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Artwork for My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

Bruce Carlson
Chester Arthur
Ronald Reagan
Civil War
George Washington
Zachary Taylor
American Revolution
Tariffs
Richard Nixon
Vietnam War
Democratic Party
Grover Cleveland
Iran-Iraq War
Slavery
Republican Party
Donald Trump
Jimmy Carter
Gilded Age
Civil Rights
Lyndon B. Johnson
Inflation

Since 2006, this podcast has been using history to elevate today's political debates. "The perfect antidote to bloviating talking heads, My History is thoughtful, nuanced, and highly engaging." -Columbia Journalism Review

PublishesDailyEpisodes545Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryNewsPolitics

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Artwork for My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

Latest Episodes

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/adchoi... more

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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 Pr... more

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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 wor... more

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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 Gene... more

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Greg Easterbrook
Writer and football analyst, author of The Case for Football
Episode: HOW BOOMERS WERE VIEWED IN 1966
Richard Lim
Author and historian, host of This American President
This American President
Episode: REFUSING A CROWN? WASHINGTON AND HIS DECISION w/ RICHARD LIM OF THIS AMERICAN PRESIDENT
Jerry Spencer
Author of A Petition in Boots about Coxey's Army
Episode: COXEY'S ARMY, MEDIA AND OTHER THINGS WITH JERRY SPENCER
Greg Jackson
University professor with a PhD in history
History That Doesn't Suck
Episode: MIDTERMS DONT ALWAYS GO BADLY FOR PRESIDENTS: (But Mostly They Do)
Bernard Goldberg
Author and journalist known for arguing media bias toward liberal perspectives
CBS (former), author of Bias
Episode: BIAS: OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, PART SEVEN
Eric Alterman
Author and media columnist known for counterpoints to Goldberg's claims
Center for American Progress (commentary), author
Episode: BIAS: OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, PART SEVEN
Tom Oliphant
Author of The Road to Camelot, discussing JFK's media strategy
Author
Episode: OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, PART ONE
Chad Williams
Sandal J and Augusta Spector Professor of History and African and African-American Studies at Brandeis University; author of The Wounded World, WEB. DuBois and the First World War
Brandeis University
Episode: W.E.B. DuBois and The Wounded World w/ Chad L. Williams
A. B. Farquhar
Businessman and Civil War figure who supported Grover Cleveland and interacted with Lincoln
Historian/Subject of the account
Episode: CIVIL WAR: THE MAN WHO SOLD YORK, PENNSYLVANIA. AND OTHER STORIES

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Deep dives of history!

    I greatly appreciate the depth that Bruce goes into with his podcast. I use this podcast as one resource for my teaching, and it helps me to deliver great lessons to my students!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kimyung Kim -
    United States6 months ago
  • Savings and Loan crisis

    So far have only listened to the savings and loan crisis from September 2022; seems we are repeating ourselves in October 2025. I appreciate all the back history that led to the crisis. Good, thoughtful analysis too. Do wish some of the pauses were edited out. Kept thinking the podcast stopped lol

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jen98a
    United Statesa year ago
  • Don’t waste time with this

    This is best to ignore and skip it’s the epitome of regrettable all.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    The reviewer
    United Statesa year ago
  • a great part of your politics and history diet

    Bruce does a great job of doing the important work of tying the past to the present as nonpolitically as possible, and digging out the nuggets that makes history so interesting. Go elsewhere if “facts” are not your thing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    j gentes
    United States2 years ago
  • I'm learning so much!

    Bruce makes history more interesting by telling it as a story instead of facts and dates like in high school history class. He is such a font of knowledge.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jerodsmom
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Consistently deep dives that are accessible and informative.
Balanced, informative, and academically grounded.
High-quality, nuanced analysis with strong production.
Engaging, well-researched history that connects past and present.
Thoughtful critique of current events through historical context.

Top History Podcasts

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History's Greatest Mysteries
History's Greatest MysteriesThe HISTORY Channel | Rewind Studios
History That Doesn't Suck
History That Doesn't SuckProf. Greg Jackson
Lore
LoreAaron Mahnke
The Ancients
The AncientsHistory Hit

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

REFUSING A CROWN? WASHINGTON AND HIS DECISION w/ RICHARD LIM OF THIS AMERICAN PRESIDENT
Q: Was Washington truly reluctant to serve or did he just strategically step back when needed?
The discussion emphasizes that Washington often voiced reluctance and framed public service as a duty rather than a personal ambition, and he actively chose to delegate and retreat when it was politically prudent, which in turn established a standard for restraint in office.
W.E.B. DuBois and The Wounded World w/ Chad L. Williams
Q: What drew you to the story of Du Bois and the First World War as a subject for this book?
The guest explains that Du Bois represents a rare fusion of scholarly rigor and activist purpose, using the war to test ideas about citizenship, democracy, and Black freedom, and that this history reveals how individuals navigate political complexity while pursuing truth.
This is William Rufus King w/ Thomas Balcerski - The Forgotten VP, His Role in The Compromise of 1850, His Relationship with James Buchanan and More
Q: How does Balcerski describe the relationship between King and Buchanan?
Balcerski argues that King likely had deeper attractions and emotional expression toward Buchanan, but Buchanan's responses were more platonic and strategic; the correspondence suggests a one-sided intimacy that informs our understanding of gay relationships in the 19th century, challenging modern assumptions while underscoring the complexities of political alliances.
This is William Rufus King w/ Thomas Balcerski - The Forgotten VP, His Role in The Compromise of 1850, His Relationship with James Buchanan and More
Q: What makes William Rufus King a significant figure in the era of the Compromise of 1850?
King played a steady, behind-the-scenes role as presiding officer over the Senate during the passage of the Compromise of 1850, acting as a bridge between factions and helping to coordinate the legislative process despite limited speaking time; his leadership and strategic positioning helped move controversial pieces forward.
ARTICLE ONE GUY: Listener Talk with Page Brousseau
Q: So I have on Page, Page, thanks for coming on. How long have you been a listener of the show?
Page explains he has been listening since late 2006, describing a long-standing engagement with the show's historical approach and its relevance to his own experiences.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

What is My History Can Beat Up Your Politics about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show uses historical events and figures to illuminate today's political questions, offering deep, contextual storytelling that connects past policy decisions and social movements to contemporary debates. Episodes cover inflation cycles, constitutional reforms, wars, presidential decisions, and landmark civic moments, often featuring scholarly guests or expert hosts who unpack complexity with clarity. Listeners likely benefit from thoughtful analysis, nuanced perspectives, and connections between era-specific events and modern policy debates, with occasional guest appearances and sponsor integrations that reflect a long-running, research-driven approach.

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Which podcasts are similar to My History Can Beat Up Your Politics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with My History Can Beat Up Your Politics:

1. This American President
2. History Unplugged Podcast
3. Lectures in History
4. Ben Franklin's World
5. The Road to Now

How many episodes of My History Can Beat Up Your Politics are there?

My History Can Beat Up Your Politics launched 20 years ago and published 545 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 My History Can Beat Up Your Politics?

Recent guests on My History Can Beat Up Your Politics include:

1. Greg Easterbrook
2. Richard Lim
3. Jerry Spencer
4. Greg Jackson
5. Bernard Goldberg
6. Eric Alterman
7. Tom Oliphant
8. Chad Williams

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