Why Does America Have the Electoral College? Peter Sagal Explains

Why does the United States use the Electoral College instead of a national popular vote? Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me! Or, actually, DO tell me.  To get answers, Bob calls up Peter Sagal, longtime host of NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! and host of the PBS series Constitution USA, to unpack what …

Why Did the U.S. Army Keep Disbanding the Rangers?

The history of the Army Rangers isn't one continuous story, it's a cycle of creation, disbandment, and revival that stretches back before the United States even existed. In this episode of Bob calls up Brian Halstead, President of the U.S. Army Ranger Association, about the remarkable history of t…

Why Did Disease Devastate Native Americans—but Not European Colonists? | Charles C. Mann

Guns, germs and steel. Emphasis on GERMS. When Europeans arrived in the Americas, they brought all sorts of diseases!   A listener asks: Why did diseases like smallpox devastate Native American populations but not European colonists? Was it simply a lack of immunity, or is the story more complicat…

The Man Who Saved Kyoto?

Who knows? Not me. Why wasn't Kyoto destroyed by an atomic bomb during World War II? Rumor has it, the Secretary of War at the time, Henry Stimson, had fallen in love with the city during his honeymoon years earlier. But is this a STORY or REALITY?   To get some answers, Bob calls up historian Ale…

Did Amelia Earhart survive her disappearance? (Part 2)

In Part 2 of our Amelia Earhart series, Bob examines one of the most controversial and fascinating theories surrounding aviation's greatest mystery. Last week, former Smithsonian curator Dorothy Cochrane argued that Amelia Earhart likely crashed into the Pacific Ocean after failing to locate tiny …

What Happened to Amelia Earhart? Inside the World's Greatest Aviation Mystery (Part 1)

Are we close to finding out what happened to Amelia Earhart? Some experts say "yes!"  Nearly 90 years after her disappearance, researchers believe they are are getting closer to solving one of the world's greatest mysteries. But, what do they think happened?  In Part 1 of this special two-part ep…

Do Americans Have a Right to Know the President's Health?

How much should Americans know about the health of their president? From secret illnesses and hidden disabilities to modern debates over transparency, the health of the commander in chief has long been a subject of controversy. But where should we draw the line between medical privacy and the publ…

Did Jim Morrison's Dad Start the Vietnam War?

People are strange. But Jim Morrison is no stranger to conspiracy theories. And we've got a juicy one!  Well, we're in the history business (not the conspiracy business). So, this episode is all about the TRUTH behind The Doors. And, yes, you CAN handle the truth!  In this episode, Disgraceland h…

Who Invented School? The Surprising History of Education in America

Did Americans always send their children to public school? Not even close. In this episode of American History Hotline, Bob calls up historian and author Dixie Dillon Lane to explore the surprising history of education in America. From colonial classrooms and the self-taught education of Abigail …

Was Abortion Always Controversial? From the Pilgrims to Dobbs v. Jackson

For decades, abortion has been one of the most divisive issues in American politics. But was it always that way? Bob calls up Georgetown Law Professor Dr. Michele Goodwin to learn about the surprising history of abortion in America. From colonial midwives and herbal remedies to the rise of the Ch…