Fall of USSR Podcast: Early Access

In August 1991, eight men attempted to take over the USSR and lock the President, Gorbachev, in his house until they had finished. They came closer than is thought, and those opposing them though they had lost until they won. You can wait for Feb 6th to listen to episodes now to our 6 part…

Drinking with FDR

From his bamboo shaker to his views on prohibition, all about Franklin Roosevelt and drinking. Suffice it to say with this President, it is not an unimportant part of his Presidency.

A History of Student Loans and Higher Ed Financing in the U.S.

College costs have been an issue since the founding of the Republic, as we discuss in this issue, And equally, the desire to provide education to young minds has been strong. What’s different about the era we live in is that college is closely associated with debt. Debt that cannot be removed by bankruptcy, and…

Nixon Versus Plywood, Ike and Gas, LBJ and Copper and Other Presidential Inflation Stories

Stories of Presidential inflation fighting and fund-raising that seem to have a similar ring to today’s events, in this episode. Nixon’s plans to cut housing costs by reducing prices on the key element of housing inspires timber companies but riles environmentalist. Johnson uses his air fleet to shuttle the right people around to get the…

The Mystery of the Black Bands on the Goalposts? And Other Stories

We leave a lot out of any episodes and our episode on the Argentine junta in the 1970’s is no exception. One story, now challenged in authenticity, had to be included: During the World Cup Championship game in 1978 the soccer goals were wrapped with black bands. It happened without the dictators knowing what the…

The Youth Vote: John Lennon’s Dream, Nixon’s Nightmare

A discussion of the 26th Amendment, the story behind it. John Lennon and his attempt to mobilize youth voting, and how Nixon countered it. And a look at the 18-29 year-old vote in recent elections including the recent midterm. Parts from 2013 and parts recorded this year.

You Can’t Always Get What You Want – The 2022 Midterms, Analyzed (Plus Listener Questions)

Call 2022 the Mick Jagger midterm – neither party got fully what they wanted. Both parties experienced win and losses. It is, so far, largely a “stave midterm” where the President’s party lost less seats than expected – we’ve discussed a few of these on this podcast, and thus for the party expected to have…

Once Upon a Time in Westminster

 a story of 1970’s British politics. A change in country is behind every corner of the smoking room, every staircase, and every pint of ale. On benches red and green, members make moves. A pipe-smoker, a yacht champion, a grocer’s daughter a former (maybe current?) spy.

Something Happened: Eugene McCarthy’s 1968 Run for President

Quirky Senator Eugene McCarthy (no relation to Joe who he debated against) agreed when no one else would to run a protest campaign against Lyndon Johnson. That was when something happened. The race for the Democratic Nomination in 1968 a complicated one, as one candidate would drop out and another die tragically. But for a…

Lonely Midterm, 1970

The midterm election everyone is not talking about in this midterm season. Air Force One. Candidates in Fire Trucks. Culture War Weaponized. A TV Mess-Up. New Political Concepts and Midterm Election Awareness. Nixon’s first presidential midterm election (the election in which the House and Senate would be up for election) would turn out to be…

Washington’s Ancestors, Coolidge’s Electric Horse and Other Stories

A hodge-podcast of bits of things. A bit about the Washington family, and ancestors he didn’t know that he had. And some follow ups from other casts. About that ‘Electric Horse’ that Coolidge used for exercise. And Lincoln deals with fake news like a pro. We are part of Airwave Media Network Interested in Advertising? sales@advertisecast.net

Nineteen Seventies Ephemera

PROGRAM ONE: Ford’s Bad Day – Dylan’s Troll – Howard Cosell’s Politics PROGRAM TWO: Skylab’s Fall – Nixon Shako Warriors – One Hit Wonder PROGRAM THREE: High School Riot – Art About Nutin’ PROGRAM FOUR: Austin Gets Weird – Global Cooling Article Controversy We are part of Airwave Media Podcast Network

Saving and Loans Crisis

One reaction to the inflation stagnation and interest rates of the 1970’s was to loosen up on a particular ‘harmless’ form of banking. It didn’t work out so well.  

Midterms: They Don’t Always Work Out Badly for Presidents (But Mostly They Do)

In the past 100 years, over 80% of the first term midterms went badly for Presidents, and their party lost seats.  But in a few cases they did not. And a few times when they did lose seats, the result was very little real change for their administration’s situation in Congress, or even a kind of win. A…