Presidential Politics for America

In this episode and on this Independence Day weekend, PPFA implores you to do your patriotic duty and learn about the document that founded the United States. This episode: addresses who actually wrote the Declaration of Independence (1:40);  recalls whose ideas that person ripped off (9:00);  reveals a surprising fact about July 4 as perhaps the wrong day to celebrate independence (12:50); lists a breakdown of the misleading John Trumbull painting of the founding fathers about to sign the Declaration (14:30); and considers whether or not the document actually created a new country (18:00). The episode even has PPFA's first and likely last attempt at working a footnote into a podcast.

In this episode, PPFA speculates about the long-term electoral impacts of Roe's overturning. Might it be a pivot point in turnout trends?

In this episode, PPFA identifies what to monitor this summer when following the midterms.

In this episode, PPFA rants.

In this episode, PPFA asks a question his lawyers begged it not to answer: should Critical Race Theory be in taught in our schools? I start with how competing interpretations of history can impact our modern society (1:45). I then discuss how distance learning allowed teachers new insights into teachers' lessons, including on racial discrimination (7:30). Next, I consider whether CRT should be taught at the college level (10:20), K-8 (11:40), and high school (12:20). Finally, I evaluate the efficacy of CRT bans (16:00).

In this episode, PPFA keeps talking about Critical Race Theory for some reason. I start with a recap of last week's CRT overview (0:00), then get into the 1619 Project vs. 1776 Commission brouhaha (2:30), address good-faith arguments against CRT (8:30), bad-faith arguments against CRT (18:15), and finally an attempt to find common ground (24:30). If I'm sufficiently motivated, there will be a third and final part in this series that addresses CRT's role in our schools.

In this episode, PPFA starts a career-ending series on Critical Race Theory. You'll be introduced to the term “critical theory” (2:00), know the historical context to CRT's beginnings in the 1970s (10:30), hear what CRTist think are some examples of systemic racism (13:00), and learn why CRT thinks these problems have been endemic across American history and what we should do about it (16:30). Next episode, Part II will examine why some people have problems with Critical Race Theory.

On May 26, 1940, the evacuation of Dunkirk began. Code-named Operation Dynamo, the evacuation and about 70,000 fallen soldiers saved 338,000 lives -- and it may have saved the Allied Powers as well. This week, PPFA talks about it even though it has nothing to do with politics. Sorry. Nevertheless, heading into Memorial Day weekend, it feels appropriate to remember one of history's great military sacrifices and acts of heroism and ingenuity. Here is the map referenced in the episode: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk_evacuation#/media/File%3A16May-21May_Battle_of_Belgium.PNG

In this episode, PPFA reaches into the vault and updates an old piece from PresidentialPoliticsForAmerica.com. "The Rural Takeover of Washington" conveys how Democrats keep earning more votes in presidential and Senate elections but seem to be losing their grip on the Supreme Court, even though its members are nominated by presidents and confirmed by senators. I also have some advice to Democrats self-aware enough to recognize their predicament.

In this episode, Presidential Politics for America is still talking about the Supreme Court. Wondering if Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned Roe v. Wade, could signal a looming threat to Obergefell v. Hodges, which protected same-sex marriage across the US, PPFA asks and attempts to answer five questions: 1) What was Obergefell v. Hodges? (2:25); 2) How might Justice Alito's leaked Dobbs reasoning relate to Obergefell? (6:55); 3) Would this Supreme Court actually act on this reasoning if a case challenged Obergefell? (10:10); 4) What are the best pro-Roe and -Obergefell legal arguments? (19:40); and 5) And what are the political implications of a threatened Obergefell? (30:30). It's a long one! Sorry about that. There's a lot to say.

In this episode, PPFA preview the 2022 Midterms. I talk about who will win the House and why (1:30). I then explain why the Senate is less predictable (11:40) before narrowing down the six races we should most closely watch (18:00). For more, go to PresidentialPoliticsForAmerica.com!

In this episode, PPFA offers a summary of the leaked majority opinion from Dobbs v. Jackson (1:10) before considering the political implications of this dramatic development (8:00). For more on Dobbs v. Jackson, be sure to check out a March episode that took a close look at the case. You can also see more at PresidentialPoliticsForAmerica.com.

In this episode, Presidential Politics for America finally gets to the point. PPFA tells you How Our Parties Switched across the twentieth century. You will get walked through the roles of William Jennings Bryan (4:20), Woodrow Wilson (8:50), FDR and the New Deal (11:30), Harry Truman (16:50), Kennedy and Johnson (22:00), Strom Thurmond (24:00), Barry Goldwater (27:20), Richard Nixon (30:00), and recent examples of the new partisan pattern (33:00). All in under 40 minutes! What a bargain.

In this episode, Presidential Politics for America continues its strenuous trek through American political history. If you didn't listen to Parts I-III of "How Our Parties Switched," you should start there. This week, in Parts IV-VI, PPFA recaps important details from last episode (2:10); summarizes the disagreements over the Constitution, as reflected in the debate between federalists and antifederalists (7:00); shows how those two factions evolved into the first official parties, which in time evolve into the Democratic and Republican parties (17:00); and finally takes a look at how the Democratic and Republican parties looked in the late 1800s and early 1900s (28:00). The episode ends on the eve of How Our Parties Switched, which will be the subject of next episode's Part VII--the wildly overdue conclusion of the series.

There's no new episode from Presidential Politics for America today... other than to tell you I appeared on a more established podcast! It's call "Backyard Road Trips," hosted by Zack Lamothe and Jim Wheeler. In place of listening to me bore you for a half hour, why don't you go listen to a couple guys having fun interviewing a third guy who doesn't really know how to. In the episode, we talk about my book "Who Made the West"; why I write; why I write footnotes; what I think of the state of politics; what I hope to accomplish when I teach; how I try to efficiently balance family, work, and PPFA; and more. Please give it a listen, and have a great holiday weekend.

In this first part of a three-part series, Presidential Politics for America provides, as usual, an agonizing amount of context for its chosen topic. Before explaining how the Republican and Democratic parties switched ideologies, PPFA first does the following: defines the term "liberal" and conservative (4:00); provides a brief history of political parties (13:00); and analyzes political patterns of colonial America (18:00). And that's just this episode! These three parts set up the next episode, which will look at how our first political parties evolved into the Republicans and Democrats. Please rate and share this podcast to better ensure I finish this long, ambitious, and surely ill-advised series.

In this episode, Presidential Politics for America walks you through the 18-person presidential line of succession -- and even takes a stab at what could lie beyond the official list. As for the answer to last week's April Fools Challenge, it was... B!

In this episode, PPFA summarizes five weird historical events... except only four of them are true. Can you pick out the one that isn't? The answer will be revealed on Monday, April 4, at PresidentialPoliticsForAmerica.com.

In this episode, Presidential Politics for America discusses President Joe Biden's shaky foreign policy. Hoping to highlight both successes and missteps, I talk about his approach to Afghanistan (2:50) and Ukraine (10:20). Please follow, share, and rate the podcast... you know, only if you like it. As always, for more presidential politics, head to https://presidentialpoliticsforamerica.com

In this episode, Presidential Politics for America actually talks about presidential politics! That includes asking the following questions:  2:32 -- Do Trump and Biden have their nominations locked up? 12:10 -- If they don't, and the primaries are competitive, who might compete?

In this episode, Presidential Politics for America addresses the looming Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, a SCOTUS case that may change the future of abortion law in the United States. This is the second and final episode looking at abortion in America. 0:00 -- Background and recap of Episode 1 4:00 -- Facts of the case are lower court decisions. 6:00 -- A summary of the oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson 20:00 -- Considerations and predictions. What will the Supreme Court say?

In this episode, PPFA takes a look at the history of abortion law in America. That includes: 3:00--Abortion law from the colonial era until the 1960s 7:45--Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), which established the right to privacy 13:50--The hallmark Roe v. Wade case 21:00--Developments since Roe Learn more at PresidentialPoliticsForAmerica.com

In this introductory episode, PPFA introduces you to a very bad idea.