America: The Story of the USA

Study Notes: The History of Soccer in the US 05.06.2026 9min

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 History of Soccer in the United States - where it came from, why it struggled, why it’s booming now, and what the future looks like with the World Cup on the horizon. If you're looking for the UFC White House card, this isn't the place for you! . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Making: How Much Power Does Trump Have Over the Courts? 04.06.2026 43min

This week, we discuss the ongoing war in the Middle East and Iran. Plus, three men in Spokane have been found guilty of conspiracy, after demonstrating against ICE in June last year. Is this justice taking its court? Or a dangerous indicator of just how much power Trump holds over the courts? AND we were supposed to bring you an interview with Max Martin, CEO and Founder of the Enhanced Games. Find out why it hasn't happened. Joining me this week is Ira Chaleff, friend of the show and author of To Stop a Tyrant: The Power of Political Followers, which is available to buy now. Ira. . Stories: 02:16 - The War in Iran 16:02 - Trump's Unchecked Power Over the Courts 33:14 - Not an Interview with Max Martin from the Enhanced Games . Sources: ICE demonstrators convicted: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/29/us/ice-protesters-convicted-spokane.html Conspiracy charges: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/20/us-army-veteran-ice-protest-trial The War in Iran: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crlpy8n7pr6o Netanyahu orders Beirut bombing: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/01/european-leaders-condemn-israel-incursion-into-lebanon . 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://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/americathestoryoftheusa Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Did the Civil War End? 02.06.2026 54min

The American Civil War did not end in a single moment, but from a cumulative momentum of several singular events: the fall of Richmond and Petersburg, the grinding Appomattox campaign, and a cascade of surrenders that dissolved the Confederacy. In April 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. The final surrender of Confederate troops on the western periphery came in Galveston, Texas, on this very day, June 2nd, 161 years ago. We are going to trace the final campaigns, the leaders and decisions that determined the outcome, and the circumstances that ultimately led to Lee’s surrender. So in this episode, I’m asking… how did the American Civil War end? . Special Guest: Gary Gallagher, a leading historian of the Civil War era and a Professor in the History of the American Civil War at the University of Virginia. His work focuses on Confederate politics and military culture, the meaning of surrender, and how the war’s end was experienced and remembered. . Highlights: 02:15 - The End Was Inevitable 06:14 - A Strategy of Exhaustion 13:24 - There's No US Without France 17:35 - Lee's Surrender 23:34 - Put the Nation Back Together 32:09 - What Political Right Do They Have? 35:51 - A Win for the Union 40:13 - Jefferson Davis . For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠ . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠ Brands & advertises: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Study Notes: A History of White House Renovations 29.05.2026 9min

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 History of White House Renovations - how the president’s home was built, how it’s changed, and the controversies that came with every major makeover. If you're looking for the UFC White House card, this isn't the place for you! . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Making: What’s the Fuss About the Enhanced Games? 28.05.2026 47min

This week, UEA's Emma Long and former leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Vince Cable join the show to discuss the controversial Enhanced Games, Pope Leo's apology for slavery, and the best graduation present ever... or not. Our guest today is Emma Long, Associate Professor in American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia. We're also delighted to welcome to the show the UK’s former Business Secretary, former leader of the Liberal Democrat party, and knight of the realm, Sir Vince Cable… . Stories: 01:28 - The Pope Apologises for Slavery 09:32 - White House Shooting 14:40 - The Enhanced Games 36:55 - Best Graduation Present Ever . Sources: White House shooter: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-secret-service-investigates-reports-shots-near-white-house-2026-05-23/ The Pope apologises for slavery: Pope apologizes for Vatican's role in legitimizing slavery | AP News The Enhanced Games: https://www.enhanced.com/ Swimmer unofficially breaks World Record at Enhanced Games: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cx211xyd298o North Carolina student loans paid: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/college-commencement-speaker-is-paying-off-final-year-of-loans-for-grads/ . 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://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/americathestoryoftheusa Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Did the Civil War Change the Republican Party? 26.05.2026 1h 2min

A nation can win a war and still spend generations arguing over what that victory meant. In the decades after Appomattox, the Republican Party - born in opposition to slavery and triumphant in preserving the Union - found itself wrestling with the very legacy it had created. Was the party the guardian of emancipation, the steward of Union memory, the engine of national reconciliation, or something more conflicted altogether? Today, we trace how the Civil War didn’t just shape the GOP’s past, but set it on a path that would define its identity, its voters, and its vision of America for more than a century. So in this episode, I’m asking… how did the civil war change the republican party? . Special Guest: Tim Galsworthy a lecturer in History and Military History at Lincoln Bishop University. He specializes in the interplay between memory, politics, and race in the modern United States, with a particular focus on the Republican Party and Civil War memory. He is also the author of The Republican House Divided: Civil War Memory, Civil Rights, and the Transformation of the GOP. . Highlights: 02:51 - Abraham Lincoln the Great Unifier 09:22 - The Lost Cause 13:16 - A Retreat from Civil Rights 20:14 - The National Union Strategy 27:50 - Remembering vs Celebrating 34:10 - Being Raised in the Lost Cause 38:01 - The Republican Pivot 46:25 - Lessons from the Past 49:57 - Did Obama Create Trump? . For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠ . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠ Brands & advertises: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Study Notes: The Presidents - James Monroe (1817 - 1825) 22.05.2026 11min

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today: and the latest in our Presidents series, is about the fifth President, James Monroe - his election, presidency, key achievements and legacy. . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Making: Is Trump Running out of Patience with Iran? 21.05.2026 48min

This week, US senators have voted unanimously to withhold their own pay during future shutdowns. We also look at the latest redistricting news, and what it could mean for future elections. And, as the war in Iran continues, we take stock of what exactly is happening after Trump warned the clock is ticking on a peace deal. What does that even mean, and what does peace even look like? My guest this week is Andrew Gawthorpe from Leiden University, whose research focuses on the foreign policy and politics of the modern and contemporary United States, and is the host of the excellent newsletter, America Explained. . Stories: 03:54 - Redistricting https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-congress-trump-voting-rights-b939802fd1ee9c3ae47a8619151a9746 14:04 - Senators Withhold Pay During Shutdowns https://apnews.com/article/senate-pay-shutdown-withhold-government-face16eac3196ad4c3bedf3d699be87f 19:23 - The War in Iran https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p4y9y48xo 39:56 - WordSkills Competition https://uk.news.yahoo.com/community-college-student-michigan-1st-113401010.html . Sources: Trump’s clock is ticking on Iran: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p4y9y48xo Redistricting is out of control: https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-congress-trump-voting-rights-b939802fd1ee9c3ae47a8619151a9746 Senator’s vote to withhold pay during future shutdowns: https://apnews.com/article/senate-pay-shutdown-withhold-government-face16eac3196ad4c3bedf3d699be87f Michigan student becomes first women at World Welding Championships: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/community-college-student-michigan-1st-113401010.html WorldSkills Shanghai 2026: https://worldskills2026.com/ . 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://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/americathestoryoftheusa Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Did Speeches Win the American Civil War? 19.05.2026 1h 2min

Speeches in wartime do more than persuade. They inspire, they unify, and they define the terms of struggle. In the years around 1861, orators on both sides used rhetoric to justify secession, to call men to arms, to appeal for foreign sympathy, and to reframe the meaning of the Union. From abolitionist orations to Confederate defenses of slavery, public speech shaped recruitment, diplomacy, and memory. So in this episode, I’m asking… how did speeches win the American Civil War? . Special Guest: Thomas Wright, a Professor of History at the University of Sussex, who specialises in 19th‑century American political culture and rhetoric. His recent work examines public persuasion, print culture, and transatlantic debates during the Civil War era. . Highlights: 02:10 - Speeches were an event 05:45 - Politics and religion 09:35 - The Antislavery Movement 16:13 - The Most Consequential Speech in American History 21:06 - The Confederate Argument 27:18 - Did the South Really Believe in Slavery? 32:36 - Abraham Lincoln 39:52 - The Art of the Soundbite 42:45 - Gladstone's Speech 48:00 - What Makes Speeches So Powerful? 53:59 - Modern Speeches . For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠ . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠ Brands & advertises: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Study Notes: Every Constitutional Amendment 15.05.2026 13min

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today every Constitutional Amendment — what they are, why they were passed, and the big debates surrounding them. . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Making: But Seriously... Is Donald Trump Ok? 14.05.2026 53min

This week, after an epic Truth Social session from the President, we revisit a question we asked several weeks ago... is Donald Trump really ok? Because things are getting out of hand now! Also, Trump rehires a guy he fired a year ago into the same job. And a diplomatic test of strength for the White House as Trump visits China, in what may just turn out to be a historic trip. My guest this week is John Meagher, one of Ireland's top new comedians and a former martial artist who represented his country. So like Joe Rogan, but better. . Stories: 01:31 - Trump hires Cameron Hamilton to FEMA... again https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/president-nominates-cameron-hamilton-lead-fema-year-after-fired-rcna344632 10:58 - Trump in China https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-china-trip-arrival-353c768987542843e2033aa684266879 22:12 - Is Trump ok? https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trump-truth-social-obama-arrest-controversy-1796488 44:50 - Poonsylvania https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/05/12/large-fertilizer-spill-makes-messy-commute-along-highway/7921778605613/ . Sources: Trump’s Truth Social frenzy: https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trump-truth-social-obama-arrest-controversy-1796488 Health fears: https://www.aol.com/articles/trump-health-fears-5-unhinged-090000000.html Trump hires Cameron Hamilton again: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/president-nominates-cameron-hamilton-lead-fema-year-after-fired-rcna344632 Trump in China: https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-china-trip-arrival-353c768987542843e2033aa684266879 Poo closes PA road for hours: https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/05/12/large-fertilizer-spill-makes-messy-commute-along-highway/7921778605613/ . 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://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/americathestoryoftheusa Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Happened to Amelia Earhart? 12.05.2026 44min

Amelia Earhart’s disappearance in 1937 is one of the most enduring mysteries in modern history. Her final flight was meant to be the crowning achievement of a remarkable career - a round‑the‑world journey that would push the limits of aviation and cement her status as a global icon. Instead, it became the beginning of decades of speculation, investigation, and myth‑making. Today, we’re looking at what we actually know about that final voyage, the theories that have emerged, and why her story continues to captivate the world. So in the second of our two-part special, I’m asking… what happened to Amelia Earhart? . Special Guest: Rachel Hartigan, a journalist, author, and longtime National Geographic contributor who has written extensively about Amelia Earhart, including her latest book ⁠Lost: Amelia Earhart’s Three Mysterious Deaths and One Extraordinary Life⁠, which is available right now. . Highlights: 02:02 - Amelia the Advocate 07:54 - Her Last Known Location 13:46 - The Official Story 17:26 - Three Theories 27:08 - An Enduring Mystery 33:22 - Influence and Legacy . For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠ . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠ Brands & advertises: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Study Notes: What are the US Territories? 08.05.2026 8min

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today we’re looking at a question that confuses a lot of people: What exactly are the U.S. territories? Where are they, how did they come under American control, what political power do they have, and what does their future look like? . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Making: Trump Versus Education 07.05.2026 52min

This week, we take a closer look at the ongoing battle between President Trump and Universities, and what this tells us about education, the first amendment, free speech, and politics in America. We also discuss the Supreme Court's decision to dismantle part of the Voting Rights Act, and essentially allow states to redraw voting districts to the detriment of black and minority representation. Plus, a team of Connecticut scientists may have discovered an alternative to plastic, and the answer lies in cannabis. My guest this week is Kate Ballantyne, a Senior Lecturer in American History at Liverpool John Moores University. . Stories: 01:14 - SCOTUS and the Voting Rights Act 09:59 - Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio Governor 22:58 - Trump, Activism and the War on Education 45:18 - Cannabis Plastic . Sources: SCOTUS dismantles the Voting Rights Act: https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-congress-trump-voting-rights-b5e9ff37581e34e7083a429309c8e45e DoJ versus UCLA: https://theconversation.com/trump-administrations-lawsuits-against-harvard-and-ucla-have-roots-in-a-decades-old-fight-over-civil-rights-law-276586 Trump’s demands to Harvard: https://www.harvard.edu/research-funding/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2025/04/Letter-Sent-to-Harvard-2025-04-11.pdf May Day protests: https://time.com/article/2026/05/01/may-day-international-workers-day-protests-rallies-marches-us/ Cannabis saves the world: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/scientists-unveil-hemp-alternative-to-plastic-that-withstands-boiling-water/ . 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://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/americathestoryoftheusa Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who is Amelia Earhart? 05.05.2026 54min

Before she became a mystery, Amelia Earhart was a phenomenon - a girl from Kansas who transformed herself into one of the most recognisable figures of the 20th century. She was a record‑breaker, a media icon, a political advocate, and a woman who refused to accept the limits placed on her. Her life before the disappearance is a story of ambition, reinvention, and the birth of modern celebrity culture. We are going to explore her life, her career and her fame, to understand the woman behind the headlines. So in the first of a two-part special, I’m asking… who is Amelia Earhart? . Special Guest: Rachel Hartigan, a journalist, author, and longtime National Geographic contributor who has written extensively about Amelia Earhart, including her latest book Lost: Amelia Earhart’s Three Mysterious Deaths and One Extraordinary Life, which is available right now. . Highlights: 02:24 - Childhood and Early Influences 07:21 - Amelia and her Father 10:54 - Her First Flight 16:53 - I Want to Fly 22:06 - Amelia the Celebrity 27:36 - The Atlantic Crossing 34:10 - Woman Doing Things for the Fun of It 38:27 - The Last Big Record 43:28 - Planning to Fly Around the World . For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠ . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠ Brands & advertises: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Study Notes: The 20 Most Populous US Cities 01.05.2026 10min

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 20 Most Populous Cities in the USA - a quickfire countdown of the biggest urban centres in the country, and what makes each one memorable. . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Making: The King is Back 30.04.2026 57min

My guest this week is Nish Kumar, a comedian and presenter, best known for co-hosting Pod Save the UK and he is just back from a tour of the US. This week, we discuss the another assassination attempt on President Trump, this time in the form of a 31 year old Californian teacher who stormed security at the White House Correspondents Dinner. And as always, conspiracy theorists are on the case, but is there any merit to it? Plus, King Charles and Camilla visit Washington, in the UK's first state visit since 2007. Meanwhile, back in the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is teetering on the edge, as the Mandelson-Epstein scandal continues to ripple through British government. . Stories: 05:41 - White House Correspondents Dinner Shooting 16:48 - Jimmy Kimmel versus Trump... Again 30:44 - King Charles' US State Visit 40:07 - Keir Starmer 47:57 - The Sperm Racing World Cup . Sources: White House Correspondents Dinner Shooting: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/25/politics/live-news/trump-white-house-correspondents-dinner Trump hates Jimmy Kimmel: https://apnews.com/article/trump-melania-kimmel-correspondents-dinner-6ab20d5675a5328b207b1f6a322bf3cc Could Kimmel Be Cancelled? https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/could-jimmy-kimmel-get-canceled-fired-5535234/ The King’s US State Visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c4g5lly7qg8t?post=asset%3A7c9229d2-21b5-4314-b503-8b2a477c3c37#post Next UK Ambassador to the US: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-us-ambassador-trump-mandelson-b2824566.html Starmer Says Labour Colleagues Want Him to Stay: https://metro.co.uk/2026/04/26/starmer-says-vast-majority-labour-wants-stay-prime-minister-28126238/ Peter Mandelson Timeline: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/17/peter-mandelson-failed-security-vetting-timeline-keir-starmer Sperm Racing: https://www.spermracing.com/ Sperm Racing World Cup Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WumH-msuWzk . 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://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/americathestoryoftheusa Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the Harlem Renaissance? 28.04.2026 55min

The 1920s and 1930s in America were a time of seismic change. In the heart of New York City, the neighborhood of Harlem became the stage for a dazzling outpouring of creativity, intellect, and activism. Black writers, artists, musicians, and thinkers converged, forging a new vision of African American identity and culture. Their work challenged old stereotypes, inspired new movements, and left a legacy that still shapes America today. From jazz clubs and poetry readings to political debates and Southern tours, the Harlem Renaissance was more than an artistic movement—it was a revolution in how America saw itself. So in this episode, I’m asking… what is the Harlem Renaissance? . Special Guest: Sian Round, a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in English Literature at Swansea University. Her research explores the cultures of the US South, the Harlem Renaissance, and periodical publishing. Her current project, The Harlem Renaissance and the Southern Tour, 1919–1935, investigates how Black writers like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston engaged with the South after the Great Migration. . Highlights: 03:41 - The Great Migration 08:25 - Why Harlem? 12:53 - Never a Cohesive Movement 16:56 - Renaissance Literature 23:14 - When the Negro Was in Vogue 27:47 - The Cotton Club 32:26 - Influence versus Appropriation 40:01 - Legacy and Memory 42:12 - As Gay as it Was Black 44:56 - Beyond Harlem . For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠ . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠ Brands & advertises: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Study Notes: The Presidents - James Madison (1809 - 1817) 24.04.2026 11min

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today: and the latest in our Presidents series, is about the fourth President, James Madison - his election, presidency, key achievements and legacy. . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Making: The Louisiana Shooting and America’s Gun Problem 23.04.2026 1h 2min

This week, we focus on the recent shootings in Shreveport Louisiana, and what this could mean for gun law reform in the USA. We speak to Chris Marvin at Everytown for Gun Safety about the escalating number of gun violence deaths, and the 'thoughts and prayers' response from the speaker and state governor. Plus, we discuss Tim Cook stepping down as Apple CEO and the possible political implications. We take a look at The Onion's renewed quest to buy InfoWars. And Maryland are the first state to introduce laws against dynamic pricing, so are eggs finally going to get cheaper?! The guest today is Emma Long, an Associate Professor in American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia. . Stories Mentioned: Louisiana shooting: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/mass-shooting-eight-children-dead-louisiana-b2960649.html More than one mass shooting a day: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/19/us/shreveport-louisiana-shooting Gun violence data: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/05/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-us/ Tim Cook steps down: https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/20/tim-cook-stepping-down-as-apple-ceo-john-ternus-taking-over/ The Onion still wants to buy Infowars: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgr7dw55lwo Maryland ban surveillance pricing: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/maryland-to-become-first-us-state-to-ban-surveillance-pricing/ . 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://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/americathestoryoftheusa Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices