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 Great Reunion (1913) w/ Jane Coaston
It’s June 25th. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer are joined by Jane Coaston of Vox to discuss “The Great Reunion” of 1913. 50 years after the Battle of…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Resurrection City (1968) w/ Jane Coaston
It’s June 23rd. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer are joined by Jane Coaston of Vox to discuss “Resurrection City,” an encampment that occupied the National Mall…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Juneteenth (1865)
It’s June 18th. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer discuss the history of Juneteenth — which is tomorrow, June 19th! It started as a Texas commemoration of the end…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Getting The New Deal Done (1933)
It’s June 16th. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer discuss the passage of the first raft of legislation that would come to be known as The New Deal. History…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)One Of Those Days (1963) w/ Josh Levin
It’s June 11th. We’re breaking format a bit today. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer are joined by Slate’s Josh Levin to talk about a day in 1963 where four…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)David Duke The Democrat (1988)
It’s June 9th. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer are joined by Slate’s Josh Levin to talk about neo-nazi David Duke, who ran for the Democratic presidential…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Shirley Shows Up (1972)
It’s June 4th. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer discuss the California democratic debate of 1972, which features Shirley Chisholm — the first woman to appear on…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Steel Strike Showdown (1952)
It’s June 2nd. Before the show, some words about the protests and violence over the weekend. Then, Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer discuss a massive steel…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Ain't I A Woman (1851) w/ Akilah Hughes
It’s May 28th. Jody Avirgan, Nicole Hemmer, and special guest Akilah Hughes (What A Day podcast) discuss Sojourner Truth’s famous “Ain’t I a Woman” speech. It…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Hands Across America (1986)
It’s May 26th. Jody Avirgan, Nicole Hemmer, and special guest Akilah Hughes (What A Day podcast) discuss “Hands Across America,” the charity event that tried…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Treason! (1807)
It’s May 21st. Jody Avirgan, Nicole Hemmer, and special guest Joanne Freeman (Backstory Radio) discuss the treason trial of Aaron Burr. It pitted Burr against…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Caning Of Sumner (1856)
It’s May 19th. Jody Avirgan, Nicole Hemmer, and special guest Joanne Freeman (Backstory) discuss one of the more notorious incidents in U.S. political history…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Ron Paul Bows Out (2012)
It’s May 14th. Jody Avirgan, Nicole Hemmer, and special guest Harry Enten of CNN discuss the career of Ron Paul. He ran in several Republican primaries…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Killer Ds (2003)
It’s May 12th. Jody Avirgan, Nicole Hemmer, and special guest Harry Enten of CNN discuss the incident where over 50 Texas legislators fled across the boarder…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Coya Come Home (1958)
It’s May 7th. Jody Avirgan, Nicole Hemmer, and special guest Harry Enten of CNN discuss the “Coya Come Home” letter — a public letter written by the husband of…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Forgotten Crash (1893)
It’s May 5th. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer discuss the crash of 1893. It was the result of a rapidly changing economy, heavy debt, and slow-footed…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Bernie Jumps In (2015)
It’s April 30th. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer discuss the moment Bernie Sanders entered the 2016 Democratic primary. He was relatively unknown, but the…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The East Coast Dims Out (1942)
It’s April 28th. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer talk about the “dim outs” of 1942, when businesses and residents along the east coast were asked to turn off…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Howard Stern For Governor (1994)
It’s April 23rd. Jody Avirgan, Nicole Hemmer, and special guest Alexis Coe (You Never Forget Your First) discuss when shock-jock Howard Stern secured the…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Adams Doesn't Want To Be VP (1789)
It’s April 21st. Jody Avirgan, Nicole Hemmer, and special guest Alexis Coe (You Never Forget Your First) discuss America’s first Vice President, John Adams. He…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)MLK's Letter from a Birmingham Jail (1963)
It’s April 16th. Jody Avirgan, Nicole Hemmer, and special guest Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times discuss Martin Luther King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Lincoln Coup (1865)
It’s April 14th. Jody Avirgan, Nicole Hemmer, and special guest Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times discuss the assasination of Abraham Lincoln, and what parts…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Amendment That Changed The Senate (1913)
It’s April 9th. Jody Avirgan, Nicole Hemmer, and special guest Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times discuss the passage of the 17th amendment. It changed the…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Obama's "Bitter Clinger" Comments (2008)
It’s April 7th. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer discuss the scandal that erupted after candidate Barack Obama made comments at a fundraiser ahead of the…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Wilson Gets The Flu (1919)
It’s April 2nd. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer discuss the Influenza pandemic of 1918-1919. In the spring of 1919, President Wilson got sick on his way to…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)LBJ Isn't Running (1968)
It’s March 31st. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer discuss President Johnson’s surprise announcement that he isn’t running for re-election, and how politics can…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Why You Should Listen To This Day
This Day In Esoteric Political History is hosted by Jody Avirgan, with historians Nicole Hemmer and Kellie Carter Jackson. Our researcher and producer is Jacob…