Close Encounters of the Congress Kind: Times When The House was Closely Divided Between the Parties

The average difference between the two major parties in the House of Representatives at any time in American history is sixty. That being said, there are a few times where one, two or nine seats separated the two major parties in Congress. Sometimes it was Democrats and Republicans. Sometimes it was Whigs and Democrats. You…

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…

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…