentment fueled national populism. Connections drawn between 1990s backlash and the dynamics behind January 6. A visit to Fresh Kills examines the island's landfill-made identity.

Skiz Fernando, hip-hop journalist and early chronicler of the Wu-Tang Clan, shares firsthand reporting and memories. He recounts meeting RZA and RZA's Park Hill roots. The conversation covers kung fu-inspired Shaolin mythology, Staten Island's segregation, how the group formed and funded records, and the breakthrough of Protect Ya Neck and Enter the Wu-Tang.

Local activists confront a push for Staten Island independence through heated debates and grassroots organizing. Island studies and the “Tuvalu Effect” frame how archipelago dynamics and exported burdens shape secessionist sentiment. Talks cover taxes, bridges, mobility costs, and a pivotal televised forum that shifts momentum in surprising ways.

After the Supreme Court takes a close look at New York City government, Staten Island comes out the loser. A local artist begins organizing for secession. We take a deep dive into the psychology of the island, which has a lot to do with the largest garbage dump in the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Naddaff-Hafrey has a new show out! On the 250th anniversary of the United States, he investigates the story of what was, at the time, the biggest secession movement in the U.S. since the Civil War. From Revisionist History, The Staten Island Problem reconstructs the battle for New York City amidst the turbulent early 1990s — the rise of Rudy Giuliani, the peak of the homicide rate, the Wu-Tang Clan, young Donald Trump, and the first Black mayor of New York — all through the prism of the city’s Forgotten Borough. Staten Island’s secession movement is an early example of the politics of resentment that dominates America today and asks: what do you do when a democracy looks like it’s falling apart? We'll be sharing all episodes of the series right here on The Last Archive. Here’s episode 1. David Dinkins, the first Black mayor of New York City, faces off with the borough president of Staten Island, and tries to hold his city together. Find more episodes of Revisionist History: The Staten Island Problem wherever you get podcasts. If you want to hear the full series right now, you can binge it with a Pushkin+ subscription. Sign up on the Revisionist History show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus and use the code RH25 to save 25%.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, delves into the paradox of his relationship with AI, declaring it humanity’s greatest existential threat while simultaneously pioneering its development. Jill Lepore explores a century of AI fears, linking Musk's visions to science fiction cautionary tales. They discuss the duality of innovation and fear in technology, examining the implications of Musk’s pursuits on society. Through analyzing cultural influences, they highlight the urgent need for caution in the face of advanced AI developments and the concentration of technological power.

Rebecca Lamov, a Harvard historian specializing in brainwashing and mind control, joins Gad Saad, an evolutionary behavioral scientist, to delve into the intriguing idea of the 'woke mind virus.' They explore its origins linked to Cold War anxieties and Musk's controversial bid for Twitter. The conversation touches on the psychological effects of historical fears of mind control, the Sharpeville massacre's aftermath, and how social media impacts public discourse. Their insights reveal how the past informs today's struggles with freedom of speech and societal manipulation.

Explore the world of gender reveal parties and their extreme consequences. Delve into Elon Musk's and Grimes' unique approach to parenting X, challenging traditional gender norms. Analyze how science fiction often neglects women’s narratives while celebrating Ursula Le Guin’s inclusive storytelling. Discover the ethical dilemmas of AI amidst Silicon Valley's biases. Finally, appreciate a fresh perspective on AI through Indigenous frameworks, emphasizing kinship and respect for technology's societal impact.

In 2021, Elon Musk started calling himself The Dogefather to signal his support for Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency based on a joke meme about a dog. That dog is now wagging the tail of the world’s economy. In this episode, Jill Lepore looks at Silicon Valley's cryptocurrency craze through the lens of some very old science fiction. Like everything else about Muskism that purports to be futuristic, this idea is a relic, whose history serves as a warning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.