My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
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
Bruce Carlson
Show overview
My History Can Beat Up Your Politics has been publishing since 2006, and across the 20 years since has built a catalogue of 333 episodes. That works out to roughly 280 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a monthly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 33 min and 1h 2m — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language History show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed yesterday, with 43 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2026, with 43 episodes published. Published by Bruce Carlson.
From the publisher
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
Latest Episodes
View all 333 episodesZUNE MEMORIES: Talking to My History Can Beat Up Your Politics Listeners - Billy Paige
LONELY MIDTERM, 1970
ICH BIN AMERIKANER: Tales From The Very German United States
VOTES DURING WARTIME: THE 1942 MIDTERMS
RONALD REAGAN TWELVE: FINALE - WHERE'S REAGAN?
RONALD REAGAN PART ELEVEN: DID REAGAN WIN THE COLD WAR?
RONALD REAGAN PART TEN: First Term Cold War Moves
THE FORGOTTEN FOUR WORDS IN THE 10TH AMENDMENT: "or to the people"
"LEFT AND RIGHT" IN POLITICS, THE UNUSED PART OF THE 25TH and Other Thoughts
VANCE AND ORBAN in CONTEXT
RONALD REAGAN PART NINE: SHOCKWAVE 1981
Q&A: Lincoln's Cooper Union Speech, Richard Oakes AIM Alcatraz Takeover & Sources, David Sirota Reaction
THE IRANIAN SIDE OF IRAN CONTRA And other stories
DESERT ONE / EAGLE CLAW - 1980 IRAN RESCUE EFFORT - THE STORY AND POLITICAL EFFECTS
RONALD REAGAN PART EIGHT: Iran-Contra
CRAZY POLL TAX STORIES: The Way The 24th Amendment Was Passed, Why Some Loved Paying The Tax, and Three Words to Watch.
David Sirota On George W. Bush, Reagan and The Rise of Presidential Power
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
RONALD REAGAN PART SEVEN: Tax Reform, Amnesty, Bitburg and Banking
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
RONALD REAGAN PART SIX: Hands Across America
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
DONALD TRUMP'S 1987 NEW YORK TIMES AD Attacking Oil Ship Escorts and More
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