This Day

Nelson Mandela, South African leader, emerged from prison after 27 years. They discuss Mandela's harsh imprisonment, global symbolism, and the efforts of Winnie Mandela and the anti-apartheid movement. They also explore his release, adjustment, and historical events on February 13th.

In this episode, the podcast explores the adoption of gas chambers for capital punishment during the Progressive Era and its connection to marginalized communities. They discuss the efficiency vs. humanity debate surrounding gas chambers and the challenges and effectiveness of the first execution by gas chamber in 1924. The podcast also covers different execution methods, the emotional experience of being on death row, flaws in capital punishment, and historical events such as the Yalta agreement and the Cheney hunting incident.

Explore the infamous Lockheed bribes scandal of 1976 and the corrupt practices of multinational corporations. Learn about Lockeeds bribery of the Japanese government, the pattern of US corporate involvement in global affairs, and the prevalence of corporate bribes in global politics. Discover historical events and the lack of justice surrounding them, including a controversial payment made by Lockheed executives.

Explore FDR's failed court-packing plan to reform the judiciary and expand the number of Supreme Court justices. Learn about FDR's motivations, the consequences of the plan, and the challenges and critiques he faced. Discover the impact on FDR's team and party, the Supreme Court's independence, and the lasting legacy of his New Deal reforms. Also, delve into the history of the Supreme Court's composition and the arguments for expanding the court.

The podcast explores the aftermath of the 1876 election and how a deal with southerners handed the presidency to Rutherford B. Hayes, effectively ending reconstruction. Topics include the close election, rogue states holding the process hostage, and the implications for the South. It also covers historical events like the confirmation of John Marshall, OJ Simpson trial, and the founding of Facebook.

Explore the weird origins of Groundhog Day in 1877, from elixirs of everlasting life to secret societies pulling the strings. Discuss the reliability of groundhogs as meteorological forecasters and the peculiar customs surrounding the event. Dive into the quirky traditions, lifespan of Phil the groundhog, and weather predictions based on gestures. Examine the groundhog's inconsistency and wet bias in meteorology. Touch on the disappearance of Zika virus and potential shift in focus to animals with hairless tails.

Joanne Freeman, a Yale history professor, joins the hosts to discuss a violent brawl that took place in Congress in 1798. They explore the party divisions, philosophical differences, and class dynamics that fueled the violence. The episode also explores the abnormal existence of political parties in 1798 and the relationship between violence and partisanship in American politics throughout history. The guest shares the story of Matthew Lyon, who was charged with violating the Sedition Act and later achieved an electoral victory.

It’s January 28th. This day in 1967, the U.S., U.K., and Russia sign a treaty that, among other things, says that outer space should be off-limits for the testing and deployment of weapons of mass destruction. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss why there was a need for the Outer Space Treaty, and how — despite its important language about nuclear weapons — it left a lot of grey area and confusion about how different countries would take on space exploration. Sign up for our newsletter! Get your hands on This Day merch! Find out more at thisdaypod.com This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcasts and award-winning stories. If you want to support the show directly, you can do so on our website: ThisDayPod.com Get in touch if you have any ideas for future topics, or just want to say hello. Follow us on social @thisdaypod Our team: Jacob Feldman, Researcher/Producer; Brittani Brown, Producer; Khawla Nakua, Transcripts; music by Teen Daze and Blue Dot Sessions; Audrey Mardavich is our Executive Producer at Radiotopia Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

It’s January 25th. This day in 1845, Congress passed a law designating that Americans would henceforth vote on “the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November.” Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss why that day was designated, and the many pitfalls that now exist around the fact that Election Day is only one day, and on a Tuesday. Sign up for our newsletter! Get your hands on This Day merch! Find out more at thisdaypod.com This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcasts and award-winning stories. If you want to support the show directly, you can do so on our website: ThisDayPod.com Get in touch if you have any ideas for future topics, or just want to say hello. Follow us on social @thisdaypod Our team: Jacob Feldman, Researcher/Producer; Brittani Brown, Producer; Khawla Nakua, Transcripts; music by Teen Daze and Blue Dot Sessions; Audrey Mardavich is our Executive Producer at Radiotopia Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

It’s January 23rd, happy Ed Roberts Day! This day in 2010, the State of California proclaimed this day to commemorate the life and work of the pioneering disability rights activist. Niki, Jody, and Kellie discuss how Roberts got his start in activism when he was denied entry to the University of California in the early 60s, and how his worked continued all the way through the passage of the ADA and beyond. Sign up for our newsletter! Get your hands on This Day merch! Find out more at thisdaypod.com This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcasts and award-winning stories. If you want to support the show directly, you can do so on our website: ThisDayPod.com Get in touch if you have any ideas for future topics, or just want to say hello. Follow us on social @thisdaypod Our team: Jacob Feldman, Researcher/Producer; Brittani Brown, Producer; Khawla Nakua, Transcripts; music by Teen Daze and Blue Dot Sessions; Audrey Mardavich is our Executive Producer at Radiotopia Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices