History As It Happens

Donald Trump is out of power but it seems certain Americans will continue to talk and think about him, at least in the short term. How long  what is already called Trumpism remains a force in American politics may depend on the strength of the Trump narrative of a stolen election. Historian Edward Ayers joins us to explain the power of narrative in the American past and present.

The peaceful transition of power is a pillar of American democracy. But 2021 begins with a fear of violence hanging over Washington as Joseph Biden prepares to take the oath of office. Like Lincoln in 1861, Biden is inheriting a crisis which, although different in many respects from the Secession Winter, will confront his new administration with enormous problems. In 'Inauguration,' the premier ep...

Journalists write the first draft of history. They also view our present times through the prism of the past. While it seems certain that future historians will consider the events of this era of American history extraordinary, we need not wait however many years for the arrival of their books before trying to make sense of our current controversies. The recent past can shed fresh light on today's...