
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

Jun 14, 2024 • 1h 25min
YOU BREAK EVERYBODY'S BACK: The 1988 Presidential Election, Part 4 - Showdown In New York
With a split southern primary day, the Democrats have no clear leader. Team Dukakis would like to have been thought of as the leader, but Illinois and Michigan spoiled that. Only one state can settle things. And the Big Three Democratic campaigns settle on New York. Millions of dollars, frenetic debates, subways and hot dogs. It's all fun and games until New York City's mayor gets involved. Meanwhile, Bush is rapidly securing his nomination, but no one can tell Bob Dole that. He still has a few plans, if anyone will listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 14, 2024 • 1h 6min
The UK GENERAL ELECTION 2024, w/Steve Byrne
Former host of What Am Politics Podcast, Steve Byrne, discusses the surprising 1992 UK general election and provides insights into the UK General Election 2024, including analysis of party dynamics, strategic moves, and the influence of figures like Nigel Farage. The podcast also explores topics such as historical election trends, Conservative Party's future post-Rishi Sunak, and campaign strategies in UK and US politics.

Jun 13, 2024 • 1h 1min
YOU BREAK EVERYBODY'S BACK: The 1988 Presidential Election, Part 3 - Attack Videotape
In the wake of a front-runner's withdrawal, the campaigns struggle to get traction and block rival campaigns. The best weapon. An attack videotape. A story of three attack videotapes. One sent to a reporter which took out a major player in the campaign. Another in the snows of New Hampshire that saved a candidate, and a third that kept a campaign alive. Also a video that was never sent that should have been sent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 12, 2024 • 1h 21min
YOU BREAK EVERYBODY'S BACK: The 1988 Presidential Election - Part 2 [You Slayed My Dragon]
Gary Hart, the frontrunner in the Democratic side of the 1988 race, hits a major setback. Not only his he hurt, but so are all the people who wanted to have the chance to beat him. Now what? Jump Ball, says an aide of new candidate Joe Biden. Biden hopes to fill the gap, with his appeal to Baby Boomers will carry him forward. Al Gore enter the race, swinging at everyone. Dick Gephardt comes up with a zero-to-hero TV ad. Bush just can't get through to country people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 11, 2024 • 55min
YOU BREAK EVERYBODY'S BACK: The 1988 Presidential Election, Part 1 - Anybody's Race
In our first episode of our series on the 1988 Presidential Election: a cornfield prognosticator, men of the cloth, a young upstart, a senator with big glasses, a casino king, a prince of the polls and more than a few watching from the outside, thinking about maybe getting in. Who will succeed Reagan? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 27, 2024 • 51min
PATTY HEARST Story, The Child Reporter Who Scooped the Media, Potsdam and More.
A collection of random stories - a child reporter gets the scoop of the lifetime in 1976. A look at the Patty Hearst story and the central question, did she know it. The Potsdam Conference. And a little poetry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 22, 2024 • 1h 13min
VACCINES THEN AND NOW
Vaccine history, acceptance and denial. The man who saved Boston and never got credit. Law and the citizen and medicine. FDR's polio - if it was polio - and what it meant for America. From 2014, with an update for our times. And we encourage all - Get your COVID-19 shot when eligible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 16, 2024 • 52min
THE WORD "INFRINGE": History of a Word and The Gun Debate
What's in a word? Lots, maybe, when its a key word in the most contentious debate in America. The word "infringe" determines the threshold of how the Constitution should be enforced. But do we understand the word, and if we do, are we applying it correctly in our political debates over guns and politics? In this cast we look at how framers like Washington, Madison, Hamilton and Jefferson used the word, and how it's applied in DC v. Heller and US v. Miller. We contrast infringe to its Constitutional cousin abridge, and we look at what the NRA asserts about the 2nd amendment's words, including the word infringe.We also look at the current New York carry law Supreme Court case and where the Court is likely to go, and look at guns and politics in general. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 8, 2024 • 1h 5min
ONCE UPON A TIME IN WESTMINSTER: A Tale of British Politics
a story of 1970's British politics. A change in country is behind every corner of the smoking room, every staircase, and every pint of ale. On benches red and green, members make moves. A pipe-smoker, a yacht champion, a grocer's daughter a former (maybe current?) spy.We are part of Airwave Media Podcast NetworkTo advertise: sales@advertisecast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 30, 2024 • 45min
1860 ELECTION: WHAT YOUR HISTORY TEXTBOOK LEFT OUT
We all know Abraham Lincoln wins in 1860, and most know that it was because the Democrats split [except, in many states they actually got back together], that's what we know. But there's a lot to the 1860 election and this episode originally aired in 2020, we get into it. Sam Houston almost-ran. People called themselves woke. (well, "wide awake"). Lincoln faced 4 opponents and one was attacked for being homeless, the other gave up his campaign at the end. Here in all the newspaper printing backroom candlelight and train-hopping politics, we tell the story your history textbook might have skipped. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices