My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

Latest Episodes:

JULIA TYLER DEBATE and Other Stories Oct 22, 2026

Show notes

In the run up to the Civil War, former first lady Julia Tyler participated in a political debate. Moderns will appreciate her participation in politics as an empowered well written woman. Her cause less so.

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TEDDY'S TEST: THE 1902 MIDTERM ELECTIONS Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

A normal midterm with its usual issues between the parties becomes a test for a new President when a labor strike unexpectedly reaches his desk. The opposition party gains, but so does his.

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HERBERT HOOVER'S STRANGE MIDTERM OF 1930 Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

Hoover did a difficult thing. He beat back challenges and his party won control. Until a string of congressional deaths changed the picture.

The 72nd Congress of 1931 was, as elected, a very narrow Republican , House 218 R - 217 D. Close, but for President Hoover, good enough. That is until, 14 Congressmen-elect died.

Not all at once -- that would be weird -- it was over 13 months, for all kinds of reasons but heart attacks and pneumonias leading the list. When special elections were held, it went 218 D and 216 R.

1 Farm Laborer supported the Democrats so final was 219-216.

We talk about this curious case. We also talk about the 14 Congressmen-elect who had some interesting biographies. And we talk Herbert Hoover and the spin he (tried to) put on The Great Depression.

We are part of Airwave Media Podcast Network. www.airwavemedia.com

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OBSCURE (BUT IMPORTANT) MIDTERMS 1886, 1914, 1898 Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson and William McKinley's midterm elections are not remembered. But each one changed history in its own way. One confined a President, the other changed a party. And the third may have cemented America's place in the world.

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HOW BOOMERS WERE VIEWED IN 1966 Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

Strange, introspective, radical, achieving, protesting, scoffing. These words could all be used in TIME magazine's Men and Women of The Year to describe late Silents and Boomers. We look at this, and then a 90s Atlanta Constitutional article on Generation X.

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REFUSING A CROWN? WASHINGTON AND HIS DECISION w/ RICHARD LIM OF THIS AMERICAN PRESIDENT Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

It's oft said that Washington refused a crown. With Richard Lim of This American President, we get real about this topic.

His book Refusing a Crown is the first book to place Washington’s decisions within the sweeping Western shift from monarchy to republic, showing why that transition was anything but inevitable. Drawing on the Judeo-Christian moral tradition and the political inheritance from Great Britain, Refusing a Crown reveals how early Americans sought to build a republic strong enough to govern real people—not an idealized political fantasy.

At a time when Americans once again argue about leadership, power, and the future of self-government, one figure continues to stand apart: George Washington. Across the political spectrum—from Donald Trump to Joe Biden—leaders still invoke him as the ultimate measure of political greatness. Refusing a Crown reveals why.
Washington’s most extraordinary achievement was not winning the Revolutionary War or helping found a new nation. It was something far rarer: He gave up power—twice. First, when he resigned his command after victory. Then again, when he stepped down as president, establishing a precedent no law required and no force could compel. In an age dominated by kings and emperors, Washington chose restraint—and in doing so, he helped define the American experiment.

Book (Preorder):
https://www.amazon.com/Refusing-Crown-George-Washington-Changed/dp/1645721280

Website:
https://www.richardmlim.com/

This American President:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thisamericanpresident
X: https://x.com/ThisAmerPres
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThisAmerPres/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisamericanpresident

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-l-4116094/

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"I WILL TELL YOU WHAT THE NEWS IS" OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, EIGHTH AND FINAL Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

In our final episode, we look at a few historic media that truly sought to tell readers not just the news, but what the news was. From Bennett to Drudge, we look at these innovators. And we talk about today's media innovation. All of us, and our politicians as media.

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COXEY'S ARMY, MEDIA AND OTHER THINGS WITH JERRY SPENCER Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

A talk with Listener Jerry Spencer about Coxey's Army, which marched to DC during a depression in the 1890's. And also about how Hearst and Pulitzer's papers fueled the story.

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MIDTERMS DONT ALWAYS GO BADLY FOR PRESIDENTS: (But Mostly They Do) Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

In the past 100 years, over 80% of the first term midterms went badly for Presidents, and their party lost seats. But in a few cases they did not. And a few times when they did, the result was very little real change or even a kind of win. A look at first term midterms during the Presidencies of Chester Arthur, Harding, FDR, GW Bush, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

A combo of new and previously recorded MHCBUYP episodes reveals that while many first term midterms have devastated the President's plans, Presidents don't always do badly, there are 'stave' elections where Presidents have lost so little it's almost a win. And sometimes, a defeat has positive effects.

Music by Josh Woodward and Lee Rosevere in this episode. Find them on the Free Music Archive website

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BIAS: OUR MEDIATED REPUBLIC, PART SEVEN Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

We've talked about who owns media, who writes it. Now will talk about the debates about what is in it? This episode is about bias in the news media.

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