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On this week’s episode of the Waves, Veralyn, Christina, and Latifa discuss former White House aide (and reality TV star) Omarosa Manigault Newman. Are the claims made in her new tell-all account and on the talk show circuit—most notably that she’s heard a recording of Trump saying the N-word—to be believed? And given what we already know about the president, will that tape make a difference if it’s released? Next, The Miseducation of Cameron Post is Desiree Akhavan’s new film about a teenage girl who’s sent away to a center known as God’s Promise to be “cured” of her sexuality. They discuss its depiction of conversion therapy, the weaponization of faith, and the challenges of making a film about such a hot-button social issue. Finally, in the wake of several sexual harassment and gender discrimination lawsuits, the NFL is introducing its first male cheerleaders. Is this likely to help change the culture of cheerleading, or is it just an extension of the existing framework of objectification?
Slate Plus: Is it sexist to demand that a woman debate you?
Other items discussed on the show:
- “A Panel Featuring Omarosa at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention Was a ‘Hot Mess’ ” by Veralyn Williams, in Slate
- Omarosa’s appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press
- Unhinged: An Insider’s Account of the Trump White House by Omarosa Manigault Newman
- “Omarosa Is Good at Getting Fired. She’s Even Better at Talking About It on TV” by Helena Andrews-Dyer, in the Washington Post
- “There Is Nothing Omarosa Can Say or Do That Could Possibly Matter” by Christina Cauterucci, in Slate
- Desiree Akhavan’s The Miseducation of Cameron Post
- “ ‘The Miseducation of Cameron Post’: Desiree Akhavan on the ‘Spineless’ American Film Industry and Its Fear of Female Sexuality” by Kate Erbland, in IndieWire
- Jamie Babbit’s But I’m a Cheerleader
- “ ‘The Miseducation of Cameron Post’ Resists the Straight and Narrow” by A.O. Scott, in the New York Times
- “The Miseducation of Cameron Post Is a Movie About Gay People but Not Really for Them” by Jeffrey Bloomer, in Slate
- “Pro Cheerleaders Say Groping and Sexual Harassment Are Part of the Job” by Juliet Macur and John Branch, in the New York Times
- “N.F.L.’s Alternate ‘Cheerleaders’ Don’t Cheer or Dance” by Juliet Macur, in the New York Times
- “The Real Reason NFL Teams Are Bringing On Male Cheerleaders” by Christina Cauterucci, in Slate
Recommendations:
- Latifa: Lauryn Hill’s album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
- Veralyn: The Power by Naomi Alderman and WNYC’s The Realness
- Christina: Slate’s new Outward podcast and Penny Lane’s documentary short Normal Appearances
This podcast was produced by Veralyn Williams. Our production assistant is Alex Barasch.
The Waves plugs: Please remember to like our Facebook page. Send your emails to thewaves@slate.com. Tell us what we should cover in the next episode. Finally, our summer call-in show is coming up! If you have a question you’d like the hosts to answer, call (646) 907-9859 to leave us a voicemail.
