This week, we're talking about Trump showing signs of cooling on ICE in Minnesota, social media giants feel the pressure, plus Mr. Potato Head finds himself at the center of a legal dispute.

Plus, the US are lining up for a possible strike on Iran, but when will they make their move, and what will this mean for Iran, America, and the world?

All of this and more on another edition of America: A History in the Making.

.

Special Guest:

This week, we are delighted to be joined by Theo Zenou, Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University. He earned his PhD in American history from Cambridge University and writes for The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal UnHerd and others.

.

Links to Stories in this Episode:

Donald Trump describes 'very good call' with Tim Walz

Who Was Alex Pretti?

Judge orders ICE chief to appear in court or risk contempt | AP News

Greg Bovino, architect of Trump's immigration sweeps, departs Minneapolis | AP News

Why Rhode Island might ditch its Mr. Potato Head license plates | AP News

TikTok settles just before social media addiction trial to begin - BBC News

Seahawks, Patriots set to meet in Super Bowl rematch - CBS News

Composer Philip Glass drops Kennedy Center world premiere over Trump takeover | Reuters

.

Want to advertise with us and support the American Studies community?

Email liam@mercurypodcasts.com and let's talk.

Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com

Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month

Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/

Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com

This week, we explore what is arguably the most consequential event in the creation of the United States, reshaping the Western world by enshrining new concepts of liberty, equality, and self-governance. So I want to know what really caused it, why people risked their lives for it, and how are modern day debates about power, justice and identity still shaped by it, as I ask… what is the American Revolutionary War?

...

Special guest for this episode:

1. Liz Covart, the award-winning creator and host of Ben Franklin’s World. Her work, both academic and public, shines in exploring how early Americans navigated 18th-century complexity: loyalty and revolution, community and conflict, the realities of freedom and the challenges of pluralism. She is also the founder of Scholar.DIY, a public benefit company that empowers scholars to transform their expertise into compelling digital stories.

...

Highlights from this episode:

02:56 - A world of empires

08:51 - Taxation without representation

17:21 - The revolution for social mobility

25:48 - Shaping American identity

29:27 - Key battles

34:12 - A mutual enemy

39:22 - The defining moments in America's victory

45:06 - Impact of independence on marginalised groups

49:29 - Liberty and equality for some

...

Additional Resources:

1. Encyclopedia Britannica: Timeline of the American Revolution — Detailed chronology and major themes
2. American Battlefield Trust: Revolution Timeline — Comprehensive timeline, maps, major battles
3. Library of Congress: Revolution Primary Sources — Original documents and teaching resources
4. Have Fun With History: 10 Most Important People in the American Revolution — In-depth profiles and legacy discussions
5. Mount Vernon: 10 Facts About the Revolutionary War — Focus on George Washington’s leadership and decision-making
6. American Revolution.org: Best Primary Sources — Diaries, letters, maps, memoirs, political cartoons
7. Khan Academy: Philosophical

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask.

This week, US time zones: what they are, why they exist, and a few quick tips so you don’t miss a lecture (or a podcast recording) ever again.

.

Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com

Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month

Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/

Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com

This week, on America: In the Making…

1. Will Greenland be the death of the UK-US special relationship?
2. AI-generated confusion after Monkeys escape a zoo in Missouri, and
3. One small step for Congress, one giant leap for mankind. I speak to Casey Dreier, Chief of Space Policy at The Planetary Society, about Trump’s failed efforts to decimate the NASA budget.

.

Special Guest:

This week, we are delighted to be joined by Emma Long, an Associate Professor in American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia.

.

Useful Links:

1. Trump has threatened Europe with higher tariffs. What happens now? | The Independent
2. The exchange of messages between Norway's prime minister and President Trump | Reuters
3. Keir Starmer about to hold emergency press conference
4. Trump Shares Map of US Including Greenland, Canada, Venezuela - Newsweek
5. Congress passes $24.4 billion NASA budget, rejecting Trump's deep cuts
6. As Musk works to slash federal spending, his own firms have received billions in government contracts - ABC News
7. The Planetary Society
8. Army has put 1,500 soldiers on standby for possible Minnesota deployment | AP News
9. Multiple monkeys on the loose in St. Louis | AP News
10. Supreme Court weighs Trump's firing of the Fed's Lisa Cook by social media | Reuters

Today, we turn our focus to a figure who remains as enigmatic as he is iconic. Ascending to the presidency at one of the tensest moments in American and world history, he energized a nation with his call for a “New Frontier,” navigated the shoals of the Cold War, and inspired Americans with his vision for space and civil rights. Yet behind his polished image lay personal struggles, political obstacles, and a legacy marked as much by tragedy as by promise.

So in this episode, on the anniversary of his inauguration, I’m asking… who is President John F. Kennedy?

..

Special guest for this episode:

1. Barbara Perry, a distinguished scholar from the University of Virginia’s Miller Center and one of the preeminent experts on the Kennedy family and presidency. She has authored and edited numerous books, including Jacqueline Kennedy: First Lady of the New Frontier and Rose Kennedy: The Life and Times of a Political Matriarch.

...

Highlights from this episode:

1. John F. Kennedy's presidency, despite its brevity, was marked by significant achievements in civil rights and the space race.
2. Kennedy's early life and family background played a crucial role in shaping his political ambitions and character.
3. The complexities of JFK's personal life, including his infidelities, contrast sharply with his public persona as a devoted leader.
4. The impact of JFK's assassination continues to resonate in American culture and politics, symbolizing a profound national tragedy.

...

Additional Resources:

Jacqueline Kennedy: First Lady of the New Frontier by Barbara Perry

Rose Kennedy: The Life and Times of a Political Matriarch by Barbara Perry

Miller Center: JFK Life Before the Presidency

Miller Center: Domestic Affairs

Miller Center: Impact and Legacy

JFK Library: Life of John F. Kennedy

JFK Library: PT-109

JFK Library:...

In July 2023, I launched a bit of a passion project, with my old lecturers at the University of East Anglia.

America: A History was born.

But a lot has changed in two and half years.

And we thought it was about time we did too...

Introducing, America: The Story of the USA, in partnership with the British Association for American Studies.

Returns 19th January.

...

Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com

Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month

Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/

Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com

Want to advertise with us and support the American Studies community?

Email liam@mercurypodcasts.com and let's talk.

The tree is up, the lights are on, and the presents are (probably) wrapped. Only two more sleeps until the day when sacred, family-oriented togetherness merges with ruthless consumer culture… or, as it’s more commonly known, Christmas. So in this episode we’re going to dive into the murky, tinsel-covered contradiction of the holiday season, as I ask… is Capitalism killing Christmas?

...

Special guest for this episode:

1. Thomas Ruys Smith, Professor of American Literature and Culture and Deputy Director of Area Studies at the University of East Anglia. His new book, Searching for Santa Claus: An Anthology of the Poems, Stories and Illustrations That Shaped an American Icon, is available to buy now.
2. Brian Earl the creator and host of the excellent podcast Christmas Past… a very merry welcome back to Brian Earl…

...

Highlights from this episode:

1. Christmas has evolved significantly from its religious roots into a commercially driven holiday, with advertising and consumerism deeply intertwined.
2. The Puritans' resistance to Christmas in early America reflects a long-standing conflict between celebration and moral values within American culture.
3. Consumerism and Christmas are inextricably linked; it's hard to separate the two without losing the holiday's modern meaning.
4. Historical variations in Christmas celebrations across America reveal regional differences in traditions, influenced by factors like local culture and economy.
5. The rise of industrialism in the 19th century played a crucial role in shaping the consumer habits associated with the Christmas season.
6. Charitable giving during Christmas often serves to highlight socioeconomic divides while simultaneously fostering a sense of community and shared goodwill.

...

Additional Resources:

1. Searching for Santa Claus: An Anthology of the Poems, Stories and Illustrations That Shaped an American Icon by Thomas Ruys Smith
2. Christmas Past by Brian Earl
3. The Modern Christmas in America: A Cultural History of Gift Giving by Williams Waits

In our last bonus episode of the year, I wanted to share some episodes that can get you through the holiday season, linked below, and give you a little tease of what's to come in 2026.

Spoiler alert: we are going bigger, better and bolder than ever before, so follow the podcast right now and be part of something mega!

...

And if you like this episode, you might also love:

Is Disneyland the Happiest Place on Earth?

What is Disney's America?

Why is Santa So American?

I Am... Jody Williams

...

Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com

Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month

Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/

Brand & advertising enquiries: liam@mercurypodcasts.com

Want to advertise with us and support the American Studies community?

Email liam@mercurypodcasts.com and let's talk.