
My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
Since 2006, this podcast has been using history to elevate today's political debates. "The perfect antidote to bloviating talking heads, My History is thoughtful, nuanced, and highly engaging." -Columbia Journalism Review
Latest episodes

Apr 3, 2025 • 53min
Smoot - The Man Behind the Smoot-Hawley Tariff
You may know his tariff, but not him. A look at the man behind the Smoot-Hawley Tariff. Reed Smoot, Senator from Utah. His history, his politics, his views on tariffs. His battles for a mix of conservative issues and progressive stands. And his battle to keep his own seat from religious intolerance. Plus a discussion on tariffs in history and the variety of different historical figures who have positive and negative views of tariffs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 25, 2025 • 3min
NOW ON THE PATREON: CHESTER ARTHUR, PART THREE - "I WILL ACCEPT!"
That's right - sign up for Patreon for our most recent episode about the 21st President, Chester Alan Arthur. In this episode, the establishment takes on the establishment, but just a little. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 25, 2025 • 1h 12min
Federal Judges and Presidents
Federal judges and Presidents have clashed in the past. It's rarely been cheery. As executive power exists only within the frame of law, this should be expected. There are freak events where Presidents have ignored judicial orders, but it is not the routine. We get into it, including a case of a man on a horse following U.S. soldiers, a tribe's removal, a prosecutor prosecuted, a case where the Supreme Court confirmed you must listen to the Supreme Court, and a man who kept showing up to work after he was fired. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 18, 2025 • 47min
CANNABIS AND SAMUEL J. TILDEN
Samuel Tilden won the popular vote but lost the Presidency to Rutherford B. Hayes in the disputed electoral college. That is is his footnote in history. He's also known for taking down Boss Tweed. Though his actual role is disputed by people at the time. What's less known about him is the source of the family money. His family sold patent medicines. Frankly it was cannabis, and at a strength of about 10 times todays routine variety. We link politics, corruption, reform and strong medicine all together in our next episode. CANNABIS AND SAMUEL J. TILDEN coming up soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 17, 2025 • 42min
THEODORE ROOSEVELT ON PEACE, There is No Mary Todd Lincoln and Other Stories
A bit from TR on making peace, why we should drop the Mary Todd and other stories. Ad Free for Airwave History subscribers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 6, 2025 • 49min
ASHAMED IN THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT - Resistance to Jackson Indian Removal Policy in its Time
Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren's policy of Indian population removal, which lead to the Trail of Tears and thousands of deaths, was not uncontested or passively allowed at the time. Nearly half of Congress opposed it, as did petition writers all over the nation. So did one of the President's former friends and of course, most of the elected representatives of the Cherokee people. These debates happened not in modern times but then. One of Jackson's friends voted against so he would not be Ashamed in the Day of Judgment and sought the Presidency in his stead.Support our sponsor Inkl - www.inkl.com/my-historySupport the Podcast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/mhcbuypMusic by Lee RosevereEmail sales@advertisecast.com to enquire about advertising on the podcastWe are part of Airwave Media Podcast Network. - airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 5, 2025 • 2min
Now on The Patreon - Chester Arthur, Part 2- Stalwarts!
What does it mean to be a Stalwart? In history, it's just a name for political machine pros seeking jobs and being corrupt. But it was more. While telling how Chester Arthur became the nation's most famous fired civil servant, we explain politics in the 19th century. The real battles then were inside the party. On our Patreon now, [www.patreon.com/mhcbuyp] as part of a 4 part series, we discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 5, 2025 • 29min
Al Gore's Reinventing Government 1993 "REGO"
It was clunky, and a little Office Space-like. And it cut federal jobs. But then-Vice President Al Gore's "REGO" program was different in many ways from "DOGE" -The 1993 program was bipartisan, considered [cuts were identified, then made, in that order. And it was slow, and generated little protest. It did generate tension in the Clinton White House, which we get into. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 25, 2025 • 4min
Now on the Patreon: Chester Arthur's Early Years, and More
A bit about what we've got cooking at Patreon, including the first of three parts of our series on the 21st President. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 25, 2025 • 36min
No, You Can't Throw Out Your History Books Yet
Bruce is on a tear being told that given the norm-breaking going on there is no place for history. Nothing can be farther from the truth. He outlines why, instead of history not being useful, it's actually quick history (comparing say Trump to Obama) that is still interesting, but maybe won't lock down the kind of results you want. But in the long swath of American political history, current events compare and contrast well to all sorts of things. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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