This Day in Esoteric Political History
We’re living in unprecedented times. Maybe. In this show, Jody Avirgan (538, 30for30, TED) and historians Nicole Hemmer (Vanderbilt) and Kellie Carter Jackson (Wellesley) take one moment, big or small, from that day in U.S. political history and explore how it might inform our present –– all in about fifteen minutes. New episodes release Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Sign up for the newsletter and more at ThisDayPod.com. We’re also posting about moments from the past @thisdaypod on Threads and Instagram. If you have a suggestion for a topic, get in touch. This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of the Radiotopia podcast network from PRX.
Episodes
We're kicking off a series of episodes about the media environment during the election season. Today, a look at the birth of FOX News Channel.
Jody, Niki, and Kellie are joined by Slate's Josh Levin to talk about the launch of FOX News in October 1996. They discuss how the tensions between journalism and partisanship were present in the channel from the very beginning -- but got supercharged with the 2000 election and the p...
It's October 8th. This week in 2008, John McCain announced that he was suspending his campaign in order to focus on dealing with the fallout of the financial crisis.
Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss why McCain felt it was necessary to stop running for president -- and how the move ultimately backfired on him.
This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
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On Sundays between now and the election, we're going to dip into the 2024 race to talk about the latest events -- plus offer some historical perspective.
And these will all be video episodes! So if you'd like to watch the conversation, visit our YouTube page.
Today, Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss Liz Cheney's endorsement of Kamala Harris, whether notable endorsements change the election, and why th...
It's the October before a presidential election, which means that some final twists and turns are surely on the way.
Jody, NIki, and Kellie were recently joined by comedian Josh Gondelman at This Day's first ever live show, at WBUR's CitySpace in Boston. They talked about the history of October Surprises, from gaffes to unforseen world events, to pure shenanigans.
This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of R...
It's the October before a presidential election, which means that some final twists and turns are surely on the way.
Jody, NIki, and Kellie were recently joined by comedian Josh Gondelman at This Day's first ever live show, at WBUR's CitySpace in Boston. They talked about the history of October Surprises, from gaffes to unforseen world events, to pure shenanigans.
This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of R...
It's September 26th. This day in 1988 George HW Bush holds a rally in Boston featuring police officers who were supporting his campaign -- a stunt meant to rattle his opponent Michael Dukakis, the Governor of Massachusetts.
Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss the back-and-forth police press conferences that ensued, and the larger question of why Republicans have tended to own the "tough on crime" and pro-police mantle.
This Day I...
It's September 24th. This day in 1881 (actually, September 22nd) Vice President Chester Arthur assumes office after James Garfield dies from an assassination.
Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss how Arthur was really no one's first choice, but nevertheless rose to meet the moment and gravity of the situation.
This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
Your support helps foster independent, ar...
It's September 22nd. This day in 1796, a letter from George Washington appeared in the Philadelphia Daily American Advertiser announcing that he would not be seeking a third term for president.
Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the significance of Washington's announcement, how it's often mis-remembered as an actual address -- and why it mattered that he went straight to the people to proclaim his intentions.
This Day In Esoter...
It's September 19th. This day in 1859, New York City declared victory in the war on pigs.
Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why there were so many pigs on the island of Manhattan, and how the city's expansion created an enormous amount of tension around race, class, health and gentrification.
This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podca...
It's September 17th. This day in 1995, Oregon Senator Bob Packwood resigns before he can be expelled for decades of sexual misconduct.
Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss Packwood's long record of abuse, which he chronicled in detail in his own diaries -- and why it took so long to finally hold him accountable.
This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
Your support helps foster independent, a...
This day, in 1947, Georgia holds a special election that finally - finally - brings an end to a period in which the state had three people claiming the governor's office.
Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss how Georgia ended up in this constitutional crisis, and the many shenanigans that ensued within the halls of the capitol.
This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
Your support helps foste...
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It features comedian Josh Gondelman -- so today we're rerunning and episode with Josh from 2020.
This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcasts and award-winning stories.
If you want to support the show directly, you can do so on our w...
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!
It's September 8th. This day in 1969, a group called "New York Radical Women" holds a protest at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the wake of the protest, a very persistent story emerged, despite no evidence to support it: that women burned their bras in protest.
Jody, Niki, and Kellie are joined by Cri...
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!
It's September 5th. This day in 1838, Frederick Douglass makes a two-day escape from Maryland to New York City.
Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss how perilous Douglass's trip was, and how he was able to navigate the route from Baltimore to Delaware to Pennsylvania and finally New York.
This Day In Esoteric Political History is a pr...
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!
It's September 3rd. This day in 1901, Vice President Teddy Roosevelt gives remarks in which he refers to his notion that one should "speak softly and carry a big stick."
Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss where Roosevelt got that phrase, and how it came to really embody American-style imperialism in the first decades of the 20th ce...
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!
It's August 29th. This day in 1987, an arson burns down the house of the Ray brothers, three HIV-positive children who had contracted the virus through blood transfusions.
Jody, NIki, and Kellie are joined by Eric Marcus of "Making Gay History" project to discuss why there was so much fear and ignorance around AIDS in that era ...
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!
It's August 27th. This day (technically the 28th) in 1957, Senator Strom Thurmond embarks on what would be the longest filibuster in Senate history, arguing against civil rights legislation that would expand the vote for Black americans.
Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why Thurmond decided to take his stand, how he filled the 24...
Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!
It's August 25th. This day in 1928, representatives from the major world powers sign on to a treaty that states that promised to not use war to "resolve disputes or conflicts of whatever nature... or of whatever origin."
Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss the Kellogg-Briand treaty, why there was such a thirst to outlaw war in the w...
**Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!**
Welcome to Conventions Week! From time to time this election year, we're going to do some special series that highlight the rhythm of an election cycle. This week, as the Democrats are meeting in Chicago, we are looking at conventions, which are very strange affairs! Today, an episode from the archives about a legendary DN...
**Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!**
Welcome to Conventions Week! From time to time this election year, we're going to do some special series that highlight the rhythm of an election cycle. This week, as the Democrats are meeting in Chicago, we are looking at conventions, which are very strange affairs!
Want to watch the video version of this episode? Visit ou...
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