This Day (An America 250 History Show)

Jody Avirgan & Radiotopia · feed.electionhistory.show

To mark our 250th birthday, “This Day” presents "50 Weeks That Shaped America," a series of deep dives into the stories that brought us to this moment. "This Day" takes you beyond the head-spinning headlines of today and into the unexpected historical moments that have shaped American politics and culture. Hosted by Jody Avirgan (538), and historians Nicole Hemmer (Vanderbilt), and Kellie Carter Jackson (Wellesley), each episode explores a moment from that day in U.S. political history to uncover its lasting impact. On Sunday episodes, Jody, Niki and Kellie react to current news with their usual mix of humor, analysis, and historical perspective.New episodes released Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Lots more on our Instagram page, YouTube, and newsletter. Find it all at thisdaypod.com.This Day is a proud member of the Radiotopia podcast network from PRX.

956 episodes

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Episodes 300

"The Giant Pool of Money" Revisited w/ Alex Blumberg [Some Sunday Context]
12h ago · 37:33
This past week, we did a two-parter on the 2008 financial crisis. In it, we discussed how This American Life's "Giant Pool of Money" episode helped explain the economic collapse to a lot of listerners, our crew included. Today, a bonus conversation between Jody and Alex Blumberg, who co-reported the piece with Adam Davidson -- the two of them went on to start Planet Money. Jody and Alex discuss what it was like to report on the collapse, try to translate it into narrative audio, the piece's impact on the world of audio and podcast, and Alex's thoughts on the current frothy economy. Alex's new
2008 Crash: The Bailout (Part 2)
3d ago · 30:37
Our conversation about the 2008 financial crisis continues with a look at the decision to bail out the banks, the response by the Obama and McCain campaigns, and how the seeds for our era of economic populism got planted. Join our America250 newsletter community! Subscribe for free to get the latest news and analysis of how America250 is playing out. Paying subscribers get access to early, ad-free versions of the show. Plus bonus features throughout the year. To support our work and get access to everything, subscribe now. This Day is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Your support helps f
2008 Crash: The Collapse (Part One)
5d ago · 35:29
For the thirty-first installment of "50 Weeks That Shaped America," we go to fairly recent history -- the spring and summer of 2008, when the US banking industry began to collapse on the back of instability in the housing market. Jody, Niki, and Kellie revisit the world of Credit Default Swaps, Subprime mortgages, and a steady collapse of financial institutions. All while the Bush administration was flailing and Obama and McCain are mounting their campaign. Join our America250 newsletter community! Subscribe for free to get the latest news and analysis of how America250 is playing out. Paying
Teaching Evolution [Some Sunday Context]
7d ago · 17:25
This past week we did a two-parter on the Scopes "monkey trial" in 1925 -- today we bring you an episode from the archives about the repeal of the Butler Act in 1967, and the way that evolution worked its way into curriculums across the country. Join our America250 newsletter community! Subscribe for free to get the latest news and analysis of how America250 is playing out. Paying subscribers get access to early, ad-free versions of the show. Plus bonus features throughout the year. To support our work and get access to everything, subscribe now. This Day is a proud member of Radiotopia from P
Scopes Monkey Trial: Darrow v Bryan (Part 2)
10d ago · 28:11
Our conversation about the so-called "Monkey Trial" continues with a showdown between Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan. Jody, Niki, and Kellie then discuss how the verdict in the trial didn't capture the impact it would have, and how the story of the trial has resonated through other eras -- including through the play and film "Inherit The Wind." Join our America250 newsletter community! Subscribe for free to get the latest news and analysis of how America250 is playing out. Paying subscribers get access to early, ad-free versions of the show. Plus bonus features throughout the year.
Scopes Monkey Trial: Evolution in Schools (Part 1)
12d ago · 34:22
For the thirtieth installment of "50 Weeks That Shaped America," we go to 1925 and a small courthouse in the town of Dayton, Tennessee, and a trial over the teaching of evolution in public schools. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss why it took 50 years since the theory of evolution was first proposed for it to come to a head in a trial like this; the flamboyant lawyers at the heart of the case; and the circus that surrounded a trial that quickly became about much bigger issues than just what was taught in schools. Join our America250 newsletter community! Subscribe for free to get the latest news
JFK's Fallout Shelters [Some Sunday Context]
14d ago · 16:28
This past week we did a two-parter on the race to the moon, whichs started under JFK, and started as part of a growing arms race with Russia. Today, for our Sunday Context episode, a conversation we had in 2020 that helps paint the picture of fear, threat and response in 1961, just as the space race got going. Join our America250 newsletter community! Subscribe for free to get the latest news and analysis of how America250 is playing out. Paying subscribers get access to early, ad-free versions of the show. Plus bonus features throughout the year. To support our work and get access to everythi
Moon Landing: It Was Not Faked (Part 2)
17d ago · 33:54
We continue our conversation about the moon landing with a play-by-play of how Apollo 11 made its way to the surface; a conspiracy-by-conspiracy debunking of the popular "it was fake" myths; and a look at the role that space exploration plays in our modern politics. Join our America250 newsletter community! Subscribe for free to get the latest news and analysis of how America250 is playing out. Paying subscribers get access to early, ad-free versions of the show. Plus bonus features throughout the year. To support our work and get access to everything, subscribe now. This Day is a proud member
Moon Landing: One Giant Leap (Part 1)
19d ago · 44:03
For the twenty-ninth installment of “50 Weeks That Shaped America” we go to 1969 and the United States victory in the race to the moon. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss John F Kennedy's speech setting the goal of reaching the moon; how the program continued after his death; and the questions about whether going to the moon was a wortwhile endeavor given all the problems here on Earth. Join our America250 newsletter community! Subscribe for free to get the latest news and analysis of how America250 is playing out. Paying subscribers get access to early, ad-free versions of the show. Plus bonus fe
Eleanor Roosevelt'sTuskegee Plane Ride [Some Sunday Context]
21d ago · 14:18
This past week we did a two-parter on the desegregation of the military. For today's "Sunday Context" episode, we revisit an episode we dd about the time First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt took an airplane ride in a small plane piloted by Charles “Chief” Anderson, a Black pilot and member of the Tuskegee airmen. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss how the photo caused a sensation, and controversy — and helped bolster the case for Black pilots to serve in WWII. Join our America250 newsletter community! Subscribe for free to get the latest news and analysis of how America250 is playing out. Paying subscrib
Military Integration: Pressure On Truman (Part Two)
24d ago · 40:04
Our conversation about military integration continues with a look at Harry Truman and the civil-rights battle within the Democratic party. After a contentious 1948 convention, Truman starts to embrace desegregation, starting witht the military. Then we discuss how the culture of the armed forces began to slowly change. Join our America250 newsletter community! Subscribe for free to get the latest news and analysis of how America250 is playing out. Paying subscribers get access to early, ad-free versions of the show. Plus bonus features throughout the year. To support our work and get access to
Military Integration: Double V (Part One)
26d ago · 43:59
For the twenty-eighth installment of “50 Weeks That Shaped America” we go to 1948 and the moment that Harry Truman issued an executive order to — finally, formally — desegregate the armed forces. We talk about the long history of Black Americans in the armed services, and how the “double V” campaign of WWII put pressure on segregation. We also discuss how the military has served as a vehicle for growth for many Black families, including Kellie’s. Join our America250 newsletter community! Subscribe for free to get the latest news and analysis of how America250 is playing out. Paying subscribers
The Capitol Cornerstone Conspiracy (Revolutionary Rerun)
1mo ago · 21:42
As we take a mid-summer-post-4th-of-July break, we are bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives about the Revolutionary era. We'll be back with new "50 Weeks That Shaped America" episodes soon! It's September 17th. This day in 1793, President Washington visits a site where construction is beginning on what would be the Capitol. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss how the ceremony around the laying of the cornerstone was shot through with Masonic symbolism and pageantry --- and some of the many conspiracy theories that surround the cornerstone. Join our America250 newsletter comm
The "Coup" Against Washington (Revolutionary Rerun)
1mo ago · 15:00
As we take a mid-summer-post-4th-of-July break, we are bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives about the Revolutionary era. We'll be back with new "50 Weeks That Shaped America" episodes soon! It’s March 14th. This day in 1783, George Washington gave an address to his troops camped in Newburgh, NY, that averted a possible coup attempt. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss why Washington’s troops were upset in the last year of the war, whether the “coup” plot was legit, and how much to believe the story that it was the sheer power of Washington’s words that averted catastrophe. J
The Only US Raid On British Soil (Revolutionary Rerun)
1mo ago · 23:16
As we take a mid-summer-post-4th-of-July break, we are bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives about the Revolutionary era. We'll be back with new "50 Weeks That Shaped America" episodes soon! It's April 23rd. This day in 1778, John Paul Jones leads the only American raid on British soil in the Revolutionary War. Jody, Niki and Kellie discuss Jones's spotty past, and what brought him to the port of Whitehaven, where he launched a scheme to raid the town. It did not go well, but the day wasn't a total failure, as he later stumbled into one of America's great naval victories
That Other Midnight Ride (Revolutionary Reruns)
1mo ago · 17:24
As we take a mid-summer-post-4th-of-July break, we are bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives about the Revolutionary era. We'll be back with new "50 Weeks That Shaped America" episodes soon! It’s April 25th. In 1777, a 16-year-old by the name of Sybil Luddington went on a 40-mile nighttime ride to warn Colonial troops and citizens of an impending British invasion. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss why Luddington’s midnight ride isn’t nearly as famous as Paul Revere’s — and how we can ever know if the details of her story are actually true. Join our America250 newsletter com
A Declaration Abstention w/ John Dickerson (Revolutionary Rerun)
1mo ago · 13:40
As we take a mid-summer-post-4th-of-July break, we are bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives about the Revolutionary era. We'll be back with new "50 Weeks That Shaped America" episodes soon! Today, the story of John Dickinson, who attended the Continental Congress, was witness to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, but abstained from voting for or signing the document. Jody Avirgan and Nicole Hemmer are joined by John Dickerson, formerly of CBS and author of “The Hardest Job In The Room.” Join our America250 newsletter community! Subscribe for free to get th
Franklin's French Fantasies w/ Mike Duncan (Revolutionary Rerun)
1mo ago · 32:26
As we take a mid-summer-post-4th-of-July break, we are bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives about the Revolutionary era. We'll be back with new "50 Weeks That Shaped America" episodes soon! It’s October 4th. In 1776, Benjamin Franklin is headed to France as the Continental Congress’s first diplomat, looking to secure support for the American independence movement. Jody and Kellie are joined by Mike Duncan, history podcaster behind series such as “Revolutions” and “The Fall of Rome.” They discuss Franklin’s diplomatic goal, his taste for the Parisian nightlife — and why
Lexington, Concord, and Menotomy? (Revolutionary Rerun)
1mo ago · 16:17
As we take a mid-summer-post-4th-of-July break, we are bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives about the Revolutionary era. We'll be back with new "50 Weeks That Shaped America" episodes soon! It's April 1775. This day in 1775, the Revolutionary War is sparked when British troops enter the towns of Lexington and Concord. But later that same day there's a third battle in a third town that is often forgotten. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss what happened in the town of Menotomy, how the fighting there was much more brutal than in Lexington and Concord -- and why it has been w
Liberty Trees (Revolutionary Rerun)
1mo ago · 24:58
As we take a mid-summer-post-4th-of-July break, we are bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives about the Revolutionary era. We'll be back with new "50 Weeks That Shaped America" episodes soon! It's October 22nd. This day in 1999, in Annapolis, MD, the last of the so-called "Liberty Trees" was cut down. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the original liberty trees that served as gathering spots for political ideas to be shared -- and political violence to play out -- during the American revolution. And they make the case for bringing back gatherings-under-trees as a political a
Ben Franklin's ALMANACK (Revolutionary Rerun)
1mo ago · 17:30
As we take a mid-summer-post-4th-of-July break, we are bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives about the Revolutionary era. We'll be back with new "50 Weeks That Shaped America" episodes soon! It’s December 19th. This day in 1732, Benjamin Franklin first published “Poor Richard’s Almanack” — his book of weather forecast, practical advice, and all sorts of aphorisms about living your best life. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why the Almanack became such a sensation in Colonial America, and why his advice still feels like it could find an audience today. Join our America250
Mid-Year Mailbag w/ Jody, Niki, and Kellie
1mo ago · 40:33
Coming off the 4th of July weekend, we check in on how the big America 250 celebrations went, how we marked the day, and answer some listener questions about this year, and this show. Thanks to everyone who checked in, we've got a few special things lined up over the next couple weeks -- and of course "50 Weeks That Shaped America" continues through the summer and into the second half of the year!
The Declaration of Independence (Live from Boston) w/ A.J. Jacobs
1mo ago · 54:24
For this 4th of July weekend, our "50 Weeks That Shaped America" series lands in, no surprise, 1776 and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 250 years ago, a group writing assignment fell in Thomas Jefferson's lap, and he drafted a document that spurred a revolution. Jody, Niki and Kellie travelled up to Boston to WBUR's Cityspace and were joined by A.J. Jacobs, author of "The Year of Living Constitutionally" to talk about how the document came together, some of the key changes that were made to it -- and how it has served as a guiding light in the 250 years since. Join our America2
Books We'd Save From A Fire (Part 2) w/ Jon Meacham
1mo ago · 50:44
We continue our 250-year look at the most significant works of history by looking at the rise of popular presidential biography, and the correctives to history offered over the last 15 years. Plus, books that have aged well, aged poorly, and the ones we'd save from the flames... Join our America250 newsletter community! Subscribe for free to get the latest news and analysis of how America250 is playing out. Paying subscribers get access to early, ad-free versions of the show. Plus bonus features throughout the year. To support our work and get access to everything, subscribe now. This Day is a
The Books That Shaped America w/ Jon Meacham (Part 1)
2mo ago · 53:47
This week, as we head to the 4th of July weekend, we are bringing you a special two-part episode that provides a capstone for our month-long collaboration with Random House about the books that have shaped American history. Over almost two hours, we took a 250-year-tour of the books that shaped this country’s history. Niki, Kellie and Jody were joined by Pulitzer-prize winning presidential historian Jon Meacham, who is also Niki’s fellow Vanderbilt professor. We tried to touch on a lot of books, and also group them into basic schools of thought that we could use to trace how the story of Ameri

Episodes

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More History shows

This Day (An America 250 History Show)

Episodes 300

"The Giant Pool of Money" Revisited w/ Alex Blumberg [Some Sunday Context]

2008 Crash: The Bailout (Part 2)

2008 Crash: The Collapse (Part One)

Teaching Evolution [Some Sunday Context]

Scopes Monkey Trial: Darrow v Bryan (Part 2)

Scopes Monkey Trial: Evolution in Schools (Part 1)

JFK's Fallout Shelters [Some Sunday Context]

Moon Landing: It Was Not Faked (Part 2)

Moon Landing: One Giant Leap (Part 1)

Eleanor Roosevelt'sTuskegee Plane Ride [Some Sunday Context]

Military Integration: Pressure On Truman (Part Two)

Military Integration: Double V (Part One)

The Capitol Cornerstone Conspiracy (Revolutionary Rerun)

The "Coup" Against Washington (Revolutionary Rerun)

The Only US Raid On British Soil (Revolutionary Rerun)

That Other Midnight Ride (Revolutionary Reruns)

A Declaration Abstention w/ John Dickerson (Revolutionary Rerun)

Franklin's French Fantasies w/ Mike Duncan (Revolutionary Rerun)

Lexington, Concord, and Menotomy? (Revolutionary Rerun)

Liberty Trees (Revolutionary Rerun)

Ben Franklin's ALMANACK (Revolutionary Rerun)

Mid-Year Mailbag w/ Jody, Niki, and Kellie

The Declaration of Independence (Live from Boston) w/ A.J. Jacobs

Books We'd Save From A Fire (Part 2) w/ Jon Meacham

The Books That Shaped America w/ Jon Meacham (Part 1)

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Episodes 300

"The Giant Pool of Money" Revisited w/ Alex Blumberg [Some Sunday Context]

2008 Crash: The Bailout (Part 2)

2008 Crash: The Collapse (Part One)

Teaching Evolution [Some Sunday Context]

Scopes Monkey Trial: Darrow v Bryan (Part 2)

Scopes Monkey Trial: Evolution in Schools (Part 1)

JFK's Fallout Shelters [Some Sunday Context]

Moon Landing: It Was Not Faked (Part 2)

Moon Landing: One Giant Leap (Part 1)

Eleanor Roosevelt'sTuskegee Plane Ride [Some Sunday Context]

Military Integration: Pressure On Truman (Part Two)

Military Integration: Double V (Part One)

The Capitol Cornerstone Conspiracy (Revolutionary Rerun)

The "Coup" Against Washington (Revolutionary Rerun)

The Only US Raid On British Soil (Revolutionary Rerun)

That Other Midnight Ride (Revolutionary Reruns)

A Declaration Abstention w/ John Dickerson (Revolutionary Rerun)

Franklin's French Fantasies w/ Mike Duncan (Revolutionary Rerun)

Lexington, Concord, and Menotomy? (Revolutionary Rerun)

Liberty Trees (Revolutionary Rerun)

Ben Franklin's ALMANACK (Revolutionary Rerun)

Mid-Year Mailbag w/ Jody, Niki, and Kellie

The Declaration of Independence (Live from Boston) w/ A.J. Jacobs

Books We'd Save From A Fire (Part 2) w/ Jon Meacham

The Books That Shaped America w/ Jon Meacham (Part 1)