Free Speech is Easy, and Hard

Freedom of speech is boundless and yet has boundaries, according to our guest, Lynn Greenky of Syracuse University School of Law. She is the author of ‘When Freedom Speaks’ There are areas where the First Amendment of The U.S. Constitution protects, and areas where it does not. And this is no normal time. Social media,…

A Prime Minister Visits The United States: Ramsay MacDonald

Two Stories of Politics, Peace and Gold on this episode with two main topics. “Side A” of this episode is about Ramsay MacDonald, the first Prime Minister of the UK for the Labour Party. That was in the 1920’s considered the representatives of the most radical elements of society. He’s also the first Prime Minster…

The 1890’s – Part I: Mauve Decade

A look at the 1890’s, a decade where America developed in many ways. This is part of a FOUR PART series of podcasts on My History Can Beat Up Your Politics. X-rays, flying machines, oyster pirates and basketball. Also strikes, war, populism and long-forgotten literature. How did things get modern in America? The popularity of…

D.C. Representation: A Love Story

This episode is all about voting in the federal capital we now call the District of Columbia. We talk about a movement to get voting rights that succeeded for a group of (then) D.C. residents 180 years ago, And about the petitions, committees, tea parties, bus trips and statements by Presidents over the years, and…

Stop Talking About Momentum: The Race for President 1984

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 and American politics in general.   http://traffic.libsyn.com/mhcbuyp/stoptalkingaboutmo.mp3

Small Money, Big Hope

Back and forth on the significance of small money in politics. Plus – Can Bush pick Rubio? How did James Earl Carter, or JEC as we like to call him…go from peanut farmer to President.

In The Arena – Adlai Stevenson and Other Losing Candidates w/ Peter Shea

We talk about Adlai Stevenson, a candidate with a critical flaw and operating in a tough political environment, and the other people who have sought the Presidency but lost. Our guest is Peter Shea, author of In The Arena, His book looks not only at candidates, but at the memorials that have been made to…

The Man Who Saved Biden, and Other Stories

Maybe, just maybe, a quick scheduling decision by an overworked and now obscure VP candidate in the 1970’s changed politics in 2022. The current President thinks so. This, and a Reagan Ford ticket? How would that have worked? Lincoln appoints a judge, and other stories. We are part of Airwave Media Podcast Network Advertise on…

Ukraine and History w/ Ben Sawyer of Middle Tennessee State and “The Road to Now” Podcast

Where and when did Ukraine begin? What role did the Rus, the Cossacks, the post Tsarists and the Soviets play? What is Putin’s motive and what his seriously questionable historical justification? Why should we not say “The Ukraine” in discussions? How does nationalism play into world politics, and what place does it have in the…

Millions Fall: The Destruction of Trees During the Civil War

An army moves on its stomach, the saying goes. But a 19th century army also moved on its wood. A look at the environmental impact of the Civil War, particularly on forests. Millions of trees were needed for the conflict, to provide very temporary housing, roads, bridges, and fuel. They could stop cavalry charges, pretend…

The War in the Former Yugoslavia (Bosnian War) and the Dayton Accords, w/ Alex Hastie of “Ohio v. The World” Podcast

No one outside the Balkans could foresee the brewing conflict as parts of a former communist country sought independence. The result was destructive war with multiple actors, civilian deaths and war crimes in a civilized area. In no area was this felt more than the city of Sarajevo, where the world had watched the Winter…

The Anguish of Calvin Coolidge w/ David Priess

The President Calvin Coolidge most know in history is the man who put America’s business squarely with business and said very little. Less known is that Coolidge suffered a great tragedy while in the White House, and it may have affected what kind of President he was. or not. We talk to David Priess. Chief…

Abyssinia

Italy’s undeclared but oft-threatened invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 was brutal and illegal. Ethiopia was outmatched in numbers of weapons and technology, including a frightening new technology they had no answer for. Considering that, the defenders did mount an unexpected defense for longer than the world expected. The war presaged the Second World War. It…

Pan-Electric Scandal and Congressional Stock Trading

A discussion of the issue of congressional stock trading, and a scandal involving Alexander Graham Bell and an attempt to steal his patent, where it played a role. To advertise on this podcast, sales@advertisecast.com

I’ll Take Presidents and Canadian Prime Ministers for $1,000

With Canada in the news, a timely look at Canadian Prime Minsters and their relationship with the United States, including one named Trudeau.

The Lost Subway System, and Other Stories

At (minute 36) we talk about how a city slowly discovers it had a lost subway system. And Americas learn to spread dimes in a ‘viral’ manner. You don’t need social media to spread an idea. Or a small coin, in this case, which was representative of a badly thought-out get-rich scheme. We discuss the…