Podcast appearances and mentions of Gary Fletcher

If you feel like America is facing hard times right now, you've got a lot in common with your forebearers. Greg Jackson of History That Doesn't Suck joins Ben for a live conversation to discuss his new book Been There, Done That: How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome, and why he thinks highlighting some of America's hardest moments can strengthen us as we work to preserve the American Republic on the eve of its 250th anniversary. If you enjoy this conversation, come join us in Nashville on June 24th as Ben hosts a live event with Greg to celebrate the launch of the book. The event, sponsored by Ben's local bookstore, The Bookshop, is at 7pm at the Noelle. Click here for tickets. You can get your copy of Been There Done That here. This episode was recorded live on international waters during A Cruise That Doesn't Suck. A special thanks to Greg, Dossie McCraw and Riley Neubauer for inviting Ben to be part of the cruise and for all their hard work to organize and record this episode. This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

May 18, 2026 marks exactly ten years since Bob Crawford and Ben Sawyer launched the first episode of The Road to Now, so we decided to get together for a conversation reflecting on our first conversation, the unexpected places the show has taken us, and what we've learned along the way.   We are grateful to everyone who has taken the time to listen to this show, sat down with us for an interview, or shared kind words with someone else. When we recorded the first episode in the basement of Bridgestone arena, we didn't know where the show would lead us (or how to make a podcast), but after a decade of great conversations, live shows, and a humbling amount of support from listeners and guests, we're still going strong. And a special thanks to anyone who has supported us on Patreon- we couldn't have made this show what it is without your support.   Here's to another ten years. -Ben & Bob   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.  

Danny and Lee return for the last episode of the season. They discuss the awful performance against Huddersfield and the players plus fans being on the beach. They talk about the retained list and with only 4 players released what does it actually mean to be in discussions and what players will still leave even if they are under contract. What is next for Jake Reeves? They talk League One and what does it mean losing Exeter and how strong will it be next year. They finish by thanking everyone involved in this pod especially Joe Moger, the sponsors Gary Fletcher and Fletcher Fabrications and also Simon and Ori Carr. See you all next season, thanks again for listening and getting involved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lee returns and him and Danny are joined by one of the pie boys, this week Gary Buss joins the lads to talk all things Wimbledon. They start by discussing the loss against Plymouth. They talk about what is to blame or who is to blame for our current slump and the reason we are in relegation trouble. They talk about how we get out of this mess and stay up. How the league is shaping up, who will go down and the remaining fixtures at the bottom of the table. They give their Fletcher Fabrications predictions and discuss the massive game away to Wigan on Saturday. We would like to thank Gary Fletcher and the lads at Fletcher Fabrications and also Simon/Ori Carr for sponsoring us this season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danny and Lee return with another bumper episode. They start by talking about the 2 defeats over easter against Lincoln and Luton. They tall about the formations, the tactics, the injuries and why they dropped points. They move on and play a game of keep or sell. They go through the whole squad and give their honest opinions on the squad and if they would be happy to keep a player or would they be happy to see them leave in the summer. They finish by previewing the huge away game to Burton and they give their Fletcher Fabrications predictions. Thanks to Gary Fletcher and the lads at Fletcher Fabrications for sponsoring this seasons prediction league, also massive thanks to Simon and Ori Carr for sponsoring this seasons Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that the Boston Tea Party was sparked by a corporate tax cut? Or that during the explosive post-WWII economic boom, the highest tax bracket in the US was about 90%? Or that the more democratic a country is, the more taxes its citizens tend to pay? In this episode, Vanessa S. Williamson joins us for a conversation about her new book, The Price of Democracy: The Revolutionary Power of Taxation in American History (Basic Books, 2025), the misunderstandings that shape both liberal and conservative attitudes toward tax policy, and the reasons she thinks that taxation and democracy are inseparable in US history. Dr. Vanessa S. Williamson is Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institute and Senior Fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

Danny and Lee this week discuss the 3-0 defeat away to Stockport. Was it a 3-0? We actually played well but what let us down and ultimately cost us the game. They talk about this seasons player of the season and young player of the season. They think its between 3 players, Steve Seddon, Marcus Browne and Ryan Johnson. Arguments for all 3 but who do the boys think will win it. They talk about the all time Wimbledon FC 11 and come up with some choices for defence, keeper is confirmed, midfield is confirmed and next week they pick the strikers and confirm the greatest 11 and they finish previewing the bumper easter weekend with games against Lincoln away and Luton at home. Thanks to Gary Fletcher at Fletcher Fabrications for sponsoring this season prediction league and also Simon/Ori Carr for sponsoring the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Directors Erik Ewers & Christopher Loren Ewers join us to discuss their new film, Ken Burns Presents: Henry David Thoreau. Erik & Christopher talk about their rediscovery of Thoreau's place in American history, their process for capturing his story, and why Thoreau's views of his own time might resonate with those seeking to make sense of the modern world. The two-part series premieres on PBS March 30-31, so make sure to check your local listings and tune in!   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

Lee and Danny return for a bumper episode. They start by discussing the 1-1 draw at home to Peterborough, was it a good point? the injuries we received are not great but haven't come at the worse time. How we played and how good is Callum Maycock? They talk about the vote for 50+1 and what this means for the club going forward, what kind of investor do they want to see etc. They finish by previewing the game away to Stockport and give their Fletcher Fabrications predictions. Thanks to Gary Fletcher for sponsoring the prediction league and also Simon & Ori Carr for sponsoring the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Van Buren served just one term as President from 1837 to 1841, but as the architect behind the founding of the Democratic Party, his legacy lives on in the US today. In this episode, we speak with James M. Bradley, author of the new book Martin Van Buren: America's First Politician, to learn how Van Buren helped reshape politics in the 19th century and laid the groundwork for America's two-party system. You can learn more about the work being done to preserve the papers of Martin Van Buren at VanBurenPapers.org.  Love history and want to go on a cruise? Join Ben and History That Doesn't Suck's Greg Jackson for a 5-day/4-night cruise of the Caribbean that runs from May 18-22! Visit htdscruise.com for details and enter promo code RTN at checkout for $100 off a cabin!   And don't forget that Bob's new book America's Founding Son: John Quincy Adams from President to Political Maverickis now available! Click here to get your copy!     This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher and originally aired as episode 324 in January 2025. 

The lads are this week joined by DT board member James Longhurst to discuss 50+1, ask your questions and find out more information regarding everything around 50+1Lee and Danny start by discussing the defeat away to Stevenage and then the home loss to Orient during the week. They give some Fletcher Fabrications predictions and thank our sponsors Gary Fletcher at Fletcher Fabrications and Simon/Ori Carr. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben & Bob speak with Hans Zeigler, President of the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America's Founding Principles & History. We discuss the work that the JMC is doing to promote teaching the founding principles and civics to Americas young people from kindergarten through college. The JMC will be hosting a National Summit on Civil Education in Philadelphia, May 18-19. Click here for details.   Love history and want to go on a cruise? Join Ben and History That Doesn't Suck's Greg Jackson for a 5-day/4-night cruise of the Caribbean that runs from May 18-22! Visit htdscruise.com for details and enter promo code RTN at checkout for $100 off a cabin! And don't forget that Bob's new book America's Founding Son: John Quincy Adams from President to Political Maverickis now available! Click here to get your copy! This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

Danny and Lee return to discuss 6 points out of 6 against Northampton and Blackpool. They discuss how the team lined up, how we played and everything that happened in the 2 games. After seeing a post on X regarding Browne or Curtis, they discuss the impact of Browne, has he given us a Curtis moment and who would they pick to start for Wimbledon. They then start a conversation about Wimbledon FC's greatest team, they have to pick a starting 11 and try and agree on each position. This week they start with GK and defence. If they cannot decide it goes to the listeners. They finish by predicting the results in the Fletcher Fabrications prediction league against Stevenage and Leyton Orient. Thanks to our sponsors Gary Fletcher, Simon and Ori Carr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bob Crawford's first book has arrived! America's Founding Son: John Quincy Adams from President to Political Maverick launches March 10 via Zando Press and we're celebrating with an episode dedicated to the book. Bob will be speaking about his new at bookstores across the country. Click here for dates & locations! This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher    

Danny and Lee are back and they start by talking about the draw away to Mansfield. Was it a good point or a bad point. How did we play and how did we line up. They talk about the young lads out on loan especially Kai Jennings and Osman Foyo who both scored midweek for Sutton. Do we see them coming back next season and having a huge part to play? They talk about 50+1 and the stuff being sent out by The Dons Trust. They finish by previewing 2 massive games against Northampton on Sunday and then Blackpool at home on Wednesday. Thanks to our sponsors Gary Fletcher and Fletcher Fabrications and also Simon and Ori Carr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since opening in 2019, the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame (FARHOF) has worked to preserve and share the rich heritage of American music with the people of Boston and the world. In this episode Ben & Bob speak with FARHOF founder, Joe Spaulding, and J. Casey Soward, President of the Boch Center, which hosts FARHOF in Boston's Wang Theater.   To learn more about FARHOF, make sure to visit their website: FARHOF.org.   And if you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out our interview with Deana McCloud on the Woody Guthrie Center in episode 94.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

In just five years, the story of the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US capitol has already seen more bad faith reinterpretations than most events get over the course of generations. Fortunately, Mary Clare Jalonick has brought a diverse set of voices together in her new book, Storm at the Capitol: An Oral History of January 6th (PublicAffairs, 2026). In this episode, Mary joins us to talk about her experience as a journalist who was on the ground that day covering Congress for the Associated Press, what she learned from talking to others about their experiences, and the core facts about the insurrection that should underpin any serious discussion of that day.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.  

The Trump administration's decision to depose Nicolas Maduro and take control of Venezuela's natural resources may have been rash, but to those familiar with the history of US-Latin American relations, it looks familiar. In this episode, Naval War College Associate Professor of Strategy & Policy, Michelle Paranzino, joins us to break dow n the greater history of US foreign policy in Latin America and how that can inform good policy moving forward. The views expressed by Dr. Paranzino are her own and do not reflect the views of her employer or any other part of the US Government. This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.  

Danny and Lee are this week joined by Jonathan Proctor as they take part in the annual WHAD quiz. Will Lee regain his crown or is Jonathan back for revenge and will come out the victor. Thank you to our sponsors Gary Fletcher and Fletcher Fabrications. Simon and Ori Carr. Thank you to all our listeners and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  Anita McBride is one of the foremost experts on the legacy of American first ladies. Colleen Shogan served as the 11thArchivist of the United States. Together, they're bringing forward a new project called In Pursuit, which offers up a series of essays on Presidents and First Ladies by some of today's most accomplished historians and political leaders. In this episode, Anita and Colleen join Ben and Bob for a discussion about how the project came together, the exciting (and surprising) list of authors and subjects they've assembled, and why the format they envision holds a lot of promise for public engagement.   In Pursuit's first essay- a piece on George Washington written by George W. Bush – will launch on substack on February 16, 2026. Make sure to sign up by clicking here! This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

Lee and Danny are joined this week by Sam Spencer, they start by discussing Sam and how he became a Wimbledon fan in the states, why he applied to be on the DT board and his other team the Charlotte Hornets. They talk about the 2-1 loss to Wigan on Saturday, the formation, team selection and how can we go 1-0 up in the 70th min and lose a game, also 5 loses in a row in the league and FA Cup. They move on and talk about fan ownership, 50+1 and Sam give his opinion on remaining fan owned. Sam had to leave us to go off and enjoy thanksgiving, so the lads talk about players on loan and how well they are doing and would we take any of them back in Jan or leave them on loan, they preview the away game at Huddersfield and give their Fletcher Fabrications predictions. Thank you to our prediction sponsor Gary Fletcher and also Simon and Ori Carr for sponsoring the podcast this season Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is Americana music? Is it a genre? A community? A refuge? Twenty four years after the founding of the Americana Music Association and thirteen years since the first Grammy was awarded for Best Americana Album, defining "Americana" remains tricky. In our experience, the most common answer has been "you know it when you hear it."   However you define it, however, there is one thing everyone agrees on: Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell are Americana legends.   In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience in Nashville, TN, Emmylou and Rodney discuss their musical careers, how they became associated with Americana music, and what Americana means to them. Bob too shares his musical journey both before and after joining the Avett Brothers and the ways that genre (Americana and otherwise) has been part of that story.   This episode originally aired as RTN #284 on Sept. 25, 2023. This episode was originally edited by Gary Fletcher. Live audio recording and mixing by Adam Botner. This reair was edited by Ben Sawyer.

Brent chats with Gary Fletcher about the upcoming FinCEN non-financed real estate transfer reports. The reports will make many professionals, including lawyers, subject to reporting obligations on many real estate transfers. This would reach into routine estate planning transfers. Brent and Gary discuss the details of the program, what transfers are caught in its net, and what to expect.

Wakara was a Ute leader whose power stretched across western North America long before the US claimed the land on which he lived. In this episode, Max Perry Mueller joins us to discuss his new book, Wakara's America: The Life & Legacy of a Native Founder of the American West, and how a story of the west that excludes Native peoples leaves us with an incomplete and often dishonest account of US history.   Dr. Max Perry Mueller is Associate Professor in the Department of Classics and Religious Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. You can find out more about Max and his work at his website, MaxPerryMueller.com.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

Danny and Lee this week discuss the traitors and padel. Only joking or are we? they start by talking about the 1-0 home loss to Burton, why was it a league 2 type game and why was Omar on pens? What we could have done different. They move on to our youth team as they recently lost 5-2 to Colchester in the FA Youth cup, why are we not bringing the talent through like we have in previous seasons? Do we have one special talent in Kai Jennings who is on loan at Sutton and scored a very good goal on debut. Is he the man to replace Reeves next season and be the next breakthrough player? They finish by discussing the FA Cup and the home tie v Gateshead. Will Jackson make changes and they give their starting 11 and make predictions in the Fletcher Fabrications prediction league. Thank you to our sponsors Gary Fletcher at Fletcher Fabrications and also Simon & Ori Carr. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danny and Lee this week return with a bumper episode. They start by talking about the brilliant win away to Plymouth, coming from behind again, plus points of Browne and Buigel scoring but some negatives Bishop's kicking, do the subs make us weaker? and everything else that happened on Saturday and Danny's bus journey down to Plymouth. They talk about Ryan Johnson and congratulate him on making 100 appearances and how he is at the peak of his powers. Danny then goes on a rant about everything that annoys him in football right now and has a mad plan for the next world cup. They finish by discussing the Fletcher Fabrications Prediction League and how the boys sit in the top 3, they finish by previewing the big home game against Burton on Saturday. Thank you to our sponsors Gary Fletcher at Fletcher Fabrications and Simon/Ori Carr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lee is back and is joined as per by Danny Baker, they are also joined by guest Phil Steedman. They start by introducing Phil and how he became a Wimbledon fan. They talk about the Port Vale game, tactics, mistakes and was it a good point? They move on and talk about the news coming out of the club this week including the FA Cup draw and home game against Gateshead, Bayzo signing a new contract and everything else that has happened this week. They finish by discussing away games and previewing the game against Plymouth. Thanks to our sponsors Simon and Ori Carr and also Gary Fletcher at Fletcher Fabrications for sponsoring the prediction league. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teaching history to a middle schooler is a very different task than teaching a university student, but those doing the teaching have a lot in common (and could probably learn a lot from each other). In this episode, recorded as part of a live event sponsored by the Tennessee Council for History Education, Ben is joined by his MTSU colleague (and friend of the show) Andy Polk, 6th grade teacher Rupa Charles, and high school teacher Brandon Eldridge, for a conversation about what it's like to teach history in 2025, the highs and lows of the profession, and what we wish those in our communities knew about the work we do to better our students' lives.   A special thanks to Kira Duke at TNCHE for organizing this event and to Will Ackerman at Metro Nashville Public Schools for handling the a/v.   If you enjoy this episode, make sure to check out our conversation with Andy Polk about his book, Faith in Freedom: Propaganda, Presidential Politics, and the Making of an American Religion in RTN episode number 216.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

Danny and Lee this week discuss the win against Wycombe. A game of 2 halves, superb first half but second half we allowed Wycombe to get back in to the game but was that due to our dominance first half and the score line? They then discuss League one vs League two and why are we looking so good in League one? are our players fitter? is it to do with League one being a better league and a more footballing league? or is it a number of different reasons, the lads discuss this at length. They finish by talking about the Fletcher Fabrications Prediction League and how they are both flying near the top and do they expect to be their come the end of the season? They preview Blackpool away. Thanks to this seasons sponsors Gary Fletcher at Fletcher Fabrications and Simon and Ori Carr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guerilla violence in the American Civil War was once considered a fringe topic of study, but the scale of the violence and its impact on society had a tremendous impact on the US during and after the conflict. In this episode, we speak with historian Andrew Fialka and illustrator Anderson Carmen about their new book, Hope Never to See It: A Graphic History of Guerilla Violence during the American Civil War (University of Georgia Press), how new approaches to the Civil War allow us to reimagine one of the most consequential moments in American history.   Andrew Fialka is Associate Professor of History at Middle Tennessee State University.   Anderson Carman is an Atlanta-based illustrator. You can see his illustrations from Hope Never to See It and other projects by following him on Instagram at @andersoncarman and subscribing to his Substack, Drawing Conclusions.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

Washington Post Global Economics Correspondent David J. Lynch joins Ben & Bob for a discussion about his new book The World's Worst Bet: How the Globalization Gamble Went Wrong (and What Would Make it Right) (Public Affairs, 2025). David has a unique perspective on globalization; first as a journalist who has spent the last four decades covering the global economy for some of America's most influential media outlets, and now as an analyst of how the optimism of the 1990s turned to the pessimism of today. If you enjoy this episode, make sure to check our conversation with Joe Lockhart in episode #344. This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

Joe Lockhart served as White House Press Secretary for President Bill Clinton from 1998-2000, and played central roles in Presidential campaigns from Walter Mondale to John Kerry. In this episode, Joe joins us to recap how the political landscape has changed since the 1980s and the paths that Democrats might pursue in their efforts to escape the political wilderness.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher

D-REX, Kill Donkeys! It's time for FOOD COURT, your favorite podcast, where we brave the malls and the movie halls so you don't have to! Sean, Mampy, and special guest Gary Fletcher watched Jurassic World: Rebirth, the legacy sequel/attempted reboot of the dinosaur adventure series. Will the fellas smile like a raptor about to eat Muldoon? Or frown like a D-Rex that just realized helicopters don't taste good? Tune in to find out! So grab your popcorn, sneak in your snacks, and pop your pepto because it's time to gulp down a French guy! Bon Appétit!

Bob speaks with UNC-Chapel Hill historian Molly Worthen about her new book Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Trump. Gary Fletcher edited this episode.

Few American Christians in the 21st Century question the compatibility of their faith with a capitalist economic system. Two hundred years ago, however, the social and economic changes that came with the rise of a capitalism posed fundamental challenges to Christian practices and beliefs. In this episode, Joseph Slaughter joins us to discuss his book Faith in Markets: Christian Capitalism in the Early American Republic and how Christian responses to the rise of capitalism in the 19th Century laid the foundation for how we understand our modern economy.   Dr. Joseph P. Slaughter is Assistant Professor of History and Associate Director of the Center for the Study of Guns and Society at Wesleyan College.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

Ben & Bob sit down with friend and community builder Will Acuff for a conversation about how to find the good in life. Will founded the non-profit Corner to Corner, which “co-creates economic participation with underestimated Nashvillians,” alongside his wife Tiffany, and recently published his first book No Elevator to Everest: Shift from Survive to Thrive through Spirit-led Self Awareness.     This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

The American Historical Association was chartered by Congress in 1884 and has played an essential role in helping foster and spread great historical research. AHA incoming Executive Director Sarah Weicksel and pioneering public historian Ed Ayers join us for a discussion of AHA's history, its current projects and the damage that recent government policy has done to historians' ability to create and share an honest history of the United States. Learn more by visiting the American Historical Association's website at historians.org. The report discussed in this episode is “American Lesson Plan: Teaching US History in Secondary Schools.” Dr. Sarah Jones Weicksel is Director of Research and Publications and incoming Executive Director at the AHA and Research Associate at the Smithsonian's National Museum of History. Dr. Ed Ayers is Tucker-Boatwright Professor of the Humanities and President Emeritus at the University of Richmond. His book In the Presence of Mine Enemies: War in the heart of America, 1859-1863 won the Bancroft Prize and Beveridge Award in 2004 and in 2013 he was awarded the National Humanities Medal. Join us for a live recording of the Road to Now in Washington, DC on May 29 at The Hamilton Live ft. guests Major Garett, Margaret Talev & Doug Heye. The theme is murder & mayhem in the capital city- get your tickets here!   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

America's role in the world is ‘changing' and as much as things look new, we've seen a lot of this before. Economic Historian Jari Eloranta joins us to put NATO military spending, the looming trade war and other recent global developments in historical context. As always, there's a lot that history can teach us when we pay attention to those who know it best.   Dr. Jari Eloranta is a Professor of History at the University of Helsinki where he specializes in Economic History. He has published extensively on the history of military spending and trade. Before moving back to his home country of Finland, Jari was a Professor of History at Appalachian State where he was crucial in inspiring Ben's fascination with economic history.   Come see the Road to Now Live at the Hamilton in Washington, DC on May 29 for a night of stories of murder and mayhem in the capital city w/ guests Margaret Talev, Major Garrett & Doug Heye. You can get tickets at RTNpod.me/liveindc.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

Last week the Trump Administration announced it would be cutting more than a thousand grants to the National Endowment for the Humanities, including grants for every state humanities council. In a letter the administration stated that the NEH would be “repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of President Trump's agenda.” One major organization suffering from these cuts is National History Day, a brilliant program that has inspired young Americans for decades. To remind folks what we stand to lose, we're sharing our 2024 conversation on National History Day with Executive Director Cathy Gorman and podcaster Don Wildman, along with a new introduction in which Ben gives an overview of the cuts and the widespread consequences they'll have across the country.   Can learning the skills required to do good history serve as an antidote to conspiracy theory? Cathy Gorn & Don Wildman think so, and in this episode they join us to discuss their work to teach those skills in the 6th-12th grade classroom through National History Day, a program that reaches more than half a million students and tens of thousands of teachers each year. We agree with them and think National History Day is an American treasure, so we hope you enjoy this conversation about what goes into creating good history, how we can better teach that to the public, and how your kids can get involved in National History Day.   Click here to learn more about National History Day programs for students & teachers.   Dr. Cathy Gorn has spent more than four decades working with National History Day and currently serves as NHD's Executive Director.   Don Wildman is a podcast & documentary host whose projects include Mysteries at the Museum (Travel Channel) & the podcast American History Hit. He currently serves as Co-Chair of National History Day's Development Committee.   Sources:   “Cuts to NEH and Humanities Councils: What Southern States Will Lose,” statehumanities.org, Federation of State Humanities Councils, April 3, 2025.   Mia Maldonado, “Trump administration's latest federal cuts hit humanities funding in Idaho,” Idaho Capital Sun, April 4, 2025.   Jennifer Schuessler, “Trump Administration Moves to Cut Humanities Endowment,” New York Times, April 3, 2025.   Sarah D. White, “States Scramble after Trump's ‘devastating' cuts to humanities grants,” USA Today, April 5, 2025.         This is a rebroadcast of #330 which originally aired on April 22, 2024, along with a new introduction. The original episode was edited by Gary Fletcher. This rebroadcast was edited by Ben Sawyer.

Our next live show is in Washington, DC on May 29! Click here for tickets.   Anne Tindall is Special Council at the non-partisan group Protect Democracy, where she works to ensure that elections are free and fair, to prevent political violence, and to secure accountability for abuses of power at the federal and state level. In this episode she joins us to talk about the still unsettled results of North Carolina's Supreme Court election from November, and Republican Jefferson Griffin's attempt to convince the courts to throw out sixty thousand ballots in a race where his challenger, incumbent Allison Riggs, won by just 734 votes. Anne explains what makes this case unique in the history of American elections and why it may set a dangerous precedent that could weaken voting rights for citizens across the country regardless of political party.   Click here to read the Electoral Integrity Project data that Anna discussed in this episode.   This conversation was recorded on February 27, 2025. Gary Fletcher edited this episode.

What does it mean to be different? This is the question Bob explores with author and President of the Word of South book and music festival, Mark Mustian, as they discuss his new historical-fiction novel, "The Boy with Wings." Set against the backdrop of a traveling freak show in the American South during the 1930s, the narrative follows the poignant journey of Johnny Cruel, a young man born with a distinctive birthmark that renders him an outcast. Historical fiction is a rarity on The Road to Now, so this is a truly special episode that you do not want to miss. Bob and Mark also discuss the Word of South book and music festival held every April in Tallahassee, Florida.   Boy with Wings is out on March 15 from Köehler Books- click here for links to (pre)order your copy.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

This week, we welcome back to the program the Director of the Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at Winthrop University, Dr. Scott Huffmon. We usually have Dr. Huffmon on to discuss the prestigious Winthrop Poll, known as the most reliable and comprehensive poll regarding issues and politics in South Carolina. Today, however, Dr. Huffmon joins us to discuss a fascinating class he teaches: Politics and Society in Middle Earth: The Lord of the Rings. What can Tolkien's epic fantasy trilogy, with its themes of alliances and rivalries between individuals from different races, teach us about society and politics in our own time? Let's find out. You can follow Dr. Huffmon on X at @HuffmonPolitics.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher. 

Partisanship. What is it good for? Most people these days would say, “Absolutely nothing.” Julian Zelizer might reply, “Not so fast.” This week on the Road to Now we welcome backt to the show the Malcom Stevenson Forbes Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University, and CNN Political Analyst, Julian Zelizer to discuss his new book, In Defense of Partisanship. Zelizer argues that partisanship is not inherently detrimental to democracy. Instead, he contends that a healthy and vibrant political system requires robust and principled parties that clearly articulate their policy positions and engage in spirited debate. Through historical examples and contemporary analysis, Zelizer illustrates how partisanship has historically facilitated significant political and social advancements. Zelizer posits that today we are dealing with the negative effects of hyper partisanship, and that rather than seeking to eliminate partisanship altogether, efforts should be made to foster a political environment where constructive partisanship thrives. This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

Martin Van Buren served just one term as President from 1837 to 1841, but as the architect behind the founding of the Democratic Party, his legacy lives on in the US today. In this episode, we speak with James M. Bradley, author of the new book Martin Van Buren: America's First Politician, to learn how Van Buren helped reshape politics in the 19th century and laid the groundwork for America's two-party system.   You can learn more about the work being done to preserve the papers of Martin Van Buren at VanBurenPapers.org.     This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.   

James Armistead Lafayette lived a remarkable life. After being granted permission by his enslaver to enlist in the cause, James joined up with the Marquis de Lafayette and served as one of the most important spies in the Revolutionary war. After many years of petitioning for his freedom, James eventually gained his freedom and officially changed his last name to Lafayette after the Frenchman with which he served and who later petitioned Congress for James' freedom.   In this episode, we learn more about the fascinating life of James Armistead Lafayette from Stephen Seals, the historical interpreter who has played James at Colonial Williamsburg for more than a decade.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

Most Americans are aware of Colombia's role in the international drug trade, but we know less about the role that Americans' played in the story as consumers, smuggling pioneers, and practitioners of a foreign policy that facilitated the rise of Colombian drug production.   In this episode, journalist and historian Lina Britto shares the fascinating story of how Colombia emerged as a major supplier of drugs to American consumers and how this relationship affected people in both countries. She also explains the origins of the “War on Drugs” in the US and tells the story of how Americans hippies in search of marijuana laid the groundwork for the distribution techniques later used by Pablo Escobar's cocaine cartel.   Dr. Lina Britto is Associate Professor of History at Northwestern University where she specializes in Colombian history and the history of the international drug trade. She is the author of Marijuana Boom: The Rise and Fall of Colombia's First Drug Paradise (University of California Press, 2020)   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

US immigration policy has become one of the most contentious issues in American politics, but there is one point on which most of us agree: our immigration policy is broken. And while the sheer number of interests involved mean that an easy fix is unlikely, the best place to start is with a sound understanding of how we got the immigration system we have today. As a historian of immigration who currently serves as Director for the Americas and Europe at Refugees International, Yael Schacher has a particularly well informed perspective on this issue. In this episode, Yael walks us through the history of immigration policy in the US and shares what she sees as the major challenges that stand in the way of reforming our current immigration system. This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

The Constitution empowers the electoral college to select the President, but the process for counting electors' votes remains in the hands of Congress. In this episode, Constitutional Law Professor Edward Foley explains the origins of the electoral college, how and why the 12th Amendment changed the process for electing Presidents, and the concerns that led Congress to codify the procedure for counting electors' votes in 1887. Edward also offers some specific ways that updating the Electoral Count Act of 1887 might help us avoid some of the potential problems that might arise in upcoming elections.   Edward Foley holds the Ebersold Chair in Constitutional Law at The Ohio State University, where he also directs its election law program. He is a regular contributor to The Washington Post and the author of multiple books, including Ballot Battles: The History of Disputed Elections in the United States (Oxford University Press, 2016) and Presidential Elections and Majority Rule (Oxford University Press, 2020). You can follow him on twitter at @NedFoley.   This is a rebroadcast of RTN #224 which originally aired on February 21, 2022. This version has been updated and abridged by Ben Sawyer. The original episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

Most accounts of women in mid-20th century American politics highlight trailblazers such as Frances Perkins or the handful of women elected to Congress in those years. But women's participation in politics- both as voters and as party activists- was far more significant than most Americans realize, elevating a group of white middle-class women into positions of influence over Presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Dwight Eisenhower.   Melissa Blair joins Ben & Bob to talk about how and why these women became cornerstones of party politics in these years and why they've largely been forgotten in our national memory. Melissa's book, Bringing Home the White House: The Hidden History of Women Who Shaped the Presidency in the Twentieth Century, chronicles the lives of five influential women whose work was critical in helping their party's candidate win the White House in this era.   Melissa Estes Blair is a Professor of History at Auburn University whose research focuses on women and politics in the United States in the twentieth century.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

On the surface, the election of 1872 might seem insignificant in US history; Ulysses Grant easily won reelection to the White House and his Republican Party maintained their dominance in both houses of Congress. In the south, however, the violence that followed the election at the state and local level was an ominous sign that the era of Reconstruction might soon be over. And, according to Dana Bash and her co-author David Fischer, nowhere saw more violence than Louisiana. In this episode, Dana joins Ben & Bob to discuss her new book America's Deadliest Election: The Cautionary Tale of the Most Violent Election in American History, and how the violence that followed the 1872 election in Louisiana – including the slaughter of 150 unarmed black Americans in the small town of Colfax – laid the foundation for the restoration of white supremacy in the south. Dana Bash is chief political correspondent at CNN, where she also anchors Inside Politics and co-anchors State of the Union alongside Jake Tapper. This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.