History You Can Use

Episode 5: Fake News! America's History with Questionable News Media

"Fake news" has agitated for war, smeared political opponents, and stoked tensions within the country... and that's just talking about the role of newspapers before 1850. We've come a long way since then; some things have changed, and some things haven't. What exactly qualifies as "fake news" and how has that term evolved over time? This episode traces the history of "fake news" in America, from sensational Revolutionary-era reports and partisan 18th-century newspapers to yellow journalism, the rise of investigative muckrakers, and the development of broadcast and cable news.

Episode 4: Tariffs: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Why are tariffs such a big political issue? What's the purpose of tariffs and, do they work? What does the Constitution say about tariffs? Did you know that tariffs had a role in the onset of the American Revolution? How about the fact that they both protected the economy, and caused economic depressions? On more than once occasion, they influenced presidential elections. They also contributed to sectionalism and civil war. This episode traces the American history with tariffs, their role in shaping the economy, and how they have impacted the politics of the United States.

Episode 3: The Battle to Define America’s Past

Why do people have such conflicting views of American history? What is revisionist history, and why does it have such a bad reputation? And what do we make of this current idea of “patriotic history?” This episode explores why American history is so hotly debated, contrasting descriptive history (facts of who, what, when, where, and how) with interpretive history (the why), and traces how perspectives—from the Southern Lost Cause to voices of marginalized communities—have shaped the nation's story. With help from John Wayne, Thomas Jefferson,  the Enola Gay, and one of the best historical analogies you'll ever hear, this episode examines revisionism, patriotic history, and the ongoing struggle to balance pride, truth, and lessons from the past.

Episode 2: The United States' Ambivalent Relationship with Foreign Alliances

Has the United States always been so committed to foreign alliances, such as NATO? If not, then when and why did that change and can the U.S. really be neutral on the world stage? This episode traces the United States' journey from neutrality and strategic economic partnerships to full-scale post–World War II alliances like NATO. Along the way, we confront several key moments you probably remember hearing about at some point, such as the Battle of Yorktown, the Monroe Doctrine, and the Truman Doctrine. In tracing America's move from isolationist neutrality to the most allied nation in the world, we weigh the costs and benefits of U.S. engagement in alliances today and ask... should the U.S. return to its isolationist roots or is the risk too great?

Episode 1: Christianity and the Founding of the American Republic

Was the United States really founded as a Christian nation? What does the separation of church and state even mean, and what does the Constitution actually say? To answer these questions we explore colonial religious life, Enlightenment influences, and the debates of the Founding Fathers. Along the way, we meet the original Christian evangelicals, watch a political boxing match unfold in Virginia, and briefly run into pirates in North Africa. Who knew the religious roots of the United States involved so many different stories? In the end, we gain a better understanding of the role of the Christian religion in the founding of the country... and the limits of that influence.