Presidential Pets And Public Power

Geocivics, Redistricting, and Gerrymandering

A map can look clean and still be unfair, and a “weird” map can exist for reasons most people never learn. That’s why we sit down with Dr. Rebecca Theobald, an associate research professor at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, to unpack geocivics and the real mechanics behind redistricting and gerrymandering. We walk through what geocivics looks like in practice: learning the US Census and apportionment, understanding state rules, debating criteria, and then using free online mapping tools to draw and defend your own legislative district map. We also tackle one of the most common misunderstandings in civics: districts represent people, not land. That’s how you can end up with a massive rural congressional district next to tiny urban districts without anyone getting “extra” representation. From there, we get concrete about the principles map drawers juggle, including equal population, contiguity, compactness, protecting minority voters, keeping counties and cities intact, and recognizing communities of interest. We talk about why independent redistricting commissions matter, what “fair representation” can mean in different communities, and how court decisions shape what challenges are possible. Then we zoom out to the stakes: the decennial census, the fixed 435 House seats, shifting electoral votes, and how undercounts can change representation for a decade. If you teach civics, history, or geography, we also point to practical resources including the GeoCivics project and Dave’s Redistricting App so students can compare maps built for different goals and see the tradeoffs for themselves. If this helped you see district lines differently, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more people can learn how maps shape democracy. GeoCivics Resources [https://geocivics.uccs.edu/geography/resources] Redistricting Criteria [https://geocivics.uccs.edu/sites/default/files/2025-09/Redistricting%20Criteria%20Review.mp3] Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum [https://civics.asu.edu/civic-literacy-curriculum]! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership [https://scetl.asu.edu/] Center for American Civics [https://civics.asu.edu/]

After 9/11: Words, Power, And War

A president’s first job after a national trauma is to lead the story people tell themselves about what just happened and what must happen next. After 9/11, George W. Bush had to name the enemy, promise action, and still convince Americans that daily life could continue without surrendering to fear. We talk with historian Dr. Stephen Knott about how Bush framed the attacks in his address to the nation, why that framing shaped public understanding of the conflict that followed, and how presidential rhetoric can steady a country even when the future feels unknowable. From the bullhorn moment at Ground Zero to the World Series first pitch in an FDNY jacket, we dig into presidential communication as more than optics. These public signals helped project resolve and restore a sense of normalcy, but they also set expectations for what “justice” would look like. We explore why certain lines and images endure, and how leadership in a crisis often hinges on a few clear, memorable choices. Then we follow the power. The 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and the USA PATRIOT Act dramatically expanded executive branch authority in the name of national security. We unpack how Congress delegated its constitutional war powers, why that deference is common in emergencies, and what the long-term constitutional implications look like when broad authorizations turn into long-running military engagements. We also hear about Knott’s new book, Conspirator in Chief [https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700641284/], and what presidential rumor-mongering can cost the body politic. Listen, share with a friend who cares about civics, and leave a review: Should Congress put real limits and sunsets on AUMFs? Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum [https://civics.asu.edu/civic-literacy-curriculum]! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership [https://scetl.asu.edu/] Center for American Civics [https://civics.asu.edu/]

Memorial Day with Arlington National Cemetery

Memorial Day gets marketed like a party, but the real story is heavier and more human. We’re joined by Allison Finkelstein, Senior Historian at Arlington National Cemetery, to trace Memorial Day back to its first name: Decoration Day. From Arlington’s creation during the Civil War to the first official annual observance of National Decoration Day in 1868, we talk about how public rituals, flowers, and community grief shaped the way the United States remembers its war dead. Then we slow down and look at remembrance, one name at a time. Allison shares the story of Private Sylvester Ducket of the 369th Infantry, the Harlem Hellfighters, and how a headstone can open a door into archives, family choices, and long-delayed recognition. We also discuss Anita Campos, a Spanish-American War nurse contracted before the Army Nurse Corps existed, and what her burial at Arlington says about the service that the government didn’t always fully name or reward. Along the way, we unpack Arlington’s history of segregation by race and rank and why the cemetery’s landscape still helps us see that past. We also get practical about what Memorial Day can look like now: Arlington’s Flags In tradition, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and Flowers of Remembrance, which invites the public to place a flower in a powerful act of collective memory. If you teach civics or history, Alison explains free educational resources from Arlington National Cemetery, including lesson plans, primary source activities, and upcoming virtual visits that bring the site to your classroom. Subscribe for more conversations that make civics feel real, share this with a teacher or veteran in your life, and leave a review so more listeners can find us. What’s one way you plan to observe Memorial Day with intention this year? America 250 [https://education.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Themes/America-250] Memorial Day Lesson  [https://education.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Search/Blog/33?search=memorial%20day'] Arlington Education Hub [https://education.arlingtoncemetery.mil/] Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum [https://civics.asu.edu/civic-literacy-curriculum]! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership [https://scetl.asu.edu/] Center for American Civics [https://civics.asu.edu/]

Lyndon B. Johnson And The Art Of Power

Power rarely looks like a speech. Sometimes it looks like a phone call, a vote count, and a president who knows exactly how the Senate works. We’re joined by LBJ Foundation Chairman and CEO Mark Updgrove for a clear-eyed conversation about Lyndon B. Johnson, the skills that made him so effective, and why his story still belongs in every serious discussion of American civic education. We dig into the Johnson Treatment, LBJ’s legendary ability to persuade, and how his command of the legislative process turned relationships into results. From the pivotal 1964 election to the fleeting nature of political capital, we track how Johnson used a historic mandate to push a progressive agenda at breathtaking speed. The Great Society comes into focus not as a slogan, but as the foundation of modern America: Medicare, Medicaid, the Voting Rights Act, major education funding, immigration reform, environmental protections, and more. Then we confront the shadow that shaped how many Americans remember him: the Vietnam War, the draft, and a country pulling apart. Mark also explains why Johnson’s 1968 decision not to run again still matters, including the personal reality of his health. We close with a defense of presidential libraries as repositories of the public record and as public squares for debate, plus a listener-friendly path into the LBJ telephone tapes [https://lbjtapes.org/] that let you hear history unfold in real time. Subscribe for more deep dives on U.S. history and civic learning, share this with a friend who loves presidential history, and leave us a review with your biggest takeaway. Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum [https://civics.asu.edu/civic-literacy-curriculum]! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership [https://scetl.asu.edu/] Center for American Civics [https://civics.asu.edu/]

Presidential Pets And Public Power

A dog on the White House lawn can do what a policy speech can’t: make power feel personal. We’re taking a sharp, surprisingly civic look at presidential pets and why these “small” stories shape how Americans see leadership, character, and credibility. From carefully curated photo ops to messy headlines that remind us the White House is also a home, pets have become part of modern political communication.  We walk through some of the most telling examples in presidential history, starting with Franklin D Roosevelt’s Scottish terrier, Fala, and the famous moment Roosevelt used humor about his dog to reinforce confidence during wartime. Then we move to one of the most politically important pet stories ever told on television: Richard Nixon’s 1952 Checkers speech, where a family dog becomes the emotional centerpiece of a career-saving argument. Along the way, we connect the dots to the rise of the “public presidency” and how media rewards relatability.  We also explore how the pet narrative evolves through the TV era and into the 21st century with Reagan’s ranch image, George H W Bush’s wildly popular dog Millie, Barack Obama’s promise of Bo, and the constant attention around President Biden’s dogs. And yes, we make room for the weird ones too: John Quincy Adams’ alligator and Calvin Coolidge’s raccoon Rebecca. If you care about civics, presidential history, media influence, and how voters form trust, this is a surprisingly revealing place to look.  Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review with your favorite presidential pet story. Check Out the Civic Literacy Curriculum [https://civics.asu.edu/civic-literacy-curriculum]! School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership [https://scetl.asu.edu/] Center for American Civics [https://civics.asu.edu/]