Bruce Carlson

My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

History EN ↓ 347 episodes

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

Author

Bruce Carlson

Category

History

Latest episode

Jul 6, 2026

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Episodes

THE FORGOTTEN FOUR WORDS IN THE 10TH AMENDMENT: "or to the people" 22.04.2026

That's the State's Rights amendment, right? Ask just about anyone about the Tenth Amendment and they will say "States." States rights, powers, protections, limits to the Federal government. And they are right. Partially. But the Tenth contains words at the very end reserving powers: to the states or to the people. The last part is hardly ever discussed and has not been significantly litigated. But...

"LEFT AND RIGHT" IN POLITICS, THE UNUSED PART OF THE 25TH and Other Thoughts 20.04.2026

Answering listener questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

VANCE AND ORBAN in CONTEXT 19.04.2026

Based on a listener question, POTUS and VPOTUS making speeches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RONALD REAGAN PART NINE: SHOCKWAVE 1981 16.04.2026

This new President is defying all norms! Shocking statements and words, crazy economic theories. Scary foreign policy. Bruce Springsteen is angry. We've never seen numbers like this. Radical foreign policy and bold domestic policy. Is he really going to push the button? Weapons in space? It's just too much to process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Q&A: Lincoln's Cooper Union Speech, Richard Oakes AIM Alcatraz Takeover & Sources, David Sirota Reaction 11.04.2026

Lincoln beat up politics with history as good or better than I could. David Sirota and the Left's use of executive power. A few questions from listeners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THE IRANIAN SIDE OF IRAN CONTRA And other stories 09.04.2026

A scandal in the US, even more of a scandal in Iran. Iran-Contra was a significant moment of the Reagan Administration and the 80's, but its rarely seen from the other country's side. In Iran, the event was not insignificant. A mix of unreleased content and some long-lost episodes that were quite popular in their time and still have some points today on this podcast. We are part of Airwave Media N...

DESERT ONE / EAGLE CLAW - 1980 IRAN RESCUE EFFORT - THE STORY AND POLITICAL EFFECTS 07.04.2026

Timely topics and a few stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RONALD REAGAN PART EIGHT: Iran-Contra 06.04.2026

We look at the scandal that rocked Reagan's Presidency. It looks very different with time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CRAZY POLL TAX STORIES: The Way The 24th Amendment Was Passed, Why Some Loved Paying The Tax, and Three Words to Watch. 05.04.2026

The 24th amendment banning the payment of poll tax or other tax in order to vote, had a crazy legislative history to get passed. Alexander's Hamilton's House became a central part of the Senate effort. How the poll tax was defended in 1939 in Texas, and how the way it was administered was often worse than any one-time fee. Also: 3 words to watch in voter ID battles. Why people still paid poll tax...

DAVID SIROTA On George W. Bush, Reagan and The Rise of Presidential Power 01.04.2026

Have we forgotten about George W. Bush and how much today's politics were defined during his administration? Does Congress have any role anymore? Have we reached a point where Congress not only has less power but doesn't want to use what it has? Over the years, federal power has shifted from Congress to the President, with particular acceleration since Reagan and George W. Bush's Presidencies. Dav...

RONALD REAGAN PART SEVEN: Tax Reform, Amnesty, Bitburg and Banking 30.03.2026

Reagan makes a big reform most see as a good thing. And he made a diplomatic move most see as a very bad thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RONALD REAGAN PART SIX: Hands Across America 23.03.2026

Homelessness, education, healthcare and other domestic issues under constant evaluation during the time of the Reagan Presidency. We look at the personal Ronald Reagan and the contention of critics that his policies didn't match the person. We look at first term and second term policy differences on homelessness, and the contention by supporters that homelessness was focused on by media in the 80'...

DONALD TRUMP'S 1987 NEW YORK TIMES AD Attacking Oil Ship Escorts and More 20.03.2026

The political world was shocked in 1987 when a 41-year old developer put an ad in the NY Times. Now it's 2026: he's consistent, sorta. What does it say about today? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

24TH AMENDMENT AND POLL TAXES in The Context of The "Save America" Bill 20.03.2026

In 1962, A civil rights champion and a civil rights opponent join on one thing - to ban poll taxes. The Court later rules that it applies to fees. What does it mean for today? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RONALD REAGAN PART FIVE: THE 1976 CONVENTION 16.03.2026

Reagan Battles Ford for the GOP Nomination. He loses. And becomes President. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RONALD REAGAN PART FOUR: Central America, Lebanon, Poland and Grenada 09.03.2026

James Baker called Reagan's foreign policy "a witches brew." In one country, a longshot try for peace. In others, alliances with warmakers. Reagan's policy towards seven nations - El Salvador, Lebanon, Poland, Nicaragua, China, Grenada and Guatemala examined in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RONALD REAGAN PART THREE - Rubik's Cube: Two Reagan Mysteries 04.03.2026

We seek to solve two puzzles: How did Reagan the Truman booster and N ew Deal supporter become Reagan the Goldwater acolyte? And when he entered politics, became GOP nominee and President, what were the economic results of his Presidency? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RONALD REAGAN PART TWO: A Taxing Year - Deficits, Unions, Taxes. Compromises 02.03.2026

Reagan is the only President to have led a union into a strike. Twice, with two wins. And that's why he knew how to a break a strike when he had to. But in doing so, did he encourage employers to be harsh with workers? Some think that's exactly what happened. This, and the joy of the tax cut passage is turning into concern about deficit numbers. Not even his whiz kid Stockman can find an answer. L...

IRAN-IRAQ WAR - PART TWO - "THIS WAR WILL NOT BE IGNORED" 24.02.2026

Stalemate breaks in a surprise operation. An apathetic America gets involved on both sides. The fighting stops, but nothing is the same after 1988. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR - PART ONE "THIS WILL BE EASY" 24.02.2026

This terrible war, fought in the 1980's, changed everything. Both in the Middle East, and America. We tell the story in two parts. We are part of Airwave Media network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GORSUCH'S ROLLERCOASTER, BARRETT'S BABYSITTER, SUPREME COURT AND TARIFFS 23.02.2026

A bit about the recent Court decision, with a note about the concurrences of Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, which agreed with each other on the decision merits but warred on the reasons why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RONALD REAGAN REDUX: Thoughts Before I Re-Run The 12 Part Reagan Series 23.02.2026

For my 20th year, I'm replaying the most popular series I've done, a look at Ronald Reagan in 12 episodes. Before I do that, I have few thoughts about what might have been left out of that huge undertaking, and one new item that wasn't available when it was recorded a decade ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RONALD REAGAN PART ONE: "RAWHIDE IS OK" 19.02.2026

Replay from 2016 First in our series on Ronald Reagan that will have twelve episodes. The Presidency we discuss almost didn't happen. A look at the attempt on Reagan's life, his first year and why the shooting was not an unimportant incident of his Presidency but directly connected to his performance in the first year. We also go over the Dozen Ronald Reagans Concept - that there are twelve differ...

MCMXCIII: Bill Clinton's Year One (2nd part) 19.02.2026

Healthcare, Bosnia and Belief In The President. All are in doubt. The second part of our series on Bill Clinton's first year, 1993. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MCMXCIII: Bill Clinton's 1993 - Part One 18.02.2026

It's 1993. A new President jogs through his first year, with an unexperienced staff and a hostile White House press corps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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