Historical Blindness

In the third annual holiday special, I look at the legendarium of the Three Wise Men and the Star of Bethlehem. Were they and their visit to the Christ Child real? If a myth, what was the reason for the inclusion of the brief passage in Matthew that originated their legend? 

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Background music, including "April," "Seeker," "Brave New World," "Periculum," "Laburnum," "Modum," "Meekness," "Brooks" and "Holiday Gift" are by Kai Engel, licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0).  

Additional music: 

Canon in D Major Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Angels We Have Heard on High Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Wish Background Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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This episode is simultaneously political and holiday-themed. With the Presidential power of pardoning under scrutiny, I look at the history of its use and misuse as I speculate about how our current lame duck may abuse it and consider whether it should be reformed. 

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Background music, including "Remedy for Melancholy," "Run," "Plague," "November," "Laburnum," "Modum," and "July" are by Kai Engel, licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0). 

Additional music:

Mesmerize by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4994-mesmerize

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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I've got a little holiday treat for you this Thanksgiving! Listen to this Blind Spot minisode that I released last year to patrons on Patreon all about the myths and misconceptions surrounding the history of Thanksgiving. Then go lecture your families about it (perhaps on a video chat this year)! Meanwhile, I'll be giving thanks for all my listeners!

Pledge support for the show on patreon.com/historicalblindness.

Shop at Sudio.com from the 23rd-30th of November for 25% off earbuds, headphones, and speakers, and use the promo code "historical" for an additional 10% off!

Donate at paypal.me/NathanLeviLloyd or support the show by signing up for a 2-week trial of The Great Courses Plus or a 30-day trial of Audible.

Some music on this episode is copyright Alex Kish. Visit AlexKishMusic.com and contact him to get compositions for your own projects. Other background tracks, including "Melancholy" are by Kai Engel, licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0).

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Hi patrons! This episode is yet another political topic. With the topic of Supreme Court expansion in the public discourse after the controversial confirmations of justices nominated by Donald Trump, I look at the history and structure of the Supreme Court, the changing size of its bench, and the historical basis of arguments for judicial reform.

Pledge at Patreon before Dec. 1st to be entered to win a pair of Sudio earbuds, and shop at Sudio.com from the 23rd-30th of November for 25% off earbuds, headphones, and speakers, PLUS an additional 10% off when you use the promo code "historical"!

Donate at paypal.me/NathanLeviLloyd or support the show by signing up for a 2-week trial of The Great Courses Plus or a 30-day trial of Audible.

Some music on this episode is copyright Alex Kish. Visit AlexKishMusic.com and contact him to get compositions for your own projects. Other background tracks, including "Brand New World," "September," "Meekness," "November," "July," and "daemones" are by Kai Engel, licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0). Additional music, "Ambiment" and "Drone in D," by Kevin MacLeod, also licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 3.0).

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In this post-election episode, written a week before the American presidential election, I look to contested elections in American history for some insight into what is happening today, with especial focus on the outmoded institution of the Electoral College of the United States and the elections of 1824 and 1876. 

Pledge on Patreon at patreon.com/historicalblindness to get ad-free and exclusive episodes. All active patrons will be entered to win a new pair of earbuds from Sudio on December 1st! Shop Sudio.com between November 23rd and 30th to receive 35% off your purchase AND and extra 10% off with the discount code "historical"!

Sign up for a 14-day trial of The Great Courses Plus or a 30-day trial of Audible to support this show!

Some music on this episode is copyright Alex Kish of AlexKishMusic.com. Contact him to get compositions for your own projects.

Other music, including "November," "Mercy," "Harbor," "Tumult," "Denouement," and "Wake Up," are by Kai Engel, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY 4.0).

Additional Music:

Drone in D Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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In part two of my series on the early modern witch craze and the myths, misconceptions, and theories about witches spread by academics, I am again joined by Sarah Handley-Cousins of Dig: A History Podcast to discuss the founding of Wicca, the emergence of the midwife-witch myth, and folk healers as targets of witchcraft accusations. 

If you're an American, PLEASE VOTE!

Support the podcast by signing up for a free 30-day trial of Audible at audibletrial.com/historicalblindness

Some music on this episode is copyright Alex Kish. Contact Alex to get compositions for your own projects. Other music, including "Wake Up," "Sunset," "Seeker," "Mareé," "Nothing (Bonus Track)," "Global Warming," and "Something (Bonus Track)" by Kai Engel, licensed under an International Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY 4.0).

Additional music:

Thunderbird Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Lightless Dawn Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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In the first of a two part series, I'm joined by Sarah Handley-Cousins of Dig: A History Podcast to talk about the early modern witch craze and the historical myths and misconceptions surrounding it. 

If you're an American, PLEASE VOTE! 

Support the podcast by signing up for a free 30-day trial of Audible at audibletrial.com/historicalblindness 

Some music on this episode is copyright Alex Kish. Contact Alex to get compositions for your own projects. Additional music, including "Oneiri," "Remedy for Melancholy," "September," "Seeker," and "daedalus" are by Kai Engel, licensed under an International Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY 4.0). 

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In the extra-long conclusion of my series on Illuminati conspiracy theories, I talk about how conspiracy theories about the Illuminati played a large role in the presidential election of 1800 as well as how they have remained ubiquitous in American political discourse since then. 

Visit https://howto.vote/ to find information on registering to vote and voting this year. Please don't wait. 

Get a 30-day free trial of Audible with a free audiobook AND support this show by visiting http://www.audibletrial.com/historicalblindness 

Some background music on the episode is copyright Alex Kish. Contact Alex at AlexKishMusic.com to license music for your own project. Other background tracks, including "Sunset," "Wake Up," "Low Horizon," "Global Warming," "Sentinel," "Evermore," "Great Expectations," "Cold War Echo," and "Scenery," are by Kai Engel, licensed under an International Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY 4.0).   

Additional Music:

Lightless Dawn by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3982-lightless-dawn

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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In this patron exclusive minisode released in April of 2019, I delved into the mystery of a day with no light, when darkness fell over New England and many feared that God's judgment was at hand. But was the Dark Day really a mysterious phenomenon as it is unceasingly portrayed? I'm releasing this patron exclusive on the free, ad-supported feed now because its topic has been on my mind for the last couple months, during the devastating wildfires that have been ravaging the West Coast of America where I live.

If you are able, please consider supporting wildfire relief and recovery efforts in California and in Oregon. Or you can donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund.

Background track on the new intro of this minisode is "Remedy for Melancholy" by Kai Engel, licensed under an International Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY 4.0).   

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A contemplation of the modern conservative conspiracy theory of a "deep state" leads me back to the dawn of modern conspiracy theory, the Enlightenment, when the ultimate conservative conspiracy theory was born as an explanation of the French Revolution: the Illuminati! 

Get a 30-day free trial of Audible with a free audiobook AND support this show by visiting http://www.audibletrial.com/historicalblindness

Some background music on the episode is copyright Alex Kish. Contact Alex at AlexKishMusic.com to license music for your own project. Other background tracks, including "Wake Up," "Remedy for Melancholy," "Delirium," "Laburnum," and "Marée," are by Kai Engel, licensed under an International Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY 4.0).   

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