Podcasts about confederate

How did Confederate generals Joseph E. Johnston and P. G. T. Beauregard balance their big egos to score a victory at First Manassas? Emerging Civil War's Kevin Pawlak and Chris Mackowski look at some surprising components of an early war partnership/rivalry.This episode of the Emerging Civil War Podcast is brought to you by Civil War Trails, the world's largest open-air museum, offering more than 1,500 sites across six states. Request a brochure at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠civilwartrails.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to start planning your trip today.

Send us Fan MailEuropeans at the First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas) with (Ryan  Diamond)In this episode of American Civil War & UK History Podcast, host Daz is joined by fellow American Civil War Round-Table UK member Ryan Diamond to explore the role of Europeans at the First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas). Together, they discuss the experiences of European-born soldiers who fought on both sides of the conflict, their motivations for serving, and the impact they had during the first major battle of the American Civil War.The First Battle of Bull Run (First Manassas), fought on 21 July 1861, included thousands of European-born soldiers on both the Union and Confederate sides. Many were recent immigrants from Ireland, Germany, England, Scotland, France, and other nations who had settled in America before the war. They served in both ethnic regiments and mixed units, bringing valuable military experience and playing an important role in the first major battle of the American Civil War.ACW & UK History's Website.https://www.acwandukhistory.com/ACW & UK History's Pages.https://linktr.ee/ACWandUKHISTORYSupport the show

Today on The Gist, guest host Bryan Greene kicks off our rotating host lineup with a dive into the Peach Fish archives. First, Mike Pesca dissects the political baggage hiding inside state anthems, from Maryland's pro-Confederate fight song to why West Virginia's "Country Roads" remains the undisputed peak of the genre. Then, North American Vexillological Association secretary Ted Kaye joins the show to break down flag etiquette, Justice Alito's Controversial banners, and how political movements co-opt historic symbols. Finally, in the spiel, Mike rewrites Nebraska's state song to give it a much-needed upgrade. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/⁠ For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/ For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/ Follow us on Social Media:⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/ X https://x.com/pescami TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠sales@amplitudemediapartners.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The American Civil War is considered the deadliest in US history; however in a true show of respect and honor both Union and Confederate troops presented arms following the surrender at Appomattox Court House.

July 18, 2026July 18, 1863, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry charged Fort Wagner, in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, Fort Wagner covered the southern entrance to the harbor and was key to the US government taking the city, The 600 soldiers of the 54th made up one of the first Black regiments for the Union, A Boston abolitionist, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, led the regiment, The men of the 54th knew that eyes were upon them to see how well Black men would fight for their country and they proved that they were equal to any white soldiers, The assault on the fort killed, wounded, or lost more than 250 of the 600 in the regiment, Colonel Shaw was one of the 30 left dead on the field, He was buried in a mass grave with his men, a burial that the Confederates had arranged to dishonor him, but which his family found fitting.Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

THIS FIELD TALK IS RESERVED FOR AG PATREON MEMBERS ONLY. JOIN OUR PATREON TO PARTICIPATE! - https://www.patreon.com/c/AddressingGettysburg August 15, 2026 – 10:00 a.m. Major General Daniel Sickles - July 2, 1863  Led by LBG Lewis Trott Could Major General Sickles have properly defended his assigned line or was his movement forward a necessary tactical move? Was the risk of breaking the Union line worth the gambit of seizing the Peach Orchard and altering Confederate operational plans?

1 - Did Patti LeBelle mess up the anthem last night? 110 - Sunny Hostin doubles down again and even equates the American flag to the Confederate one. 115 - How much should dry cleaning be? 120 - Has bowling become unaffordable? 130 - Who is Kathy Hochul blaming for business leaving New York? 140 - Your calls. 150 - Dom Giordano Presents: Progressive Women Gone Wild! Why are locals railing against the Bensalem School District? 155 - Are you calling Benny?

12 - Do the Republicans finally have a leg to stand on by standing up to communism? Why does Dom love what Mike Johnson is saying? 1210 - Side - fictional character that deserves a statue 1215 - Who's more dangerous to Americans? Immigrants or Americans? 1230 - Administrator of the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. Mehmet Oz is back on the show. Did he think he'd be dealing with this much fraud in his position? Why are people upset at Medicaid qualifications when the bar is on the floor for coverage? Can Josh Shapiro stand up to this? What does Dr. Oz have to say about Lindsey Graham and how something like that can be prevented? 1250 - Do Democrats care about fraud? Your calls. 1 - Did Patti LeBelle mess up the anthem last night? 110 - Sunny Hostin doubles down again and even equates the American flag to the Confederate one. 115 - How much should dry cleaning be? 120 - Has bowling become unaffordable? 130 - Who is Kathy Hochul blaming for business leaving New York? 140 - Your calls. 150 - Dom Giordano Presents: Progressive Women Gone Wild! Why are locals railing against the Bensalem School District? 155 - Are you calling Benny? 2 - What is the Philadelphia Public Schools problem? 210 - Your calls. 215 - Dom's Money Melody! 225 - Who will be AG? Todd Blanche? What do you think about the The Philly Parallel Parking Championship? 230 - How many miles of bike lanes are in the city? 235 - Your calls. 250 - The Lightning Round!

***A brief departure from Ask A Gettysburg Guide for the 163rd Anniversary week*** Battle Anniversary Week Special | Small Arms at Gettysburg with Phil Spaugy As part of **Addressing Gettysburg's Battle Anniversary Week of Specials**, Matt welcomes firearms expert **Phil Spaugy** for an in-depth look at the small arms that shaped the Battle of Gettysburg. When most people think of Civil War weaponry, they picture cannon fire and massive artillery duels. But the vast majority of the fighting at Gettysburg was carried out with **small arms**—the rifles, muskets, carbines, and pistols carried by the soldiers themselves. In this episode, Phil and Matt explore the weapons that Union and Confederate soldiers relied upon during the three-day battle, including:

Still slightly reeling from last week's revelations, Akilah takes a step back to look more broadly at the role monuments play in telling our country's full history. Through a conversation with Hamza Walker, director of The Brick and co-curator of 'Monuments' - an exhibit in Los Angeles that displays decommissioned monuments, many of them Confederate, alongside modern works of art - Akilah learns more about the ways we view monuments and how that can shape their value in telling the truth about history. Rebel Spirit is a production of Ninth Planet Audio in association with iHeart Podcasts. Reporting and writing by me, Akilah Hughes. I’m also the host and Executive Producer. Produced and written by Dan Sinker. Edited and mixed by Rudy Jansen. Executive Producers for Ninth Planet Audio are Elizabeth Baquet and Jimmy Miller. Executive Producer for iHeart Podcasts is Cristina Everett. Our theme song is All The Things I Couldn’t Say performed by Busty and The Bass, courtesy of Arts and Crafts Records. Special thanks to our guest this episode, Hamza Walker. Reporting from The President's House in Philadelphia by Helen Ubinas. If you want to get in touch, email us at rebelspiritpodcast@gmail.com. And be sure to check out our website, where you can also buy merch, rebelspiritpodcast.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democrat Graham Platner says he plans to withdraw from Maine Senate race after sexual assault claim Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear requests update on Sen. Mitch McConnell's health | whas11.com Masked men with Confederate flags seen chanting, marching, riding Metro in DC White House deletes thousands of webpages about energy conservation as heatwave slams US | The Verge https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/white-house-purges-thousands-pages-173101835.html Longevity guru Bryan Johnson reveals he has an incurable disease FDA panel on peptides will include experts who promote the unproven chemicals favored by RFK Jr. Live Updates: U.S. and Iran Trade Fresh Strikes After Trump Suggests Cease-Fire Is 'Over' - The New York Times

Populist Threats and the "Share Our Wealth" Movement Guest: David Pietrusza Book Title: Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR's 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal As Roosevelt prepared for the 1936 election, he faced significant pressure from the populist left, most notably embodied by Huey Long of Louisiana. Long's "Share Our Wealth" program proposed seizing assets from millionaires to provide every American family with a guaranteed income, car, and radio. Though Long was assassinated in September 1935, his legacy and the millions of members in his clubs remained a potent threat to Roosevelt's base. Long's strategy had been to siphon enough votes to elect a Republican in 1936, hoping the ensuing failure would lead the nation to turn to him as the "man on the white horse" in 1940. In the South, Eugene "Old Gene" Talmadge of Georgia represented a different brand of populism, blending race-baiting with Jeffersonian conservatism. Talmadge refused to fund New Deal welfare programs despite local need, accusing the administration of communist influence. In January 1936, he hosted a rally in Macon, Georgia, where supporters displayed Confederate flags and engaged in aggressive red-baiting. These challengers highlighted the fragile nature of Roosevelt's 1932 coalition, which relied on the "solid South" despite its crushing Jim Crow laws. The President had to neutralize these "crackpot ideas" while addressing the genuine suffering of the Great Depression. This internal party friction necessitated a strategy that could bridge the gap between radical populists and the traditional Democratic machine, all while the nation looked toward the growing needs of the elderly and the unemployed. (2)

SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON: patreon.com/lionsledbydonkeys GET JOE'S BOOK: Ebook, Audiobook, and Paperbacks now available! https://www.amazon.com/Highlands-Burn-Foundling-Brigade-Saga-ebook/dp/B0GSG5CNXX/ Or you can buy the ebook and audiobook directly from us: https://www.llbdpodcast.com/products/ Get Nate's band's debut album here! https://secondhomesband.com/ The Union takes over the island of Galveston, Texas, and the Confederates aim to take it back with quite possibly some of the dumbest armored ships the world has ever seen. SOURCES: R. Thomas Campbell. Fire Over Texas: Galveston in the Civil War. April 2006. Military Heritage. Volume 7, no. 5 https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1983/january/battle-galveston https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/magruder-john-bankhead https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/great-hanging-at-gainesville https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/galveston-battle-of https://web.archive.org/web/20011115111011/http://history.navy.mil/photos/sh-us-cs/csa-sh/csash-ag/bayou-ct.htm

Lindsey Graham died Saturday night. He was 71. His office says a brief and sudden illness. The 911 dispatch audio says chest pains, a locked door, and CPR in progress. So this week I'm doing the obituary nobody on cable will touch: his real record on Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Iran, Gaza, the Confederate flag, Stand Your Ground, and voting rights. Plus the Laura Loomer poisoning conspiracy theories, Nancy Mace already eyeing his Senate seat, and how South Carolina's August 11 special primary works.And Mitch McConnell still hasn't been seen in almost a month. No photos, no diagnosis, just a copy-pasted statement and a bunch of senators swearing they talked to him on the phone. I get into the June 14 cardiac arrest dispatch audio, the CNN stretcher video, and the Kentucky special election law the GOP really doesn't want triggered. Graham's death got confirmed in hours. McConnell's health is a state secret. Same party. Ask yourself why.Also in this one: Trump posts that 1,000 missiles are locked and loaded to hit Iran if anyone assassinates him, which is not a real thing, because if he dies JD Vance is president and the missiles are his. The DOJ subpoenas four New York Times reporters over the Air Force One story. The $400 million Qatari jet still can't stop a missile. Trump fires the Democrats on the Election Assistance Commission right before the midterms, and his own former lawyer Ty Cobb calls it a deliberate plan.  Also, I brought the Gaza death toll numbers for everyone who keeps sliding into my replies with "what about Israel."------------------------Keywords: Lindsey Graham dead, Lindsey Graham death, Lindsey Graham dies at 71, Lindsey Graham cause of death, Lindsey Graham 911 call, Lindsey Graham cardiac arrest, Lindsey Graham heart attack, was Lindsey Graham poisoned, Lindsey Graham conspiracy, Lindsey Graham replacement, South Carolina Senate special election, Nancy Mace Senate, Henry McMaster appointment, Annie Andrews, Mitch McConnell health, Mitch McConnell cover-up, is Mitch McConnell alive, McConnell cardiac arrest, Kentucky special election, Andy Beshear, Tim Burchett, Trump Iran war, Trump 1000 missiles, Trump Truth Social Iran, Khamenei funeral, Ayatollah Khamenei death, JD Vance president, dead man's switch, 25th Amendment, Strait of Hormuz closed, Iran ceasefire, Trump assassination plot, New York Times subpoena, press freedom, Fox News, Qatari jet Air Force One, Election Assistance Commission, Ty Cobb Trump warning, Trump health, Trump physical Walter Reed, White House ballroom cost, East Wing demolition, Gaza death toll, Max Planck Gaza study, Gaza genocide, Israel Hamas war casualties, political podcast, political comedy podcast, We Saw the Devil podcastBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/we-saw-the-devil-unfiltered-political-analysis--4433638/support.Website: http://www.wesawthedevil.comPatreon: http://www.patreon.com/wesawthedevilRobin's Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/robin_wstdTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/WeSawtheDevilInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/wesawthedevilpodcast.TikTok: tiktok.com/@wesawthedevilpolitics

Welcome back for Part 2 of our special LIVE bonus episode of Boom Goes the History, recorded before a packed audience at Gettysburg History, home of the Adams County Historical Society!Co-hosts Kris White and Garry Adelman return with an all-star panel of Gettysburg experts, including Wayne Motts, Jim Hessler, Tim Smith, Sarah Kay Bierle, and Chris Mackowski, for another fast-paced, unpredictable, and delightfully irreverent conversation about America's most famous battlefield.In this episode, the panel explores some of Gettysburg's most overlooked July 2 battle sites, remembers long-lost tourist attractions that once dotted the battlefield, and dives into the thunderous Confederate bombardment that preceded Pickett's Charge. Along the way, they tackle one of Gettysburg's most enduring topics—Jennie Wade—in a lively discussion that is sure to spark conversation among history buffs.As always, the conversation wanders into unexpected territory, filled with battlefield stories, historical debates, behind-the-scenes insights, plenty of laughs, and the kind of Gettysburg nerdery that Boom Goes the History is known for.Whether you're a first-time visitor, a lifelong Gettysburg enthusiast, or just love hearing historians argue over fascinating details, this is an episode you won't want to miss.The American Battlefield Trust preserves America's hallowed battlegrounds and educates the public about what happened there and why it matters. We permanently protect these battlefields for future generations as a lasting and tangible memorial to the brave soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.

Send us Fan MailScammers aren't just pretending to be idols anymore. They're reportedly impersonating entertainment companies to pitch fake performances and pull in serious investment money, and we dig into why Cube Entertainment's warning matters for fans, promoters, and anyone who treats a viral post like “proof.” If you follow K-pop news on X, Instagram, or Weverse, you'll recognize how fast these schemes can spread and how hard it is to tell what's real when everything looks official at a glance.We also talk about the kind of controversy that never seems to stay gone: fashion choices that collide with history. Mark's (Mark Lee formerly of NCT) new label issues an apology after a Confederate flag T-shirt appears in posted photos, and we break down why “vintage” is not the same as “harmless,” especially in a global music industry. From there we shift into better headlines, celebrating ATEEZ hitting a new career high in first-week sales for Golden Hour Part 5, and reacting to T.O.P's Asia fan meeting tour announcement and the intriguing “pre-studio” idea.On the J-pop and J-rock side, we're genuinely excited about STARTO Entertainment opening a free multilingual news archive for international fans, plus the formation of YAO with Awich, CHICO CARLITO, ONE OK ROCK, and Paledusk timed around Tanabata. Then Sarah absolutely spirals in the best way when Ohno Satoshi reappears online with Satojima, a salon-style platform for sharing daily life, hobbies, and future events. Hit play, share the episode with a friend, and leave us a review, what headline made you do a double take this week?Support the showPlease help Music Elixir by rating, reviewing, and sharing the episode. We appreciate your support!Follow us on:TwitterInstagramBlueskyIf have questions, comments, or requests click on our form:Music Elixir FormDJ Panic Blog:OK ASIA

America turned 250 and the party flopped. ecord 102 degree heat, a lightning evacuation of the National Mall, and a president speaking to rows of empty chairs after 11 p.m., where he misquoted the Declaration of Independence at the document's own birthday party. Then came 850,000 fireworks, a Code Red air quality alert, briefly the worst air of any major city on Earth, and a 100+ post Truth Social meltdown featuring attacks on a federal judge, pool water, and a Home Alone 2 throwback. Meanwhile, hundreds of masked Patriot Front members marched through DC with Confederate flags, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum declined, three times, to condemn them. But that's only 25% of the show. The main event: Kamala Harris is running for president, and the receipts say so. The private call to Zohran Mamdani. The closed-door meeting with AOC. The outreach to Uncommitted Movement co-founder Abbas Alawieh and James Zogby. The policy briefings on China, AI, and Venezuela. She hasn't announced, but nobody schedules Venezuela briefings for fun. So this episode does something radical: it talks about Kamala Harris fairly. The real prosecutor record vs. the meme (1,956 marijuana convictions, 45 state prison sentences, and the reentry program that became a national model), alongside the criticisms that deserve daylight: the truancy law, the Kevin Cooper case, the cash bail brief. The Gaza record, why the skepticism is earned, and why the meetings are the cheap part. The DNC autopsy that blamed her for a loss engineered above her head while never once printing the word Gaza. The double standards no male politician has ever been handed. And the difference between accountability and self-sabotage, because one produces a nominee and the other produces a corpse with great quote tweets. Politics is not fantasy casting. If the choice is flawed competence or the fire, pretending they weigh the same is how the house burns down. In this episode:The America 250 faceplant: heat, evacuations, empty seats, and the 422,000 claimThe Declaration of Independence quote that doesn't exist850,000 fireworks and DC's Code Red morning afterThe 67-posts-in-two-hours spiral and the attacks on Judge Sparkle SooknananPatriot Front marches while a cabinet secretary calls it "messy democracy"Quick hits: Trump's FIFA phone call and Mallory McMorrow exits the Michigan Senate raceThe evidence Kamala Harris is running in 2028The prosecutor record, the weed numbers, and what the meme leaves outGaza: the criticism that carries real weight, and what to watch forThe DNC autopsy and the Double Standard OlympicsWhy smart matters after years of vibes-based governanceAccountability vs. purity testing, and the Michigan primary test caseANNOUNCEMENT: True crime is back, and it's on the Patreon. Sign up and every month you'll get a real, physical postcard mailed from the city where that month's case took place. At the end of the month, the full episode drops for patrons. The first case is already picked, and it's one I'll be following for months, so you'll be riding shotgun in real time. Join at patreon.com/wesawthedevil so you don't miss the first postcard.Follow the show:Twitter: @wesawthedevil | TikTok: @robin_wstd | Instagram: @wesawthedevilpodcast | Personal IG: @robin_wstd | Facebook: wesawthedevil | Everything else: wesawthedevil.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/we-saw-the-devil-unfiltered-political-analysis--4433638/support.Website: http://www.wesawthedevil.comPatreon: http://www.patreon.com/wesawthedevilRobin's Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/robin_wstdTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/WeSawtheDevilInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/wesawthedevilpodcast.TikTok: tiktok.com/@wesawthedevilpolitics

On the 250th anniversary of American independence, hundreds of masked members of Patriot Front, a neo-fascist, white supremacist organization, marched through Washington DC. To the horror of many onlookers, the group gathered at Union Station carrying banners, including the Confederate flag, before marching toward Capitol Hill.The group was also spotted riding the DC Metro, drawing concerned reactions from other passengers. We'll explore what this reveals about extremism in America and whether it's inflamed by Trump and his MAGA movement. iHeart Political Analyst Gary Dietrich will stop by to talk politics. The conversation continues with author and scholar Sarah Kendzior. The Mark Thompson Show 7/3/26Patreon subscribers are the backbone of the show! If you'd like to help, here's our Patreon Link:https://www.patreon.com/themarkthompsonshowMaybe you're more into PayPal.  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=PVBS3R7KJXV24And you'll find everything on our website: https://www.themarkthompsonshow.comThe Mark Thompson Show has an official new Facebook page.  Please join! Here's the link: https://m.facebook.com/TheMarkThompsonShow/Show sponsors:coachellavalleycoffee.com  - use code MarkT at check out to save 10%Suite 106 Bakery use code MarkT to save 15%Here's a special link:https://suite106bakery.com/discount/MARKT

Patrick K. O'Donnell, guest author, recounts how, in 1863, Richard Blazer emerged as an unlikely Union hero, leading "Blazer's Scouts," also known as the Legion of Honor. A former barge driver who was often disheveled on the parade ground, Blazer possessed a unique talent for "hunting people." His unit functioned as the first modern hunter-killer team in the U.S. Army, specifically tasked with neutralizing Confederate partisans in the rugged mountains of West Virginia. Blazer integrated veterans from the Jesse Scouts and utilized their specialized tradecraft, including riding in enemy uniforms to conduct deep reconnaissance. Their primary targets were the Thurman brothers, ruthless bushwhackers who led the Thurman Rangers in attacks against Union supply lines and the vital B&O Railroad. This conflict was exceptionally brutal; the Thurmans were known for executing prisoners, which meant Blazer's men often fought with the knowledge they would not survive capture. Operating under General Averell, the scouts acted as the "eyes" of the army, conducting battlefield reconnaissance and leading raids against Confederate supply routes. Blazer's success was built on sophisticated "detective work," where he interviewed slaves, children, and civilians to build a mosaic of Confederate hiding spots. This segment highlights how the Union transitioned from standard infantry tactics to specialized counter-insurgency operations to protect the buffer zone of the newly formed state of West Virginia. The Unvanquished (2)

Robert Cwiklik, guest author, describes how, by 1874, the Crescent City White League, an armed vigilante group, emerged to violently intimidate Republican officials and Black voters in Louisiana. Their aggression was fueled by a circuit judge's opinion suggesting that federal Enforcement Acts might be unconstitutional, which white Southerners interpreted as a "green light" for resistance. In September 1874, the White League engaged in the Battle of Liberty Place, a full-scale rebellion involving over 8,000 armed men. They confronted the state militia and Metropolitan Policeled by former Confederate General James Longstreet, who was wounded in the fray. The White League successfully drove Republican Governor William Pitt Kellogg out of New Orleans and briefly seized control of the government. Although Grant eventually sent federal troops to restore Kellogg, the event signaled a reassertion of Confederate-style rebellion that the thin federal military presence in the South struggled to permanently suppress. Sheridan's Secret Mission: How the South Won the War After the Civil War (4)

Patrick K. O'Donnell, guest author, introduces Captain John Charles Carpenter and the origins of the Jesse Scouts, a Union special operations group formed in Missouri in 1861. Named after Jesse Fremont, wife of General John C. Fremont, these scouts utilized 21st-century tradecraft, such as wearing Confederate uniforms to infiltrate enemy lines and conduct daring reconnaissance missions at sites like Fort Donelson. Despite their tactical brilliance, the scouts often possessed a darker side involving theft and lack of discipline, leading to Carpenter being cashiered for lying and stealing. Simultaneously, the Confederacy enacted the Partisan Ranger Act to organize irregular guerrilla groups under formal military control. This era saw the rise of John Singleton Mosby, who, after an initially disastrous start as a guerrilla, redeemed himself by providing General Lee with vital intelligence regarding Union reinforcements before the Battle of Cedar Mountain. Mosby established "Mosby's Confederacy" in Northern Virginia, employing asymmetric tactics to tie down tens of thousands of Union troops who were unable to defeat his elusive rangers. While commanders like Lee and Davis remained ambivalent about the lack of discipline inherent in irregular warfare, they recognized its strategic value for a South lacking in men and material. Mosby's operations became the blueprint for modern irregular warfare, deeply supported by a local population that made the insurgency nearly impossible to suppress. The Unvanquished (1)

Robert Cwiklik, guest author, recounts how, in July 1866, New Orleans became the site of a brutal police-led riot against a constitutional convention aimed at securing Black voting rights. Following Lincoln's death, President Andrew Johnson's lenient Reconstruction policy empowered former Confederates, who enacted "Black Codes" to essentially re-enslave African-Americans through vagrancy laws and labor restrictions. When unionists attempted to rewrite Louisiana's constitution to include Black suffrage, local police and white citizens opened fire on the convention-goers. The massacre resulted in at least 44 deaths, mostly Black veterans and delegates, while white casualties were largely attributed to friendly fire. This violence horrified the North, leading to a massive Republican victory in the 1866 midterm elections and providing a mandate for Radical Reconstruction. The incident highlighted the deep-seated resistance of white Southerners to the concept of racial equality and the failure of Johnson's initial approach to national healing. Sheridan's Secret Mission: How the South Won the War After the Civil War (2)

Patrick K. O'Donnell, guest author, explains that in the summer of 1864, Confederate General Jubal Early, known as Lee's "mean old dog," launched a bold campaign that brought the war to the gates of the nation's capital. After repelling Union forces at Lynchburg, Early marched through the Shenandoah Valley and into Maryland, winning a time-consuming victory at Monocacy against Lew Wallace. This delay proved critical, as it allowed the Union's Sixth Corpsto rush to Washington's defense just as Early reached Fort Stevens. During the skirmish, President Abraham Lincolnfamously stood on the parapet under fire from Confederate sharpshooters before being told to step down for his safety. Simultaneously, the Confederate Secret Service planned a complex special operation to free 10,000 prisoners of war at Point Lookout, though the plot was eventually scuttled. While Early lacked direct coordination with Mosby, the Rangers supported the campaign by conducting the "Calico Raid" at Point of Rocks, severing the B&O Railroad and cutting off Union reinforcements. Mosby's tactics remained centered on swift, close-range attacks using pistols and shotguns to overwhelm the Union's Second Massachusetts Cavalry. Despite the brutality of these "running gunfights," Mosby was noted for treating high-ranking captives with respect, eventually forming post-war friendships with former enemies like the Union officer Forbes. This segment illustrates how close the Confederacy came to winning the war through a back-door strike on Washington. The Unvanquished (4)1863

Patrick K. O'Donnell, guest author, details the final confrontation between Richard Blazer and Mosby's Rangers at Cabletown (or Meyerstown). After Blazer's scouts had embarrassed the Rangers twice, Mosby orchestrated a massive 300-man ambush. During a running gun battle across farmland, Lewis Powell, a Ranger known as "Terrible Powell," personally captured Blazer. The significance of Powell's role extends far beyond the battlefield; he was an operative for the Confederate Secret Service who had previously escaped Union custody in Baltimore. After delivering Blazer to a Richmond prison—likely a cover for meeting his handlers—Powell returned to "Mosby's Confederacy" briefly before "deserting" to Union lines to pose as a civilian. In reality, Powell had joined John Wilkes Booth's conspiracy to kidnap President Lincoln. The plot was a well-funded, large-scale operation involving hundreds of people and a network of safe houses. Evidence suggests that Mosby's command was aware of the kidnapping plan, as Mosby moved hundreds of men 80 miles away from his usual territory to secure the exact area of the Potomac River where the kidnappers intended to cross. This indicates that the kidnapping plot was not merely the work of a few actors but a coordinated special operation supported by the Confederate military infrastructure. Powell eventually became one of the primary Lincoln conspirators, transitioning from a feared scout to a pivotal figure in the war's final, tragic act. The Unvanquished (6)

Colonel Jeff McCausland explains that by July 2, the Union Army establishes a formidable "fishhook" defensive formation from Culp's Hill to the Round Tops, benefiting from interior lines that allow General Meade to reposition forces much faster than General Lee. Lee seeks to break this line, but delays in General Longstreet's advance push the primary assault into late afternoon. A significant tactical error occurs when Union General Dan Sickles moves his corps forward, creating a dangerous gap in the line at the Peach Orchard and exposing his troops to attack from three sides. This vulnerability leads to horrific fighting in the Wheatfield and Devil's Den. To prevent a total collapse at the center, General Hancock orders the First Minnesota Regiment into a desperate bayonet charge against a larger Confederatebrigade, resulting in 80% casualties but holding the line. Simultaneously, Colonel Strong Vincent secures Little Round Top just as Confederate forces attempt to outflank the Union position. (2)

Colonel Jeff McCausland describes how, on the morning of July 1, 1863, Union General John Buford's cavalry identifies Confederate infantry advancing from the west toward the vital crossroads of Gettysburg. Recognizing the critical nature of the terrain, Buford deploys his men on McPherson's Ridge and Oak Hill to delay the advance, sending an urgent request to General John Reynolds for infantry support. The "speed of trust" between the two commanders facilitates a rapid Union response, but tragedy strikes when General Reynolds is killed by a Confederate marksman while directing troops near Herbst Woods. Command devolves to Abner Doubleday and later General Howard as the Union line collapses under pressure from General Richard Ewell's forces arriving from the north. Despite the breakthrough, Ewell famously hesitates to seize the high ground at Culp's Hill and Cemetery Hill as ordered by Robert E. Lee, a pivotal decision on the first day. (1)1863

Patrick K. O'Donnell, guest author, describes how, in the war's final hours, Robert E. Lee faced a monumental decision: follow Jefferson Davis's orders to scatter his army into the mountains to conduct guerrilla warfare, or surrender. Leechose to put "America first," rejecting the insurgency path to avoid subjecting the South to generations of further destruction. This act of statesmanship led to the meeting at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865, where Grantoffered exceptionally favorable terms, allowing Confederate officers to keep their sidearms and horses. The surrender was marked by mutual respect, exemplified by Union General Joshua Chamberlain ordering a salute to the surrendering Confederates as "honor meeting honor." After the war, John Singleton Mosby underwent a radical transformation; he became a close personal friend of Ulysses S. Grant and served as his campaign manager in Virginia. Defying local sentiment, Mosby joined the Republican Party, famously remarking that "hell is being a Republican in Virginia." He later served as a diplomat in Hong Kong, where he fought against human trafficking. In his final years, Mosby befriended a young George S. Patton, and it is believed that Patton's future mastery of maneuver warfare was influenced by the aging partisan's tactical lessons. The story of the "Unvanquished" thus concludes with a narrative of reconciliation, showing how these former shadow warriors helped forge the foundations of modern America and its special operations legacy. The Unvanquished (8)1922

Colonel Jeff McCausland recounts how, on July 3, Robert E. Lee initiates a bold assault aimed at the Union center on Cemetery Ridge, though faulty assumptions regarding troop strength and coordination plague the plan. A massive two-hour artillery barrage—the largest in North American history—precedes the infantry advance but proves largely ineffective due to defective fuses and heavy smoke obscuring the targets. Under General Longstreet's direction, approximately 12,500 men under Pickett, Trimble, and Pettigrew march over a mile across open fields into concentrated Union fire. While General Lewis Armistead's brigade briefly breaches the Union line at "the angle," the Confederatesare ultimately repulsed with devastating losses, leaving Pickett's division nearly destroyed. In the aftermath, a grieving Lee takes full responsibility for the failure, while General Meade, exhausted and hindered by poor weather, declines to pursue the retreating Confederate army toward the Potomac. (3)Little rRundtop

Patrick K. O'Donnell, guest author, explains that following Blazer's capture, Harry Harrison Young took command of the Union's special forces assets under Phil Sheridan. Only 5'5" but "absolutely fearless," Young transformed the Jesse Scouts into a vital strategic asset. These scouts, often operating in Confederate uniforms, conducted suicide missions and used elaborate disguises—such as peddlers or Southern recruiting officers—to gather real-time intelligence. The hazards were so extreme that most Jesse Scouts did not survive the war, though the unit ultimately earned seven Medals of Honor. As Sheridan moved to join Grant at Petersburg, the scouts performed an epic mission: delivering messages to Grant by riding 100 miles through enemy territory with the orders wrapped in tin foil in their mouths. During the final campaign, the Jesse Scouts acted as Sheridan's "eyes," seizing critical bridges and providing the intelligence needed to find weak points in Lee's lines. They played a pivotal role at the Battle of Five Forks, where they discovered that Confederate leaders were distracted by a "shad bake" (fish luncheon) and failed to hear the opening of the battle due to an atmospheric anomaly. The scouts even used misinformation to direct retreating Confederates to the wrong locations and intercepted orders meant to supply Lee's starving army at Amelia Courthouse. By disrupting Lee's logistics and securing vital supply trains, the Jesse Scouts and Sheridan's cavalry effectively "sealed the coffin" for the Army of Northern Virginia. The Unvanquished (7)

This week on The Necessary Conversation,Chad, Haley, and Mary Lou discuss the 250 year of America as the country seems to be crumbling.

When Bryan Stevenson moved to Montgomery, Alabama, in the 1980s, the city—one of America's most prominent slave trading spaces before the Civil War—had dozens of Confederate monuments and memorials, but nothing commemorating slavery. Today, thanks to Stevenson's efforts, the city looks much different. Over the last decade, the executive director of the non-profit Equal Justice Initiative has transformed parts of Montgomery through markers acknowledging the legacy of slavery while building the Legacy Sites, a museum and memorials that commemorate the nation's history of lynching, enslavement, and racial terror across the South. “We have to now fight to correct the historic record, to have an honest accounting of what happened to our parents and grandparents and their parents,” Stevenson says. “Because without an honest accounting, we will not make it to the next step.”This week on Reveal, host Al Letson travels to Montgomery to interview Stevenson as America marks its 250th anniversary. He talks about the importance of memorializing the nation's darkest chapters as the Trump administration attempts to erase slavery from America's museums and explains why he sees today's narrative struggle for racial justice as a generational battle. Support Reveal's journalism at Revealnews.org/donatenow Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get the scoop on new episodes at Revealnews.org/weekly Connect with us on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

SCHEDULE JBS, 7-3-2026.1880 LIMERICKFitzhugh Brundage, author of A Fate Worse Than Hell, discusses the capture of three black sailors from the Isaac Smithin 1863, which forced the Confederacy to decide if black men in uniform were POWs or runaway slaves. While white sailors were quickly exchanged, the Confederacy refused to trade black captives, viewing them as participants in a servile insurrection. A smuggled letter from the sailors eventually reached Washington, contributing to the halt of systematic prisoner exchanges by the spring of 1863. This shift compelled both sides to become long-term custodians of captives. (1)Fitzhugh Brundage, author of A Fate Worse Than Hell, explains that prisoner exchanges were based on 18th-century European customs that sought to prevent the execution or enslavement of captured enemies. Armies used a calculus to trade soldiers, such as equating one colonel to twenty privates to ensure equity. When capture numbers were uneven, the parole system allowed surplus soldiers to return home on the condition they not fight until formally exchanged. This formalized process aimed to keep warfare humane and efficient for both sides until political tensions arose. (2)Fitzhugh Brundage, author of A Fate Worse Than Hell, details how Confederate official John Winder, a West Pointerfrom Maryland, supervised the detention of Union prisoners in Richmond. He oversaw the conversion of industrial structures, like the Libby Prison tobacco warehouse, into overcrowded holding pens for Union officers. These facilities lacked basic amenities, including latrines and protection from the elements, leading to rapid physical deterioration for thousands. Winder, often viewed as a military martinet, prioritized bureaucracy over prisoner welfare as the captive population ballooned beyond Richmond's capacity. (3)Fitzhugh Brundage, author of A Fate Worse Than Hell, describes how Union administrator William Hoffman managed Northern prisons with a focus on extreme cost-savings, even diverting ration funds into camp improvements. Meanwhile, the Lieber Code (General Order 100) was drafted to codify humane treatment for POWs and civilians. However, it included a "military necessity" loophole that allowed commanders to bypass these protections in dire situations. The Confederacy denounced this code as illegal window dressing for the Union's conduct during the ongoing conflict. (4)Fitzhugh Brundage, author of A Fate Worse Than Hell, explains that following the Battle of Gettysburg, the breakdown of exchanges necessitated large-scale prisoner concentration. Andersonville was established in remote Georgia to alleviate the burden on Richmond's food supply and reduce guard requirements. Prisoners like N. Burch endured grueling train transports without hygiene or food to reach the stockade. Conversely, the Union created Point Lookout in Maryland as a retaliatory concentration camp, forcing thousands of Confederates to live in inadequate tents on a sand spit. (5)Fitzhugh Brundage, author of A Fate Worse Than Hell, recounts how, following the Battle of the Crater, black Unionsoldiers like Isaac Gaskins faced extreme humiliation and the threat of enslavement. The Confederacy often refused to recognize black men in uniform as soldiers, instead treating them as rebellious property to be returned to owners or used for forced labor. By late 1864, the Confederate military became the South's largest enslaver. Gaskins survived his ordeal in Danville by being used as a laborer, a fate shared by many black captives. (6)Fitzhugh Brundage, author of A Fate Worse Than Hell, describes how Andersonville became a death camp where 35,000 men were crammed into a space with no shelter and polluted water. Commander Henry Wirz oversaw a site where over 100 men died daily from starvation and disease. After the war, Wirz was prosecuted for war crimes, arguing unsuccessfully that he was only following orders from superiors like Winder. His execution set an international precedent for military accountability and helped shape the future Geneva Conventions. (7)Fitzhugh Brundage, author of A Fate Worse Than Hell, reflects on how the remains of prisoners became symbols of uneasy national memory, with many sites like Camp Douglas in Chicago resulting in unmarked mass graves. At Andersonville, nearly 14,000 Union soldiers perished, a death toll exceeding the Union losses at Gettysburg. Thanks to a secret list kept by a prisoner, Clara Barton and others were able to identify 13,000 of the dead. Today, the site is a national cemetery marked by rows of numbered stones, serving as a poignant pilgrimage site. (8)Daniel Rood, author of In the Shadow of the Great House, recounts how, in 1933, agronomist Wofford Camp led the Associated Farmers of California to violently suppress cotton worker strikes in the Central Valley. This conflict represented the "cutting edge" of plantation capitalism, which Rood traces back to 17th-century Barbados. Figures like John Yeamans established the model of using manufacturing technology and enslaved labor to produce high-profit export crops like sugar. This system viewed labor as disposable and sought modern, lower-cost production for global markets. (9)Daniel Rood, author of In the Shadow of the Great House, argues that the modern link between race and slavery was a conscious creation by planters to secure a lifelong, reproductive workforce. Philosopher John Locke codified this in Carolina's founding documents, granting freemen absolute authority over black slaves regardless of their religion. This prevented enslaved people from using Christian conversion as a path to freedom. This "fictional" racial category was reinforced by early slave codes in Virginia to ensure the perpetual growth of plantation profits. (10)Daniel Rood, author of In the Shadow of the Great House, explains that American founders like Thomas Jefferson lived in a state of "incoherence," advocating for liberty while fearing a genocide of white people if slaves were freed. Early Virginia history shows a decline in freedom, as African-born men like Anthony Johnson initially owned land before legal opportunities were narrowed. Nathaniel Bacon's 1676 rebellion further entrenched racial hierarchy by demanding the expulsion of Native Americans to secure more land for an unending supply of enslaved labor. (11)Daniel Rood, author of In the Shadow of the Great House, describes how, during the Siege of Yorktown, Cornwallisprioritized British sugar profits in Jamaica over the lives of thousands of black refugees, pushing them out to starve or face recapture. In contrast, the American "patriots" used human property as a military recruitment tool, offering poor white soldiers land and "one healthy sound negro" for their service. This strategy hardened the link between slavery and freedom for white Americans, ensuring the plantation system's survival long after the Revolution concluded. (12)Daniel Rood, author of In the Shadow of the Great House, explains that enslaved people like Suki provided the essential "intellectual labor" and agricultural expertise required for successful plantations. Despite this, the domestic slave trade treated two million people as speculative property between 1820 and 1860. Charles Dickens famously witnessed the heartbreak of families being separated on trains for the sake of "short-term profits." This human trafficking machine was fueled by planters chasing high-margin crops like cotton while maintaining a delusion of lifelong stability. (13)Daniel Rood, author of In the Shadow of the Great House, recounts how, during the Civil War, General Shermantargeted "great houses" like that of Confederate politician Howell Cobb for destruction to cripple the planter class. Field Order 15 initially provided a path for land reform by settling refugees on abandoned plantations, but the policy was reversed by Andrew Johnson after Lincoln's assassination. Planters regained their property, and formerly enslaved families were evicted and forced into exploitative labor contracts, representing a tragic "lost opportunity" for reconstruction. (14)Daniel Rood, author of In the Shadow of the Great House, traces how the plantation system evolved globally, with Cubabecoming a sugar powerhouse using industrial steam technology after the Haitian Revolution. In modern Brazil, multinational corporations like BP and Cargill run "mammoth sugar farms" using unfree contract labor for ethanol production. Similarly, California's agricultural boom relied on the Bracero program and guest workers who lacked political rights. This modern planter class continues to prioritize investor profits over the stability and rights of their laborers. (15)Daniel Rood, author of In the Shadow of the Great House, reveals that the University of Georgia's Baldwin Hall was built over an unacknowledged burial ground for enslaved people. Although the university initially claimed the remains were European, DNA analysis and archival research proved they were of African descent. This attempt to "re-bury the history" illustrates the ongoing need to escape the shadow of the great house by embracing the truth of the past. Roodargues for an anti-plantation counterculture that values human relationships over "breakneck exploitation." (16)All 16 formatted, John — Fitzhugh Brundage throughout (added to the standing correction log alongside the earlier "Fitz" flag), book titles italicized, single paragraphs, numbered at the tail.

Daniel Rood, author of In the Shadow of the Great House, recounts how, during the Civil War, General Shermantargeted "great houses" like that of Confederate politician Howell Cobb for destruction to cripple the planter class. Field Order 15 initially provided a path for land reform by settling refugees on abandoned plantations, but the policy was reversed by Andrew Johnson after Lincoln's assassination. Planters regained their property, and formerly enslaved families were evicted and forced into exploitative labor contracts, representing a tragic "lost opportunity" for reconstruction. (14)1854 PERU

Fitzhugh Brundage, author of A Fate Worse Than Hell, explains that following the Battle of Gettysburg, the breakdown of exchanges necessitated large-scale prisoner concentration. Andersonville was established in remote Georgia to alleviate the burden on Richmond's food supply and reduce guard requirements. Prisoners like N. Burch endured grueling train transports without hygiene or food to reach the stockade. Conversely, the Union created Point Lookout in Maryland as a retaliatory concentration camp, forcing thousands of Confederates to live in inadequate tents on a sand spit. (5)RICHMOND

Fitzhugh Brundage, author of A Fate Worse Than Hell, details how Confederate official John Winder, a West Pointerfrom Maryland, supervised the detention of Union prisoners in Richmond. He oversaw the conversion of industrial structures, like the Libby Prison tobacco warehouse, into overcrowded holding pens for Union officers. These facilities lacked basic amenities, including latrines and protection from the elements, leading to rapid physical deterioration for thousands. Winder, often viewed as a military martinet, prioritized bureaucracy over prisoner welfare as the captive population ballooned beyond Richmond's capacity. (3)1865

Ronald White, guest author, explains that the 20th Maine's early service was defined by the grim realities of warfare, from the massacre at Fredericksburg to a debilitating smallpox outbreak caused by defective vaccination serum within the camp. By June 1863, the regiment was forced on grueling 30-mile marches toward Gettysburg under oppressive summer heat. On the second day of the battle, Chamberlain received desperate orders to hold the far left of the Unionline at Little Round Top "at all cost." Facing superior Confederate numbers and having exhausted his unit's ammunition, Chamberlain executed a legendary bayonet charge that broke the enemy assault. During the chaotic melee, he personally confronted a Confederate officer at gunpoint, taking his pistol as the position was secured. Though he suffered from malaria following the victory, his leadership at Gettysburg cemented his reputation as a tactical hero who saved the Union flank. On Great Fields: The Life and Unlikely Heroism of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (3)1863 LITTLE ROUNDTOP

Ronald White, guest author, recounts how, in June 1864, Chamberlain led a perilous frontal assault at Petersburg, where he was struck by a minié ball that traveled through his hips, shattering internal blood vessels and his bladder. Surgeons gave him only a 10% chance of survival, and he wrote a heart-wrenching final farewell to Fanny from his hospital bed. Defying medical expectations, he survived the infection-riddled environment and returned to the field to command a brigade during the final pursuit of Lee's army. At Appomattox, General Grant chose him to preside over the formal surrender ceremony of the Confederate infantry. During this event, Chamberlain sparked decades of controversy by ordering a "marching salute" to the defeated Southern soldiers to honor their courage. This act of reconciliation underscored his belief that the war's end required bringing both sides back together as one nation despite the deep scars of conflict. On Great Fields: The Life and Unlikely Heroism of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (4)1864

Vincent “Clawhammer” Witcher became one of the most feared Confederate guerrilla leaders along the Virginia/Kentucky border in the Civil War.  As the leader of what was called “Witcher's Boys, he operated from the Ohio River in what's now West Virginia down into northeast Tennessee, bringing brutal violence to both friend and foe alike. This week we tell his story, including notorious incidents in Lee County, Virginia and Unicoi County, Tennessee, that earned him the name “The Devil in the Mountains.”Be sure to subscribe to the Stories podcast on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss any of our stories.Thanks for listening.

SCHEDULE OF JBS 7-3-2026. 1913 WILSON OPENIG DAYColonel Jeff McCausland discusses John Buford's arrival at Gettysburg, identifying key terrain like Cemetery Hill. Buford sent urgent messages to John Reynolds, urging him to bring infantry forward quickly. Reynolds trusted Buford's assessment, leading Union forces to occupy positions just as the Confederate attack began. (1)Colonel Jeff McCausland recounts how General Reynolds was killed by a Confederate marksman while leading his men forward into the woods. Later that day, Robert E. Lee issued a famous discretionary order to Richard Ewell to take Cemetery Hill "if practicable." Ewell, newly promoted and lacking initiative, hesitated and ultimately declined to attack. (2)Colonel Jeff McCausland explains how rifled muskets increased accuracy while tactics remained outdated, causing high casualties. On the second day, Strong Vincent took the initiative to occupy Little Round Top without orders. Joshua Chamberlain's 20th Maine successfully held the Union's far left flank with a desperate bayonet charge. (3)Colonel Jeff McCausland describes how, on the third day, Lee ordered a frontal assault on the Union center despite Longstreet's protests. Pickett's Charge resulted in devastating casualties, with nearly 60-65% of the force lost to artillery and rifle fire. Longstreet was visibly overwhelmed by the certainty of the attack's failure. (4)Mary Kissel discusses a catastrophic earthquake in Venezuela, highlighting the human tragedy exacerbated by corrupt building practices. While US first responders are assisting, Kissel critiques the State Department for preventing opposition leader María Corina Machado from returning. She argues diplomacy should promote strategic interests and free societies. (5)Mary Kissel evaluates US policy toward China, noting Beijing's aggression toward Taiwan and the Philippines. She praises the Trump administration's support for Ukraine, particularly in surveillance and military assistance, which enabled deep strikes into Russian territory. She urges the White House to champion the moral high ground. (6)Anatol Lieven discusses Vladimir Putin's public admission that Ukrainian drone strikes are causing significant difficulties and a loss of refining capacity. While Putin remains in charge, he faces pressure from hawks and doves regarding escalation. Despite successful drone campaigns, the battlefield in the Donbass remains stagnant. (7)Lance Gatling reports that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi unveiled a $2.3 trillion investment roadmap focused on 17 key technologies, including AI and chip manufacturing. The plan aims for economic independence and supply line diversity. Takaichi enjoys high public support, particularly from conservatives and young people tired of Chineseintimidation. (8)Michael Vorenberg challenges the idea that the Civil War ended at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. While Lee's surrender was a crucial step involving the stacking of arms, Lincoln did not publicly declare the war over. Lincolnremained focused on the ongoing process of reconstruction. (9)Michael Vorenberg recounts how, following Lincoln's assassination, William T. Sherman met Joseph Johnston at Bennett Place to negotiate a surrender. Sherman offered terms more generous than Grant's, including allowing Southerners to keep weapons in armories to prevent guerrilla warfare. However, the Washington cabinet rejected these terms as too lenient. (10)Michael Vorenberg explains that after official surrenders, Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith fled to Mexicorather than surrender his Trans-Mississippi forces. Small skirmishes continued at Palmetto Ranch, which is often cited as the last battle of the war. Meanwhile, Grant sent Sheridan to the Rio Grande to deter French intervention. (11)Michael Vorenberg discusses how the government used military tribunals to try Lincoln's conspirators and Andersonville commandant Henry Wirz, arguing a state of war still existed. Secretary of War Stanton hoped to implicate Jefferson Davis in these crimes to justify execution, but Wirz refused to provide such testimony before hanging. (12)Michael Vorenberg examines Richard Henry Dana's "grasp of war" philosophy, arguing the Union should hold the Confederacy until civil rights were secured. This contrasted with Lincoln's "let 'em up easy" approach. Congress used these war powers to extend the Freedman's Bureau and pass reconstruction legislation. (13)Michael Vorenberg traces how Andrew Johnson, initially seen as a radical ally, shifted toward a policy of white supremacy and hasty peace. He vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866, leading moderate Republicans to unite with radicals. This intense conflict centered on whether the war had legally ended. (14)Michael Vorenberg explains that on August 20, 1866, Johnson proclaimed the insurrection over to strip Congress of its war powers. Despite ongoing massacres in Memphis and New Orleans, Johnson tried to suppress reports of violence to maintain a "peace" narrative. The Supreme Court later affirmed this technical end date. (15)Michael Vorenberg describes how Ulysses S. Grant found himself caught between the warring factions of the Johnsonadministration. After witnessing Johnson's disastrous "swing around the circle" tour, Grant realized the President was unfit for loyalty. Grant eventually sided with Secretary of War Stanton, facilitating his 1868 presidential run. (16)All 16 folded into single paragraphs, John. One correction for the log: segment 5 had "Maria Karina Machado" — fixed to María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader. Flag anything else.

Colonel Jeff McCausland recounts how General Reynolds was killed by a Confederate marksman while leading his men forward into the woods. Later that day, Robert E. Lee issued a famous discretionary order to Richard Ewell to take Cemetery Hill "if practicable." Ewell, newly promoted and lacking initiative, hesitated and ultimately declined to attack. (2)1910

Colonel Jeff McCausland discusses John Buford's arrival at Gettysburg, identifying key terrain like Cemetery Hill. Buford sent urgent messages to John Reynolds, urging him to bring infantry forward quickly. Reynolds trusted Buford's assessment, leading Union forces to occupy positions just as the Confederate attack began. (1)1903 GETTYSBURG

Preview: Professor Fitzhugh Brundage examines the descent of Civil War prisons into systemic brutality. Focusing on Richmond's Libby Prison, a repurposed tobacco warehouse, he explains how the initial intent of civilized exchanges failed. Brundage details how the experiences of literate Union officers helped spread early accounts regarding these notorious Confederate facilities.1865 RICHMOND VA

Preview: Colonel Jeff McCausland recounts the 20th Maine's stand at Little Round Top. Out of ammunition, Colonel Chamberlain ordered a bayonet charge to successfully hold the southernmost line against exhausted Confederate forces, preventing a total Union collapse.

In Part 4 of Bear Grease's Civil War Summer series, Clay Newcomb continues the conversation with JD Huitt and sits down with historian Dr. Brooks Blevins to examine one of the most consequential decisions of the war: Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Following the bloodshed at Antietam—the single deadliest day in American history—the Union president made a bold political, military, and moral gamble that transformed the conflict forever. Together, they unpack why the proclamation was far more than a declaration of freedom and explore how Lincoln used emancipation as a diplomatic weapon to keep Britain and France out of the war, weaken the Confederate labor force, recruit Black soldiers, and redefine the Union cause. Along the way, they examine the staggering casualties of Civil War combat, the strategic failures of Union generals, and the growing realization that the war would not end in compromise but in total transformation. The Civil War had begun as a fight to preserve the Union. By the end of 1862, it had become something much bigger. Thank you to our sponsor, Tecovas. If you have comments on the show, send us a note to beargrease@themeateater.com Connect with Clay and MeatEater Clay on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop Bear Grease MerchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The year is 2004. Jonah Goldberg and Steve Hayes, young and clean shaven, stride through the National Archives. Stopping, they gaze down at a yellowed leaf of parchment. “I'm gonna steal it.” Jonah mutters. “What?” Steve asks. Jonah clenches his jaw. “I'm gonna steal the Declaration of Independence.”  Fortunately, Steve talked Jonah out of his hairbrained scheme and both men remained free, unincarcerated citizens. Unfortunately, the many secrets of the Declaration that Jonah hoped to uncover remained lost to history … until now. To mark and celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding, Jonah is joined by Michael Auslin, author of National Treasure:How the Declaration of Independence Made America, to dive into the oft-forgotten history of our founding document, including: who didn't sign the Declaration, Button Gwinnett's signature, the Confederate view of the Declaration, America's enlightened consensus, Declaration historiography, George III, Thomas Paine's Common Sense, John Quincy Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Paine v. Burke, and what it means to be a credal country.  Show Notes: —Michael Auslin - National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America —Allen Guelzo Remnant —Pauline Maier - American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence —Gordon Wood - The Radicalism of the American Revolution —Andrew Roberts - The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of George III —AEI Archive: Distinguished Lecture Series on the Bicentennial of the United States The Remnant is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including the Saturday Ruminant, audio versions of all our articles and newsletters, and Jonah's twice-weekly G-File—⁠click here⁠. Instructions on how to set up your members-only feed can be found here, and if you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 30, 2026Trump signed an executive order, on his first day in office, declaring that there was no birthright citizenship, The ACLU and others sued the administration, The Fourteenth Amendment established birthright citizenship, After the Civil War former Confederates denied Black Southerners basic rights, The Republican Congress passed a civil rights bill in 1866 but President Andrew Johnson vetoed it, When Congress wrote the 14th Amendment, it acknowledged that the Constitution had already established citizenship for all persons born or naturalized in the US, The 14th Amendment was challenged in the late 19th century, but the Supreme Court upheld it in 1898, After that, It seemed the law was settled, After Trump issued his executive order, judges all sided against him, and today the current court upheld birthright citizenship, But many have said that the Supreme Court should never have even taken the case, And four of the nine current Supreme Court justices appear to be willing to rewrite the Constitution, MAGA is pressing the administration to step up immigration enforcement in response. Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

Steve Schmidt and comedian and actor Godfrey joined Don Lemon for "Hot Topics" to examine the troubled rollout of Trump's America 250 festivities, from the Reflecting Pool fiasco to a Confederate flag image displayed at a state pavilion, alongside a wave of hateful, racist, anti-immigrant rhetoric from Megyn Kelly, Tom Emmer, and other prominent Trump allies targeting Somali Americans and Haitians. At a moment meant to celebrate the nation's history, what kind of America is being presented? Support The Warning and become a member today! https://www.youtube.com/@UC2I50t9-7Ol7AjwryRv-Fiw Today's Merch: Drain the Swamp Tee https://thewarningwithsteveschmidt.com/products/drain-the-swap-tee SUBSCRIBE for more and follow me here: Substack: https://steveschmidt.substack.com/subscribe Store: https://thewarningwithsteveschmidt.com/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thewarningses.bsky.social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SteveSchmidtSES/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewarningses Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewarningses/ X: https://x.com/SteveSchmidtSES See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's Headlines: Trump's America 250 Great American State Fair opened on the National Mall in the rain, the power went out, the ferris wheel didn't work, there was no fair food, at least 10 states declined to send delegations, and Trump called it "packed to the brim" — the North Carolina booth displayed a Confederate flag overlay on a video loop before sponsors pulled out, which is on brand for an event whose main attractions were a Turning Point USA booth and a broken ferris wheel. Trump also unveiled a limited edition passport featuring his own face with the words "welcome, but be good!," announced plans to renovate a DC golf course starting September 1st, and personally inspected Lafayette Park to ensure it will have exactly 47 maple trees because he's the 47th president. The administration also announced the "Patriot Games" — aka the Hunger Games — a high school athletic competition on the National Mall in August where kids from each state compete for a $250,000 scholarship they split two ways, streaming on ESPN. The Iran war is back on: Trump announced strikes on Iranian targets after an attack on a commercial tanker, threatened to "militarily complete the job," Iran responded by asserting full control of the Strait, threatening to halt negotiations, and launching drone and missile attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait — while Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement requiring Israel to withdraw if Lebanon verifies Hezbollah has been fully dismantled, with the US committing $100 million in humanitarian aid. On the Russia beat, coup rumors against Putin got louder this weekend as Russia continues losing in Ukraine, Putin has dramatically increased his personal security, and former Russian defense minister Sergei Ivanov — once seen as Putin's potential successor — died at 73, with his death announced first by a basketball organization he was honorary president of, which is suspicious to say the least. In other news, a new CNN analysis found that Americans in Democratic congressional districts live longer, with nearly 70% of House Democrats representing districts where life expectancy exceeds the national average versus over 70% of Republicans representing districts where it falls below, alongside higher rates of diabetes, obesity, and uninsured residents in Republican districts. Mississippi passed a law creating a registry of undocumented immigrants to share with ICE, covering fewer than 30,000 people out of nearly 3 million state residents. And finally, a dangerous heat dome is forecast for the central and eastern US just in time for July 4th celebrations, so happy 250th America. Resources/Articles mentioned:  Newsweek: Map Shows States Skipping America 250 Fair News Observer: Confederate flag fuels fresh controversy over NC at national ‘State Fair' WaPo: Organizers remove Confederate flag image from N.C. booth at fair on the Mall Forbes: Trump's Patriot Games: What We Know About Nationally Televised Event NYT: White House Releases Images of the Trump ‘Patriot Passport' WaPo: Work on East Potomac Golf Links overhaul will begin Sept. 1, Trump says DW: How real is a coup threat against Russia's president? MSN: Putin faces internal strains as ally Ivanov dies at 73 Axios: U.S. launches fresh Iran strikes as Trump threatens to "complete the job" WaPo: Iran insists it has sole control of Hormuz, ignoring Trump's threats AP News: Iran attacks Bahrain and Kuwait following US strikes and threatens to halt talks MS Now: Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement after marathon talks AP News: A new law could create a list of immigrants illegally living in Mississippi. Advocates are alarmed CNN: Americans now live longer in Democratic-held House districts. Here's why NYT: A ‘Heat Dome' Could Bring Triple- Digit Temperatures to the Midwest and Eastern U.S.  Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the US Civil War (1861-1865) dragged on, both sides resorted to conscription (the draft) to fill their ranks. Under the Confederate law, a draftee could dodge service by hiring a man who was exempt from the draft to replace him—in most cases someone under or over the conscription age. Generally, the “principal” (as one evading the draft was called), paid a fee to the government as well as a large sum to his substitute. Only the wealthy could afford substitutes. The apostle Paul writes of the cosmic spiritual war, where “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death” (6:23). There was no clause or loophole that gave those with “means” some way out. But what about a substitute for us all? The writer to the Hebrews praises God, who in His infinite mercy sent Jesus to be our substitute—to bear the punishment our sin deserved, to pay our debt by sacrificing “the body of Jesus Christ once for all” so that we would be “made holy” through His substitutionary sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10). We have “died with Christ,” and one day “we will also live with him” (Romans 6:8). That’s the good news right there. Christ died for you and for me; the substitute took our place. We’re now more than simply survivors of the war. We’ve become the sons and daughters of God.

The second Trump administration has made tearing down parts of the federal government a priority. And some of those efforts have been literal. In October, President Donald Trump ordered the demolition of the White House's East Wing to make way for the construction of a massive 90,000-square-foot ballroom. He's also overseen a now-problematic overhaul of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, given the White House a gilded makeover, bulldozed the famed Rose Garden, and even has plans for a so-called “Arc de Trump” that mirrors France's Arc de Triomphe. So what's behind all of this? Art historian Erin Thompson—author of Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America's Public Monuments—says that whether it's Romans repurposing idols of leaders who had fallen out of favor or the glorification of Civil War officers in the American South, monuments and public aesthetics aren't just about the past. They're about symbolizing power today. On this week's More To The Story, Thompson sits down with host Al Letson to discuss why Trump has decked out the White House in gold (so much gold), the rise and recent fall of Confederate monuments, and whether she thinks the Arc de Trump will ever get built.This is an update of an episode that first aired in December 2025.Producers: Josh Sanburn and Artis Curiskis | Editor: Kara McGuirk-Allison | Theme music: Fernando Arruda and Jim Briggs | Copy editor: Nikki Frick | Digital producer: Artis Curiskis | Intern: Joni Binder | Deputy executive producer: Taki Telonidis | Executive producer: Brett Myers | Executive editor: James West | Host: Al LetsonListen: Fancy Galleries, Fake Art (Reveal)Listen: Will the National Parks Survive Trump? (Reveal)Read: Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America's Public Monuments (W. W. Norton & Company)Read: America's Tech Right Is Obsessed With Building Giant Statues (Bloomberg)Read: Nearly 100 Confederate Monuments Were Toppled in 2020. What Happened to Them? (Mother Jones)Note: If you buy a book using our Bookshop link, a small share of the proceeds supports our journalism. Donate today at Revealnews.org/more Subscribe to our weekly newsletter at Revealnews.org/weekly Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices