Arsenal for Democracy

Oct 15 2023 30 ep. 33 mins 334

Arsenal for Democracy Podcast artwork

A talk show about the history of the United States and the Americas from a leftist economic perspective. Recorded weekly in Newton, Massachusetts and Boise, Idaho.

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Update for Our Listeners

Oct 15 2023 11 mins

Oct 15, 2023: After a dozen years, this show is ending. But it’s for some very cool and exciting reasons described herein, and we would love to hear from our loyal listeners as we bid this project farewell and move on to new things.

[Unlocked] Jun 1, 2021 – Louis F. Post – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 379

Aug 27 2023 22 mins

Unlocked from our Patreon (paused this summer): Bill and Rachel discuss Louis F. Post, an early Assistant US Labor Secretary with some radical leanings, who ended up blocking thousands of post-WWI deportations. Links and notes for ep. 379 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Bonus-AFD-Ep-379-Links-and-Notes-Louis-F-Post.pdf Theme music by Stunt Bird.

[Unlocked] May 18, 2021 – The 1920 Census – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 375

Aug 13 2023 46 mins

Unlocked from our Patreon (paused this summer): Bill and Rachel discuss the present-day influences of the momentous 1920 US Census, which grappled with trends in urbanization and the recent breakup of several major home countries of immigrants. Links and notes for ep. 375 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Bonus-AFD-Ep-375-The-1920-Census.pdf Theme mus

[Unlocked] May 4, 2021 – The Smith Act – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 371

Jul 16 2023 27 mins

Unlocked from our Patreon (on pause this summer): Bill and Rachel take a look at the Alien Registration (Smith) Act of 1940, still on the books today, which prohibits advocating the violent overthrow of the US government. Links and notes for ep. 371 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Bonus-AFD-Ep-371-Links-and-Notes-The-Alien-Registration-Act-_-Smith-A

[Unlocked] Mar 23, 2021 – The 1923 San Pedro Maritime Strike – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 361

Jun 26 2023 24 mins

Unlocked from our Patreon (on pause this summer): Bill and Rachel discuss the failed IWW strike at the Port of Los Angeles in 1923, including Upton Sinclair getting arrested and the Klan menacing strikers. Links and notes for ep. 361 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Bonus-AFD-Ep-361-Links-and-Notes-1923-San-Pedro-Maritime-Strike.pdf Theme music by St

[Unlocked] Mar 2, 2021 – Dropped Ceilings – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 355

Jun 11 2023 31 mins

Unlocked from our Patreon (on pause this summer): Bill and Rachel discuss dropped ceilings and the rise and fall of the mid-century office. It’s an area that could probably use some academic study. Links and notes for ep. 355 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Bonus-AFD-Ep-355-Links-and-Notes-Dropped-Ceilings.pdf Theme music by Stunt Bird.

May 28, 2023 – KitchenAid – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 471

May 28 2023 23 mins

A mini-episode from Bill and Rachel on how a major defense contract led to the iconic KitchenAid stand mixer, followed by some announcements about the podcast for the summer months ahead. Links and notes for ep. 471 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/AFD-Ep-471-Links-and-Notes-KitchenAid-Mini-episode.pdf Theme music by Stunt Bird.

May 14, 2023 – Barbed Wire – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 470

May 14 2023 20 mins

150 years ago, in May 1873, work began on developing the breakthrough design for mass-produced barbed wire, with wide-ranging (pun intended) implications for agriculture, society, and warfare. Links and notes for ep. 470 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/AFD-Ep-470-Links-and-Notes-Barbed-Wire.pdf Theme music by Stunt Bird.

May 7, 2023 – Hollywood Strikes – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 469

May 07 2023 34 mins

After a quick chat about the ongoing 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, we look back at a few of the noteworthy strikes in Hollywood of years past. (Bill and Rachel) Links and notes for ep. 469 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/AFD-Ep-469-Links-and-Notes-Hollywood-Strikes.pdf Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Apr 30, 2023 – Home Economics/Domestic Science – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 468

Apr 30 2023 41 mins

This week we are talking about the field of home economics or domestic science. Was it really a science? To what extent was it a marketing exercise? Can it ever really overcome its founding racist and classist overtones? Does home economics even exist anymore? Links and note for ep. 468 … Read more