The Iran-Contra Affair remains one of the most complex and controversial political scandals in American history. Involving secret arms deals, covert operations, and a direct violation of U.S. laws, the scandal not only tainted the Reagan presidency but also raised fundamental questions about the limits of executive power and accountability in a democratic society.

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Join Peter for a conversation with Professor James M. McPherson, one of America's most celebrated historians of all time.

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The bombing of Guernica on April 26, 1937, stands as one of the most devastating and symbolically powerful events of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). The event was also famously immortalized in Pablo Picasso's iconic painting, Guernica - a symbol of the horrors of modern warfare and the suffering of innocent civilians.

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Marco Polo (1254–1324) remains one of history's most famous explorers, best known for his extensive travels through Asia and his vivid descriptions of the lands he visited—especially China under the rule of the Mongol Emperor Kublai Khan. However, much of Polo's narrative has been scrutinized over the centuries, leading many historians to question where the line between fact and fiction lies in his famous account, The Travels of Marco Polo.

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In the annals of speculative literature, few works have traversed the enigmatic path of "The Adam and Eve Story: The History of Cataclysms" by Chan Thomas. Published in 1965, this book delves into cataclysmic events that Thomas posited have periodically reshaped Earth's history. Its journey from publication to partial censorship by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and eventual declassification has fueled intrigue and speculation, intertwining themes of ancient civilizations, geological upheavals, and governmental secrecy.

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The case of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg remains one of the most controversial episodes of the Cold War era, involving accusations of espionage, debates over due process, and questions about justice, patriotism, and the use of the death penalty. And of course, the question that continues to come up ever since their execution in 1953 - were they guilty?

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BONUS- TODAY IN CONTEXT:

Founded as a nation of immigrants, the United States has seen four major waves of immigration that have shaped its history. In each case, the changing tides of demographics left their mark on America.

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September 1975 was not a great month for former President Gerald Ford when in a span of just 17 days, the POTUS survived not one, but two, assassination attempts when visiting California, carried out by women.

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During the Middle Ages (5th–15th centuries), prostitution was a complex and controversial issue in Christian Europe. The Catholic Church, which dominated spiritual and social life, viewed prostitution as a sin, yet it also recognized its social inevitability. Church leaders, theologians, and religious institutions took varied approaches to dealing with prostitutes—sometimes condemning them, sometimes working to rescue and reform them, and sometimes taking over their business and regulating it.

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Peter speaks with historian and internationally bestselling author, Giles Milton about his latest release, The Stalin Affair.

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