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American History Hotline

Scratch Track Productions
George Washington
Abraham Lincoln
American History
Civil War
Slavery
Electoral College
Parson Weems
Daylight Saving Time
Southern Strategy
Buffalo Soldiers
Political Parties
Thomas Jefferson
Great Depression
Republican Party
Democratic Party
Aztec Empire
World War II
Second Avenue Subway
JFK
Marilyn Monroe

Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history — from the Revolutionary War to rock & roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes71Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryEducation

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Artwork for American History Hotline

Latest Episodes

How accurate is Steven Spielberg's Lincoln? And what did the movie get wrong?

Listener Elijah wants to know how closely the 2012 film starring Daniel Day-Lewis matches the real history of Abraham Lincoln—and there may be no better person to answer ... more

America's founders feared political parties—and then almost immediately began creating them. So are parties an unfortunate obstacle to democracy, or are they the reason democracy works at all?

Georgetown University political scientist Hans Noel joi... more

Listener Laura is descended from Colonel John Barnwell—better known as "Tuscarora Jack"—but she struggles with her ancestor's brutal actions during the Tuscarora War. Why is Barnwell still celebrated as a hero in South Carolina?

Bob speaks with aut... more

For much of American history, the vice presidency was a political afterthought. Presidents and vice presidents sometimes disliked each other, worked against each other, or barely communicated at all. So how did the office become one of the most influ... more

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Recent Guests

Hans Noel
Professor of government at Georgetown University, author of Political Ideologies and Political Parties in America
Georgetown University
Episode: Do We Really Need Political Parties?
John Warley
Author and historian, relative of Tuscarora Jack
Author of Jury of One and related works
Episode: Tuscarora Jack: Patriot or Villain?
Elaine Kamarck
Senior Fellow in Governance Studies and Director of the Center for Effective Public Management at the Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
Episode: When Presidents and Vice Presidents Don't Get Along
Sarah Keyes
Yale historian and author of American Burial Ground, A New History of the Overland Trail
Yale University
Episode: How Accurate Was The Oregon Trail Game? The Real History Behind America's Most Famous Video Game | Sarah Keyes
Peter Bergen
New York Times bestselling author and foreign policy expert
Episode: 25 Years After 9/11: What Did America Learn from the War on Terror? | Peter Bergen
Lindsay Chervinsky
Presidential Historian and Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library
George Washington Presidential Library
Episode: Trump Ranked the Presidents. A Historian Responds
Peter Sagal
Host of NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me; historian
NPR / PBS Constitution USA
Episode: Why Does America Have the Electoral College? Peter Sagal Explains
Brian Halstead
President of the US Army Ranger Association
US Army Ranger Association
Episode: Why Did the U.S. Army Keep Disbanding the Rangers?
Michael Russell Gunn
Writer and Director of The Brink of War
The Brink of War (film)
Episode: How Did the Cold War End? Reagan, Gorbachev & the Secret Summit That Changed History

Host

Bob Crawford
Host of American History Hotline

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 145 ratings
  • My FAVORITE PODCAST

    This is my absolute favorite podcast! 10/10 recommend! I actually get excited when I see a new episode! Thank you for this!

    Candy Armstrong

    Louisiana Cajun

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    TranplantMom
    United States8 months ago
  • Almost!

    You have a title of what “Watergate does not bother me” and you spend a minute on it. I thought you might dive into the fake outrage culture of taking events like ‘Watergate’ or ‘Jan 6’ and treat it as something comparable to ‘9/11’ or ‘Pearl Harbor” but, no.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Youdumpster
    United Statesa year ago
  • Fantastic

    I love history and I love podcasts with a conversational style and this scratches both itches. He gets different experts on for every topic and they’re always great. My new favorite that I can’t stop binging.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    upinatem
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great find!

    So glad to have found this podcast! I’m enjoying hearing interesting topics explained in an interesting way. Bob Crawford and his guests provide amazing context to American History. I’m in the process of binging all the episodes and am happy I cottoned on to the podcast relatively early!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SeaSuCC
    United Statesa year ago
  • Columbus

    He was not “just a man of his time”, he was a crazed genocidal man who doesn’t need to be mentioned politely.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Antks555
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall high-quality historical context with expert guests.
Listeners appreciate accessible, story-driven discussions.
Some episodes are perceived as partisan by a subset of listeners.

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World War II with Tom HanksThe HISTORY Channel | Back Pocket Studios | Audacy
History's Greatest Mysteries
History's Greatest MysteriesThe HISTORY Channel | Rewind Studios
History That Doesn't Suck
History That Doesn't SuckProf. Greg Jackson
The Ancients
The AncientsHistory Hit
Lore
LoreAaron Mahnke

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tuscarora Jack: Patriot or Villain?
Q: How should Laura, and listeners, reconcile the diaries' brutality with the positive infrastructural and geopolitical legacies Barnwell left behind?
By recognizing the context of the era's norms, acknowledging genuine acts of leadership and protection, and understanding that contemporaries often saw him as a patriot while modern readers grapple with the violence described in the diaries.
Tuscarora Jack: Patriot or Villain?
Q: What is the root cause of the Tuscarora War, and how does that inform our view of Barnwell's actions?
The root cause was a troubled trade balance and exploitation in deer skin commerce; Barnwell's actions were part of a broader colonial effort to secure settlements, sometimes through harsh measures, which must be weighed against the broader security and governance outcomes he helped achieve.
Tuscarora Jack: Patriot or Villain?
Q: If you could use one word to describe Tuscarora Jack, what would it be?
Patriot, because despite the brutal circumstances, his leadership and actions were aimed at protecting and stabilizing the Carolina frontier and the Lowcountry communities he supported.
How Accurate Was The Oregon Trail Game? The Real History Behind America's Most Famous Video Game | Sarah Keyes
Q: What were the river crossings actually like compared to the game?
River crossings were dangerous and variable; crossings could involve ferries or direct wading, and many wagons needed to be managed carefully, with delays common due to water levels, making the game's simplified crossings a rough approximation of reality.
How Accurate Was The Oregon Trail Game? The Real History Behind America's Most Famous Video Game | Sarah Keyes
Q: Sarah, have you studied the history of the Oregon Trail game itself?
Yes, the game was inspired by trail diaries and the educational reform efforts of Minnesota teachers; it emerged as a way to engage students with living history and has since become a lasting cultural touchstone, even as it diverges from the full historical record.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About American History Hotline

What is American History Hotline about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A history-focused show that answers listener questions by bringing in experts across eras and topics, from early American history and founding-era politics to 20th-century diplomacy, investigative history, and cultural moments. Episodes blend deep dives with accessible storytelling, featuring historians, policy experts, and researchers who place events in broader social and political contexts. The format leans toward conversational, question-driven exploration with clear takeaways, useful for listeners seeking solid historical context and thoughtful analysis. A notable strength is the consistent use of subject-matter experts to illuminate complex topics, making it attractive to curious, education-minded audiences and professionals looking f... more

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Which podcasts are similar to American History Hotline?

These podcasts share a similar audience with American History Hotline:

1. Stuff You Missed in History Class
2. Curiosity Meets The Past
3. Stuff You Should Know
4. American History Hit
5. Beastly History

How many episodes of American History Hotline are there?

American History Hotline launched a year ago and published 71 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on American History Hotline?

Recent guests on American History Hotline include:

1. Hans Noel
2. John Warley
3. Elaine Kamarck
4. Sarah Keyes
5. Peter Bergen
6. Lindsay Chervinsky
7. Peter Sagal
8. Brian Halstead

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