Since 2006, this podcast has been using history to elevate today's political debates. "The perfect antidote to bloviating talking heads, My History is thoughtful, nuanced, and highly engaging." -Columbia Journalism Review
Infrastructure: The Bad Side and Good Side of I...
Is infrastructure always good? We talk with Greg Young of the Very Popular "Bowery Boys NYC" podcast, about infrastructure. In particular the story of Robert Moses and his career reforming New York's infrastructure. Until he met his...
46 min
227
US Intelligence Services: The Secret Intelligen...
We speak once again to David Priess, former CIA Briefer and the author of The President's Book of Secrets. While last time we spoke mostly about Presidents and intelligence, this time we get into the other people who use intelligence and how...
49 min
228
1944 VP Nomination Craziness
A look at 1944 and how intrigue, manipulation, misrepresentation, a few martinis, a song, an axe, and a finger in the page of a book changed the history of the Presidency.
41 min
229
America and Rome: w/ Mike Duncan
Populism, Corruption, Citizenship and Immigration. Rome struggled with these issues in its Republic phase. Bruce is joined by Mike Duncan, host of The History of Rome Podcast, to talk about the pre-fall of the Roman Republic, period of 146...
45 min
230
Presidential Power: Democracy's Diet? The Two-...
With the leader of China erasing that country's 2 term limit, we are taking a look back at the 2 term presidential limit in the United States, how recent it is and whether it's a good thing. This episode is from 2012. BTW - As you...
40 min
231
U.S.-Mexico Relations w/ Bob Crawford and Ben S...
The Mexican War, current U.S. politics, Mexican history are all topics Bruce joins Bob Crawford of the Avett Brothers and Dr. Benjamin Sawyer of Middle Tennessee State University, hosts of the Road to Now Podcast in Mexico where they discuss Mexico...
60 min
232
President by Accident: Truman, Atomic Warfare, ...
In a day everything changed and a new President inhabited the chair in the White House. The country and the world were anxious. Russia and Asia Pacific were frightening foreign policy issues. We are speaking of 1945, but as A.J....
47 min
233
Patrick Henry, Underrated Founder - Interview w...
He was essential to the colonial resistance to the Stamp Act. He was the bulwark of the American Revolution in Virginia. He raised troops and supplies and organized the America's largest state. He may have saved Washington's job,...
45 min
234
The Split on The Left of Politics and Why it Ma...
While so much attention is focused on splits in the GOP, there is a gaping split on the left that while, perhaps not large, is important to understanding both what happened in 2016 and the politics of 2017 and moving forward. Special guest Chris...
69 min
235
Elvis Presley and America
On the 40th Anniversary of the rock star's death, We talk to Bob Crawford and Dr. Ben Sawyer of The Road to Now Podcast about the day Elvis died in '77, The Elvis phenom, his manners, American life, rock and roll, drugs, the 'Shut Up and Sing'...
54 min
236
Charleston 1860 and Secession: Interview with P...
Polarized politics, fear, a media with intent to inflame and make its owners famous, no budging on either side, confidence and even mania - that's the combo that author Paul Starobin of the Atlantic and the New Republic describes as the factors that...
45 min
237
JFK at 106 – Searching for The True Kennedy (In...
Will the real JFK please stand up. What image should we have today of the 35th President. Our interview with author and Boston Globe reporter Thomas Oliphant, about his book Road to Camelot Inside JFKs Five Year Campaign. We talk about how we shoul
55 min
238
Interview with Kevin Lacz, Decorated Navy SEAL ...
In this episode, I interview decorated Navy SEAL and "American Sniper" Star Kevin Lacz. He is he author of THE LAST PUNISHER, A Seal Team Three Sniper's True Account of the Battle of Ramadi. He served with Chris Kyle, the subject of the movie...
43 min
239
Public Sector vs. Blue Collar Unions and Other ...
We tackle a group of topics in this episode.
33 min
240
Lincoln Over Easy: The Creation of a President'...
How does history create a Presidential image? We try to answer this with a look at how Lincoln became an image. Not only were historians involved but the family, a sculptor, some oddballs and some really good Lincoln friends. ...
31 min
241
The President’s Book of Secrets: Interview with...
Presidents and Intelligence, from Kennedy to Trump. With a particular focus on the PDB or the Presidents Daily Briefing with Dr. David Priess, the Author of The President’s Book of Secrets. We discuss: Tension Presidents and The CIA, In History a
47 min
242
Interview w/ John Avlon, Editor-in-Chief of The...
George Washington is a distant figure. Sometimes, because of the distance in time, he appears too ancient to influence America’s debates today. But he was a real person, and he was involved in politics and dealt with partisanship. He also left
35 min
243
How Mandates Were Invented
The concept of a President earning a right to govern and direct the agenda on behalf of the People is, in historical terms, a new concept. No such concept is present in Constitution, nor does it appear, was imagined by Constitutional supporters or o
46 min
244
The Fib That The President Creates Jobs
Based on a new book by Bruce, a look at the myth that the President creates jobs, from Monroe to Kennedy to Trump
50 min
245
The 2016 Election, Taken with a Swig of History
A look at the election of 1916, also a surprise to supposed-President Hughes. And about 2016, how close all of us were and how far away, and what happens now.
46 min
246
The Real Story of the 1948 Election
Truman Surprise and Pollster Failure
54 min
247
The Incredibly Shrinking Fourth Amendment
All about the 4th Amendment
64 min
248
1840 -Clowns With Pink Noses and Lofty Tumbling
Story of the zany election in 1840 which some felt was to "Pop" for its time.
9 min
249
Schedule of Conventions: Why is the GOP Convent...
Convention scheduling, and the reasons for it.
27 min
250
The Fib That Your Side is Going to Win
From 1812 to today, a lesson: Neither side will win. Your'e side probably won't win, not for long, per this episode. It was recorded before 2016, and still I think it applies.