The Road to Now

Episódios

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  #379 The Elections of 1874 (Midterm Elections Series #2) 05.10.2026 53min

  Most histories mark the 1876 Presidential election as the end of post-Civil War reconstruction, but the end of that era might have already been signaled when Democrats took control of the House of Representatives in the 1874 midterms.   Why was the party of secession able to regain so much power in the federal government less than a decade after the end of the Civil War? And how did the outcome of these elections lay the groundwork for the Compromise of 1877 and the restoration of white supremacy in the south? Jefferson Cowie returns to the show to help Ben and Bob answer these questions and more in a deep dive into the 1874 elections and the crucial role they played in shaping post-Civil War America. (Click here for the side-by-side comparison of the 1872 and 1874 election results discussed in the episode).   To learn more about the violence that took place in Barbour County in these years, pick up a copy of Jefferson Cowie's Pulitzer Prize winning book, Freedom's Dominion: A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power.   If you'd like to help Ben's fundraising effort to help The Store fight food insecurity in Tennessee, or get tickets to Nashville's Got Talent on October 22, just go to RTNpod.me/thestore.     This is part 2 of our midterm election series, in which we look at some of the most consequential congressional elections in American history. With the midterms of 2026 just around the corner, we hope these episodes will put things in context and convince you that midterm elections are just as, and sometimes more important, than the Presidential elections that only roll around every 4 years. If you enjoy this conversation, make sure to listen to our first episode in the series on 1858 in episode 378.    This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.
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  #378 The Elections of 1858 (Midterm Elections Series #1) 28.09.2026 48min

  Would Kansas be admitted as a slave state? Would the US purchase Cuba from Spain (and perhaps admit it as another slave state)? And what could be done in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling in Dredd Scott vs. Sanford, that Congress could not regulate slavery in the territories? These questions make 1858 one of the most consequential midterm elections in American history, as well as a great place to kick off RTN's midterm election series.   In this 4-part series, Ben and Bob, along with a few special guests, will be looking at what they consider to be the most important midterm elections in American history. With the midterms of 2026 just around the corner, we hope these episodes will put things in context and convince you that midterm elections are just as, and sometimes more important, than the Presidential elections that only roll around every 4 years.   Sources referenced in this conversation: -Joanne Freeman, The Field of Blood: Violence in Congress and the Road to Civil War (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2018). -James McPherson, Ordeal by Fire: The Civil War and Reconstruction (McGraw-Hill, 2009). -Heather Cox Richardson, To Make Men Free: A History of the Republican Party (Basic Books, 2014).   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.
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  Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny w/ Jeff Bieber 21.09.2026 1h

  Hannah Arendt witnessed the rise of Nazism in Germany and her groundbreaking works, including The Origins of Totalitarianism, sought to understand how regular people could be seduced by horrendous ideologies such as antisemitism and fascism. In this episode, Ben speaks with documentarian Jeff Bieber, whose new film Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny, documents Adendt's life as an intellectual, refugee and, eventually, an American citizen whose concerns about power remain as relevant today as they were half a century ago. Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny premiered on PBS on June 27 and is available to watch on pbs.org by clicking here. For more on Jeff Bieber's work, check out his website: JeffBieberProductions.org. This is a rebroadcast of episode 342, which originally aired on June 30, 2025. This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  #377 The Hindenburg w/ Catherine Grace Katz 14.09.2026 54min

  Catherine Grace Katz joins us to talk about her new book, Shadow Before the Flame: The Hindenburg Disaster and the Prelude to War, and just how much the story of the ill-fated German Zepplin can tell us about the world in the years between World War I and World War II.   You can pre-order your copy of Shadow Before the Flame at Catherine's website, CatherineGraceKatz.com.   This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  George Carlin's American Dream w/ Michael Bonfiglio & Kliph Nesteroff 07.09.2026 54min

  George Carlin had a comedy career that spanned half a century, and his take on the US remains relevant more than a decade after his death in 2008. The HBO documentary George Carlin's American Dream tells Carlin's story as he evolved from a clean-cut comic in the 1950s into the edgy critic who remains one of the most influential comedians of all time. In this episode, Michael Bonfiglio, who directed the film (along with Judd Apatow) and Kliph Nesteroff, a historian of comedy who is featured in the film, join Bob & Ben for a conversation about the life and times of George Carlin.   If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous conversation w/ Michael in episode 174 Direction w/ Michael Bonfiglio.   This episode originally aired as RTN 237 on June 13, 2022. This rebroadcast was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  #376 Miracle Road: The Story of Research Triangle Park w/ Mack Paul 31.08.2026 56min

  North Carolina's Research Triangle has been a hub of innovation and economic growth for more than half a century, but the most remarkable invention in the area's history might be the park itself. In this episode, Mack Paul explains how residents of one of the poorest states in the union found a way to reimagine their future and transform the 'Old North State' into a global leader in scientific advancement.   Mack's new book, which he coauthored with his father, Allen, is Miracle Road: The Story of Research Park (Duke University Press, 2026. You can read excerpts from the book and order a copy at MiracleRoadBook.net.   If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out episode 136, in which we discuss Bob's MA thesis on the city of Apex, NC.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.
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  The Pursuit of Happiness w/ Jeffrey Rosen 24.08.2026 51min

  The inalienable right to "the pursuit of happiness" is enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, but what exactly does that phrase mean? While Americans today may associate it with the right to own land, opulence or some other act of acquisition, many prominent founders understood it to mean something quite different. In this episode National Constitution Center President & CEO Jeffrey Rosen returns to the show to give us the full story and discuss his new book The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America.   If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out Jeffrey's other appearances on our show in episodes 211 and 350.   Highlighted Resources from the National Constitution Center –The Interactive Constitution (also available as an app in the apple and android app stores) –We The People with Jeffrey Rosen podcast (available anywhere you get The Road to Now) –Educational Video Series If you're in Philadelphia, you can visit the National Constitution Center, which is located just steps from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Click here to plan your visit! Thie conversation originally aired on February 5, 2024 as episode 295. This rebroadcast was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  #375 The Road to Venecky w/ Ben & Bob 17.08.2026 54min

  Ben & Bob catch up for a conversation about bad Ai textooks, new discoveries about precolonial American societies and a new take on the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. Make sure to catch Bob at his endless book tour for America's Founding Son! Dates available by following him on Instagram at @bobcrawfordbass. Sources discussed in this episode: ·      John Green, Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of our Deadliest Infection, (Penguin, 2025). ·      Pärssinen, M., Kalliola, R., Ranzi, A. et al. "Over 20,000 precolonial earthworks in the Southwest Amazonia."Nature (2026). ·      Robert Sapolsky Behave: The Biology of Humans at our Best and Worst (Penguin, 2017). ·      Adi Schane, "'Venecky' instead of Kentucky," WDRB.com, July 29, 2026. This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  #374 The Senate's Hard Summer w/ Ben & Bob 10.08.2026 53min

  Ben & Bob talk about the history of the US Senate and why the august body is now under attack from both the Freedom Caucus and the Democratic Socialists of America.   For readings discussed in this episode, check out Michael Trotti's "The Troubling Roots of Off-Year Gubernatorial Elections" from Made By History (Oct. 29, 2025) and Article 5 of the US Constitution, which states: "The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate."   This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  #373 Good Government w/ Lindsey Cormack 03.08.2026 58min

  In an era of cynicism towards politics, Lindsey Cormak wants you to focus on what government has gotten right and to raise your kids to be active citizens. And as the host of the new podcast Government That Doesn't Suck (alongside History That Doesn't Suck's Greg Jackson), and the author How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It's Up to You To Do It), she has evidence and a framework for how to get there. In this conversation we cover all this, as well as Lindsey's research on Veterans and her work to document political rhetoric via congressional emails at DCInbox.com.   Dr. Lindsey Cormack is Associate Professor of Political Science at Stevens Institute of Technology. Click here to follow her on substack.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.  
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  Necropolis: Disease, Power & Capitalism in 19th Century New Orleans w/ Kathryn Olivarius 27.07.2026 52min

  Kathryn Olivarius joins Bob & Ben to explain the powerful role that Yellow Fever played in shaping all aspects of life in New Orleans during the 19th Century. Kathryn is Associate Professor of History at Stanford University and the author of Necropolis: Disease, Power & Capitalism in the Cotton Kingdom, (Harvard University Press, 2022). She was also a 2024 recipient of the Dan David Prize.   This is a rebroadcast of #329, which originally aired on March 10, 2025. This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.  
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  The Civilian Conservation Corps w/ Neil Maher 20.07.2026 51min

  Between 1933 and 1942, the Civilian Conservation Corps enlisted more than three million young men in a project that planted two billion trees, slowed soil erosion on forty million acres of farmland, and enjoyed support across political and geographic divides. In this episode we talk with Neil Maher, author of Nature's New Deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Roots of the American Environmental Movement (Oxford University Press, 2008) about how the CCC helped solidify FDR's New Deal and spread the seeds of environmental activism for generations to come. Dr. Neil Maher is a Professor of History and Master Teacher in the Federated History Department at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers University-Newark. He is also the author of Apollo in the Age of Aquarius (Harvard University Press, 2017). You can find out more about his work at NeilMaher.com.   This is a rebroadcast of episode #274 which aired as The Original Green New Deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps with Neil Mahr on May 29, 2023. This rebroadcast was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  Mitch McConnell: The Price of Power w/ Michael Tackett 13.07.2026 53min

  Journalist Michael Tackett joins Ben & Bob to discuss his book The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America and Lost his Party (Simon & Schuster, 2024). Tackett, who wrote the biography with McConnell's consent, was granted unprecedented access to McConnell's vast personal archives, his staff, and even the Senator himself, who sat for about 50 hours of interviews. If you've ever wondered how Mitch McConnell rose to power, how he's stayed there despite challenges from both parties, or what makes the man tick, this conversation has the answers. Michael Tackett covers national politics for The New York Times. His work has earned him multiple awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and the Edgar A. Poe Award for National Reporting. This is a rebroadcast of RTN episode 322, which originally aired on December 9, 2024. This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  Citizen Coke: The History of Coca-Cola w/ Bartow Elmore 06.07.2026 58min

  Coca-Cola is one of the most well-known products on planet earth, but did you ever wonder how a brown fizzy drink fueled the rise of a corporate juggernaut? The answer, says Ohio State historian Bartow Elmore, has everything to do with its business structure. In this episode, Bart offers his take on how Coke went from Atlanta soda parlors in the late 19th century to markets across the globe in less than a century, all along reaping tremendous benefits from public infrastructure while passing the bulk of its environmental costs on to others.  Bart also talks about the difficulties of doing research on powerful corporations, why he thinks we should care about environmental history, and the meaning of what he calls "Coca-Cola Capitalism."   Dr. Bartow Elmore is Professor of History at The Ohio State University and author of Citizen Coke: The Making of Coca-Cola Capitalism (W.W. Norton, 2015). You can find out more about his work, including his book on the history of Monsanto at his website, BartElmore.com.   This episode was originally aired as episode 140 on August 26, 2019. This rebroadcast was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  The Declaration of Independence 02.07.2026 9min

  On July 2nd, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted a resolution stating that "that these united colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states." Two days later, on July 4, they adopted the Declaration of Independence, read here for you by (in order of appearance): Bob Crawford, The Road to Now Lindsay Graham, History Daily Greg Jackson, History That Doesn't Suck Lindsey Cormack, Government That Doesn't Suck Ben Sawyer, The Road to Now Colleen Shogan, In Pursuit With final commentary by Lindsay Graham.
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  Benjamin Franklin w/ Dayton Duncan and David Schmidt 29.06.2026 51min

  This week, as we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence, we shine a light on one of the founding generation's greats: Benjamin Franklin   It's difficult to fathom how Franklin accomplished so much in a single lifetime. It's equally difficult to imagine how to take such an incredible life and consolidate it into four hours of documentary film. In this episode, we cover both feats with writer Dayton Duncan and producer David Schmidt, two of the great minds behind Ken Burns' documentary on Benjamin Franklin. Dayton and David discuss Franklin's life, the work that goes into creating a historical documentary film, and their process for deciding the best way to tell an American icon's story in a pair of two-hour episodes.   Benjamin Franklin: A Film by Ken Burns is available via PBS.org on your local PBS station and we highly recommend it!   If you enjoy this episode, check out Ben and Bob's conversation with Ken Burns in episode #191.   This episode originally aired as #229 on April 4, 2022. This rebroadcast was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  #372 Obstinate Daughters: Women in the American Revolution w/ Denise Kiernan 22.06.2026 1h

  The American Revolution touched the lives of everyone living in the American colonies, and though the focus is often on the battlefields and political debates, those who were excluded from those places nevertheless played a crucial role in gaining independence. In this episode, Denise Kiernan joins us to discuss her new book, Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers and Renegade Women Who Ignited the Revolution and how looking at the revolution through women's lives gives us a more perfect understanding of the events that founded the United States of America.   Denise Kiernan is the author of multiple New York Times Bestsellers including The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II (Atria, 2014). She is also a journalist, producer and former head writer of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.   Obstinate Daughters is available June 23, 2026 from Dutton. You can find out more about the book and order your copy at DeniseKiernan.com   This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  #371 Been There, Done That w/ Greg Jackson 15.06.2026 1h 2min

  If you feel like America is facing hard times right now, you've got a lot in common with your forebearers. Greg Jackson of History That Doesn't Suck joins Ben for a live conversation to discuss his new book Been There, Done That: How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome, and why he thinks highlighting some of America's hardest moments can strengthen us as we work to preserve the American Republic on the eve of its 250th anniversary. If you enjoy this conversation, come join us in Nashville on June 24th as Ben hosts a live event with Greg to celebrate the launch of the book. The event, sponsored by Ben's local bookstore, The Bookshop, is at 7pm at the Noelle. Click here for tickets. You can get your copy of Been There Done That here. This episode was recorded live on international waters during A Cruise That Doesn't Suck. A special thanks to Greg, Dossie McCraw and Riley Neubauer for inviting Ben to be part of the cruise and for all their hard work to organize and record this episode. This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.
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  #370 The Declaration of Independence: A Biography of America's Founding Text w/ Ted Widmer 08.06.2026 1h 4min

  The Declaration of Independence has a story that is much bigger than July 4th, 1776. From its origins in enlightenment thought to its evocation by modern politicians, the document has had a life that can teach us a lot about who we are and have been. In this episode, Ted Widmer joins us to discuss his new book, The Living Declaration: A Biography of America's Founding Document, which brings together an impressive set of documents that demonstrate the Declaration's impact on people in the US and around the world.   The Living Declaration drops on June 23, 2026. Click here to preorder a copy and make sure to visit LivingDeclaration.org for a calendar of events related to the book.   Come join Ben as he hosts a live conversation with his friend and History That Doesn't Suck host Greg Jackson about Greg's new book Been There, Done That in Nashville on Thursday, June 24! Click here for more info and to get tickets!   This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  A Forgotten History of Long Island w/ Tim Keogh 01.06.2026 54min

  The suburbs have long been a symbol of American prosperity in the post-WWII era. Yet the contrast between suburban wealth and "inner city" poverty overlooks the stories of those living in suburbia who were unable to reach "the good life." In this episode Ben & Bob talk with Tim Keogh, whose new book In Levittown's Shadow: Poverty in America's Wealthiest Suburb (Univ. of Chicago Press, 2023), explores the history of suburbanization in Long Island, New York, and argues that post-WWII prosperity relied on those impoverished suburbanites who we've since forgotten. Dr. Tim Keogh is assistant professor of history at Queensborough Community College, part of the City University of New York. This is a rebroadcast of RTN #291 which originally aired as "A Forgotten History of American Suburbs w/ Tim Keogh" on December 4, 2023. This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.