

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

Jul 28, 2025 • 36min
BECOMING NATIONS AGAIN, w/ Adam Crepelle
"It shouldn't be that hard" says our guest. Americans first recognized Indians as tribes and as nations, at least at a national level. North America's indigenous peoples had government and effective government before european arrival.
Returning to that model of self government should therefore be an answer to today's challenges. American Indian history is the topic of discussion in this interview with Professor Adam Crepelle at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. He is the author of "Becoming Nations Again."
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Jul 22, 2025 • 2min
ST. LOUIS ARCH - CORRUPTION AND BEAUTY - NOW ON THE PATREON
We discuss the Gateway Arch Memorial in St. Louis, and its improbable
story, in a special Patreon episode.
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Jul 14, 2025 • 44min
IRAN-IRAQ WAR - PART TWO
Stalemate breaks in a surprise operation. An apathetic America gets involved on both sides. The fighting stops, but nothing is the same after 1988. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 7, 2025 • 45min
THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR - PART ONE
This terrible war, fought in the 1980's, changed everything. Both in the Middle East, and America. We tell the story in two parts.
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Jul 6, 2025 • 30min
1989 MAYORAL PRIMARY, IN NEW YORK CITY, AND TODAY
Ed Koch is a pretty popular guy in the 1980's. He's come to personify New York. But after 3 terms and two easy victories, he's in the fight of his political life. We talk about it, and why people are comparing it to today's events.
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Jun 17, 2025 • 51min
ALCATRAZ AND THE AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT OF 1969
The 1969 occupation of the former federal prison by Native American activists was the beginning of a movement and a shift in perception that lives on today. http://www.myhistorycanbeatupyourpolitics.com/alcatraz.mp3 We discuss: Why Alcatraz? The 1973 Standoff at Wounded Knee, South Dakota Vine Deloria and “Custer Died for Your Sins” and Other Items.We are part of Airwave Media Network - www.airwavemedia.comFor advertising information please contact sales@advertisecast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 5, 2025 • 1h 12min
EXECUTIVE ORDERS, McKINLEY AND TARIFFS, Biden and Other Listener Questions.
Bunch of topics - we get into eos, how McKinley really felt about tariffs, versus the campaign platforms, and about all the Biden talk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 19, 2025 • 41min
A SECOND LOOK AT THE EVENTS of 1776 w/ Tom McMillan, Author of "The Year That Made America"
With Tom McMillan, we take a look at some of the assumptions of 1776 in the history books. First of all, why July 4th and Not July 2nd? And what about May 15th, when Adams got delegates to move and issued his own Declaration-like preamble? And a second look at Jefferson's authorship of the Declaration: writer or draftsman?
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Apr 28, 2025 • 1h 6min
KENT STATE 1970: AFTER THE SHOOTINGS
In this episode, we talk about everything that happens after that moment when four students were killed at a protest at a college (only two were participating in the protest). Opinion wasn't universally with the slain students, the school had little interest in memorializing and the criminal justice system focused not at those who killed students but at the students themselves. We talk to Howard Ruffner, author of "Moments of Truth" and an eyewitness to the events. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 25, 2025 • 1h 18min
Like the Visions of a Fever: America in Pre-War 1941
A look at pre-war America, 1941, the passage of Lend-Lease, and the sinking of four ships in the Atlantic. Robin Moor, Greer, Kearny and Ruben James, each inflicting a body blow but not yet producing war. As Americans waited for war in one ocean, it came in another. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices