Press Play with Madeleine Brand
The 2nd Amendment and Gun Violence
The history of the writing and legal interpretation of the second amendment and American gun rights. And the many shootings and mass shootings that we hardly ever hear about.
The shootings in Orlando have put the Second Amendment in the spotlight again. Constitutional scholar Erwin Chemerinsky explains its history, how it has been interpreted by the courts, and where things stand now. There have already been five mass shootings since Sunday. We take a closer look at the vast majority of gun violence we don’t normally hear about. In our weekly web roundup, Xeni Jardin talks about the use of social media by the Orlando killer. Then, author Mary Roach talks about her new book “Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War.” And, finally, the story of how the Beach Boys ended up at the zoo for a photo shoot that became the cover of the classic “Pet Sounds” album.
In this episode
5 storiesInterpreting the Second Amendment
The shootings in Orlando have, once again, put the Second Amendment front and center of the public debate. Madeleine talks with constitutional scholar Erwin Chemerinsky about the history of the amendment, how it has been interpreted by the courts, and where things stand now.
Read the story9 minThe Shootings You Don’t Hear About
There have been at least 180 shootings since the Orlando massacre on Sunday . Five of those shootings were considered mass shootings, when at least four people were shot in a single incident. One of those mass shootings was right here in California on Tuesday . A gunman opened fire on a vigil for two drowning victims.
Read the story8 minWeb Roundup
The killer in Orlando posted on Facebook during his attack. Two days later , a jihadist killer in Paris live-streamed his lethal attack on a police commander and his family. Also, the DNC is hacked and an important net neutrality development in our weekly web roundup.
Read the story9 minMary Roach on 'Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War'
In a book about military science, you may be surprised to find passages like, “I’m interested in diarrhea as a threat to national security.” Or “On top of its other charms, the maggot breathes through its ass.” Or “If you don’t have a pair of cadaver shoes, you’re not doing enough research.”
Read the story14 minThe Beach Boys, Goats and the 'Pet Sounds' Cover
Fifty years ago, the Beach Boys released Pet Sounds, a collection of groundbreaking songs that redefined pop music for an entire generation. In the decades since, critics and fans have analyzed every single aspect of the album’s thirteen songs. But the album’s genius was hardly represented by its cover.
Read the story6 min