U.S. History EPISODES

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message What if a single covert operation rewired the modern Middle East? We revisit the 1953 CIA–MI6 coup that toppled Mohammad Mossadegh and restored the Shah, then follow the consequences forward: repression, the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and a foreign policy defined by proxies and confrontation. Drawing on Stephen Kinzer’s research, we explore a hard question with fresh urgency: did the quest for short-term stability seed decades of blo...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message A frail voice shouts “Nay,” an old man falls, and the House of Representatives freezes. That image of John Quincy Adams collapsing at his desk in 1848 isn’t just a dramatic opening—it’s a window into a life spent turning dry procedure into a living defense of liberty. We trace Adams from child witness to revolution and master diplomat to a president hobbled by the “corrupt bargain,” then into the most improbable chapter of all: a f...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message A nighttime city goes dark, rotors whisper over rooftops, and a regime built on crime loses its center of gravity. That image anchors a frank, fast-moving breakdown of Operation Absolute Resolve—the surgical extraction that removed Nicolás Maduro without a single U.S. casualty or aircraft loss. We open with first principles from Liberty and Tyranny, asking what prudence requires when unalienable rights collide with the limits of Am...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message The candles are burning low, Advent is nearly complete, and a quiet figure steps into focus: Saint Joseph. We open the door to the workshop where silence is eloquent and obedience changes history, exploring how a man with no recorded words still teaches us what fatherhood, courage, and reverence look like when God draws near. We walk through Scripture’s testimony that names Joseph as father, son of David, and guardian of the Messi...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message A funeral that halted a Southern town sets the stage for one of the most misunderstood lives in American history. We follow James Longstreet from West Point camaraderie with Ulysses S. Grant to the smoke-choked battlefield of Gettysburg, and then into a second, riskier career: defending Reconstruction, backing Black suffrage, and standing up to paramilitary terror in New Orleans. The journey overturns easy labels and asks a h...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message The wildest presidential campaign in modern American history deserves analysis that's as gripping as the events themselves. Today we're diving into two books that attempt to make sense of the chaos: "Fight" by Jonathan Allen and Amy Parnes, and "Uncharted" by Chris Whipple. From Biden's disastrous CNN debate where he appeared "ghostly white" and froze mid-sentence before 51 million viewers, to the frantic 107-day Harris campaign t...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message What can the pivotal moments of World War II teach us about our rapidly changing world today? Drawing from Victor Davis Hanson's masterful work "The Second World Wars," we explore how three unexpected events in 1941 transformed separate regional conflicts into a global catastrophe—and why similar world-altering shifts might be happening right now. As we recently marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, this episode ex...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message April 9th marks 160 years since the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse – the moment that effectively ended America's bloodiest conflict. This anniversary offers a powerful opportunity to reflect on the Civil War's enduring impact on our national identity and democratic principles. The surrender scene itself carries deep symbolism: Lee in his pristine gray uniform meeting Grant in his characteristically muddy field attire, negotiat...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message The battle for America's historical narrative has never been more consequential. When Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" claims that "Lincoln initiated hostilities by trying to repossess the federal base at Fort Sumter," it fundamentally misrepresents the spark that ignited the Civil War. This seemingly small distortion reveals a much larger problem with how many Americans are learning their own history. As we ...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message The Lost Cause narrative has long clouded our understanding of the American Civil War, but what if everything you thought you knew about this period was upside down especially if you grew up in the South and learned US Civil War history from its public schools? On the MOJO Minute episode, we challenge the deeply entrenched myths that have shaped perceptions of the conflict and the Confederacy's defeat. With insights from Edward H...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message What if the fabric of American democracy is being tested like never before? Join us as we celebrate the 237th birthday of the US Constitution and examine its enduring legacy and relevance. We recount its historical context, from its signing on September 17, 1787, to its implementation in 1789, and discuss its pivotal role as the supreme law of the United States. Tune in to understand why fidelity to the Constitution remains c...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message What if the key moments that shaped American politics were all connected by a common thread? Join us as we navigate Reagan Revolution of the 1980s, and beyond we take a closer look at the cultural versus economic divisions that have influenced American politics, with insights from the 1996 Almanac of American Politics by Michael Barone & Major Garrett's, The Enduring Revolution. In this comprehensive review of these pivotal ...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message What if the Declaration of Independence was more than just a historical document, but a bold promise that continues to shape our nation today? Join me, David Kaiser, on this special Fourth of July edition of the Theory to Action podcast as we celebrate the enduring spirit of Independence Day. We revisit the monumental day our founding fathers signed the Declaration and explore the immense challenges they faced in their quest fo...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message Did you know that the predictions from the 1917 Marian apparitions at Fatima included world-changing events like World War II and the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II? Join us on the Theory to Action podcast as we unravel the profound spiritual significance of the First Saturday devotions, rooted in these miraculous apparitions. We will do this with the help of our guide, "A Pope and A President ", the...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message Did you know the first actual Thanksgiving took place in St Augustine, Florida in 1565, not the widely believed Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621? Brace yourself for a riveting journey through history as we peel back layers of misconception to uncover the true roots of Thanksgiving. We delve into the fascinating details of this original event, including a holy mass offering, the prominent roles of don Pedro Menendez and father Fr...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message What if everything you thought you knew about the Gettysburg Address was wrong? Picture this: a speech so powerful, it etches itself into the annals of history, but its conception is clouded by myths and misinterpretations. Together, we're about to challenge the popular notion that Lincoln penned this significant speech on the back of an envelope in haste. Spoiler alert: that's not what happened. Using the insights from Gary Will...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message Prepare for a gut-punching exploration into Ohio's radical political pivot as we dissect the newly amended Ohio Bill of Rights - a drastic departure from their traditionally moderate position. Today, we'll journey through this tumultuous transition, delving into the legalization of recreational marijuana and the enshrinement of reproductive freedom aka the killing of an unborn child in the womb. We will talk about the major simila...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message Picture the United States as a vast jigsaw puzzle, filled with pieces that have been moving and morphing since its inception. Now, imagine that puzzle shaken up, the pieces sorted by design, color, and shape, segregating into separate corners. That's the current socio-political landscape of our nation, a phenomenon introduced to us by American Journalist, Bill Bishop, refer to as the 'Big Sort.' As we ponder over the foun...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message Taking a stand against the tide of popular opinion, we delve into the concept of a 'culture of death' and advocate for an understanding of this world through Saint John Paul II's teachings. We robustly dissect the contentious Ohio amendment language for Ohio Issue 1, and passionately urge you to vote against it, exposing its radical nature. To navigate these murky waters, we recommend the book 'Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Ar...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message Get ready to uncover the bare truth behind the recent shock attack by Hamas on Israel, as we sift through the rubble of official explanations, and journey back to the roots of the Arab-Jewish conflict. This episode peels back the layers of a terrorist act that has left nearly a thousand dead, and takes you into the heart of a powerful legacy that continues to stir up flames of dissent even today. This is not just a discussion -...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message Have you pondered--over the course of the last three days--the striking similarity between the U.S. September 11, 2001 catastrophe and the recent tragic events unfolding in Israel? Without question, It is Israel's 9-11. The worst event in terms of loss of life in the last fifty years of that country's history. Dwell further into this as we untangle this mystery, putting into perspective the scale of the attack,...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message We're taking a heavy-hearted pause from our regular literary exploration today to address the horrific acts of terrorism Israel is currently enduring at the hands of Hamas. Our hearts ache for the loss of life and we stand united with the people of Israel during this trying time. Our thoughts and prayers extend to Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, his cabinet, and every Israeli citizen hoping for peace. In light of t...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message Your journey into the heart of Sir Winston Churchill's iconic Iron Curtain Speech begins here. Prepare to immerse yourself as I reflect on a childhood wonderment with Churchill that led me on a memorable journey to Fulton, Missouri, to experience the echoes of his speech and the museum dedicated to its lasting impact. This episode is an exploration of the "The Iron Curtain Speech", delivered in March 1946, and the fact it was mor...

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text Message American Foreign Policy, Book 3 and Part 3 Are you ready to be profoundly shaken? Brace yourself as we rip open the concealed layers of the harrowing Abbey Gate incident in Kabul, Afghanistan in August 2021 with our guides, the authors of this remarkable and hard hitting book, Kabul: The Untold Story of Biden’s Fiasco and the American Warriors Who Fought to the End by Jerry Dunleavy & James Hasson This episode goes be...