Freak Out and Carry On

We thought Freak Out And Carry On listeners might be interested in what's new at the iLab. That's why we're dropping a special episode of our podcast Endless Thread into the feed this week. This is an episode of Endless Thread's new season all about memes and the untold stories behind them. In "The Scream," we tell the story behind the scream heard 'round the world when Donald Trump was inaugurated in 2017. If you typed “inauguration” into your web browser anytime between 2017 and 2020, you likely saw, near the top of your search results, an image of a person in a neon green jacket, black winter hat and glasses screaming “Nooooooooooo!” That person was Jess, who was in Washington D.C. on January 20, 2017 to protest the inauguration of President Donald Trump. This “Nooooooooooo!” flew out of Jess after the oath of office, during what seemed to be a deeply painful and private moment. But what Jess didn’t know at the time was that they were being filmed by a UK media outlet. Within hours, it became a symbol of “liberal fragility” for Trump supporters. Fearing for their safety, Jess went into a sort of hiding – on social media, and in their personal life. Four years later, Jess tells their story for the very first time.

Listen to the trailer for "Anything For Selena," a new podcast from WBUR and Futuro Studios coming in January 2021. Subscribe now so you don't miss it! About The Show: On March 31, 1995, nine-year-old Maria Garcia came home to find her mother glued to the TV, tears rolling down her rosy cheeks. The phone kept ringing. Relatives in Mexico and the States wanted to know if Maria’s family was watching, too. American networks and Mexican programming aired the same top story. Selena Quintanilla, the Grammy-winning ascending Mexican American popstar had been killed — swiftly, violently — by the president of her fan club. The story shook the country and changed Maria’s life. In "Anything For Selena," host Maria Garcia goes on an intimate, revelatory quest to understand how Selena has become a potent symbol for tensions around race, class and body politics in the United States. The series weaves Maria’s personal story as a queer, first-generation Mexican immigrant with cultural analysis, history and politics to explore how, 25 years after her death, Selena remains an unparalleled vessel for understanding Latino identity and American belonging.

Ron and Heather wrap up Freak Out and Carry On, reviewing the year that was. Thanks to all our listeners!

Benjamin Wittes, from Lawfare, and Jonathan Rauch, from The Atlantic discuss their article "Boycott the Republican Party", the repercussions of the Nunes memo, and their faith in the Mueller investigation.

How does Trump's speech compare to those of Nixon, Reagan, Clinton and Bush? When did presidents begin inviting guests whose story they include in their speech?