History Is Relevant
This podcast links the past to the present. The programs seek new perspectives on current events by examining the history that brought us to where we are today. The host, Robert Brent Toplin, is a university-based professor of history. He has published a dozen books and more than 200 articles, and he has commented on history, politics, and film in several nationally broadcast television and radio programs.
History Is Relevant
Latest Episodes
Five Men Made Trump President in 2016
How did Trump, a deeply flawed candidate who stumbled often during the 2016 campaign, win the presidential election?There are familiar explanations for the outcome. Analysts point out that Trump blamed China for the decline of manufactur...
Did the Supreme Court’s Ruling in Citizens United Corrupt American Politics?
The Supreme Court ‘s 2010 ruling in Citizens United v FEC declared the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting independent financial contributions. In subsequent years wealthy individuals, large corporations, and spec...
The Supreme Court Deals a Gut Punch to Voting Rights: A Southerner Reflects
The guest is Steve Bevis. He is a communications professional who met and worked with presidents, senators, representatives, governors, and corporate executives. Bevis recalls the racial injustices he saw growing up in Alabama. He d...
Absolute Power Corrupts, as Trump’s War with Iran Demonstrates
Lord Acton gave us a memorable sentence that you’ve heard many times. He said, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”Lord Acton’s statement resonates now, because it pretty much describes Donald Trump’s modus op...
Eisenhower’s Presidency Offers a Model for Bringing the GOP Back to the Mainstream
Many conservatives in the GOP are disillusioned with the direction of the country under President Trump. They support the Republican Party and its values but are troubled by the party’s growing extremism.Is there a path back toward mains...