My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

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

History
News
Politics
26
FLORIDA MAN: The Go-Go Governorship of Claude K...
In the late 1960's the first GOP governor of Florida since Reconstruction found himself elected with no support in the legislature. He had only a microphone and so he used direct confrontation, insults, press-bashing and other tactics to get elected and get his way. Rather than let things be he took on left-wing hippies and right wing segregationists alike in the early part of his term. He aimed his cannons at communists, but also at good old boy political machines. And what do you know, he also is the governor to bring in a large amusement park to the state. Move that Earth he said! This will be part 1 of a 3 part series.
49 min
27
Warm Bucket: Vice President John Nance Garner
We look at the Vice President who - maybe - described the office as a "bucket of warm spit."  He also may have been its most powerful occupant up to his time, and he's responsible in a little way for making two President's careers.  He's also the first Vice President to campaign against the President, though since the President wasn't officially campaigning at the time, perhaps it doesn't count. 
39 min
28
The Asterisk: Bush vs. Reagan in Iowa 1980
59 min
29
BLACK HAWK 'WAR' and Chief Black Hawk - Part Two
NOTE - if you haven't listened to Part I of our series on Black Hawk you'll want to listen. This is a two-parter. In the second episode. Chief Black Hawk has an improbable victory, and it sets the stage for all-out conflict.
50 min
30
BLACK HAWK WAR and Chief Black Hawk - Part I
38 min
31
Mississippi Bans Sesame Street (From the Useles...
29 min
32
Lebanon 1983 and Other Stories
A look at Reagan's intervention in Lebanon in 1983, from a podcast back in 2009. We also look at Wilson' intervention in Mexico in 1913 We are part of airwave media newtork want to advertise? advertising@airwavemedia.com
45 min
33
Secrecy and Democracy with Dr. Katlyn Carter of...
48 min
34
John Quincy Adams w/ Bob Crawford of The Road t...
With Bob Crawford, co-host of Road to Now Podcast and bassist for The Avett Brothers, we talk about the sixth President, John Quincy Adams. Bob's knowledge of this not well-known President shines through in the interview. He's recently completed a series FORTUNATE SON on JQA. We discuss not only his Presidency, but his post-Presidency. We also discuss Bob and Bruce's college experiences and New Jersey and national politics.
78 min
35
Running For President From Prison
The story of Eugene Debs and another case where a Presidential candidate ran from prison and compare - as well as contrast - with the current politics. Also a bit about experimental TV.
40 min
36
Eyewitness Accounts of Columbine, Jonestown, La...
Learn something new about major news events from the people there. We talk to Joshua Cohen of Eyewitness History Podcast (https://www.parthenonpodcast.com/eyewitness-history/). The excerpts from his interviews manage to knock down some of the myths about major historical events and news stories. We start with the principal of Columbine High School, there on that terrible day, and we go to the newsman covering The Lake Placid Olympics in 1980. We also talk to a Jonestown Massacre survivor, a member of the rock band Queen, and the so-called father of podcasting.
82 min
37
History Favors Running Incumbent Presidents, Wh...
There is a lot of discussion about to run Biden or run someone else. I can't tell you who you should vote for President, or who you'd prefer to lead your country, but if you look at chances of a party winning or losing an election - History could not be clearer - parties should run an incumbent if they at all can run an incumbent. -Incumbents win 2/3rds of the time in American History -Incumbents can affect news and command news in a much greater way than party candidates -Passing off from a President to a candidate is risky and rare in American history. -Most Importantly: The incumbent President is always running anyway. If not on the ballot, in the election issues and discussion, and the party candidate will have to run on that President's record anyway. We also get into the age issue with some snippets of MHCBUYP's 2008 episode on age and the Presidency. That's right from 2008, where we defended a Republican candidate.
47 min
38
Stop Talking About Momentum: The Race for Presi...
It wasn't supposed to be a race.  Gary Hart, Walter Mondale, Jesse Jackson, John Glenn battle to take on Ronald Reagan in 1984.  As do some other candidates.  We look at the race that year and mine it for any insights into 2020 a
67 min
39
Three Point Two: The Story of New Deal Beer, Sc...
Before Prohibition could be repealed but after many Americans had grown tired of it, a novel political trick was tried - declaring beer was OK. Well a certain kind of beer, called 3.2. It only lasted eight months, though in many states it lasted longer and in one American state, is still law. We look at this forgotten part of the New Deal and how it provides an example of the role of science in American politics.
50 min
40
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
41
The Man in the Cave and Other Stories of The Si...
You only think you know them. Ironworkers, militia captains, lawyers, preachers, tinsmiths and. Names still unknown mixed with Mayflower descendants. Powerful and unknown men. Rich and poor men. In the longest MHCBUYP episode, of course based largely on our They Signed Podcast of years ago, this is the story of the declaration's signers.
323 min
42
Playing Cards With the Signers of The Declarati...
Break your news bubble and see biases in coverage clearly -Download our sponsor Ground News's App at - Ground.News/myhistory All about Signers in this one. We talk to Jason Petri, listener to MHCBUYP about his playing card deck project, and we discuss: :the lives of the signers What can Button Gwinnett, Stephen Hopkins or Thomas Heyward Jr. do for us? The importance of the Declaration, even when the country hasn't lived up always to the aspiration (with help from a former president for a good interpretation). The history of the actual document, and how it was saved from British capture. A reminder - we are part of Airwave Media Podcast Network - Check out great shows at airwavemedia.com Songs by Lee Rosevere - https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/ and Kevin MacLeod who has excellent jazz music opens our episode up.https://kevinmacleod.bandcamp.com/
68 min
43
Extras from the "Undeniably Unconsecutive" Grov...
Campaign songs, Kangaroo Ballots, The Dapper Governor Hill. More Burke Cockran and Churchill. Everything we left out of the podcast episode about Governor Cleveland's second non-consecutive term. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, we suggest listening to it first. For extras on previous podcasts, sign up for our Patreon.
31 min
44
Undeniably Unconsecutive: The Story of Grover C...
Only one person has been elected President twice in non-consecutive terms. But it was not easy. To do it Grover Cleveland had to pass a few difficult tests. From Goody-Goodies to Anti-Snappers, to Anti-Egoists and Scarecrow Festivals; from entering opposing party contests in secret ways to placing bets for your own candidate, to pretending to run in states and letting a third party win, to taking forceful honest stands, 1892 had everything. It was a triumph of navigating complex steampower politics. The first being, did he really want to run again? We are part of Airwave Media Network. www.airwavemedia.com Our sponsor is Money Pickle. Try out their FREE financial advisor service today at MoneyPIckle.com Do you wish to advertise - contact advertising@airwavemedia.com Donate- www.patreon.com/mhcbuyp
66 min
45
W.E.B. DuBois and The Wounded World w/ Chad L. ...
In 1917, the most prominent spokesperson for African Americans, W.E.B. DuBois, shocked many when he threw his support behind enthusiastic and patriotic participation in World War I. He thought it was the key to expanding rights and treatment for African Americans. He was only to be later disappointed by the treatment of soldiers in France, the treatment of veterans when they came home, and the revision of history after the war to downplay accomplishments of African American soldiers. He struggled to write a book but could never come to terms with his own role in World War I and what came after. We discuss the life and legacy of the author and activist W.E.B. DuBois with Chad L. Williams, the Samuel J. and Augusta Spector Professor of History and African and African American Studies at Brandeis University.
31 min
46
Can The President Just Use the 14th To Pay the ...
An older cast where way back when - we looked at the possible use of the 14th Amendment to pay the debt off without Congress by President Obama. It never came to fruition - in fact Obama panned the idea, calling it an esoteric Constitutional argument. It wasn't as useful as just working something out with John Boehner, I suppose. But times have changed, and this is worth a re-listen.
18 min
47
Men will Walk Upright and Children Will Laugh! ...
So said the Reverend Billy Sunday on the passage of Prohibition. Needless to say he oversold, and the forces that changed the Constitution would, for the only time, change it back. A look at Prohibition from many angles. Did it do any good? Did it cause, as at least one contemporary said, the drug problem? What does it say about drug legalization, really. From a long-since aired previous episode. The changes in society and view of law enforcement the legislation brought. This was written a decade ago - since then I have watched the Ken Burns special, and I do own a TV set. Music by Lee Rosevere and Theme Song by Chris Novembrino We are part of Airwave Media Network - check out Ben Franklin's World, Tea Time History, Redacted History, the History of China, The Explorers Podcast, The Age of Napoleon www.airwavemedia.com Want to Advertise on My History Can Beat Up Your Politics? sales@advertisecast.com
26 min
48
The Supreme Court Story of Abe Fortas
Abe Fortas was a rising star on the Supreme Court. He argued a still-legendary case before it and then was appointed one of its justices. For many he was seen as the successor to Earl Warren. It was when he was nominated for Chief Justice that opposition cemented. He was too close to the President, too liberal on issues, and then there were disclosures of contributions he had received were revealed. After a drawn-out stalemate he withdrew his candidacy for Chief Justice. But it wouldn't stop there. Fortas also stepped down as an Associate Justice as the administration changed and political pressure increased. The Fortas case would be revealed later by insider and Watergate persona John Dean as part of an 'unpacking' plan that President Nixon had to reduce the left-lean of the Warren court, though it wasn't obvious at the time. But it's not that simple either. Fortas's case also has set a precedent for the danger of having a Justice with a close relationship to the Chief Executive.
42 min
49
Introducing - Founding Son: John Quincy's America
Introducing - Founding Son: John Quincy's America
3 min
50
Presidents In Trouble
I got troubles - oh - ho. I got worries... we discuss a little Presidential trouble. With the talk of a historic occasion, we think it's best to note that the law and the Presidency have been, close, several times. Certainly people around Presidents have faced the law, sometimes for actions rendered for a President. And the Constitution mentions Presidents and crimes directly.
48 min