My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

Episodes

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  JULIA TYLER DEBATE and Other Stories 22.10.2026 27m

  In the run up to the Civil War, former first lady Julia Tyler participated in a political debate. Moderns will appreciate her participation in politics as an empowered well written woman. Her cause less so. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  TEDDY'S TEST: THE 1902 MIDTERM ELECTIONS 19.10.2026 40m

  A normal midterm with its usual issues between the parties becomes a test for a new President when a labor strike unexpectedly reaches his desk. The opposition party gains, but so does his. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  HERBERT HOOVER'S STRANGE MIDTERM OF 1930 15.10.2026 29m

  Hoover did a difficult thing. He beat back challenges and his party won control. Until a string of congressional deaths changed the picture. The 72nd Congress of 1931 was, as elected, a very narrow Republican , House 218 R - 217 D. Close, but for President Hoover, good enough. That is until, 14 Congressmen-elect died. Not all at once -- that would be weird -- it was over 13 months, for all kinds of reasons but heart attacks and pneumonias leading the list. When special elections were held, it went 218 D and 216 R. 1 Farm Laborer supported the Democrats so final was 219-216. We talk about this curious case. We also talk about the 14 Congressmen-elect who had some interesting biographies. And we talk Herbert Hoover and the spin he (tried to) put on The Great Depression. We are part of Airwave Media Podcast Network. www.airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  OBSCURE (BUT IMPORTANT) MIDTERMS 1886, 1914, 1898 12.10.2026 45m

  Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson and William McKinley's midterm elections are not remembered. But each one changed history in its own way. One confined a President, the other changed a party. And the third may have cemented America's place in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  HOW BOOMERS WERE VIEWED IN 1966 06.10.2026 16m

  Strange, introspective, radical, achieving, protesting, scoffing. These words could all be used in TIME magazine's Men and Women of The Year to describe late Silents and Boomers. We look at this, and then a 90s Atlanta Constitutional article on Generation X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  REFUSING A CROWN? WASHINGTON AND HIS DECISION w/ RICHARD LIM OF THIS AMERICAN PRESIDENT 01.10.2026 38m

  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 a Crown is the first book to place Washington’s decisions within the sweeping Western shift from monarchy to republic, showing why that transition was anything but inevitable. Drawing on the Judeo-Christian moral tradition and the political inheritance from Great Britain, Refusing a Crown reveals how early Americans sought to build a republic strong enough to govern real people—not an idealized political fantasy. At a time when Americans once again argue about leadership, power, and the future of self-government, one figure continues to stand apart: George Washington. Across the political spectrum—from Donald Trump to Joe Biden—leaders still invoke him as the ultimate measure of political greatness. Refusing a Crown reveals why.Washington’s most extraordinary achievement was not winning the Revolutionary War or helping found a new nation. It was something far rarer: He gave up power—twice. First, when he resigned his command after victory. Then again, when he stepped down as president, establishing a precedent no law required and no force could compel. In an age dominated by kings and emperors, Washington chose restraint—and in doing so, he helped define the American experiment. Book (Preorder):https://www.amazon.com/Refusing-Crown-George-Washington-Changed/dp/1645721280 Website:https://www.richardmlim.com/ This American President:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thisamericanpresidentX: https://x.com/ThisAmerPresFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThisAmerPres/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisamericanpresident LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-l-4116094/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  "I WILL TELL YOU WHAT THE NEWS IS" OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, EIGHTH AND FINAL 30.09.2026 1h 15m

  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 Bennett to Drudge, we look at these innovators. And we talk about today's media innovation. All of us, and our politicians as media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  COXEY'S ARMY, MEDIA AND OTHER THINGS WITH JERRY SPENCER 28.09.2026 34m

  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 Pulitzer's papers fueled the story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  MIDTERMS DONT ALWAYS GO BADLY FOR PRESIDENTS: (But Mostly They Do) 27.09.2026 1h 22m

  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 did not. And a few times when they did, the result was very little real change or even a kind of win. A look at first term midterms during the Presidencies of Chester Arthur, Harding, FDR, GW Bush, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.  A combo of new and previously recorded MHCBUYP episodes reveals that while many first term midterms have devastated the President's plans, Presidents don't always do badly, there are 'stave' elections where Presidents have lost so little it's almost a win.  And sometimes, a defeat has positive effects.   Music by Josh Woodward and Lee Rosevere in this episode. Find them on the Free Music Archive website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  BIAS: OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, PART SEVEN 22.09.2026 53m

  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 news media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  ANDREW JACKSON'S MEDIA SPOILS: OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, PART SIX 17.09.2026 46m

  "To the victor goes the spoils" True of government jobs after a 19th century election. Also true of newspapers. Much of the spoils system perfected during Jackson's time helped newspaper publishers get ads, printing and postmaster jobs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  GIGGLE CLUB: FDR'S PRESS STRATEGY - OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, PART FIVE 14.09.2026 50m

  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 so seriously, my good man. FDR's Press relationship on this episode, and Wilson before him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  GRANT'S TROLL AND THE MAN IN THE CASTLE: OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, PART FOUR 08.09.2026 45m

  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 problematic press people. The renegade Grant critic Don Piatt, the FDR basher McCormick, Seward's pain and Lincoln's booster Medill, and the man who ran for President, Horace Greeley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  GET ME ON TV: OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC - PART THREE 03.09.2026 1h 6m

  TV technology arrives on the scene half press and half novelty. Politicians learn they can bring messages on at times that won't be critiqued. Yet twice, in big historic moments, the TV industry realizes it has to stop simply covering and speak for itself. These moments rare but pack a punch. Also, Kennedy, LBJ and their relationship with television and magazines. Mutual dependence and communications. Favors and frustration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  LINCOLN'S CRITIC: OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC - PART TWO 31.08.2026 46m

  The Battle of Chancellorsville. The Union has got the Confederates in their sights. But not for long. All the while, a reporter named Whitelaw Reid is tracking events. He's been kicked out of the coverage pool by the Union Army but that won't stop him. He rents a boat. And his readers love him for it. He won't hold back his opinions, especially about President Lincoln. Not because he's against the cause, because Reid is very much for it. Reid does not truck this idea of being objective. His readers love him for that, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, PART ONE 24.08.2026 1h 24m

  Eisenhower gets irritated. Lincoln finds a friend. Theodore Roosevelt seeks the truth at lunch. Madison sees talent. Greeley won't miss his dinner, despite the riots. And a man has a simple plan. He'll make a newspaper that won't dirty your table. Part One of Our Mediated Republic: a series on media in America and its role in creating political power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  20 YEARS OF MY HISTORY CAN BEAT UP YOUR POLITICS 20.08.2026 15m

  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. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  PROTEST: HOW CHANGE IS MADE -(From 2013) Montgomery Bus Boycott, Freedom Summer and Other Change Movements 20.08.2026 39m

  Does Protest work? Maybe, with other steps & factors. Looking at the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Freedom Summer, Mothers of the Disappeared and the American Revolution, we look at change, from despair to anger to moderation. These stories are used to answer the question – What does political change take? What numbers does it take? How do you know when it’s happening?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  PRESIDENTS AND MIDDLE EAST: 1979 US EMBASSY IN PAKISTAN INCIDENT 17.08.2026 22m

  A now forgotten incident about an attempt to have a second hostage crisis during the Carter administration, only narrowly averted by heroic of the embassy staff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  INFLATION: NIXON VERSUS PLYWOOD, LBJ AND COPPER 10.08.2026 28m

  Stories of Presidential inflation fighting and fund-raising that seem to have a similar ring to today's events, in this episode. Nixon's plans to cut housing costs by reducing prices on the key element of housing inspires timber companies but riles environmentalist. Johnson uses his air fleet to shuttle the right people around to get the price of electrical wiring down. Eisenhower, Reagan, Hoover and Clinton raise the gas tax. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices