SNAFU with Ed Helms S4E7: Kal Penn and the Republic of Rough and Ready
Nov 19, 2025
Richard Kreitner, a journalist and historian, shares insights on secession in America, inspired by the quirky tale of Rough and Ready's brief independence in 1850. The discussion drills down into modern movements like Calexit and Texit, dissecting their motivations and seriousness. Kreitner highlights the impact of polarization and distrust in institutions on the rise of secession rhetoric today. He argues that while secession is an American concept, it should remain a last resort, emphasizing the value of national unity.
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White House Email Blooper
- Kal Penn recounts accidentally replying-all in the White House email chain about the Moro Islamic Liberation Front labeled 'MILF'.
- He immediately regretted it and colleagues refused to cover it up because it would enter the public record.
Naming A Town Rough And Ready
- Ed tells the origin of Rough and Ready, founded by Captain Absalom Austin Townsend and named after Zachary Taylor's nickname 'Old Rough and Ready'.
- The town's colorful founding tied to gold rush migration set the stage for its later secession stunt.
Tax Fueled Anti-Immigrant Resentment
- The foreign miners tax in 1850 targeted non-citizen miners and fueled anti-immigrant sentiment in California boom towns.
- Ed argues the tax threatened cheap labor and sparked broader local backlash beyond its explicit targets.
