Podcast Episodes

Texas Dems Flee To Stop Redistricting (Some Context) w/ Harry Enten

One of the biggest stories today, in 2025, is that Texas Democracts have left the state and are in Illinois, looking to hold up drastic redistricting legislation proposed by the GOP. In 2020, we reco…

Published on 3 weeks, 1 day ago

Weird, Controversial, and Fake Historical Markers (Part 2)

Last episode, we talked about the history of historical markers, and what they indicate about the present. Today, a tour through some of our favorite examples of strange and controversial markers fro…

Published on 3 weeks, 5 days ago

The History Of History Markers (Part 1) (1913)

It's July 29th. This day in 1913, Pennsylvania passed a law that would establish a system for adding historical markers and plaques around their state. Over the coming decades, other states would fol…

Published on 4 weeks ago

The Frick Near-Assassination (1892)

It's July 24th. This day in 1892, labor activist Alexander Berkman attempts to assasinate industrialist Henry Clay Frick, head of the Carnegie Steel Corporation.

Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss the rat…

Published on 1 month ago

John Dillinger Is Killed, The FBI Is Born (1934)

It's July 22nd. This day in 1934, gangster John Dillinger is killed by federal agents while walking out of a movie theater in Chicago.

Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the media environment that helped …

Published on 1 month ago

Willis Carrier Invents Air Conditioning (1902)

It's July 17th. This day in 1902, a New York engineer by the name of Willis Haviland Carrier is trying to figure out a system for keeping printing machinery cool -- and ends up developing the technol…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

The Great Grain Robbery (1972)

It's July 14th. This day in 1972, Russian agricultural officials are in New York City cutting deals with American farmers for surplus U.S. wheat. Before the U.S. government could realize what was hap…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

Superman's Politics w/ Glen Wheldon [Some Sunday Context]

This episode is part of our "Some Sunday Context" series, new conversations and favorites from the archives that give some context for the biggest stories of the moment. Today: with a new Superman mo…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

The Death Of The DOE (1868)

It's July 10th. This day in 1868, the federal government officially dismantled the Department of Education -- it would be more than a 100 years before it was re-established.

Jody, NIki, and Kellie dis…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

The Mormon King Of Beaver Island (1850)

It's July 7th. This day in 1850, a man by the name of James Strang has proclaimed himself the true inheritor of the Mormon church -- and set up a colony on Beaver Island in Michigan.

Jody, NIki, and K…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago