Must Be Rats on the Brain

This American Life

社会与文化

2023-06-09

1 小时 7 分钟
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单集简介 ...

The one animal we can’t seem to live without, even when we really, really want to. Prologue: At the announcement of New York City’s inaugural rat czar, we meet Darneice Foster, who despises the rats outside her apartment. And host Ira Glass introduces two special co-hosts for today’s show. (11 minutes) Rats performed throughout the show by Bashir Salahuddin and Chandra Russell. Fifty First Rats: Producer Elna Baker meets Todd Sklar, a man who can’t quit rats. (22 minutes) The Big Bag Theory: Fifty years ago, New York City started to put garbage out in plastic bags. This has become the number one food source for rats. Producer Ike Sriskandarajah investigates the decision that led to the city’s rat baby boom. (10 minutes) Alberta? More Like I’ll-Murdah…A-Lotta Rats: How did Alberta, Canada pull off a feat that has eluded the rest of human civilization? Ira visits the largest rat-less land in the world. (15 minutes) Put That Down, You Can’t Eat That: We drop a hot mic into a hot mess of a rats’ nest. You’ll never believe what happens next. (3 minutes) Rats performed by Chris Gethard and Tami Sagher.
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  • From WBC Chicago, CisAmerican Live.

  • Good morning, and it's a great morning for New Yorkers and a great morning to be in New York City.

  • We had a press conference in a park in Harlem for New York's Mayor Adams in April.

  • There are two undisputed truths about the Adams administration.

  • Mayor Eric Adams loves his mother.

  • Mayor Eric Adams hates rats.

  • This event was to introduce New Yorkers to their brand new rat czar.

  • This is a position the mayor created, and his job listing called for candidates who were, quote, highly motivated and somewhat bloodthirsty, with a swashbuckling attitude, crafty humor, and general aura of badassery.

  • New York's mayor is not popular.

  • He's got huge disapproval ratings on crime and homelessness.

  • Fewer than half of all New Yorkers like the way he's doing his job.

  • So when the mayor talks rats, it's with the joy of a dad whose kids don't want any of the dinner he's cooked them.

  • Who finally at dessert gets to hand them massive hot fudge sundaes.

  • He's made it a big issue, and.

  • I hear it all the time.

  • I'm on the trains, I'm walking the streets.

  • People stop me and say, you know, we're with you, man.

  • We hate those damn rats.

  • And, you know, remember Julia, Remember when I came out that rat device?

  • You know, I had a rat device.