Press Play with Madeleine Brand
After Orlando, Grasping for Explanations
Politicians, the media and the rest of us are grasping for explanations of Sunday’s mass shooting in Orlando. But untangling such tragedies is often a complicated process. What are the pitfalls in rushing to judgment?
By Madeleine Brand • • 53m ListenPoliticians are already spinning their own conclusions from the massacre in Orlando on Sunday. Meanwhile, theories about shooter Omar Mateen’s motives are still speculative. Untangling such tragedies is often a complicated process. What are the pitfalls of rushing to judgment?
In this episode
5 storiesOrlando Narratives
Politicians including President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are already spinning conclusions from the massacre in Orlando on Sunday. Meanwhile, theories about shooter Omar Mateen’s motives are still speculative: He was a radicalized follower of ISIS. He was a closeted gay man. He was a violent homophobe.
Read the story12 minCalifornia Considers New Gun Control Measures
Horrific mass shootings are invariably followed by an outcry over the availability of guns, and a push for new gun control measures. In California, the legislature was already set to consider 11 new gun control bills, and a gun control measure is set to appear on the ballot in November.
Read the story8 minFirst Responders to National Tragedies
For one group of people, the attack in Orlando won’t fade away easily: First responders. The police, fire, and medical professionals who are the first on the scene are often last to forget tragedies like Orlando. Madeleine speaks with two guests about the challenges for these professionals.
Read the story11 minJudy Muller and Alison Trope on Living with Breast Cancer
For the past few months we’ve been bringing you the story of Alison Trope and Judy Muller, two professors who teach a course together at USC and were each diagnosed with breast cancer around the same time. Today we share the latest installment of their story.
Read the story9 minRemembering the Inventor of the Beehive Hairdo
The B-52’s didn’t just wear beehives, the band was named after the hairstyle - since it looks a little like the nosecone of the World War II bomber. The Chicago-area hairstylist who invented the high-altitude hairdo passed away last Friday. She was 98. Margaret Vinci Heldt spun her first beehive back in 1960.
Read the story7 min
