My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

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

Episodes

DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE A COUNTRY: First Congress, 1774

June 30, 2025 • 55 mins
We think about the American Revolution beginning in 1776. Our textbooks tell us that was the signing of the Declaration, thus the beginning, right? Not really. The events of 1774 are very important to understanding. Before we discuss the Congress that assigned Jefferson to write a Declaration and officially broke off relations with Britain, we should study the first congress that Jefferson was unable to get into. We do that in thi...
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Reconstruction, Presidential Power, New States

June 23, 2025 • 75 mins
Some Q&A from listeners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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ALCATRAZ AND THE AMERICAN INDIAN MOVEMENT OF 1969

June 16, 2025 • 50 mins
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.com For advertising inform...
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RUTHERFORD B. FIGHTS!

June 9, 2025 • 21 mins
A classic government showdown battle, really the first actual two-sided and extended one finds an unpopular President gain a bit of popularity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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EXECUTIVE ORDERS, McKINLEY AND TARIFFS, Biden and Other Listener Questions.

June 5, 2025 • 70 mins
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
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I'M GOING TO SPEND IT - G.W. BUSH'S SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN

June 2, 2025 • 28 mins
Of course political capital was what George W. Bush was talking about, and spend it he did pushing a social security plan that failed by all accounts. However, it's failure doesn't mean that there aren't advocates who think it would have been right to do, with a better messenger. We get into it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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FIVE CHESTER ARTHURS! NOW ON PATREON

May 29, 2025 • 3 mins
That's right we have five Episodes of our Chester Arthur Series for Patrons right now - join at www.patreon.com/mhcbuyp or www.myhistorycanbeatupyourpolitics.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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"CARTER QUARTERS?" - SUSAN B ANTHONY COIN - PLUS LINCOLN'S LOST SPEECH

May 29, 2025 • 50 mins
They called them "Carter Quarters." but quarters they were not. To recognize a champion of woman's rights, the U.S. made a decision in 1979 to mint a new coin. The results - mixed at best. A few liked it, many didn't, and later it got more usage, right at the point the Feds had given up. We talk about this coin, and about a lost speech Lincoln made, and how he may have jumped out a window to avoid a vote. We are part of Airwave...
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BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, Podcast Recommendations and Democracy Sausage

May 26, 2025 • 40 mins
Thoughts about a few current topics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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A SECOND LOOK AT THE EVENTS of 1776 w/ Tom McMillan, Author of "The Year That Made America"

May 19, 2025 • 43 mins
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? We are part of Airwave Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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I Could Use Your Help

May 16, 2025 • 14 mins
Subscribe to our Patreon - patreon.com/mhcbuyp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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JOHN JAY'S HORSE , George Washington's Mill and the Emoluments Clause

May 14, 2025 • 47 mins
From 2017, there's not much reason to edit this cast on the Emoluments Clause from that time. With a look at George Washington. And generally why, on most matters there's already rules on accepting gifts, which outside of trinkets, require a vote of Congress. But in the process, we learn a lot about George Washington who was a businessman as well as President, and how he handled the matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...
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KENT STATE 1970: AFTER THE SHOOTINGS

April 28, 2025 • 66 mins
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...
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SO THESE FIVE GUYS WALK INTO A HOTEL: THE PLAZA ACCORD

April 25, 2025 • 48 mins
In 1985, a new Treasury Secretary had a shocking idea. Get the financial leaders of the world large economies in one gilded hotel room and don't tell the press, or the markets, until the deal is done. The Plaza Accords, as they were dubbed, has come up again in today's tariff discussions. At least one administration official would say it's what's needed today. We get into it, and why it didn't have a long term effect. But it's also...
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LEXINGTON AND CONCORD: What You May Not Know

April 21, 2025 • 38 mins
You know about the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the shot heard around the world, the minutemen and their trifold hats and muskets. But how much do you really know about the day's events? This episode we look at the day of fighting at Concord, when a British raiding party turned into a display of American resistance and a trial run for American independence. We look at the stories from that day, and deal with some misconception...
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Listen Now — Fiasco: Iran-Contra

April 14, 2025 • 43 mins
If you like My History Can Beat Up Your Politics, you’ll enjoy the new season of Fiasco, a podcast from Slow Burn creator Leon Neyfakh. Leon transports listeners into the day-to-day reality of the United States’ most pivotal historical events, bringing to life the forgotten twists and turns of the past while shedding light on the present. In his new season, Iran-Contra, Leon looks at a secret war, a secret deal, and a scandal that ...
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LINCOLN'S LAND IN IOWA - Now on Patreon

April 11, 2025 • 5 mins
Lincoln owned land in Iowa, but didn't get a chance to see it. It did remain in the family for a while. We talk about it, what happened to it, and the area around Tama county where one of his lots was. It's part of the bonus content on the Patreon. Subscribe to the Patreon for as little as $5 dollars a month and get ad-free episodes, and bonus episodes: For instance - we talk about Lincoln's land he owned in Iowa while he was Pre...
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GROVER CLEVELANDS THREE WARNINGS ABOUT TARIFFS

April 10, 2025 • 22 mins
The 22nd and 24th President staked his first re-election bid opposing tariffs. There were reasons. He felt they increased prices on all goods, including non-imports, he thought they were limited in benefit to working people, and he had a third warning that is not as prominent in debates today. We discuss his 1887 Tariff Message. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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SMOOT: THE MAN BEHIND THE SMOOT-HAWLEY TARIFF

April 3, 2025 • 53 mins
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 tarif...
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NOW ON THE PATREON: CHESTER ARTHUR, PART THREE - "I WILL ACCEPT!"

March 25, 2025 • 3 mins
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
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