Ronald Reagan, as Jackson Lears wrote recently in the LRB, was a ‘telegenic demagogue’ whose ‘emotional appeal was built on white people’s racism’. His presidency left the United States a far more unequal place at home, with a renewed commitment to deadly imperial adventures abroad. Yet he had a gift for making up stories that ‘made America feel good about i ... Show More
Today
On Politics: What went wrong with HS2 (and almost everything else)
HS2 was conceived at a cost of £37.5 billion and originally supposed to link London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. It will now connect only two stations outside London and Birmingham at a projected cost of more than £100 billion, and perhaps won’t even be ‘high speed’. To dis ... Show More
1h 4m
Jun 14
Poetry and the Turning World: Technology
When Robert Browning was asked to become the first poet to be recorded, on an Edison wax cylinder in 1889, he forgot his own poem. In the second episode of their series, Sarah Howe and Sandeep Parmar consider what happens when poetry, and poets, meet technology, and why a poem it ... Show More
1h 30m
Sep 2025
Ronald Reagan: The Hollywood President (Part 1)
Ronald Reagan is one of the most mythologized figures in American politics, but how did an actor and former Democrat become the standard-bearer of conservatism? In this new series exclusively for Founding Members explore Reagan’s rise, legacy, and myth. Who was the real Ronald Re ... Show More
16m 13s
Dec 2024
Remembering Jimmy Carter: Life & Legacy
<p>In this special episode, Don Wildman is joined by experts Jonathan Alter and Jefferson Cowie to delve into the remarkable life of the 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, who has died at the age of 100.</p><br><p>Carter, who served in office from 1977 to 1981, is ... Show More
1h 3m
Sep 2024
How Ronald Reagan Helped Shape The GOP
This is an excerpt from the full episode, "Reagan's Life And Legacy (With Max Boot)"Michael Steele speaks with bestselling author, historian, and policy analyst Max Boot about his latest book,"Reagan: His Life And Legend" and the differences about the GOP compared to the days of ... Show More
6m 45s
Jul 2025
Jordan Klepper Charts Trump's Long History with Epstein & Nick Offerman Sounds Alarm on National Parks | Thomas Chatterton Williams
With MAGA and Democrats demanding answers about the Epstein files and Trump denying their existence, Jordan Klepper charts the president’s well-documented history with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, which might be why the president wants the entire thing to blow over. Plu ... Show More
49m 58s