Our series on the presidency begins with two biographical episodes of the major-party candidates.

For our episode on Donald Trump, we interviewed James Poniewozik, the author of, "Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television and the Fracturing of America." 

As opposed to criticizing or applauding his presidency (which you can find anywhere), Poniewozik discusses Donald Trump through the defining medium of his life: television. He describes how Trump honed his TV skills in creating what Poniewozik calls the "character" we see everyday. He also describes how the TV industry changed over the course of Trump's life. How did it become conducive for someone with "strong" views, as the future president described himself on his first national TV interview in 1980. Poniewozik's study of Trump is fascinating, fresh and crucial to understanding how he went from a kid gazing at the TV in Queens to the person who defined it almost 75 years later.

James Poniewozik is available on Twitter @poniewozik

Axelbank Reports History and Today is available on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory

Here is a schedule of release dates for episodes as part of our series on the presidency:

***September 29th: James Poniewozik - "Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television and the Fracturing of America"

***September 29th: Steven Levingston - "Barack and Joe: The Making of an Extraordinary Partnership"

***October 6th: Stephen Knott - "The Lost Soul of the American Presidency: The Decline into Demagoguery and the Prospects for Renewal"

***October 13th: Lindsay Chervinsky - "The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution"

***October 20th: A.J. Baime - "Dewey Defeats Truman: The 1948 Election and the Battle for America's Soul"

***October 27th: Jeremi Suri - "The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America's Highest Office"

We do want to invite listeners to our Patreon page, to ask for your support in keeping the show going, which is www.patreon.com/axelbankhistory. 

We do not accept contributions over $5 and any monthly amount we raise over $31 - which is the exact cost to produce the show - is given to charity.