logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2023
19m 22s

Clinton Finds Life On Mars (1996)

JODY AVIRGAN & RADIOTOPIA
About this episode
It’s August 8th. This day in 1996, President Bill Clinton gives a startling announcement about a rock — ALH84001 — that seems to indicate the presence of life on Mars. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the larger political and cultural context for why Clinton made this big announcement, and what we really know about the rock’s origins. Sign up for our newsletter! We’ll be sending out links to all the stuff we recommended later this week. Find out more at thisdaypod.com This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcasts and award-winning stories. If you want to support the show directly, you can do so on our website: ThisDayPod.com Get in touch if you have any ideas for future topics, or just want to say hello. Our website is thisdaypod.com Follow us on social @thisdaypod Our team: Jacob Feldman, Researcher/Producer; Brittani Brown, Producer; Khawla Nakua, Transcripts; music by Teen Daze and Blue Dot Sessions; Audrey Mardavich is our Executive Producer at Radiotopia
Up next
Mar 19
How Obama Spoke To Us About Race [Part 2]
Our conversation about Barack Obama and Reverend Jeremiah Wright continues with a look at what he said about race in America during his "A More Perfect Union" speech. Jody, Niki, and Kellie also look at how the speech previewed -- or didn't -- how Obama would talk about race and ... Show More
37m 20s
Mar 17
Obama, Rev. Wright, and "A More Perfect Union" [Part 1]
For the eleventh episode of “50 Weeks That Shaped America,” we go to the spring of 2008. Barack Obama was largely on path to clinch the Democratic nomination, but he had to navigate one last major controversy. In April, ABC did a report on remarks by his long-time Pastor Jeremiah ... Show More
40m 19s
Mar 15
The Gingrich Revolution [Some Sunday Context]
For our "Sunday Context" episode, go back to the Clinton administration and look at how Republicans swept into power in 1994. It allowed them to present a new version of the GOP -- and organize a unified opposition to Clinton just as the Lewinsky scandal was exploding. Jody and N ... Show More
24m 7s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2023
Looking Ahead to 2024: Conventions, Caucuses, and the Balance of Democracy
What can we expect from the 2024 Conventions? Heather and Joanne look at the role of political conventions in American life, from the “King Caucus” era of the early 1800s, to President Lincoln’s ascendance at the 1860 RNC, to the impact of the 1968 DNC on the political process. H ... Show More
54m 23s
Jan 2024
Introducing On This Day in Working Class History: A new daily podcast from WCH
Introducing a brand-new daily podcast from the team at WCH. On This Day in Working Class History will be a brief reminder each morning of our collective struggles for a better world which have taken place on this date in history.<br />Launching on 1 February on a trial basis, eac ... Show More
2m 32s
Mar 2018
History Of The Country Music Hall of Fame and Ask Shannah - Student Loan Consolidation
Recently we went to see one of our favorite Irish singers, Glen Hansard and he was telling about his first visit to Los Angeles. He had a quote about how to really get to know a place or culture, “If you want to learn about a place, read the history books. If you want to get to k ... Show More
46m 40s
May 2023
Joe Biden, 80 ans et candidat à sa réélection : l'heure du premier bilan
<p>Le mardi 25 avril, Joe Biden <a href="https://www.leparisien.fr/international/presidentielle-americaine-joe-biden-candidat-sans-surprise-veut-finir-le-travail-25-04-2023-YWJ5NL2QCBCXTBBSX6XES2DIHQ.php" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a annoncé dans un clip de campagn ... Show More
21m 36s
Dec 2021
How Julius Caesar Changed Time
<p>We’re finishing off 2021 with what is perhaps Julius Caesar’s greatest legacy. It’s not a military victory or battle, but one of the many political reforms that truly has stood the test of time: the Julian calendar. Before, calendars were largely based on the lunar calendar, a ... Show More
46m 4s
Sep 2022
The Queen & US Presidents
<p>We had plans today to release the first two episodes of American History Hit but due to the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II last week, we’ve decided to take some time and do something a little different.</p><br><p>You’ll hear those episodes on Thursday September 22, un ... Show More
6m 50s
Jun 2016
36B-Pocahontas: Between Two Streams
An abbreviated history of Pocahontas and John Smith, this episode looks at the conflict largely from the Powhatan side. This isn't the Disney version. It is gritty, dark, violent, and, if Mattaponi oral history is to be trusted, fairly disturbing. Still, it tells the story of a c ... Show More
1h 1m
Sep 2021
10.67- The April Crisis
April 1917 reminds us sometimes foreign affairs DO matter in domestic politics. --- The H2W related podcast appearances I mentioned: Based on a True Story with Dan LeFebvre. Great chat about Lafayette in film and TV. KPFA's Letters and Politics with Mitch Jeserich. This one is a ... Show More
29m 40s