Podcast Episodes

Evolution of Thanksgiving

Over the centuries, Thanksgiving traditions have changed with political, cultural, and religious winds. The holiday's mythic origins were propagated …

1 year, 6 months ago

Reconsidering Reagan

Ronald Reagan was the most consequential U.S. president of the second half of the twentieth century. Conservatives once lionized him before the rise …

1 year, 6 months ago

Oblivion in the Age of Trump

Does the historical concept of oblivion offer a way out of our ruptured political life? "For centuries, legislative acts of oblivion were declared in…

1 year, 6 months ago

We Have Met the Enemy

The United States' most-wanted jihadist in Afghanistan is trying to portray himself as a pragmatic diplomat. Washington doesn't seem to be interested…

1 year, 6 months ago

Understanding the Rise of Hitler

Donald Trump's election victory probably means Hitler comparisons won't go away, even if they make little sense. Still, there are lessons to learn fr…

1 year, 6 months ago

NAFTA's Long Shadow

When it was ratified more than 30 years ago, the North American Free Trade Agreement was hailed as a decision "that will permit us to create an econo…

1 year, 6 months ago

American Democracy

It's Election Day in America and the survival of liberal democracy is said to be on the ballot. What does this mean? Has the United States ever been …

1 year, 6 months ago

Election of 2016

**New episode! History As It Happens has returned!**

This is the eighth and final episode in a monthly series examining influential elections in U.S.…

1 year, 7 months ago

Best of HAIH: Election of 1980

This episode was first published on March 4, 2024.

Original show notes:

The embattled incumbent expressed anguish over soulless materialism. The opti…

1 year, 7 months ago

Best of HAIH: Origins of Russia's War in Ukraine

This episode was first published on Feb. 22, 2024 as part of a series marking the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Original show n…

1 year, 7 months ago