The Vanquished

The Vanquished

A podcast about failed Presidential candidates hosted by Anders J. Lee and produced by Jules Taylor. Full episode catalog and bonus content available at Patreon.com/TheVanquished Special thanks to Jose Carneiro for the logo and Don Lee for the intro.

Episodes

September 3, 2025 75 mins

After having the presidency for 12 years, you'd think the GOP would be riding high but the base was angry that Reaganomics had made them poorer and that George HW Bush was more focused on "globalist" foreign policy than helping them keep their factory jobs. Pat Buchanan ran to represent that base. He was also a racist, homophobic, and antisemitic reactionary. Did Pat's 1992 run pave the way for Trump 2016?

We discuss with Twitter S...

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We talk about Gore's 1988 campaign, Vice Presidency and post-2000 life.


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August 19, 2025 61 mins

We talk about the man, myth, legend, Tennessee Senator, Vice President and 2000 Democratic nominee, Al Gore.


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August 13, 2025 68 mins

For our first fore into legendary Vanquished member, Bernie Sanders we discuss Bernie's tenure as Mayor of Burlington with Jacobin writer Branko Marcetic. We talk about Sanders' unlikely victory, how he handled hostility from Burlington's establishment, what this all portends for a Mayor Zohran Mamdani and what the (as of yet) unmade movie about Bernie as Mayor would have been like.

Branko's article: https://jacobin....

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July 29, 2025 2 mins

We round out the story of Edith Wilson's secret Presidency, then talk about the election she and her husband helped Democrats lose, 1920. James Cox, Warren G. Harding, Eugene Debs the jazz age, first red scare, League of Nations and more!

You don't wanna miss this one. For the full episode and more bonus content subscribe at Patreon.com/TheVanquished


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July 24, 2025 58 mins

When Woodrow Wilson had a stroke in November 1919 he lost the ability to governor the country. Rather than having the hapless VP take over, the doctors and his staff decided to have his wife run the country. This really happened and it lasted for 16 months. Edith would make decisions and enforce them by saying that she was doing what her husband needed for his health.

This story was mostly covered up afterwards but the details have ...

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July 12, 2025 1 min

We recap Bill de Blasio's infamous groundhog drop and then dive back into the legacy of Michael Bloomberg.


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June 26, 2025 134 mins

Anders and Fed talk about New York's mini Mayor of the 2000s, billionaire, 2020 candidate and recent Cuomo for Mayor donor, Michael Bloomberg.


Find us on social media @vanquishedpod and check out our bonus feed at Patreon.com/TheVanquished


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June 10, 2025 68 mins

Our pal Davidson comes back on the show to discuss former New York City Mayor and failed candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2020 (from May-September 2019), Bill de Blasio.


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June 3, 2025 1 min

Anders and Fred continue the discussion on John Edwards relationships with Elizabeth and Rielle, his successes as a trial lawyer, tidbits from his campaigns and more!


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May 19, 2025 102 mins

John Edwards was southern, hot, and charismatic like a younger Bill Clinton. He had a powerful sounding message about ending The Two Americas (One rich, One Poor) and road that into a second place finish in Iowa in 2004 and being John Kerry's VP Pick. In 2008, he was ready to be the Hilary alternative until Barack Obama came along and also he was hiding a mistress (Rielle Hunter) who was pregnant with a love child while his wife wa...

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Anders and Fred share some goodies from the pod's advance copy of "Original Sin" by Jake Tapper & Alex Thompson about Joe Biden's cognitive decline and the failed attempt to cover it up. Then some more info on his 1988 campaign as well as Scoop Jackson.


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May 8, 2025 81 mins

Anders and Fred talk about Joe Biden's aborted 1988 campaign, exploring his plagiarism scandals, centrist politics and how Biden's first shot at the Presidency explains the rest of his career.

Main Sources: "What it Takes" by Richard Ben Cramer & "Yesterday's Man" by Branko Mark


Check out our Patreon for out full episode catalog at Patreon.com/TheVanquished

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April 21, 2025 63 mins

Scoop Jackson was the Godfather of Neo Conservatism. He was a Cold War Hawk who always wanted to spend more on defense and supported the Vietnam War as long as he possibly could. He was a democrat but his staffers later formed the base on the Neocon wing of the GOP. He was staunching zionist and pushed for the US to begin arming Israel after France stopped doing so in the 60's. He was also a New Deal Democrat who supported univ...

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Anders' Pod Damn America co-host Jake Flores joins the show to discuss Cory Booker's past as a "reformer" of the Newark school system when he was Mayor; a sordid history of austerity and privatization he now tries not to talk about.



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April 11, 2025 65 mins

We're joined by comedian and former New Jersey resident Sharif Hasan to discuss Senator, ex-Newark Mayor and new record holder for the longest Senate gab time, Cory Booker.


For our full episode catalog, check out our bonus feed at Patreon.com/TheVanquished

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March 30, 2025 2 mins

We continue to explore Pat Robertson's early life, broadcasting career, role in shaping the evangelical movement, shady business dealings and more.


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March 24, 2025 65 mins

We're joined by comedian and North Carolina native, Davidson Boswell to discuss Pat Robertson, his 1988 Presidential campaign and impact on the evangelical movement.

Main sources:

Pat Robertson: A Life and Legacy by David Edwin Harrell Jr.

Ministers of Propaganda by Scott M. Coley

God on Our Side documentary

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March 21, 2025 2 mins

We dive deep into Smith's legislative career, Governorship, time as head of the Empire State Building, beef with FDR and penchant for zoology.

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March 8, 2025 65 mins

NY native comedian Gastor Almonte joins Anders and Fred to discuss New York Governor and the first Irish-Catholic nominated by a major party, Al Smith.


For part 2 next week check out our bonus feed at Patreon.com/TheVanquished


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