Podcast / Edge of Sports / May 7, 2025

The Book MLK Historians Are Learning From

On this episode of Edge of Sports, noted historian Jeanne Theoharis joins the show, and Arya Shirazi talks Celtics.

Edge of Sports
Edge of Sports

Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin

The Book MLK Historians Are Learning From
byDave Zirin / The Nation

This week, we speak to Jeanne Theoharis, author of the groundbreaking new book  King of the North: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life of Struggle Outside the South. It is a deep dive into the remarkable political work that Dr. King accomplished north of the Mason-Dixon line and in southern California. Theoharis has uncovered a treasure trove of information that has gobsmacked even serious historians of King's life and legacy.

Also, I talked to Hoops Savant Arya Shirazi about why we dislike the Celtics so much and why they barely notice the Knicks exist—until now.

Zirin, MAGA Followers Think They’re Punk Rock—but Then Why Are They All Such Cowards?

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/maga-trump-rage-against-machine/

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Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. arrives at the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, California.

(CBS via Getty Images)

This week on Edge of Sports, we speak to Jeanne Theoharis, author of the groundbreaking new book, King of the North: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life of Struggle Outside the South. It is a deep dive into the remarkable political work that King accomplished north of the Mason-Dixon Line and in Southern California. Theoharis has uncovered a treasure trove of information that has gobsmacked even serious historians of King’s life and legacy.

Also, I talked to Hoops Savant Arya Shirazi about why we dislike the Celtics so much and why they barely noticed that the Knicks existed—until now.

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

Edge of Sports
Edge of Sports

Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin

Anti-Trans Bigots Try To Divide/Destroy WNBA
byDave Zirin / The Nation

This week we speak to Frankie de la Cretaz of the indispensable website “Out of Your League,” which looks at the intersection of sports and gender, about Sophia Cunningham, ugly transphobia, and why the WNBA is tolerating hate rallies at their games. 

Also, I have Choice Words about lessons from the life of Howard Zinn

Zirin, Liberals Are Shaming Howard Zinn’s Memory Yet Again

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/howard-zinn-red-scare-american-veterans/

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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Dave Zirin

Dave Zirin is the sports editor at The Nation. He is the author of 11 books on the politics of sports. He is the author of a new book, The People's Historian: The Outsized Life of Howard Zinn.

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