My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

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IRAN: THE IRANIAN SIDE OF IRAN CONTRA And other stories Apr 09, 2026

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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.

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PRESIDENTS AND WAR: DESERT ONE / EAGLE CLAW - 1980 IRAN RESCUE EFFORT - THE STORY AND POLITICAL EFFECTS Apr 07, 2026

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Timely topics and a few stories.

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RONALD REAGAN PART EIGHT: Iran-Contra Apr 06, 2026

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We look at the scandal that rocked Reagan's Presidency. It looks very different with time.

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CHESTER ARTHUR - PART 5: "HE IS NOT ARTHUR ANYMORE, HE IS THE PRESIDENT!" Apr 05, 2026

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The untold story of the 21st President. Music by Lee Rosevere, and others.

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CRAZY POLL TAX STORIES: The Way The 24th Amendment Was Passed, Why Some Loved Paying The Tax, and Three Words to Watch. Apr 05, 2026

Show notes

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.

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CHESTER ARTHUR - PART 4: THE PISTOL AND THE TRANSOM Apr 04, 2026

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Political violence changes politics. Vice President Chester Arthur is getting the hang of Parliamentary procedure, and building a reputation for being a more partisan vice president than we've seen in a while, Not on the team with his President. Then events will conspire to elevate him in an unexpected way.

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CHESTER ARTHUR PART 3: I WILL ACCEPT THE NOMINATION Apr 02, 2026

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Arthur makes an unlikely comeback in the 1880 Republican Convention in this episode. The story is a little more complex than it's often told, and involves a bit more of Arthur's skill than is often mentioned.

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CHESTER ARTHUR PART 2: I AM A STALWART! Apr 02, 2026

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(2nd posting ) We look at Chester Arthur and also at Roscoe Conkling, New York Senator and political "boss" of the post-Civil War period. The two are tied together in history. Arthur was, to a point, a Stalwart, which means he supported Ulysses S. Grant and the concept of a party system. Which is also known by the name - spoils. Are Stalwarts all bad? What about Half-Breeds? We get into Arthur the Stalwart in this episode.

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PRESIDENTS: DAVID SIROTA On George W. Bush, Reagan and The Rise of Presidential Power Apr 01, 2026

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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

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CHESTER ARTHUR PART 1: THE EARLY YEARS Mar 31, 2026

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He fought for civil rights and nearly saved New York City. But all we remember is his hair. We start our series on President Chester Arthur with a look at his boyhood / young lawyer years.

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