A week after President Trump cut a surprise deal with Democrats, and 100 years after it was created, is the debt ceiling still serving its intended purpose? Plus, inside the alt-right idolization of Taylor Swift and medieval history and how some are trying to fight back. Finally, a new book argues that we may need less technology, even—or especially—if it means we become more bored.

1. Zachary Karabell, author of “The Leading Indicators: A Short History of the Numbers that Rule Our World,” discusses the debt ceiling’s history and frequent use as political football.

2. Mitchell Sunderland, Senior Staff Writer at Vice, on Taylor Swift’s fascist following. 

2. Historian David M. Perry on how medieval historians should respond to white supremacist affection for their field.

4. Manoush Zomorodi, host of the WNYC’s Note to Self, on her new book, “Bored and Brilliant,” and the dire need to disengage from technology.