Shows / My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
Since 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
Episodes
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
IMMIGRATION: ICH BIN AMERIKANER: Tales From The Very German United States
This phrase may have been stated by a Pennsylvanian in the 1880's described as a "German." as we talk about in this episode about family, assimilation…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsMIDTERMS: VOTES DURING WARTIME: 1942 MIDTERMS
The island-hopping and Second-front hoping after Pearl Harbor did not bring FDR a reverse of the traditional midterm curse or a victory for his party. The GOP…
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
RONALD REAGAN TWELVE: FINALE - WHERE'S REAGAN?
In the last episode of the series, we ask the question of where Reagan fits in today's politics, given that parties have shifted so much since his Presidency…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsDID REAGAN WIN THE COLD WAR? - RONALD REAGAN PART ELEVEN
Starting with the Reykjavik Summit of 1986 and a fly on the wall view of the events there, we look at the pro-Reagan and anti-Reagan arguments regarding his…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsRONALD REAGAN PART TEN: First Term Cold War Moves
A TV show affects Reagan deeply. The question is often asked if Reagan won the Cold War. Usually, the only period examined is Reagan's second term. But if one…
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
RIGHTS: THE FORGOTTEN FOUR WORDS IN THE 10TH AMENDMENT "or to the people"
That's the State's Rights amendment, right? Ask just about anyone about the Tenth Amendment and they will say "States." States rights, powers, protections…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsVOTING RIGHTS: 24TH AMENDMENT AND POLL TAXES in The Context of The "Save America" Bill
In 1962, A civil rights champion and a civil rights opponent join on one thing - to ban poll taxes. The Court later rules that it applies to fees. What does it…
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
"LEFT AND RIGHT" IN POLITICS, THE UNUSED PART OF THE 25TH and Other Thoughts
Answering listener questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsRONALD REAGAN PART NINE: SHOCKWAVE 1981
This new President is defying all norms! Shocking statements and words, crazy economic theories. Scary foreign policy. Bruce Springsteen is angry. We've never…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsMOVIES AND POLITICS: Writing History With Lightning: The Controversial Mix of Movies and Politics and History
from D.W. Griffith to today, we look at the controversial use of movies and film in politics. And how using video instead of argument may be popular, but it…
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
Q&A: Lincoln's Cooper Union Speech, Richard Oakes AIM Alcatraz Takeover & Sources, David Sirota Reaction
Lincoln beat up politics with history as good or better than I could. David Sirota and the Left's use of executive power. A few questions from listeners. Learn…
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
IRAN: THE IRANIAN SIDE OF IRAN CONTRA And other stories
A scandal in the US, even more of a scandal in Iran. Iran-Contra was a significant moment of the Reagan Administration and the 80's, but its rarely seen from…
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
PRESIDENTS AND WAR: DESERT ONE / EAGLE CLAW - 1980 IRAN RESCUE EFFORT - THE STORY AND POLITICAL EFFECTS
Timely topics and a few stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsRONALD REAGAN PART EIGHT: Iran-Contra
We look at the scandal that rocked Reagan's Presidency. It looks very different with time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsCHESTER ARTHUR - PART 5: "HE IS NOT ARTHUR ANYMORE, HE IS THE PRESIDENT!"
The untold story of the 21st President. Music by Lee Rosevere, and others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
CRAZY POLL TAX STORIES: The Way The 24th Amendment Was Passed, Why Some Loved Paying The Tax, and Three Words to Watch.
The 24th amendment banning the payment of poll tax or other tax in order to vote, had a crazy legislative history to get passed. Alexander's Hamilton's House…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsCHESTER ARTHUR - PART 4: THE PISTOL AND THE TRANSOM
Political violence changes politics. Vice President Chester Arthur is getting the hang of Parliamentary procedure, and building a reputation for being a more…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsCHESTER ARTHUR PART 3: I WILL ACCEPT THE NOMINATION
Arthur makes an unlikely comeback in the 1880 Republican Convention in this episode. The story is a little more complex than it's often told, and involves a…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsCHESTER ARTHUR PART 2: I AM A STALWART!
(2nd posting ) We look at Chester Arthur and also at Roscoe Conkling, New York Senator and political "boss" of the post-Civil War period. The two are tied…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsPRESIDENTS: DAVID SIROTA On George W. Bush, Reagan and The Rise of Presidential Power
Have we forgotten about George W. Bush and how much today's politics were defined during his administration? Does Congress have any role anymore? Have we…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsCHESTER ARTHUR PART 1: THE EARLY YEARS
He fought for civil rights and nearly saved New York City. But all we remember is his hair. We start our series on President Chester Arthur with a look at his…
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
RONALD REAGAN PART SEVEN: Tax Reform, Amnesty, Bitburg and Banking
Reagan makes a big reform most see as a good thing. And he made a diplomatic move most see as a very bad thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsRONALD REAGAN PART SIX: Hands Across America
Homelessness, education, healthcare and other domestic issues under constant evaluation during the time of the Reagan Presidency. We look at the personal…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsEARLY TRUMP: DONALD TRUMP'S 1987 NEW YORK TIMES AD Attacking Oil Ship Escorts and More
The political world was shocked in 1987 when a 41-year old developer put an ad in the NY Times. Now it's 2026: he's consistent, sorta. What does it say about…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsRONALD REAGAN PART FIVE: THE 1976 CONVENTION
Reagan Battles Ford for the GOP Nomination. He loses. And becomes President. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsRONALD REAGAN PART FOUR: Central America, Lebanon, Poland and Grenada
James Baker called Reagan's foreign policy "a witches brew." In one country, a longshot try for peace. In others, alliances with warmakers. Reagan's policy…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsRONALD REAGAN PART THREE - Rubik's Cube: Two Reagan Mysteries
We seek to solve two puzzles: How did Reagan the Truman booster and N ew Deal supporter become Reagan the Goldwater acolyte? And when he entered politics…
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
RONALD REAGAN PART TWO: A Taxing Year - Deficits, Unions, Taxes. Compromises
Reagan is the only President to have led a union into a strike. Twice, with two wins. And that's why he knew how to a break a strike when he had to. But in…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsTARIFFS: GORSUCH'S ROLLERCOASTER, BARRETT'S BABYSITTER SCOTUS DECISION
A bit about the recent Court decision, with a note about the concurrences of Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, which agreed with each other on the decision…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsRONALD REAGAN REDUX: Thoughts Before I Re-Run The 12 Part Reagan Series
For my 20th year, I'm replaying the most popular series I've done, a look at Ronald Reagan in 12 episodes. Before I do that, I have few thoughts about what…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsRONALD REAGAN PART ONE: "RAWHIDE IS OK"
Replay from 2016 First in our series on Ronald Reagan that will have twelve episodes. The Presidency we discuss almost didn't happen. A look at the attempt on…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsThis is William Rufus King w/ Thomas Balcerski - The Forgotten VP, His Role in The Compromise of 1850, His Relationship with James Buchanan and More
The 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…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsMCMXCIII: Bill Clinton's Year One (2nd part)
Healthcare, Bosnia and Belief In The President. All are in doubt. The second part of our series on Bill Clinton's first year, 1993. Learn more about your ad…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsMCMXCIII: Bill Clinton's 1993 - Part One
It's 1993. A new President jogs through his first year, with an unexperienced staff and a hostile White House press corps. Learn more about your ad choices…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsBIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, WONG KIM ARK, THE CHARMING BETSEY AND THE SAND LOT PROTESTS
When it comes to citizenship decided by birth, the story of Wong Kim Ark, a young man born in the US of Chinese descent who was denied entry to his country…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsLBJ 's "CELL PHONE" AND HIS DECISION TO JUMP ON THE TICKET IN 1960
In answering a question about JFK's health and its role in Lyndon Johnson's decision to accept the Vice Presidency, Bruce takes a look at the people and…
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
WHY TALK ABOUT LBJ TODAY?
Why talk about LBJ? There's a few reasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
RUSHING PELL-MELL INTO MADNESS?: The Twenty-Fifth Amendment and its Critics
On the surface, the 25th Amendment is a perfect mechanism for providing a stable transition of Presidential power. But that's not what early state ratification…
My History Can Beat Up Your Politics"YOU ENSLAVED ME!" - LEFTOVER NOTES FROM THE ZACHARY TAYLOR SERIES
From a town in California named for Zachary Taylor, to a famous letter sent by Frederick Douglass, we tell a few stories that didn't make it in to the series…
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
WAR POWERS,AND WHY IT COULD BE BROKEN
It was passed to stick it to Nixon. A look at Presidents and Congress and use of military. A look at history. Presidents and Congresses, and a specific…
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
VANCE AND ORBAN in CONTEXT
Based on a listener question, POTUS and VPOTUS making speeches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsASHAMED IN THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT - Resistance to Jackson Indian Removal Policy in its Time
Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren's policy of Indian population removal, which lead to the Trail of Tears and thousands of deaths, was not uncontested or…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsEVEN MORE 90's EPHEMERA: CNN Find My Missile, Are We Falling? Japan Upended, Grunge Tragedy (Not The One You Think)
CNN confirms that a missile strike hit for the White House, Japanese politics implodes, a grunge music tragedy and strange local traditions make mainstream in…
My History Can Beat Up Your Politics1990'S EPHEMERA: Howard Stern Saved My Life, France Misbehaves? What Happened to Bush? Those Nutty Gen Xers
Push in the drawer of your CD-ROM and enjoy random stories of politics and culture from the 1990's. that did not get much notice since. Learn more about your…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsMORE ABOUT THE KEN BURNS AMERICAN REVOLUTION DOCUMENTARY AND BEN FRANKLIN
Deeper dive on Ken Burns documentary and Franklin and Iroquois Confederacy debate. Plus: Iran Iraq war and midterms. Sponsored by: The University of Aberdeen…
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
KEN BURNS AMERICAN REVOLUTION DOCUMENTARY - A FEW THOUGHTS
No I don't think the Iroquois Confederacy influenced th Revolution much. (Nor do I think Burns says this). And I take a little issue with American Revolution…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsATTACK ON SCIENCE - ANDY JOHNSON OPPOSES THE TELEGRAPH, AND OTHER STORIES
An invention ties together the stories of many people. A frustrated painter, a faded novelist, and a future President. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsSOME ODD PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANTS AND AIDES "Separated By a Swinging Door"
From the man who answered T.R.'s phone and maybe saved his life, to the secret "Sphinx" around Woodrow Wilson, to Coolidge's surprise enforcer. We look at all…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsGENERATION "T" - WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE BORN IN 1869
What was it like to be born in 1869? A generation that could b "Gen T" (though they did not us that term, it's Gen T if you look back from X 25 years or so…
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
DEATH BY LIGHTNING: My Opinion of the Netflix Series, and Other Thoughts
Well, the 1880's finally has some visual media coverage. That's the good news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsKING KOCH: 1989 MAYORAL PRIMARY, IN NEW YORK CITY, AND TODAY
Ed Koch is a pretty popular guy in the 1980's. He's come to personify New York. But after 3 terms and two easy victories, he's in the fight of his political…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsTHE SURPRISING HISTORY OF RANKED CHOICE VOTING
The very Republican and business-like history of American ranked choice voting and single transferable votes, first used in a major city in the 1920's may…
My History Can Beat Up Your Politics1977 NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL RACE
As a blackout, serial killer and budget crisis hits New York City, an election is held. 2 major figures run, but it's the newcomers who steal the show. A…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsTRENTON TREND: NJ OFF-YEAR GOVERNOR ELECTIONS - COINCIDENCE OR PATTERN?
A few good yarns about the Garden State and politics. Does the state always vote against the party in the White House? No. Not when a candidate hustles to buck…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsMOVE MY BILL, NOW! - A History of Discharge Petitions
It is a rarely used tactic, but when it works, it can do big things, like moving a bill through Congress even if the Speaker doesn't support it. From civil…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsCARTER 1981
A President becomes a former President. But not before one of the toughest final days of a Presidency. We are part of Airwave Media Network -…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsCARTER 1979
In the third year of the Presidency, Jimmy Carter wrestles with combining the principles of his first term with realities of the American economy amid myriad…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsCARTER 1977
Can the Presidency be done differently? Can a President be less Imperial, more of a citizen, turning the thermostat down in the White House and carrying his…
My History Can Beat Up Your PoliticsFRIENDLY SKIES - The Story of Airline Deregulation
A Democratic President and a liberal Senator push a free-market reform in the late 1970s that affects us all today. We look at the story of the Airline…
- My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
BECOMING NATIONS AGAIN, w/ Adam Crepelle
"It shouldn't be that hard" says our guest. Americans first recognized Indians as tribes and as nations, at least at a national level. North America's…