My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

I talked with Peter about bank robberies in California in the 1970's through the 1990's and why it was the bank robbery capital of the country. Peter's book is Norco 80 about a deadly robbery in CA in 1980. https://www.amazon.com/Norco-80-Spectacular-Robbery-American/dp/1640092129 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 1 June 2026

Stories from the 1968 election, including an important factor driving it, and a bit about 1968 radio. And a little bit from the late political advisor David Gergen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 29 May 2026

We join Alex Hastie of Ohio v. The World Podcast once again! and Author Paul Dickson (https://www.amazon.com/Bonus-Army-American-Epic/dp/0802714404) to discuss the Bonus Army march of veterans seeking compensation during the Great Depression, and the horrible way they were treated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 26 May 2026

It had a short history, but within the time of the Civil War, the Confederate States had two Congressional elections. The second in 1863 (and 1864 in some states) should be seen as a midterm, and like those in the Northern states, it didn't go well for the party in power, that being the increasingly unpopular government of Jefferson Davis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2026

Kevan Whitten has been listening for at least a decade and a half. He's from Maine (So we have to talk James Blaine) and he's talks about the program and asks Bruce a big question. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2026

The midterm election that didn't. In 2002, With national security on the minds of voters and a poor message in opposition, the President's party gained seats in the House for the first time in a first-term Congressional election since FDR's time. George W. Bush's GOP also gained back the Senate. But it's hard election to analyze. We'll try, with a little help from a former President. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 May 2026

We've been podcasting for 20 years and Billy Paige has listened to the show for all of those years. We talk to him and other listeners in some special episodes in the next couple of months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 May 2026

Nixon's first presidential midterm election (the election in which the House and Senate would be up for election) would turn out to be his last, but no one knew it at the time. Nixon tried something Presidents hadn't tried and took off in Air Force One to boost GOP candidates and attack hippie "thugs" across the country. He hoped to reverse the midterm trend. He did not, and he blamed bad audio and unhelpful political science. He may have done better than he thought. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2026

This phrase may have been stated by a Pennsylvanian in the 1880's described as a "German." as we talk about in this episode about family, assimilation, education and immigration. But it's not so simple. There were many German Americans, and two types in particular stood out from and sometimes in contrast with each other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2026

The island-hopping and Second-front hoping after Pearl Harbor did not bring FDR a reverse of the traditional midterm curse or a victory for his party. The GOP and anti FDR Democratic winners of this midterm would ensure there would be scrutiny of the war effort and that New Deal programs domestically would be ended. They would lay the seeds for Truman's difficult Presidency and the eventual GOP recapture of Congress and the White House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 May 2026

In the last episode of the series, we ask the question of where Reagan fits in today's politics, given that parties have shifted so much since his Presidency. We also summarize the series, and ask new questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2026

Starting with the Reykjavik Summit of 1986 and a fly on the wall view of the events there, we look at the pro-Reagan and anti-Reagan arguments regarding his role in the ending of the Cold War, and try to capture everything Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2026

A TV show affects Reagan deeply. The question is often asked if Reagan won the Cold War. Usually, the only period examined is Reagan's second term. But if one looks at Reagan's first term, we see a perhaps unproductive stance and an unpopular hawkish stance that terrified many Americans and some allies, and was not helping to thaw the cold. Had the Presidency ended in 4 years, no significant progress could have been claimed. Yet one could aslo say Reagan was building a strategy while his adversaries had aging and sometimes ill leadership, and a few light moves were made. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 27 April 2026

That's the State's Rights amendment, right? Ask just about anyone about the Tenth Amendment and they will say "States." States rights, powers, protections, limits to the Federal government. And they are right. Partially. But the Tenth contains words at the very end reserving powers: to the states or to the people. The last part is hardly ever discussed and has not been significantly litigated. But it seems illogical to ignore it, and understanding it could be the key to applying the amendment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2026

Answering listener questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 April 2026

Based on a listener question, POTUS and VPOTUS making speeches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 19 April 2026

This new President is defying all norms! Shocking statements and words, crazy economic theories. Scary foreign policy. Bruce Springsteen is angry. We've never seen numbers like this. Radical foreign policy and bold domestic policy. Is he really going to push the button? Weapons in space? It's just too much to process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2026

Lincoln beat up politics with history as good or better than I could. David Sirota and the Left's use of executive power. A few questions from listeners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 April 2026

A scandal in the US, even more of a scandal in Iran. Iran-Contra was a significant moment of the Reagan Administration and the 80's, but its rarely seen from the other country's side. In Iran, the event was not insignificant. A mix of unreleased content and some long-lost episodes that were quite popular in their time and still have some points today on this podcast. We are part of Airwave Media Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2026

Timely topics and a few stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 April 2026

We look at the scandal that rocked Reagan's Presidency. It looks very different with time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 April 2026

The 24th amendment banning the payment of poll tax or other tax in order to vote, had a crazy legislative history to get passed. Alexander's Hamilton's House became a central part of the Senate effort. How the poll tax was defended in 1939 in Texas, and how the way it was administered was often worse than any one-time fee. Also: 3 words to watch in voter ID battles. Why people still paid poll tax even after the amendment passed, and why maybe the 24th didn't need to be passed at all. in this episode a few stories we left out of our previous episode on the 24th Amendment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 April 2026

Have we forgotten about George W. Bush and how much today's politics were defined during his administration? Does Congress have any role anymore? Have we reached a point where Congress not only has less power but doesn't want to use what it has? Over the years, federal power has shifted from Congress to the President, with particular acceleration since Reagan and George W. Bush's Presidencies. David Sirota of The Lever Podcast and Master Plan Podcast joins us to talk about this trend and how it is a planned effort with people of both parties involved. His podcast, Master Plan, is available at: https://podcasts.apple.com/br/podcast/master-plan/id1723377799 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2026

Reagan makes a big reform most see as a good thing. And he made a diplomatic move most see as a very bad thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 30 March 2026

The political world was shocked in 1987 when a 41-year old developer put an ad in the NY Times. Now it's 2026: he's consistent, sorta. What does it say about today? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2026

In 1962, A civil rights champion and a civil rights opponent join on one thing - to ban poll taxes. The Court later rules that it applies to fees. What does it mean for today? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2026

Homelessness, education, healthcare and other domestic issues under constant evaluation during the time of the Reagan Presidency. We look at the personal Ronald Reagan and the contention of critics that his policies didn't match the person. We look at first term and second term policy differences on homelessness, and the contention by supporters that homelessness was focused on by media in the 80's but not during other Presidencies. Finally, we look at Reagan's response to AIDS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2026

Reagan Battles Ford for the GOP Nomination. He loses. And becomes President. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 March 2026

James Baker called Reagan's foreign policy "a witches brew." In one country, a longshot try for peace. In others, alliances with warmakers. Reagan's policy towards seven nations - El Salvador, Lebanon, Poland, Nicaragua, China, Grenada and Guatemala examined in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 March 2026

We seek to solve two puzzles: How did Reagan the Truman booster and N ew Deal supporter become Reagan the Goldwater acolyte? And when he entered politics, became GOP nominee and President, what were the economic results of his Presidency? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2026

Reagan is the only President to have led a union into a strike. Twice, with two wins. And that's why he knew how to a break a strike when he had to. But in doing so, did he encourage employers to be harsh with workers? Some think that's exactly what happened. This, and the joy of the tax cut passage is turning into concern about deficit numbers. Not even his whiz kid Stockman can find an answer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 March 2026

Replay from 2016 First in our series on Ronald Reagan that will have twelve episodes. The Presidency we discuss almost didn't happen. A look at the attempt on Reagan's life, his first year and why the shooting was not an unimportant incident of his Presidency but directly connected to his performance in the first year. We also go over the Dozen Ronald Reagans Concept - that there are twelve different aspects to him to examine both in reality and in the perception of Reagan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 February 2026

A bit about the recent Court decision, with a note about the concurrences of Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, which agreed with each other on the decision merits but warred on the reasons why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 23 February 2026

For my 20th year, I'm replaying the most popular series I've done, a look at Ronald Reagan in 12 episodes. Before I do that, I have few thoughts about what might have been left out of that huge undertaking, and one new item that wasn't available when it was recorded a decade ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 23 February 2026

Healthcare, Bosnia and Belief In The President. All are in doubt. The second part of our series on Bill Clinton's first year, 1993. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 19 February 2026

It's 1993. A new President jogs through his first year, with an unexperienced staff and a hostile White House press corps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 February 2026

A look at the histories and realities of breaking up trusts, from T.R.'s era to the present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2026

The writer Thomas Wolfe, known for his large novels and spewing prose, was a fan of Germany. On a trip there for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, he found joy and worry. Initially he admired the changes, but would soon change his opinion after a series of events and a near run-in with Hitler himself. He didn't live to see the true extent of Nazism, but left a warning for history. [One note: Thomas Wolfe, the 1930's author should not be confused with Bonfire of the Vanities author Tom Wolfe. Also a good author, different guy.] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 February 2026

In answering a question about JFK's health and its role in Lyndon Johnson's decision to accept the Vice Presidency, Bruce takes a look at the people and factors surrounding Johnson's decision, Kennedy's motivations, Eisenhower's indirect role, and the confusing hours in a Los Angeles hotel that changed history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 February 2026

Why talk about LBJ? There's a few reasons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 February 2026

On the surface, the 25th Amendment is a perfect mechanism for providing a stable transition of Presidential power. But that's not what early state ratification critics thought. And it's not how Hollywood writers oft envision it. When debating the 25th amendment to the US Constitution, one state legislator called it rushing "pell-mell into madness." Another said it did not complete the very purpose it intended and should go back to Congress for fixing. And still another said it has a huge hole around the vice presidency. These state quibbles were enough for a scare, but the states ratified anyway, in the wake of the Cuban Missile Crisis and a bipartisan push. But were the arguments valid? Although the 25th is designed to potentially remove a President, it is also designed to avoid doing that if at all possible. It was written by politicians to avoid politics, and as several TV and movie writers have found, it could create lots of politics. If you find it confusing, you aren't alone. Some opponents during its ratification took a look at what came out of the hard work of Sen. Kefauver and Bayh and said - why was it written this way? And not all their criticisms were answered. In this episode we look at the 25th and objections raised in Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Colorado that might have sunk the amendment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 February 2026

From a town in California named for Zachary Taylor, to a famous letter sent by Frederick Douglass, we tell a few stories that didn't make it in to the series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 26 January 2026

It comes down to milk and cherries? Plans change when a nation's hero falls, and historians go to work, reinterpreting the events of 1850. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 19 January 2026

Mostly a pitch for the Patreon. Thanks for listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 15 January 2026

They thought he was an illiterate frontier colonel. They thought he'd never use the veto. Never comment on issues. Let Congress do the heavy lifting. But he has a plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 12 January 2026

A new President comes to Washington. No one knows what to expect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 January 2026

It was passed to stick it to Nixon. A look at Presidents and Congress and use of military. A look at history. Presidents and Congresses, and a specific legislation that applies that is used, ignored, lightly used, skirted, enforced, unenforced and criticized throughout its 53 year history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 January 2026

CNN confirms that a missile strike hit for the White House, Japanese politics implodes, a grunge music tragedy and strange local traditions make mainstream in our extra episode of leftovers from the previous 1990's ephemera. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 31 December 2025

A great accomplishment and a historic scandal. And not the scandal you are thinking of, probably. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 24 December 2025

Valley Forge Myth and Reality - Interview with Bob Drury and Tom Clavin, Authors of Valley Forge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 15 December 2025