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Retro Report is a growing series of over 150 short documentaries that tell the history behind the news.
Latest
What Happens Next
Future of Fact
Online manipulation and immersive media have begun to eradicate our shared notion of authenticity …
Trump, Vaccines and the Man Fueling the Controversy
Measles is a disease once thought eradicated, so why is it making a comeback? Andrew Wakefield is …
The Outrage Machine
In the digital age, where everyday people can suddenly become public enemy number one, how do we …
The Crack Baby Scare: From Faulty Science to Media Panic
In the 1980s, images of tiny, jittery "crack babies" caused social outcry -- crack-addicted pregnant …
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Context for this Week

Stories that shine a light on today’s news

Per The New York Times, Pacific Gas & Electric overlooked or was responsible for several recent deadly wildfires in California. Our story examining the 1988 Yellowstone fire shows how complicated putting out wildfires can be. Of course, mismanagement from the state’s largest utility exacerbates the problem.

The Wildfire That Burned Yellowstone and set off a Media Firestorm

Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge? Viral giving and clicktivism is a relatively modern trend—and one partially inspired by Live Aid in 1985, which aimed to make donating to charity an enticing experience. Watch how it inspired a generation.

Activating a Generation: From Live Aid to the Ice Bucket Challenge

Twitter has permanently suspended the account of Jacob Wohl, who last year was caught attempting to spread disinformation about Robert Mueller. See how conspiracy theorists like Wohl have found a home, and a new audience, online. Watch Conspiracy Theories and Fake News from JFK to Pizzagate.

Conspiracy Theories and Fake News from JFK to Pizzagate

Playlists

Reproductive Rights at Stake »

The Crack Baby Scare: From Faulty Science to Media Panic
Abortion Was Illegal. This Secret Group Defied the Law
Women's Rights Protests & the Match That Sparked a Movement
Bitter Supreme Court Confirmations: From Bork to Kavanaugh
How an Underground Abortion Network Got Started

Award Winning »

How Zero Tolerance Blurred the Lines Between Schools and Criminal Justice
She Derailed the Fight for Equal Rights for Women
Transforming History
Future of Money
The Murder of US Churchwomen in El Salvador That Exposed a Government Coverup

Pop Culture Panics »

From Y2K to 2038, Lessons Learned from First Computer Crisis
Junot Díaz and the D&D Revolution
Free Speech VS Censorship: Warnings From Explicit Lyrics to Trigger Warnings
Why Pinball Was Banned for Decades
When Politicians Blame Bad Behavior on Pop Culture

Environmental Blunders and Lessons Learned »

The New York Garbage Barge That Revealed We Have a Trash Problem
The Snake That Ate the Everglades
Violence in the Amazon: Why Protecting the Rainforest is Still a Fight
Reintroducing Wolves to Yellowstone Requires a Delicate Balance
Toxic Waste in the Neighborhood: The Love Canal Disaster of 1978 is an Ongoing Mess

Falsely Accused? »

A Mother, a Dingo and an Australian Media Frenzy
He's the only CIA Contractor to be Convicted in a Torture-related Case
The Nanny Murder Case: Shaken Baby Syndrome on Trial
Richard Jewell: The Wrong Man
Wrongly Accused of Terrorism: The Sleeper Cell That Wasn't

How History Shapes Our Attitudes Toward Mental Health »

Myths and Misperceptions about Eating Disorders
Is Multiple Personality Disorder Real? One Woman's Story
How Prozac Turned Depression Medication into a Cultural Phenomenon
Lobotomy: A Dangerous Fad's Lingering Effect on Mental Illness Treatment
Suicide, Veterans and How a Simple Idea Is Trying to Combat a Crisis

Moral Panics! »

The Crack Baby Scare: From Faulty Science to Media Panic
The Superpredator Scare
Free Speech VS Censorship: Warnings From Explicit Lyrics to Trigger Warnings
The Preschool Sex Abuse Case that Changed How Molestation is Investigated
D&D: Lessons from a Media Panic

Crime & Punishment »

How a Standoff with the Black Panthers Fueled the Rise of SWAT
The Superpredator Scare
Crime and Punishment: Three Strikes and You’re Out
Flawed Evidence: The Limits of Science in the Crime Lab
How Heroin Addiction's Rural Spread Changed an Inner City War on Drugs

Viewing Trump's Presidency Through a Historical Lens »

Sanctuary Cities: Trump Renews an Uproar That Began Long Ago
Trump, Vaccines and the Man Fueling the Controversy
Trump’s Immigration Rhetoric Echoes a Bitter Fight in the 90s
How Toughness on Leaks and a Free Press Link Trump, Obama, and Nixon
Us vs. Them: from George Wallace to Donald Trump

Faulty Forecasts »

Population Bomb: The Dire Prediction That Fell Flat
From Y2K to 2038, Lessons Learned from First Computer Crisis
Power Line Fears
Nuclear Winter's Forecast of Doom Still Debated Today
Weekly Recommended Reading
Latest Photo Essays
News and Awards