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History That Matters Now

History That Matters Now

Black and white portrait of a man in military uniform with medals.
Civil LibertiesHistory That Matters NowInternational NewsPodcastTrump

It’s right there for us to learn from. Not facing history has terrible consequences. With the rise of right wing authoritarian Trumpism in America the long dead Spanish dictator Franco is being reborn. As Spanish political history professor at Oberlin,

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Cover of "The Death of Democracy," showing a somber black-and-white scene and bold red title.
CultureHistory That Matters NowPodcastPopulismTrump

Antiglobalism. The little guy not feeling heard. City sophisticates and their culture mistrusted by country people. A pretend anti-elite which actually caters to the powerful elites. Intense hatred of the press. Big business targeting the regulatory system. An out of

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Cover of 'Behold, America' showing a protest with Nazi and Confederate flags.
Civil LibertiesFreedomHistory That Matters NowJusticePodcastRacismTrump

Ask today and everyone will tell you the American Dream is individuals becoming super rich. But the more traditional definition was one of equal opportunity and justice for all. Americans shared a belief in the social contract and a sense

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Soldiers attending wounded comrades during wartime.
Civil LibertiesHistory That Matters NowPodcastTrumpWar

The shooting in the first world war finally ended 100 years ago November 11. But did the war ever really end? Was anything resolved? So much of today’s world, from the mess of the Middle East to the power of

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Donald Trump and Brett Kavanaugh with serious expressions in side-by-side photos.
Civil LibertiesHistory That Matters NowJusticePodcast

Shocking history then and now: Liberal Vermont and the Red Scare in the Green Mountains. On part one, Rick Winston discusses his new book. And on part two: why the frantic rush to get Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court? Marjorie

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Portrait of a woman next to the cover of the book 'The Tango War' by Mary Jo McConahay.
History That Matters NowPodcast

There’s the European theater and the Pacific. But hidden away as both sides preferred, Latin America held the key to which side would be victorious. There were a lot of Germans in Brazil, vital war resources in Central America and

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Map of Africa on a red, black, and green flag with yellow stars.
History That Matters NowInternational NewsPodcastRacism

Nearly every inch of Africa used to be owned and controlled by the colonial powers: British, French, German, Portuguese, Belgian, Spain. Mussolini’s Italy finally went after its share with a one sided assault on Ethiopia in 1936. Is the long

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Police officers clash with protesters during a tense street confrontation at night.
History That Matters NowPodcastProtests & ResistanceRacismTake Action

Blood in the streets. Chaos at the convention. The establishment Democrats won and then they lost. From the vantage point of 50 years later, it may surprise some how less has changed and been learned than we might have thought.

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