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

EXTRAS from the Airline Deregulation Story 01.08.2024

Stories of baseball, banking and love. More from our episode on airline deregulation. What was left on the legal pad and didn't make it into the episode.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2004: SWIFT BOATS AND PALM PILOTS: Part II of our Two-Part Series 24.07.2024

To match the faithful of the Bush campaign, the Kerry campaign builds the largest army of door knockers ever. Just like Team Bush, he thinks he has the election. But did he ever have a chance? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2004: BUSH AMWAY OHIO IDEA - Part I of Two-Part Series 22.07.2024

In part I of our look at the 2004 election, we look at things from the Bush Campaign side, where a revolutionary idea may or may not have helped the campaign win a troublesome state for them. In the last few days, they weren't sure. We are part of Airwave Media Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT w/ Richard Lim of "This American President" Podcast 24.06.2024

We are pleased to be joined by Richard Lim of This American President Podcast (www.thisamericanpresidentpodcast.com). He discusses William Howard Taft, his considerable accomplishments, his Presidency, his position as governor of the Philippines, and the considerable respect many had for him. We'll also discuss why more than just his weight should be remembered about him. Check out This American P...

YOU BREAK EVERYBODY'S BACK: The 1988 Presidential Election - Part 6, Theoretical Dukakis 16.06.2024

In our final episode of our six-part series on the 1988 Presidential Election, Vice President Bush has a lead over Mike Dukakis. It's close enough for a comeback though, and more than a few have suggestions for a different Dukakis message. A series of mistakes will doom the campaign. And that is the traditional way the story is told. But we suggest there they may been an invisible election going o...

YOU BREAK EVERYBODY'S BACK: The 1988 Presidential Election - Part 5, Squishy Lead 15.06.2024

Michael Dukakis secures the nomination, unifies his party and has a well-regarded convention. He's seventeen points ahead in the polls. Is it real? Even his own campaign staff thinks it may not be. A story in Reader's Digest is troubling. In New Orleans, Bush fires back, while dealing with questions about his choice for number two. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

YOU BREAK EVERYBODY'S BACK: The 1988 Presidential Election, Part 4 - Showdown In New York 14.06.2024

With a split southern primary day, the Democrats have no clear leader. Team Dukakis would like to have been thought of as the leader, but Illinois and Michigan spoiled that. Only one state can settle things. And the Big Three Democratic campaigns settle on New York. Millions of dollars, frenetic debates, subways and hot dogs. It's all fun and games until New York City's mayor gets involved. Meanwh...

YOU BREAK EVERYBODY'S BACK: The 1988 Presidential Election, Part 3 - Attack Videotape 13.06.2024

In the wake of a front-runner's withdrawal, the campaigns struggle to get traction and block rival campaigns. The best weapon. An attack videotape. A story of three attack videotapes. One sent to a reporter which took out a major player in the campaign. Another in the snows of New Hampshire that saved a candidate, and a third that kept a campaign alive. Also a video that was never sent that should...

YOU BREAK EVERYBODY'S BACK: The 1988 Presidential Election - Part 2 [You Slayed My Dragon] 12.06.2024

Gary Hart, the frontrunner in the Democratic side of the 1988 race, hits a major setback. Not only his he hurt, but so are all the people who wanted to have the chance to beat him. Now what? Jump Ball, says an aide of new candidate Joe Biden. Biden hopes to fill the gap, with his appeal to Baby Boomers will carry him forward. Al Gore enter the race, swinging at everyone. Dick Gephardt comes up wit...

YOU BREAK EVERYBODY'S BACK: The 1988 Presidential Election, Part 1 - Anybody's Race 11.06.2024

In our first episode of our series on the 1988 Presidential Election: a cornfield prognosticator, men of the cloth, a young upstart, a senator with big glasses, a casino king, a prince of the polls and more than a few watching from the outside, thinking about maybe getting in. Who will succeed Reagan? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The UK GENERAL ELECTION 2024, w/Steve Byrne 26.05.2024

The UK has a surprisingly early general election this year, one that will rap up on July 4th, oddly. We talk to former host of What Am Politics Podcast Steve Byrne to give us all the insights of what's going on. Plus, the UK's surprising historical election, 1992 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

VACCINES THEN AND NOW 22.05.2024

Vaccine history, acceptance and denial. The man who saved Boston and never got credit.  Law and the citizen and medicine.  FDR's polio - if it was polio - and what it meant for America. From 2014, with an update for our times. And we encourage all - Get your COVID-19 shot when eligible.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ONCE UPON A TIME IN WESTMINSTER: A Tale of British Politics 08.05.2024

 a story of 1970's British politics. A change in country is behind every corner of the smoking room, every staircase, and every pint of ale. On benches red and green, members make moves. A pipe-smoker, a yacht champion, a grocer's daughter a former (maybe current?) spy. We are part of Airwave Media Podcast Network To advertise: sales@advertisecast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...

HIGH NOON IN TRENTON - John Adams Takes a Stand w/ Jerry Landry of The Presidencies of The United States Podcast 29.04.2024

With Jerry Landry of The Presidencies of The United States Podcast [https://www.presidenciespodcast.com/] we talk about a decisive point in John Adam's presidency where the capital moved to Trenton, and Adams had gone to Massachusetts. He comes back to take a decisive stand that will mean a lot for the history of the U.S. Presidency. Jerry's show can be found at - https://www.presidenciespodcast.c...

Why Do NEBRASKA AND MAINE Vote for President The Way They Do? And Other Esoterica of The 2020 Election 27.04.2024

We look at the Maine and Nebraska congressional district system of Presidential elector assignment and its history as both the NE2 and ME2 went for different candidates than the statewide winner for the first time in history. That and other 2020 Election thoughts.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

STUDENT LOANS; A History of Ed Financing in the United States 05.03.2024

Re running this episode from 2022. There's been no letdown in the relevancy of this topic since then. College costs have been an issue since the founding of the Republic, as we discuss in this issue, And equally, the desire to provide education to young minds has been strong. What's different about the era we live in is that college is closely associated with debt. Debt that cannot be removed by b...

1980 - HOSTAGE MOM GOES TO IRAN 27.12.2023

Fed up with the US government's efforts to rescue her son being held hostage, Barbara Timm, mother of a Marine guard at the US Embassy at Iran, goes directly to Tehran. We tell her story. We are part of Airwave Media Network Advertise? advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WHISTLESTOP TRAIN CAMPAIGNS w/ Edward Segal 26.12.2023

With Edward Segal, author of Whistle-Stop Politics, we talk about the unique method of campaigning for President - by train. And why it's not just a thing of the past. See more about Edward's book here: https://edwardsegal.com/whistle-stop-politics/ We are part of Airwave Media Network For more train politics stories, more 1988 election stories, and other things, join our Patreon - http://www.patr...

Update on UK Politics with Stephen Byrne 24.12.2023

We talk to Stephen Byrne, host of Whats Am Politics about events in the United Kingdom with some contrasts to politics in the United States. In the UK currently, the government is very unpopular but there's nothing they or anyone else can do about it for at least six months, and probably a year. Meanwhile, a man labelled 'Mr. Boring' might become the country's leader. And a major third party in Pa...

THE JACKSONIANS and Their Role in Today's Politics - John Ellis 18.12.2023

We talk with John Ellis of News Corp, NBC, Boston Globe and currently at news-items.com, to discuss his theory on today's politics. Jacksonians, a group of people who behave in ways the media has misjudged are the force beyond today's polls numbers. We also took a bit about calling states for networks in elections, something Ellis had a role in in the 2000 election. Learn more about your ad choice...

TRUSTBUSTING, A HISTORY 12.12.2023

A look at the histories and realities of breaking up trusts, from T.R.'s era to the present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FLORIDA MAN; The Go-Go Governorship of Claude Kirk - Part III: A Certain Kind of Hari-Kari 03.11.2023

In our final episode on the first GOP governor of Florida since Reconstruction, Claude Kirk. Kirk's flamboyant style got him attention as a national political star in the late 1960's. But three particular actions he takes will trap him and make his future difficult. Music by Lee Rosevere and Revolution Void from Free Music Archive. We are part of Airwave Media Want to advertise? - advertising@airw...

JEFFERSON AND ADAMS 02.11.2023

A look at the famous series of letters between Jefferson and Adams. Friends as young diplomats, they 'unfriended' and 'refriended' from the time of their Presidencies and politics to their old age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FLORIDA MAN: The Go-Go Governorship of Claude Kirk - Part II: Boo Me! 02.11.2023

In his first and second years as an improbable GOP Governor in the South in the 1960's Kirk, tries out a new type of politics, at least new to the Sunshine State: confrontation. Equally with protestors, strikers, and polluters, he confronts them straight on. He also makes a miscalculation that will hurt his rep while he's winning a political victory. We are part of Airwave Media Network Want to ad...

FLORIDA MAN: The Go-Go Governorship of Claude Kirk - Part I: Flashbulbs 02.11.2023

 In the late 1960's the first GOP governor of Florida since Reconstruction found himself elected with no support in the legislature. He had only a microphone and so he used direct confrontation, insults, press-bashing and other tactics to get elected and get his way. Rather than let things be he took on left-wing hippies and right wing segregationists alike in the early part of his term. He aimed...

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