America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask.

Today: and the latest in our Presidents series, is about the fifth President, James Monroe - his election, presidency, key achievements and legacy.

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This week, US senators have voted unanimously to withhold their own pay during future shutdowns. We also look at the latest redistricting news, and what it could mean for future elections.

And, as the war in Iran continues, we take stock of what exactly is happening after Trump warned the clock is ticking on a peace deal. What does that even mean, and what does peace even look like?

My guest this week is Andrew Gawthorpe from Leiden University, whose research focuses on the foreign policy and politics of the modern and contemporary United States, and is the host of the excellent newsletter, America Explained.

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Stories:

03:54 - Redistricting https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-congress-trump-voting-rights-b939802fd1ee9c3ae47a8619151a9746

14:04 - Senators Withhold Pay During Shutdowns https://apnews.com/article/senate-pay-shutdown-withhold-government-face16eac3196ad4c3bedf3d699be87f

19:23 - The War in Iran https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p4y9y48xo

39:56 - WordSkills Competition https://uk.news.yahoo.com/community-college-student-michigan-1st-113401010.html

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Sources:

• Trump’s clock is ticking on Iran: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p4y9y48xo 
• Redistricting is out of control: https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-congress-trump-voting-rights-b939802fd1ee9c3ae47a8619151a9746 
• Senator’s vote to withhold pay during future shutdowns: https://apnews.com/article/senate-pay-shutdown-withhold-government-face16eac3196ad4c3bedf3d699be87f
• Michigan student becomes first women at World Welding Championships: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/community-college-student-michigan-1st-113401010.html
• WorldSkills Shanghai 2026: https://worldskills2026.com/

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America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/

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Speeches in wartime do more than persuade. They inspire, they unify, and they define the terms of struggle. In the years around 1861, orators on both sides used rhetoric to justify secession, to call men to arms, to appeal for foreign sympathy, and to reframe the meaning of the Union. From abolitionist orations to Confederate defenses of slavery, public speech shaped recruitment, diplomacy, and memory.

So in this episode, I’m asking… how did speeches win the American Civil War?

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Special Guest:

Thomas Wright, a Professor of History at the University of Sussex, who specialises in 19th‑century American political culture and rhetoric. His recent work examines public persuasion, print culture, and transatlantic debates during the Civil War era.

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Highlights:

02:10 - Speeches were an event

05:45 - Politics and religion

09:35 - The Antislavery Movement

16:13 - The Most Consequential Speech in American History

21:06 - The Confederate Argument

27:18 - Did the South Really Believe in Slavery?

32:36 - Abraham Lincoln

39:52 - The Art of the Soundbite

42:45 - Gladstone's Speech

48:00 - What Makes Speeches So Powerful?

53:59 - Modern Speeches

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For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠

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Contact us: [email protected]

Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠

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America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask.

Today every Constitutional Amendment — what they are, why they were passed, and the big debates surrounding them.

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Contact us: [email protected]

Join the community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month

Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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This week, after an epic Truth Social session from the President, we revisit a question we asked several weeks ago... is Donald Trump really ok? Because things are getting out of hand now!

Also, Trump rehires a guy he fired a year ago into the same job.

And a diplomatic test of strength for the White House as Trump visits China, in what may just turn out to be a historic trip.

My guest this week is John Meagher, one of Ireland's top new comedians and a former martial artist who represented his country. So like Joe Rogan, but better.

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Stories:

01:31 - Trump hires Cameron Hamilton to FEMA... again https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/president-nominates-cameron-hamilton-lead-fema-year-after-fired-rcna344632

10:58 - Trump in China https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-china-trip-arrival-353c768987542843e2033aa684266879

22:12 - Is Trump ok? https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trump-truth-social-obama-arrest-controversy-1796488

44:50 - Poonsylvania https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/05/12/large-fertilizer-spill-makes-messy-commute-along-highway/7921778605613/

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Sources:

• Trump’s Truth Social frenzy: https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trump-truth-social-obama-arrest-controversy-1796488 
• Health fears: https://www.aol.com/articles/trump-health-fears-5-unhinged-090000000.html 
• Trump hires Cameron Hamilton again: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/president-nominates-cameron-hamilton-lead-fema-year-after-fired-rcna344632 
• Trump in China: https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-china-trip-arrival-353c768987542843e2033aa684266879 
• Poo closes PA road for hours: https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/05/12/large-fertilizer-spill-makes-messy-commute-along-highway/7921778605613/

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America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/

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Amelia Earhart’s disappearance in 1937 is one of the most enduring mysteries in modern history. Her final flight was meant to be the crowning achievement of a remarkable career - a round‑the‑world journey that would push the limits of aviation and cement her status as a global icon. Instead, it became the beginning of decades of speculation, investigation, and myth‑making.

Today, we’re looking at what we actually know about that final voyage, the theories that have emerged, and why her story continues to captivate the world.

So in the second of our two-part special, I’m asking… what happened to Amelia Earhart?

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Special Guest:

Rachel Hartigan, a journalist, author, and longtime National Geographic contributor who has written extensively about Amelia Earhart, including her latest book ⁠Lost: Amelia Earhart’s Three Mysterious Deaths and One Extraordinary Life⁠, which is available right now.

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Highlights:

02:02 - Amelia the Advocate

07:54 - Her Last Known Location

13:46 - The Official Story

17:26 - Three Theories

27:08 - An Enduring Mystery

33:22 - Influence and Legacy

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For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠

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Contact us: [email protected]

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America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask.

Today we’re looking at a question that confuses a lot of people: What exactly are the U.S. territories? Where are they, how did they come under American control, what political power do they have, and what does their future look like?

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Contact us: [email protected]

Join the community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month

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This week, we take a closer look at the ongoing battle between President Trump and Universities, and what this tells us about education, the first amendment, free speech, and politics in America.

We also discuss the Supreme Court's decision to dismantle part of the Voting Rights Act, and essentially allow states to redraw voting districts to the detriment of black and minority representation.

Plus, a team of Connecticut scientists may have discovered an alternative to plastic, and the answer lies in cannabis.

My guest this week is Kate Ballantyne, a Senior Lecturer in American History at Liverpool John Moores University.

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Stories:

01:14 - SCOTUS and the Voting Rights Act

09:59 - Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio Governor

22:58 - Trump, Activism and the War on Education

45:18 - Cannabis Plastic

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Sources:

• SCOTUS dismantles the Voting Rights Act: https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-congress-trump-voting-rights-b5e9ff37581e34e7083a429309c8e45e 
• DoJ versus UCLA: https://theconversation.com/trump-administrations-lawsuits-against-harvard-and-ucla-have-roots-in-a-decades-old-fight-over-civil-rights-law-276586 
• Trump’s demands to Harvard: https://www.harvard.edu/research-funding/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2025/04/Letter-Sent-to-Harvard-2025-04-11.pdf 
• May Day protests: https://time.com/article/2026/05/01/may-day-international-workers-day-protests-rallies-marches-us/ 
• Cannabis saves the world: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/scientists-unveil-hemp-alternative-to-plastic-that-withstands-boiling-water/

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America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/

Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/americathestoryoftheusa

Get in touch: [email protected]

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Before she became a mystery, Amelia Earhart was a phenomenon - a girl from Kansas who transformed herself into one of the most recognisable figures of the 20th century. She was a record‑breaker, a media icon, a political advocate, and a woman who refused to accept the limits placed on her.

Her life before the disappearance is a story of ambition, reinvention, and the birth of modern celebrity culture. We are going to explore her life, her career and her fame, to understand the woman behind the headlines.

So in the first of a two-part special, I’m asking… who is Amelia Earhart?

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Special Guest:

Rachel Hartigan, a journalist, author, and longtime National Geographic contributor who has written extensively about Amelia Earhart, including her latest book Lost: Amelia Earhart’s Three Mysterious Deaths and One Extraordinary Life, which is available right now.

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Highlights:

02:24 - Childhood and Early Influences

07:21 - Amelia and her Father

10:54 - Her First Flight

16:53 - I Want to Fly

22:06 - Amelia the Celebrity

27:36 - The Atlantic Crossing

34:10 - Woman Doing Things for the Fun of It

38:27 - The Last Big Record

43:28 - Planning to Fly Around the World

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For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠

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Contact us: [email protected]

Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠

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America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask.

Today: the 20 Most Populous Cities in the USA - a quickfire countdown of the biggest urban centres in the country, and what makes each one memorable.

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Contact us: [email protected]

Join the community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month

Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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My guest this week is Nish Kumar, a comedian and presenter, best known for co-hosting Pod Save the UK and he is just back from a tour of the US.

This week, we discuss the another assassination attempt on President Trump, this time in the form of a 31 year old Californian teacher who stormed security at the White House Correspondents Dinner.

And as always, conspiracy theorists are on the case, but is there any merit to it?

Plus, King Charles and Camilla visit Washington, in the UK's first state visit since 2007. Meanwhile, back in the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is teetering on the edge, as the Mandelson-Epstein scandal continues to ripple through British government.

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Stories:

05:41 - White House Correspondents Dinner Shooting

16:48 - Jimmy Kimmel versus Trump... Again

30:44 - King Charles' US State Visit

40:07 - Keir Starmer

47:57 - The Sperm Racing World Cup

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Sources:

• White House Correspondents Dinner Shooting: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/25/politics/live-news/trump-white-house-correspondents-dinner 

• Trump hates Jimmy Kimmel: https://apnews.com/article/trump-melania-kimmel-correspondents-dinner-6ab20d5675a5328b207b1f6a322bf3cc 

• Could Kimmel Be Cancelled? https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/could-jimmy-kimmel-get-canceled-fired-5535234/ 

• The King’s US State Visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c4g5lly7qg8t?post=asset%3A7c9229d2-21b5-4314-b503-8b2a477c3c37#post 

• Next UK Ambassador to the US: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-us-ambassador-trump-mandelson-b2824566.html 

• Starmer Says Labour Colleagues Want Him to Stay: https://metro.co.uk/2026/04/26/starmer-says-vast-majority-labour-wants-stay-prime-minister-28126238/ 

• Peter Mandelson Timeline: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/apr/17/peter-mandelson-failed-security-vetting-timeline-keir-starmer 

• Sperm Racing: https://www.spermracing.com/ 

• Sperm Racing World Cup Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WumH-msuWzk

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America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/

Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/americathestoryoftheusa

Get in touch: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices