How Did We Get Here?

How did the ideas, decisions, movements, and institutions of the past bring us to the world we inhabit today?

In the inaugural episode of How Did We Get Here?, hosts Greg Gorman and Ron Dodson explore several historical and political questions that illustrate the show's central premise: understanding the present requires understanding how we arrived here.

From the origins of modern Zionism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the evolution of American federalism and the expansion of national authority, the conversation considers how ideas and decisions can shape institutions and produce consequences that extend far beyond their original intentions.

Explore the Topics Discussed

Zionism, Israel, and Jewish Religious Movements

Darryl Cooper — Fear and Loathing in the New Jerusalem

A six-part historical series examining the origins of modern Zionism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Watch the series

Who Is Yoram Hazony?

Learn about the Israeli political philosopher and author whose work examines nationalism, political order, and the nation-state.

Read more about Yoram Hazony

The Hasidim and the Chabad-Lubavitch Movement

Ron Dodson explores the history and religious influence of Hasidism and the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.

Read Ron's article

Just What Is Israel?

An examination of questions surrounding Israel's national and political identity.

Read the article at American Reformer

American Federalism: From "These United States" to "The United States"

How did the United States evolve from a federation of states toward a more centralized national government?

Greg and Ron explore the historical and constitutional developments associated with this transformation, particularly the Civil War era and the Progressive Era.

The Monroe Doctrine

A foundational statement of American foreign policy, announced in 1823, concerning European involvement in the Western Hemisphere.

Learn about the Monroe Doctrine

The Seventeenth Amendment (1913)

Established the direct election of United States senators by voters, replacing the original constitutional system of election by state legislatures.

Read about the Seventeenth Amendment

The Sixteenth Amendment (1913)

Authorized Congress to levy income taxes without apportionment among the states.

Read about the Sixteenth Amendment

The Federal Reserve Act (1913)

Established the Federal Reserve System and reshaped the nation's central banking framework.

Read about the Federal Reserve Act

Arizona v. United States (2012)

A modern Supreme Court case addressing federal authority and the limits of state immigration enforcement.

Read about Arizona v. United States

The Law of Unintended Consequences

How often do political and institutional decisions produce results their architects never anticipated?

The concept of unintended consequences provides a useful framework for examining how historical decisions shape subsequent generations.

Learn more about unintended consequences

How Did We Get Here? is hosted by Greg Gorman and Ron Dodson.

Watch, listen, and connect at https://payattention.tv.