Shows / This Day (An America 250 History Show)
This Day (An America 250 History Show)
To mark our 250th birthday, “This Day” presents "50 Weeks That Shaped America," a series of deep dives into the stories that brought us to this moment.
"This Day" takes you beyond the head-spinning headlines of today and into the unexpected historical moments that have shaped American politics and culture. Hosted by Jody Avirgan (538), and historians Nicole Hemmer (Vanderbilt), and Kellie Carter Jackson (Wellesley), each episode explores a moment from that day in U.S. political history to…
Episodes
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Nixon Sneaks Into China (1972)
It’s March 9th. In 1972, President Richard Nixon made a surprise visit to China, meeting with leaders and sending images back home that shocked Americans…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Lincoln's Almost-Assassin (1869)
It’s March 7th. IN 1869, President Andrew Johnson pardoned a man by the name of Samuel Arnold — who had been imprisoned for five years for plotting to…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Superman Gets Sold For $130 (1938) w/ Glen Weldon
It’s March 5th. In 1938, the two original creators of Superman sold the character to what would become DC Comics for $130. Jody, NIki, and Kellie are joined by…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Thatcher Meets Reagan (1981) w/ Dan Snow
It’s March 2nd. In 1981, in late February, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher travelled to the United States to meet with new US President Ronald Reagan. Jody…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Clinton In Quebec (1995)
It’s February 27th. This day in 1995, President Bill Clinton is in Canada, where he offers seemingly-bland remarks about the country, but ones that are largely…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Good Sport Week: Aging and Growth
Jody has a new podcast series! It’s called “Good Sport” and all this week we’re featuring episodes. Be sure to find it wherever you get your podcasts. Today, a…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Good Sport Week: What Stadiums Can Teach Us
Jody has a new podcast series! It’s called “Good Sport” and all this week we’re featuring episodes. Be sure to find it wherever you get your podcasts. Today…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Fat Tuesday Special: Integrating Mardis Gras (1992) w/ Oliver Thomas
It’s Fat Tuesday, Jody is in New Orleans, and today we’re bringing you an episode we did last year about the integration of Mardis Gras. It’s one of our…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Good Sport Week: Limbaugh and Sports Talk (2003)
Jody has a new podcast series! It’s called “Good Sport” and all this week we’re featuring episodes. Be sure to find it wherever you get your podcasts. Today…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Elizabeth Peratrovich Day (1988)
It’s February 16th — Elizabeth Peratrovich Day! Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss the life and work of Alaska Native activist Elizabeth Peratrovich. Sign up for…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Gandhi Meets the US Civil Rights Movement (1936)
It’s February 14th. This day in 1936, a delegation of US civil rights activists is touring India, where they would meet with Mahatma Gandhi to discuss…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Utah Grants And Un-Grants Women The Right To Vote (1870)
It’s February 12th. This day in 1870, women in Utah become the first in the country to cast ballots in elections. But after granting women the right to vote…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Beating of Isaac Woodard (1946) w/ Matthew Delmont
It’s February 9th. In 1946, a recently-returned World War II vet by the name of Isaac Woodard is beaten by police, an incident that became a national civil…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Tractorcade! (1979)
It’s February 7th. This day in 1979, thousands of tractors descended on Washington, D.C. as part of a protest over agricultural policy. Jody, NIki, and Kellie…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Huey Long Invents a Bank Holiday (1933)
It’s February 4th. This day in 1933, Louisiana Senator Huey Long invents a holiday out of whole cloth in order to close banks and prevent a bank run. Jody…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Laddie Boy! First Celebrity Presidential Pet (1929)
It’s February 2nd. This day in 1929, Laddie Boy died and the country mourned. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss Warren Harding’s dog, and why he was such a…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Carter Hacks Iowa (1976)
It’s January 31st. This day in 1976, Jimmy Carter is coming out of Iowa having rocketed to the top of the Democratic nomination field. This is in large part…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Elian Gonzalez, Stuck in the US (2000) w/ Geraldo Cadava
It’s January 29th. This day in 2000, the Cuban relatives of Elian Gonzalez are in the United States arguing that the six-year-old child should be returned to…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Black Panther Breakfast Program (1969) w/ Mary Phillips
It’s January 26th. This day in 1969, free meals are being handed out to kids in Oakland, California as part of the Black Panther Party Free for Children…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Billy Possum Craze (1909)
It’s January 24th. This day in 1909, the administration of William Howard Taft has gone completely possum crazy — and is desperately trying to make “Billy…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Lumbees vs. the KKK (1958)
It’s January 22nd. This day in 1958, near Maxton, North Carolina, a KKK rally was broken up by a group of armed members of the Lumbee tribe. Jody, Niki, and…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Donkey and the Elephant (1870)
It’s January 19h. This day in 1870, a political cartoon by Thomas Mast depicts a donkey to represent southern Democrats. Around this same time, Nast also…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Topsy the Elephant is Electrocuted (1903)
It’s January 16th. This day in 1903, film of the electrocution of an elephant, Topsy, is being viewed in kinetoscopes across the country. Topsy was executed on…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
McKinley Lost-Causes The Civil War (1898)
It’s January 15th. In the winter of 1898-99, at the end of the Spanish-American War, President McKinley is touring the south to drum up support from Southern…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Recent Favorite: Family Jewels w/ Rick Perlstein
Here’s a recent favorite episode — the first part of a four-part series we did on the Church Committee hearings. We’ll be back real soon with new stories!…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Recent Favorite: The Dominion of Melchizedek (1993)
Here’s a recent favorite episode — we’ll be back real soon with new stories! It’s June 2nd. This day in 1993, the very-fake nation known as “The Dominion Of…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
On The Media: The Divided Dial
This episode, we bring you a favorite conversation from our friends at On The Media. They have a whole new series on the rise and influence of talk radio…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
In The Bubble: Ken Burns on Franklin, Public Health, and More
This episode, we bring you a favorite conversation from our friends at In The Bubble with host Andy Slavitt. Here he talks with filmmaker Ken Burns about…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Ask Us Anything (Part 2)
Happy New Year! To kick off 2023, we’re answering a bunch of your questions about things big and small. Thanks for all your great questions and comments this…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Ask Us Anything (Part 1)
Happy New Year! To kick of 2023, we’re answering a bunch of your questions about things big and small. Thanks for all your great questions and comments this…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Stuff That Inspired Us: Popular Work
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** As 2022 comes to a close…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Stuff That Inspired Us: Academic Work
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** As 2022 comes to a close…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Reagan Astrology Scandal w/ Mangesh Hattikudur (1988)
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s December 25th. Merry…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Karl Rove's "IT Guru" and the 2004 Ohio Rumor Mill (2008)
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s December 22nd. In 2008…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Ford on "Dynasty" (1983)
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s December 20th. In 1983…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)JFK Almost Assassinated (1960)
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s December 15th. In 1960…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Bernie Madoff's Pyramid Collapses (2008)
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s December 13th. In 2008…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Sandy Hook Conspiracies Take Root (2012)
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** On December 14th, 2012, the…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Video Game Freakout (1993)
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s December 8th. In 1993…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Nullification Crisis and the Almost-Civil-War (1832)
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s December 6th. In 1832…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Colored Conventions Movement (1830)
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s December 4th. Jody…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The First Email. Probably. (1971)
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s December 1st. In late…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Jews To Alaska (1938)
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s November 29th. In 1938…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
401 Episodes! w/ Jacob Feldman
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s November 27th. We…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
400 Episodes! (pt 1) w/ Jacob Feldman
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s November 24th. And this…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
The Jekyll Island Secret Meeting (1910) w/ Jacob Goldstein
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s November 22nd. In 1910…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Jaywalking (1923) w/ Doug Gordon
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s November 20th. In 1923…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Trotter Confronts Wilson (1914)
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s November 17th. In 1914…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Denver Rejects The Olympics (1972)
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s November 15th. This day…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The GOP Reckoning Report (2012)
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s November 12th. This day…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
The Colored Conventions Movement (1830)
*** The Radiotopia fundraiser is happening right now! Support this show by becoming a member today: https://on.prx.org/3Ehr3B6 *** It’s December 3rd. Jody…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Election Day Special: Reporting The Results w/ Jad Abumrad
It’s election day here in the United States. We hope you’ve already voted, or maybe are reading this while you’re standing in line. Today, we bring you an…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Mid-Terms Week: NJ Voter Intimidation (1981)
In the run-up to the November election, we’re doing a number of episodes that may help you track and process the current news. This week, it’s Mid-Terms week…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Mid-Terms Week: The First Blue Wave (1826)
In the run-up to the November election, we’re doing a number of episodes that may help you track and process the current news. This week, it’s Mid-Terms week…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Mid-Terms Week: 1946 Changes Everything (1946)
In the run-up to the November election, we’re doing a number of episodes that may help you track and process the current news. This week, it’s Mid-Terms week…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Mid-Terms Week: I'm Not A Witch (2010)
In the run-up to the November election, we’re doing a number of episodes that may help you track and process the current news. This week, it’s Mid-Terms week…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Polling Week: Let's Get Thermostatic w/ Harry Enten
In the run-up to the November election, we’re doing a number of episodes that may help you track and process the current news. This week, it’s Polling Week…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Polling Week: The Red Wave (1994) w/ Harry Enten
In the run-up to the November election, we’re doing a number of episodes that may help you track and process the current news. This week, it’s Polling Week…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Polling Week: Harry Reid's Upset (2010) w/ Harry Enten
In the run-up to the November election, we’re doing a number of episodes that may help you track and process the current news. This week, it’s Polling Week…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Referendum Week: Prop 13 (1978)
In the run-up to the November election, we’re doing a number of episodes that may help you track and process the current news. This week, it’s Referendum Week…