Decoder Ring - If You Give a Mouse a Cookie… Will He Want a Welfare Check?
Slate Culture Feed11 Syys 2024

Decoder Ring - If You Give a Mouse a Cookie… Will He Want a Welfare Check?

Adults have a long history of trying to find morals and lessons in children’s literature. But what happens when a seemingly innocent book about a boy and a hungry mouse becomes fodder for the culture wars? Over the last decade, Laura Joffe Numeroff’s If You Give a Mouse a Cookie has been adopted by some on the right as a cautionary tale about government welfare. In this episode, we explore the origins of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, the history of adults extracting unintended meaning from children’s books, and try to figure out how this particular kid’s book became a Republican battle cry.

This episode was written by Cheyna Roth. It was edited by Katie Shepherd and Evan Chung. It was produced by Sofie Kodner. Decoder Ring is produced by Willa Paskin, Evan Chung, Katie Shepherd and Max Freedman. Derek John is Executive Producer. Merritt Jacob is Senior Technical Director.

In this episode, you’ll hear from author Laura Numeroff, book critic Bruce Handy, economist Rebecca Christie and former journalist Max Ehrenfreund.

If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, email us at DecoderRing@slate.com

If you haven’t please yet, subscribe and rate our feed in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. And even better, tell your friends.

If you’re a fan of the show, we’d love for you to sign up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to listen to Decoder Ring and every other Slate podcast without any ads. You also get unlimited access to Slate’s website. Member support is crucial to our work. So please go to slate.com/decoderplus to join Slate Plus today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jaksot(2967)

ICYMI - The AI Book Scandal Rocking Publishing

ICYMI - The AI Book Scandal Rocking Publishing

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Slate contributing writer Imogen West-Knights to talk about Shy Girl, the controversial novel whose U.S. publication was cancelled over suspected AI ...

8 Huhti 30min

Hang Up and Listen - A March Without Madness

Hang Up and Listen - A March Without Madness

Hosts Alex Kirshner, Lindsay Gibbs, and Ben Lindbergh recap a chalky March Madness marked by coaching drama and uncertainty about college basketball’s future. Then Alex and Lindsay ask Ben about the e...

7 Huhti 1h 16min

Death, Sex & Money - Doree Shafrir On The Out Of Control IVF Train

Death, Sex & Money - Doree Shafrir On The Out Of Control IVF Train

When Doree Shafrir started fertility treatments in her late thirties, she thought it would be relatively simple. It ended up taking multiple rounds and sinking her family into debt. Doree and her husb...

7 Huhti 44min

ICYMI - The Internet Loves To Hate Chappell Roan

ICYMI - The Internet Loves To Hate Chappell Roan

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by writer and content creator Josh Lora, who goes by TellTheBees on Substack, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. After yet another meaningless Chappell Roan...

4 Huhti 43min

Culture Gabfest - James Bond’s Sexistential Retreat Edition

Culture Gabfest - James Bond’s Sexistential Retreat Edition

On this week’s show, Dana is joined by Slate’s own Nadira Goffe and Richard Lawson, of the Critical Darlings podcast. Their first agenda item is Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat, the second install...

1 Huhti 53min

ICYMI - "Lip Filler Accent" Is Infecting TikTok (and Us)

ICYMI - "Lip Filler Accent" Is Infecting TikTok (and Us)

On today’s episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Defector co-owner Alex Sujong Laughlin, whose recent piece about “lip filler accent” identified a new way TikTok is changing how we speak. Even peopl...

1 Huhti 32min

Hang Up and Listen - The Final Four Countdown

Hang Up and Listen - The Final Four Countdown

Hosts Lindsay Gibbs and Ben Lindbergh discuss the maddest moment of March—from the UConn buzzer beater, to Women’s Final Four redux. Alex Kirshner rejoins for two interviews: the first with author and...

31 Maalis 1h 13min

Death, Sex & Money - A Court Settlement Made Me a Millionaire. I’ve Barely Touched the Money.

Death, Sex & Money - A Court Settlement Made Me a Millionaire. I’ve Barely Touched the Money.

A listener we're calling Natalie received over a million dollars after being sexually abused by her university gynecologist in one of the largest abuse settlements in American history. She talks about...

31 Maalis 46min

Suosittua kategoriassa Viihde

anni-jaajo
tuplakaak
grekovit
hei-baby-3
terveisia-perheesta
the-harlin-show
dear-shirly
antin-palautepalvelu
bella-table
antin-elokuvakerho
verhon-takaa
dear-shirly-ja-arttu
everypodi
nonsensepodi
get-jassud
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
tahtitehdas
hollywood-love-stories-2
terkuin-jenna
suomen-suosituin-podcast