My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

Bruce Carlson

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

  • 1 hour 27 minutes
    RONALD REAGAN PART FOUR: Central America, Lebanon, Poland and Grenada

    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.

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    9 March 2026, 12:56 pm
  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    RONALD REAGAN PART THREE - Rubik's Cube: Two Reagan Mysteries

    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?

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    4 March 2026, 12:45 pm
  • 34 minutes 45 seconds
    RONALD REAGAN PART TWO: A Taxing Year - Deficits, Unions, Taxes. Compromises

    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.

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    2 March 2026, 3:00 pm
  • 53 minutes 53 seconds
    RONALD REAGAN PART ONE: "RAWHIDE IS OK"

    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.

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    25 February 2026, 9:44 pm
  • 39 minutes 5 seconds
    GORSUCH'S ROLLERCOASTER, BARRETT'S BABYSITTER, SUPREME COURT AND TARIFFS

    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.

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    23 February 2026, 9:56 pm
  • 28 minutes 46 seconds
    RONALD REAGAN REDUX: Thoughts Before I Re-Run The 12 Part Reagan Series

    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.

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    23 February 2026, 5:00 am
  • 41 minutes 36 seconds
    MCMXCIII: Bill Clinton's Year One (2nd part)

    Healthcare, Bosnia and Belief In The President.

    All are in doubt.

    The second part of our series on Bill Clinton's first year, 1993.

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    19 February 2026, 5:00 am
  • 53 minutes 40 seconds
    MCMXCIII: Bill Clinton's 1993 - Part One

    It's 1993. A new President jogs through his first year, with an unexperienced staff and a hostile White House press corps.

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    16 February 2026, 7:29 pm
  • 54 minutes 41 seconds
    TRUSTBUSTING, A HISTORY

    A look at the histories and realities of breaking up trusts, from T.R.'s era to the present.

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    12 February 2026, 5:00 am
  • 41 minutes 53 seconds
    THOMAS WOLFE TURNS AGAINST TOTALITARIANISM

    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.]


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    9 February 2026, 5:00 am
  • 30 minutes 20 seconds
    LBJ 's "CELL PHONE" AND HIS DECISION TO JUMP ON THE TICKET IN 1960

    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.

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    5 February 2026, 5:00 pm
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