S8 Ep235: EU REGULATION VS. US GROWTH Colleague Michael Toth. Michael Toth critiques the European Union's "regulatory imperialism" and contrasts it with the economic growth of the US. NUMBER 4
EU REGULATION VS. US GROWTH Colleague Michael Toth. Michael Toth critiques the European Union's"regulatory imperialism" and contrasts it with the economic growth of the US. NUMBER 4 1935 BRUSSELS
10m Dec 24, 2025
10m
S8 Ep235: STALEMATES IN GAZA AND LEBANON Colleague Jonathan Schanzer. Jonathan Schanzer discusses the stalemate regarding the last hostage in Gaza, the fragmented control of the territory, and threats in Lebanon and Syria. NUMBER 3
STALEMATES IN GAZA AND LEBANON Colleague Jonathan Schanzer. Jonathan Schanzer discusses the stalemate regarding the last hostage in Gaza, the fragmented control of the territory, and threats in Lebanon and Syria. NUMBER 3 1937 RAMALLAH
10m Dec 24, 2025
10m
S8 Ep235: THE RISE OF THE AFD IN GERMANY Colleague Judy Dempsey. Judy Dempsey continues, focusing on the rise of the AfD party in Germany and its connections to elements of the US Republican party. NUMBER 2
THE RISE OF THE AFD IN GERMANY Colleague Judy Dempsey. Judy Dempsey continues, focusing on the rise of the AfD party in Germany and its connections to elements of the US Republican party. NUMBER 2 1933
7m Dec 24, 2025
7m
S8 Ep235: EU STRUGGLES WITH RUSSIAN ASSETS AND AID Colleague Judy Dempsey. Judy Dempsey discusses the EU's difficulty in utilizing frozen Russian assets and the "defeat" for Chancellor Merz regarding the funding mechanism for Ukraine. NUMBER 1 2155
EU STRUGGLES WITH RUSSIAN ASSETS AND AID Colleague Judy Dempsey. Judy Dempsey discusses the EU's difficulty in utilizing frozen Russian assets and the "defeat" for Chancellor Merz regarding the funding mechanism for Ukraine. NUMBER 1 1890 SAXONY
11m Dec 24, 2025
11m
S8 Ep234: PREVIEW AFD PARTY RISING IN GERMANY WITH TIES TO TRUMP-VANCE FACTION Colleague Judy Dempsey. Judy Dempsey reports from Berlin on the rising popularity of the AfD party, which is nearly tied with Chancellor Merz's coalition. She warns of a dangerous affini
PREVIEW AFD PARTY RISING IN GERMANY WITH TIES TO TRUMP-VANCE FACTION Colleague Judy Dempsey. Judy Dempsey reports from Berlin on the rising popularity of the AfD party, which is nearly tied with Chancellor Merz's coalition. She warns of a dangerous affinity between the AfD and the Trump-Vance Republicanfaction, noting that their collaboration aims to weaken the European Union through populism a...
3m Dec 23, 2025
3m
S8 Ep234: PREVIEW STATE DEPARTMENT CHALLENGES WITH PANAMA AND CCP INTERFERENCE Colleague Mary Kissel. Mary Kissel evaluates the State Department under Secretary Rubio, noting fewer negative leaks but significant challenges regarding Panama. She details how the CCP
PREVIEW STATE DEPARTMENT CHALLENGES WITH PANAMA AND CCP INTERFERENCE Colleague Mary Kissel. Mary Kissel evaluates the State Department under Secretary Rubio, noting fewer negative leaks but significant challenges regarding Panama. She details how the CCP disrupts agreements by constantly renegotiating, suggesting that high-level US intervention is now required to counter Chinese influence and f...
3m Dec 23, 2025
3m
S8 Ep234: REVIEW AUSTRALIA CRITICIZED FOR KOWTOWING TO CHINA DESPITE DISDAIN Colleague Grant Newsham. Grant Newsham criticizes the Australian government for "kowtowing" to China due to a dependence on raw material exports. Despite China treating Australia with disd
REVIEW AUSTRALIA CRITICIZED FOR KOWTOWING TO CHINA DESPITE DISDAIN Colleague Grant Newsham. Grant Newsham criticizes the Australian government for "kowtowing" to China due to a dependence on raw material exports. Despite China treating Australia with disdain—sending naval patrols and calling the nation "gum on your shoe"—Canberra continues these dealings rather than diversifying trade toward fr...
2m Dec 23, 2025
2m
S8 Ep233: PREVIEW PEGGY SHIPPEN'S CUNNING DECEPTION DURING THE ARNOLD CONSPIRACY Colleague Richard Bell. Historian Richard Bell discusses his book on the American Revolution, focusing on the cunning of Peggy Shippen. Bell describes how Shippen, Benedict Arnold's wi
PREVIEW PEGGY SHIPPEN'S CUNNING DECEPTION DURING THE ARNOLD CONSPIRACY Colleague Richard Bell. Historian Richard Bell discusses his book on the American Revolution, focusing on the cunning of Peggy Shippen. Bell describes how Shippen, Benedict Arnold's wife, successfully feigned hysteria and madness to deceive Continental Army officers, effectively hiding her complicity in the treasonous conspi...
3m Dec 23, 2025
3m
S8 Ep233: PREVIEW STARMER COMPARED TO CROMWELL AS MONARCHY FACES THREATS Colleague Gregory Copley. Gregory Copley analyzes the tension between the British King and Parliament, comparing politician Keir Starmer to Oliver Cromwell. Copley suggests Starmer aims to dis
PREVIEW STARMER COMPARED TO CROMWELL AS MONARCHY FACES THREATS Colleague Gregory Copley. Gregory Copley analyzes the tension between the British King and Parliament, comparing politician Keir Starmer to Oliver Cromwell. Copley suggests Starmer aims to dismantle the monarchy, while the King must carefully navigate these threats, retaining reserve powers as Commander-in-Chief to prevent civil unr...
3m Dec 23, 2025
3m
S8 Ep233: PREVIEW WARNING AGAINST FRAGMENTED STATE-LEVEL AI REGULATION Colleague Kevin Frazier. Kevin Frazier, a University of Texas Law School fellow, warns against fragmented AI regulation by individual states seeking tax revenue. He advocates for a national fram
PREVIEW WARNING AGAINST FRAGMENTED STATE-LEVEL AI REGULATION Colleague Kevin Frazier. Kevin Frazier, a University of Texas Law School fellow, warns against fragmented AI regulation by individual states seeking tax revenue. He advocates for a national framework rather than hasty local laws, arguing that allowing technology to develop through "trial and error" is superior to heavy-handed, immedia...
2m Dec 23, 2025
2m
S8 Ep233: PREVIEW HEZBOLLAH REARMAMENT FUNDED BY IRAN AND SMUGGLING TUNNELS Colleague Jonathan Schanzer. Jonathan Schanzer, from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, details Hezbollah's rearmament, funded primarily by Iran with some Turkish and Qatari inv
PREVIEW HEZBOLLAH REARMAMENT FUNDED BY IRAN AND SMUGGLING TUNNELS Colleague Jonathan Schanzer. Jonathan Schanzer, from the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, details Hezbollah'srearmament, funded primarily by Iran with some Turkish and Qatari involvement. He highlights the discovery of massive smuggling tunnels in Syria and Lebanon, illustrating the staggering financial investment made ...
1m Dec 23, 2025
1m
S8 Ep232: SHOW 12-22-25 THE SHOW BEGINS WITH DOUBTS ABOUT FUTURE NAVY. 1. Restoring Naval Autonomy: Arguments for Separating the Navy from DoD. Tom Modly argues the Navy is an "underperforming asset" within the Defense Department's corporate structure, similar to
SHOW 12-22-25 THE SHOW BEGINS WITH DOUBTS ABOUT FUTURE NAVY. 1941 HICKAM FIELD 1. Restoring Naval Autonomy: Arguments for Separating the Navy from DoD. Tom Modly argues the Navy is an "underperforming asset" within the Defense Department's corporate structure, similar to how Fiat Chrysler successfully spun off Ferrari. He suggests the Navy needs independence to address critical shipbuilding de...
10m Dec 23, 2025
10m
S8 Ep231: 16. Alienating Allies: The Strategic Cost of Attacking European Partners. John Yoo argues that imposing tariffs and attacking democratic European allies undermines the coalition needed to counter China and Russia. He asserts that democracies are the most
 16. Alienating Allies: The Strategic Cost of Attacking European Partners. John Yoo argues that imposing tariffs and attacking democratic European allies undermines the coalition needed to counter China and Russia. He asserts that democracies are the most reliable partners for protecting American security and values, making cooperation essential despite resource constraints and political disagr...
6m Dec 23, 2025
6m
S8 Ep231: 15. Trump's Security Strategy: Homeland Defense Lacks Global Clarity. John Yoo praises the strategy's focus on homeland defense and the Western Hemisphere, reviving a corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. However, he criticizes the failure to explicitly name
15. Trump's Security Strategy: Homeland Defense Lacks Global Clarity. John Yoo praises the strategy's focus on homeland defense and the Western Hemisphere, reviving a corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. However, he criticizes the failure to explicitly name China as an adversary or define clear goals for defending allies in Asia and Europe against great power rivals. 1770 FIVE VIEWS OF NY ENTRANCEC
14m Dec 23, 2025
14m
S8 Ep231: 14. Shifts in Latin America: Brazilian Elections and Venezuelan Hope. Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa predict a 2026 battle between socialist accommodation and freedom-oriented transformation in Brazil, highlighted by Flavio Bolsonaro's candidac
14. Shifts in Latin America: Brazilian Elections and Venezuelan Hope. Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Peña Esclusapredict a 2026 battle between socialist accommodation and freedom-oriented transformation in Brazil, highlighted by Flavio Bolsonaro's candidacy against Lula. Meanwhile, Peña Esclusa anticipates Venezuela's liberation and a broader regional shift toward the right following leftist defe...
8m Dec 23, 2025
8m
S8 Ep231: 13. Assessing Battlefield Realities: Russian Deceit and Ukrainian Counterattacks. John Hardie analyzes the "culture of deceit" within the Russian military, exemplified by false claims of capturing Kupyansk while Ukraine actually counterattacked. This syst
13. Assessing Battlefield Realities: Russian Deceit and Ukrainian Counterattacks. John Hardie analyzes the "culture of deceit" within the Russian military, exemplified by false claims of capturing Kupyansk while Ukraine actually counterattacked. This systemic lying leads to overconfidence in Putin's strategy, though Ukraine also faces challenges with commanders hesitating to report lost positio...
10m Dec 23, 2025
10m
S8 Ep231: 12. The Irish Dimension: Revolutionary Hopes and Brutal Repression. The Irish viewed the American Revolution as a signal that the British Empire was vulnerable, sparking the failed 1798 Irish rebellion. While the British suppressed Irish independence brut
12. The Irish Dimension: Revolutionary Hopes and Brutal Repression. The Irish viewed the American Revolutionas a signal that the British Empire was vulnerable, sparking the failed 1798 Irish rebellion. While the British suppressed Irish independence brutally under Cornwallis, Irish immigrants and Scots-Irish settlers like Andrew Jackson fervently supported the Continental Army against the Crown...
10m Dec 23, 2025
10m
S8 Ep231: 11. Caught in the Crossfire: Indigenous Struggles in the Revolutionary War. Molly Brant, a Mohawk leader, allied with the British to stop settler encroachment but became a refugee when the British failed to protect Indigenous lands. Post-war, white Americ
11. Caught in the Crossfire: Indigenous Struggles in the Revolutionary War. Molly Brant, a Mohawk leader, allied with the British to stop settler encroachment but became a refugee when the British failed to protect Indigenous lands. Post-war, white Americans constructed myths portraying themselves as blameless victims while ignoring their own Indigenous allies and British betrayals regarding la...
10m Dec 23, 2025
10m
S8 Ep231: 10. Privateers and Prison Ships: The Unsung Cost of Maritime Independence. Richard Bell highlights the crucial role of privateers like William Russell, who raided British shipping when the Continental Navy was weak. Captured privateers faced horrific cond
10. Privateers and Prison Ships: The Unsung Cost of Maritime Independence. Richard Bell highlights the crucial role of privateers like William Russell, who raided British shipping when the Continental Navy was weak. Captured privateers faced horrific conditions in British "black hole" facilities like Mill Prison and the deadly prison ship Jersey in New York Harbor, where mortality rates reached...
8m Dec 23, 2025
8m
S8 Ep231: 9. The Professional: Von Steuben's Transformation of the Continental Army. Richard Bell introduces Baron von Steuben as a desperate, unemployed Prussian officer who professionalized the ragtag Continental Army at Valley Forge. Washington's hiring of forei
9. The Professional: Von Steuben's Transformation of the Continental Army. Richard Bell introduces Baron von Steuben as a desperate, unemployed Prussian officer who professionalized the ragtag Continental Army at Valley Forge. Washington's hiring of foreign experts like Steuben demonstrated a strategic willingness to utilize global talent to ensure the revolution's survival. 1921 WASHNGTON HQ V...
10m Dec 23, 2025
10m
S8 Ep231: 8. The Forever War: Jihadist Patience vs. American Cycles. Bill Roggio argues the US has failed to defeat jihadist ideology or funding, allowing groups like Al-Qaeda to persist in Afghanistan and Africa. He warns that adversaries view American withdrawals
8. The Forever War: Jihadist Patience vs. American Cycles. Bill Roggio argues the US has failed to defeat jihadist ideology or funding, allowing groups like Al-Qaeda to persist in Afghanistan and Africa. He warns that adversaries view American withdrawals as proof of untrustworthiness, exploiting the US tendency to fight short-term wars against enemies planning for decades. 1910 PESHAWAR
11m Dec 23, 2025
11m
S8 Ep231: 7. Global Jihad: The Distinct Threats of the Brotherhood and ISIS. Edmund Fitton-Brown contrasts the Muslim Brotherhood's long-term infiltration of Western institutions with ISIS's violent, reckless approach. He warns that ISIS remains viable, with recent
7. Global Jihad: The Distinct Threats of the Brotherhood and ISIS. Edmund Fitton-Brown contrasts the Muslim Brotherhood's long-term infiltration of Western institutions with ISIS's violent, reckless approach. He warns that ISISremains viable, with recent facilitated attacks in Australia indicating a resurgence in capability beyond simple "inspired" violence. 1800 YEMEN
9m Dec 23, 2025
9m
S8 Ep231: 6. Failure to Disarm: Hezbollah's Persistence and UNIFIL's Inefficacy. David Daoud reports that the Lebanese government is failing to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River, merely evicting them from abandoned sites. He argues UNIFIL is an ineffective
6. Failure to Disarm: Hezbollah's Persistence and UNIFIL's Inefficacy. David Daoud reports that the Lebanesegovernment is failing to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River, merely evicting them from abandoned sites. He argues UNIFIL is an ineffective tripwire, as Hezbollah continues to rebuild infrastructure and receive funding right under international observers' noses. 1969 BEIRUT
9m Dec 23, 2025
9m
S8 Ep231: 5. Symbolic Strikes: US and Jordan Target Resurgent ISIS in Syria. Following an attack on US personnel, the US and Jordan conducted airstrikes against ISIS strongholds, likely with Syrian regime consultation. Ahmed Sharawi questions the efficacy of striki
5. Symbolic Strikes: US and Jordan Target Resurgent ISIS in Syria. Following an attack on US personnel, the US and Jordan conducted airstrikes against ISIS strongholds, likely with Syrian regime consultation. Ahmed Sharawi questions the efficacy of striking desert warehouses when ISIS cells have moved into urban areas, suggesting the strikes were primarily symbolic domestic messaging. 1898 DAMA...
9m Dec 23, 2025
9m
S8 Ep231: 4. Enforcing Sanctions: Interdicting the Shadow Fleet to Squeeze China. Victoria Coates details the Trump administration's enforcement of a "Monroe Doctrine" corollary, using naval power to seize tankers carrying Venezuelan oil to China. This strategy exp
4. Enforcing Sanctions: Interdicting the Shadow Fleet to Squeeze China. Victoria Coates details the Trump administration's enforcement of a "Monroe Doctrine" corollary, using naval power to seize tankers carrying Venezuelan oil to China. This strategy exposes China's lack of maritime projection and energy vulnerability, as Beijingcannot legally contest the seizures of illicit shadow fleet vesse...
10m Dec 22, 2025
10m
S8 Ep231: 3. British Weakness: The Failure to Challenge Beijing Over Jimmy Lai. Mark Simon predicts Prime Minister Starmer will fail to secure Jimmy Lai's release because the UK mistakenly views China as an economic savior. He notes the UK's diminished military and
3. British Weakness: The Failure to Challenge Beijing Over Jimmy Lai. Mark Simon predicts Prime Minister Starmer will fail to secure Jimmy Lai's release because the UK mistakenly views China as an economic savior. He notes the UK's diminished military and economic leverage leads to a submissive diplomatic stance, despite China'sdeclining ability to offer investment. EMPRESS DOWAGER CIXI.
10m Dec 22, 2025
10m
S8 Ep231: 2. Future Fleets: Decentralizing Firepower to Counter Chinese Growth. Tom Modly warns that China's shipbuilding capacity vastly outpaces the US, requiring a shift toward distributed forces rather than expensive, concentrated platforms. He advocates for a
2. Future Fleets: Decentralizing Firepower to Counter Chinese Growth. Tom Modly warns that China's shipbuilding capacity vastly outpaces the US, requiring a shift toward distributed forces rather than expensive, concentrated platforms. He advocates for a reinvigorated, independent Department of the Navy to foster the creativity needed to address asymmetric threats like Houthi attacks on high-va...
5m Dec 22, 2025
5m
S8 Ep231: 1. Restoring Naval Autonomy: Arguments for Separating the Navy from DoD. Tom Modly argues the Navy is an "underperforming asset" within the Defense Department's corporate structure, similar to how Fiat Chrysler successfully spun off Ferrari. He suggests t
1. Restoring Naval Autonomy: Arguments for Separating the Navy from DoD. Tom Modly argues the Navy is an "underperforming asset" within the Defense Department's corporate structure, similar to how Fiat Chrysler successfully spun off Ferrari. He suggests the Navy needs independence to address critical shipbuilding deficits and better protect global commerce and vulnerable undersea cables from ad...
12m Dec 22, 2025
12m
S8 Ep230: PREVIEW Guest: Professor Richard Bell Summary: Professor Bell discusses his book on the American Revolution, focusing on the "darkest passage" of the war: British prison hulks in New York Harbor. He details the horrific conditions on the ship Jersey, wher
PREVIEW Guest: Professor Richard Bell Summary: Professor Bell discusses his book on the American Revolution, focusing on the "darkest passage" of the war: British prison hulks in New York Harbor. He details the horrific conditions on the ship Jersey, where the mortality rate reached 50%, and recounts the survival story of prisoner William Russell. 1776 NY HARBOR
4m Dec 22, 2025
4m
S8 Ep230: PREVIEW Guest: Victoria Coates Summary: Coates analyzes China's energy vulnerability, specifically its reliance on a "shadow fleet" importing Venezuelan oil. She suggests the US should interdict these shipments because China lacks a "Plan B." Forced to bu
PREVIEW Guest: Victoria Coates Summary: Coates analyzes China's energy vulnerability, specifically its reliance on a "shadow fleet" importing Venezuelan oil. She suggests the US should interdict these shipments because China lacks a "Plan B." Forced to buy licit, market-price oil from suppliers like the Saudis, Beijing would suffer significant costs to its economic growth. 1845 CARACAS
2m Dec 22, 2025
2m
S8 Ep230: PREVIEW Guest: Bill Roggio Summary: Roggio reports on the expansion of jihadist groups across Africa, including Somalia, Mali, and Burkina Faso. He warns that European powers have effectively abandoned these regions, allowing them to descend into chaos an
PREVIEW Guest: Bill Roggio Summary: Roggio reports on the expansion of jihadist groups across Africa, including Somalia, Mali, and Burkina Faso. He warns that European powers have effectively abandoned these regions, allowing them to descend into chaos and fall under jihadist control, while the US does only enough in Somalia to "keep the lid on." 1935 ETHIOPIA
2m Dec 22, 2025
2m
S8 Ep230: PREVIEW Guest: Mark Simon Summary: Simon discusses the sentencing of Jimmy Lai by the Chinese regime. He expresses doubt that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will use an upcoming business trip to demand the return of Lai, a British citizen, noting tha
PREVIEW Guest: Mark Simon Summary: Simon discusses the sentencing of Jimmy Lai by the Chinese regime. He expresses doubt that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will use an upcoming business trip to demand the return of Lai, a British citizen, noting that the Prime Minister is currently more focused on his own political survival. QING DYNASTY 1910-1940
3m Dec 22, 2025
3m
S8 Ep230: PREVIEW Guest: Professor John Yoo Summary: Professor Yoo supports a national security strategy that prioritizes the Western Hemisphere and homeland defense over conflicts in Europe or the Middle East. He argues that US leadership has overlooked vital eco
PREVIEW Guest: Professor John Yoo Summary: Professor Yoo supports a national security strategy that prioritizes the Western Hemisphere and homeland defense over conflicts in Europe or the Middle East. He argues that US leadership has overlooked vital economic ties with South America, Mexico, and Canada, and must return to these foundational security principles. 1876 BOLIVAR AT CARACAS
2m Dec 22, 2025
2m
S8 Ep230: PREVIEW Guest: Tom Modly Summary: Former Acting Navy Secretary Modly advocates spinning the Navy off from the Pentagon to improve its standing. He highlights the dangerous disparity in industrial power, noting that China's shipbuilding capacity is nearly
PREVIEW Guest: Tom Modly Summary: Former Acting Navy Secretary Modly advocates spinning the Navy off from the Pentagon to improve its standing. He highlights the dangerous disparity in industrial power, noting that China'sshipbuilding capacity is nearly 250 times greater than the United States and is better positioned to convert commercial assets for wartime use. 1911 MAINE IN HAVANA HARBOR
2m Dec 22, 2025
2m
S8 Ep229: THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR AND THE PROBLEM OF SUCCESSION Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. In the final segment, Gaius and Germanicus analyze the New York Times characterizing the Trump presidency as a "
THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR AND THE PROBLEM OF SUCCESSION Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. In the final segment, Gaius and Germanicus analyze the New York Times characterizing the Trump presidency as a "reign," a term Gaius embraces as historically accurate for the current state of the American executive. Germanicus argues that the American pr...
13m Dec 22, 2025
13m
S8 Ep228: THE GILDED AGE, GROVER CLEVELAND, AND THE ASSERTION OF SOVEREIGNTY Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. The second segment pivots to a historical comparison involving Grover Cleveland, the only American p
THE GILDED AGE, GROVER CLEVELAND, AND THE ASSERTION OF SOVEREIGNTY Colleagues Gaiusand Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. The second segment pivots to a historical comparison involving Grover Cleveland, the only American president prior to Trump to serve non-consecutive terms, using his presidency to illustrate parallels between the "Gilded Age" and the 2020s. Th...
13m Dec 22, 2025
13m
S8 Ep228: THE ACTOR-EMPEROR AND THE SHIFT FROM DIGNITAS TO INTIMACY Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. In this session, set against the backdrop of a cold winter in Londinium, Gaius and Germanicus explore the evo
THE ACTOR-EMPEROR AND THE SHIFT FROM DIGNITAS TO INTIMACY Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. In this session, set against the backdrop of a cold winter in Londinium, Gaius and Germanicus explore the evolution of the imperial persona, drawing sharp parallels between the Roman Emperor Nero and modern American figures Bill Clinton and Donald Tru...
21m Dec 22, 2025
21m
S8 Ep227: THE MUTINY PLOT AND THE DECISION TO EXECUTE Colleague Richard Snow. Spencer's "mutiny" plot is revealed to a steward, triggering Mackenzie's paranoia. Mackenzie arrests Spencer, Cromwell, and Small without concrete evidence of an uprising. An irregular co
THE MUTINY PLOT AND THE DECISION TO EXECUTE Colleague Richard Snow. Spencer's "mutiny" plot is revealed to a steward, triggering Mackenzie's paranoia. Mackenzie arrests Spencer, Cromwell, and Small without concrete evidence of an uprising. An irregular council of officers, influenced by the captain's fear and the lack of a brig, decides the three men must be executed. NUMBER 7 v
8m Dec 22, 2025
8m
S8 Ep227: THE MUTINY PLOT AND THE DECISION TO EXECUTE Colleague Richard Snow. Spencer's "mutiny" plot is revealed to a steward, triggering Mackenzie's paranoia. Mackenzie arrests Spencer, Cromwell, and Small without concrete evidence of an uprising. An irregular co
THE MUTINY PLOT AND THE DECISION TO EXECUTE Colleague Richard Snow. Spencer's "mutiny" plot is revealed to a steward, triggering Mackenzie's paranoia. Mackenzie arrests Spencer, Cromwell, and Small without concrete evidence of an uprising. An irregular council of officers, influenced by the captain's fear and the lack of a brig, decides the three men must be executed. NUMBER 7
12m Dec 22, 2025
12m
S8 Ep227: THE OVERCROWDED SOMERS AND SPENCER'S ISOLATION Colleague Richard Snow. Snow describes the Somers as a fast, overcrowded school ship filled with teenage midshipmen. He details Spencer's isolation due to his physical disability and surly demeanor. Spencer v
THE OVERCROWDED SOMERS AND SPENCER'S ISOLATION Colleague Richard Snow. Snow describes the Somers as a fast, overcrowded school ship filled with teenage midshipmen. He details Spencer's isolation due to his physical disability and surly demeanor. Spencer violated protocol by mingling with the crew, while Mackenzie's rigid discipline clashed with the conditions on the small, flush-deck vessel. NU...
4m Dec 22, 2025
4m
S8 Ep227: THE SOMERS MUTINY: SPENCER AND CAPTAIN MACKENZIE Colleague Richard Snow. Snow introduces the Somers mutiny, focusing on midshipman Philip Spencer, a troubled youth obsessed with pirates, and Captain Mackenzie. Mackenzie, who changed his name for an inheri
THE SOMERS MUTINY: SPENCER AND CAPTAIN MACKENZIE Colleague Richard Snow. Snow introduces the Somers mutiny, focusing on midshipman Philip Spencer, a troubled youth obsessed with pirates, and Captain Mackenzie. Mackenzie, who changed his name for an inheritance, is described as a "flogging captain" with a literary reputation and a morbid fascination with executions, setting the stage for tragedy...
14m Dec 22, 2025
14m
S8 Ep227: THE COCKPIT HUMILIATION AND FRANKLIN'S TRANSFORMATION Colleague Richard Munson. Munson describes the "Cockpit" humiliation in London, which transformed Franklin from a royalist mediator into a revolutionary. They discuss his founding of the American Philo
THE COCKPIT HUMILIATION AND FRANKLIN'S TRANSFORMATION Colleague Richard Munson. Munsondescribes the "Cockpit" humiliation in London, which transformed Franklin from a royalist mediator into a revolutionary. They discuss his founding of the American Philosophical Society to unify colonial science and his celebrity in France. Finally, Munson addresses modern skepticism regarding Franklin's scient...
7m Dec 22, 2025
7m
S8 Ep227: ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENTS AND THE FRANKLIN STOVE Colleague Richard Munson. The discussion focuses on Franklin's electrical experiments, including the Leiden jar and conservation of charge. Munson explains that the kite experiment had practical origins for li
ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENTS AND THE FRANKLIN STOVE Colleague Richard Munson. The discussion focuses on Franklin's electrical experiments, including the Leiden jar and conservation of charge. Munson explains that the kite experiment had practical origins for lightning protection. Additionally, Franklin's refusal to patent his stove invention highlights his joy in discovery and commitment to public be...
12m Dec 22, 2025
12m
S8 Ep227: FRANKLIN'S PRINTING SUCCESS AND SCIENTIFIC PURSUITS Colleague Richard Munson. Munson details Franklin's success in the "high-tech" printing industry, which generated the wealth necessary for his scientific pursuits. The segment covers his political battle
 FRANKLIN'S PRINTING SUCCESS AND SCIENTIFIC PURSUITS Colleague Richard Munson. Munson details Franklin's success in the "high-tech" printing industry, which generated the wealth necessary for his scientific pursuits. The segment covers his political battles with Thomas Penn regarding colonial governance and his transition into a full-time experimenter, driven by the Enlightenment's spirit of cu...
8m Dec 22, 2025
8m
S8 Ep227: ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENTS AND THE FRANKLIN STOVE Colleague Richard Munson. The discussion focuses on Franklin's electrical experiments, including the Leiden jar and conservation of charge. Munson explains that the kite experiment had practical origins for li
ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENTS AND THE FRANKLIN STOVE Colleague Richard Munson. The discussion focuses on Franklin's electrical experiments, including the Leiden jar and conservation of charge. Munson explains that the kite experiment had practical origins for lightning protection. Additionally, Franklin's refusal to patent his stove invention highlights his joy in discovery and commitment to public be...
9m Dec 22, 2025
9m
S8 Ep226: DUELING MONUMENTS AND THE HEART OF DARKNESS THEME Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. The feud extends into the 20th century with "dueling monuments" in Ohio, where the Cresap Society and local residents erect competing memorials near the site of Logan's Elm t
DUELING MONUMENTS AND THE HEART OF DARKNESS THEME Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. The feud extends into the 20th century with "dueling monuments" in Ohio, where the Cresap Society and local residents erect competing memorials near the site of Logan's Elm to debate the history. Parkinson concludes by returning to the "Heart of Darkness" theme, using Conrad's metaphor of "the flicker" to describe ...
10m Dec 22, 2025
10m
S8 Ep226: JEFFERSON, LUTHER MARTIN, AND THE CANONIZATION OF A FALSE ACCUSATION Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Thomas Jefferson publishes "Logan's Lament" to argue against French theories of American inferiority, but in doing so, he canonizes the false accusation ag
JEFFERSON, LUTHER MARTIN, AND THE CANONIZATION OF A FALSE ACCUSATION Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Thomas Jefferson publishes "Logan's Lament" to argue against French theories of Americaninferiority, but in doing so, he canonizes the false accusation against the Cresap family. This sparks a bitter feud with Luther Martin, a Cresap in-law, who attacks Jefferson to clear the family name. Despite...
10m Dec 22, 2025
10m
S8 Ep226: THE TRAGIC FATE OF LOGAN AND JEFFERSON'S DISCOVERY Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. The narrative reveals the tragic fate of the Mingo leader, Logan. In 1794, a surveyor encounters a Native American who admits to killing his uncle, Logan, near Lake Erie aro
THE TRAGIC FATE OF LOGAN AND JEFFERSON'S DISCOVERY Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. The narrative reveals the tragic fate of the Mingo leader, Logan. In 1794, a surveyor encounters a Native American who admits to killing his uncle, Logan, near Lake Erie around 1780. The nephew explains that Logan had become too powerful and unpredictable a figure during the Revolutionary War, necessitating his si...
6m Dec 22, 2025
6m
S8 Ep226: CRESAP'S RIFLEMEN, DEATH IN NEW YORK, AND A HERO'S FUNERAL Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Michael Cresap leads his riflemen to Boston, fueled by press coverage depicting them as America's invincible "secret weapons" against the British. However, upon arri
CRESAP'S RIFLEMEN, DEATH IN NEW YORK, AND A HERO'S FUNERAL Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Michael Cresap leads his riflemen to Boston, fueled by press coverage depicting them as America's invincible "secret weapons" against the British. However, upon arrival, the troops prove undisciplined, leading George Washington to regret their presence. Suffering from illness, likely malaria, Cresap attemp...
11m Dec 22, 2025
11m
S8 Ep226: LORD DUNMORE'S WAR AND CRESAP'S PATRIOT TURN Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Following the massacre, Logan abandons diplomacy for vengeance, killing nearly twenty people and provoking Lord Dunmore's War. Simultaneously, the Continental Congress calls for r
LORD DUNMORE'S WAR AND CRESAP'S PATRIOT TURN Colleague Robert G. Parkinson. Following the massacre, Logan abandons diplomacy for vengeance, killing nearly twenty people and provoking Lord Dunmore's War. Simultaneously, the Continental Congress calls for rifle companies to join the revolution in Boston, and Michael Cresap is surprisingly tapped to lead a Maryland unit. Parkinson notes the irony ...
7m Dec 22, 2025
7m