Plus: Norman Lear, 'Poor Things' and the best games of the year

View this email online by Linda Holmes Welcome! It was the week when Taylor Swift was Person of the Year, and a lot of people cared deeply about who was Person of the Year for the very first time. It was the week when a coffee dispute roiled a TV empire. And it was the week when a gossipy story got even more gossipy (if you like that kind of thing). (Lots more at the news quiz.) Let's get to it. The rise of the documentary miniseries and the promise of a good one Monday night, HBO aired the first of three installments in its documentary series Murder in Boston: Roots, Rage & Reckoning. Directed by Jason Hehir (who made The Last Dance), it's about the October 1989 murder of Carol Stuart. The murder was originally reported by her husband, Charles, as a carjacking by a Black assailant in which they had both been shot. She died, as did the baby she was carrying. By January, Charles' brother confessed that he had assisted Charles in murdering his wife and that Charles' own injury was essentially a misdirect; the carjacker never existed. In the intervening months, a manhunt had resulted in the police stopping, searching and harassing large numbers of Black men in Boston, one of whom they even arrested. Charles Stuart identified him as the -- as it turns out -- fictional murderer, then took his own life shortly after his brother gave him up to the police. There is an obvious way this series could have gone: exacting detail on the Stuarts, their families, how beautiful Carol was, how it all went wrong -- on other words, on Charles' decision to kill her and his brother's decision to turn him in. Instead, it wisely focuses not on the murder itself, but on the police investigation, both its origins and the deep scars it left. The bulk of the first installment is spent on the history of segregation and racism in Boston, with particular focus on the ugly protests against busing as a way to desegregate public schools. It's a bit of a salutary bait-and-switch, seeming like another true-crime story, but really taking this case and using it as only one example of much broader problems. The result is far more satisfying and substantial. Carol Stuart and Charles Stuart.  HBO The three-episode docuseries is a standard format by now, particularly on Netflix. That's how many episodes Netflix has of Bad Vegan and Escaping Twin Flames and Bad Surgeon. It's how many there are of Max's own Love Has Won. These often follow a three-act structure: the setup, the explosive events, the consequences and conclusions. Murder in Boston suggests what might be a better path for a series like this, which calls all the way back to Ezra Edelman's outstanding series O.J.: Made in America. That series, while it was longer, similarly used its long format to provide what is often missing from stories about true crime, or scandals, or headlines of the past: context. Yes, it's possible to spend three episodes synthesizing what we know about events of the past, primarily for the benefit of people who either want to look back on them as familiar or want to learn about them because they weren't around the first time. But why set aside the benefit time can often provide, which is a chance to gain new perspective on familiar stories? Journalists and civil rights leaders, and one retired police officer who was willing to talk -- and who seems to have zero regrets about his role in the manhunt -- speak to the ways the aftermath of this killing changed the city, how it echoes in conversations that still take place now, and how, in retrospect, biases and failures of imagination prevented a mostly white police apparatus from being suspicious about Stuart's story when plenty of Black residents never believed it for a minute. (For all this useful context, it also is undeniably an advantage to this series that the old COPS-like show Rescue 911 was filming with Boston emergency medical services on the night of the murder, which means there is much more footage than usual of the crime scene, of Charles Stuart being loaded into the ambulance and being treated in the hospital, and of him muttering about the supposed Black carjacker.) This is what a docuseries should look like. Events are covered efficiently; context is given room to breathe, to occupy the space it needs. A lot of such projects are disposable and sensational, offering less light than heat. But this is one that gets the balance right. Newsletter continues after sponsor message We Recommend The death of legendary TV producer and writer Norman Lear this week at the age of 101 inspired several lovely remembrances. This one from Alan Sepinwall at Rolling Stone, this one from Daniel Fienberg at The Hollywood Reporter, and this one from Kathryn VanArendonk at Vulture are all well worth your time. This week, NPR published a great big guide to the best games of the year. It works a lot like Books We Love, and it will keep you busy for a long, long time. It's back for another year: The Great British Baking Show: Holidays is upon us. Listen to the Podcast Sponsor-Free Support your favorite pop culture junkies AND listen without sponsor interruptions with a subscription to Pop Culture Happy Hour+! Learn more and sign up at plus.npr.org/happy. Learn More What We Did This Week Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé is both concert film and documentary about the recent world tour. Parkwood Entertainment Glen and I had a chat with Margaret H. Willison about the charming Australian comedy series Colin From Accounts. Glen, Stephen, Andrew Limbong and I racked our brains to remember the best Christmas gifts we ever received. Come for the samba beat, stay for the elevator. Stephen, Sidney Madden and Bilal Qureshi talked about the Beyoncé concert film Renaissance. Neda Ulaby and Juana Summers joined me for a talk about the unsettling new Netflix film Leave The World Behind, which carries the star power of Mahershala Ali, Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke. And Walter Chaw and Roxana Hadadi brought their sharp thoughts to a talk with me and Glen about the fascinating, weird, imaginative Poor Things, starring Emma Stone. And I wrote about a new documentary called A Disturbance in the Force that looks back on The Star Wars Holiday Special and its baffling, tacky, wacky spectacle. What's Making Us Happy Every week on the show, we talk about some other things out in the world that have been giving us joy lately. Here they are: Walter Chaw: Solitary Roxana Hadadi: Razorblade Tears, and other works of S.A. Cosby Glen Weldon: Assassin's Creed Mirage and NPR's Best Games of 2023 Linda Holmes: Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage and Reckoning Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. Subscribe to Pop Culture Happy Hour+. Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free episodes. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: pchh@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Music, Books, Daily News and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Pop Culture Happy Hour emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy

⚠️Protect yourself from scams

Plus: Holiday🎄decorating tips; how to combat loneliness

View this email online Today’s newsletter is brought to you by Life Kit digital editor Malaka Gharib  I just found out I’ve been footing the bill for a stranger’s parking fees for months.  Earlier this year, I got a text message requesting to share my parking app account with someone I thought was my husband. But it was a total stranger! And they’ve been happily using my credit card to pay for their (very pricey) parking fees in Nashville: $42 for 45 minutes in a tourist area, $60 for two hours downtown.  By the time I noticed (because I’m terrible and never check my credit card statements), I had paid over $300 in parking fees for this random person, all because I didn’t take a moment to double-check the link and see who the request was coming from.   If you’re susceptible to fraud like me -- and not great about reviewing your bank account statements -- check out Life Kit’s guide on how to protect yourself from getting scammed. It has simple, practical actions you can take right now to reduce your chances of getting swindled.    Read the story now Malte Mueller/Getty Images/fStop Protect yourself from scams Here are some of my favorite tips from the episode that helped me secure my apps and data. And in case you’re wondering -- yes, I got my money back.  🤑Sign out of Venmo when you're done using it.  Picture this, says Amy Nofziger, the director of fraud victim support for AARP. Say you're walking down the street and a teenager comes up to you and says, " 'Oh my gosh, I lost my phone. I need to call my mom to pick me up. Can I borrow your phone?' 'Well, of course,' you say. 'Here's my phone.' You see them dialing a phone number. But actually what they've done is they've gone into your Venmo app" and transferred money to themselves.    So make sure to stay logged out of peer-to-peer payment apps like Zelle and Cash App on your phone. It may feel like an annoying step -- having to log in every time you use the app -- but it can protect you. 🚫Set up your phone to decline calls from numbers you don’t recognize. To reduce your chances of answering calls from scammers, go into your phone settings and select the option to send unknown callers to voicemail. "That means that anybody that is not in your contacts that calls you will go directly to voicemail," says Nozfiger. "If it's important, [the caller] will leave a voicemail." 💳Use your credit card whenever possible. Use your credit card rather than your debit card, says Kelly Richmond-Pope, a forensic accounting professor at DePaul University. "Your credit card company has a level of protection that the banks don't seem to give. So I've always used my credit card for as much as I can." If someone makes a fraudulent charge on your credit card, the most you'll be liable for is $50, according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. But if someone gets a hold of your debit card, they can take money straight out of your checking account, leaving you without access to that cash while you sort things out with your bank. You also may be liable for much more of the losses, depending on when you report the fraud.  Click here for more tips Newsletter continues after sponsor message  🎄We asked, you answered: Your best holiday decorating tips 🎄 Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR Last month, we asked you to share creative, sustainable ideas to make your home merry and bright for the holiday season. Here’s a selection of responses, which have been edited for length and clarity.   Read our story with interior designer Elaine Griffin for more fun, offbeat ideas on how to decorate your home for the holidays.   Hygge style  A couple years ago, after reading about Scandinavian winters and hygge, I bought some low-cost fairy lights and a collection of candles. We keep them up through the darkest months of the winter, adding a live Christmas tree and some amaryllis flowers in December.  It's cozy and makes these long nights and short days feel special. It's been a game-changer for me and my partner, and we appreciate winter so much more now (beyond just the holidays). --Kim George Inspired by nature My favorite way to decorate for the holidays is to make my own crafts. I dry thin orange slices in the oven and use a small skewer to poke a hole in them, then thread twine or yarn through them to make a garland. I make simmer pots with various ingredients to add humidity and a beautiful fragrance to the air. Ingredients can include: orange slices, lemon slices, ginger slices, dried rose petals, dried lavender, dried spices (clove, anise, cinnamon sticks, cardamom), and flower petals. --Mari Carmen Castellano Free decor   My friend taught me to ask for the trimmings from the Christmas tree stands. She takes them and makes wreaths to give away.  --Catherine Roth Listen Sponsor-Free Support public media while getting expert advice on health, finance, relationships and more with Life Kit+. You'll get sponsor-free listening AND that warm fuzzy feeling that comes with making a difference. You can also check out loads of other NPR+ podcasts with benefits at plus.npr.org. Explore Life Kit+ This week on Life Kit Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR How to keep kids safe from guns in the home. Firearms are the No. 1 cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. Here’s how to take life-saving precautions to protect children — whether or not you own a gun. Read the story here. Feeling alone? 5 tips to create connection and combat loneliness. We all feel lonely at some point, but long-term social isolation can damage our mental and physical health. A new book called Project UnLonely shows how creative expression can foster friendships. Read the story here. What should you wear to run in the cold? Build an outfit with this paper doll. How cold is too cold? What kind of gear should you wear? And how do you stay motivated to workout outside when the weather is dreary? Cold-loving runners and a doctor share their advice to get moving during the winter. Read the story here. Want a marriage that lasts? 5 questions to ask your partner before getting hitched. These conversation starters get at the heart of your values, including how you deal with conflict, your attitude toward gender roles and your relationship with money. Read the story here.  💕 Listener impact 💕 This week, we received an email that warmed our hearts -- we hope it warms yours too. This response has been edited for length and clarity.    I cannot thank you enough for the episode you did on student loans and the resource about Free Student Loan Advice. To say this resource changed my life is not an understatement. I have been carrying student loan debt for nearly 30 years and had been unable to get any straight answers from StudentAid.gov about the status of my loans for possible forgiveness. After hearing your episode, I contacted Free Student Loan Advice and within 24 hours had a clean plan of what to do.   This morning, less than 90 days after contacting Free Student Loan Advice, I received an email from my servicer that my loan had been completely forgiven in its entirety, almost $12,000.   This episode literally has changed the outcome of my life. Thank you doesn’t seem adequate. But thank you. --Kate LaSala     Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: LifeKit@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Life Kit emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy

Unwavering International Reporting, Made Possible by You

Help Support the NPR Network

View this email online This was a year dominated with world events, from discoveries at the cradle of civilization to the major global conflicts that are shaping our world today. This list highlights NPR's biggest international stories in 2023 — made possible thanks to support from readers and listeners like you. NPR has 16 international bureaus, meaning that journalists report firsthand. They deliver stories that go beyond the headlines — offering insights into the humanity caught in the crossfire and its ripple effect on the world at large. This level of reporting requires significant resources, commitment, and courage. We need your help maintaining this important work — especially from regions of turmoil and conflict. It’s your support that allows us to tell these stories and more. Donate Now Here are just a few of the ways your contribution will have a profound impact: Finding people affected most: Your support fuels our correspondents in providing human stories, not soundbites or talking points.  Protecting journalists: Your donation ensures that reporters and producers have the necessary equipment and proper safety measures in place. Amplifying critical stories to millions of people on-air and online, and more!  Any amount makes a difference. Whether it's $10 or $1,000, every dollar helps us keep people informed. By contributing, you're powering stories told with integrity. With your support, the NPR Network will continue to bring important stories to your community. Thank you for standing with the NPR Network and supporting our mission in an often uncertain world. With gratitude, Didrik Schanche NPR's Chief International Editor Donate Now This email was sent by: National Public Radio 1111 North Capitol Street NE Washington, DC, 20002, US   If you have any questions, please submit a help ticket here. Update Preferences  |  Privacy Policy