Episode Details

On this episode of Normally, Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz celebrate the show’s two-year anniversary before diving into the biggest political, cultural, and education stories of the week.

Mary Katharine and Karol discuss Nikole Hannah-Jones’ account of her daughter’s public-school experience, including their views on school choice, selective schools, testing, classroom discipline and accountability. Karol argues that many of the problems Hannah-Jones describes are connected to education policies she previously supported, while the hosts debate what the story says about the larger fight over public education.

They also react to President Donald Trump’s appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, his comments about Iran, his meeting with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the administration’s dispute with members of the White House press corps, and the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Plus, a Massachusetts bar faces backlash after making one night mask-optional, and Mary Katharine and Karol tackle the latest Gen Z etiquette debates: college freshmen quitting after only weeks on campus, bringing iced coffee to job interviews, and whether younger adults are getting enough practice navigating uncomfortable social situations.

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