After a bit of a hiatus, I’m back with something special to share. I’ve just contributed a chapter to Iain Dale’s new book American Elections, writing about one of the most dramatic contests in U.S. history: the election of 1800.

This was the clash between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, a bitter rematch that not only shaped America’s political system but also set the stage for the peaceful transfer of power, a principle that still defines democracy today.

In this episode, I take you through the stakes, the personalities, and the fallout of 1800:

Why Adams and Jefferson, once allies, became fierce rivals.
How mudslinging and partisanship took American politics to new lows.
The role of Aaron Burr in one of the closest and most chaotic elections ever.
And why Jefferson later called it the “Revolution of 1800.”

If you’re fascinated by the roots of American democracy and the political battles that still echo today, you’ll want to hear this one.

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