Episode 264: How to Grift Your Way into the Ivy League

This week, Elena Clavarino shares her fascinating report on a constellation of small villages, nestled near the tip of Italy’s boot, where locals still speak a Greek dialect dating back more than 3,000 years. Then the esteemed documentarian Errol Morris reflects on his relationship with Robert McNamara, the complicated subject of his mesmerizing film The Fog of War. And finally, Harry Mount joins us from London with a remembrance of the beloved British writer Jilly Cooper.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Clara Molot reports from New Haven on the Yale freshman who gave grifting the old college try and scammed her way into the Ivy League school by creating an entirely fake identity. Then Eric Wilson reports from Hong Kong on the latest twists and turns in the horrific murder of a young, aspiring influencer that has captivated the city. And finally, Alexandra Wolfe and Julia Vitale reveal the winners of Air Mail’s inaugural Tom Wolfe literary prizes, presented by Montblanc.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, as Trump works to dismantle government-funded scientific research, Michael Oreskes reveals how top researchers are now putting their work—and sometimes their retirements—on hold in order to fight for truth in science. Then, these are indeed strange days, and you may be struggling to find words of comfort. Gerard deGroot has a thought: read Allen Ginsberg’s masterpiece, “Howl.” Published 70 years ago, this shocking poem was a powerful rebuke to conformists in 1950s America. And finally, Joan Juliet Buck has a look at a new book about how a British woman named Jane became the French bag named Birkin.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Jonathan Alter shares the astounding story of one of the great grifts—how a man passed himself off as a Rockefeller for 40 years and became a member of the ruling elite. Then Christine Muhlke looks at Union Square Cafe, one of New York City’s most loved restaurants, as it celebrates its 40th anniversary. And finally, as Netflix releases House of Guinness, Joseph Bullmore gives his thoughts on the Irish clan that turned stout into a legendary family fortune.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When it comes to finding love, Gen Z is breaking up with dating apps. Fed up with swiping, they’re now looking to meet people in real life. Yet, as our colleague Paulina Prosnitz reports from New York, they want to do it in their own way. (Did we mention cornhole leagues?) Then, if you’re interested in another place to meet someone, here’s an idea: How about a funeral? As Katia Kulawick-Assante reports from Paris, in the Instagram age, funerals have become a scene for social climbing and Instagramming. And finally, there are two great books out about two titans of music: the composer John Williams, best known for being the man who has written the scores for so many Steven Spielberg movies, and Leopold Stokowski, who scored some of Walt Disney’s masterpieces. Our friend John Mauceri shares his thoughts.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you’re a fan of Curb Your Enthusiasm—and who isn’t?—you are surely a fan of Susie Essman, who played Susie Greene on the show. And this week she joins us with a rather Curb-like story about her encounter with Prince Andrew. Then our colleague James Wolcott discusses the return of perhaps the sharpest cultural and social satire going these days: South Park. And finally, Linda Wells remembers Giorgio Armani.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Nick Davies reveals his new findings about the phone-hacking scandal involving Rupert Murdoch that rocked the U.K. in the 2010s, and what it could mean for The Washington Post. Then Gracie Wiener tells us how Diaper Diplomacy has become social media’s new fixation. And finally, Carolina de Armas reports on the obsession of the summer: Bad Bunny’s residence in Puerto Rico.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Clara Molot reveals how Yale has managed to escape the wrath of Trump and his war on America’s universities. Then William D. Cohan has all the dirt and drama about how the 75 billionaires who take over Nantucket each summer are more than living up to expectations with their very bad behavior. And finally, Hayley Peppin joins us in a conversation about the newest trend in home design. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Donald Trump’s attack on Harvard has gotten a lot of headlines, but his skirmish with the University of Virginia has become a major political battleground between two possible presidential rivals, J. D. Vance and Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin. Greg Easley takes us inside his reporting. Then, speaking of politics, did you know that Gen Z has recast former president George W. Bush as America’s most lovable grandfather? It’s a trend that’s been dubbed “Bushcore,” and Carolina de Armas and Paulina Prosnitz break it down. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Cazzie David tells us how and why Gen Z has turned the marriage proposal into something completely stupid. Then Andrew Lownie discusses why Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson tried to kill his explosive new book about them—and what he reveals in it. And finally, Jonathan Mahler talks about how New York City in the late 1980s foreshadowed where the city is now, as it faces another dramatic choice about who will lead it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.