Breaking History
The Free Press
Sometimes the news moves so fast, you have to look closely to know if you’ve seen it before. And that’s what this show is about. Breaking History breaks down the news, by breaking down history. We cover everything from LBJ and the Roman Republic to Donald Trump and the chaos at Columbia. This twice a month show from The Free Press delivers the best historians, authors, and reporters by mining the archives of human experience to figure out the present. George Santayana wrote, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Tune in to Breaking History to resist the repetition.
Episodes
Mentioned books
4 snips
May 13, 2026 • 57min
What the Founders Really Meant to Say
Robert Parkinson, a historian of the American Revolutionary era and author of Tyrants and Rogues, reframes the Declaration by spotlighting its 27 grievances as the document’s core. He traces how Parliament, military fears, and debates over slavery shaped those complaints. He also explains why race was placed last and why the grievances feel urgent today.
8 snips
May 7, 2026 • 49min
Roald Dahl: Genius and Bigot
Eli Lake, journalist and commentator on history and politics, weighs in on artistic genius tangled with moral failings. He discusses Roald Dahl’s beloved stories and antisemitism. Conversations include Voltaire, Mailer, T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, Michael Jackson, and how to keep great work available while teaching the truth about creators.
15 snips
May 1, 2026 • 52min
Eli Lake and David Rose: The UK Censorship Machine Eats Itself
David Rose, director of policy and research at the UK Free Speech Union and veteran investigative journalist, unpacks a secret intelligence-style ecosystem in British politics. He discusses a shadowy APCO report, how dossiers circulated to GCHQ and Downing Street, and the blurring lines between political advocacy, disinformation labels, and digital hate rules.
16 snips
Apr 16, 2026 • 1h 56min
Is This War Justified? Eli Lake Debates Iran with Robert Wright
Eli Lake, journalist focused on national security and the Middle East, debates Iran’s role and responses. They argue whether U.S.-Israel strikes are continuation of a decades‑long conflict or unlawful. They clash over international law, Iran’s proxy network, the JCPOA’s limits, and whether regime change or restraint better serves stability.
16 snips
Apr 9, 2026 • 54min
Why Iran’s Reform Movement Failed
Arash Azizi, a Yale historian who lived Iran’s democracy movement, maps the rise and fall of reform from Khatami to the Green Movement. He traces student uprisings, political vetting, Tehran’s factional battles, waves of protests from 2017–2019, Mahsa Amini’s spark, and why internal organizing has struggled amid repression and economic collapse.
13 snips
Mar 31, 2026 • 1h 27min
Eli Lake and Haviv Rettig Gur on Why Iran's Regime Is Hard to Kill
Haviv Rettig Gur, journalist and Middle East commentator known for Ask Haviv Anything, explores why Iran’s revolutionary ideology makes its regime resilient. He traces ideological roots from anti-colonial thinkers to Shariati. The conversation also considers what a color revolution in Tehran could mean for Sunni Islamism, Hamas, and the Palestinian future.
28 snips
Mar 27, 2026 • 1h 30min
When ‘Good Kids’ Go Radical: A Breaking History Special
Jay Solomon, investigative journalist focused on national security, discusses his reporting on Calla Walsh, a Gen Z activist turned propagandist. He traces Walsh’s path from mainstream youth politics to overseas training, Iran alignment, and a Beirut propaganda role. The conversation links this arc to historical cases like Ulrike Meinhof and explores patterns of middle-class radicalization.
28 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 2h 10min
Eli Lake and Andrew Sullivan Debate the Iran War
Andrew Sullivan, writer and public intellectual known for his Substack and commentary. They spar over Israel, Iran, and U.S. policy. Topics include Iran-Contra to the JCPOA, Israel’s undeclared nuclear status, settlement politics and the rise of Israel’s far right. They debate how and why the Iran war unfolded and the moral and strategic costs for America and the region.
42 snips
Feb 25, 2026 • 51min
Modern Terrorism Was Born in the 1970s
Jason Burke, award-winning security correspondent and author of The Revolutionists, explores the 1970s surge in global extremism. He traces dramatic plane hijackings, the Munich crisis, and the rise of iconic militants like Carlos. Short takes cover how tactics, ideology, and state responses evolved and how that decade shaped later waves of violence.
19 snips
Feb 10, 2026 • 48min
The Reluctant Prince: Can Reza Pahlavi Lead Iran’s Future? Q&A with Eli Lake
A deep look at Reza Pahlavi’s place in Iran’s opposition landscape. They explore whether he can unite diverse groups and what his exile means for credibility. The conversation covers recent brutal crackdowns, Washington’s cautious stance, and possible post-regime transition paths. Practical nonmilitary tools and regional implications are also debated.
