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)The Occupy Encampment (2011)
It’s November 15th. On this day in 2011, the NYPD issued orders to clear the encampment at Zuccotti Park in lower manhattan, that had been the site of the…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Vietnam Memorial Controversy (1982)
It’s November 12th. On this day in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial opened in Washington, DC. Jody and Niki discuss the controversy over the memorial’s…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Obama Transition (2008)
It’s November 10th. On this day in 2008, President-Elect Obama stepped into the Oval Office for the first time for a meeting with President George W Bush. Jody…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)GOP Latinos (1973) w/ Geraldo Cadava
It’s November 8th. On this day in 1973, a many by the name of Ben Fernandez testified during the Watergate hearings. Fernandez was a Nixon fundraiser but also…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Special: What Moment Are You Thinking Of? (2020) w/ Kellie Carter Jackson
In the wake of the 2020 election, we have been thinking about and asking “What historical moment are you thinking about in this moment?” Jody and Niki are…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Quick Update, Question, Recommendation (2020)
Jody with a quick update on our post-election coverage. We’re recording on Friday morning with the question “What historical moment are you thinking about in…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)When Black Voters Went Blue (1936) w/ Leah Wright Rigueur
It’s November 3rd. Election Day! On this day in 1936, FDR won his second term for president in a landslide. But it was the first election since the Civil War…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: Election Night Info w/ Jad Abumrad
It’s November 1st. On this Sunday before election day, we mix it up a bit and look at number of moments from history that teach us about how election results…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Witches (1693) w/ Josh Gondelman
It’s October 29th. On this day in 1693, the Salem witch trials came to an end when a superior court decided it would no longer hear “spectral evidence.” Jody…
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Reagan's "Time for Choosing" (1964)
It’s October 27th. On this day in 1964, Ronald Reagan gave a televised speech that marked him as the leading voice of American conservatives. Jody and Niki…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: Wellstone Plane Crash (2002)
It’s October 25th. On this day in 2002, Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash, eleven days before the midterm election. Jody and Niki discuss…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Ike's Heart Attack (1955) w/ Will Hitchcock
It’s October 22nd. On this day in 1955, President Eisenhower was recovering from a serious heart attack the month before. Jody and Niki are joined by William…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Are You, Or Have You Ever Been... (1947) w/ Will Hitchcock
It’s October 20th. On this day in 1947, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) began hearings to root out communist sympathizers in Hollywood. Jody…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: Podium Protests (1968) w/ Joel Anderson
It’s October 18th. On this day in 1968, US Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a Black power salute on the podium in Mexico City. Jody…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Million Man March (1995) w/ Joel Anderson
It’s October 15th. On this day in 1995 hundreds of thousands of Black Americans descended on Washington DC for the Million Man March. Jody and Niki are joined…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)A Bull Moose Gets Shot (1912) w/ Alex Schmidt
It’s October 13th. On this day in 1912 (well, technically the 14th), Teddy Roosevelt is shot as he’s on his way to a speech in Milwaukee. He still gave the…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: Anita Hill's Testimony (1991) w/ Farai Chideya
It’s October 11th. On this day in 1991, Anita Hill provided testimony during the confirmation hearings for Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. Hill alleged…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Anthrax Letters (2001)
It’s October 8th. On this day in 2001, the FBI opened an investigation into a series of letters containing anthrax powder that were mailed to news…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Fallout Shelters (1961)
It’s October 6th. On this day in 1961, President Kennedy penned a letter urging the country to prepare fallout shelters and take other steps in anticipation of…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: A Great Debate Zinger (1988) w/ Mike Pesca
It’s October 4th. On this day in 1988, Lloyd Bentsen delivered one of the most memorable debate lines of all time when he told his VP opponent Dan Quayle that…
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REPOST -- The President Catches The Virus (1919)
With the news that President Trump has COVID, we are reposting our episode from early April about the time that President Wilson caught the Influenza virus in…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Shutdown (2013) w/ Steve Kornacki
It’s October 1st. On this day in 2013, the United States government shut down after the Congress was unable to agree to a new budget proposal, that had been…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Goodbye 538 (1970) w/ Steve Kornacki
It’s September 29th. On this day in 1970, the United States Senate came six votes shy of voting for an amendment that would have scrapped the Electoral College…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: Contract with America (1994) w/ Kristen Soltis Anderson
It’s September 27th. On this day in 1994, Republicans in the House of Representatives gathered on the steps of the Capitol to announce the “Contract with…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Republic of West Florida (1810) w/ Kristen Soltis Anderson
It’s September 24th. On this day in 1810, a band of rebels took control of a fort in Baton Rogue and shortly thereafter established “The Republic of West…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Dueling Lincoln (1842) w/ Alexis Coe
It’s September 22nd. On this day in 1842, Abe Lincoln almost duels, using swords, with a man named James Shields, but manages to get out of it. Jody and Niki…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: Carter's Lust (1976) w/ Alexis Coe
It’s September 20th. On this day in 1976, Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter gave an interview to Playboy magazine in which he admitted that he has…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Khrushchev Comes to America (1959)
It’s September 17th. On this day in 1959, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev was in New York City as part of his goodwill tour of the United States. Jody and…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)A Dead Candidate (1992)
It’s September 15th. On this day in 1992, the congressional district on Manhattan’s west side held its Democratic Primary. Incumbent Ted Weiss won handily…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: Dukakis on the Tank (1988) w/ Amy Walter
It’s September 13th. On this day in 1988, Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis baorded an M-1 tank in order to set up a photo op, ostensibly to make him look…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Bank War (1833) w/ Jacob Goldstein
It’s September 10th. On this day in 1833, President Andrew Jackson announced that the U.S. government would no longer be keeping its money with the Second Bank…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Obama Star Trek Theory (2004) w/ Ian Chillag
It’s September 6th. On this day Star Trek debuted. We are discussing Star Trek because of a convoluted theory that if the actress Jeri Ryan had never been cast…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: The Stars and Stripes and Sports (1918) w/ Jason Concepcion
It’s September 6th. On this day in 1918, during the seventh inning stretch of a World Series game between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox, a band played…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Recy and Rosa (1944) w/ Danielle McGuire
It’s September 3rd. On this day in 1944, a woman by the name of Recy Taylor was raped in Abbeville, Alabama. Jody and Niki are joined by Danielle McGuire to…
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Tax The Rich (1862)
It’s September 1st. On this day in 1862, the Internal Revenue Act went into effect. Jody and Niki discuss how the act codified many of the systems and precepts…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: Carter and the Killer Rabbit (1979) w/ Sam Sanders
It’s August 30th. On this day in 1979, newspapers around the country reported on an encounter President Jimmy Carter had earlier that summer with a rabbit…
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Obama's Tan Suit (2014) w/ Sam Sanders
It’s August 27th. On this day in 2014, President Barack Obama gave a press conference about Ukraine and ISIS and foreign policy — but much of the political…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The 19th (1920) w/ Kellie Carter Jackson
It’s August 25th. On this day in 1920, Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed papers that ratified the 19th amendment, which stated that the right to vote…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: Fannie Lou Hamer vs Lyndon B Johnson (1964)
It’s August 23rd. On this day in 1964, Mississippi activist Fannie Lou Hamer gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention about her efforts to be…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Rockefeller Republicans (1974)
It’s August 20th. On this day in 1974, Gerald Ford announced Nelson Rockefeller of New York as his pick for Vice President. Jody and Niki discuss how the pick…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Dakota War and the Mankato Hanging (1862)
It’s August 18th. On this day in 1862, fighting broke out in southern Minnesota between Dakota Indians and the United States. Later in the year, 38 Dakota men…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: Adlai and The Always-Rans (1952) w/ Harry Enten
It’s August 16th. On this day in 1956, Adlai Stevenson accepted the nomination for Democratic candidate for president. It was the second election in a row that…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Ebola (2014) w/ Andy Slavitt
It’s August 13th. On this day in 2014, deaths from Ebola passed 1,000 in four West African nations. Over the summer and fall fears about Ebola would grow…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)RBG Arrives (1993) w/ Dahlia Lithwick
It’s August 11th. On this day in 1993, Ruth Bader Ginsburg spent her first full day on the Supreme Court. Jody and Niki are joined by Dahlia Lithwick of Slate…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: How Third Parties Happen (1848)
It’s August 9th. On this day in 1848, former President Martin Van Buren was nominated as the presidential nominee for the breakaway Free Soil Party. The party…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Case Of The Missing Judge (1930)
It’s August 6th. On this day in 1930, NY Judge Joseph Force Crater disappeared after getting dinner and heading to a Broadway show. He was never seen again…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Braceros (1942)
It’s August 4th. On this day in 1942, the US started an immigration program for “braceros,” agricultural workers from Mexico who came to work on farms using…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: Reagan's Dog Whistle (1980)
It’s August 2nd. On this day in 1980, Ronald Reagan kicked off his 1980 presidential general election campaign with a speech at the Neshoba County Fair in MS…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)How We Got "In God We Trust" (1956) w/ Kevin M Kruse
It’s July 30th. On this day in 1956, Congress approved a bill to adopt “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States, mandating that it appear…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)A Major Watergate Vote (1974) w/ Leon Neyfakh
It’s July 28th. On this day in 1974, the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee voted 27-11 to recommend the impeachment of Richard Nixon on counts of…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: Chappaquidick (1969)
It’s July 26th. On this day in 1969, Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy pled guilty to leaving the scene of the crime following a car accident on the island of…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Why Wyoming (1890) w/ Maeve Higgins
It’s July 23rd. On this day in 1890, Wyoming celebrated its entry into the United States. And it was doing so as a state that granted women the right to vote…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Small Step For (A?) Man (1969) w/ Maeve Higgins
It’s July 21st. On this day in 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin rode the Apollo 11 lunar module down to the moon’s surface — while their pal Michael…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Election Sunday: Convention Speeches (1980s)
It’s July 19th. In our first special Sunday show, Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer discuss some notable convention speeches from the 1980s, and what makes for a…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Riots Sweep NYC (1863)
It’s July 16th. On this day in 1863, riots are raging in New York City. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer discuss how the unrest shifted from Civil War protest to…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Pandemic We Forget (1968) w/ Leon Neyfakh
It’s July 14th. On this day in 1968, reports of a new strain of influenza. The “Hong Kong Flu” would spread worldwide and kill upwards of a million people…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)VP Gore (1992) w/ John Dickerson
It’s July 9th. On this day in 1992, Bill Clinton announced Al Gore as his selection to be his Vice Presidential running mate. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Welcome Alaska (1958) w/ John Dickerson
It’s July 7th. On this day in 1958, President Eisenhower signed the Alaska Statehood Act, bringing Alaska on as the 49th state. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Man Who Didn't Sign The Declaration (1776) w/ John Dickerson
It’s July 2nd. Today, the story of John Dickinson, who attended the Continental Congress, was witness to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, but…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Newspaper Strike! (1945) w/ Jane Coaston
It’s June 30th. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer are joined by Jane Coaston of Vox to discuss the NYC newspaper strike of 1945. There were eight daily newspapers…