'The Language of Fanaticism,' Hometown Heroes Call-In, 'Mayor Mohamed,' 'Gideon's Promise'

Writer, linguist, and podcast host Amanda Montell joins us to discuss her new book, Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism. She explores how language is used by the likes of Scientology and QAnon, as well as multilevel marketing companies, major brands, and influencers. Over the course of six sections, each dedicated to a different category of cult, Montell sheds light onto the shared linguistic techniques used by charismatic leaders, from Jim Jones to Jeff Bezos. On the day of New York City's "hometown heroes" ticker tape parade honoring essential workers in Lower Manhattan, WNYC planning editor Kate Hinds joins us to discuss the occasion and take listeners' calls shouting out the heroes in their lives. Director Jeffrey Togman joins us to discuss his documentary, "Mayor Mohamed," which follows Mayor Mohamed Khairullah, the Syrian American mayor of Prospect Park, NJ, as he brings humanitarian relief to Syria while managing local politics in the small north Jersey town.  When a local politician runs a campaign to unseat him as mayor, Mayor Khairullah faces Islamophobia and reckons with his own view of what it means to be American.  Macarthur fellow and lawyer Jonathan Rapping joins us to discuss his book, Gideon's Promise: A Public Defender Movement to Transform Criminal Justice.   This episode is guest-hosted by Matt Katz.