A history of witches

Guests: Katherine Howe, Mark Binelli

People accused of witchcraft in the 17^th and 18^th century were often on the fringes of society, women (and sometimes men) who had pushed back against rigid and puritanical hierarchy. Novelist and historian KATHERINE HOWE says that accused witches were “being punished for being the wrong kind of person” — not following gender norms, or not respecting people who outrank you. She joins us to explain the stew of circumstances that lead to witch trials in Salem and around the country, and to trace the history of witches in the United States. Then, to round out our Halloween special, we’ll turn to candy with MARK BINELLI. His recent piece in the New York Times Magazine dives into the history of licorice, including salmiakki, a savory, salty variety found in Finland.