my summer media rewind and news stories you should read this month

a summer full of delightful watches, listens and reads!

Sep 02, 2024

Hello Tamia Talkers, Happy Sunday! If you’re a consistent follower of this newsletter, you’ve likely noticed that it’s been about a month since I checked in for my last media rewind which means I have SO much to share with you.

July and August were all about closing chapters I started at the beginning of this year. I revisited and finished some books that had begun months prior. I caught up on articles that had long been on my reading list. I tried my best to stay on top of newly released films and TV shows, and I indulged in music that captured the sunshine-soaked vibe of summer.

With the seasons changing, I am keenly aware that these media moments will forever remind me of summer 2024. Whether it be podcasts that recount the hectic election cycle, songs that remind me of trips to new places, or movies that demand my seat on the couch or in the theatre despite the gorgeous weather outside, these projects are ones that fed my curiosity, fueled my joy and focused my attention on the work ahead.

in the news

Seventy Miles in Hell: I have long been an admirer of Caitlin Dickerson’s work, and her reporting in The Atlantic’s “Seventy Miles in Hell” is further proof of my abundant reasoning. In this story, Dickerson and photographer Lynsey Addario travel to Columbia to follow migrants through the Darién Gap, a treacherous, obstacle-ridden stretch of jungle, to reach North America. Alongside migrant travelers, they witness the insidious influence of drug cartels who control the migration process and charge exorbitant prices to guide desperate families through the jungle by foot. People often face severe injury, exhaustion, starvation, and even death while making the journey. Read here

Coming to America: 14-year-old Layan Albaz lost two sisters, a niece, and a nephew in an Israeli air strike in Gaza. Then, she lost her legs. In March, she traveled alone from Gaza to the United States to receive prosthetic legs and rehabilitation at Chicago Shriners Children’s Hospital. While living with a host family in the suburbs of Chicago, Albaz attempts to overcome the horrifying memories of losing her family at war and comes of age in the disorientingly peaceful home of an American family. Read Rhana Natour’s story for Atavist Magazine here, which includes photographs by Eman Mohammed.

People in assisted living are getting sicker. Wisconsin isn't ready to keep them safe.: My Milwaukee Journal Sentinel colleague Cleo Krejci spent 691 hours working in an assisted living facility, reporting on the abuse, harm, and illness residents face in isolated environments. She wrote a series of stories documenting common instances of malpractice occurring among staff, highlighted the pain and mental duress that many residents undergo when spending long periods without adequate assistance, and spoke to experts about the problems that could emerge if the system goes unchecked. Read her stories here.

New Again: Maya Rudolph: In a blast to the past after finishing my binge-watch of “Loot,” I read this Interview magazine feature from 2013 in which Maya Rudolph gets “diva lessons” from Donatella Versace. Together, Rudolph and Versace discuss SNL impersonations, how to live a glamorous lifestyle, and the ways humor can serve as a cure for pain and loss. Read here.

For Gen Z’s first congressman, schmoozing, selfies and some caution at DNC: During the Democratic National Convention, Gen-Z Congressman Maxwell Frost had a new challenge to confront. Outside of the convention center, pro-Palestinian protests were rolling through the streets of Chicago with activists demanding that progressive members of the party vocally advocate for an end to the war in Gaza. At the same time, he awaited a primetime Thursday speaking slot on the convention stage where he would offer a firm and enthusiastic endorsement of the Democratic Party’s new presidential nominee Kamala Harris. In this story, Washington Post political reporter Sabrina Rodriguez follows Frost through his daily schedule of state caucuses, meetings with high-level elected officials, and exclusive parties, as he tries to find the balance between his activist roots and a new place in the national spotlight. Read here.

Jesse Jackson, slowed at 82, is still showing up and keeping hope alive: In this Washington Post story, David Maraniss offers a reflective and compassionate evaluation of Jesse Jackson’s carer and his looming legacy in Chicago during the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Now afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease, Jackson’s physical capacity has shifted drastically; however, loyal supporters and mentees still hold onto his every word. Read here.

other favorites

Creature from the Brat Lagoon, Vulture, Brock Colyar
Jordan Chiles Knows It's Her Time to Shine, Teen Vogue, Aiyana Ishmael
Facing Climate Gentrification, an Historic African American Community Outside Charleston, S.C., Embraces Conservation, Inside Climate News, Daniel Shailer
Welcome to the Hannah Montana Generation of Pop Music, Rolling Stone, Brittany Spanos
Her Rage Made Her a TikTok Star. Now, Drew Afualo Is Letting It Go, Rolling Stone, CT Jones
Local News Is Dying, but Not in San Francisco, New York Times, Eli Tan
Gus Walz broke the internet with his tearful love for his dad. Then the bullying began, USA Today, Michael Collins and Sam Woodward

on my screen

Twisters: Twisters, oh Twisters, with its non-realistic science and fabulous soundtrack, was one of my favorite moviegoing experiences of the summer. When I was seven, my favorite ride at Universal Studios was a Twister ride. It was, in fact, not a ride at all. All “riders” walked onto a large makeshift film set of sorts and sat on bleachers. Then, we watched a simulation of a tornado destroying a town. I loved it because it was entirely uninvolved and physically nonthreatening, but it also amplified my concerns about an impending climate crisis. “Twisters” was the same. From the horrific offing of Kiernan Shipka’s character 5-minutes into the film to Daisy Edgar Jones somehow surviving the largest tornado in history by drilling a pickup truck into the grass and releasing magic tornado-collapsing powder in the air, I emerged from the theater with a general sense of confusion about what I am to do in the face of a major storm other than go into my basement and pure delight in the Glen Powellaissance of it all.
Taste, Sabrina Carpenter: As the last episode of the Tamia Talks podcast evidenced, I am a huge Sabrina Carpenter fan, and “Short n’ Sweet” feels like an album that was most certainly made for me, being five feet tall and generally frustrated and impatient with noncommittal men. This video delivered some of my most basic needs for survival: “Scream Queens” energy, two Disney girls maximizing their joint slay, and another great tune from Ms. Carpenter.
Descendants: The Rise of Red: I’m always going to sit and delight in a Disney movie musical, and this one did not disappoint. It was cute and full of bops. Love it for the kids, and I did shamelessly add a song to my Spotify playlist.
My Lady Jane: This was the exact “Ella Enchanted” energy that I needed in my 24-year-old life. 10/10, no notes.
Never Been Kissed: I heard through the grapevine that “Never Been Kissed” was a journalism movie, so I decided in August that I NEEDED to watch it. Post-watch, I can say wholeheartedly that I’ve never seen a more inaccurate portrayal of journalism or a healthy student-teacher relationship in my life. The absurdities begin with Josie’s editor accepting a story pitch that generally sounded like “I would like for you to pay me to go back to high school. I don’t know why, but I’ll figure it out.” Her editor accepts the pitch and somehow gives her a deadline without any context for what exactly she will be writing?! Upon arriving at her former high school, Josie immediately catches feelings for her English teacher, who is reciprocating those feelings in front of a whole classroom of students who should quite frankly be calling the police on him! At the end of the movie, this reporter-disguised-as-a-student reveals her true identity to her teacher, and, in response, he looks at her and says “I just can’t look at you the same way. Everything that has come out of your mouth has been a lie.” THAT SHE WAS A TEEN? YOU SAID YOU WERE ATTRACTED TO HER AND SHE SAID SHE WAS AN ADULT AND NOW YOU’RE MAD? Brother….get out of my sight. Anyway, fun watch?

in my ears

music

Ghost in the Machine, SZA ft. Phoebe Bridgers (2022): I saw SZA twice in June and found myself re-submerging into the masterwork that is SOS. Ghost in the Machine feels like the perfect summer-to-fall transition song as well.
Juna, Clairo (2024): Not including a Clairo song in my summer rewind would be unnecessary Clairo shade. “Charm” was everything this summer and made me feel so tranquil.
Spin, Megan Thee Stallion ft. Victoria Monet (2024)
Bad Girls, Donna Summer (1979)

Diet Pepsi, Addison Rae (2024): I am proud to say that August was a Diet Pepsi month for me. I am obsessed with this song, the production is stellar, and the music video SOLD IT. I spent many days spreading the Addison Rae propaganda to friends who had not seen the video yet and ensuring that they had the experience of hearing the music video version of the song which includes the soda pop cracking sound just before the bridge. It was essential and necessary work. We made dozens of TikToks to it once they hopped on the bandwagon.
Mean Girls, Charli XCX (2024)
Check, Flo
Summer of Love, Maude Latour: I listened to Maude Latour’s new album on a bike ride the day that it came out, and “Summer of Love” was an immediate favorite. Maude undeniably has flare and fresh perspective to bring to the music industry, but this track has delicious notes of “Melodrama” by Lorde dripping from its glittering synth melodies. As I wrote in an Instagram post, the whole album feels like the warm sun on your cheeks right before sunset, grasping for normalcy in the hectic throes of your 20s, moving to a new city and waving goodbye to your love! Simply put, so so good.

podcasts

Wild Card with Rachel Martin, NPR: If you’ve never heard of Wild Card, you are missing out. As an NPR lover and podcast queen, I’ve been ravenously consuming episodes of “Wild Card with Rachel Martin” since the show debuted in April. It is undeniably one of my favorite podcasts and offers valuable life lessons and reflections on the world’s happenings with each episode. Rachel Martin is one of my journalism heroes. I love listening to her listen to others. It’s a wonderful guide for me as a young reporter trying to learn the ropes and as a human interested in other people’s stories. I love so many of the episodes but a few of my favorites were Nikki Giovanni, Levar Burton, Jeff Goldblum, and Issa Rae. All so different, but so lovely. Listen here.
What we’ll eat on a warmer planet, Ted Radio Hour: In this episode of Ted Radio Hour, food policy advisor and former Obama White House chef, Sam Kass, hosts a “last supper meal,” a four-course dining experience packed with foods that are at risk of extinction as a result of climate change. Cass and other guests offer insight on techniques that consumers, farmers, and retailers can adopt to more effectively conserve natural resources and save the foods we love most. Listen here.
The Democratic voters who aren’t ready to forget Gaza, Post Reports: In this episode of Post Reports, a Washington Post reporter heads to the “Little Palestine” neighborhood of Chicago to talk to voters about how the war in Israel and Gaza will influence their voting decisions this November. Throughout the episode, many voters weigh the emotional and mental costs the war has had on their family and friends in the United States and overseas. Some say that, despite their prior support of the Democratic Party, the United’s States’ role in the war will make them sit out in November. Listen here.

other favorites and daily listens

The Run-Up, The New York Times
NPR Politics Podcast, NPR
Keep It, Crooked Media
New Yorker Radio Hour, WNYC
Las Culturistas, iHeart
And That’s What You Really Missed, iHeart

on my shelf

The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood: I finally felt peaceful enough to read this book and not feel wildly stressed. It was, as most are aware, a fantastic and incredibly compelling read.
The Red Pyramid, Rick Riordan I had the honor of being a guest on “Seaweed Brain: The Percy Jackson Podcast” in August to discuss Rick Riordan’s 2010 novel, The Red Pyramid. The book follows two siblings on an international quest I did find it incredibly cheesy and fun to reawaken my inner child and re-read this book for my chat with Carter and Erica.
Part of Your World, Abby Jimenez: “Part of Your World” was gifted to me by a dear friend and we bookclubbed our way through it in a matter of days. This book was a journey for sure. The main character is mildly insufferable and a bit too detached from both her reality and our own. We judged and slandered her throughout, but it was exciting to read a book that was more lighthearted than some of the others I’ve picked up as of late.