Pop Sports Politics: Too Much Mixing?

Politics is no longer confined to campaigns and government. It now appears across sports, music, movies, social media, and celebrity culture. In this episode, we explore how Americans feel about athletes and entertainers speaking on political and social issues, whether those messages influence public opinion, and why many people think politics has become too present in everyday life. And, we remember that, while this is not really new, from the 1968 Black US Olympians in Mexico City to politically-charged Oscars shows, it does seem more widespread than ever. Then, we look at the continuing disability employment gap. More than 35 years after the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, people with disabilities remain far less likely to be employed, even when they have comparable education and qualifications. Employer assumptions, inaccessible hiring practices, and concerns about accommodations can all create barriers. At the same time, the growth of remote work may be helping some people with physical disabilities enter or remain in full-time employment. Finally, we revisit an old superstition: is opening an umbrella indoors really bad luck? And what about all those other things we do like tossing salt over your shoulder...or coins into the back seat of your new car? Turns out, we are a far more superstitious bunch than you (or we) might have thought.