Pitching the Smithsonian

Pitching the Smithsonian

Pick up what we're putting down with the double entendre! This week's 250th episode has little to do with the history of the country and everything to do with museums and football (soccer). We start with introducing a century-old term: "museum fatigue" which explains what we've all felt physically but never knew how to describe while appreciating art. Then, we move into The Men’s World Cup action and its inextricable connection to global relationships and politics. Finally, we discuss the White House's recent attack on the Smithsonian...and the Organization of American Historians who's not having any of it. Mentioned in the show  It’s Not You, It’s the Museum: Combating Museum Fatigue [https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/art/stories-perspectives/its-not-you-its-museum-combating-museum-fatigue] - Princeton University Art Museum Center for Restorative History [https://americanhistory.si.edu/about/centers/restorative-history] – The Smithsonian Smithsonian attacked over LGBTQ+ history exhibits [https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/trump-objects-smithsonian-lgbtq-stories] - Advocate.com Federal Employees and Contractors Oral History Project [https://www.fecohp.org/]

Generations and Accountability

In this week's episode, the Drs explore the idea of "sampling" original ideas but using them to make a point out of context. This can be used as a weapon or an effective political tool, and the ethics of intent continue to be queried. Next up, they discuss social media use as an accountability tool. This includes public callouts — cheaters, rac*sts, other -ists — white men’s provocation of Black men and white women’s policing of others. Finally, Dr. Lisa highlights a new-to-us Apple TV show, Widow’s Bay -- including the real-life push‑pull between old and new politics. Are wins and losses overblown? Must change be binary? Are wars between the old and new legitimate? Listen in and let us know what you think about sampling, social media accountability, or themes from Widow's Bay.

Sally & Asylum

This week, we discuss Suzan-Lori Park's play-within-a-play, “Sally & Tom” before we segue into the latest regarding SCOTUS decisions on immigration, asylum, and green card protections. We start with the Word of the Week, micro-boycotting, which is a great way to have agency when it feels that there are no options for you as a consumer. Then we move into the stage play that queries the complex relationship between the enslaved woman, Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson. We conclude with the Presidential authority to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Syrian nationals without a formal process, asylum and inspection obligations at the border outside the U.S., and implications for green card holders, due process, and re-entry protections. Mentioned in the show Truths not self-evident in ‘Sally & Tom’ at Round House [https://dctheaterarts.org/2026/06/09/truths-not-self-evident-in-sally-tom-at-round-house/] - DC Theater Arts This Play Within a Play Confronts the Power Dynamic Between Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/this-play-within-a-play-confronts-the-power-dynamic-between-sally-hemings-and-thomas-jefferson-180984144/] – Smithsonian Magazine Suzan-Lori Parks: Sally & Tom — Rehearsed Reading [https://www.schwarzmancentre.ox.ac.uk/whats-on/suzan-lori-parks-sally-and-tom-dnc9] - Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities In a Forceful Dissent, Justice Elena Kagan Says the Supreme Court Ignored Evidence of Trump Administration’s Anti-Haitian Bias [https://msmagazine.com/2026/06/28/dissent-elena-kagan-supreme-court-trump-haiti-mullin-v-doe/] – Ms. Magazine Sanitized and Unreviewable: Unpacking the Supreme Court’s Mullin v Doe on Ending Temporary Protected Status for 1.3m Noncitizens [https://www.justsecurity.org/144302/supreme-court-mullin-doe-tps/] – Just Security Abandoning Principles: Unpacking the Supreme Court’s Mullin v. Al Otro Lado Denying Asylum to Arriving Migrants [https://www.justsecurity.org/144499/supreme-court-otro-lado-asylum-border/] – Just Security MULLIN, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, ET AL. v. DOE ET AL. [https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-1083_f204.pdf]– SCOTUS (TPS case) MULLIN, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY, ET AL. v. AL OTRO LADO ET AL. [https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-5_86qd.pdf]– SCOTUS (Asylum at the border case) Blanche v Lau (2026) [https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-429_h3ci.pdf] – SCOTUS (Green Card case) Supreme Court makes it easier for border agents to deport Green Card holders accused of crimes [https://abcnews.com/Politics/supreme-court-makes-easier-border-agents-deport-green/story?id=134141121] – ABC News

Reflections

In today’s episode, Shaunna and Lisa reflect on the weight of June anniversaries — Pulse Nightclub (6/12) and the Emanuel 9 (6/17) — as well as the meaning of Juneteenth (6/19) in a moment that also saw the opening of the Obama Presidential Center (OPC).  Then, the green algae of the Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC is more than just a chemistry project gone wrong. They discuss the politics behind the no-bid contract which has become an expensive analogy for this entire Presidential Administration. Lastly, the Drs. reveled in laughter about Michelle Obama and President George W. Bush's Altoids exchange at the opening of the OPC, then wondered if we can ever find collegiality, kindness, and mutual respect like this in America again. Mentioned in the show Algae turns reflecting pool green after repainting. Here's why [https://www.npr.org/2026/06/19/nx-s1-5863044/dc-reflecting-pool-algae-green-trump] - NPR Researchers identify harmless algae behind bloom at Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool – [https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/researchers-identify-harmless-algae-behind-bloom-lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool/65-9efa82ff-0c3a-4e64-b5e5-4370abee61cc]WUSA9 George W. Bush and Michelle Obama Have Sweet Reunion, Complete With a Mint Moment [https://www.today.com/popculture/news/george-w-bush-michelle-obama-reunite-altoids-rcna350801] – The Today Show With a Wink, Obama’s Tan Suit Is Back [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/18/style/obama-tan-suit-stephen-colbert.html] – The NYT Obama moved to tears by wife Michelle's speech [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly91eqyd0ko] - BBC Star-studded opening for Obama library in Chicago delivers implied rebuke to Trump [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/18/obama-library-chicago-trump] – The Guardian

Wildfire

The Drs. open this week's episode hot and unapologetic: a gender-reveal smoke bomb turned into a months-long inferno, a firefighter lost his life, and three companies suddenly write checks for more than $4 million. Then they pivot to the political tightrope -- authenticity vs. electability -- and ask whether moderates who vote with the sketchy are doing the right thing in the moment. Listen in for new language like "abromantic", the deeper implication of gender reveals around the globe, and the ethics of voting for a flawed candidate. Mentioned in the show: 3 companies agree to over $4 million settlement after deadly California wildfire [https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/08/us/california-gender-reveal-wildfire-settlement?utm_source=cnn_Evening+Newsletter+-+Monday%2C+June+8%2C+2026&utm_medium=email&bt_ee=Jj2OkjlAl49q2NFF1LFdeY6IZvNQleZT6fO2G1%2FX3evuOC76HJfZ6%2B9OE3LkDsN7&bt_ts=1780953546145] - CNN The Democrats’ Platner Problem [https://time.com/article/2026/06/08/the-democrats-platner-problem/] - Time 'What else are we going to do?' Maine Democrats divided over Platner, some stick with him reluctantly [https://abcnews.com/Politics/maine-democrats-divided-platner-stick-reluctantly/story?id=133656038] – abc News Yet More Damning Revelations About Graham Platner [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/06/graham-platner-maine-populism-elections/687429/]  - The Atlantic The Graham Platner Dilemma [https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/the-graham-platner-dilemma/id1586269186?i=1000771285823]  - The Powers That Be Daily Podcast