“This Day” takes you beyond the head-spinning headlines of today and into the unexpected historical moments that have shaped American politics. 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.
It’s March 23rd. This is, in some ways, the birthday of Uncle Sam — it was the first time that the character appeared in a political cartoon. Niki, Jody and Kellie discuss how Uncle Sam had its origins in a real-life figure, and how the character truly burst into the public imagination with those iconic “I Want You” posters. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
It’s March 20th. This day in 1852, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” is the best-selling book in the country, capturing a growing anti-slavery sentiment, as well as tremendous backlash. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss why Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel took off so quickly — and how even at the time it was viewed as well-intentioned but potentially misguided in its portrayal of the slave narrative. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out mo...
It’s March 19th. In 2008 (on March 17th) New York Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned after a week of reports about his patronizing a prostitution ring. Jody, NIki, and Kellie are joined by long-time NY political reporter Azi Paybarah to discuss how quickly the salacious details broke, the media environment that fueled it — and why there was a particular hypocrisy at the heart of it all. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out ...
It’s March 16th. Today we mark Evacuation Day (technically the 17th), a day in which Boston marks the retreat of troops during the Revolutionary War. Over the years, the holiday has been combined and conflated with St. Patrick’s Day, making it the most Boston of holidays. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss why the holiday gained traction in the first part of the 20th century — and why in the last decade or so it’s receded a bit. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff...
It’s March 13th. This day in 1955, news breaks that the White House is engaged in a full-on battle against the squirrels that have invaded the grounds. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why President Eisenhower is so determined to get rid of the squirrels, and how he tried everything from relocating them to shooting them to — really — deploying psychological torture to solve the problem. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out...
It’s March 12th. This day in 1961, an Atlanta woman by the name of Ruby Doris Smith Robinson joins the civil rights organization SNCC — and quickly starts to advocate for the role of women within the organization. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss Robinson’s life and work, and the gender and class dynamics among civil rights workers. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out more at thisdaypod.com This Day In Esoteric Political ...
It’s March 9th. In 1972, President Richard Nixon made a surprise visit to China, meeting with leaders and sending images back home that shocked Americans. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss how the trip came together, why the biggest criticism Nixon got was from his own party — and how the trip really did shift global diplomacy. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out more at thisdaypod.com This Day In Esoteric Political Histor...
It’s March 7th. IN 1869, President Andrew Johnson pardoned a man by the name of Samuel Arnold — who had been imprisoned for five years for plotting to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss why Johnson is choosing to pardon many Confederate sympathizers, as well as the many ways in which people tried to kill Lincoln before he was finally assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. ...
It’s March 5th. In 1938, the two original creators of Superman sold the character to what would become DC Comics for $130. Jody, NIki, and Kellie are joined by NPR’s Glen Weldon to discuss the early days of Superman, the IP cautionary tale — and how the hero has reflected political and social changes throughout the decades. Be sure to check out Glen’s work on Pop Culture Happy Hour, and his book: “Superman: An Unauthorized Biography.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
It’s March 2nd. In 1981, in late February, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher travelled to the United States to meet with new US President Ronald Reagan. Jody and Niki are joined by Dan Snow to discuss why the two felt such a kinship — even though they disagreed on foreign policy in surprising ways. Be sure to check out Dan’s Snow’s “History Hit” podcast and the many other great shows as part of the History Hit network! Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we ...
It’s February 27th. This day in 1995, President Bill Clinton is in Canada, where he offers seemingly-bland remarks about the country, but ones that are largely seen to reveal his opinion about the looming Quebec independence vote. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss how Clinton’s remarks were received, and the larger context for why he was visiting Canada at this very tense moment to begin with. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Fi...
Jody has a new podcast series! It’s called “Good Sport” and all this week we’re featuring episodes. Be sure to find it wherever you get your podcasts . Today, a sample from the episode on aging and growth. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out more at thisdaypod.com This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcasts and award-winnin...
Jody has a new podcast series! It’s called “Good Sport” and all this week we’re featuring episodes. Be sure to find it wherever you get your podcasts . Today, we discuss how the deals for new sports stadiums tend to reflect larger political and economic systems. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out more at thisdaypod.com This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Your support helps f...
It’s Fat Tuesday, Jody is in New Orleans, and today we’re bringing you an episode we did last year about the integration of Mardis Gras. It’s one of our favorites. It’s March 1st, the first day of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. This day in 1992, a city ordinance mandating that all Mardi Gras krewes be integrated in order to march on city streets is in effect — making this a Mardi Gras unlike any in history. Jody, Niki, and Kellie are joined by New Orleans city Councilman Oliver Thomas (also a poet, ...
Jody has a new podcast series! It’s called “Good Sport” and all this week we’re featuring episodes. Be sure to find it wherever you get your podcasts . Today, we discuss the moment in 2003 when Rush Limbaugh was featured on ESPN’s football coverage. The first episode of Good Sport gets into the connections between sports talk and politics talk. It’s out now. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out more at thisdaypod.com Thi...
It’s February 16th — Elizabeth Peratrovich Day! Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss the life and work of Alaska Native activist Elizabeth Peratrovich. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out more at thisdaypod.com This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcasts and award-winning stories. If you want to support the show directly, you can...
It’s February 14th. This day in 1936, a delegation of US civil rights activists is touring India, where they would meet with Mahatma Gandhi to discuss non-violent resistance. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the visit and what the two resistance movement had to learn from each other. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out more at thisdaypod.com This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. ...
It’s February 12th. This day in 1870, women in Utah become the first in the country to cast ballots in elections. But after granting women the right to vote, Utah then took it back a generation later. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why Utah’s move towards women’s suffrage was tied up in questions of polygamy, and how rights can be taken back just as easily as they are enshrined. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out more ...
It’s February 9th. In 1946, a recently-returned World War II vet by the name of Isaac Woodard is beaten by police, an incident that became a national civil rights rallying cry. Jody, Niki, and Kellie are joined by special guest Matthew Delmont of Dartmouth University to discuss how Black WWII vets were treated when they returned home, and how in many cases their service made them a target. Be sure to check out Matt’s book “ Half American .” Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links ...
It’s February 7th. This day in 1979, thousands of tractors descended on Washington, D.C. as part of a protest over agricultural policy. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why farmers were upset with the Carter administration’s economic policy, how D.C. residents felt about the tractors — and what happened when a blizzard descended on the city. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out more at thisdaypod.com This Day In Esoteric P...
It’s February 4th. This day in 1933, Louisiana Senator Huey Long invents a holiday out of whole cloth in order to close banks and prevent a bank run. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss why the bank needed to close, and how Long settled on commemorating the day in 1917 when the US cut off diplomatic relations with Germany. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out more at thisdaypod.com This Day In Esoteric Political History is a ...
It’s February 2nd. This day in 1929, Laddie Boy died and the country mourned. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss Warren Harding’s dog, and why he was such a beloved celebrity. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out more at thisdaypod.com This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcasts and award-winning stories. If you want to support ...
It’s January 31st. This day in 1976, Jimmy Carter is coming out of Iowa having rocketed to the top of the Democratic nomination field. This is in large part because he was the first to recognize the particular way in which the Iowa caucus system favored a certain kind of politics. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why Carter was such a great fit for the Iowa style of campaign politics. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out m...
It’s January 29th. This day in 2000, the Cuban relatives of Elian Gonzalez are in the United States arguing that the six-year-old child should be returned to Cuba — while his relatives in Miami and many in the Cuban-American community are fighting for him to be kept in the U.S. Jody, Niki, and Kellie are joined by Northwestern history professor Geraldo Cadava to discuss why the Gonzalez story became such a flashpoint, and how it played into the political moment. Be sure to subscribe to Gerry’s e...
It’s January 26th. This day in 1969, free meals are being handed out to kids in Oakland, California as part of the Black Panther Party Free for Children Breakfast Program. Jody, NIki, and Kellie are joined by Mary Phillips, history professor at Lehman College, to discuss why the panthers started the program, how it reflected the community work they were doing — and how it subverted gender roles within the organization. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we re...
It’s January 24th. This day in 1909, the administration of William Howard Taft has gone completely possum crazy — and is desperately trying to make “Billy Possum” a mascot along the lines of the Teddy Bear. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss why Taft was so infatuated with the possum, and the key differences between the origin stories of the Teddy Bear and Billy Possum marketing campaigns. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find ou...
It’s January 22nd. This day in 1958, near Maxton, North Carolina, a KKK rally was broken up by a group of armed members of the Lumbee tribe. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss what came to be known as the “Battle of Hayes Pond,” the relationship between Black, White, and Native Americans in the region, and the role of armed resistance in the Civil Rights era. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out more at thisdaypod.com This D...
It’s January 19h. This day in 1870, a political cartoon by Thomas Mast depicts a donkey to represent southern Democrats. Around this same time, Nast also starts to use the elephant for Republicans. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the very convoluted origins of the very strange mascots — and whether the donkey-elephant divide even works anymore. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out more at thisdaypod.com This Day In Esoter...
It’s January 16th. This day in 1903, film of the electrocution of an elephant, Topsy, is being viewed in kinetoscopes across the country. Topsy was executed on Coney Island a few weeks earlier. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss how the story of Topsy’s death lands at a moment when there are lots of changes in the way Americans thought about electricity, corporal punishment, animal rights — and how the death evokes the spectacle and bloodlust of the lynching era. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be...
It’s January 15th. In the winter of 1898-99, at the end of the Spanish-American War, President McKinley is touring the south to drum up support from Southern lawmakers. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss how as part of his appeal to Southerners, McKinley embraces a story of the Civil War as virtuous and noble — and makes key concessions about monuments and burial plots to Southern soldiers. In many ways, this starts to plant the seeds for the so-called “Lost Cause” narrative. Thanks to listener Davi...
