To wrap up 2020, and give ourselves a week off, we’re re-running some of our favorite episodes from the year. Thanks for listening all year, and we have lots more in store for 2021! ///// On August 24th in 2014, President Barack Obama gave a press conference about Ukraine and ISIS and foreign policy — but much of the political chatter was about his choice of tan suit. Jody and Niki are joined by Sam Sanders of NPR’s “It’s Been A Minute” to discuss the “scandal” and what it how it represented a s...
Dec 27, 2020•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s December 24nd. This Christmas week, we’re doing something a little different — a two-part special on the history of The War on Christmas. In part two, Jody and Nikki are joined by Michael Hobbes of “You’re Wrong About” to go back in time and explore the surprising roots of the War on Christmas, from the Puritans to the Egg Nog Riot to the Red Scare. Michael Hobbes’s podcasts are “You’re Wrong About” and “Maintenance Phase.” Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterich...
Dec 24, 2020•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s December 22nd. This Christmas week, we’re doing something a little different — a two-part special on the history of The War on Christmas. In part one, Jody and Nikki are joined by Michael Hobbes of “You’re Wrong About” to discuss the recent history of the War, beginning with a Bill O’Reilly segment on Fox News in December 2004. Michael Hobbes’s podcasts are “You’re Wrong About” and “Maintenance Phase.” Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Eso...
Dec 22, 2020•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s December 20th. On this day in 1956, the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott ended after 381 days. Jody and Niki are joined by Christina Greer of Fordham University to discuss what brought the boycott to an end, and the hard work that took place on the ground to maintain pressure and de-segregate the public bus system. Christina Greer is a co-host of “FAQNYC” and her new podcast with The Griot is “What’s In It For Us.” Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory Thi...
Dec 20, 2020•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s December 17th. On this day in 1900, the Ellis Island immigration center in New York harbor opened its doors. Jody and Niki are joined by Brian Lehrer of WNYC to discuss the new wave of immigrants that entered the country in the first decades of the 1900s, and how the story of American immigration has evolved over the years. Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. If you want to...
Dec 17, 2020•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s December 15th. On this day in 1871, William “Boss” Tweed is arrested in Manhattan while returning to the city to, reportedly, see the Christmas lights. Jody and Niki discuss what this moment means for Boss Tweed and the notorious Tammany Hall power structure in New York City. Tweed spent much of the 1860s pulling the puppet strings in NYC, and would spend much of the next decade on the run from the law. Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Es...
Dec 15, 2020•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s December 13th. On this day in 2011, Donald Trump wrote a letter announcing that he was bowing out of moderating (!) a Newsmax presidential debate. Jody and Niki are joined by James Poniewozik of the New York Times to discuss Trump’s flirtation with both moderating a debate and running for president, and how the conservative media ecosystem has evolved over the last 10 years. James’s latest book is “Audience of One.” Nikki’s book i “Messengers of the Right.” Find a transcript of this episode...
Dec 13, 2020•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s December 10th. On this day in 1836, the final days of the “Great Toledo War,” a conflict over a strip of territory between the state of Ohio and the territory of Michigan. Jody and Niki are joined by Hanif Abdurraqib to discuss the origins of the battle, whether it qualifies as a “war,” and what to make of the ongoing Ohio-Michigan rivalry. Hanif is the host of the latest season of the excellent music podcast “Lost Notes.” Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichi...
Dec 10, 2020•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s December 8th. On this day in 1915, newspapers reported a “near riot” at a meeting of the Democratic party, when pro- and anti-suffrage women debated each other over the right to vote. Jody and Niki are joined by Kimberly Hamlin of Miami University to discuss the “ANTIs” — women who fought against the right to vote. Kimberly’s most recent book is “Free Thinker: Sex, Suffrage, and the Extraordinary Life of Helen Hamilton Gardener” Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esot...
Dec 08, 2020•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s December 6th. On this day in 1933, a judge ruled that James Joyce’s “Ulysses,” which had been effectively banned in the United States, was not obscene. Jody and Niki are joined by Kurt Andersen to discuss the ruling, the history of obscenity laws in the United States, and what to make of the current debates over free speech. Kurt’s recent books are “Fantasylad” and “Evil Geniuses.” Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political Histo...
Dec 06, 2020•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s December 3rd. On this day in 1945 (technically, December 4th), the United States Senate voted to ratify an agreement to have the US join the United Nations. Jody and Niki discuss the domestic politics that led to this moment, the lessons from the failed entry of the US into the League of Nations, and whether FDR gets enough credit in this story. Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia fr...
Dec 03, 2020•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s December 1st. On this day in 1859, abolitionist John Brown was awaiting his execution by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Jody and Niki discuss John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry, how much he wanted to spark revolution in his lifetime or become a martyr in death; and how contemporary depictions of Brown have reflected the politics of the time. Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from P...
Dec 01, 2020•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s November 29th. On this day in 1978, San Fransisco is in mourning, and there is violence in the streets, in the wake of the assassination of Harvey Milk, a board of supervisors member and gay rights advocate. Jody and Niki discus the legacy of Harvey Milk, his evolution as a gay rights advocate, and the so-called “Twinkie Defense.” Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. If you ...
Nov 29, 2020•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s November 26th. On this day in 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had declared that Thanksgiving would take place a week earlier than usual. Americans were not happy. Jody and Niki are joined by Adam Conover of “Adam Ruins Everything” and the podcast Factually to discuss why FDR tried to move the holiday, how it became politicized, and what Thanksgiving means to us in 2020. Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political History...
Nov 26, 2020•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s November 24th. On this day in 1969, Native American activists have staged an occupation of Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. Jody and Niki are joined by Julian Brave Noisecat to discuss the 19-month occupation, often considered the birth of the modern Indigenous rights movement — and how exactly the protesters managed to pull off the occupation of the island. Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud membe...
Nov 24, 2020•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s November 22nd. On this day in 2016, Barack Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to computer programmer Grace Hopper, who entered the Navy in the mid-1940s and helped pioneer a lot of modern electronic computing. Jody and Niki are joined by Mar Hicks of Illinois Tech University to discuss Hopper’s legacy, her knack for storytelling, and the other women whose stories may not be as popular. Hick’s book is Programmed Inequality Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.co...
Nov 22, 2020•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s November 19th. On this day in 1919, the US Senate rejected the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles. Jody and Niki are joined by Christopher McKnight Nichols of the University of Oregon to discuss why the US rejected the peace treaty and what it says about how the country saw its role in the world in the wake of World War I. Christopher’s book is Promise and Peril: America at the Dawn of a Global Age Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In E...
Nov 19, 2020•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s November 16th. On this day in 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in as Governor of California, after having won a recall election that ousted former Governor Gray Davis. Jody and Niki discuss how Schwarzenegger came to power, California’s recall system, and the legacy of celebrity politicians crashing the GOP. Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Get in touch if you have ...
Nov 17, 2020•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s November 15th. On this day in 2011, the NYPD issued orders to clear the encampment at Zuccotti Park in lower manhattan, that had been the site of the Occupy Wall Street protests since the fall. Jody and Niki discuss the roots of the encampment, and how Occupy helped introduce ideas of income inequality into the modern political discourse. Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX....
Nov 15, 2020•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s November 12th. On this day in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial opened in Washington, DC. Jody and Niki discuss the controversy over the memorial’s design, the additions over the years, and how we memorialize forever wars. Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Get in touch if you have any ideas for future topics, or just want to say hello. Our website is thisdaypod.com Foll...
Nov 12, 2020•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s November 10th. On this day in 2008, President-Elect Obama stepped into the Oval Office for the first time for a meeting with President George W Bush. Jody and Niki discuss the lessons from that 2008 transition, why the lame duck period is as long as it is, and what makes for a smooth transition, especially during a moment of crisis. Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Get i...
Nov 10, 2020•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s November 8th. On this day in 1973, a many by the name of Ben Fernandez testified during the Watergate hearings. Fernandez was a Nixon fundraiser but also a major organizer around Latinos within the Republican Party. Jody and Niki are joined by Geraldo Cadava of Northwestern to discuss the history of conservative Latinos, and the narratives emerging around how Hispanics swung hard towards Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichis...
Nov 08, 2020•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the wake of the 2020 election, we have been thinking about and asking “What historical moment are you thinking about in this moment?” Jody and Niki are joined by Kellie Carter Jackson of Wellesley College to share their thoughts and read your emails. Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Get in touch if you have any ideas for future topics, or just want to say hello. Our websit...
Nov 06, 2020•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jody with a quick update on our post-election coverage. We’re recording on Friday morning with the question “What historical moment are you thinking about in this moment?” Email us thisdaypod@gmail.com or find a form at thisdaypod.com In the meantime, if you’re looking for something to listen to, check out the latest episode of Radio Diaries, about the history of the concession speech. It’s great. https://www.radiodiaries.org/how-to-lose-election/...
Nov 05, 2020•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s November 3rd. Election Day! On this day in 1936, FDR won his second term for president in a landslide. But it was the first election since the Civil War in which African-American voters voted for Democrats. Jody and Niki are joined by Leah Wright Rigueur of Brandeis to discuss the shift, and how the election would preview the modern Democratic coalition, and the way in which Republicans would try to seize the Black vote back. A quick note about our next show: We’ll be recording a special sh...
Nov 03, 2020•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s November 1st. On this Sunday before election day, we mix it up a bit and look at number of moments from history that teach us about how election results have been conveyed, from the origins of “news flash” to the New York Times’ election-night needle. Jody and Niki are joined by Jad Abumrad of WNYC’s Radiolab to discuss how the pressure to get results as quickly as possible has increased over the last century, and how that could complicate things for 2020’s very a-historical election. Find ...
Nov 01, 2020•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s October 29th. On this day in 1693, the Salem witch trials came to an end when a superior court decided it would no longer hear “spectral evidence.” Jody and Niki are joined by comedian Josh Gondelman to discuss what the witch trials were really about, and what they teach us about conspiracy theories. Josh’s podcast is “Make My Day.” Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Get i...
Oct 29, 2020•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s October 27th. On this day in 1964, Ronald Reagan gave a televised speech that marked him as the leading voice of American conservatives. Jody and Niki discuss the “Time for Choosing” speech, Reagan’s long political evolution, and how the remarks set the stage for his eventual presidency. Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Get in touch if you have any ideas for future topic...
Oct 27, 2020•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s October 25th. On this day in 2002, Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash, eleven days before the midterm election. Jody and Niki discuss the impact of his death on the midterm election that year, and the political legacy Wellstone left behind. Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Get in touch if you have any ideas for future topics, or just want to say hello...
Oct 25, 2020•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s October 22nd. On this day in 1955, President Eisenhower was recovering from a serious heart attack the month before. Jody and Niki are joined by William Hitchcock of UVA to discuss the incident and how a president’s inner circle handles the press and questions of succession when the Commander In Chief is sick. Will Hitchcock’s new podcast is called “Democracy In Danger.” Find a transcript of this episode at: https://tinyurl.com/esoterichistory This Day In Esoteric Political History is a pro...
Oct 22, 2020•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
