History You Can Use
Many of the issues facing the world today have long historical roots and everyone seems to have their own version of that history. In the History You Can Use podcast, we give you an engaging and practical background to the most pressing issues of today, without the political spin.
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May 1, 2026
Episode 5: Fake News! America's History with Questionable News Media
"Fake news" has agitated for war, smeared political opponents, and stoked tensions within the country... and that's just talking about the role of newspapers before 1850. We've come a long way since then; some things have cha...
April 1, 2026
Episode 4: Tariffs: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Why are tariffs such a big political issue? What's the purpose of tariffs and, do they work? What does the Constitution say about tariffs? Did you know that tariffs had a role in the onset of the American Revolution. How abou...
March 2, 2026
Episode 3: The Battle to Define America’s Past
Why do people have such conflicting views of American history? What is revisionist history, and why does it have such a bad reputation? And what do we make of this current idea of “patriotic history?” This episode explores wh...
Jan. 25, 2026
Episode 2: The United States' Ambivalent Relationship with Foreign Alliances
Has the United States always been so committed to foreign alliances, such as NATO? If not, then when and why did that change and can the U.S. really be neutral on the world stage? This episode traces the United States' journe...
Jan. 25, 2026
Episode 1: Christianity and the Founding of the American Republic
Was the United States really founded as a Christian nation? What does the separation of church and state even mean, and what does the Constitution actually say? To answer these questions we explore colonial religious life, En...
Jan. 25, 2026
Introduction: What is "History You Can Use?"
Welcome to the "History You Can Use" podcast with Brian Thomas. This episode introduces the podcast’s approach: examining historical facts behind today’s political and social debates with clarity and balance. The host outline...
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