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Artwork for Breaking History

Breaking History

The Free Press
Iran
Donald Trump
Populism
Air Conditioning
Constitutional Revolution
Israel
Russiagate
Civil Rights Movement
Andrew Jackson
Willis Carrier
Political Violence
George Wallace
Mohammad Mosaddegh
Islamic Revolution
Bill Clinton
JFK Assassination
Shah Of Iran
Anglo-Persian Oil Company
Coup Of 1953
Pahlavi Dynasty

Sometimes the news moves so fast, you have to look closely to know if you’ve seen it before. And that’s what this show is about. Breaking History breaks down the news, by breaking down history. We cover everything from LBJ and the Roman Republic to Donald Trump and the chaos at Columbia. This twice a month show from The Free Press delivers the best historians, authors, and reporters by mining the ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes59Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for Breaking History

Latest Episodes

Peter Berkowitz returns to the show to trace the slow collapse of liberal education in America, all in his new book, Reclaiming Liberal Education in America. In this episode, he and Eli Lake walk through 50 years of ideological capture, from the camp... more

Matt Taibbi has spent the better part of a decade documenting one of the most underreported stories in American media: how the federal government built a shadow infrastructure to shape what people could say and read online. In this episode, Eli Lake ... more

Back in October, we traced the founding of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in our episode “Beautiful Losers: Mamdani & the End of Socialism’s Losing Streak.” Now, with Zohran Mamdani’s allies sweeping three congressional primaries in New Y... more

Journalist Jay Solomon is back on the show this week to discuss his latest explosive investigation into Trita Parsi, the Iranian-born, Swedish-raised lobbyist who spent 20 years at the center of Washington’s foreign policy debate over Iran. Parsi bui... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Peter Berkowitz
Author and political philosopher, returning guest
Presumably Hoover Institution / Stanford context mentioned in conversation
Episode: Why the Future of Education Won’t Come from the Ivy League
Matt Taibbi
Journalist and author discussed on the show
Racket News (implied)
Episode: The Slow Death of Journalism, with Matt Taibbi
Harry Siegel
Old friend, longtime columnist; co-founder of the New York editorial board
New York Sun, Daily News, The City Reporter
Episode: How the Democratic Socialists Conquered New York City
Michael Anton
Author and political commentator referenced as a student of Jaffa
The Free Press
Episode: Who Owns the Declaration of Independence?
Nick Gillespie
Editor-at-large at Reason Magazine, conspiracy aficionado
Reason Magazine
Episode: A New Series From The Free Press | The Lindbergh Conspiracies
Sarah Rose Siskind
Science writer
Independent/Various
Episode: A New Series From The Free Press | The Lindbergh Conspiracies
Robert Parkinson
Historian from SUNY Binghamton, author of Rogues and Tyrants
SUNY Binghamton
Episode: What the Founders Really Meant to Say
David Rose
Veteran journalist; Director of Policy and Research for the Free Speech Union (UK)
Free Speech Union (UK)
Episode: Eli Lake and David Rose: The UK Censorship Machine Eats Itself
Eli Lake
Writer for the Free Press, host of Breaking History Podcast, contributing editor, commentary
Free Press; Breaking History
Episode: Is This War Justified? Eli Lake Debates Iran with Robert Wright

Host

Eli Lake
Host of Breaking History; contributor with deep historical and geopolitical analysis.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • Theme music sounds like AI slop

    It’s quite annoying.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ihavethoughts123
    United States2 months ago
  • Entertaining and informative

    Podcast Addict
    5
    epic4benjis78
    2 months ago
  • Great podcast (but why is the music so bad?)

    I just can’t get over how deathly annoying the theme song is…. However, I listen religiously anyways (which should say something about how good I think the content is).

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Luctunedin
    Canada3 months ago
  • I usually like this

    I tried listening to the episode about Lindbergh. It was just too campy with all the silly music. Why are you treating us like we're idiots.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Takoateli
    United States3 months ago
  • My Favorite Podcaster

    After listening to all of Eli Lake’s fascinating Re-Education podcasts, there was a hiatus during which I feared losing access to his wonderful work. Then he became a writer at TFP and Breaking History began.

    Eli’s journalism seems effortless. Nothing he writes (or thinks) is forced or hackneyed. His work has thus an organic, fresh quality free of ideological jargon and partisan hypocrisy. Well-connected, honest, and magnanimous in debate, I marvel at the grit and courage behind his generosity ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    carpentun
    Germany4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

- High-caliber guests and rigorous discussion set a high bar for history-informed political dialogue.
- Deep, historical context enhances understanding of current events.
- Guests are treated with respect and challenged on key points, lending credibility.
- The host delivers patient, insightful debate and keeps conversations constructive.
- Music and pacing are polarizing parts of the production, but content quality remains strong.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#194
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#198
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#213
France/History
Apple Podcasts
#15
Hong Kong/History
Apple Podcasts
#34
Singapore/History
Apple Podcasts
#46
Austria/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why the Future of Education Won’t Come from the Ivy League
Q: What is the major theme of your new book and how does it relate to the current state of the Academy?
The central argument is that liberal education has decayed from its founding purpose of preparing citizens for rights and responsibilities of freedom, and the cure lies in reclaiming liberal education through renewed commitments to its broad curriculum, intellectual humility, and reform across institutions.
How the Democratic Socialists Conquered New York City
Q: How does Israel-related discourse affect the DSA's momentum and mainstream acceptance?
Israel-related discourse has intensified loyalty and opposition within the party, creating space for anti-Israel rhetoric to compete with traditional progressive goals like affordability, which could shape the party's future alignments and policy priorities.
How the Democratic Socialists Conquered New York City
Q: What is driving the DSA's rise in NYC politics—strategy or ideology?
It's a combination of organized door-knocking, a strategic focus on key races, and a broader appetite for reform among voters who feel priced out of politics, all supported by a media-friendly narrative about courage and authenticity.
How the Democratic Socialists Conquered New York City
Q: Who are the DSA volunteers and what does the movement look like on the ground in New York?
The DSA volunteers are a mix of downwardly mobile, educated professionals and baristas with sociology degrees, with a strong presence in immigrant and minority communities, bringing a broad but still evolving base to the movement.
Roald Dahl: Genius and Bigot
Q: Can we separate good art from the flawed person who created it?
Yes, the hosts argue, recognizing that great works can endure independently, but we should confront and understand the artist's flaws rather than erase them entirely.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Breaking History

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

A historically focused conversation podcast that often centers on politics, policy, and media, with deep dives into topics like liberal education, journalism ethics, US foreign policy, and the role of think tanks. Guests tend to be scholars, journalists, and policy researchers who bring historical context to contemporary debates, sometimes challenging prevailing narratives. The show is notable for its patient, debate-driven style and for hosting long-form discussions that unpack complex ideas with nuance, making it appealing to listeners who value rigorous analysis and historical perspective in current events.

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How many listeners does Breaking History get?

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What are the audience demographics for Breaking History?

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How many subscribers and views does Breaking History have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Breaking History?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Breaking History:

1. Conversations with Coleman
2. The Commentary Magazine Podcast
3. Ask Haviv Anything
4. Call Me Back - with Dan Senor
5. The Editors

How many episodes of Breaking History are there?

Breaking History launched 2 years ago and published 59 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Breaking History?

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What guests have appeared on Breaking History?

Recent guests on Breaking History include:

1. Peter Berkowitz
2. Matt Taibbi
3. Harry Siegel
4. Michael Anton
5. Nick Gillespie
6. Sarah Rose Siskind
7. Robert Parkinson
8. David Rose

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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