Bruce Carlson

My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

History EN ↓ 381 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

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: myhistorycanbeatupyourpolitics.wordpress.com

Author

Bruce Carlson

Category

History

Latest episode

Oct 12, 2026

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Episodes

OVER NIAGARA IN A PICKLE BARREL, TALKING BIRDS AND HIDDEN SUBWAYS - Bruce on Useless Information Podcast 30.08.2024

Bruce was on the Useless Information Podcast Fascinating True Stories from the Flip Side of History go subscribe to Useless Information Podcast and visit its website for more stories at - https://uselessinformation.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION and America with Will Clark of "Grey History: The French Revolution and Napoleon Podcast" 30.08.2024

In this episode, I talk to fellow Airwave Media podcaster Will Clark of Grey History about the French Revolution and how it shaped American history, how American politicians reacted to it at the time, 100 years ago, and today. We also get into 'grey areas' of the French Revolution: things that we think about it that may be wrong, exaggerated, or even right on target. ABOUT GREY HISTORY Grey Histor...

WHAT WOULD CICERO SAY? Interview with Professor Rob Goodman of Ryerson University on Speech Issues, Modern and Ancient 30.08.2024

Through most of American history, calling someone a Cicero was the highest democratic honor. John Adams wrote of the Roman orator, that “as all the ages of the world have not produced a greater statesman and philosopher united in the same character, his authority should have great weight.” Thomas Jefferson said Cicero was “the father of eloquence and philosophy” John Quincy Adams dramatically said...

100 YEARS AGO TODAY - A Look at 1924 With Jon Blackwell 14.08.2024

With Jon Blackwell, Wall Street Journal Editor and creator of the Twitter handle 100 Years Ago News, we discuss significant news stories of 1924 that have meaning for today - especially Tea Pot Dome, Coolidge, The 103-Ballot Democratic Convention, and the Klan. Jon is also the author of Notorious New Jersey.  Follow Jon on Twitter at - @100YearsAgoNews Support the Podcast on Patreon: www.patreon.c...

RACE AND WORLD WAR I: W.E.B. DuBois and The Wounded World w/ Chad L. Williams 07.08.2024

In 1917, the most prominent spokesperson for African Americans, W.E.B. DuBois, shocked many when he threw his support behind enthusiastic and patriotic participation in World War I. He thought it was the key to expanding rights and treatment for African Americans. He was only to be later disappointed by the treatment of soldiers in France, the treatment of veterans when they came home, and the rev...

The Underrated Patrick Henry 06.08.2024

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!  When Henry said it, he might have been committing treason. Yet the words also made him famous and indicated his superior bravery and patriotism to his country. The trouble is, that's often all he's remembered for. But without Henry the Revolution may not have succeeded and the Constitution may not look like it does. We get into why. From a 2017 int...

TRUMAN VS. STARK PRIMARY 04.08.2024

We almost had no Harry S. Truman as President, except that he was able to beat a tough opponent in a primary, with his typical outworking handshaking and self-driving campaign. Head to https://www.homeaglow.com/MYHIST to get your first 3 hours of cleaning for only $19. Thanks so much to Homeaglow for sponsoring this episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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...

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