Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history — from the Revolutionary War to rock & roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com.

Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history &mdash; from the Revolutionary War to rock &amp; roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com.

American History Hotline

American History Hotline with Bob Crawford

Introducing: American History Hotline

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/becf9d58-5c8b-49ad-9fd3-b2c9015f4d7b/transcript

It takes decades to build a new subway line in the United States. Meanwhile, China is building entire high-speed rail networks in just a few years. So, how did America's once-great love of trains get derailed? 

We use New York City’s Second Avenue Subway as a test case to answer this bigger question: Why is building trains in America so hard compared to places like China?

Bob calls up Dan McNichol, author of Second Avenue Subway: Building the Most Famous Thing Never Built in New York City, and transportation expert Joe Stanford to break down how the U.S. went from a rail-building powerhouse to a country where major transit projects feel nearly impossible.

In this episode we bore deep into: 

America’s century-long struggle to complete the Second Avenue Subway

China’s rapid expansion of subways and high-speed rail

How politics, regulation, and Americans' LOVE for their cars shape infrastructure

Why the cost of expanding passenger rail lines is so much higher in the U.S. (like, WAY higher) than in Europe and Asia

All aboard! Next stop: a brief history of American rail. (Toot! Toot!) 🚂

 

It takes decades to build a new subway line in the United States. Meanwhile, China is building entire high-speed rail networks in just a few years. So, how did America's once-great love of trains get&nbsp;derailed?&nbsp;
We use New York City&rsquo;s Second Avenue Subway as a test case to answer this bigger question: Why is building trains in America so hard compared to places like China?
Bob calls up Dan McNichol, author of <a href="https://www.bigdigproductions.com/#sas">Second Avenue Subway: Building the Most Famous Thing Never Built in New York City</a>, and transportation expert Joe Stanford to break down how the U.S. went from a rail-building powerhouse to a country where major transit projects feel nearly impossible.
In this episode we bore deep into:&nbsp;
America&rsquo;s century-long struggle to complete the Second Avenue Subway
China&rsquo;s rapid expansion of subways and high-speed rail
How politics, regulation, and Americans' LOVE for their cars shape infrastructure
Why the cost of expanding passenger rail lines is so much higher in the U.S. (like, WAY higher) than in Europe and Asia
All aboard! Next stop: a brief history of American rail. (Toot! Toot!) 🚂
&nbsp;

America Loves Trains. Why Can’t We Build Them Anymore? Inside NYC’s Second Avenue Subway

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/79a0a221-4b15-47f5-9a3e-b3b90142aea2/transcript

Could a new president ever be carved into Mount Rushmore? It depends on who you ask. We call up historian Matthew Davis (author of A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore) to learn about the history of the monument and what its future might hold. 

It’s a story with a lot of surprising twists and turns, from the hills of Georgia to the sacred mountains of South Dakota. How does Mount Rushmore reflect America’s battles over who and what America chooses to celebrate?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why Mount Rushmore was carved, and who originally inspired the project

The forgotten faces and ideas that never made it onto the mountain

How Indigenous history and land rights shape Rushmore’s legacy

Whether a future president could legally (or physically) be added

GUEST: Matthew Davis, author of A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore

Could a new president ever be carved into Mount Rushmore? It depends on who you ask. We call up historian Matthew Davis (author of <a href="https://a.co/d/3XVzaRz">A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore</a>) to learn about the history of the monument and what its future might hold.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s a story with a lot of surprising twists and turns, from the hills of Georgia to the sacred mountains of South Dakota. How does Mount Rushmore reflect America&rsquo;s battles over who and what America chooses to celebrate?
In this episode, you&rsquo;ll learn:
Why Mount Rushmore was carved, and who originally inspired the project
The forgotten faces and ideas that never made it onto the mountain
How Indigenous history and land rights shape Rushmore&rsquo;s legacy
Whether a future president could legally (or physically) be added
GUEST: Matthew Davis, author of <a href="https://a.co/d/3XVzaRz">A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore</a>

Can We Add a Fifth Face to Mount Rushmore? The History and Future of the Monument

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1ea9777a-e124-401d-a143-b3ab01037fa6/transcript

What is the greatest movie of the 21st century?

The New York Times says it’s Parasite, but not everyone agrees. We call up Rotten Tomatoes correspondent Mark Ellis to debate the NYT’s list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century and explore how cinema has changed in the past 25 years. Mark says it’s an era of “hopeless films in a time of hopelessness.” 

Grab some popcorn and silence your phone (unless you’re using it to play this podcast) and sit back as we tear this list apart. 

What do you think of NYT’s list? Share your thoughts by emailing AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com 

Oh, and here’s our watchlist if you’re looking for a good film: 

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Predator: Badlands

Spirited Away

Weapons

Creed 

Spotlight 

Marty Supreme

What is the greatest movie of the 21st century?
The New York Times says it&rsquo;s Parasite, but not everyone agrees. We call up Rotten Tomatoes correspondent <a href="https://markellis.live/">Mark Ellis</a> to debate the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/best-movies-21st-century.html">NYT&rsquo;s list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century</a> and explore how cinema has changed in the past 25 years. Mark says it&rsquo;s an era of &ldquo;hopeless films in a time of hopelessness.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Grab some popcorn and silence your phone (unless you&rsquo;re using it to play this podcast) and sit back as we tear this list apart.&nbsp;
What do you think of NYT&rsquo;s list? Share your thoughts by emailing <a href="mailto:AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com">AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;
Oh, and here&rsquo;s our watchlist if you&rsquo;re looking for a good film:&nbsp;
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Predator: Badlands
Spirited Away
Weapons
Creed&nbsp;
Spotlight&nbsp;
Marty Supreme

Are These Really the Best Movies of the 21st Century? Debating the NYT’s Top 100 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/2a5599cd-d0ed-46ae-81ee-b3b200f9c6c4/transcript

Introducing: American History Hotline

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