Throughline

News & Politics

About

NPR's history podcast about how the past shapes the present.

Episodes

  • How our memory of war can shape the future

    This episode of Throughline revisits a conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen. He discusses how the way we remember and selectively forget the ravages of war can reshape the future.

  • The origins of the Socialist Party of America

    This episode examines the origins of the Socialist Party of America. It covers the industrialization of the 19th century and the role of Eugene Debs in organizing workers.

  • Gladiators, real housewives and the pull of reality TV

    This episode discusses how reality television blurs the line between entertainment and fact, exploring its impact and the way it capitalizes on human emotions. The program features discussions with experts including a reality TV casting di…

  • The fight that shook America

    This episode discusses Jack Johnson, the first Black heavyweight boxing champion, and examines the impact of Black athletes pushing for social change in America. It highlights Johnson's role in challenging white supremacy through his boxin…

  • The billionaires' utopia blueprint

    This episode of Throughline investigates how tech billionaires are backing experiments in new societal structures, from private cities to potential interstellar colonies. It examines historical precedents and contemporary projects designed…

  • Why the wall was built

    This episode of Throughline discusses the historical context of the U.S. Southern border wall. It explores the reasons behind its construction as the United States grew as a global power and national power.

  • The original clickbait king

    This episode of Throughline discusses William Randolph Hearst, a 19th-century newspaper tycoon. It explores how Hearst brought spectacle and scandal to the news, changing journalism by creating sensational stories rather than just reportin…

  • How the US became America

    This episode discusses the late 1890s, when the United States engaged in wars and supported independence movements globally. This period marked the country's emergence as a new global power and the adoption of a new national identity, lead…

  • Will AI destroy us... or save us?

    This episode explores the widespread presence of artificial intelligence in daily life, discussing the tension between human reliance on AI and concerns about its future implications. It features perspectives from authors and academics on…

  • Who gets to be an American citizen?

    This episode discusses the historical context of birthright citizenship in the United States, examining the 14th Amendment and the significant Supreme Court case of Wong Kim Ark. His case, over a century ago, helped to define birthright ci…

  • Al Capone and the transformation of the IRS

    This episode of Throughline examines how the hunt for Al Capone changed the IRS, making it a powerful agency. It explores the historical impact of this period on the U.S. government.

  • What the banana tells us about US history

    This episode of Throughline discusses the history of the banana in the United States. It explores how one entrepreneur made the fruit an American staple and expanded the country's economic influence offshore.

  • How Saudi Arabia shaped Silicon Valley

    This episode of Throughline investigates Saudi Arabia's significant investments in Silicon Valley. It examines the relationships between Saudi Arabia and various influential figures in the tech industry and the resulting impact.

  • The Ojibwe Nation

    This episode of Throughline discusses the Ojibwe Nation. It covers how an Ojibwe leader worked to maintain his people and land amidst 19th-century United States westward expansion.

  • Why is Cuba in crisis?

    This episode of Throughline investigates the long-standing crisis in Cuba, discussing historical attempts by U.S. presidents to influence the situation and what the future may hold. It features insights from lawyer and journalist Eloy Vier…

  • The confederates who left the USA

    This episode explores the Confederados, American settlers who fled to Brazil after the Civil War. They left the USA chasing wealth, land, and a chance to keep slavery alive.

  • 3 key moments that led to the U.S.-Iran war

    This episode of Throughline discusses three key moments that contributed to the U.S.-Iran war, covering the period from the 1979 Iranian revolution to the present day. It explores military confrontations and digital warfare between the two…

  • Everyone should have a voice

    This episode of Throughline discusses Frederick Douglass’s advocacy for universal suffrage. It covers his efforts from the Civil War to the Jim Crow period.

  • Iran and the Jewish people: An alliance before war

    This episode of Throughline examines the historical alliance between Iran and Israel, which existed from 1948 to 1979. It highlights the significant role of the Iranian Jewish population in connecting the two countries, as told through the…

  • We the People, Redefined

    This episode of Throughline discusses the creation of the 14th Amendment and its intention regarding equal protection. It explores how the amendment redefined American identity after the Civil War.

  • Why Super PACs have more power than ever in elections

    This episode of Throughline examines the role of Super PACs and unlimited spending in U.S. elections. It features discussions with Michael Kang, Professor of Law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and Henrik Schatzinger, Professor of…

  • How the Civil War changed how we vote

    This episode of Throughline discusses how the Civil War and the 1864 presidential election, following President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, altered the course of voting in the United States and the nation's identity. It examines t…

  • Who profits from migrant detention?

    This episode of Throughline discusses the U.S. immigration detention system, noting its growth under various administrations and its history as a source of revenue. It covers the evolution of contracts between the federal government and va…

  • The lasting legacy of the slave patrols

    This episode of Throughline discusses the creation of slave patrols in the 1700s, which were established to control the movement of enslaved Black people. It explores how these patrols influenced American society and modern policing, exami…

  • How Bad Bunny took Puerto Rican independence mainstream

    This episode of Throughline examines Bad Bunny's role in making Puerto Rican independence a mainstream topic. It discusses the implications of a resistance movement becoming profitable.

  • The right to free speech

    This episode of Throughline explores the historical evolution and current understanding of free speech, the press, and assembly, as outlined in the First Amendment. It discusses how these fundamental rights have changed over time and conti…

  • The Man Who Took On The Klan

    This episode recounts how Amos Akerman, a former Confederate soldier, became a key figure in the U.S. government's efforts to combat the Ku Klux Klan in 1871. It details the escalation of KKK violence in South Carolina, leading to presiden…

  • Becoming Supreme | America in Pursuit

    This episode of Throughline explores the founding of the Supreme Court, detailing its dramatic beginnings with political rebellions, family feuds, and power grabs. It examines the Supreme Court's transformation from the government's weakes…

  • James Baldwin's Fire

    This episode of Throughline explores James Baldwin's perspectives on American society, focusing on his insights into Black identity and democracy. Writer and professor Eddie S. Glaude Jr. discusses the contemporary relevance of Baldwin's i…

  • Signed, Sealed & Delivered | America in Pursuit

    This episode of Throughline discusses the establishment of the U.S. postal service and its influence on American political culture. It examines how mail delivery played a role in historical revolutionary movements.

  • Iran Protests Explained

    This episode of Throughline examines the history of protest and repression in Iran. Two Iranian experts discuss their views on the past, present, and future of the country's protest movement.

  • The Deadliest Ally | America in Pursuit

    This episode of Throughline discusses how mosquitoes impacted the American Revolution. It explores the story of how these insects shaped the conflict and changed history.

  • Ken Burns and the American Revolution

    Ramtin interviews filmmaker Ken Burns about the American Revolution. They discuss the historical event and its lessons for the present day.

  • Your 15-Minute Guide to 250 Years | America in Pursuit

    Throughline launches "America in Pursuit," a miniseries covering 250 years of U.S. history. This inaugural episode explores the meaning of U.S. history.

  • El Libertador (Venezuela update)

    This episode explores the history of two Venezuelan leaders and their impact on the country. It was originally released in 2019 and has been updated.

  • Winter Book Club: Octavia Butler’s Visionary Fiction

    This episode discusses Octavia Butler's visionary fiction. It covers her approach to science fiction, including her use of history and her messages of hope and resilience.

  • Winter Book Club: Why You'll Love 'Dune'

    Ramtin of Throughline's Winter Book Club discusses Frank Herbert's novel, Dune, with Andrew Limbong and B.A. Parker of NPR's Books We’ve Loved. He shares why he believes others will enjoy the book.

  • Winter Book Club: A Christmas Carol

    This episode of Throughline discusses Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and its impact on the popularization of Christmas in the 19th century.

  • Winter Book Club: The Story of Us?

    This episode of Throughline explores the story of human history with author Tamim Ansary, focusing on his book "The Invention of Yesterday." The discussion covers human culture, conflict, and connection, and the potential for a shared huma…

  • Pride, Prejudice, and Peer Pressure

    This episode of Throughline delves into Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." Guests John Mullan, Devoney Looser, and Lizzie Dunford provide their insights into the novel.

  • The Bitter History of Chocolate

    This episode of Throughline explores the history of chocolate. The discussion spans from pre-Columbus Americas to an early 20th-century reporter's insights and a 21st-century perspective on cocoa production.

  • The Mother of Thanksgiving

    This episode of Throughline discusses the historical push for a national Thanksgiving holiday by a woman who believed it could unify the United States during a time of looming civil war. The episode originally aired in 2024.

  • What Happened to Vladimir Alexandrov?

    This episode explores the disappearance of Soviet scientist Vladimir Alexandrov, who was involved in nuclear winter theory. The hosts, Rund Abdelfatah and Cristina Kim, attempt to uncover what happened to him.

  • Democracy Dies in a Day

    This episode of Throughline explores the 1973 military coup in Chile, which rapidly led to the collapse of its democracy. The narrative covers the subsequent 17 years of authoritarian rule and the country's eventual rebirth, as experienced…

  • The Creeping Coup

    This episode of Throughline examines the conflict in Sudan, highlighting the power struggle between two generals and the involvement of international interests such as the U.S., China, Russia, and the UAE. It explores the origins of the co…

  • Winter is Coming

    This episode discusses the announcement of restarting nuclear weapons tests and connects it to the story of dinosaur extinction and its implications during the Cold War. It explores how understanding past extinctions may have influenced hu…

  • Prosecuting Genocide

    This episode of Throughline examines the term "genocide" as a legal concept, tracing its origins and its use in court. It focuses on the legal efforts to prove genocide during the Bosnian War in the 1990s.

  • Throughline Dances

    This episode of Throughline features dance music composed by Ramtin Arablouei. It is presented as a special episode for listeners to enjoy and relax with options to access bonus content.

  • The Internet Under the Sea

    This episode of Throughline discusses the history and development of the undersea cables that provide global internet connectivity. It covers the initial skepticism about their viability and the efforts of those who believed in their poten…

  • The Rise of the Right Wing in Israel

    This episode of Throughline discusses the rise of right-wing politics in Israel and the political career of Benjamin Netanyahu. It features insights from Amjad Iraqi, Natasha Roth-Rowland, and Sara Yael Hirschhorn.