DACA Supreme Court Decision, Texas “Pig War” Unrest and Politics
A talk on a bunch of different topics, including the strange story of a conflict between the Republic of Texas and France
The Whiskey Rebellion and Federal-State Power
Some thoughts about rebellions, federal and state power, the Whskey excise tax rebels of 1794 and the actions of the local government in Pittsburgh at the time. Spurred on by our discussion with Lindsay Chervinsky about George Washington’s Cabinet.
Healthcare, Episode from 2009
I discussed a lot about healthcare when the issue was hot during the Obamacare debate. I had some ideas that angered both left and right, and also got into the history of healthcare, or really the lack of it, in … Continued
Young Cheney
Known as a backroom-dealer and powerful Vice President, less is known about DIck Cheney’s younger years. We tell the story on this preview of a Vice Presidents podcast episode, for Extra Podcast subscribers. Thanks for your support. Cheney’s family were … Continued
Defoe’s Social Distancing and Reopening in 1660s, SARS, More on Kent State
Touching on a few topics from the various notebooks I’m been assembling. Little more detail on Kent State, and more that Ruffner said in the interview I couldn’t fit in the cast. Also the original SARS disease and Daniel Defoe’s … Continued
VP Picks Who and Why (from ’08)
a really old one – but a lot of the content applies, as to the categories of VP picks. Do you heal a party, patch up a weakness, create buzz, or something else? I aired this episode before one of … Continued
The Battle of New Orleans, and the Myth That Your Side Will Win
Well, a rerun of a 2014 episode, part of a series about ‘Lies Your Talking Head Told You’. What the battle of New Orleans was like, and how it changed politics in America forever.
Interview with Kent State Photographer Howard Ruffin
A rough cut of a just completed interview with ANOTHER eyewitness to the events at Kent State May 4th 1970. Howard Ruffin took the photographs that would appear in LIFE Magazine from that day. We discuss a lot of topics, … Continued
Truman in Texas, Monkeys in Space, Washington’s English Relatives
These are the topics we tackle in this episode, based on our recent interview with AJ Baime. Stay safe.
AJ Baime Full Interview: Truman and 1948
We spoke with A.J. Baime 2 years ago, and he’s back on again. This time to discussion the election of 1948, The Marshall Plan and Truman. Parts of te interview will be used on an upcoming episode of the podcast … Continued
Coolidge Becomes President
We talk about the transition of Coolidge from Vice President to President. His style, his politics, and the challenges he would face, including a potential challenger. How he became President was one of his greatest assets.
Kurt Schmoke: Drug Legalization When it Was ‘Dangerous’
In 1987, Baltimore would elect a new mayor with great hope and promise. He didn’t come from any of the political clubs. He could see things differently. When he looked at the drug trade, he came up with a unique … Continued
Stories From the 1918 Spanish Flu Episode – Bonus Episode from 2017 Laura Spinney Interview
The Spanish Flu was devastating, and in this episode we tell stories about the devastation, it’s impact on New York and on the art world, and how the epidemic victims were counted. I enjoyed my conversation w/ science journalist Laura … Continued
The Rum Romanism and Rebellion Moment – More About 1884 and The Incident that Sunk Blaine
(a little glitch with the last one) A little more about 1884 for premium subscribers! DId Blaine really not hear the Rum Romanism and Rebellion comment? And other things.
Levi Morton, Vice President
An early cut and preview of my podcast on Levi Morton, Benjamin Harrison’s vice president.
The Sad Stories of Three Fallen Presidential Front-Runners
Muskie, Kennedy and Hart. All of them lost their front-runner status due to scandal and poor decision making. I think this is relevant as Bridgegate convictions remind us that a front runner was greatly damaged by a scandal in … Continued
New Year’s Eve Brief Talk
Hi and Happy New Years and thanks for your support this year. A few words from me on what’s coming up, what I’m reading. A little more about Robert Caro and Robert Moses, and more.
A Sense of Humor as a Weapon: Thomas Marshall, Wilson’s VP
A special preview of my episode on the VIce Presidents of the United States Podcast. We discuss Thomas Marshall. I use some of Marshall’s sayings and jokes on MHCBUYP. He could be considered the funniest VP. Known for calling the … Continued
Lyndon Johnson, Box 13 and the 1948 Election, Visited and Revisited
I am currently reading Robert Caro’s On Working, a neat book of stories about how he does his work as a historian. That brought up a story about Lyndon Johnson’s 948 election in the Teas Primary over a popular governor, … Continued
Supreme Court, Democratic 2020 Race: Transcript of “Bruce Talks About Everything” Podcast 08/03/19
Would you be kind enough to tell me whether or not you exercise any premptories? that sound you heard right there, you may not know it, but it’s a little bit of history. That’s Clarence Thomas, Justice of the Supreme … Continued
Extras from “You Break Everybody’s Back” More about 1988
Extras from the legal pad of You Break Everybody’s Back, about the 1988 Election. More about Dole, Hart, Dukakis, Biden and more.
Ford’s Brief Tenure as Vice President
Prior to being President, Gerald Ford was Vice President for a few months. He did the best he could with a difficult spot. What it was like to be Vice President with a President under intense investigation. And about Ford … Continued
A Hessian’s Story: Revolutionary War Sketches
As part of our Revolutionary War sketches, we look at the story, or more the ordeal o a Hessian soldier who was captured twice.
Interference by Foreign Governments, 1836 and 1920 Elections, Other Topics
Bruce responds to listener questions on a variety of topics and gets more into the topics of Impeachment and Switching Vices.
Truman’s Mild Support for JFK
Bonus episode for the Premium members – looking a a listener’s question we expand on the Five Historical Trends for Trump and Hillary. He points out Trump’s novice-ness and lack of Presidential support.