America: The Story of the USA
Liam Heffernan | A Mercury Podcast
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This is a deep-dive guide to how the United States became what it is today - politically, culturally, and socially. It unpacks pivotal moments, defining conflicts, influential leaders, and overlooked voices that shaped the nation's identity. Designed for curious listeners, students, educators, and lifelong learners, the series blends accessible storytelling with historically grounded insight. Made in partnership with the British Association for American Studies.
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In the Making: AI and the Threat of Human Extinction 17.09.2026 1t 10minThis week, as a senior staffer at Anthropic - the owner of Chat GPT - sparks fears that robots could wipe out the human race, we discuss the advancement of AI and why every country except the USA appears to want to do something about it. Plus, the Kennedy Centre shuts its doors for two years for renovation work, and the Supreme Court has rejected President Trump's proposed restrictions on mail-in ballots, including the creation of a national voter list. And, Mitch McConnell rises from the alleged dead and returns to the Senate after three months. To discuss this, I am joined by SCOTUS and US Constitution expert Emma Long from the University of East Anglia, and tech expert Will Guyatt. . JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . 02:23 - SCOTUS strike down Trump's mail-in vote changes 12:39 - The Kennedy Centre closes 19:42 - Is AI about to take over the world? 42:04 - The AI and the US Constitution 59:18 - Mitch McConnell Rises! . News Sources: Kennedy Center board vote to close for renovations: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trumps-handpicked-kennedy-center-board-votes-close-venue-renovations-rcna597921 Trump attacks SCOTUS after they shoot down his mail-in vote restrictions: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yjpdy4gjlo Mitch McConnell returns: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/14/mitch-mcconnell-return-senate Russia and China AI misuse: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/anthropic-says-russian-and-chinese-threat-actors-used-claude-as-a-weapons-engineering-assistant-for-drone-swarming-and-more/ar-AA2c2cjA?ocid=BingNewsSerp . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Who is President William Howard Taft? 15.09.2026 1t 1minWilliam Taft is one of the most unusual figures in American presidential history - a man who never really wanted to be president, but who nonetheless shaped the office in ways that still matter today. He was a jurist at heart, a reluctant politician, a colonial administrator, and a president whose leadership style defied the expectations of the Progressive Era. His life took him from Cincinnati to the Philippines, from the White House to the Supreme Court, and from political frustration to personal fulfilment. Today, we explore Taft’s early years, his rise through law and public service, his complex presidency, his role in America’s imperial project, his surprising influence on sport and presidential culture, and the legacy he left behind, as I’m asking… who is former President William Howard Taft? . Special Guests: Adam Burns, Head of Politics at Brighton College. Adam’s research focuses on Taft’s involvement in the Philippines and American empire, and on Taft’s leadership as a template for how presidents engage with sport. . Join our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . Reading List: William Howard Taft: An Intimate History by Judith Icke Anderson: https://www.amazon.com/William-Howard-Taft-Intimate-History/dp/0393030253 The Life of William Howard Taft by Henry F. Pringle: https://www.amazon.com/Life-William-Howard-Taft-Pringle/dp/0405121957 Taft by Jeffrey Rosen: https://www.amazon.com/Taft-Jeffrey-Rosen/dp/0812974881 Our Chief Magistrate and His Powers by William Howard Taft: https://www.amazon.com/Chief-Magistrate-His-Powers/dp/0231101284 The Imperial Cruise by James Bradley: https://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Cruise-Secret-History-Empire/dp/0316014001 The Blood of Government: Race, Empire, the United States, and the Philippines by Paul A. Kramer: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Government-Empire-Philippines-American/dp/0807858630 Benevolent Assimilation: The American Conquest of the Philippines by Stuart Creighton Miller: https://www.amazon.com/Benevolent-Assimilation-American-Conquest-Philippines/dp/0300030812 The American Colonial State in the Philippines by Julian Go & Anne Foster: https://www.amazon.com/American-Colonial-State-Philippines-Global/dp/0822330394 The President’s First Pitch: How Taft Started a Tradition by William J. Ryczek: https://www.amazon.com/Presidents-First-Pitch-Baseball-Tradition/dp/078647842X Sports and the American Presidency by Travis Vogan: https://www.amazon.com/Sports-American-Presidency-Travis-Vogan/dp/0815380975 The Games Presidents Play by John Sayle Watterson: https://www.amazon.com/Games-Presidents-Play-Sports-White/dp/0807858851 The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism by Doris Kearns Goodwin: https://www.amazon.com/Bully-Pulpit-Theodore-Roosevelt-Journalism/dp/141654786X The Age of Reform by Richard Hofstadter: https://www.amazon.com/Age-Reform-From-Bryan-F-D-R/dp/039470949X The Triumph of Conservatism by Gabriel Kolko: https://www.amazon.com/Triumph-Conservatism-Reinterpreted-American-History/dp/0029166500 Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris: https://www.amazon.com/Theodore-Rex-Edmund-Morris/dp/0812966007 Colonel Roosevelt by Edmund Morris: https://www.amazon.com/Colonel-Roosevelt-Edmund-Morris/dp/0375756937 The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris: https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Theodore-Roosevelt-Edmund-Morris/dp/0375756783 Chief Justice Taft by David Burton: https://www.amazon.com/Chief-Justice-Taft-David-Burton/dp/0809313403 The Supreme Court in the Progressive Era by William G. Ross: https://www.amazon.com/Supreme-Court-Progressive-Era-1900-1920/dp/0313264941 The Republic for Which It Stands by Richard White: https://www.amazon.com/Republic-Which-Stands-Transformation-1865-1920/dp/0199735816 The War of 1898: The United States and Cuba by Louis A. Pérez Jr.: https://www.amazon.com/War-1898-United-States-Cuba/dp/0807845081 America’s Empire by Andrew J. Bacevich: https://www.amazon.com/American-Empire-Andrew-J-Bacevich/dp/0674006713 . Highlights: 02:26 - The Right State at the Right Time 06:34 - Law and Politics 12:45 - The Phillipines... and Back Again 19:50 - Teddy's Choice 24:44 - The Beginning of the End 31:17 - A Fractured GOP 33:38 - Taft and Sport 42:41 - A Doomed Re-Election Bid 48:12 - Chief Justice Taft 53:45 - What We Get Wrong About Taft . Contact us: [email protected] Team SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Brands & advertisers: [email protected] . Credits: Producer - Liam Heffernan Host - Liam Heffernan Editor - Liam Heffernan In Partnership with the British Association for American Studies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Study Notes: The Events of 9/11 11.09.2026 11minAmerica: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today: the events of 9/11 - what happened that morning, the immediate aftermath, and the consequences that shaped the United States and the world in the 25 years since. . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
In the Making: Trump and the AfD 10.09.2026 55minThis week, as Germany's far right AfD party win crucial state elections, we discuss Trump's celebration and how the MAGA blueprint is being used around the world to normalise extremism in politics. Plus, Trump has created his own map of the world, and it's not great news for Greenland and Iceland. And Lonnie Bunch is the latest high profile figure to be forced out of post by the current administration, leaving the Smithsonian after 38 years. To discuss this, I am joined by Alyssa Royse, gym owner, writer, caller-outer of BS, common sense advocate, and all round lovely person. . JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . 01:22 - Trump Admits to High Oil Prices 02:52 - Lonnie Bunch Leaves the Smithsonian 08:25 - Trump's Map of the World 14:59 - Trump and the AfD 46:11 - Oysters in New York . News Sources: Lonnie Bunch leaves The Smithsonian: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/lonnie-bunch-smithsonian-leader-to-retire-amid-trump-criticism/ar-AA2bOuar?ocid=BingNewsSerp Trump Maps: https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/trumps-map-making-social-media-stirs-controversy-north-136273860 New America: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117225349620809512 Saving the planet with oysters: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/3-million-oysters-eaten-by-new-yorkers-are-rebuilding-the-citys-reefs/ Billion Oyster Project: https://www.billionoysterproject.org/ . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Why is Psycho So Scary? 08.09.2026 50minDisclaimer: there may be short blips of incoherent sound in this episode. Please bear with us. . When Psycho premiered in 1960, audiences had never seen anything like it. Alfred Hitchcock - already one of the world’s most prolific directors - released a low‑budget, black‑and‑white thriller that shocked critics, electrified audiences, and permanently changed the rules of American cinema. The film’s infamous shower scene, its brutal narrative twists, and its psychological intensity helped redefine what horror could be. But Psycho wasn’t just scary because of what was on screen. It was scary because of how Hitchcock marketed it, how it tapped into real‑world anxieties, and how it drew inspiration from the crimes of a real life monster, still fresh in the public imagination. So today, on the anniversary of its theatrical release, we explore why Psycho gained immediate notoriety, how it executed and reinvented horror conventions, and why it remains one of the most frightening and influential films ever made, as I ask… why is Psycho so scary? . Special Guests: Stephen Rebello, whose book Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho is the definitive account of how the film came to be. Buy the book now: https://a.co/d/09caklxY . Join our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . Reading List: Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho by Stephen Rebello . Highlights: 02:29 - Throwing Out the Rulebook 09:04 - A Master of Suspense 14:03 - A Blueprint for Horror Marketing 21:55 - 3 Melons = Untimely Death 29:04 - Ed Gein 39:13 - Psycho's Legacy . Contact us: [email protected] Team SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Brands & advertisers: [email protected] . Credits: Producer - Liam Heffernan Host - Liam Heffernan Editor - Liam Heffernan In Partnership with the British Association for American Studies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Study Notes: The Presidents - John Tyler (1841 - 1845) 04.09.2026 11minAmerica: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today: the tenth President of the United States, John Tyler - his unexpected rise to the presidency, his turbulent time in office, his key achievements and controversies, and his lasting legacy. . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
In the Making: Trump Taking Oil and People Giving Pizza 03.09.2026 51minThis week, Donald Trump renames Lake Ontario to Lake America, and though nobody is going with it, Google and Apple have both updates their maps. Trump received good news from the Supreme Court, who have allowed construction of his $400m ballroom to continue. Meanwhile, the US are yoinking over 60 billion barrels of oil from Venezuela, and they should be gosh darn grateful about it. And Amazon face a lawsuit from 22 states over allegedly inflating their ad rates and raking in tens of billions of dollars more than they should. To discuss this, I am joined by Alyssa Royse, gym owner, writer, caller-outer of BS, common sense advocate, and all round lovely person. . JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . 01:18 - Lake Ontario or Lake America? 05:57 - SCOTUS Give Thumbs Up to Ballroom 15:04 - Naughty Amazon 27:13 - Venezuelan Oil 41:17 - Pizza Philanthrophy . News Sources: Executive Order Renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/08/honoring-the-american-history-of-the-great-lakes-and-renaming-lake-ontario-as-lake-america-3a36/ Ballroom construction can continue: https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/08/supreme-court-allows-construction-on-white-house-ballroom-to-continue/ 22 States Sue Amazon: https://themediaonline.co.za/2026/09/ftc-and-22-us-states-sue-amazon-over-alleged-secret-advertising-price-inflation/ Venezuelan Oil: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/trump-venezuela-oil-us-president-b3041501.html Pizza with a Purpose: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/florida-teens-design-charity-app-to-help-generous-locals-deliver-pizza-for-a-purpose/ . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
What is the UN? 01.09.2026 54minThe United Nations was born out of catastrophe - a world shattered by war, genocide, and the collapse of international order, and it was on this very day in 1945, that the US senate ratified the UN Charter. This new institution, in the wake of the Second World War, that promised collective security, human rights, and global cooperation. For decades, the UN and the U.S. were intertwined: American leadership shaped peacekeeping, development, humanitarian action, and the rules of the post‑war world. But the relationship has never been simple. It has swung between idealism and frustration, partnership and tension, global ambition and domestic politics. Today, as the UN faces new crises and the U.S. reconsiders its role, we look back at how this relationship began, how it evolved, and why it matters. So in this episode, I’m asking… what is the United Nations? . Special Guests: Thomas G. Weiss, one of the world’s foremost experts on the United Nations, humanitarian intervention, and global governance. . Join our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . Reading List: What’s Wrong with the United Nations and How to Fix It by Thomas Weiss: https://a.co/d/023mkHow Humanitarian Intervention (War and Conflict in the Modern World) by Thomas Weiss: https://a.co/d/0fXKXmKQ The United Nations and Changing World Politics by Thomas Weiss: https://a.co/d/0eX10DWI Would the World Be Better Without the UN? By Thomas Weiss: https://a.co/d/0heH7o4O UN Charter in the National Archives: https://www.archives.gov UN History Timeline: https://www.un.org/en/sections/history-united-nations U.S. Mission to the United Nations: https://usun.usmission.gov A World at Risk: The UN and Threats to Global Security, UN University Press The United Nations: A Very Short Introduction by Jussi Hanhimäki: https://a.co/d/06l19a3H The Parliament of Man by Paul Kennedy: https://a.co/d/09z0jRiO U.S. Senate ratification records (October 24, 1945): https://www.senate.gov UN Security Council archives: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil . Highlights: 02:06 - The Birth of the UN 07:43 - The Core Values 10:18 - America's Role in the UN 16:19 - The Cold War 22:48 - Keeping the Peace 31:06 - How Much Money Does America Give the UN? 37:20 - What Does the US Get from the UN? 42:44 - Running Down the Clock . Contact us: [email protected] Team SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Brands & advertisers: [email protected] . Credits: Producer - Liam Heffernan Host - Liam Heffernan Editor - Liam Heffernan In Partnership with the British Association for American Studies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Study Notes: Dolly Parton 28.08.2026 9minAmerica: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today: Dolly Parton - the life of a woman whose music, generosity, and spirit shaped American culture for more than half a century. Dolly passed away this week, and today we’re taking time to honour her story, her work, and the legacy she leaves behind. . Contact us: [email protected] Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Brand & advertising enquiries: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
In the Making: Natalie Harp, Canada, and Trump's War on Visas 27.08.2026 50minJOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . This week, Donald Trump tries to revoke 200,000 Visa applications, targeting those seeking asylum in the US, and his trade war with Canada heats up after Prime Minister Mark Carney imposes retaliatory tariffs. Plus, I speak with Marcia Chatelain about her new book, looking at the women behind the historic March on Washington 63 years ago. Buy it here: https://a.co/d/0fC6zeGF Joining me this week is a virtual audience of SOTUS listeners as we record the podcast live. To hear about our next live recording before anyone else, join the SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . 01:53 - Who is Natalie Harp? 05:49 - The Midterms Explained 09:59 - The Largest Visa Revocation in History 16:45 - The US-Canada Trade War 21:31 - Marcia Chatelain and Her New Book 43:28 - Join the Next SOTUS Live Recording . News Sources: Mass visa revocation: https://apnews.com/article/trump-rubio-visas-revoke-e9c14fdfd0ada439d2b9d8694e678a46? Trade War with Canada: https://apnews.com/article/trump-canada-tariffs-senate-2026-campaign-c3d2461184a2b8656abd01376452e0d5 How Bright the Path Grows: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the March on Washington by Marcia Chatelain: https://a.co/d/0fC6zeGF Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America by Marcia Chatelain: https://a.co/d/00HXZIwX . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
What is the Supreme Court Term, and Why Does it Matter? 25.08.2026 59minThe Supreme Court term is the annual rhythm of American constitutional life - nine justices, a docket of cases, and decisions that can reshape law, politics, and everyday life. This year’s term produced headline rulings and quieter doctrinal shifts: questions about presidential power, the reach of federal agencies, the rights of transgender people, and immigration enforcement. It also renewed debate about the Court’s “shadow docket” - emergency orders and summary decisions that shape policy without full briefing or oral argument. These developments matter not just in Washington: they reverberate across democracies, including here in the UK, where debates about judicial review, executive discretion, and rights are very much alive. So today we’ll explain what it is, unpack the big cases and themes, and ask what the Court’s choices mean for politics, law, and democracy, as I ask… what is the Supreme Court term, and why does it matter? . Special Guests: Emma Long, Associate Professor in American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia, and an expert on the Supreme Court. . Join our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . Reading List: Supreme Court of the United States - Official Opinions and Orders: https://www.supremecourt.gov SCOTUSblog - Term coverage and case pages: https://www.scotusblog.com “Shadow Docket” explainer - Brennan Center for Justice: https://www.brennancenter.org . Highlights: 02:29 - How the Supreme Court Works 06:09 - The Chosen Ones 09:56 - The Biggest Cases of Last Term 13:57 - The Shadow Docket 23:14 - Exercising Authority Over the President 28:11 - Gaming the System 32:36 - Roll Over 40:59 - Setting an Example for Other Countries 47:26 - Impartiality in the Supreme Court . Contact us: [email protected] Team SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Brands & advertisers: [email protected] . Credits: Producer - Liam Heffernan Host - Liam Heffernan Editor - Liam Heffernan In Partnership with the British Association for American Studies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Study Notes: What Qualifications Do You Need to Run for Office in the US? 21.08.2026 9minAmerica: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today: what qualifications do you need to run for office in the United States? From the President to local city councils, we’ll break down the eligibility rules, how they’ve changed over time, and which offices are the hardest - and easiest - to run for. . Contact us: [email protected] Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Brand & advertising enquiries: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
In the Making: Lindsay Clancy and America's Live Courtroom Obsession 20.08.2026 1t 10minJOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . This week, as Trump continues to put his name on or build a wall through everything he touches, the Lindsay Clancy has gripped the nation, so we take a closer look at live courtroom coverage in America, and the impact this can have on both the trial and the people involved. Joining me this week is Emma Long, Associate Professor in American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia. . 02:09 - The Trump, Not Trump, Sort Of Trump Kennedy Center 10:28 - Big Bend Border Wall 18:30 - Lindsay Clancy 44:58 - Florida Governor Race . News Sources: Kennedy Center votes to put Trump’s name back on the building: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/13/politics/kennedy-center-board-vote Construction of border wall halted: https://apnews.com/article/trump-border-big-bend-national-park-immigration-c8439ceed11ff5e7f3ca95fa0003327b Trump wants to end roadless rules in national forests: https://apnews.com/article/roadless-rule-forests-trump-e80a41e0231aa070313a3484261368f3 Lindsay Clancy 101: https://www.biography.com/crime/a71603379/who-is-lindsay-clancy-duxbury-murder-trial Florida sets up Trump Backed-Donalds Against Former Republican Jolly in Gubernatorial Race: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/18/florida-primary-results-governor-senate . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
How Did Four American Musicians Outwit the KGB? 18.08.2026 50minIn 1985, four young American musicians travelled to Moscow with saxophones, sheet music, and a secret plan. They were members of the Klezmer Conservatory Band - talented, idealistic, and completely untrained in espionage. Yet under the watchful eye of the KGB, they embarked on a covert mission to smuggle information out of the Soviet Union and help Jewish Refuseniks escape oppression. Their hotel rooms were bugged, they were tailed by police, and every conversation carried risk. But through music, coded messages, and sheer nerve, they succeeded. Forty years later, one of the Klezmer musicians is telling their remarkable story. So today, we explore their mission, the danger they faced, the lives they changed, and why this story is being told now, as I’m asking… how Did Four American Musicians Outwit the KGB? . Special Guests: Merryl Goldberg, currently a Professor in the School of Arts at California State University San Marcos, but she was also the saxophonist and cipher-creator for the KCB quartet that entered the Soviet Union in 1985. Vince Houghton, co-author of Notes of Deception, Director of the National Security Agency's National Cryptologic Museum and the former Historian and Curator of the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. . Join our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . Reading List: Notes of Deception: How a Quartet of American Musicians Outwitted the KGB – The Untold Russian History of a Daring Cold War Mission by Merryl Goldberg and Vince Houghton: https://a.co/d/0gAn20cB . Highlights: 02:44 - Cuckoo Crazy 08:04 - In Too Deep 16:50 - Music as Code 24:45 - We Need You Here 30:02 - Meryl Versus KGB 35:15 - People Need to be Advocates 39:25 - What Happened to the Refuseniks? . Contact us: [email protected] Team SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Brands & advertisers: [email protected] . Credits: Producer - Liam Heffernan Host - Liam Heffernan Editor - Liam Heffernan In Partnership with the British Association for American Studies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Study Notes: What Does an American Education Look Like? 14.08.2026 9minAmerica: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today: What does an American education look like? From a child’s first day of school all the way to college graduation, we’ll break down how the system works, what the grade levels mean, how the school year is structured, and what qualifications students earn along the way. . Contact us: [email protected] Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Brand & advertising enquiries: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
In the Making: Meta, TikTok, and Internet Safety 13.08.2026 54minJOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . This week, as Meta are handed another fine, we take a closer look at what it means, and the wider issues around child safety on the internet... and why social media companies are actively trying to shut down legislation that could help. Plus, Trump's approval ratings continue to fall, the midterms heat up as more candidates are confirmed, and an art installation in Chicago reignites conversations about US monuments. Joining me this week is Corbin Trent, former comms guy for both AOC and Bernie Sanders, and now writer at America’s Undoing and the Founder of A Fight Worth Having. America's Undoing: https://www.americasundoing.com/ . 03:20 - Katie Hobbs 14:32 - Trump's Approval Rating 20:49 - Child Safety on the Internet 43:00 - Other Washingtons . News Sources: America’s Undoing: https://www.americasundoing.com/ Meta’s record child safety fine: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd7lz3wr2rlo Perez Hilton’s infamous livestream: https://thetab.com/2026/08/06/a-four-hour-911-call-and-hospital-updates-the-latest-details-we-know-about-perez-hilton How TikTok Failed to Act on Perez Hilton: https://www.vanityfair.com/story/perez-hilton-tiktok-livestream-policy?srsltid=AfmBOopxRRQ7Gu9G3bJj-C25b1P3r5zN2oHRaAT_Ui3sipVOy3Pk20Is Kids Online Safety Act: https://issueone.org/press/big-tech-companies-pump-more-than-51-million-into-lobbying-this-year-as-industry-seeks-to-thwart-passage-of-kids-online-safety-and-privacy-act/ Arizona Governor Race: https://apnews.com/article/katie-hobbs-john-giles-lieutenant-governor-arizona-3d7d3b6ed775c18025263d8d3c430f55 Chicago Monument Protest: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/11/style/chicago-washington-monument-amanda-williams Trump’s approval rating hits new low: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/08/11/trump-approval-rating-hits-new-low-latest-poll/91260164007/ . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Who is John Foster Dulles? 11.08.2026 56minJoin our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . John Foster Dulles was one of the most consequential, and controversial, figures in twentieth‑century American foreign policy. As Dwight Eisenhower’s Secretary of State, he helped define the architecture of the Cold War, but his story begins long before the Cold War. He was a lawyer, an international negotiator, a religious thinker, and a man whose worldview was forged by the trauma of two world wars and the rise of communism. His legacy is complex: admired by some as a principled strategist, criticised by others as rigid, moralistic, or overly confrontational. So in this episode, we explore his life, career, impact, and the debates surrounding his legacy, as I’m asking… who was John Foster Dulles? . Special Guest: Professor Bevan Sewell, a leading historian of U.S. foreign relations whose work examines American strategy, ideology, and global power in the twentieth century. . Reading List: The U.S. and the Global Cold War by Bevan Sewell & Scott Lucas (eds.): https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Global-Cold-War/dp/1472511520 Reassessing U.S. Foreign Policy During the Cold War by Bevan Sewell: https://www.amazon.com/Reassessing-U-S-Foreign-Policy-During/dp/1472511520 John Foster Dulles: A Biography by Townsend Hoopes: https://www.amazon.com/John-Foster-Dulles-Biography-Hoopes/dp/0060129514 The Life of John Foster Dulles by Robert Divine: https://www.amazon.com/Life-John-Foster-Dulles-Divine/dp/0393093500 Dulles: A Biography of Eleanor, Allen, and John Foster Dulles by Leonard Mosley: https://www.amazon.com/Dulles-Biography-Eleanor-Allen-Foster/dp/0802132084 The New Deal and the Triumph of Liberalism by Sidney Milkis & Jerome Mileur: https://www.amazon.com/New-Deal-Triumph-Liberalism-Milkis/dp/1558493741 Strategies of Containment by John Lewis Gaddis: https://www.amazon.com/Strategies-Containment-John-Lewis-Gaddis/dp/019517447X The Cold War: A New History by John Lewis Gaddis: https://www.amazon.com/Cold-War-New-History/dp/0143038273 The Eisenhower Era by Richard Damms: https://www.amazon.com/Eisenhower-Era-American-History/dp/1403945923 The Flawed Architect: Henry Kissinger and American Foreign Policy by Jussi Hanhimäki: https://www.amazon.com/Flawed-Architect-Kissinger-American-Foreign/dp/0195172213 The United States and the Origins of the Cold War by Thomas Paterson: https://www.amazon.com/United-States-Origins-Cold-1941-1947/dp/0393093500 The Most Dangerous Man in America? The Making of John Foster Dulles by Mark G. Thomas: https://www.amazon.com/Most-Dangerous-Man-America-Making/dp/0807835038 The Suez Crisis by Derek Varble: https://www.amazon.com/Suez-Crisis-1956-Essential-Histories/dp/184176189X The CIA and Covert Operations by John Prados: https://www.amazon.com/Presidents-Secret-Wars-Operations-World/dp/1560252285 Religion and American Foreign Policy by William Inboden: https://www.amazon.com/Religion-American-Foreign-Policy-1945-1960/dp/0521678263 Moral Crusades in Diplomacy by Robert McMahon: https://www.amazon.com/McMahon-Moral-Crusades-Diplomacy/dp/0300065304 The Cambridge History of the Cold War by Melvyn Leffler & Odd Arne Westad (eds.): https://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-History-Cold-War-Volume/dp/0521837192 The Global Cold War by Odd Arne Westad: https://www.amazon.com/Global-Cold-War-Third-Interventions/dp/052170314X The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers by Paul Kennedy: https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Fall-Great-Powers/dp/0679720197 . Highlights: 02:35 - Bred in the Bone 07:45 - Instinctively Conservative 14:03 - Dulles' Resume 18:21 - Massive Retaliation 24:36 - Dulles' Influence on Trump 29:23 - Embracing Decolonisation 32:42 - Not-So-Covert Operations 39:15 - Past Their Best 42:47 - Legacy . Contact us: [email protected] Team SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Brands & advertisers: [email protected] . Credits: Producer - Liam Heffernan Host - Liam Heffernan Editor - Liam Heffernan In Partnership with the British Association for American Studies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Study Notes: The Presidents - William Henry Harrison (1841) 07.08.2026 11minJOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today: the ninth President of the United States, William Henry Harrison - his election, his presidency, his key achievements and controversies, and his lasting legacy. . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
In the Making: Putting the ‘odd’ in Todd Blanche 06.08.2026 44minJOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . This week, we take a closer look at the imminent approval of Todd Blanche as the US' new Attorney General. Who is Trump's former personal lawyer, and what does his appointment mean for the US? Plus, the UFC have confirmed losses of $30 for hosting the White House event on Trump's birthday, while the federal appeals court has reversed climate program cuts, restoring billions of dollars in funding. Joining me this week is Sian Round, a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at Swansee University. . 01:42 - Climate funding restored 04:46 - US economic growth 10:18 - UFC White House Costs 16:45 - Todd Blanche: Attorney General 36:58 - Lifeguard Hero . News Sources: Federal appeals court throw out Trump’s climate cuts:https://apnews.com/article/epa-grants-climate-united-trump-36ad8c6684939a1788dd49979e0f3ad9 UFC loses $30 million on White House event: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/mixed-martial-arts/articles/ckgdky8d94eo US economy grows by 1.5%: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jul/30/us-economy-growth-inflation-second-quarter Todd Blanche nomination moves to full Senate vote: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2026/08/04/senate-judiciary-committee-approves-todd-blanche-as-ag-after-initial-delay/ 16 year old lifeguard saves 10 year old’s life: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/16-yo-rookie-lifeguard-leads-heroic-ocean-rescue-with-viral-video-of-harrowing-effort/ . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for Mercury, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Study Notes: The History of the Death Penalty 31.07.2026 11minAmerica: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today: The History of the Death Penalty in the United States - when it started, how it evolved, the major legal battles that shaped it, and the controversies that continue today. . Contact us: [email protected] Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Brand & advertising enquiries: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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