🎙️ Citations Needed | Newsletter... and some news

Hello dear patrons!

This month, we wrapped up Season 8 of Citations Needed with a two-part episode entitled, "The Importance of Seriousness; or, Why Palestinians Can’t Be Witness to Their Own Genocide." If you haven't listened already, you can find Part I, with guest Moureen Kaki, here and Part II, with guest Kaleem Hawa, here.

Over the course of this season's 42 episodes and News Briefs, three Election 2024 live shows (that we'll never speak of ever again), and a "Beg-a-thon" on MAGA World's grotesque and ahistorical appropriation of Ancient Rome, we were joined by more than 30 guests, including Alec Karakatsanis, Katherine Krueger, Greg Grandin, Malaika Jabali, Sarah E. Bond, Eric Blanc, Steven Renderos, Beatrice Adler-Bolton, and so many brilliant others.

It's surreal that we've been doing this show since July 2017, and even more incredible that we've been able to do it because of the support of our listeners alone - after all this time, we still have no corporate sponsors, no foundation funders, and have never run any commercials or read out any ad copy. Our ability to stay independent is really a testament to all of you and we can't thank you enough.

Below is a collection of articles we've been reading recently. Please feel free to add your own recommendations, reflections, and reactions in the comments.

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Oh, another thing: Citations Needed has the honor of being included in the new book, The Podcast Pantheon: 101 Podcasts That Changed How We Listen, a compendium by Sean Malin, award-winning culture critic and columnist at Vulture and New York Magazine.

The first-ever master guide to the wide world of podcasts, The Podcast Pantheon profiles the ones that, in Sean's words, "represent the most groundbreaking, beautiful, compelling, experimental, touching, human, artful, and funny works the medium has yet offered, each distinct from the next in its accomplishments."

We're not sure where Citations Needed fits into all that, but it's apparently right around page 118.

The Podcast Pantheon is published by Chronicle Books and officially drops on September 16, 2025. The book is a hardcover beaut and we are extremely grateful to Sean for including us in it. You can pre-order it here, or head over to your local bookshop in a few weeks and pick it up.

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Also, the Citations Needed merch store remains open! If you don't have some swag yet, consider picking something up for yourself or your very best friend. We're confident the hoodies and mugs will serve you well this fall.

Thanks again for all of your support. We feel very lucky.

See you in September.

— Nima, Adam, Florence, and Julianne

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It’s Not Just 'Netanyahu': The Rise of Liberals’ One Bad Man Theory to Explain Away Gaza Genocide - Adam Johnson, The Column (August 9, 2025)

Attempts to pin the horrors of Israel's genocide in Gaza solely on “Netanyahu" deliberately obscure the reality of just how popular the atrocities of mass starvation, ethnic cleansing, and wholesale destruction is with US elites and within Israel itself.

How One Teamsters Local Is Striking to Protect Immigrant Workers - Sarah Lazare, The American Prospect/Workday Magazine (August 25, 2025)

From the picket line outside the Mauser Packaging Solutions factory in Chicago, friend-of-the-show Sarah Lazare reports on the Teamsters Local 705 strike calling on bosses to turn away immigration authorities unless they show a signed judicial warrant. The union is standing firm in the face of both fierce resistance from the company and increasing threats from the federal government.

Conservatives’ Long War on Free Thought - Matt McManus, In These Times (August 18, 2025)

Trump has escalated attack on higher education using any means he can to crush the institutions. The campaign reflects the long conservative obsession with dismantling education as a free expression of ideas.

A Free Speech Shakedown—Trump’s Approach to American Civil Society - David Cole, The Nation (August 11, 2025)

The Trump Administration’s crackdown on colleges has revealed a key feature of the American development and maintenance of institutions like colleges. The civil society has played crucial roles in their growth, and is now used to shake colleges down. 

The Israeli Assassination of Journalist Anas al-Sharif and Five Colleagues in Gaza City - Abdel Qader Sabbah and Sharif Abdel Kouddous, Drop Site News (August 11, 2025)

The targeted killing of Anas al-Sharif and five of his colleagues was a direct provocation by Israel to kill the Gaza Strip’s most prominent journalist. The killing reveals the impunity Israel has acted when it comes to killing journalists.

Teachers Try to Beat the Heat - McKenna Schueler, In These Times (August 13, 2025)

In the extremely hot Orlando, Florida, extreme heat in classrooms is both a safety issue and a roadblock to education. Teachers are organizing around demanding better. 

Chaos on New York’s Streets, Brought to You by the NYPD - Ian F. Blair, The Intercept (August 16, 2025)

NYPD cars appear to run red lights whenever they please, causing chaos in the streets and threatening the public’s safety. It is up to the NYPD to determine whether breaking a traffic law merits an emergency. 

How a Group of Michigan Parents Defeated Anti-Trans MAGA Activists - Sarah Stankorb, The New Republic (August 18, 2025)

The right swept into school boards, often bringing bigoted rhetoric and policies. Community members at the local level in Michigan were able to organize to counter one such example, pointing to a way these elected officials can be challenged. 

MAHA Is Going to Make America Sicker - Branko Marcetic, Jacobin (April 18, 2025)

RFK Jr.’s MAHA movement has largely focused on promoting crank health solutions and demonizing vaccines. The Trump Administration is also promoting environmentally destructive policy that is bound to make Americans sicker. 

Don’t Single Out Military Deportations, Dismantle the Deportation Machine - Sofya Aptekar, In These Times (August 14, 2025)

Stories about ICE’s draconian deportation campaign tend to focus on the victims who are considered deserving, like veterans or their family members. The deportation machine should be fought regardless of whether immigrants meet a certain criteria. 

Private Equity Is Coming for Public Utilities - Katya Schwenk, Jacobin (August 18, 2025)

Public utilities have long generally been free of interference from private equity because they are not considered a profitable sector. BlackRock has begun to move into this space. 

ICE Held an NYC Child Incommunicado at Secret Hotels, Then Deported Him - Debbie Nathan, The Intercept (August 18, 2025)

A New York high school student was detained by ICE in hotels, without contact to his family and often without windows. The government then deported him. 

Veterans Are “Guinea Pigs” in Trump’s First National Abortion Ban Experiment - Jessica Washington, The Intercept (August 13, 2025)

The VA has limited its coverage of abortions for veterans who rely on the provider. Experts say the policy will be devastating for the many who are enrolled in the VA.  

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