America: The Story of the USA

By Liam Heffernan | A Mercury PodcastSociety & Culture News Politics History

America: The Story of the USA episodes

January 30 Study Notes: A Brief History of the 50 States
America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask.
This week, A Brief History of the 50 States. I’ll explain how the United States grew from the 13 original states into the 50 states we have today, explaining the legal process of admission, major land acquisitions, political forces that shaped statehood, and the final additions of Alaska and Hawaii.
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7 min
January 29 In the Making: Is America About to Strike Iran?
This week, we're talking about Trump showing signs of cooling on ICE in Minnesota, social media giants feel the pressure, plus Mr. Potato Head finds himself at the center of a legal dispute.
Plus, the US are lining up for a possible strike on Iran, but when will they make their move, and what will this mean for Iran, America, and the world?
All of this and more on another edition of America: A History in the Making.
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Special Guest:
This week, we are delighted to be joined by Theo Zenou, Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University. He earned his PhD in American history from Cambridge University and writes for The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal UnHerd and others.
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Links to Stories in this Episode:
Donald Trump describes 'very good call' with Tim Walz
Who Was Alex Pretti?
Judge orders ICE chief to appear in court or risk contempt | AP News
Greg Bovino, architect of Trump's immigration sweeps, departs Minneapolis | AP News
Why Rhode Island might ditch its Mr. Potato Head license plates | AP News
TikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin - BBC News
Seahawks, Patriots set to meet in Super Bowl rematch - CBS News
Composer Philip Glass drops Kennedy Center world premiere over Trump takeover | Reuters
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Contact us: [email protected]
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Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/
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40 min
January 27What Was the American Revolutionary War?
This week, we explore what is arguably the most consequential event in the creation of the United States, reshaping the Western world by enshrining new concepts of liberty, equality, and self-governance. So I want to know what really caused it, why people risked their lives for it, and how are modern day debates about power, justice and identity still shaped by it, as I ask… what is the American Revolutionary War?
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Special guest for this episode:
Liz Covart, the award-winning creator and host of Ben Franklin’s World. Her work, both academic and public, shines in exploring how early Americans navigated 18th-century complexity: loyalty and revolution, community and conflict, the realities of freedom and the challenges of pluralism. She is also the founder of Scholar.DIY, a public benefit company that empowers scholars to transform their expertise into compelling digital stories.
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Highlights from this episode:
02:56 - A world of empires
08:51 - Taxation without representation
17:21 - The revolution for social mobility
25:48 - Shaping American identity
29:27 - Key battles
34:12 - A mutual enemy
39:22 - The defining moments in America's victory
45:06 - Impact of independence on marginalised groups
49:29 - Liberty and equality for some
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Additional Resources:
Encyclopedia Britannica: Timeline of the American Revolution — Detailed chronology and major themes
American Battlefield Trust: Revolution Timeline — Comprehensive timeline, maps, major battles
Library of Congress: Revolution Primary Sources — Original documents and teaching resources
Have Fun With History: 10 Most Important People in the American Revolution — In-depth profiles and legacy discussions
Mount Vernon: 10 Facts About the Revolutionary War — Focus on George Washington’s leadership and decision-making
American Revolution.org: Best Primary Sources — Diaries, letters, maps, memoirs, political cartoons
Khan Academy: Philosophical Foundations of the Revolution — Enlightenment, natural rights, social contract
History Education Foundation: Key Ideas of the American Revolution — Summarizes liberty, equality, self-governance, republicanism
Fiveable: Philosophical Foundations Study Guide — Detailed overview of major intellectual influences
JSTOR: The American Revolution, A Philosophical Interpretation — Academic deep dive into the ideological legacy
American Battlefield Trust: France in the American Revolution — Military alliance background, impact, and aftermath
World History Encyclopedia: French Involvement — Social, financial, and diplomatic dimensions
Smithsonian: The Impact of the Revolution Abroad — Influence in Europe, global response
American Battlefield Trust: Battle Facts and Summaries — Maps, analyses, and narratives
Ideological Origins of the American Revolution — Enlightenment and revolutionary ideology
Patrick Henry — Iconic oratory and the Constitution
Valley Forge — Hardship and transformation
The Revolution's African American Soldiers — Untold stories of military service
Women and the Constitutional Moment of 1787 — Gender, citizenship, and constitutional debates
American Revolution.org Primary Sources — First-person narratives, letters, cartoons, and maps
Schoolshistory.org.uk: American Revolution Primary Sources — British and colonial perspectives, visual collections
10 Best American Revolution Podcasts To Follow — Discover more expert interviews and stories
Ben Franklin’s World: Official Podcast Homepage — Full episode archive, show notes, and guest bios

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And if you like this episode, you might also love:
Why Did the USA Drop Atomic Bombs on Japan?
Is America an Empire?
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Contact us: [email protected]
Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month
Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/
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59 min
January 23 Study Notes: US Time Zones Explained
America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask.
This week, US time zones: what they are, why they exist, and a few quick tips so you don’t miss a lecture (or a podcast recording) ever again.
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Contact us: [email protected]
Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month
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8 min
January 22In the Making: The End of the Special Relationship
This week, on America: In the Making…
Will Greenland be the death of the UK-US special relationship?
AI-generated confusion after Monkeys escape a zoo in Missouri, and
One small step for Congress, one giant leap for mankind. I speak to Casey Dreier, Chief of Space Policy at The Planetary Society, about Trump’s failed efforts to decimate the NASA budget.
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Special Guest:
This week, we are delighted to be joined by Emma Long, an Associate Professor in American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia.
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Useful Links:
Trump has threatened Europe with higher tariffs. What happens now? | The Independent
The exchange of messages between Norway's prime minister and President Trump | Reuters
Keir Starmer about to hold emergency press conference
Trump Shares Map of US Including Greenland, Canada, Venezuela - Newsweek
Congress passes $24.4 billion NASA budget, rejecting Trump's deep cuts
As Musk works to slash federal spending, his own firms have received billions in government contracts - ABC News
The Planetary Society
Army has put 1,500 soldiers on standby for possible Minnesota deployment | AP News
Multiple monkeys on the loose in St. Louis | AP News
Supreme Court weighs Trump's firing of the Fed's Lisa Cook by social media | Reuters
Fed Chair Jerome Powell stands up to Trump : NPR

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Want to advertise with us and support the American Studies community?
Email [email protected] and let's talk.
Contact us: [email protected]
Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month
Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/
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1 hr 8 min
January 20Who is JFK?
Today, we turn our focus to a figure who remains as enigmatic as he is iconic. Ascending to the presidency at one of the tensest moments in American and world history, he energized a nation with his call for a “New Frontier,” navigated the shoals of the Cold War, and inspired Americans with his vision for space and civil rights. Yet behind his polished image lay personal struggles, political obstacles, and a legacy marked as much by tragedy as by promise.
So in this episode, on the anniversary of his inauguration, I’m asking… who is President John F. Kennedy?
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Special guest for this episode:
Barbara Perry, a distinguished scholar from the University of Virginia’s Miller Center and one of the preeminent experts on the Kennedy family and presidency. She has authored and edited numerous books, including Jacqueline Kennedy: First Lady of the New Frontier and Rose Kennedy: The Life and Times of a Political Matriarch.
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Highlights from this episode:
John F. Kennedy's presidency, despite its brevity, was marked by significant achievements in civil rights and the space race.
Kennedy's early life and family background played a crucial role in shaping his political ambitions and character.
The complexities of JFK's personal life, including his infidelities, contrast sharply with his public persona as a devoted leader.
The impact of JFK's assassination continues to resonate in American culture and politics, symbolizing a profound national tragedy.

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Additional Resources:
Jacqueline Kennedy: First Lady of the New Frontier by Barbara Perry
Rose Kennedy: The Life and Times of a Political Matriarch by Barbara Perry
Miller Center: JFK Life Before the Presidency
Miller Center: Domestic Affairs
Miller Center: Impact and Legacy
JFK Library: Life of John F. Kennedy
JFK Library: PT-109
JFK Library: The 1960 Election
JFK Library: The New Frontier
National Archives: JFK in Congress
JFK Library: Civil Rights
History.com: JFK and Marilyn Monroe
History Hit: JFK’s Affairs
History Hit: Camelot
Encyclopedia Britannica: John F. Kennedy
Britannica: New Frontier
JFK Assassination and Conspiracy Theories
National Archives: 1960 Election Results
Miller Center: Barbara Perry
University of Virginia: Barbara Perry CV and Bio
Political Dictionary: Camelot
JFK Library: The Space Program
Rice University: JFK Moon Speech
Miller Center: JFK and the Space Race
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And if you like this episode, you might also love:
What Was the Constitutional Convention?
Why Does the President Only Serve Two Terms?
Is the President Above the Law?
How Are Presidents Elected?
What is the US Constitution?
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Contact us: [email protected]
Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month
Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/
Brand & advertising enquiries: [email protected]
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1 hr 1 min
January 08 America: The Story of the USA Returns Soon
In July 2023, I launched a bit of a passion project, with my old lecturers at the University of East Anglia.
America: A History was born.
But a lot has changed in two and half years.
And we thought it was about time we did too...
Introducing, America: The Story of the USA, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies.
Returns 19th January.
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Contact us: [email protected]
Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month
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7 min
December 23, 2025Is Capitalism Killing Christmas?
The tree is up, the lights are on, and the presents are (probably) wrapped. Only two more sleeps until the day when sacred, family-oriented togetherness merges with ruthless consumer culture… or, as it’s more commonly known, Christmas. So in this episode we’re going to dive into the murky, tinsel-covered contradiction of the holiday season, as I ask… is Capitalism killing Christmas?
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Special guest for this episode:
Thomas Ruys Smith, Professor of American Literature and Culture and Deputy Director of Area Studies at the University of East Anglia. His new book, Searching for Santa Claus: An Anthology of the Poems, Stories and Illustrations That Shaped an American Icon, is available to buy now.
Brian Earl the creator and host of the excellent podcast Christmas Past… a very merry welcome back to Brian Earl…
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Highlights from this episode:
Christmas has evolved significantly from its religious roots into a commercially driven holiday, with advertising and consumerism deeply intertwined.
The Puritans' resistance to Christmas in early America reflects a long-standing conflict between celebration and moral values within American culture.
Consumerism and Christmas are inextricably linked; it's hard to separate the two without losing the holiday's modern meaning.
Historical variations in Christmas celebrations across America reveal regional differences in traditions, influenced by factors like local culture and economy.
The rise of industrialism in the 19th century played a crucial role in shaping the consumer habits associated with the Christmas season.
Charitable giving during Christmas often serves to highlight socioeconomic divides while simultaneously fostering a sense of community and shared goodwill.
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Additional Resources:
Searching for Santa Claus: An Anthology of the Poems, Stories and Illustrations That Shaped an American Icon by Thomas Ruys Smith
Christmas Past by Brian Earl
The Modern Christmas in America: A Cultural History of Gift Giving by Williams Waits
The Commercialization of the Calendar: American Holidays and the Culture of Consumption
Christmas in America: A History by Penne L. Restad
How the Puritans Banned Christmas. Yankee Magazine.
Colonial Williamsburg ‘The Twelve Myths of Christmas’ and Early American Christmas traditions
An Early American Christmas
The Oxford Handbook of Christmas – “Commercialism and Consumerism.” John Schmalzbauer. [Oxford Academic, 2020]. Exploring capitalism, disenchantment, enchantment, and debates on secular/commercial Christmas. The Commercialization of the Calendar: American Holidays and the Culture of Consumption, 1870–1930 by Leigh Schmidt
The Golden Age of Department Stores at Christmas by The Retro Network
A Brief History of Commercializing Christmas by Tim Harford
Brand Vision: Best 50 Christmas Marketing Campaigns of All Time
20 Holiday Advertising Campaigns That Revolutionized Marketing
The Artist Behind the Coca-Cola Santa Claus
Haddon Sundblom and the Coca-Cola Santas
Christmas as Cyclical Repetition - Easy Sociology
Capitalism and the Holidays: How Money Grows on Christmas Trees
Christmas over-consumption: Why we shop the way we do (even climate activists!)
A Conscious Christmas: Rethinking Consumerism and Supporting Social En
The Christmas spirit: is it now about consumerism or caring?

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And if you like this episode, you might also love:
What is the War on Christmas?
How to Make a Hollywood Christmas Movie
What's the History of Christmas in America?
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Contact us: [email protected]
Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month
Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/
Brand & advertising enquiries: [email protected]
Want to advertise with us and support the American Studies community?
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40 min
December 20, 2025 BONUS: Disney, Christmas, and 2026
In our last bonus episode of the year, I wanted to share some episodes that can get you through the holiday season, linked below, and give you a little tease of what's to come in 2026.
Spoiler alert: we are going bigger, better and bolder than ever before, so follow the podcast right now and be part of something mega!
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And if you like this episode, you might also love:
Is Disneyland the Happiest Place on Earth?
What is Disney's America?
Why is Santa So American?
I Am... Jody Williams
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Contact us: [email protected]
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Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/
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9 min
December 16, 2025Why is Santa So American?
Last year, I asked ‘Who is Santa Claus?’ We discussed the origins and early incarnations of the figure we now understand to be Santa through a more global lens. So this year, I want to continue this conversation, but look specifically at how he became America’s poster boy for Christmas, and why this could be challenged in future, as I ask… why is Santa so American?
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Special guest for this episode:
Thomas Ruys Smith, a Professor of American Literature and Culture and Deputy Director of the New Area Studies Research Centre. In 2023, he published The Last Gift: The Christmas Stories of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, and his new book, Searching for Santa Claus: An Anthology of the Poems, Stories and Illustrations That Shaped an American Icon, is available to buy now.
Vaughn Joy, whose doctoral research, Selling Out Santa, focuses specifically on Hollywood Christmas Films in the age of McCarthy.
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Highlights from this episode:
The discussion revolved around the transformation of Santa Claus into an American cultural icon over the years.
We explored how Santa's early depictions varied regionally across America, reflecting different cultural influences and customs.
The podcast highlighted the role of commercialism in shaping Santa’s image, especially during the rise of department stores in the late 19th century.
Santa Claus has evolved through various literary and film interpretations, reflecting societal values and changes in American culture.
The conversation touched on the implications of Santa's myth on children's expectations around Christmas and societal values of generosity and goodwill.
We examined how modern iterations of Santa are influenced by current events and cultural shifts, showcasing his adaptability in American folklore.

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Additional Resources:
Amazon.com: The Last Gift: The Christmas Stories of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman edited by Thomas Ruys Smith
Searching for Santa Claus: An Anthology of the Poems, Stories and Illustrations That Shaped an American Icon by Thomas Ruys Smith
Selling Out Santa: Hollywood Christmas Films in the Age of McCarthy by Vaughn Joy
Old Santeclaus with Much Delight: The Children's Friend: A New-Year's Present, to the Little Ones from Five to Twelve
'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
A Mischievous St. Nick from the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Santa Claus (1898)
A Little Girl Who Did Not Believe in Santa Claus (1907)
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus (1897)
Is There a Santa Claus? By Jacob Riis
Miracle On 34th Street 1947/ 1994 Double Pack
The Little Messenger Birds: Or, the Chimes of the Silver Bells by Caroline Butler
Thomas Nast - Hello!, Santa Claus! (originally published in "Harper's Weekly," December 20, 1884) - The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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And if you like this episode, you might also love:
What is the War on Christmas?
How to Make a Hollywood Christmas Movie
What's the History of Christmas in America?
...
Contact us: [email protected]
Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month
Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/
Brand & advertising enquiries: [email protected]
Want to advertise with us and support the American Studies community?
Email [email protected] and let's talk.

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49 min

About America: The Story of the USA

From the publisher's feed

SOTUS is your deep‑dive guide to how the United States became what it is today. From George Washington to Donald Trump, we unpack the people, places and events that shaped, and continue to shape, the nation’s identity.

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