My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
654 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1.1K ratingsSince 2006, this podcast has been using history to elevate today's political debates. "The perfect antidote to bloviating talking heads, My History is thoughtful, nuanced, and highly engaging." -Columbia Journalism Review
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Episodes
The Man in the Cave and Other Stories of the Signers of The Declaration of Independence
July 04, 2021 22:30 - 5 hoursWe know Jefferson and Franklin, but what about the other signers - John Hart, John Penn, William Williams, Richard Stockton, William Whipple, John Morgan, William Floyd, George Read and others Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Eugene McCarthy's 1968 Primary Run
July 01, 2021 04:00 - 19 minutesThe race for the Democratic Nomination in 1968 was tough. Far from having one 'left' of politics there were many lefts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1866 Mechanics Institute Attack
June 17, 2021 21:11 - 39 minutesOne violent event, captured in the best media technologies of its time and brought to American living parlors, completely changed American politics during the Reconstruction period. A convention at the stately Mechanics' Institute in New Orleans, determined to create a new constitution where all races could vote, was forcefully ended by police in what investigators could only describe as a massacre. We discuss the event, the reasons behind it, and how it affected political power for ten year...
Hannibal Hamlin Stood Up: A Look At an Overlooked Vice President
June 10, 2021 11:16 - 46 minutesKnown for being Lincoln's first VP and dropped from the ticket, Hamlin was actually as well-known as the President he served under. He was a fighter against the expansion of slavery and an important Senator. It was not out of the question that Hamilin could have been in Lincoln's spot. History has forgotten, but we'll give him a few words in this look at Vice Presidents this summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Terrible Tuesday 1987 (The Ark of Commerce, Part 6b)
June 02, 2021 22:27 - 55 minutesFor Wall Street Insiders, Black Monday was not the worst day. The next day, Terrible Tuesday was an agonizing test of the financial system. As part of our series on the commercial history of the United States, we examine the events of Tuesday the 20th. And we look at the history of insurance in America, the reasons there is a stock market, what was learned and not learned from 1987 and a few other things. A Note - We are pleased to be part of the Airwave Media Network. Learn more about your a...
On The Lincoln Train: The 13-Day Journey of a President-Elect
June 01, 2021 18:00 - 1 hourLincoln's turbulent period as President-elect also featured a novel twist: a thirteen-day train ride through the states that had cast their votes for him, and two that had not. He countered large cheering crowds and some security risks, while he managed to avoid opining on the fast-paced events of the day and to avoid compromising with violence. We look at some of his speeches, how he handled being President-elect, and the last-minute change and secret voyage conducted for safety reasons. Lea...
Black Monday 1987 and The Shock of Risk (Final Ark of Commerce Series, Part 6a)
May 23, 2021 19:52 - 1 hourWorried hands gripping phones. Black screens with green digits, going downward. Faces pressed against fancy brokerage office glass. Busy signals. The history of Black Monday 1987 crash and the history of what came before it, from stock commodities and even butter and eggs. This is the first of what will be a two-parter on commerce, risk and the attempts to control that risk, insurance. All of it came together on one day in 1987 which made history, but has been somewhat forgotten about. Don't ...
American Epidemic: Philadelphia's Yellow Fever of 1793
May 21, 2021 12:32 - 40 minutes5,000 or more people died in Philadelphia between August and November of 1793. Thousands of others, including the President, fled the capital of the country. In this recast of a 2014 episode, we look at this epidemic and the reaction to it at the time, what healthcare looked like in the 1790's, and other topics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Young Dick Cheney
May 10, 2021 11:46 - 35 minutes - 24.8 MBWe know the globe-running, meeting master Vice President Cheney, but did you know his parents were hardcore Democrats? or that he thought his father turned into a bird (albeit at a pretty young age). As we discuss with Tim Pearson, author of Second Fiddle, a book about Vice Presidents. Cheney's story goes from the football field, to Yale, to the slammer and eventually to the Oval Office. As part of our summer Vice Presidents series, we discuss Cheney before the first Bush Presidency.
We've Got Problems. We've Always Had Problems.
May 08, 2021 16:02 - 1 hourIn this episode, no big deal, we just tackle about every significant problem we have in our politics today. norm-breaking, free-speech and free-speech limits, threats and violence, double impeachments, pushing envelopes and reverse virtue signaling is all part of this episode. Also, Abigail Adams, a treaty won by a forceful speech, a shadowy organization rising up to oppose a President's agenda, two Founders debate and trade charges of hypocrisy. And a bowling ball. Lee Rosevere -music. Learn...
1995: A Story of Politics On The Information Superhighway
May 01, 2021 10:55 - 1 hourStealth ads. Secret advice. Kids in uniforms. Soft money and hard choices in the information age. As we discuss in this cast, a Presidential election was almost completely settled a year before it happened. Some knew an election was going on and some didn't. In a time when money was soft and people said things like: 'This website's taking a long time to load because it has a picture,' we look at Clinton's not-so-certain re election Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Leftovers From the Black Monday and Terrible Tuesday Casts.
May 01, 2021 04:00 - 25 minutesA Plane Crash, a Taxi Driver's panic and more. What didn't make it into the 'Black Monday' and Terrible Tuesday casts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Leftovers from the Mechanics Institute Attack Podcast Episode - About Mayor Monroe and Lt. Governor Dunn
April 22, 2021 04:00 - 19 minutesMore about New Orleans Mayor Monroe and Louisiana's first black lieutenant governor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Man Behind the UN Who Never Got Credit - Edward Stettinius, Jr. w/Bill Scher
April 20, 2021 13:58 - 55 minutesEdward Stettinius, Jr. served a short but important time as Secretary of State serving F.D.R. and Truman. Without him, there may not have been a UN. And because he got very little credit, he was able to be successful. With journalist Bill Scher, host of the "When America Worked" Podcast we discuss Stettinius and pragmatists in general, and Bill talks about the new podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Golden Beauty Boss: Madame Sara Spencer Washington w/ Cheryl Woodruff-Brooks
April 05, 2021 23:33 - 33 minutesIn this episode, we speak with Cheryl Woodruff Brooks, author of Washington was a cosmetic entrepreneur whose company turned her into one of of America's first black millionaires. She was founder and president of Apex Enterprises consisting of Apex Beauty Colleges, Apex Publishing Company, Apex News & Hair Company, Apex Laboratories and Apex Drug Company. Offices were located in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Newark, Richmond, Brooklyn, Washington, DC, Baltimore and Atlantic City....
The Young Dick Cheney
March 31, 2021 11:46 - 38 minutesWe know the globe-running, meeting master Vice President Cheney, but did you know his parents were hardcore Democrats? or that he thought his father turned into a bird (albeit at a pretty young age). As we discuss with Tim Pearson, author of Second Fiddle, a book about Vice Presidents. Cheney's story goes from the football field, to Yale, to the slammer and eventually to the Oval Office. As part of our summer Vice Presidents series, we discuss Cheney before the first Bush Presidency. Lear...
Introducing: Death At The Wing
March 31, 2021 05:00 - 7 minutes - 6.02 MBDeath at the Wing” is a narrative documentary series looking at the generation of basketball stars and prospects that fell victim to the historical, socioeconomic and political forces that defined the ‘80s. As the new generation of basketball players — players like Magic, Bird and Dr. J — took their mantle as the league’s stars, basketball’s faster and flashier style of play would captivate TV audiences. But along that way to wealth and stardom, the excess of the ‘80s took its toll on...
1921 - One Hundred Years Ago
March 24, 2021 14:18 - 40 minutesEvents 100 years ago have nothing at all to do with today's events, unless you consider new technologies changing the pace of life, the immigration issue, a new administration changing messaging and policies, racism and racial violence, crime, labor struggles, international conflicts and government spending on the poor. And, new kinds of poems. (Music by Paul Whiteman band (from 1921) and Lee Rosevere ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The 25th Amendment, Section Four Explained, w/ Brian C. Kalt
March 19, 2021 02:06 - 49 minutesThe Constitution contains two possible forms of presidential removal outside of election, one is the much-discussed impeachment process. The other is the 25th Amendment's fourth section. We discuss 25 Section 4 with Professor Brian C. Kalt, Professor of Law & Harold Norris Faculty Scholar at Michigan State University, including how the amendment works, its uses and its common misunderstanding by the public and Hollywood writers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is William Rufus King w/ Thomas Balcerski - The Forgotten VP, His Role in The Compromise of 1850, His Relationship with James Buchanan and More
March 18, 2021 13:42 - 46 minutesThe 13th Vice President of the United States remains obscure. Where King's name does come up, it's often with the wrong picture. Or he's confused with Rufus King. According to our guest, Thomas Balcerski, Associate Professor of History at Eastern Connecticut University, he should be in the discussion. Balcerski is author of Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King (Oxford University Press, 2019). We get into the Presidential Ratings Game too. Learn more...
Mario Cuomo is Not Running: A Tale of Politics
March 15, 2021 12:10 - 35 minutesA look at Governor Andrew Cuomo's father Mario, a classic tale of American politics and the potential campaign for President that he ran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Cholera and Benjamin Harrison
March 12, 2021 23:28 - 43 minutesIn 1892, a dreaded disease caused a President to navigate local health situation and created a new law. We look at the precedent-setting quarantine order of the 23rd President, Benjamin Harrison. While we are at it, we look at Harrison's presidency, policies, his influence on future events, his failed attempt to obtain fair elections for both African Americans and city dwellers, and how he annoyed Theodore Roosevelt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Unfriending From Jefferson and Adams, to today
March 11, 2021 17:00 - 53 minutesA look at the famous series of letters between Jefferson and Adams. Friends as young diplomats, they 'unfriended' and 'refriended' from the time of their Presidencies and politics to their old age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Elvis Meets Nixon - The Insider Story
March 10, 2021 17:00 - 30 minutesIt was a strange series of event that lead to the King of Rock and Roll and President Nixon to meet at the White House. A look at a frenetic day at the Nixon White House and the reasons behind the meeting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Statue Removal: National Valhalla: Statues, Confederates, Slaveowners, Washington, Trump, Memory and Time
March 10, 2021 17:00 - 1 hourFrom the early attempts to depict Washington, to the first Congressional attempts to block Confederate statues, to today's debate. In this episode Bruce examines the history behind statues in America, and Bruce looks at every debating point and angle he can think of regarding Confederate statues, the dates of their construction and their removal. Please remember our sponsor Mack Weldon and their great clothes - www.mackweldon.com Use promo code "history" for 20% off. Learn more about your a...
You Break Everybody's Back Part II: The 1988 Election
March 05, 2021 16:53 - 1 hourAttack videos, apology tours, inoculation ads, presidential circles and glib phrases make up the scuttle for the Presidential race in 1988. Part II of our series. Biden's all, Dole's rise, Hart's second coming and the 3x5 card that won the race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You Break Everybody's Back: The 1988 Election - Part One
March 04, 2021 17:00 - 1 hourThe quote from Atwater sums up the race 31 years ago nicely. Gephardt eyes a rusty belt. Dole proto-snarks, Jackson thunders, Biden runs a post route, Bush looks for his soul. Dukakis tries error free ball. Simon finds his inner bow tie and Bruce Babbit also runs. Find leadership where you can. What could it possibly say about today's times? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Enemies: Nixon Goes to China
February 19, 2021 17:00 - 1 hourNixon Goes to China, and what it might mean for the Iran Deal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
George Romney
February 18, 2021 15:06 - 18 minutesA look at the Senator's father, his 1968 run, and time as HUD secretary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
16 Obscure Facts About Presidents w/ Jeremy Anderberg of The Art of Manliness and Readmorebooks.co
February 14, 2021 21:17 - 1 hourWho was Chester Arthur's secret pen pal? How did Herbert Hoover spend his last day in office? What was McKinley's obscure accomplishment? What was Rutherford B. Hayes passionate hobby? What event hurt Taft's Presidency from the get-go? How did Martin Van Buren contribute to today's politics? For Presidents Day, a conversation with Jeremy Anderberg of The Art of Manliness website and podcast and ReadMoreBooks.co newsletter. Music -"Swallow" by Pistol Jazz Learn more about your ad choices....
Calvin Coolidge Became Somebody
February 01, 2021 05:00 - 29 minutesA look at Harding's Vice President and future President Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Power to Pardon
January 17, 2021 21:34 - 29 minutesFrom Eugene Debs to Richard Nixon, from a previously run episode, the President's power to pardon is examined. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Alcatraz: The American Indian Movement
January 14, 2021 02:13 - 50 minutesThe 1969 occupation of the former federal prison by Native American activists was the beginning of a movement and a shift in perception that lives on today. http://www.myhistorycanbeatupyourpolitics.com/alcatraz.mp3 We discuss: Why Alcatraz? The 1973 Standoff at Wounded Knee, South Dakota Vine Deloria and “Custer Died for Your Sins” and Other Items. We are part of Airwave Media Network - www.airwavemedia.com For advertising information please contact [email protected] Learn more abo...
Why is There an Electoral College?
January 13, 2021 17:00 - 43 minutesA look at the Senator who tried to end the Electoral College and the original reasons for it. It has as much to do with 1969 as it does with 1787 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Democracy w/ Dr. Paul Cartledge of Cambridge University: The Life, and Hopefully Not Death, of Democracy (2017)
January 09, 2021 03:59 - 1 hourWe speak often of Democracy, but do we really know what it is? We point to Athens as an example. But what was Greek Democracy really like? A conversation with Dr. Paul Cartledge, A.G. Leventis Senior Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, author of "Democracy: A Life." A lot of topics here and while we chose not to break it up in 2 parts, you might want to listen to it in 2 parts. Music from Lee Rosevere on this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Original Adlai Stevenson, Cleveland's 2nd Vice President
January 06, 2021 05:00 - 48 minutesa bit about Adlai Stevenson I who had an opposite ideology from the President he served. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Your TV Lied To You...All About Presidential Scandals
January 04, 2021 17:00 - 1 hourPresidential Scandals from Nixon to Grant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Story of Samantha Smith
January 01, 2021 17:00 - 17 minutesStory of a very young cold warrior for peace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Masks Then and Now, 1960 Election Presidents Leaving and Not Leaving Oval, Also 14 Years of My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
December 31, 2020 20:28 - 1 hourHost Bruce Carlson reflects on 14 years of the podcast, provides a show update. Plus some listener questions on masks then and now, Presidents leaving (or not leaving) the Oval, and Kennedy's 1960 election and allegations of fraud. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Geeks, Orcs and Herbert Hoover
December 31, 2020 17:00 - 32 minutesThe invention of radio and government intervention in recreation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I Don't Want to Trick You: The Lyndon Johnson - Richard Nixon Presidential Transition, and Other Stories
December 29, 2020 18:50 - 1 hourNothing starts a good presidential transition like charges of treason, and thus it was in 1968 that a tense election ending started a transition between Presidents of two parties. Yet all things considering, Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson's transition is considered one of the better ones. We also look at contemporary news stories, and stories of other presidential transitions. Some mysteries examined, and some LBJ-Nixon phone calls analyzed. Lee Rosevere - music Learn more about your ad cho...
There Must Be Some Trick in It - Constitution Advocates Take on Conspiracy: Madison, Wilson, "Mr Union" and Others.
December 25, 2020 05:00 - 49 minutesTo sell the Constitution, advocates had to get around some reasoned arguments, and also some wild conspiracy theories. How they did it could be a lesson for future political battles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Etiquette and Social Media: Where are Our Manners? Social Etiquette from Ben Franklin to Dale Carnegie to Today, w Jessica Weisberg
December 18, 2020 17:00 - 49 minutesJessica Weisberg has traced Ben Franklin's early advice-writing, read the "Lord Chesterfield" letters that early Americans read to learn how to act, attended Dale Carnegie workshops and spoke with Miss Manners all in a quest to track down why Americans are so obsessed with advice. We speak with Jessica about her book "Asking For a Friend" and discuss whether we've gotten far away from Dale Carnegie or Chesterfield, the selfless advice of our early American ancestors. Learn more about your ad ...
Pirates and America, w/ Rebecca Simon, Author of "Why We Love Pirates"
December 17, 2020 13:08 - 52 minutesAmerica's fascination then and now with sea rebels, sea dogs, privateers, smugglers, and pirates by other names is pretty clear. Books, movies and video games with pirates sell. We talk with pirate expert and historian Rebecca Simon, Ph.D. and author of "Why We Love Pirates: The Hunt for Captain Kidd and How He Changed Piracy Forever" We talk about connections between the American Revolution and piracy, and the different ways pirates were viewed in Britain and America. Learn more about you...
Did Nixon Win the Popular Vote in 1960? And Other Stories
December 07, 2020 00:24 - 1 hourIn this episode we look at an enduring mystery, one that didn't matter too much in the 1960 election but has since taken on significance. Could it be that Kennedy lost, and Nixon won, the popular vote nationally in 1960. We looked at it a decade ago, and at that time MHCBUYP declared that Richard Nixon may have won the pop vote. Now, we think it's complicated. But still possible. This, plus the "Gumps of History" and other listener questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...
The Creation of Children: Child Labor in the U.S. and Child Labor Laws
December 02, 2020 15:27 - 1 hourIn this episode we look at the history of child labor laws and apply the story of this practice, from all angles, to today's politics. originally recorded in 2014, as relevant today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Flotsam and Jetsam of the 2020 Election
December 01, 2020 05:00 - 26 minutesTrump's loss and the ensuing court fight is getting the news. There were a few other historical things to note about the election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I Am James Buchanan
November 26, 2020 17:00 - 1 hourHe's the President that is on the bottom of most lists. But why? And is it fair? What did he think about his place in history? We talk about POTUS 15 and look at the events of the run-up to the American Civil War, and we hear from Buchanan, and get his take on his Presidency, through his memoirs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Post Election Talk w/ Chris Novembrino of Dont Worry About the Government
November 26, 2020 05:00 - 1 houra bit about Trump's ex-Presidency and Other Things Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I Travelled Through Time to Tell You This - 14 Years of My History Can Beat Up Your Politics - Plus Listener Questions
November 22, 2020 20:28 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBHost Bruce Carlson reflects on 14 years of the podcast, provides a show update. Plus some listener questions on masks then and now, Presidents leaving (or not leaving) the Oval, and Kennedy's 1960 election and allegations of fraud.