This Day (An America 250 History Show)

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. www.youtube.com/@ThisDayPod Today, Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the increasingly addled nature of Trump's rallies; how Howard U is treatin...

We continue our look at the history of television ads in American elections. This episode, how ads got so negative, and who watches TV ads anymore anyway? 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 website: This...

As we wrap up our very informal "media ecosystem week" we take a look at the history of television ads in American elections. This episode, how Madison Avenue execs crafted the first ads for Eisenhower, and how the Johnson "Daisy" ad changed the game in 1964. This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcast...

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. www.youtube.com/@ThisDayPod Today, Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the coin-flip nature of the race, Barack Obama's scolding message to Black...

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...

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. Your suppo...

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. www.youtube.com/@ThisDayPod Today, Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss Liz Cheney's endorsement of Kamala Harris, whether notable endorsements ch...

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 Hi...

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 Hi...

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 p...

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...

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 in...

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 in...

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 suppor...

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...

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 di...

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,...

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 Esot...

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...

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 ignor...

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 hi...

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...

** 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...

** 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 ver...

** 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 ver...