There are deep roots behind the latest entry into public noise. It’s a now-common scenario: you’re using public transit, or waiting at the airport, or dining in a restaurant, when you hear the tinny music and computerized voice-overs of someone scrolling TikTok – no headphones. This aggravated All Things Considered producer and writer <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/1004889801/manuela-lopez-restrepo"target="_blank" >Manuela López Restrepo</a> enough to look into it. And what she found was a rich history of how public noise works in our culture: who is allowed to make (or avoid it), who gets punished – and the companies that seem to get off scot-free. Manuela shares her reporting with Brittany and they dive deep into the politics and policy of noise. For more episodes about culture and civic life, check out:<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/06/01/nx-s1-5839169/is-your-neighborhood-riddled-with-dog-poop"target="_blank" >Is your neighborhood riddled with dog poop?</a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/06/29/nx-s1-5872768/the-safety-and-power-of-knowing-your-neighbors"target="_blank" >The safety and power of knowing your neighbors</a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/08/10/nx-s1-5920262/is-your-city-shaped-by-yuppie-taste"target="_blank" >Is your city shaped by yuppie taste?</a> Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at <a href="http://plus.npr.org/"target="_blank" >plus.npr.org</a>. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

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