The Whiskey Rebellion

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The Whiskey Rebellion is a history podcast hosted by Frank Cogliano and David Silkenat. Frank and David teach American history at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

David Silkenat and Frank Cogliano


    • May 27, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 53m AVG DURATION
    • 214 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Whiskey Rebellion

    Whiskey Rebellion 289: What If ...

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 48:50


    Together in Edinburgh, Frank and David discuss counter-factual history, based on this article from HNN. Frank's article on what if the French had not sold Louisiana.   Last Drops Frank: All the Buried Women podcast David: Drew Faust on Memorial Day

    Whiskey Rebellion 288: The Corruption Index

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 57:25


    Frank and David discuss the history of corruption in the United States, riffing on an article/podcast with David Frum and Anne Applebaum. Last Drops Frank: RIP Alan Day David: Congrats to Kathleen DuVal on Pulitzer win

    Whiskey Rebellion 287: No Kings, No Popery

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 51:04


    The title of this episode is from Frank's first book. Frank and David discuss the history of the relationship between the Pope and the United States. Last Drops Frank: NYT historians on precedents for Trump David: Fields-Black's Combee wins Tom Watson Book Prize

    Whiskey Rebellion 286: Soul of Our Nation

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 45:26


    Frank and David discuss Paul Quigley's essay on the National Endowment for the Humanities. Last Drops Frank: Edinburgh University Club of Toronto David: monument for the Adams

    Whiskey Rebellion 285: Liberation Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 45:32


    Frank and David discuss President Trump's new tariffs. Last Drops Frank: ancient tools in Marfa David: NEH grant cancelled

    Whiskey Rebellion 284: Three Cigars

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 47:44


    Frank and David discuss the recent Signalgate scandal and some historical antecedents. Last Drops Frank: Tartan Day  David: US history lecturer job at UF

    Whiskey Rebellion 283: Alien Enemies

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2025 42:39


    Frank and David discuss the Alien Enemies Act. Last Drops Frank: free books! David: lecture at UNF

    Whiskey Rebellion 282: Not Playing Cards

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2025 44:47


    Frank and David discuss the Oval Office meeting between Zelensky and Trump. Last Drops Frank: 2025 Fennell Lecture David: Martha S. Jones's The Trouble of Color

    Whiskey Rebellion 281: Universities in Crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 51:40


    Frank and David discuss the crisis in UK and US universities. Last Drops Frank: 2025 Fennell Lecture David: Hilary Green's Unforgettable Sacrifice

    Whiskey Rebellion 280: No More Kings!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 50:06


    Frank and David discuss presidents who have been labelled as kings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvOZs3g3qIo Nixon's White House uniforms Last Drops Frank: TR on Civil Service David: Barbara Weinstein on historians and politics

    Whiskey Rebellion 279: Heart Shaped Box

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 40:11


    Frank and David discuss the history of Valentine's Day in the United States. Last Drops Frank: Locke's Second Treatise on Government David: new museum at the Lincoln Memorial

    Whiskey Rebellion 278: A Constitutional Crisis?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 45:35


    Inspired by a recent Jamelle Bouie article, Frank and David discuss DOGE, USAID, Elon Musk, and the state of the republic. Last Drops Frank: Trailer for History Channel series on Jefferson David: Fennell postdoc at Edinburgh

    Whiskey Rebellion 277: Move Fast and Break Things

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 50:44


    Frank and David discuss Donald Trump's 2nd Inaugural and first week in office. Last Drops Frank: Public history professionals David: RIP Bill Leuchtenburg and NC Supreme Court election

    Whiskey Rebellion 276: Trump's Empire

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2025 56:31


    Frank and David discuss President-elect Trump's recent comments about Greenland, Canada, and Panama. Last Drops Frank: Marlene Daut's The First and Last King of Haiti David: This Day in Esoteric Political History

    Whiskey Rebellion 275: Farewell, 2024!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025 56:25


    Frank and David discuss the passing of Jimmy Carter, reflect on 2024, and look forward to 2025. Listen to our earlier episode on Carter. Listen all the way to the end to hear our new credits!

    Whiskey Rebellion 274: Denali

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 47:16


    Back in Edinburgh, Frank and David discuss Trump's recent William McKinley fascination. Last Drops Frank: Howard Bryant's biography of Hank Aaron David: Roosevelt Institute for American Studies and Leiden Pilgrim Museum

    Whiskey Rebellion 273: Java Juice

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2024 51:12


    Frank and David discuss the history of caffeine in the United States, including Tom Petty's affinity for diner coffee. Last Drops Frank: Tour of Irish NY with Patrick Griffin David: Early American history job at Florida

    Whiskey Rebellion 272: Thou Shalt Not

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2024 51:18


    Earlier this week, a federal court halted a Louisiana law that would have placed the 10 Commandments in classrooms. Frank and David discuss the history of the 10 Commandments. Last Drops  Frank: David Blight oped in NYT David: PBS doc on the Wilmington Coup

    Whiskey Rebellion 271: Making Sense of the 2024 Election

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2024 46:19


    After completely failing to predict the outcome, Frank and David discuss the 2024 election. Last Drops Frank: 19th century US history job at Edinburgh David: Baseball and climate change

    Whiskey Rebellion 270: Election 2024 Countdown

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2024 46:29


    With only days remaining, Frank and David discuss the upcoming election. Last Drops Frank: The Comeback on Netflix David: Ebbets Field

    Whiskey Rebellion 269: Junk Food of Politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2024 41:27


    With less than two weeks until Election Day, Frank and David discuss the history of presidential polling. Last Drops Frank: National Library of Scotland and Tom Nichols on Trump and Washington David:

    Whiskey Rebellion 268: Stormy Weather

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2024 58:40


    After hurricanes Helene and Milton, Frank and David return to the topic of natural disasters. Last Drops Frank: Was Lincoln Gay? David: BrANCH and Edinburgh American History Workshop

    Whiskey Rebellion 267: Protecting the President

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 51:26


    Frank and David discuss the Secret Service. Last Drops Frank: Happy 100th Jimmy Carter! David: Reconstruction NPS

    Whiskey Rebellion 266: The Youth Vote

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 50:21


    Frank and David discuss the history of the youth vote. Last Drops Frank: Season 10 of Slow Burn David: RIP Tupperware

    Whiskey Rebellion 265: Celebrity Endorsements (Taylor's Version)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 45:13


    Frank and David discuss celebrity endorsements for presidential candidates. Last Drops Frank: Michael Hattem's The Memory of '76 David: Beavers at Gettysburg

    Whiskey Rebellion 264: Expat/Repat

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 66:27


    Frank and David discuss the history of American expats and what happens when they return to the United States. Last Drops Frank: Lindsey Chervinsky's Making the Presidency David: slavery tours stopped at UVA

    Whiskey Rebellion 263: Heir Apparent or Dead End Job?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2024 41:28


    Frank and David discuss the pros and cons of VP's running for president. Last Drops David: Lindsay Chervinsky on the Republican Party Frank: Bon voyage to David

    Whiskey Rebellion 262: Slow News Week

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 46:41


    Frank and David discuss the Trump assassination attempt, the GOP convention, and Biden dropping out of the race. Last Drops Frank: RIP Trevor Burnard David: RIP Pete Carmichael

    Whiskey Rebellion 261: Debate Meltdown

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2024 50:55


    Frank and David discuss the recent Biden-Trump debate and the Supreme Court's latest decisions. Last Drops Frank: Edinburgh Open History Society David:  When Taken

    Whiskey Rebellion 260: Married a Yuppie

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2024 42:27


    Frank and David discuss an article by Tom McGrath based on his new book on the Yuppies. Last Drops Frank: Rob Parkinson's new book Heart of American Darkness David: Frank at Open History Society on July 4 and Playing at War

    Whiskey Rebellion 259: All Rise!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 52:11


    In light of the Trump verdict and Alito's flags, Frank and David discuss judges in American history. Last Drops Frank: USA wins in cricket David: Negro League records incorporated and new John Jacobs narrative  

    Whiskey Rebellion 258: Showdown on Campus

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2024 51:34


    Frank and David discuss the recent campus protests over the war in Gaza. Last Drops Frank: Scottsville Museum David: Happy birthday, Thessaly!

    Whiskey Rebellion 257: A Jury of Your Peers

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2024 63:30


    Frank and David discuss the history of juries.  Last Drops Frank: Ice tea in Canada David: new edition of CMOS

    Whiskey Rebellion 256: The Trump Bible

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2024 42:52


    Frank and David discuss Donald Trump's endorsement of the God Bless the USA Bible and how presidents have interacted with the Bible. Last Drops Frank: David's inaugural and Fennell lecture David: Kathleen DuVal's new book and Atlantic article

    Whiskey Rebellion 255: Opening Day 2024!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 51:19


    Frank and David discuss the history of gambling in baseball.   Last Drops Frank: RIP Daniel Jordan David: Manisha Sinha's new book on Reconstruction

    Whiskey Rebellion 254: Rematch!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2024 52:14


    With both Biden and Trump cinching their party's nominations, Frank and David discuss the six prior presidential rematches. Last Drops David: Inaugural Lecture on April 3. Frank: Fennell Lecture w/ Professor Sherene Saikaly on May 23

    Whiskey Rebellion 253: A Revolutionary Friendship

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024 48:30


    David interviews Frank about his new book, A Revolutionary Friendship: Washington, Jefferson, and the American Republic. To hear more, join the live event (online) at Monticello on February 17. Last Drops Frank: RIP Harry Dickinson David: historians brief on 14th Amendment

    Whiskey Rebellion 252: Iowa in Snow

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2024 58:23


    Frank and David discuss the history of the Iowa caucuses and how political parties select presidential candidates. Last Drops Frank: Power Couples and the Barbary pirates David: JAH article on political parties  

    Whiskey Rebellion 251: Civil War in the 2024 Election

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2024 68:34


    Frank and David discuss how the Civil War era has made some unexpected appearances in the 2024 presidential race, including a difficult question for Nikki Haley and 14th Amendment challenges to Trump's candidacy. Last Drops David: American Ornithological Society changing policy on bird names Frank: RIP Ed Gray

    Whiskey Rebellion 250: Our Semiquincentennial Episode

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2023 39:00


    Frank and David celebrate 250 episodes of the Whiskey Rebellion. Last Drops Frank: Foner on Varon in the Atlantic and RIP Andre Braugher David: Hogmanay Torchlight Parade

    Whiskey Rebellion 249: Kissinger in Context

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2023 51:57


    Frank and David discuss Henry Kissinger and try to put him into context. Last Drops Frank: Conference at Mass Historical David: new plaque in Durham and CSA flag in Glasgow  

    Whiskey Rebellion 248: Epic History on Screen

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2023 54:30


    Frank and David discuss epic historical films, including some of the best and some of the worst. Last Drops Frank: Jane Kamensky new President of Monticello David: Fennell Forum on Energy History

    Whiskey Rebellion 247: Fashion Choices

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2023 52:22


    Frank and David discuss recent debates over the Senate dress code. Last Drops David: Shira Lurie's The American Liberty Pole Frank: new Milbauer Chair at the University of Florida

    Whiskey Rebellion 246: Manhunt

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023 43:17


    Frank and David discuss the history of manhunts in the United States. Last Drops Frank: profile of Mitt Romney in the Atlantic David: American History Workshop

    Whiskey Rebellion 245: How American Democracy Fell So Far Behind

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2023 36:53


    Frank and David discuss an article in Atlantic Monthlyby Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt on the health of the American democracy. Last Drops Frank: NYT article on JFK assassination witness David: Jonathan Jones on teaching with ChatGPT

    Whiskey Rebellion 244: Wild Things

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2023 53:10


    Frank and David discuss David Rothkopf's article Here are 11 Wild Things That Could Happen in the 2024 Election Last Drops Frank: David's book Scars on the Land named a finalist for Frederick Douglass Prize.  David: Now & Then ending

    Whiskey Rebellion 243: Fallen from Grace

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2023 52:29


    Frank and David discuss figures from American history whose reputations took a dramatic turn for the worse.  Last Drops Frank: 100 years of the Jefferson Foundation conference David: Frank's new book available for pre-order

    Whiskey Rebellion 242: Moms for Liberty

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2023 46:21


    Frank and David discuss the conservative political organzation Moms for Liberty and its historical antecedents. Last Drops Frank: US Women's World Cup team David: Blackhaven

    Whiskey Rebellion 241: No Labels

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2023 43:34


    Frank and David discuss the history of third parties and the potential of third party candidates in 2024. Last Drops Frank: Congrats to Dr. Krysten Blackstone and Dr. James Mackay David: Cambridge Centre for Computing History

    Whiskey Rebellion 240: Missed America

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2023 55:24


    Frank and David discuss Johann Neem's review of Kruse and Zelizer's Myth America. Last Drops Frank: Naturalization ceremony at Monticello David: Emancipation Proclamation at National Archives

    Whiskey Rebellion 239: Road Trip

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2023 53:38


    Frank and David discuss places to go and experiences to have to understand America. Last Drops Frank: RIP Richard B. Bernstein David: Jupiter Artland

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