By Bruce Carlson

We know about the first half of the Declaration of Independence and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But the Declaration also contains a listing of facts submitted to a "candid world" detailing what was wrong in the American colonies. The Grievances are the second half of the Declaration of Independence. We discuss with Tim Patrick, list…

While there is a thing about first debates by incumbent presidents, clearly a pattern of not doing well, we may have had a trend-defyingly bad performance. But it still deserves a little context. We talk about everything - DNC Options, Biden's decisions from here on out, VP Harris, and debate clunkers. in 2004, 1984 and 2012. Learn more about your …

We are pleased to be joined by Richard Lim of This American President Podcast (www.thisamericanpresidentpodcast.com). He discusses William Howard Taft, his considerable accomplishments, his Presidency, his position as governor of the Philippines, and the considerable respect many had for him. We'll also discuss why more than just his weight should …

We talk about what's happening on MHCBUYP, the Patreon, the announcement that our 10-year old episode on Neville Chamberlain and Munich is available on Patreon. and some show recs. patreon.com/mhcbuyp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Bruce Carlson

There were two speeches on November 19, 1863. We remember Lincoln's. We get a bit into that 2nd speech, the longer speech by Everett, and why it's important for context. And we talk about the reaction to Lincoln's speech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Bruce Carlson

The UK has a surprisingly early general election this year, one that will rap up on July 4th, oddly. We talk to former host of What Am Politics Podcast Steve Byrne to give us all the insights of what's going on. Plus, the UK's surprising historical election, 1992 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

We look at a question that's important for understanding future presidential races: Did Clinton Win Because of Ross Perot? Or Not. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Bruce Carlson

1948 is the classic comeback political story. And anytime you talk about it, you are talking about the possibility that an incumbent on the ropes come back. That's why MHCBUYP discussed this topic in 2020. But there is another angle to 1948. It's often forgotten that the year featured a sweeping bi-partisan legislative and foreign policy victory an…

A collection of random stories - a child reporter gets the scoop of the lifetime in 1976. A look at the Patty Hearst story and the central question, did she know it. The Potsdam Conference. And a little poetry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Bruce Carlson

Patrons get more. If you like My History Can Beat Up Your Politics, you'll love the Patreon, where you can get all kinds of additional episodes. Right now, at www.patreon.com/mhcbuyp you can get our episode on 7 More Stories About the 1988 Election. That episode is free - but if you want more, like Grover Clevelands last letters or Texas Annexation…

From 2011 where I discussed the 1968 Chicago Convention, with an added note about today's events and the 2024 election and a bit about Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley's broadcast during the '68 convention. We are part of Airwave Media Network Check out 'Bro History,' Ben Franklin's World and For the Love of History. Check it out. Music by Lee Ros…

Stories of Presidential inflation fighting and fund-raising that seem to have a similar ring to today's events, in this episode. Nixon's plans to cut housing costs by reducing prices on the key element of housing inspires timber companies but riles environmentalist. Johnson uses his air fleet to shuttle the right people around to get the price of e…

With Jerry Landry of The Presidencies of The United States Podcast [https://www.presidenciespodcast.com/] we talk about a decisive point in John Adam's presidency where the capital moved to Trenton, and Adams had gone to Massachusetts. He comes back to take a decisive stand that will mean a lot for the history of the U.S. Presidency. Jerry's show c…

We look at the Maine and Nebraska congressional district system of Presidential elector assignment and its history as both the NE2 and ME2 went for different candidates than the statewide winner for the first time in history. That and other 2020 Election thoughts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Only one person has been elected President twice in non-consecutive terms. But it was not easy. To do it Grover Cleveland had to pass a few difficult tests. From Goody-Goodies to Anti-Snappers, to Anti-Egoists and Scarecrow Festivals; from entering opposing party contests in secret ways to placing bets for your own candidate, to pretending to run i…

In our third episode on the close 1916 election, a group of events take place between the nomination of candidates and the voting that help to determine the election. In the end, it comes down to two states. In a development that will never happen again in history, many voters are not enamored with either candidate. Why they decide to pick one or t…

Both major parties have their conventions. The Democratic swashbucklers are at the podium, firing up a party to get excited about Wilson by linking him to a cause. One he didn't ask to be linked to. The Republicans get their party united, and toastmaster Warren G. Harding is fierce as he makes the case to dump Wilson. The Socialists also pick new c…

America decides whether or not to re-elect a President and it's close. Bruce does his best 1916 version of Steve Kornacki going through the returns as they come in and as the nation awaits a verdict. A President that hadn't been elected with a majority, a re-election that happens while Europe is at war. Early results show that America will get a ne…

Did Aaron Burr try to run for President on the sly, while claiming he didn't? What about that dinner with Jefferson? Did Stephen Douglas stump when he said he was "just visiting his mom?" Plus the idea of campaigning or not campaigning, counting or not counting the soldier vote. This, and other stories of that American tradition of not running for …

They called him the "Hamlet on the Hudson." What series on people not running for President in American history would be complete without the former governor of New York Mario Cuomo. He was famous for coming ever-so-close to running for President. And then, not running. In one case, he left a plane on a tarmac for reporters to watch for hours. Was …

One thing Horatio Seymour made clear was that he was not running for President. He made it clear by saying not only he would not run but that he "must not be President." His party simply didn't care. And so, there he was on the ballot. In this three-part series we look at people not running for President, not knowing they were running, or in the ca…

The Supreme Court said in 1954 that segregated schools were inherently illegal. It took decades to fully address the problem. While events in the South are often discussed, events North also are important to focus on to understand the history. This cast blends modern events with a cast from 2007 talking about Brown, Brown III, Swain, PIC and the as…

Re running this episode from 2022. There's been no letdown in the relevancy of this topic since then. College costs have been an issue since the founding of the Republic, as we discuss in this issue, And equally, the desire to provide education to young minds has been strong. What's different about the era we live in is that college is closely asso…

In this episode, I talk to fellow Airwave Media podcaster Will Clark of Grey History about the French Revolution and how it shaped American history, how American politicians reacted to it at the time, 100 years ago, and today. We also get into 'grey areas' of the French Revolution: things that we think about it that may be wrong, exaggerated, or ev…

From 2020 - A look at 1980's first South Carolina primary and its intended role at the time as a firewall for conservative politics. We also look at how disco sucked, Dylan went Christian and some events that happened at the same time, all unrelated but in their own way meaningful. Lee Rosevere's excellent Music for Podcasts featured on the episode…

Dukakis gets a less than helpful piece of advice from a friend. A surprising VP choice. Plus, an update on the show. JOIN The Patreon for My History Can Beat Up Your Politics and Become one of the elite listeners who get extra tidbits, special episodes and sometimes previews. http:www.patreon.com/mhcbuyp It can be as little as $3 per month. Learn m…

In our final episode of our six-part series on the 1988 Presidential Election, Vice President Bush has a lead over Mike Dukakis. It's close enough for a comeback though, and more than a few have suggestions for a different Dukakis message. A series of mistakes will doom the campaign. And that is the traditional way the story is told. But we suggest…

Michael Dukakis secures the nomination, unifies his party and has a well-regarded convention. He's seventeen points ahead in the polls. Is it real? Even his own campaign staff thinks it may not be. A story in Reader's Digest is troubling. In New Orleans, Bush fires back, while dealing with questions about his choice for number two. Learn more about…

With a split southern primary day, the Democrats have no clear leader. Team Dukakis would like to have been thought of as the leader, but Illinois and Michigan spoiled that. Only one state can settle things. And the Big Three Democratic campaigns settle on New York. Millions of dollars, frenetic debates, subways and hot dogs. It's all fun and games…

In the wake of a front-runner's withdrawal, the campaigns struggle to get traction and block rival campaigns. The best weapon. An attack videotape. A story of three attack videotapes. One sent to a reporter which took out a major player in the campaign. Another in the snows of New Hampshire that saved a candidate, and a third that kept a campaign a…

Gary Hart, the frontrunner in the Democratic side of the 1988 race, hits a major setback. Not only his he hurt, but so are all the people who wanted to have the chance to beat him. Now what? Jump Ball, says an aide of new candidate Joe Biden. Biden hopes to fill the gap, with his appeal to Baby Boomers will carry him forward. Al Gore enter the race…

In our first episode of our series on the 1988 Presidential Election: a cornfield prognosticator, men of the cloth, a young upstart, a senator with big glasses, a casino king, a prince of the polls and more than a few watching from the outside, thinking about maybe getting in. Who will succeed Reagan? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho…

A President becomes a former President. But not before one of the toughest final days of a Presidency. We are part of Airwave Media Network - www.airwavemedia.com Advertise? advertising@airwavemedia.com We have a patreon if you'd like to support us - see www.myhistorycanbeatupyourpolitics.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc…

In the third year of the Presidency, Jimmy Carter wrestles with combining the principles of his first term with realities of the American economy amid myriad domestic struggles, two hostage-taking incidents, and a intraparty political rival. He attempts to make a speech that will reconnect him with the American people. We are part of Airwave Media …

Can the Presidency be done differently? Can a President be less Imperial, more of a citizen, turning the thermostat down in the White House and carrying his own bags? In many ways, Jimmy Carter approached 1977 seeing himself in this light. We look at the first year of Carter's Presidency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic…

Fed up with the US government's efforts to rescue her son being held hostage, Barbara Timm, mother of a Marine guard at the US Embassy at Iran, goes directly to Tehran. We tell her story. We are part of Airwave Media Network Advertise? advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

With Edward Segal, author of Whistle-Stop Politics, we talk about the unique method of campaigning for President - by train. And why it's not just a thing of the past. See more about Edward's book here: https://edwardsegal.com/whistle-stop-politics/ We are part of Airwave Media Network For more train politics stories, more 1988 election stories, an…

We talk to Stephen Byrne, host of Whats Am Politics about events in the United Kingdom with some contrasts to politics in the United States. In the UK currently, the government is very unpopular but there's nothing they or anyone else can do about it for at least six months, and probably a year. Meanwhile, a man labelled 'Mr. Boring' might become t…

We talk with John Ellis of News Corp, NBC, Boston Globe and currently at news-items.com, to discuss his theory on today's politics. Jacksonians, a group of people who behave in ways the media has misjudged are the force beyond today's polls numbers. We also took a bit about calling states for networks in elections, something Ellis had a role in in …

In our final episode on the first GOP governor of Florida since Reconstruction, Claude Kirk. Kirk's flamboyant style got him attention as a national political star in the late 1960's. But three particular actions he takes will trap him and make his future difficult. Music by Lee Rosevere and Revolution Void from Free Music Archive. We are part of A…

In his first and second years as an improbable GOP Governor in the South in the 1960's Kirk, tries out a new type of politics, at least new to the Sunshine State: confrontation. Equally with protestors, strikers, and polluters, he confronts them straight on. He also makes a miscalculation that will hurt his rep while he's winning a political victor…

In the late 1960's the first GOP governor of Florida since Reconstruction found himself elected with no support in the legislature. He had only a microphone and so he used direct confrontation, insults, press-bashing and other tactics to get elected and get his way. Rather than let things be he took on left-wing hippies and right wing segregationis…

In 1980, George Bush did the impossible. He went from three percent in the polls, an asterisk in the polls, as he called himself, to defeating front-runner Ronald Reagan in the Iowa caucuses. The issue: electability, moderation, and age. The event upset a rage and nearly changed history. Indeed, it put the Bush name into politics. We discuss what h…

NOTE - if you haven't listened to Part I of our series on Black Hawk you'll want to listen. This is a two-parter. In the second episode. Chief Black Hawk has an improbable victory, and it sets the stage for all-out conflict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Bruce Carlson

In 1832, a renegade chief crossed the Mississippi river. In his view, it was simply to get back to his cornfields. But the United States considered it an invasion, and reacted accordingly, and at first, badly, leading to deaths on both sides. It was, according to the general that led troops in the war, a mistake. But it would make the careers of Ab…

From the excellent Useless Information podcast, the story of the development of educational television in Mississippi, and the exclusion of one particular program. For more information on Useless Information podcast, please go to www.uselessinformation.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

A look at Reagan's intervention in Lebanon in 1983, from a podcast back in 2009. We also look at Wilson' intervention in Mexico in 1913 We are part of airwave media newtork want to advertise? advertising@airwavemedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Bruce Carlson

We hear the phrase democracy dies in darkness and how important transparency is - but is it really? After all the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention met in private. Bruce talks with Dr. Katlyn Carter of Notre Dame about the history of secrecy and democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

With Bob Crawford, co-host of Road to Now Podcast and bassist for The Avett Brothers, we talk about the sixth President, John Quincy Adams. Bob's knowledge of this not well-known President shines through in the interview. He's recently completed a series FORTUNATE SON on JQA. We discuss not only his Presidency, but his post-Presidency. We also disc…