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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
Tariffs
Richard Nixon
Vietnam War
Democratic Party
Grover Cleveland
American Revolution
Iran-Iraq War
Slavery
Republican Party
Donald Trump
Jimmy Carter
Gilded Age
Civil Rights
Lyndon B. Johnson
Watergate

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

Blame games. Presidential adjustments. Excited opposition. Worry about the Presidential in two years. We've been there before, even 200 years ago. A look at John Quincy Adams in 1826 (his midterm held 200 years ago) and Cleveland in 1894.

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There's an expectation that every midterm will be a wave. 2026 well could be, in line with 1994, 2014 or 2006. But it's not automatic. In this episode we discuss the modern reality of midterms. Party losses are getting lower on average, and what a wa... more

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4 years ago we said this... Call 2022 the Mick Jagger midterm - neither party got fully what they wanted. Both parties experienced win and losses. It is, so far, largely a "stave midterm" where the President's party lost less seats than expected - we... more

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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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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Greg Jackson
University professor, host of History That Doesn't Suck
History That Doesn't Suck
Episode: MIDTERMS: NIXON'S LONELY MIDTERM, 1970
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
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

Host

Bruce Carlson
History-focused political podcaster and commentator

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 States7 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.

A few listeners perceive political bias or object to particular guest dynamics, despite generally enjoying the historical material.
Listeners value the depth of the research and the way historical events are connected to current politics.
Some listeners note editing pauses and occasional production blips, while others praise improvements in production and presentation.
Many describe the analysis as thoughtful and balanced, and appreciate its perspective beyond daily news coverage.
Bruce Carlson's narrative approach makes political history engaging, memorable, and useful for teaching.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

WHAT WE SAID LAST MIDTERM ELECTION: The 2022 Midterm Result, and Listener Questions
Q: How did the South shift from being overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats to a Republican stronghold?
Carlson says the transition unfolded gradually and differently across states. In Arkansas, conservative Democrats, a persistent Democratic organization and Winthrop Rockefeller's distinct Republican approach helped delay the shift; Democratic control of the state legislature lasted until 2012.
WHAT WE SAID LAST MIDTERM ELECTION: The 2022 Midterm Result, and Listener Questions
Q: What trends could be seen in both parties in the 1974 midterm?
Carlson describes a major Democratic victory driven by Watergate and Ford's pardon of Nixon, alongside the election of younger Democrats who later became prominent lawmakers. Republicans suffered a 42-seat loss, although a few candidates, including Richard Kelly, won.
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.

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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?

Historical storytelling connects American political events to current debates, with particular attention to elections, presidents, media, and the forces that shape public opinion. Bruce Carlson leads researched, narrative-driven episodes that move between well-known turning points and less familiar political stories, often adding anecdotes and historical detail to explain how events unfolded and why they matter now.

The format is primarily solo analysis, with interviews and expert discussions featuring historians, writers, journalists, and other authors. Recurring themes include the history of midterm elections, political strategy, the press, and changing party dynamics. The focus on U.S. history and the effort to place present-day politic... more

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

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

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