Recent comments by historians Joseph Ellis and Gordon Wood has prompted a contentuous debate about how academic historians engage with the public. Frank and David discuss, including:

Whether academic historians used to write better/more accessibly than they do now

Why some kinds of historical writing tend to generate a larger popular audience

Whether academic historians don't celebrate patriotic narratives enough

How academic historians can and should engage with the public in 2018

Plus! David addresses feedback on our last episode from a loyal listener in Edinburgh.

Last Drops

David: John Dickerson's article on the presidency in the Atlantic

Frank: Kanye West's comments about Trump and slavery