My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
Bruce Carlson
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
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 9, 2025 • 37min
MOVE MY BILL: A History of Discharge Petitions
Learn about the power of discharge petitions in Congress, how they have been used throughout history to pass important bills, and the resistance they face from committee heads. Explore the rare instances of bipartisan cooperation and the challenges faced by those attempting to bypass committee procedures. Understand the importance of committee review and concerns surrounding the use of discharge petitions. Discover the tactics employed by House leadership to prevent the success of discharge petitions.
Oct 1, 2025 • 1h 37min
CHESTER ARTHUR - PART 5: "HE IS NOT ARTHUR ANYMORE, HE IS THE PRESIDENT!"
The untold story of the 21st President. Music by Lee Rosevere, and others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 22, 2025 • 19min
THE HEADSHAKE THAT CHANGED HISTORY And Other Stories
We depart from our Chester Arthur Series briefly with a focus on the moment Garfield was shot, and how a quick action by James Blaine, Secretary of State and no political friend to Arthur, might have changed history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 18, 2025 • 1h 1min
CHESTER ARTHUR - PART 4: THE PISTOL AND THE TRANSOM
Political violence changes politics. Vice President Chester Arthur is getting the hang of Parliamentary procedure, and building a reputation for being a more partisan vice president than we've seen in a while, Not on the team with his President. Then events will conspire to elevate him in an unexpected way.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 15, 2025 • 1h 7min
CHESTER ARTHUR PART 3: I WILL ACCEPT THE NOMINATION
Arthur makes an unlikely comeback in the 1880 Republican Convention in this episode. The story is a little more complex than it's often told, and involves a bit more of Arthur's skill than is often mentioned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 7, 2025 • 1h 23min
CHESTER ARTHUR PART 2: I AM A STALWART!
(2nd posting ) We look at Chester Arthur and also at Roscoe Conkling, New York Senator and political "boss" of the post-Civil War period. The two are tied together in history. Arthur was, to a point, a Stalwart, which means he supported Ulysses S. Grant and the concept of a party system. Which is also known by the name - spoils. Are Stalwarts all bad? What about Half-Breeds? We get into Arthur the Stalwart in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 2, 2025 • 51min
CHESTER ARTHUR PART 1: THE EARLY YEARS
He fought for civil rights and nearly saved New York City. But all we remember is his hair. We start our series on President Chester Arthur with a look at his boyhood / young lawyer years.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 2, 2025 • 40min
LABOR UNIONS IN FIVE ANGLES
A look at labor unions from their historical beginnings and their height in the 30s to 60s to today, (2015) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 25, 2025 • 45min
ANDY JOHNSON OPPOSES THE TELEGRAPH, AND OTHER STORIES
An invention ties together the stories of many people. A frustrated painter, a faded novelist, and a future President. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 4, 2025 • 27min
TRUMAN VS. STARK PRIMARY
We almost had no Harry S. Truman as President, except that he was able to beat a tough opponent in a primary, with his typical outworking handshaking and self-driving campaign.
Head to
https://www.homeaglow.com/MYHIST to get your first 3 hours of
cleaning for only $19. Thanks so much to Homeaglow for
sponsoring this episode!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
