This lowlife LIAR Ellison besmirched Honorable Founding Father Thomas Jefferson with KNOWN LIES. America’s disgraceful lying media is always searching to attack whites and exaggerate and lie to promote blacks. It’s incredible BUT NOT SURPRISING WITH OUR COMMUNIST MEDIA that 232 outlets published the KNOWN UNSUBSTANTIATED AND DISPROVEN LIES ABOUT JEFFERSON. Then when DNA and other evidence disproved the scurrilous allegations, ONLY ONE of 232 acknowledged their prior LIES.

How can you vote for policy when the left and right tend to do opossites of what they run on. For instance when i was in the marine corps in 2010 president obama led the surge/push in afganistan. Trump ran on pro second amendment then gets in and pushes red flag laws. In both those cases the party aproved because thier president can do no wrong.

The hunt for radiator springs

That was joy to listen too

I really enjoyed this episode. Thank you for it. However, I strongly disagree with Clay's characterization that the likes of Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton have "systematically ignored" rural America. Complete and utter hogwash. What has happened is that the well has been completely poisoned by conservative demagogues (e.g. Rush Limbaugh) that government is evil and so when a Democrat politician proposes policies to support rural America the citizens there are opposed to it because government = evil. Clay himself expressed this type of sentiment in his comments about how the culture of these people is to not receive handouts and to be self-sufficient. Again, hogwash. The water comes to them from government. The electricity comes to them from government. The roads come to them from government. The markets and their price supports come to them from government. The insurance comes to them from government. Then they are conditioned to yell about how evil the government is and that they want the government out of their lives. It isn't Democrats that began the us vs them it is demagogues like Limbaugh, O-Reilly, Tucker Carlson (and a few hundred more) who have been whispering in the ears of Rural America that all those city folk think they are stupid.

2nd comment ... I'm rural and solidly purple.

I LOVE living in rural America. You can keep your cities! 😊

This is an excellent discussion!! I'm glad you covered these topics Clay. Incredibly important to be conscious of this for not only our health, but the good of the nation. 👏👏

Thank you for these video dispatches, Clay! You are making our next long vacation route planning much easier. I visited Makoché Studios in 2018 and enjoyed some quality time with David (while you were away). David recommended I visit some of the local Native American sites, but I didn't have time on that visit. However, I will ensure the Bismark-Mandan area is part of our vacation.

Wonder what the title of the book on the 1790s would be?

Pausing along the path to something better, optimism and some sense of fleeting normalcy emerge while squatting in pursuit of primal necessities. Can we related? Are we not staring anxiously withe same stale eyes, feeling powerless to control our own destiny ? Tomorrow we shall rise early, sup, and get back on the western road.

1960, before they plowed up every square foot of wetland out there, heh?

I have been there. A very lovely location!!!

I'm reading Emerson's essays A little bit at a time Can you talk about their relationship

Wonderful retelling of this great episode in Travels with Charlie.

I have long appreciated your nuanced and thoughtful approach to exploring American history and contemporary issues (despite your nearly all white cast of characters and tenacious defense of a man who considered blacks as sub-human), but I was disheartened with this discussion with Joseph Ellis, and more so by its disparaging preamble. You attempted to create a false equivalency between the actions and rhetoric of Republicans and Democrats, which oversimplifies the significant differences in their approach to governance and democratic norms. While I respect the need for balanced civil discourse, equating the two parties in this way ignores the troubling anti-democratic actions within the Republican Party in recent years. I believe it is crucial to acknowledge the degree of deviation from democratic principles is not equal. This is the same 2015 treatment of Trump, another racist by any measure, that gave him credence and led to the unthinkable. Still, Clay, I want to thank you for all you do. I will continue to be a loyal listener, you make me think, broaden my perspective, and it is ok that we do not always agree. How could we? I hope to one day afford a stay at one of the winter retreats (I was a 60s space nerd myself!). But please consider mitigating your tenor on these political topics, which in my mind is only a self serving and obvious attempt to broaden your audience. It does not serve the rest of us - and what is happening in our country must be called out for exactly what it is. What Joe Ellis said wasn’t partisan. It was the truth based on the facts, and I respect his guts and integrity to do so.

Claiming that stating "we are a Republic, not a Democracy" means, "an aversion to people who are not white voting in elections" is quite possibly the most ignorant thing I have ever heard a seemingly intelligent person say.

Great opening monologue, Clay. Well stated for people like us stuck in the middle and disillusioned with both sides.

The new GOP does not care about facts Clay. That was obvious when Kelly Anne Conway spouted "alternative facts."

What do you think of Harlow Giles Unger? Would you like to bring him onto the show?

I need to figure out how to get so many of these categorized to present to my children.

I wouldn't trust Joe for a second. Leave the Constitution alone.

Excellent reading , thank you so much.

That is Bat Country!!!!!

What a truly moving passage from "The Grapes of Wrath", Clay. Aside from the quality of the road, I wonder how different the desolate view from that section of Route 66 was from the road in Steinbeck's novel. As you were reading, I thought about Dorothea Lange's photo "Migrant Woman".

This is happening now I'm in a campsite for 6 weeks waiting on a apartment open up for 60-day notice and over 55 crap

Wow, I can feel that Steinbeck passion! What edition are you reading?

Always love your work, your guests and your perspective! Your class and depth of knowledge, insight and immersion make this a BIG podcast, and it will reach its stride if you keep it up 👍🏻 Thank you 🙏

Who names their college "Skidmore"? How do I get to skidmore? Oh just past skid row on the left!😂

Great stuff as usual...Bravo and kudos to Ms. Chervinsky on her new book.

“Randolf” ???

Thanks for giving Professor Slotkin a platform!

Williams Amy Johnson David Hernandez Mary

Lee Anthony Clark Robert Jackson Amy

Between this and the Jefferson hour, I just wanted to thank you for making my life better. And those that get a chance to listen

I listened to this podcast Aug. 25 via Prairie Public Radio. For the first 45 minutes I was willing to "hear" and "consider" the viewpoints of the "other side." But the interview with Mr. Stern from my perspective left the rails when once again the political middle finger was flipped at those of us with a conservative viewpoint and are backing Trump. I get it that MTG is a lightning rod for the Left; I don't support everything she says. But the Left has its lightning rods: Ilan Omar, AOC, Maxine Waters, to name a few. Waters has gone so far as to "incite" her supporters to physically confront conservatives. And yet, there are no admonishments from more thoughtful progressives. There is great criticism of Trump not being civil; where is the progressive's civility? One last point, Jenkinson contends that behind closed doors conservatives like Rubio embrace more moderate positions. I say that also applies to progressives. So long as neither side is publicly willing to advocate "middle of the road" without fear of repercussion we will remain polarized. Unfortunately, that is how it has always been since Day One.

My mother watches fox all day and thinks educated people are the problem, who makes the show? She is awful. How does one talk to an 89 yr old who has the tv on constantly to fox or game shows? Projection is not understood nor anything? my two brothers shut up or drink and ignore her....wrong chimney for me stork!

Honda of petenson500

This is the history that I feel is getting lost.

Well done!

Beautifully shot, edited, declaimed. Thank you.

This is very, very disappointing. Skip the entire introduction. Pearl clutching neolibs.

Enjoyed this commentary very much.

You know, it's easy to say Jefferson flippped, but how about what the Federalists did? Under Hamilton's guidance they were deliberately trying to start a war against France. I think given that, thtat Jefferson was entitled to change his mind.

Fantastic conversation. Very much looking forward to reading Dr. Chervinsky’s new book here in a few weeks!

I wonder out loud if a movement back towards the Fairness Docterin would be a good place to start making us all feel better about America? That could be the first ground roots movement to get us going.

Was born and raised in Philadelphia so of course Benjamin Franklin's my favorite founding father paid my respects to him many times and always would throw a penny on his grave!!!

Wallace is also where the Big Burn started...

Two of my favorite historical subjects have converged!! I have been listening to Clay speak on historical figures and authors for 16 years and I cannot be more thrilled to see this. Clay, have you considered visiting Colorado to discuss the Beats in Denver?

I-90, not I-95 goes through Wallace. The town was at the center of the great 1910 fires, too.