Presidential Politics for America
By Presidential Politics for America
This podcast is an extension of the website "Presidential Politics for America," found at presidentialpoliticsforamerica.com
Presidential Politics for AmericaApr 22, 2022
The Declaration of Independence: Five Fun Facts
addresses who actually wrote the Declaration of Independence (1:40);
recalls whose ideas that person ripped off (9:00);
reveals a surprising fact about July 4 as perhaps the wrong day to celebrate independence (12:50);
lists a breakdown of the misleading John Trumbull painting of the founding fathers about to sign the Declaration (14:30);
and considers whether or not the document actually created a new country (18:00).
The episode even has PPFA's first and likely last attempt at working a footnote into a podcast.
Roe Is Dead. Long Live Roe?
In this episode, PPFA speculates about the long-term electoral impacts of Roe's overturning. Might it be a pivot point in turnout trends?
The 2022 Midterms Summer Calendar
It's Not Just about January 6
Critical Race Theory, Part III: Should CRT be taught in our schools?
Critical Race Theory, Part II: Why the resistance?
In this episode, PPFA keeps talking about Critical Race Theory for some reason. I start with a recap of last week’s CRT overview (0:00), then get into the 1619 Project vs. 1776 Commission brouhaha (2:30), address good-faith arguments against CRT (8:30), bad-faith arguments against CRT (18:15), and finally an attempt to find common ground (24:30). If I'm sufficiently motivated, there will be a third and final part in this series that addresses CRT's role in our schools.
Critical Race Theory, Part I: What is it?
In this episode, PPFA starts a career-ending series on Critical Race Theory. You’ll be introduced to the term “critical theory” (2:00), know the historical context to CRT’s beginnings in the 1970s (10:30), hear what CRTist think are some examples of systemic racism (13:00), and learn why CRT thinks these problems have been endemic across American history and what we should do about it (16:30). Next episode, Part II will examine why some people have problems with Critical Race Theory.
On This Date... Dunkirk
Here is the map referenced in the episode: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkirk_evacuation#/media/File%3A16May-21May_Battle_of_Belgium.PNG
The Rural Takeover of Washington
In this episode, PPFA reaches into the vault and updates an old piece from PresidentialPoliticsForAmerica.com. "The Rural Takeover of Washington" conveys how Democrats keep earning more votes in presidential and Senate elections but seem to be losing their grip on the Supreme Court, even though its members are nominated by presidents and confirmed by senators. I also have some advice to Democrats self-aware enough to recognize their predicament.
First Roe, then Obergefell?
It's a long one! Sorry about that. There's a lot to say.
Midterms 2022: Six Months Out
In this episode, PPFA preview the 2022 Midterms. I talk about who will win the House and why (1:30). I then explain why the Senate is less predictable (11:40) before narrowing down the six races we should most closely watch (18:00). For more, go to PresidentialPoliticsForAmerica.com!
SCOTUS LEAK!
In this episode, PPFA offers a summary of the leaked majority opinion from Dobbs v. Jackson (1:10) before considering the political implications of this dramatic development (8:00). For more on Dobbs v. Jackson, be sure to check out a March episode that took a close look at the case. You can also see more at PresidentialPoliticsForAmerica.com.
How Our Parties Switched, Part VII (Conclusion)
How Our Parties Switched, Parts IV-VI
This week, in Parts IV-VI, PPFA recaps important details from last episode (2:10); summarizes the disagreements over the Constitution, as reflected in the debate between federalists and antifederalists (7:00); shows how those two factions evolved into the first official parties, which in time evolve into the Democratic and Republican parties (17:00); and finally takes a look at how the Democratic and Republican parties looked in the late 1800s and early 1900s (28:00). The episode ends on the eve of How Our Parties Switched, which will be the subject of next episode's Part VII--the wildly overdue conclusion of the series.
PPFA Appears on "Backyard Road Trips"
There's no new episode from Presidential Politics for America today... other than to tell you I appeared on a more established podcast! It's call "Backyard Road Trips," hosted by Zack Lamothe and Jim Wheeler. In place of listening to me bore you for a half hour, why don't you go listen to a couple guys having fun interviewing a third guy who doesn't really know how to. In the episode, we talk about my book "Who Made the West"; why I write; why I write footnotes; what I think of the state of politics; what I hope to accomplish when I teach; how I try to efficiently balance family, work, and PPFA; and more. Please give it a listen, and have a great holiday weekend.
How the Parties Switched, Parts I-III
In this first part of a three-part series, Presidential Politics for America provides, as usual, an agonizing amount of context for its chosen topic. Before explaining how the Republican and Democratic parties switched ideologies, PPFA first does the following:
- defines the term "liberal" and conservative (4:00);
- provides a brief history of political parties (13:00); and
- analyzes political patterns of colonial America (18:00).
And that's just this episode! These three parts set up the next episode, which will look at how our first political parties evolved into the Republicans and Democrats. Please rate and share this podcast to better ensure I finish this long, ambitious, and surely ill-advised series.
The Presidential Line of Succession
As for the answer to last week's April Fools Challenge, it was... B!
April Fools' Day Challenge
The answer will be revealed on Monday, April 4, at PresidentialPoliticsForAmerica.com.
Biden's Foreign Policy
Please follow, share, and rate the podcast... you know, only if you like it.
As always, for more presidential politics, head to presidentialpoliticsforamerica.com
ACTUAL Presidential Politics!
2:32 -- Do Trump and Biden have their nominations locked up?
12:10 -- If they don't, and the primaries are competitive, who might compete?
Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization
In this episode, Presidential Politics for America addresses the looming Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, a SCOTUS case that may change the future of abortion law in the United States. This is the second and final episode looking at abortion in America.
- 0:00 -- Background and recap of Episode 1
- 4:00 -- Facts of the case are lower court decisions.
- 6:00 -- A summary of the oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson
- 20:00 -- Considerations and predictions. What will the Supreme Court say?
Abortion Law in America: A Brief History
In this episode, PPFA takes a look at the history of abortion law in America. That includes:
- 3:00--Abortion law from the colonial era until the 1960s
- 7:45--Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), which established the right to privacy
- 13:50--The hallmark Roe v. Wade case
- 21:00--Developments since Roe
Learn more at PresidentialPoliticsForAmerica.com
Introducing: Presidential Politics for America
In this introductory episode, PPFA introduces you to a very bad idea.