Charles Sherrill was everything a gentleman of his generation was supposed to be: rich, handsome, charming, Ivy-Leagued. He was impossibly well connected and extravagantly mustachioed. He was also the person who, as much as anything, decided whether American athletes would participate in the 1936 Olympics. Faced with one of the great moral dilemmas of the day, America needed the wisdom of Solomon. Instead, it got the wisdom of Sherrill. 

Charles Sherrill was everything a gentleman of his generation was supposed to be: rich, handsome, charming, Ivy-Leagued. He was impossibly well connected and extravagantly mustachioed. He was also the person who, as much as anything, decided whether American athletes would participate in the 1936 Olympics. Faced with one of the great moral dilemmas of the day, America needed the wisdom of Solomon. Instead, it got the wisdom of Sherrill.

On the 250th anniversary of the United States, Revisionist History investigates the overlooked story of what was, at the time, the biggest secession movement in the U.S. since the Civil War. 

A movement that took place on a small island miles out to sea from New York City. An early example of the politics of resentment that dominates America today. What do you do when a democracy looks like it’s falling apart?

Over the course of five episodes, The Staten Island Problem reconstructs the battle for New York City amidst the turbulent early 1990s — the rise of Rudy Giuliani, the peak of the homicide rate, the Wu-Tang Clan, young Donald Trump, and the first Black mayor of New York — all through the prism of the city’s Forgotten Borough. Through colorful characters and never-before-heard archival audio, The Staten Island Problem reveals what can happen when a disgruntled minority manages to take over — and fracture — a democracy.

To get early access to ad-free episodes and extra content, subscribe to Pushkin+ in Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.

Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell's journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past—an event, a person, an idea, even a song—and asks whether we got it right the first time. From Pushkin Industries. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance.

iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.

On the 250th anniversary of the United States, Revisionist History&nbsp;investigates the overlooked story of what was, at the time, the biggest secession movement in the U.S. since the Civil War.&nbsp;
A movement that took place on a small island miles out to sea from New York City. An early example of the politics of resentment that dominates America today. What do you do when a democracy looks like it&rsquo;s falling apart?
Over the course of five episodes,&nbsp;The Staten Island Problem&nbsp;reconstructs the battle for New York City amidst the turbulent early 1990s &mdash; the rise of Rudy Giuliani, the peak of the homicide rate, the Wu-Tang Clan, young Donald Trump, and the first Black mayor of New York &mdash; all through the prism of the city&rsquo;s Forgotten Borough. Through colorful characters and never-before-heard archival audio,&nbsp;The Staten Island Problem&nbsp;reveals what can happen when a disgruntled minority manages to take over &mdash; and fracture &mdash; a democracy.
To get early access to ad-free episodes and extra content, subscribe to Pushkin+ in&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/revisionist-history/id1119389968">Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;or at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin">pushkin.fm/plus</a>.
Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell's journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past&mdash;an event, a person, an idea, even a song&mdash;and asks whether we got it right the first time. From Pushkin Industries. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance.
iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.

Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance

Revisionist History: The Staten Island Problem

Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell's journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past—an event, a person, an idea, even a song—and asks whether we got it right the first time. From Pushkin Industries. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance.

On the 250th anniversary of the United States, Revisionist History investigates the overlooked story of what was, at the time, the biggest secession movement in the U.S. since the Civil War. 

A movement that took place on a small island miles out to sea from New York City. An early example of the politics of resentment that dominates America today. What do you do when a democracy looks like it’s falling apart?

Over the course of five episodes, The Staten Island Problem reconstructs the battle for New York City amidst the turbulent early 1990s — the rise of Rudy Giuliani, the peak of the homicide rate, the Wu-Tang Clan, young Donald Trump, and the first Black mayor of New York — all through the prism of the city’s Forgotten Borough. Through colorful characters and never-before-heard archival audio, The Staten Island Problem reveals what can happen when a disgruntled minority manages to take over — and fracture — a democracy.

To get early access to ad-free episodes and extra content, subscribe to Pushkin+ in Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.

iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.

Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell's journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past&mdash;an event, a person, an idea, even a song&mdash;and asks whether we got it right the first time. From Pushkin Industries. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance.
On the 250th anniversary of the United States, Revisionist History investigates the overlooked story of what was, at the time, the biggest secession movement in the U.S. since the Civil War.&nbsp;
A movement that took place on a small island miles out to sea from New York City. An early example of the politics of resentment that dominates America today. What do you do when a democracy looks like it&rsquo;s falling apart?
Over the course of five episodes,&nbsp;The Staten Island Problem reconstructs the battle for New York City amidst the turbulent early 1990s &mdash; the rise of Rudy Giuliani, the peak of the homicide rate, the Wu-Tang Clan, young Donald Trump, and the first Black mayor of New York &mdash; all through the prism of the city&rsquo;s Forgotten Borough. Through colorful characters and never-before-heard archival audio, The Staten Island Problem reveals what can happen when a disgruntled minority manages to take over &mdash; and fracture &mdash; a democracy.
To get early access to ad-free episodes and extra content, subscribe to Pushkin+ in <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/revisionist-history/id1119389968">Apple Podcasts</a> or at <a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin">pushkin.fm/plus</a>.
iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.

Hitler’s Olympics, Part 2: Pangloss, Polonius, Prufrock

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1bf53bf8-3492-46da-be46-b1a2010bbe31/transcript

At the height of the secession movement, the Wu-Tang Clan forms on Staten Island. We take a tour of early 1990s hip-hop and reveal the hidden history of the group.

At the height of the secession movement, the Wu-Tang Clan forms on Staten Island. We take a tour of early 1990s hip-hop and reveal the hidden history of the group.

The Staten Island Problem - Part  4: Wu-Tang vs. Shaolin

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/44372408-1537-48da-a93a-b48e00f19724/transcript

A group on Staten Island tries to stop secession, squaring off against the secessionists in a heated set of debates and meetings recorded on never-before-seen archival tapes. A set of debates best understood via a detour into the history of a remote Polynesian island.

A group on Staten Island tries to stop secession, squaring off against the secessionists in a heated set of debates and meetings recorded on never-before-seen archival tapes. A set of debates best understood via a detour into the history of a remote Polynesian island.

The Staten Island Problem - Part  3: The Tuvalu Effect

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6dae2063-6e7f-48b2-9a2c-b4810165183f/transcript

After the Supreme Court takes a close look at New York City government, Staten Island comes out the loser. A local artist begins organizing for secession. We take a deep dive into the psychology of the island, which has a lot to do with the largest garbage dump in the world.

After the Supreme Court takes a close look at New York City government, Staten Island comes out the loser. A local artist begins organizing for secession. We take a deep dive into the psychology of the island, which has a lot to do with the largest garbage dump in the world.

The Staten Island Problem - Part 2: A New Map

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6eb007a3-0ca2-47a4-ba03-b4810156776b/transcript

Hitler’s Olympics, Part 2: Pangloss, Polonius, Prufrock

In 1 playlist(s)

Revisionist History: The Staten Island Problem

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips