The eighth of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the character arc of the O.G. "Iron Lady," Ana Pauker, the isolationist endeavors of the despot Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, and the last-minute compromise that put Nicolae Ceaușescu in control of Soviet Romania.

Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (8/16)

Recommended: from Messy Nessy, What History Didn’t Tell Us about the Nazi “Super Baby” Breeding Program (2017).

The seventh of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the dawn of Soviet leadership under the blockhead brute Petru Groza, the dethronement of King Michael, the gruesome Pitești Experiments, and the origins of Jack Lemmon-lookalike Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej and his dog-brained protégé, Nicolae Ceaușescu.

Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (7/16)

In this one-shot episode of Long Story Short, Kris and Leah explore the science behind flatulence, the foods that promote it, and the anatomy of the anus, as well as the origins of the apple and the private letters of author James Joyce.

Series: One-Shots, Episode 001

The sixth of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the blunders and horrors of the Odessa Campaign, the life of Soviet sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko, and the last days of dictator Ion Antonescu.

Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (6/16)  

Recommended: from The Washington Post, If Trump had been in charge during World War II, this column would be in German, by Max Boot.

Music credits: "The Black Waltz," Scott Buckley; a repetitive version of "All Star" by Smash Mouth.

The fifth of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the driving tension between co-rulers Ion Antonescu and Horia Sima, the intervention of one Adolf Hitler, and a divided nation's steep careen into genocide.

Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (5/16)  

The fourth of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the outbreak of World War II, Romania's unintentional alignment with the Axis Powers, and King Carol Two's usurpation by the antisemite General Ion Antonescu.  

Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (4/16)  

Recommended: from the New Yorker, Francis Fukuyama Postpones the End of History, and, for more on the poet Benjamin Fondane, see this 'Tears in the Fence' article. For all else, see OpenArticle.xyz. 

The third of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the noble perseverance of Prime Minister Armand Călinescu, the looming presence of Adolf Hitler over Romania's oil, and the Soviet-soiled lifeline extended by Turkey.  

Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (3/16) 

Recommended: for those who like to read,  OpenArticle.xyz.

The second of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores Corny Codreanu's violent climb toward legitimizing his fascist faction (a period rich with assassinations), the interloping of Octavian "Goldfish" Goga's National Christian Party, and King Carol Two's desperate feint to conserve and consolidate power.  

Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (2/16)  

Recommended: an article by Tobias Jones about fascism's resurgence in Italy, via the Guardian, and OpenArticle.xyz for those who like to read.

The first of a sixteen-part series about twentieth-century Romania, this episode explores the origins of Unified Romania, the early reign of the vain and blundering King Carol Two, and the rise of the ultranationalist Legionnaires, a faction of death-fetishists led by a charismatic so-called-prophet Corneliu "Corny" Codreanu.  

Series: Ceaușescu's Downfall (1/16)  

Recommended: for those who like to read, OpenArticle.xyz.