Introducing – SCIENCE TECH UNIVERSITY https://sciencetechuniversity.com Your University of Information Fri, 08 Sep 2023 08:48:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 Introducing: ‘The Run-Up’ https://sciencetechuniversity.com/introducing-the-run-up/ https://sciencetechuniversity.com/introducing-the-run-up/#respond Fri, 08 Sep 2023 08:48:12 +0000 https://sciencetechuniversity.com/2023/09/08/introducing-the-run-up/ introducing:-‘the-run-up’

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email transcripts@nytimes.com with any questions. [PHONE INTERNAL RINGING] belinda Hello? astead herndon Hi, my name’s Astead Herndon. I’m a politics reporter at “The New… Continue reading Introducing: ‘The Run-Up’]]> introducing:-‘the-run-up’

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email transcripts@nytimes.com with any questions.

[PHONE INTERNAL RINGING]

belinda

Hello?

astead herndon

Hi, my name’s Astead Herndon. I’m a politics reporter at “The New York Times” and hosting a new politics podcast from “The Times.” I’m looking for Belinda. Is this her?

belinda

It is.

astead herndon

Thank you for picking up. We are hoping that you had maybe 5, 10 minutes today for us to ask a few questions about how you’re feeling about politics right now, and then record that. Is that something you think we could do right now?

belinda

How long have you been a reporter at “The New York Times?”

astead herndon

Since 2018. I worked at “The Boston Globe” before that.

belinda

And what area are you in?

astead herndon

I write about politics. So I was on the election trail last cycle covering the presidential election.

belinda

OK. And record it for what purpose? Will it be replayed later, or what?

astead herndon

Yeah, no problem. We are talking to a lot of different types of voters so that some of our listeners get a sense of how people across the country are feeling.

belinda

OK, we can try it. I don’t read “The Times.” It’s way too liberal for me. I’m not expecting a whole lot from this conversation. But I’ll give it a shot, OK?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

astead herndon

We are in Beaverdale, Iowa.

We’re in Charleston, South Carolina. What direction are we? West?

woman

North?

astead herndon

North? I haven’t seen this church, but late —

As a pastor’s son, I know that is a cardinal sin.

astead herndon

As I’ve been preparing to cover the 2022 midterms, I keep thinking back to a few years ago —

astead herndon

I’m walking up to this house.

astead herndon

— when I was out in the field covering the presidential election.

astead herndon

We see some Trump signs.

astead herndon

It was Donald Trump’s America.

astead herndon

More Trump signs.

astead herndon

And Joe Biden’s whole campaign was built around getting Trump out of office and unifying the country. He said he wanted to restore the soul of the nation.

astead herndon

Do you think that Biden becoming president will lead to more unity in the country?

man

I’m not optimistic about that.

You can’t force people into unity.

woman

First of all, all this talk about unity and healing and stuff?

astead herndon

But the question —

woman

We’re not unifying and healing with these guys.

astead herndon

— was whether that was even possible —

woman

When I hear those calls from Biden for unity, I’m thinking like, OK, but what are the steps for justice that need to happen before we can get there?

Let’s have some consequences for things that have happened here.

astead herndon

— or whether Biden was trying to go back to a time that no longer existed.

astead herndon

You know, Biden says that he’ll be a president for you. That he’ll listen to you. That he wants to bring people together. When you hear that, what do you think?

woman

I don’t believe it.

[CHUCKLING]

I’m sorry. (SARCASTIC) Oh, yeah, let’s all come together. You have not earned it.

archived recording (joe biden)

I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but unify. Who doesn’t see red states and blue states, only sees the United States.

[CHEERING]

astead herndon

Still, when Biden won the White House —

archived recording (joe biden)

I sought this office to restore the soul of America.

astead herndon

— he doubled down on that promise.

archived recording (joe biden)

And now the work of making that vision is real. It’s a task — the task — of our time.

archived recording (crowd)

(CHANTING) — the steal! Stop the steal! Stop the steal! Stop the steal!

astead herndon

But let’s be honest here.

archived recording

Took over the Capitol. Overran the Capitol.

We’re in the fucking Capitol, bro!

Where are the fucking traitors? Drag them out by their fucking hair! (CHANTING) Do not comply! Nobody has the right to tell me what is best for this child. This is my child. Put your mask on!

Masking children is child abuse!

65 percent of Americans say they are concerned about how things are going in the US.

astead herndon

The soul of the nation is far from restored.

archived recording (crowd)

(CHANTING) — that’s a lie! Babies never choose to die! Pro-choice, that’s a lie!

archived recording

The election is rigged.

72 percent of respondents believe America is headed in the wrong direction.

They have the devil in them, and they’re all going to burn in hell one day. What kind of ridiculous idea is to put a gun in my hand when I have to defend my students?

We have to stand between a shooter and our kids.

We didn’t sign up for this shit!

85 percent of Americans say they are dissatisfied with how things are going, regardless of political party.

archived recording (crowd)

(CHANTING) My body, my choice! My body, my choice!

[AUDIO FADING]

[PHONE INTERNAL RINGING]

[DING]

astead herndon

Hello, is this Bishop Myers? This is Astead Herndon from “The New York Times.”

bishop myers

Hello, how are you?

astead herndon

I’m doing well. How are you?

bishop myers

I’m well. Thank you. Good to hear your voice.

astead herndon

[CHUCKLES]: It’s good to hear you too. It’s been a couple years!

bishop myers

Yes, it has been.

astead herndon

Now, in the run-up to this year’s election —

astead herndon

— what’s been the biggest change in the way that you view politics, if any, from two years ago to now?

bishop myers

I guess the one thing that has bothered me is it’s very disheartening. I’ve really lost faith in a lot of the political —

[sighs]

I’ve lost faith in the people.

astead herndon

What I’m finding when I talk to people all across the country —

bishop myers

Feeling homeless in politics is — it seems like there isn’t a place for anybody to be. I know —

astead herndon

Is that there is a new level of political disconnect.

belinda

That political homelessness, that’s exactly how I feel.

bishop myers

A lot of people feel like everything is getting too extreme.

woman

It’s like the land of no more moderates.

astead herndon

And that this time, it extends well beyond political parties.

man

I definitely do not think the election was stolen, but I understand why the rioters on January 6 were upset.

astead herndon

Beyond even Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

man

I can understand the frustration and the helplessness they feel, and the need to revolt just because the system’s not working for them.

astead herndon

It’s about the political system as a whole.

belinda

The voting system is not secure, and I’m just having doubts as to whether or not it’ll make a difference if I vote at all.

astead herndon

People don’t just feel divided.

belinda

I have very little hope for the future of the country.

astead herndon

There’s a deep sense of anxiety.

man

There’s nothing in this country here really gives me hope.

It’s really hard to have hope in politics when the news is so bad.

This country just — it makes me sick, and I wish I can go to another country, but you can’t.

astead herndon

And the thing is, there’s a reason people feel this way. It has been a relentlessly disorienting time with demographic shifts that are increasingly changing the country’s makeup. Social movements that have changed cultural norms almost overnight. The explosion of new technology and misinformation that’s amplified our divisions. Add to that a global pandemic, widespread inequality, and rampant inflation. And through all of this, the political system has struggled to keep up to the point where we now have a Congress that’s drifting further apart on the most urgent issues. Very few swing districts even up for grabs because of how election maps have been redrawn. State houses that have become far more extreme than public opinion on issues like abortion and guns.

man

I think the state of democracy right now is very shaky.

astead herndon

And so much change happening in the Supreme Court outside of voters’ control.

woman

I’m worried that democracy is being eroded —

Our democratic system is under direct threat.

— by nationalists and authoritarian groups.

man

I think democracy, I think it’s much more fragile than I realized.

astead herndon

So I can see why some people feel like, what’s the point of an election when the entire democratic experiment just might crumble?

belinda

Biden was not, he was not elected.

astead herndon

If it hasn’t already.

belinda

Poor man. He’s just — he was not elected. This is wrong. I feel like I’m living in a banana republic.

astead herndon

If you could look ahead to politics, and where you think the country is headed, the direction of the country, what do you think your guess is?

woman

Oh, we’re headed for destruction. I mean, whatever this country is supposed to mean, it never represented — it don’t represent this country. It doesn’t care about the people.

astead herndon

But here’s what I think. All these things that are making people feel so disconnected, they actually make the midterms more important than ever.

archived recording

We are just 76 days away from the midterm elections that will determine which party controls Congress next year.

astead herndon

Because if Republicans take back the House —

archived recording (marjorie taylor greene)

I have introduced articles of impeachment to impeach Joe Biden, impeach Kamala Harris —

astead herndon

— political divisions in Washington will only escalate.

archived recording (lindsey graham)

And I’ll say this. If there’s a prosecution of Donald Trump for mishandling classified information, there’ll be riots in the streets.

astead herndon

And with the Supreme Court sending issues back to the states —

archived recording

The 2022 fall election will now be a referendum on abortion rights.

Candidates who ran on the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen won primaries up and down the ballot.

astead herndon

— huge decisions about abortion and voting rights are quite literally on the ballot.

archived recording

Tonight, concerns and frustrations over the integrity of our local elections.

Republicans have a slight two-point edge when it comes to which party voters want to control Congress.

A new polling shows a swing back toward Democratic candidates ahead of November’s midterm elections.

astead herndon

In places like Pennsylvania —

archived recording

Doug Mastriano, who did march to the Capitol on January 6, is going to be the projected winner of that Republican primary for governor.

astead herndon

— and Michigan —

archived recording

This is going to be an epic battle between a conservative businesswoman and mother and a far-left birthing parent and career politician.

astead herndon

— and Arizona.

archived recording

When I’m governor, we’re going to take a sledgehammer to these damn electronic voting machines. [CHEERING]

astead herndon

And finally, this is the first big test, after January 6 and the Trump presidency, of where Americans want the country to go —

archived recording

75 percent of Democrats saying they want someone besides President Biden to be the Democratic nominee in 2024.

astead herndon

— and who they trust to lead them there.

archived recording

And former President Donald Trump still the most favored person for a potential 2024 presidential —

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis continues to raise his profile as the possible GOP frontrunner for 2024.

astead herndon

So what I’m trying to figure out when I’m talking to voters, political power players —

jim clyburn

[INAUDIBLE] Clyburn.

astead herndon

Hi, Congressman Clyburn. Thank you so much —

Kellyanne Conway. Thank you so much for your time.

kellyanne conway

I gave you a lot of it. Try not to be too snarky and barky.

astead herndon

— and my colleagues at “The Times.”

maggie haberman

I’m Maggie Haberman, and I cover politics and —

lisa lerer

I’m Lisa Lerer, and I cover campaigns, elections —

shane goldmacher

I’m Shane Goldmacher. I’m a national political correspondent.

jenny medina

I’m Jenny Medina, and I’m a national politics reporter —

reid epstein

I’m Reid Epstein, and I cover campaigns and elections —

maya king

I’m Maya King, and I cover Southeast politics for —

adam nagourney

I’m Adam Nagourney, and I have been covering national politics on and off since 1988.

astead herndon

I want to get to more than just who’s going to win in November.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

I want to ask some uncomfortable questions. Like, how did we get here? How deep do these fractures go? And in the end, how strong is our commitment to democracy really? From “The New York Times,” I’m Astead Herndon. Welcome to “The Run-Up.”

[MUSIC PLAYING]

“The Run-Up” is reported by me, Astead Herndon, and produced by Elisa Gutierrez and Caitlin O’Keefe. It’s edited by Frannie Carr Toth, Larissa Anderson, and Lisa Tobin, with original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, and Elisheba Ittoop. It was mixed by Corey Schreppel and fact-checked by Caitlin Love. Special thanks to Paula Szchuman, Sam Dolnick, Julia Simon, Mahima Chablani, Shannon Busta, Nell Gallogly, Jeffrey Miranda, Maddy Masiello, and Sydney Harper.

Thanks so much for listening, y’all.

]]> https://sciencetechuniversity.com/introducing-the-run-up/feed/ 0 Introducing ‘The Trojan Horse Affair’ https://sciencetechuniversity.com/introducing-the-trojan-horse-affair/ https://sciencetechuniversity.com/introducing-the-trojan-horse-affair/#respond Fri, 08 Sep 2023 08:48:11 +0000 https://sciencetechuniversity.com/2023/09/08/introducing-the-trojan-horse-affair/ introducing-‘the-trojan-horse-affair’

An unlikely duo chases down the origins of a mysterious letter that caused a national scandal. The TrojanHorse Affair Introduction Listen More from Serial Illustration by Lucy Jones A strange letter appears on a city councilor’s desk in Birmingham, England, laying out an elaborate plot by Islamic extremists to infiltrate the city’s schools. The plot… Continue reading Introducing ‘The Trojan Horse Affair’]]> introducing-‘the-trojan-horse-affair’

An unlikely duo chases down the origins of a mysterious letter that caused a national scandal.

The Trojan
Horse Affair

illustration
Illustration by Lucy Jones

A strange letter appears on a city councilor’s desk in Birmingham, England, laying out an elaborate plot by Islamic extremists to infiltrate the city’s schools. The plot has a code name: Operation Trojan Horse. The story soon explodes in the news and kicks off a national panic. By the time it all dies down, the government has launched multiple investigations, beefed up the country’s counterterrorism policy, revamped schools and banned people from education for the rest of their lives.

To Hamza Syed, who is watching the scandal unfold in his city, the whole thing seemed … off. Because through all the official inquiries and heated speeches in Parliament, no one has ever bothered to answer a basic question: Who wrote the letter? And why? The night before Hamza is to start journalism school, he has a chance meeting in Birmingham with the reporter Brian Reed, the host of the hit podcast S-Town. Together they team up to investigate: Who wrote the Trojan Horse letter? They quickly discover that it’s a question people in power do not want them asking.

From Serial Productions and The New York Times comes The Trojan Horse Affair: a mystery in eight parts.

  • Published Feb. 3, 2022

  • Brian Reed is the host and co-creator of the podcast S-Town, a production of Serial and This American Life, which won a Peabody Award for being “a pioneering classic of the form.”

    Hamza Syed, a doctor turned reporter, joined Serial Productions in 2018 to report The Trojan Horse Affair.

  • Serial Productions are the makers of the hit podcasts Serial, S-Town, Nice White Parents and The Improvement Association. Serial Productions joined The Times in 2020 to make more groundbreaking longform podcasts.

  • Tune in, and tell us what you think at trojanhorse@nytimes.com.

Listen and follow The Trojan Horse Affair:
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Stitcher
  • RSS

  • Trailer

    Listen to “The Trojan Horse Affair” Trailer

    Episode art

    A mysterious letter shocked Britain in 2014, alleging an Islamist plot to take over one city’s general schools. But who wrote it? From Serial Productions and The New York Times, “The Trojan Horse Affair,” an investigation that became bigger than we ever imagined. All eight parts are coming next Thursday.

    Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio. Try listening here.

  • Part 1

    The Letter in the Brown Paper Envelope

    Episode art

    A strange letter appears outlining a plot by Islamic extremists to infiltrate Birmingham schools. Hamza and Brian visit the supposed mastermind of the plot, and he tells them he did take over a bunch of schools — just not for the reasons in the letter.

    Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio. Try listening here.

  • Part 2

    The Case of the Four Resignations

    Episode art

    Hamza and Brian think the source of the Trojan Horse letter might be hiding in plain sight. After learning about the petty personnel dispute that probably gave rise to the letter, they’re even more bewildered about how it ever could have been taken seriously.

    Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio. Try listening here.

  • Part 3

    Sir Albert and the Missing “H”

    Episode art

    In a state of surprise, Hamza and Brian leave a meeting with the man the Trojan Horse letter was first sent to. And they learn about an internal investigation report that local officials have kept hidden, but which they think could contain a bombshell.

    Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio. Try listening here.

  • Part 4

    The Meeting and the Mole

    Episode art

    A series of frustrating interviews with Birmingham politicians leaves Brian and Hamza wondering if crucial information about the Trojan Horse letter was kept from officials in London. Then one rainy Friday afternoon, Brian hears back from a government source who wants to meet right away.

    Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio. Try listening here.

  • Part 5

    A Study in Scarlett

    Read correction: Feb. 10, 2022

    Episode art

    Hamza and Brian learn that the Trojan Horse letter wasn’t the only unsigned letter alleging an extremist operation was afoot in Birmingham. An interview with a couple who lodged complaints against their school starts out cordially, but six hours later, the atmosphere is so tense that not even an offer of tea can smooth things over. And Hamza stops pretending he’s not angry about what he’s hearing.

    Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio. Try listening here.

  • Part 6

    Cucumbers and Cooker Bombs

    Episode art

    Hamza takes a long, hard look at what the government found when it investigated more than 20 majority-Muslim schools in Birmingham. And our two reporters have a confrontation — with each other.

    Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio. Try listening here.

  • Part 7

    The Detail of the Deputies

    Episode art

    Birmingham authorities struggle to explain why they disavowed their own findings about the Trojan Horse plot. But when Brian and Hamza make a discovery deep inside some court documents, everything suddenly makes sense.

    Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio. Try listening here.

  • Part 8

    An Appointment in Perth

    Episode art

    A man banned from working in education in the aftermath of the Trojan Horse letter inspires Brian and Hamza to track down one last witness with him — in Australia. And all three travelers find their faith tested.

    Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio. Try listening here.

About the Hosts

  • headshot Brian Reed is the host and co-creator of the podcast S-Town, a production of Serial and This American Life, which won a Peabody Award for being “a pioneering classic of the form.” Brian was also a senior producer at This American Life, where he edited, produced, and reported some of the program’s most ambitious stories. He has received the Dart Award for Reporting on Trauma, the Overseas Press Club Award, an Education Writers Association Award, and two Peabodies.
  • headshot Hamza Syed joined Serial Productions in 2018 to report The Trojan Horse Affair. Hamza earned a master’s degree in investigative journalism from De Montfort University in Leicester, England, in 2019, where he was awarded the Channel 4 Prize for Investigative Journalism. Before becoming a reporter, Hamza was a medical doctor.

About the Music

  • Thomas Mellor is a composer and producer based in Walsall, England, best known for his work on productions by some of the UK’s top Grime artists earning him 2 BPI certified awards and has landed music in hit TV shows such as ‘POWER’ and ‘Top Boy’ on Netflix. In recent years, Thomas has also composed music for advertisements and has dedicated more time towards finding work composing for TV and Film.
  • Matt McGinley is a New York based musician, known for his work with the band Gym Class Heroes and as a contributing music producer for This American Life. Matt has composed music for many Serial Productions shows, including Serial podcast, S-Town, and Nice White Parents.

Further Reading From The Times

  • Who Gets to be British in 2022?

  • Seven Takeaways From ‘The Trojan Horse Affair’

More from Serial Productions

Additional Credits

  • Executive Producers
    Brian Reed and Hamza Syed
    Producer
    Rebecca Laks
    Editor
    Sarah Koenig
    Additional Editing
    Ira Glass and by our Contributing Editor, Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi
    Fact Checking and Research
    Marika Cronnolly and Ben Phelan
    Original Scoring and additional music
    Thomas Mellor and Matt McGinley
    Sound design, mixing and additional music
    Steven Jackson and Phil Dmochowski
    Operations Team
    Alena Cerro and Elizabeth Davis-Moorer
    Executive Editor
    Julie Snyder
    Managing Editor
    Neil Drumming
    Supervising Producer
    Ndeye Thioubou
    Executive Assistant
    Alberto De Leon
    Digital Design and Development
    Peter Rentz and John-Michael Murphy
    Director of Audio
    Paula Szuchman
    Assistant Managing Editor
    Sam Dolnick
    Special Thanks
    Jordan Cohen, Katie Fuchs, Jonathan Heawood, Susan Wessling, Clifford Levy, Dana Green, Al-Amyn Sumar, Martin Soames, Simone Procas, Jeffrey Miranda, Jon McNally, Julia Simon, Lauren Jackson, Renan Borelli, Tara Godvin, Eslah Attar, Peter Rentz, John-Michael Murphy, Lindsay Fischler, Kathryn Roach, Megan Shepherd, Aleksa Brown, Sam Posner, Matthew Lewkowicz, Kelly Doe, Jason Fujikuni, Hanah Ho, Anisha Muni, Nina Lassam, Matthew Lloyd-Thomas, Stephanie Preiss, Taylor Gandossy, Morgan Jones, Krystal Plomatos, Cassie Howley, Frances Swanson, Seth Lind, Matt Tierney, Stowe Nelson, Christopher Swetala, Julie Whitaker

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