The 10 Best This Day in Esoteric Political History Podcast Episodes
1) Adams Doesn't Want To Be VP (1789)
It’s April 21st. Jody Avirgan, Nicole Hemmer, and special guest Alexis Coe (You Never Forget Your First) discuss America’s first Vice President, John Adams. He was inaugurated nine days before George ...Show More
2) US Boycotts Russian Games (1980)
It’s March 20th. This day in 1980, President Jimmy Carter is about to issue a decree that U.S. Sign up for our newsletter! Find out more at thisdaypod.com And don’t forget about Oprahdemics, hosted...Show More
3) Coya Come Home (1958)
It’s May 7th. Jody Avirgan, Nicole Hemmer, and special guest Harry Enten of CNN discuss the “Coya Come Home” letter — a public letter written by the husband of MN representative Coya Knutson, demandin...Show More
4) Teddy Roosevelt's "Race Suicide" Fears (1903) w/ Andrew Porwancher
It's 1903. This day, Teddy Roosevelt is visiting Ellis Island amid a fierce conversation about American immigration policy. Jody, Niki, and Kellie are joined by Andrew Porwancher of Arizona State to ...Show More
5) The Obamacare Website Crashes On Day One (2013)
It's October 13th. This day in 2013, the healthcare.gov website is a total fiasco. It had launched a couple weeks earlier and was immediately unusable, with only six people being able to enroll in the...Show More
6) Teach-Ins (Plus A Special Announcement!) w/ Nate DiMeo
It's October 9th. Today, we look back at the first "teach-ins" at the University of Michigan in 1965, and discuss the power of gathering together to learn and teach. Plus, we announce our very own tea...Show More
7) The First Time Democrats Shut Down The Government (1879) [Some Sunday Context]
On Sundays, we try to bring you new conversations and episodes from the archives that provide a little context for the news of 2025. Today: a look back at the very first government shutdown, and how s...Show More
8) "We Didn't Start The Fire's" Crash Course In History (1989)
It's October 2nd. This day in 1989, Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire," which name-checks a ton of events that took place from the 50s through the 80s, is rocketing up the charts. Jody, Niki, an...Show More
9) The Elaine Massacre (1919)
It's September 30th. This day in 1919, a bloody racial conflict is breaking out in the Arkansas Delta. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss how a push to organize sharecroppers, combined with rumors and a ...Show More
10) The Red Channels Whisper Network (1950) [Chilled Speech Week Pt 1]
It's September 22nd. This week, we're bringing you two episodes that highlight periods in American history where political speech was being policied, repressed, and persecuted -- much like it is today...Show More