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 Irish-American Gun-Runners (1973) w/ Nate Lavey [[Archive Episode]]
On Sundays this summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll continue to do new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Happy…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Thunderation! The Speaker Demands Bean Soup (1904)
It’s July 27th. This day in 1904, Speaker of the House Joseph Cannon (IL) goes to the Capitol dining room expecting to have a nice hot cup of his favorite…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Plot To Blow Up Hell Gate Bridge (1942) w/ Rebecca Seidel
It’s July 24th. This day in 1942, a trial is wrapping up in New York City centered on a Nazi plot to target a number of significant US economic sites, from…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
The Beer Summit (2009) [[Archive Episode]]
On Sundays this summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll continue to do new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Happy…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Szilard Anti-Nuke Petition (1945)
It’s July 20th. This day in 1945, a petition signed by 70 scientists working on the development of nuclear weapons is circulating in Washington — a petition…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Ft Ontario Holocaust Refugees (1944) w/ Sarah Botstein
It’s July 18th. This day in 1944, a group of almost one thousand refugees are headed to the United States, where they would eventually be housed at Ft Ontario…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
The Lost Robert E. Lee Oath Theory (1975) w/ John Reeves [[Archive Episode]]
On Sundays this summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll continue to do new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Happy…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Hubert Humphrey Takes Center Stage (1948) w/ Samuel G Freedman
It’s July 13th. Only July 14th, 1948, at the Democratic National Convention, a young Hubert Humphrey took the stage and implored his party to embrace the cause…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Skylab Crashes Back To Earth (1979)
It’s July 11th. This day in 1979, Americans and others around the world are watching the skies as the first space station, Skylab, comes hurtling back down to…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Nativists vs Catholics in Philadelphia (1844) [[Archive Episode]]
On Sundays this summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll continue to do new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Happy…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)L'Enfant Maps Out DC (1791) w/ Scott W Berg
It’s July 6th. Today we revisit our conversation about how Washington DC came to be the nations capitol, with a look at Pierre Charles L'Enfant and how he…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Napalming Harvard's Soccer Field (1942)
It’s July 4th. This day in 1942, researchers at Harvard conducted the first ever napalm test — right in the middle of Harvard’s soccer field. Jody, NIki, and…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
The Great American Roadtrip (1956) w/ Eddie Alterman [[Archive Episode]]
On Sundays this summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll continue to do new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Happy…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Abortion Pill Protest (1992) w/ TJ Raphael
It’s July 1st. This day in 1992, two abortion rights activist traveled to the United States carrying abortion pills, in order to get arrested and spark a legal…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Readmitting Rebel States (1868)
It’s June 26th. In 1868, throughout the summer, there is a process underway to bring seven Southern US states back into the United States. Jody, NIki, and…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Flag Burning Is Free Speech (1989) w/ Michael Liroff
It’s June 21st. This day in 1989, the Supreme Court ruled that the burning of the American flag was allowed as free expression under the first amendment. Jody…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Superman vs KKK (1946)
It’s June 21st. This day in 1946, an epic battle is playing out across the radio waves, as The Adventures of Superman takes on a multi-part series in which the…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Nightwalking w/ Bianca Giaever
It’s June 20th. Tonight, it will be dark — and maybe you will go for a walk? Jody, NIki, and Kellie are joined by Bianca Giaever, host of the podcast series…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Lift Every Voice and Sing (1900)
It’s June 18th. Today, for Juneteenth, we look at the history of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” aka the Black National Anthem. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Seligman Affair (1877) w/ Zev Eleff
It’s June 15th. This day in 1877, a prominent Jewish businessman by the name of Joseph Seligman is turned away from staying at the Grand Union Hotel, with the…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Challenger Disaster Final Report (1986)
It’s June 13th. This day in 1986, the Rogers Commission has issued a report and is conducting a series of hearings on the causes of the Challenger space…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Death On The Lot: Hattie McDaniel's Fight w/ Hadley Meares and Brian Steele
As it happens, the This Day team has a bunch of cool new projects coming out over the next week or two. So, we’re going to feature them here. Today: Jody is…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Death On The Lot: Hollywood's Wild Labor History w/ Brian Steele and Hadley Meares
As it happens, the This Day team has a bunch of cool new projects coming out over the next week or two. So, we’re going to feature them here. Today: Jody is…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
The Obama Oral History Project Is Here
As it happens, the This Day team has a bunch of cool new projects coming out over the next week or two. So, we’re going to feature them here. Today: Our very…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
An Ode To The Obit w/ Don Van Natta and Jacob Feldman
As it happens, the This Day team has a bunch of cool new projects coming out over the next week or two. So, we’re going to feature them here. Today: Our…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
You Get A Podcast!
As it happens, the This Day team has a bunch of cool new projects coming out over the next week or two. So, we’re going to feature them here. Today: Kellie’s…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Etan Patz And The Rise Of "Stranger Danger" (1979)
It’s May 30th. This day in 1979, a Manhattan 6-year-old by the name of Etan Patz goes missing on his two-block walk to the bus stop. Jody, Niki, and Kellie…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Memorial Rerun: The Vietnam Memorial Controversy
It’s Memorial Day — today we’re bringing you an episode from the archives to mark the weekend. We’ll be back with new episodes next week. It’s November 12th…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Addy, American Girl Doll (Part 2) w/ Aisha Harris
We’re doing a special two-part series on the American Girl Doll line of historical dolls! This is part two. Jody, Niki, and Kellie are joined by Aisha Harris…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)American Girl Doll (Part 1) w/ Aisha Harris
We’re doing a special two-part series on the American Girl Doll line of historical dolls! Jody, Niki, and Kellie are joined by Aisha Harris of NPR to look at…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
William Burns, America's Sherlock Holmes (1934)
It’s May 21st. This day in 1934, William Burns resigns from the Bureau of Investigations in scandal, replaced by J Edgar Hoover. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Bath School Bombing (1927)
It’s May 18th. This day in 1927, a man detonated bombs at a school in Bath, Michigan, killing dozens of children, then killing himself. Jody, Niki, and Kellie…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Wounded Knee '73 (1973)
It’s May 16th. This day in 1973, a 70-day standoff at Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge reservation comes to an end. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss why Native…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)RFK's Fateful Meeting With Baldwin And Belafonte (1963) w/ Paul Kix
It’s the second of two episodes we’re doing with Paul Kix about the critical weeks in Birmingham, Alabama in May 1963. This day, in New York City, a group of…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Gaston Bombing in Birmingham (1963) w/ Paul Kix
It’s May 11th. This day in 1963, a series of bombs explode in Birmingham, Alabama — one at the hotel in which Martin Luther King, Jr. was staying, and one at…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Biden Spoils Obama's Gay Marriage Evolution (2012) w/ Sasha Issenberg
It’s May 9th. This day in 2012, President Obama gives an interview in which he expresses his support for gay marriage, a stance that he’d been reluctant to…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Clinton Boxers or Briefs (1994) w/ Kelsey and Alex from Normal Gossip
It’s May 7th. This day in 1994, during a town hall airing on MTV, President Bill Clinton is asked whether he wears “boxers or briefs.” Jody, Niki, and Kellie…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Anne Royall, Common Scold (1826) w/ Kelsey and Alex from Normal Gossip
We’re doing a couple episodes on moments of historical gossip with our new Radiotopia pals from the show Normal Gossip. Today, we discuss Anne Royall, who in…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
USS Jamestown Helps Ireland (1847)
It’s May 2nd. In 1847, a US military ship, the USS Jamestown, was loaded up with food and other relief to sail to Ireland and help with the famine in that…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Caning of Michael Fay (1994)
It’s April 30th. This day in 1994, an 18-year-old American named Michael Fay is awaiting his punishment in Singapore for acts of vandalism. That punishment…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Abu Ghraib Photos (2004)
It’s April 27th. In 2004, a report aired on 60 Minutes II featuring reports and photos of abuse by American troops at the Iraqi prison Abu Ghraib. Jody, Niki…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Sybill's Midnight Ride (1777)
It’s April 25th. In 1777, a 16-year-old by the name of Sybil Luddington went on a 40-mile nighttime ride to warn Colonial troops and citizens of an impending…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Recent Favorite: Colored Conventions (1830)
We’re re-running some favorite recent episodes this week, and will be back with brand new episodes very soon! It’s December 4th. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Recent Favorite: Franklin in France (1776) w/ Mike Duncan
We’re re-running some favorite recent episodes this week, and will be back with brand new episodes very soon! It’s October 4th. In 1776, Benjamin Franklin is…
- This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Recent Favorite: JFK Almost Assassinated (1960)
We’re re-running some favorite recent episodes this week, and will be back with brand new episodes very soon! It’s December 15th. In 1960, a New Hampshire man…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)DC, Not A Swamp (1810)
It’s April 13th. This day 1810, a new canal is being built in Washington, DC in an attempt to give a little logic to the topography of the nation’s capital…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Reverse Freedom Rides (1962)
It’s April 11th. This day in 1962, ads are appearing in Louisiana newspapers offering one-way bus rides to northern cities for Black southerners. Jody, NIki…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Rosewood Reparations (1994)
It’s April 8th. This day in 1994, the Florida legislature passed a bill that would offer some reparations and support for descendents of the Rosewood Massacre…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Tank Fire-Nado (1926)
It’s April 6th. This day in 1926, a massive oil fire near San Luis Obispo, California is enveloping the area in smoke and heat and creating its own weather…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Mecham: Worst Governor Ever? (1990)
It’s April 3rd. This day in 1990, the Arizona Senate votes to remove Governor Evan Mecham from office — for all sorts of reasons. Jody, Niki, and Kellie…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Hippo Meat Plan (1910) w/ Dan Pashman
It’s April 2nd. This day in 1910, a Louisiana senator proposes allocating a quarter of a million dollars to import hippos from Africa and grow them in American…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Oyster Wars (1959) w/ Christine Keiner
It’s March 20th. This day in 1959, a skirmish between the fisheries police and an oyster boat results in the death of a Virginia oysterman — and sheds light on…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)H1N1 Reaches America (2009) w/ James Hamblin
It’s March 27th. This day in 2009, the US is responding to the outbreak of the H1N1 flu, which would soon be a global pandemic. Jody, Niki, and Kellie are…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)A Confederate Day of Fasting and Prayer (1863)
It’s March 27th. This day in 1863, Jefferson Davis declared a “day of fasting and prayer” to support the Confederate cause in the Civil War. Jody, Niki, and…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Uncle Sam Is Born (1852)
It’s March 23rd. This is, in some ways, the birthday of Uncle Sam — it was the first time that the character appeared in a political cartoon. Niki, Jody and…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Uncle Tom's Cabin, Bestseller (1852)
It’s March 20th. This day in 1852, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” is the best-selling book in the country, capturing a growing anti-slavery sentiment, as well as…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)The Spitzer Scandal Breaks (2008) w/ Azi Paybarah
It’s March 19th. In 2008 (on March 17th) New York Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned after a week of reports about his patronizing a prostitution ring. Jody…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Evacuation: A Very Boston Holiday (1901)
It’s March 16th. Today we mark Evacuation Day (technically the 17th), a day in which Boston marks the retreat of troops during the Revolutionary War. Over the…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Ike's War On Squirrels (1955)
It’s March 13th. This day in 1955, news breaks that the White House is engaged in a full-on battle against the squirrels that have invaded the grounds. Jody…
This Day (An America 250 History Show)Ruby Robinson and SNCC (1961)
It’s March 12th. This day in 1961, an Atlanta woman by the name of Ruby Doris Smith Robinson joins the civil rights organization SNCC — and quickly starts to…