“History repeats itself,” the saying goes. Or, as another saying goes, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” There’s also “History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes.”

Together these sayings suggest the value of history in our culture and our belief that it can help us understand the present.

This hour, we’re talking about history and our current political moment. This episode is the second featuring a live event with Pulitzer Prize-winning historians Jon Meacham and Jill Lepore. If you missed the first episode, don't worry— this discussion will stand on its own.

The event was the final discussion of The Connecticut Forum’s 34th season.

GUESTS:


Jill Lepore: the David Woods Kemper ’41 Professor of American History at Harvard University and Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. She is also a staff writer at The New Yorker and bestselling author. Her books include These Truths: A History of the United States and We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution.


Jon Meacham: Distinguished Visiting Professor at Vanderbilt University. His bestselling books include And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle and the Pulitzer prize-winning American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House.

&ldquo;History repeats itself,&rdquo; the saying goes. Or, as another saying goes, &ldquo;those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.&rdquo; There&rsquo;s also &ldquo;History doesn&rsquo;t repeat itself but it often rhymes.&rdquo;
Together these sayings suggest the value of history in our culture and our belief that it can help us understand the present.
This hour, we&rsquo;re talking about history and our current political moment. This episode is the second featuring a live event with Pulitzer Prize-winning historians Jon Meacham and Jill Lepore. If you missed the first episode, don't worry&mdash; this discussion will stand on its own.
The event was the final discussion of <a href="https://www.ctforum.org/">The Connecticut Forum</a>&rsquo;s 34th season.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Jill Lepore: the David Woods Kemper &rsquo;41 Professor of American History at Harvard University and Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. She is also a staff writer at <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/jill-lepore">The New Yorker</a> and bestselling author. Her books include <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324130765">These Truths: A History of the United States</a> and <a href="https://wwnorton.com/books/9781631496080">We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution</a>.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://jonmeacham.com/">Jon Meacham</a>: Distinguished Visiting Professor at Vanderbilt University. His bestselling books include <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/241155/and-there-was-light-by-jon-meacham/">And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle</a> and the Pulitzer prize-winning <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/112695/american-lion-by-jon-meacham/">American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House</a>.
</li>
</ul>

Disrupted is about the changes we all encounter and the forces driving those changes. Some disruptions spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. But the show isn't just about those disruptions; it’s about embracing them, exploring new perspectives, and feeling more connected to ourselves and our communities. Host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean creates a place where changemakers come together to help us see the world differently and challenge us to grow together.

Visit ctpublic.org/disrupted for more! 

Disrupted is about the changes we all encounter and the forces driving those changes. Some disruptions spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. But the show isn't just about those disruptions; it’s about embracing them, exploring new perspectives, and feeling more connected to ourselves and our communities. Host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean creates a place where changemakers come together to help us see the world differently and challenge us to grow together.
Visit <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted">ctpublic.org/disrupted</a> for more!