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)
2024 Election Sunday: Obama Scolds, A Podcast Election?
On Sundays between now and the election, we're going to dip into the 2024 race to talk about the latest events -- plus offer some historical perspective. And…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)FOX News's First Broadcast (1996) w/ Josh Levin
We're kicking off a series of episodes about the media environment during the election season. Today, a look at the birth of FOX News Channel. Jody, Niki, and…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)McCain Suspends Campaign To Deal With Financial Crisis (2008)
It's October 8th. This week in 2008, John McCain announced that he was suspending his campaign in order to focus on dealing with the fallout of the financial…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
2024 Election Sunday: Cross-Party Endorsements, A Race In Stasis
On Sundays between now and the election, we're going to dip into the 2024 race to talk about the latest events -- plus offer some historical perspective. And…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
October Surprise! LIVE w/ Josh Gondelman (Part 2)
It's the October before a presidential election, which means that some final twists and turns are surely on the way. Jody, NIki, and Kellie were recently…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)October Surprise! LIVE w/ Josh Gondelman (Part 1)
It's the October before a presidential election, which means that some final twists and turns are surely on the way. Jody, NIki, and Kellie were recently…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)George HW Bush's Pro-Cop Stunt (1988)
It's September 26th. This day in 1988 George HW Bush holds a rally in Boston featuring police officers who were supporting his campaign -- a stunt meant to…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Chet Arthur Steps Up (1881)
It's September 24th. This day in 1881 (actually, September 22nd) Vice President Chester Arthur assumes office after James Garfield dies from an assassination…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Washington's Farewell (Non) Address (1796)
It's September 22nd. This day in 1796, a letter from George Washington appeared in the Philadelphia Daily American Advertiser announcing that he would not be…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The New York City Pig Wars (1859)
It's September 19th. This day in 1859, New York City declared victory in the war on pigs. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why there were so many pigs on the…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Packwood Sent Packing (1995)
It's September 17th. This day in 1995, Oregon Senator Bob Packwood resigns before he can be expelled for decades of sexual misconduct. Jody, NIki, and Kellie…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Georgia's Three Governors Problem (1947)
This day, in 1947, Georgia holds a special election that finally - finally - brings an end to a period in which the state had three people claiming the…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Witches (1693) w/ Josh Gondelman [[Archive Episode]]
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It features comedian Josh Gondelman -- so today we're…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The "Bra Burner" Myth Is Born (1969) w/ Cristen Conger
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's September 8th. This day in 1969, a group called "New…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Frederick Douglass's Two-Day Escape North (1838)
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's September 5th. This day in 1838, Frederick Douglass…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Roosevelt's "Big Stick" (1901)
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's September 3rd. This day in 1901, Vice President Teddy…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The HIV-Positive Ray Brothers House Is Burned Down (1987) w/ Eric Marcus
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 29th. This day in 1987, an arson burns down the…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Strom Thurmond's Epic Filibuster -- And Bladder Control (1957)
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 27th. This day (technically the 28th) in 1957…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)A Global Anti-War (Or Is It Pro-Peace?) Pact (1928)
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 25th. This day in 1928, representatives from the…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Conventions Week: Hamer vs. Johnson (1964) [Archive Episode]
**Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!** Welcome to Conventions Week! From time to time this…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Conventions Week: Seven Weird Conventions Moments (Part Two)
**Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!** Welcome to Conventions Week! From time to time this…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Conventions Week: Seven Weird Conventions Moments (Part One)
**Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!** Welcome to Conventions Week! From time to time this…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Trump's "Very Fine People" Comments (2017)
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 15th. This day in 2017, President Donald Trump…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Thoreau Spends One Night In Jail (1846)
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 13th. This day in 1846, Henry David Thoreau is…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)What The Watts Riots Meant (1965)
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 11th. This day in 1965, six days of civil unrest…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)George HW Bush Compares Sadaam To Hitler (1990)
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 8th. This day in 1990, George HW Bush addressed…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Shirtless George Washington Statue Is Unveiled (1841)
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 5th. This day in 1841, a new statue is unveiled…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Some 2024 Veepstakes Thoughts (Plus A Special Announcement)
Here in 2024, there is a lot of speculation about who Kamala Harris will select as her running mate. And the Veepstakes almost feel kind of...normal? So…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Jim Traficant Heads To Jail, Toupee And All (2002)
It's August 1st. This day in 2002, Congressman James Traficant of Ohio has been expelled from Congress for bribery and corruption, only the second member ever…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Mother Of Miami (1896)
It's July 28th. This day in 1896, residents vote to incorporate the city of Miami, Florida. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss how the birth of Miami was in large…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Jesse Owens v Hitler, Behind The Scenes (1936)
It's July 27th. Today we mark the start of the Olympics by looking at one of the most famous -- and perhaps apocryphal -- moments in Olympics history, when…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)A Record Election-Year Heat Wave (1936)
It's the middle of July. In 1936, much of the country -- especially the Midwest -- is experiencing record heat. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why the heat was…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)"Pretendians" And The Politics Of Native Identity (1934) w/ Angel Ellis and Robert Jago
It's July 22nd. This day in 1934, FDR has signed the "Indian Reorganization Act," which provided economic relief to many tribes, but also came with provisions…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Thiokol Weapons Plant Explosion (1971) w/ Patrick Longstreth
In 1971, a massive explosion at the Thiokol plant in Woodbine, Georgia shook the small town and killed 29 workers, injuring dozens of others. Jody, Niki, and…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Reagan says "MAGA" (1980)
It's July 18th. This day in 1980, Ronald Reagan accepted the Republican nomination for president. His speech included the phrase "let's make American great…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)'A Harvest Of Death' And The Power Of Photography (1863) w/ Robert Sullivan
It's July 15th. This day in 1863, photographer Timothy O'Sullivan has taken a photo of dead soldiers at Gettysburg called "A Harvest of Death." It would become…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
The Real Free State of Jones (1863) [Archive Favorite]
[[It's the heart of the summer, which means that our crew is taking some breaks here and there. In the meantime, we'll bring you some favorite episodes from…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
A Bombing At LaGuardia Airport (1975) [Archive Favorite]
[[It's the heart of the summer, which means that our crew is taking some breaks here and there. In the meantime, we'll bring you some favorite episodes from…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
The Big Dig's Big Start w/ Ian Coss [Archive Favorite]
[[It's the heart of the summer, which means that our crew is taking some breaks here and there. In the meantime, we'll bring you some favorite episodes from…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Statues That Represent The United States (1864)
It's July 2nd. This day in 1864, President Lincoln signed a law declaring the chamber previously used as the House of Representatives to be a statuary hall…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Reagan Re-Ups The Voting Rights Act (1982)
It's June 30th. This day in 1982, Ronald Reagan signed a bill re-authorizing the Voting Rights Act, among a lot of pressure to pass the civil rights…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
The Weird History Of U.S. Debates (Part 2)
Ahead of this week's very weird debate, we take a look at the weird history of how political debates have been structured in the U.S. -- from format, to…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
The Weird History Of U.S. Debates (Part 1)
Ahead of this week's very weird debate, we take a look at the weird history of how political debates have been structured in the U.S. -- from format, to…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Third Parties Week: Ross Perot Crashes The Debate (1992)
Welcome to Third Party Week! From time to time this election year, we're going to do some special series that highlight the rhythm of an election cycle. This…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Third Parties Week: John Anderson's Middle Path (1980)
Welcome to Third Party Week! From time to time this election year, we're going to do some special series that highlight the rhythm of an election cycle. This…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Third Parties Week: Ralph Nader, Spoiler? (2000)
Welcome to Third Party Week! From time to time this election year, we're going to do some special series that highlight the rhythm of an election cycle. This…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Third Party Week: Who Goes Third Party? w/ Dave Weigel
Welcome to Third Party Week! From time to time this election year, we're going to do some special series that highlight the rhythm of an election cycle. This…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Lift Every Voice And Sing (1900) [Juneteenth Archive Episode]
Today we're reprising an episode we did for Juneteenth last year, as we get ready for this year's holiday! It’s June 18th. Today, for Juneteenth, we look at…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Coretta Scott Weds Martin Luther King (1953)
It's June 11th. This day (actually June 18th) in 1953, Coretta Scott married Martin Luther King, Jr. on the front lawn of her childhood home in Alabama. Jody…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Sad Saga of the Late Lester Hunt (1953)
It's June 9th. This day in 1953, police in Washington, DC have arrested Lester "Buddy" Hunt, Jr on charges of soliciting sex from a male undercover officer…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)We Refuse Week: Joy In Refusal, From Black Panther to The Boat Brawl
Our very own Kellie Carter Jackson has a brand new book! You can get "We Refuse" now wherever you get your books, and all this week we'll be looking at some of…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)We Refuse Week: Carrie Johnson Kills A Police Officer
Our very own Kellie Carter Jackson has a brand new book! You can get "We Refuse" now wherever you get your books, and all this week we'll be looking at some of…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)We Refuse Week: Kellie's Family History of Resistance
Our very own Kellie Carter Jackson has a brand new book! You can get "We Refuse" now wherever you get your books, and all this week we'll be looking at some of…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)How Many Presidents? (1787) w/ A.J. Jacobs
It's May 7th. This day in 1787, the writers of the constitution are debating a central question -- how many presidents should the United States have? Jody…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Incident That Led Ida B. Wells To Flee Memphis (1892)
It's May 28th. This day in 1892, the newspaper offices of Ida B. Wells are ransacked by a white mob in Memphis, TN. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss the incident…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
War Stories: A Confederate Day of Fasting and Prayer (1863)
In the runup to Memorial Day, we're bringing you some stories from the archives about war and the cost of war. We'll be back with new episodes next week! It’s…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
War Stories: The Port Chicago Mutiny (1944)
In the runup to Memorial Day, we're bringing you some stories from the archives about war and the cost of war. We'll be back with new episodes next week! It’s…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
War Stories: Camp Casey (2005)
In the runup to Memorial Day, we're bringing you some stories from the archives about war and the cost of war. We'll be back with new episodes next week! It’s…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
War Stories: The Vietnam Draft Lottery Gets Exposed (1970)
In the runup to Memorial Day, we're bringing you some stories from the archives about war and the cost of war. We'll be back with new episodes next week! It’s…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The "Louie Louie" Freakout (1964)
It's May 16th. This day in 1964, the FBI drops its years-long investigation into the pop song "Louie Louie." Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why there was a…