This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Jody Avirgan & Radiotopia
To mark our 250th birthday, “This Day” presents "50 Weeks That Shaped America," a series of deep dives into the stories that brought us to this moment. "This Day" takes you beyond the head-spinning headlines of today and into the unexpected historical moments that have shaped American politics and culture. Hosted by Jody Avirgan (538), and historians Nicole Hemmer (Vanderbilt), and Kellie Carter Jackson (Wellesley), each episode explores a moment from that day in U.S. political history to uncover its lasting impact. On Sunday episodes, Jody, Niki and Kellie react to current news with their usual mix of humor, analysis, and historical perspective.New episodes released Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Lots more on our Instagram page, YouTube, and newsletter. Find it all at thisdaypod.com.This Day is a proud member of the Radiotopia podcast network from PRX.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 12, 2026 • 45min
Silent Majority: The Kent State Massacre (Part One)
A tense week in spring 1970 leads to campus shootings and nationwide unrest. The conversation covers the Cambodia announcement that reignited protests and the tragic May 4 shooting where National Guard fired 67 shots. They trace inflammatory political rhetoric and the rise of the so-called silent majority. Iconic photographs and unanswered questions about who ordered the shooting are also highlighted.
May 10, 2026 • 20min
The School Strike That Started To Dismantle "Separate but Equal" [Some Sunday Context]
A 1951 student walkout led by a teenage organizer protesting overcrowded, tar-paper classrooms. How clever student tactics and NAACP legal strategy turned a local protest into a challenge against segregation. The story’s role in building the case that separate facilities are inherently unequal. The long backlash and personal costs that followed for those who stood up.
May 7, 2026 • 38min
Separate But Equal: The Rise of Jim Crow (Part 2)
A look at how Plessy v. Ferguson paved the way for Jim Crow laws, poll taxes, literacy tests and grandfather clauses. They trace the spread of disenfranchisement, bizarre everyday segregation laws and the rise of vigilante groups. The conversation also covers federal resegregation, cultural erasure and the eventual legal challenge to separate-but-equal.
May 5, 2026 • 46min
Separate But Equal: The Plessy Case (Part 1)
A deep dive into the rise and rollback of Reconstruction-era Black political power. The legal strategy and staged refusal that produced Homer Plessy’s test case are explored. The Supreme Court’s rationale upholding segregation and the lone dissent’s ‘colorblind Constitution’ argument are highlighted. The episode traces how transportation laws became a flashpoint for racial control.
Apr 30, 2026 • 32min
Golden Gate Bridge: We Can Do Big Things (Part 2)
They dig into the messy politics and overlooked engineers behind the Golden Gate Bridge. Listeners hear about the deadly challenges of sinking foundations and the safety net that saved lives. The bridge as a Depression-era jobs project and a symbol of big ideas gets explored. Modern fixes, suicide prevention efforts, and the bridge's lasting legacy are highlighted.
Apr 28, 2026 • 32min
Golden Gate Bridge: Depression, Construction, And The Rise of California (Part 1)
A lively look at building the Golden Gate in 1930s California, from Depression-era urgency to bold infrastructure dreams. The story traces fierce city rivalries, labor unrest, financing drama, and the engineers who turned daring designs into reality. Cultural pushback and debates over beauty, nature, and military concerns add surprising twists.
Apr 26, 2026 • 17min
The Highs And Lows Of Latin American Diplomacy [Some Sunday Context]
A look at JFK’s 1961 Alliance for Progress and its lofty ten-year plan to reshape Latin America. Conversation compares the effort to the Marshall Plan and other Cold War strategies. Discussion covers why the program fell short, including corporate influence, technocratic hubris, and persistent inequality.
Apr 23, 2026 • 28min
Bay of Pigs: Lessons Not-Learned (Part Two)
A fast-paced retelling of the April 1961 invasion mishaps, from cut air support to coral-choked landings. Stories of bungled propaganda, staged defectors, and a cryptic radio broadcast that never sparked a revolt. The fallout includes captured Americans, shifting Cold War alliances, and how the fiasco reshaped U.S. intelligence and future regime-change plans.
Apr 21, 2026 • 36min
Bay of Pigs: A Well-Planned Fiasco (Part One)
A deep dive into the 1961 Bay of Pigs operation, focusing on the CIA plan to use Cuban exiles, JFK’s wavering decisions, and the botched logistics. They explore tactical errors like choosing the landing site, misread coral reefs, and reduced air support. The story highlights Cold War fears, covert planning, and how small missteps produced a major foreign policy fiasco.
Apr 19, 2026 • 20min
Writing The Confederate Constitution [Some Sunday Context]
A close look at how the Confederacy hurriedly drafted a constitution as war began. Discussion of core values like white supremacy and religious language shaping that document. Examination of clauses protecting slaveholders, fugitive slave enforcement, and punctuation changes tying gun rights to militias. Notes on procedural tweaks such as longer terms and appointment rules.
