Two Black physicians describe the racist history the medical world carries into the COVID-19 vaccine rollout -- and answer listeners’ questions about why we should still get vaccinated. A recent Pew Research Center survey , among others, revealed that Black Americans are by far the most likely to know someone who’s been hospitalized or killed by COVID-19. It also found Black people are most reluctant to trust the vaccine. When Dr. Brittani M. James “rage Tweeted” that she totally gets why her pa...
Dec 14, 2020•48 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast The HIV epidemic is nearly 40 years old. So what can we learn from that pandemic, as we approach a year of living with COVID-19? When COVID-19 overwhelmed New York City this spring, our executive producer Karen Frillmann was reminded of life in this city in the 1980s. She reached back into the far corners of a closet in her apartment, and dug out a recording that she made decades ago. In this episode, Karen shares parts of that intimate conversation, as an act of remembrance. Also, Kai talks wit...
Dec 07, 2020•47 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast A family’s legend about "40 acres and a mule” takes host Kai Wright on a fact checking mission to the Mississippi Delta. He finds an unexpected solution to wealth inequality in the U.S. We first told the Lester family’s story in February, when we began exploring the unfinished business of Reconstruction. Now, as the country transitions out of the chaos of the Trump administration, we revisit the story and reflect on the effort to bring about economic justice in the Biden era. Elbert Lester has l...
Nov 30, 2020•52 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast White supremacist myths turn defeated leaders into heroic victors. Will Donald Trump now get the same transfiguration as Robert E. Lee? If history is our guide -- as it often is on this show -- then there’s reason to worry about the answer to that question. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Dr. David Blight (Sterling Professor of History at Yale University and the author of " Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom ") joins Kai to tell the story of the Confederacy’s Lost Cause mythology -- how it ...
Nov 16, 2020•47 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry joins Kai to discuss all of our complex feelings as Donald Trump’s presidency comes to an end. More people voted in this presidential election than ever. But did it resolve anything? Are we any closer to being a truly multiracial democracy? And how do we feel about the United States and our place in it -- after all that has happened? Listeners call in to answer these questions for themselves, as Kai and Melissa Harris-Perry try to take stock. Drs. Melissa Harris-Perry an...
Nov 09, 2020•46 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast Radical imagination is now essential. What can we imagine for our country, our communities, and ourselves beyond this election, and beyond this pandemic? In this episode, we face our fears and dream big. Help us make a time capsule of our imaginations. Record a voice memo with your wildest dreams about the future, and send it to anxiety@wnyc.org. Plus, Ashley C. Ford , writer and co-host of the HBO's Lovecraft Country Radio podcast, joins our producer Veralyn Williams for a discussion about Amer...
Nov 02, 2020•49 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast Trump, Inc. co-host Andrea Bernstein sits down with Kai Wright, to discuss how American history informs the 2020 election. The conversation, called "Who Matters in America 2020?," was part of Reporter's Notebook series at The Greene Space . Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter) . Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here . Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The ...
Oct 29, 2020•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Voting is a hallmark of our democracy, but it is not guaranteed for any American citizen. Visit WNYC/ Gothamist’s “ 2020 Voter Guide For New York And New Jersey ” to make a plan and if you live outside of NY and NJ, visit vote.org for information about how you can safely vote this year. This week, Senior editor Christopher Werth brings us a story about the not-so-secret legal crusade against the Voting Rights Act, led by law firms representing the Republican Party and the Trump campaign. And wit...
Oct 26, 2020•49 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast With almost two weeks left until Election Day, Charlie Sykes, founder and editor-at-large of The Bulwark , joins us for a conversation about Republican party politics over the last 50 years, the Trump effect, the dramatic fight for the Supreme Court and how we all may move forward in the days, months and years following November 3rd. Conservative listeners grappling with their political identity and choices, weigh in during the show. Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X...
Oct 19, 2020•43 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast After a summer of outdoor dining, hiking, and staying indoors, New York City is on alert… again. Localized COVID spikes across the city have prompted lockdowns of schools and businesses, but the pandemic is back on all our minds, following the diagnosis and hospitalization of President Trump and many of the people around him. Dr. Oxiris Barbot M.D. , the former commissioner of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, joins us to discuss leadership in a pandemic, the state of American pub...
Oct 12, 2020•46 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast Reporter Christopher Werth brings us a story from Wisconsin, a key swing state, about the legal efforts to suppress the votes of communities of color and how Milwaukee-based organizers like Melody McCurtis are determined to make sure that every vote is counted. WNYC’s Brigid Bergen joins us to talk about the challenges that New Yorkers are facing to get their vote out amidst uncertain circumstances. Visit vote.nyc (NYC) or vote.org to ensure that you are registered to vote and make a plan. Liste...
Oct 05, 2020•50 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast As the country confronts racial tensions and class conflicts, the question begs: how did we get here? We look back to a moment in our history when o ur country was struggling to become a true, multiracial democracy -- and meeting a lot of roadblocks - many of which persist today. Historian Eric Foner gives us a primer on the Reconstruction Era amendments that we explored in season four and producer Veralyn Williams rides along to help us make sense of what it means today and how we can move forw...
Sep 28, 2020•50 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast The Republican Party has long sought a stable conservative majority in the Supreme Court. With the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat up for grabs, that could become a reality - but not without a fight. WNYC's Jami Floyd (Senior Editor for Race and Justice ) and Elie Mystal (Justice Correspondent at The Nation) join us to set the scene for the battle over the Supreme Court and what a vacancy on the bench of the highest court in the nation represents for Election 2020 and our collective futu...
Sep 21, 2020•45 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast In this special episode, we reflect on the life and legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, following her passing on Friday. Kai is joined by Emily Bazelon (Staff Writer at The New York Times Magazine and Co-Host of “ Political Gabfest ” at Slate), WNYC’s own Brian Lehrer and callers like you to talk about the impact of the “Notorious RBG” on the nation and its citizens. Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter) . Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a ...
Sep 20, 2020•46 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast Many teams have been playing without crowds this year but stadiums still have a captive audience. Sports editor and “Edge of Sports” podcast host Dave Zirin joins us for the hour as we explore how and when in our history athletes have taken a stand for civil rights and social justice. WNBA point guard Renee Montgomery talks about what led her to sit out the 2020 season to pursue change and uplift Black communities. Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter) . Email ...
Sep 14, 2020•45 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast 2020 has been a year of reflection, mourning and perspective. This Labor Day, we look back at the last major fiscal crisis in New York City before delving into the history and experiences of the “essential workers” who have kept the city running during the COVID pandemic. Reporter Jenny Casas gets into the gritty work and history of “New York’s Strongest,” the Department of Sanitation . Ai-jen Poo , the co-founder and Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance , joins us to tal...
Sep 07, 2020•46 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast The suburbs are in danger, according to the speakers at the Republican National Convention last week. President Trump and Republican voices leaned into the anxieties that some white and suburban residents are grappling with in the face of deep political division, violent unrest and rapidly changing demographics. We revisit our 2016 segment with Kwame Holmes , a historian and scholar-in-residence for Human Rights at Bard College, about the segregated history of the classic American suburbs of the...
Aug 31, 2020•45 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Do you have a story about something you’ve endured for racial justice? Producer Veralyn Williams tells us her story and w e wanna hear YOUR version ! H ow much tension and discomfort are YOU willing to endure (or not), to create the kind of equitable, multiracial society we say we want? Record a voice memo and email us at anxiety@wnyc.org. Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter) . Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your p...
Aug 26, 2020•5 min•Ep 76•Transcript available on Metacast For our first LIVE episode, we reflect on last week’s Democratic National Convention by exploring what it means to be a Democrat in a party divided and we take your calls about what you need to see from the Dems. Producer Carolyn Adams takes us to Southeast Queens to meet District Leader Roslin Spigner who sheds light on civics in Black institutions and what it means to be a Democrat in a borough divided. Kai invites Dr. Abdul El-Sayed , a former Democratic candidate for Governor in Michigan and...
Aug 24, 2020•50 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Do you consider yourself part of the Democratic Party? We want to hear from you! Tell us what the Democratic Party can do for YOU, in YOUR life? Record a voice memo and send it to us at anxiety@wnyc.org . Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter) . Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here . Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited ...
Aug 17, 2020•3 min•Ep 74•Transcript available on Metacast Incarcerated youth do what it takes to survive in prison everyday, in the hopes of making it back home someday. In this final installment of our presentation of Caught , reporter Jared Marcelle finds Z behind bars again - following a misstep while on parole - and chronicles how solitary confinement and years of uncertainty have changed his life. Caught: The Lives of Juvenile Justice is hosted by Kai Wright and supported, in part, by the Anne Levy Fund, Margaret Neubart Foundation, the John and G...
Aug 13, 2020•34 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast In this second installment of our presentation of Caught , then-16-year-old Z grapples with a reality that incarcerated youth with mental health needs face everyday: support comes at a cost. Reporter Jared Marcelle continues to follow his journey through the criminal justice system and juvenile justice lawyer and poet Dwayne Betts sheds light on a vicious catch-22. Caught: The Lives of Juvenile Justice is hosted by Kai Wright and supported, in part, by the Anne Levy Fund, Margaret Neubart Founda...
Aug 06, 2020•35 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast The United States locks up more people - and more children - than any country in the world. Two years ago, Caught delved into the experiences of youth whose worst decisions led them to be entrapped within the criminal justice system, often for life. We’re revisiting the story of then-16-year-old Z, as he awaits a decision that could change his life forever and details how he landed in a detention center in Queens. Also, juvenile justice lawyer and poet Dwayne Betts reflects on his own experience...
Jul 30, 2020•29 min•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast Being Black in Italy means you’re likely NOT born a citizen. Until the Civil War, the same was true for Black people in the United States. Citizenship was reserved for white people only. These histories aren’t so disconnected. Black American reporter Ngofeen Mputubwele (New Yorker Radio Hour) tells the story of Black Italians like Bellamy Ogak of Afroitalian Souls and the multi-year campaign for birthright citizenship -- connecting the dots between race, nationality, and white supremacy in our t...
Jul 17, 2020•39 min•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast As Covid-19 first spread through Chicago, the residents of Little Village faced another imminent crisis — the hastily-approved demolition of an old coal-fired power plant that left the neighborhood shrouded in dust during a pandemic lock-down. This week, reporter Jenny Casas tells the story of Kim Wasserman's decades-long fight for environmental justice in Little Village and the lessons it offers for protest movements sweeping the country. You can read the full history of how Chicago's coal powe...
Jul 10, 2020•42 min•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast Juneteenth marks a triumphant moment for not just Black Americans, but all people who have sought liberation globally. On June 19 th , Kai Wright hosted a special episode of “The Brian Lehrer Show” with a series of conversations about the history of the national holiday, classical music and Black politics - then and now. Guests include WQXR's Terrance McKnight , historian Dr. Daina Ramey Berry and calls from listeners about their family histories of emancipation. Tell us what you think. We're @n...
Jun 26, 2020•44 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast After months of fear and mourning amid a global pandemic, we’re now in the streets. This week, we talk about catharsis and the ways we gather to fight, to grieve and to show up for each other. We hear from Shanika Hart, First Lady of The Gathering Harlem , on being a Black mom, fighting for Black lives. And we learn about the life of beloved Brooklynite Lloyd Porter, who died of Covid-19, and the unique way his community gathered to mourn him. Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Insta...
Jun 18, 2020•33 min•Ep 20•Transcript available on Metacast As the nation faces the dual brunts of the pandemic and the on-going brutality against black bodies, people more than ever are finding ways to “do the work” in their communities. This week our reporter Jenny Casas takes us to a neighborhood in Chicago where Mexican residents are confronting anti-black violence. Anjali Kamat reports a dispatch from her neighborhood in New York, one of the American epicenters of Covid-19 cases, Jackson Heights. Read more coverage of what happened in Chicago from t...
Jun 12, 2020•29 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast It’s hard enough when there’s no pandemic to keep mentally ill inmates from falling through the holes in a patchwork system. Now it’s harder than ever. A huge number of people who are locked up in this country are mentally ill or addicted to drugs or both. This episode, we go to Cleveland, Ohio to follow a psychiatrist and a social worker as they, first, try to find and, then, wrap their arms around recently released inmates, all while social distancing. Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithk...
Jun 04, 2020•42 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast The week Ida B. Wells’ reporting on lynching received a Pulitzer Prize , a video of 25 year-old Ahmaud Arbery being chased and killed began to circulate on social media. It was one of the few news stories that have grabbed widespread attention amid the coronavirus pandemic. But how do we all process such horrible violence, even as we continue to face the daily tragedies of a pandemic? To answer that question, host Kai Wright sat down for a video chat with a writer whose debut collection of dysto...
May 21, 2020•31 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast 
