After the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Frank and David talk about the history of American taxation, including:

How taxes shaped the revolutionary era

How Progressives hoped that income and estate taxes would prevent aristocracy

How the Reagan Revolution shaped the current tax debate

Last Drops

David: NPR Planet Money episode on the tariff and Santa Suits

Frank: Thanks our listeners for a great year

The big news this week was the Alabama senatorial election. Based on a listener question, Frank and David discuss how the party of Lincoln became the party of Roy Moore, including:

Why the Founding Fathers disliked political parties at the same time that they were creating them

How the Republican and Democratic parties switched places on Civil Rights 

Why third parties never seem to last very long

Last Drops

Frank: the origins of Jingle Bells

David: Sister Rosetta Tharp in Rock Hall of Fame and how Constitutional Hall almost got demolished

This week, President Trump announced that the US embassy in Israel would move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Frank and David talk about the history of diplomatic recognition, including:

How the United States sought international recognition during the American Revolution

How the US sought to prevent international recognition of the Confederacy

Why David grew up with a table from the Iranian embassy

Last Drops

Frank: UK opening of Hamilton and Doug Bradburn becoming president of Mount Vernon

David: The John Muir House in Dunbar

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has come out against net neutrality regulations and the CFPB. Frank and David talk about the history of regulatory state, including:

The origins of the Regulatory State, including the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Pure Food & Drug Act

The role of the New Deal and the Great Society in expanding the Regulatory State

Why Republicans seem to hate regulations 

Last Drops

Frank: Slate's new podcast on Watergate: Slow Burn

David: New highway named for historian John Hope Franklin and segregation of NYC rats

In light of recent accusations against Alabama senate candidate Roy Moore, actor Kevin Spacey, producer Harvey Weinstein, and others, Frank and David discuss the history of sexual violence and harassment, including:

Thomas Jefferson's relationship with Sally Hemings

The diaries of William Byrd II and James Henry Hammond

Sylvester Graham's advice to young men

Why Rebecca Latimer Felton believed that lynching was the only way to prevent black men from abusing white women

How Clarence Thomas, Bill Clinton, and Bob Packwood scandals opened a debate on sexual harassment

Last Drops

David: NPR's coverage of sexual harassment and AHA petition on sexual violence

Frank: Age of Revolutions blog

In front of a standing-room only audience, Frank and David discuss the strange year since Donald Trump's election.

Due to some technical difficulties, we only had useable audio from some of the Q&A session.

Last Drops

Frank: Dirty John podcast

David: Sexing History podcast

Last week, the five living former presidents participated in a fundraiser for hurricane relief. George W. Bush and Barack Obama also made speeches criticizing President Trump. In this episode, Frank and David explore the lives of presidents after they leave office, including:

The lengthy post-presidencies of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson

Why John Quincy Adams, John Tyler, and Andrew Johnson sought elective office after they left the White House

Which 20th century former president had the most successful career after the White House

Last Drops

Frank: The People vs. OJ Simpson

David: A school in Mississippi that changed its name from Jefferson Davis to Barack Obama

Inspired by Blade Runner 2049's bleak vision of the future, Frank and David talk about how Americans have envisioned the future, including:

Edward Bellamy's vision of the year 2000

Star Trek vs. The Jetsons

An unpublished short story by WEB DuBois 

 

Last Drops

Frank: Star Trek Discovery

David: Uncivil podcast

In the aftermath of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Frank and David talk about the history of guns and gun control in the United States, including:

How Shays' Rebellion and the Whiskey Rebellion provide meaningful context for the 2nd Amendment

How the NRA has changed since 1871

What the Supreme Court has said about the 2nd Amendment

Last Drops

Frank: Blade Runner 2049

David: More Perfect's episode on Dred Scott

In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and President Trump's recent visit, Frank and David discuss the history of Puerto Rico and its relationship with the rest of the United States, including:

When Puerto Ricans became American citizens

The development of Puerto Rico's commonwealth status

How PR's status has complicated disaster relief

Last Drops

Frank: NYTimes article on the vandalism of a statue of Onate in New Mexico

David: The Travelling Willbury albums in honor of Tom Petty's passing