Episode notes
There’s a growing backlash to the surveillance systems that have quietly wired themselves into American neighborhoods, with concern growing among people who have never felt watched this way before. Gene talks with historian Matthew Guariglia about how the surveillance state got built, who it was built on first, and why opposing it now unites so many factions. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of…
Podcast
Code Switch
NPR · Society & Culture · English
What's CODE SWITCH? It's the fearless conversations about race that you've been waiting for. Hosted by journalists of color, our podcast tackles the subject of race with empathy and humor. We explore how race affects every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, food and everythi
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25 Sep 2026 · 34 min
Chris Brown won't get cancelled. This is why.
When Rep. Jasmine Crockett took the stage at a Chris Brown concert to honor him, the backlash came fast. It's a familiar cycle: every few years, Brown lands back in the news, and the public relitigates a history of violence stretching back to 2009. Gene talks with cultural critic Jamilah Lemieux and writer and DJ Noella Williams about why so many fans stay 10 toes down for him, and what accountability could even look like. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . See…
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22 Sep 2026 · 37 min
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Lots of progressive politicians eyeing runs for higher office are distancing themselves from the politics of 2020, like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez declaring, "woke 1.0 was crazy." But should they be? Jamelle Bouie of The New York Times says voters are swayed more by identity than ideology — so it's less about the ideas and more about the vibes. We talk to him about who gets read as radical (even if they're not) and whether anyone who isn't a white guy can run as a populist. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks…
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18 Sep 2026 · 25 min
Is Cuba Trump's next real estate project?
Cubans are living through near-constant blackouts after an executive order that called the Cuban government an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security and blocked their fuel imports. A hundred-page State Department report describes Cuba as the puppeteer behind everything from the George Floyd protests to what it calls the rise of antifa. We talk to historians Michael Bustamante and Alexander Hall about the day to day effects of U.S. pressure, why this crisis is old and new at the same time, and why Black Cubans are absorbing the worst of the crisis. Support public media…
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15 Sep 2026 · 36 min
Why can’t people be normal about the WNBA?
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8 Sep 2026 · 28 min
25 years after 9/11, our definition of terrorism continues to expand
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4 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
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28 Aug 2026 · 27 min
Banana Ball's racial minstrelsy past
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25 Aug 2026 · 33 min
Unpacking estrangement: Who goes No Contact?
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