THE "SEINFELD MIDTERM" OF 1990 AND THE "DISCO MIDTERM" OF 1978
There's an expectation that every midterm will be a wave. 2026 well could be, in line with 1994, 2014 or 2006. But it's not automatic. In th...
Radio and PodcastLive Radio & Podcasts
News & Politics
My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
Today's political debates, particularly on cable news, talk radio and blog comments can be limiting. In this podcast, Bruce Carlson applies as much history as possible to the politics of tod...
Episodes
20 of 359 episodes
WHAT WE SAID LAST MIDTERM ELECTION: The 2022 Midterm Result, and Listener Questions
4 years ago we said this... Call 2022 the Mick Jagger midterm - neither party got fully what they wanted. Both parties experienced win and l...
JULIA TYLER DEBATE and Other Stories
In the run up to the Civil War, former first lady Julia Tyler participated in a political debate. Moderns will appreciate her participation...
TEDDY'S TEST: THE 1902 MIDTERM ELECTIONS
A normal midterm with its usual issues between the parties becomes a test for a new President when a labor strike unexpectedly reaches his d...
HERBERT HOOVER'S STRANGE MIDTERM OF 1930
Hoover did a difficult thing. He beat back challenges and his party won control. Until a string of congressional deaths changed the picture....
HOW BOOMERS WERE VIEWED IN 1966
Strange, introspective, radical, achieving, protesting, scoffing. These words could all be used in TIME magazine's Men and Women of The Year...
REFUSING A CROWN? WASHINGTON AND HIS DECISION w/ RICHARD LIM OF THIS AMERICAN PRESIDENT
It's oft said that Washington refused a crown. With Richard Lim of This American President, we get real about this topic. His book Refusing...
"I WILL TELL YOU WHAT THE NEWS IS" OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, EIGHTH AND FINAL
In our final episode, we look at a few historic media that truly sought to tell readers not just the news, but what the news was. From Benne...
COXEY'S ARMY, MEDIA AND OTHER THINGS WITH JERRY SPENCER
A talk with Listener Jerry Spencer about Coxey's Army, which marched to DC during a depression in the 1890's. And also about how Hearst and...
MIDTERMS DONT ALWAYS GO BADLY FOR PRESIDENTS: (But Mostly They Do)
In the past 100 years, over 80% of the first term midterms went badly for Presidents, and their party lost seats. But in a few cases they di...
BIAS: OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, PART SEVEN
We've talked about who owns media, who writes it. Now will talk about the debates about what is in it? This episode is about bias in the new...
ANDREW JACKSON'S MEDIA SPOILS: OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, PART SIX
"To the victor goes the spoils" True of government jobs after a 19th century election. Also true of newspapers. Much of the spoils system pe...
GIGGLE CLUB: FDR'S PRESS STRATEGY - OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, PART FIVE
First rule is: Nobody talks about Giggle Club. Second. When he says no pencils, it's no pencils. Third. Get a buddy. Fourth. Don't take it s...
GRANT'S TROLL AND THE MAN IN THE CASTLE: OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, PART FOUR
Press has power. Can it be too much? Or is it needed to offset governmental power? We look at some interesting, powerful, and at times probl...
GET ME ON TV: OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC - PART THREE
TV technology arrives on the scene half press and half novelty. Politicians learn they can bring messages on at times that won't be critique...
LINCOLN'S CRITIC: OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC - PART TWO
The Battle of Chancellorsville. The Union has got the Confederates in their sights. But not for long. All the while, a reporter named Whitel...
OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, PART ONE
Eisenhower gets irritated. Lincoln finds a friend. Theodore Roosevelt seeks the truth at lunch. Madison sees talent. Greeley won't miss his...
20 YEARS OF MY HISTORY CAN BEAT UP YOUR POLITICS
It went by fast! Show update. We've reached a milestone. And a few things you can do if you are interested. Learn more about your ad choices...
PROTEST: HOW CHANGE IS MADE -(From 2013) Montgomery Bus Boycott, Freedom Summer and Other Change Movements
Does Protest work? Maybe, with other steps & factors. Looking at the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Freedom Summer, Mothers of the Disappeared and...
PRESIDENTS AND MIDDLE EAST: 1979 US EMBASSY IN PAKISTAN INCIDENT
A now forgotten incident about an attempt to have a second hostage crisis during the Carter administration, only narrowly averted by heroic...