Retro Report makes sense of the present by revealing the past. Join journalists Celeste Headlee and Masud Olufani as they connect the present to the past through four distinct and varied stories, and New Yorker humorist Andy Borowitz adds his signature wit.
Episodes
-
The Forgotten History of AIDS
H.I.V. rates have fallen in many places, but the AIDS crisis persists in parts of the U.S.11:55 -
The Bullying Industry | Andy Borowitz
New Yorker magazine humorist Andy Borowitz takes a look at a thriving industry: bullying.4:37 -
How Napster Stirred Up Entertainment
After Napster, many consumers got used to media on demand. There was no turning back.10:06 -
The Controversy Over Teaching Teens About Sex
A decades-old battle is re-emerging over how sex is presented in the classroom.13:22 -
Season 1, Episode 8
Sex ed; a crime myth; Ryan White’s legacy; napster; Andy Borowitz on bullying.53:22 -
Correcting the Myth of the Superpredator
Flawed research predicting remorseless teen killers led to life sentences.10:27 -
Season 1, Episode 7
Immigration; hot coffee lawsuit; special ops; Challenger legacy; Borowitz on Anita Bryant.55:09 -
The Truth About the Lawsuit Over Hot McDonald’s Coffee
Her complaint sounded frivolous. But the facts told another story.11:18 -
Exploring the Recent History of U.S. Immigration Backlashes
Today's immigration policies echo an anti-immigration movement 25 years ago in California.9:54 -
How the U.S. Came to Rely on Special Ops Forces
The rise of special operations units today can be traced to two past operations.7:46 -
Lessons From the Space Shuttle Challenger Tragedy
A new understanding of risk emerged from the study of a NASA disaster.18:31 -
Anita Bryant, Gay Rights Icon | Andy Borowitz
Andy Borowitz examines how Anita Bryant inadvertently energized the gay rights movement.3:58 -
The ZIP Code Advantage
A new approach to reducing poverty has its roots in a 1970s public housing experiment.12:58 -
Season 1, Episode 6
Public housing, the bubble boy, boxing, overpopulation and Borowitz on Space Force.55:03 -
-
What Happened to the Population Bomb?
In the 1960s, fears of overpopulation sparked talk of population control. What happened?10:18 -
May The Space Force Be With You | Andy Borowitz
Andy Borowitz takes a look at the sci-fi origins of Donald Trump’s Space Force program.4:37 -
Hard Risks for Athletes
As concussions plague football, are there lessons from earlier concerns about boxing?11:51 -
Could a Simple Intervention Fight a Suicide Crisis?
An intervention to reduce suicides showed promise in the 60s, but was overlooked.9:29 -
Lingering Peril From Paint
Half a million American children have high lead levels, but who should clean it up?14:58 -
Smoke On The Water | Andy Borowitz
Andy Borowitz investigates why America’s water supply seems to keep bursting into flames.4:11 -
Season 1, Episode 5
Reducing suicide; Baby M; Lead perils; climate help from Cold War science; Andy Borowitz.55:10 -
Born by Surrogate: Pathways to Parenthood
Parenthood by surrogacy is accepted across the U.S., but it's not closely regulated.12:05 -
-
How Fears Over the Measles Vaccine Took Hold
Vaccine skepticism was fed by a discredited 1998 study which still has repercussions today12:24 -
The Birth of Free Agency
Today’s superstar athletes reaping the benefits of free agency owe a debt to Curt Flood.12:54 -
Season 1, Episode 4
Presidents vs. press; measles cases soar; free agency; wild horses, “apologies.”53:50 -
Trump's War Against the Press
President Trump’s efforts to clamp down on White House leaks have echoes of Nixon.11:48 -
Sorry/Not Sorry | Andy Borowitz
Andy examines the tropes and clichés politicians use to cling to power after a scandal.4:22 -
Horses: Wild, But Not Free
Wild horses are caught in a battle between the government, ranchers and environmentalists.8:52 -
The Modern Bystander Effect | Full Report
Why don’t people intervene when they encounter violence streaming live online?11:03 -
Season 1, Episode 3
Bystander behavior; a Navy scandal; psychedelic drugs; wayward trash barge; zany theories54:11 -
She Rocked the Pentagon | Full Report
How the 1991 Tailhook sexual assault scandal is still shaking up the military today.12:24 -
Were the Moon Conspiracy Theories Faked? | Andy Borowitz
Andy Borowitz looks at the evolution of the myth that the moon landing was faked.4:19 -
LSD Gets Another Look | Full Report
Psychedelic drugs, associated with the 1960s, are now treating depression and anxiety.11:46 -
The Garbage Barge That Helped Fuel a Movement | Full Report
The 1987 garbage barge was a fiasco, but it helped raise public awareness about recycling.11:01 -
Season 1, Episode 2
DNA clues; thalidomide; robot ambivalence; obsessive gamers; Borowitz on no news.55:15 -
Return of an Infamous Pill | Full Report
How a pill that led to drug safety guidelines became a case study for rising drug prices.11:31 -
New Clues From Old Evidence | Full Report
DNA information available on genealogy websites is today being used to solve crimes.14:32 -
Could D&D Help Fight Screen Addiction? | Full Report
D&D, once at the center of a moral panic, is now seen as an antidote to screen addiction.11:23 -
Are Robots Really Taking Over? | Full Report
Exploring fears about A.I. by revisiting a 1997 chess match between man and machine.9:34 -
Where Did The News Go? | Andy Borowitz
We hear a lot about fake news, but Andy Borowitz examines another horrible tend: no news.4:29 -
Season 1, Episode 1
Social media loops, athlete protests, Wall Street harassment; pet threat; Andy Borowitz53:47 -
Athletes vs. Injustice | Full Report
The #TakeAKnee movement has ties to a protest at the 1968 Olympics.11:51 -
Online All the Time? Researchers Predicted It. | Full Report
Our social media addiction is explained by theories pioneered by B.F. Skinner decades ago.10:39 -
Sexual Misconduct at Work, Again | Full Report
How a decades-old Wall Street sexual harassment battle is affecting today’s workplace.13:09 -
Warning: These Ads Contain Politicians | Andy Borowitz
Humorist Andy Borowitz has found a solution to the problem of political ads on TV.3:52
