Most of you know or have lived in cities with long streets or boulevards and you know that some of the same stores repeat themselves over and over again. Starbucks, CVS, etc. The neighborhoods change, but some of the retail landmarks remain the same.
In a way, history is like that. It goes on and on. And while the neighborhoods often change, there are things along the way that repeat themselves over and over again. In American history, one of them is certainly racism and discrimination, but also our ongoing flirtation with authoritarianism. Our fascination with bullies, the appeal of strength that sometimes proves to be more than just meanness.... it’s really evil.
Whether it was Father Coughlin on radio, Joe Pyne on television, Huey Long in politics, or in the contemporary era, Joe McCarthy and Donald Trump.
The added reality is that each episode pushes the envelope of what’s acceptable. The predicate for new norms is laid out and the next would-be talk show host or political demagogue has to go further.
Perhaps no one pushed the envelope further than Joe McCarthy. So much so that the idea of McCarthyism became baked into our lexicon. Needless to say, now in the midst of one of those flirtations, it seems the perfect time to go back and look at Joe McCarthy with journalist and author Larry Tye, whose new book is Demagogue: The Life and Long Shadow of Senator Joe McCarthy.
My conversation with Larry Tye:
It's Time For America to Create a New Origin Story
Understanding Goodfellas and the Trump Henchman
The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X
Broke is the definition of every aspect of American medicine today
The Epic Rise and Spectacular Fall of Adam Neumann and WeWork
The Saudi Enigma - How Will Biden Deal With It?
Does America Need to Find Its First Principles? A conversation with Tom Ricks
A Dolly Parton Moment
The Collapse of America's Founding Mythology
Biden..We Hardly Knew Ye
Up Close and Personal with Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown
Is Socialism Coming To America?
Are We So Divided that Secession Is The Only Answer?
Jimmy Carter: A Good and Decent Presidency
Is White Collar Corruption the New Normal?
The Reverend Michael B. Curry: Advice for Times Like This Week/Month/Year
Should Donald Trump Make Us Rethink the Reagan Legacy For the Worse?
Science and Politics are Now Linked
The Curse of the US/Britain Special Relationship
A Conversation with Brian Stelter
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Pharmacy Podcast Network
Jim & Bill (It‘s Another Day)
HauntingLive
The Tucker Carlson Show
The Ben Shapiro Show