It's May 2nd. This day in 1989, Pepsi cuts a trade deal with the USSR in which it receives 17... more

It's April 30th. This day in 1968, Columbia University asks the NYPD to intervene and break up campus protests. Sound... more

Welcome to Veepstakes Week! From time to time this election year, we're going to do some special series that highlight... more

Welcome to Veepstakes Week! From time to time this election year, we're going to do some special series that highlight... more

Welcome to Veepstakes Week! From time to time this election year, we're going to do some special series that highlight... more

It's April 18th. This day in 1906, a massive earthquake devastates San Francisco.Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the political impact... more

It's April 16th. This day in 1962, Walter Cronkite takes over as the anchor of CBS's evening news program.Jody, Niki,... more

It's April 14th. This day in 2000, GOP candidate for president George W. Bush meets with a group of "Log... more

It’s April 11th. This day in 1877, Democrat Wade Hampton finally becomes the sole Governor of South Carolina after months... more

It’s April 9th. This day in 1939, singer Marian Anderson performs for 75,000 people outdoors on the steps of the... more

It’s April 7th. This day in 2012, there is an effort underway to recall Republican Governor Scott Walker.Jody, Niki, and... more

It’s April 4th. This day in 1841, President William Henry Harrison died, just 30 days after his inauguration.Jody, Niki, and... more

It’s April 2nd. This day in 1863, a riot breaks out in the Confederate capitol of Richmond, due to deepening... more

It’s March 31st. This day (actually March 29th) President Harry Truman announces that he won’t be seeking the Democratic re-nomination... more

It’s March 27th This day in 1839, a North Carolina man by the name of John Hoover is found guilty... more

It’s March 26th. This day in 1912, First Lady Helen Herron Taft planted two cherry trees in Washington, DC. The... more

Today we’re bringing you a favorite recent episode, in part because there’s a new series on Apple TV about the... more

It’s March 21st. This day in 1972, a group of 100 regular citizens are meeting to re-write Montana’s constitution. Among... more

It’s March 19th. This day in 1879, a small group of Southern Democrats is holding up budget appropriations bills in... more

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! It’s March 16th. This day in 1985, U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Canadian Prime Minister Brian... more

It’s March 14th. This day in 1933, just over a week after taking office, President Frankin Roosevelt announces that a... more

It’s March 12th. This day in 1961, President John F Kennedy is hosting a couple hundred Latin American diplomats to... more

It’s March 10th. This day in 1951, the owners of Major League Baseball are looking for a new commissioner, and... more

It’s March 4th. This day in 2004, Pat Toomey is challenging Republican Senator Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania senate race... more

It’s March 5th. This day in 1977, President Jimmy Carter and CBS’s Walter Cronkite took phone calls, unfiltered, from Americans... more

Throughout this election year, we’re going to be doing a few special series tied to the notable stretches in an... more

Throughout this election year, we’re going to be doing a few special series tied to the notable stretches in an... more

Throughout this election year, we’re going to be doing a few special series tied to the notable stretches in an... more

Throughout this election year, we’re going to be doing a few special series tied to the notable stretches in an... more

It’s February 22nd. This day (February 21st, in fact) in 1965, Malcolm X is assassinated as he’s giving a speech... more

It’s February 20th. This day in 2006, the news — and the jokes — are swirling about the incident that... more

It’s February 18th. This day in 1804, the Northern state of New Jersey passed a law that included a call... more

It’s February 15th. This day in 1933, in Miami, Giuseppe Zangara pulled out a pistol and, while yelling “too many people... more

It’s February 13th. This day — actually, February 11th — in 1990, South African leader Nelson Mandela emerges from prison... more

It’s February 11th. This day in 1924, the State of Nevada executed a man named Gee Jon, using the gas... more

It’s February 8th. This day in 1976, officials for defense and airline manufacturer Lockheed Martin admit to spending millions of... more

It’s February 6th. This day in 1937, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt announces a plan to reforming the judiciary, most notably... more

It’s February 4th. This day in 1877, a hastily assembled commission is meeting to try and sort out the very... more

It’s February 1st. This day in 1877, the first Groundhog Day ceremony is held in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania — in which... more

It’s January 30th. This day in 1798, representatives Roger Lyon and Matthew Griswold get into a fight on the house... more

It’s January 28th. This day in 1967, the U.S., U.K., and Russia sign a treaty that, among other things, says... more

It’s January 25th. This day in 1845, Congress passed a law designating that Americans would henceforth vote on “the first... more

It’s January 23rd, happy Ed Roberts Day! This day in 2010, the State of California proclaimed this day to commemorate... more

This day, January 19th, 1990, at the end of a joint sting operation by FBI agents and District of Columbia... more

It’s January 17th. This day in 1943, the U.S. military has a shiny - and massive - new home. Jody, Niki,... more

It’s January 16th. This day in 1811, the aftermath of what came to be known as the “German Coast” uprising... more

It’s January 14th. This day in 1986, Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation that January 15th would be a federal holiday... more

It’s January 11th. In 1888, a massive and quick-moving storm swept across the American Midwest, trapping hundreds of school-children in... more

It’s January 9th. In 1802, Thomas Jefferson penned a letter in which he referred to a “wall of separation between... more

It’s January 7th. In 1970, the New York Times published an article with the headline “Statisticians Charge Draft Lottery Was... more

**We’ll be back on Sunday with our first new epsiode of 2024. In the meantime, here’s a treat from the... more

** It’s the final day of the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20%... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

** It’s the Radiotopia fundraiser! Support the show using this link and you’ll get a 20% discount to our new... more

It’s November 7th. This day in 1983, a bomb placed under a bench on the second floor of the Capitol... more

It’s November 5th. This day in 1980, voters in the Maryland 5th Congressional District have just re-elected Gladys Noon Spellman... more

It’s November 2nd. This day in 2019, New York City began a process of opening up Hart Island to the... more

It’s October 31st. This day in 1938, hundreds of thousands gather in Barcelona, Spain, to say thanks and bid farewell... more

It’s October 29th. This day in 1948, a heavy, pollutant-laden fog is sitting over the Pennsylvania town of Donora. Over... more

It’s October 25th. This day in 1966, a group gathers for the first conference of the National Organization for Women,... more

It’s October 24th. This day in 2008, former secretary of state Colin Powell goes on Meet the Press and endorses... more

It’s October 22nd. This day in 1927, Americans are flocking to the theaters to watch “The Jazz Singer,” the first... more

It’s October 19th. This day in 1987, real estate mogul Donald Trump was invited to New Hampshire to give a... more

It’s October 17th. This day in 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a resolution that passed Congress to restore the citizenship... more

It’s October 15th. This day in 2004, voters in the swing region of Clark County, Ohio are receiving letters encouraging... more

It’s October 12th. This day in 1863, fighting is breaking out in Jones County, Mississippi, as a group of southern... more

It’s October 9th. In 1919, the US Department of Agriculture began a nationwide campaign to promote better breeding among livestock... more

It’s October 5th. This day in 1982, a massive recall is underway for Tylenol, in the wake of a series... more

It’s October 3rd. This day in 1935, Italian leader Benito Mussolini invades Ethiopia, one of the only independent Black states... more

It’s October 3rd. This day in 1956, a group of 25 Japanese women are heading back to Japan after spending... more

It’s October 1st. In 1994, Russian President Boris Yeltsin is set to stop off for a diplomatic visit in Ireland.... more

It’s September 30th. This day in 2004, George W. Bush and John Kerry take the stage for the first presidential... more

It’s September 26th. This day in 1983, Massachusetts genator Michael Dukakis held a press conference to announce an enormous and... more

It’s September 26th. This day in 1983, a lieutenant colonel in the Soviet Air Defense Forces determined that an alert... more

It’s September 22nd. This day in 1999, Aaron Sorkin’s podcast “The West Wing” premiered on NBC. Jody, Niki, and Kellie are... more

It’s September 19th. This day, in 1664, Marlyand passed the first “anti-amalgamation” law in the colonies, outlawing the marriage between... more

A few episodes ago, we discussed what we’d learned on our summer travels, and asked for your stories. Today, we... more

It’s September 14th. This day in 1970, economist Milton Friedman pens an op-ed in The New York Times making the... more

It’s September 14th. This day in 1986, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan gave a prime-time television address... more

It’s September 8th. This day in 1971, a consumer advocate Esther Peterson worked with the supermarket chain GIANT to come... more

It’s September 7th. This day in 1933, journalist Upton Sinclair launches a campaign for California governor. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss... more

It’s the end of summer, and today we’re doing a special episode where we talk about some of the most... more

As we wrap up summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll see you after... more

As we wrap up summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll see you after... more

On Sundays this summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll continue to do new... more

It’s August 24th. This day in 1861, a Union general in Missouri issued an edict freeing all enslaved people in... more

It’s August 22nd. In the summer of 2005, a proposed bridge in rural Alaska was becoming a hot-button controversy, as... more

On Sundays this summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll continue to do new... more

It’s August 17th. This day in 1979, a young college student by the name of James Dallas Egber III disappeared... more

It’s August 15th. This day (actually Aug 10th) in 1846, President Polk signed into law a bill establishing the Smithsonian... more

On Sundays this summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll continue to do new... more

It’s August 10th. In 1984, at the LA Olympics, South African Zola Budd and American Mary Decker are facing off... more

It’s August 8th. This day in 1996, President Bill Clinton gives a startling announcement about a rock — ALH84001 —... more

On Sundays this summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll continue to do new... more

It’s August 3rd. This day in 1978, dog owners in NYC are dealing with a whole new reality — they... more

It’s August 1st. This day in 1996, a judge ruled that Bernie Goetz still owed his victims millions of dollars... more

On Sundays this summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll continue to do new... more

It’s July 27th. This day in 1904, Speaker of the House Joseph Cannon (IL) goes to the Capitol dining room... more

It’s July 24th. This day in 1942, a trial is wrapping up in New York City centered on a Nazi... more

On Sundays this summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll continue to do new... more

It’s July 20th. This day in 1945, a petition signed by 70 scientists working on the development of nuclear weapons... more

It’s July 18th. This day in 1944, a group of almost one thousand refugees are headed to the United States,... more

On Sundays this summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll continue to do new... more

It’s July 13th. Only July 14th, 1948, at the Democratic National Convention, a young Hubert Humphrey took the stage and... more

It’s July 11th. This day in 1979, Americans and others around the world are watching the skies as the first... more

On Sundays this summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll continue to do new... more

It’s July 6th. Today we revisit our conversation about how Washington DC came to be the nations capitol, with a... more

It’s July 4th. This day in 1942, researchers at Harvard conducted the first ever napalm test — right in the... more

On Sundays this summer, we’re bringing you some of our favorite episodes from the archives. We’ll continue to do new... more

It’s July 1st. This day in 1992, two abortion rights activist traveled to the United States carrying abortion pills, in... more

It’s June 26th. In 1868, throughout the summer, there is a process underway to bring seven Southern US states back... more

It’s June 21st. This day in 1989, the Supreme Court ruled that the burning of the American flag was allowed... more

It’s June 21st. This day in 1946, an epic battle is playing out across the radio waves, as The Adventures... more

It’s June 20th. Tonight, it will be dark — and maybe you will go for a walk? Jody, NIki, and Kellie... more

It’s June 18th. Today, for Juneteenth, we look at the history of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” aka the Black... more

It’s June 15th. This day in 1877, a prominent Jewish businessman by the name of Joseph Seligman is turned away... more

It’s June 13th. This day in 1986, the Rogers Commission has issued a report and is conducting a series of... more

As it happens, the This Day team has a bunch of cool new projects coming out over the next week... more

As it happens, the This Day team has a bunch of cool new projects coming out over the next week... more

As it happens, the This Day team has a bunch of cool new projects coming out over the next week... more

As it happens, the This Day team has a bunch of cool new projects coming out over the next week... more

As it happens, the This Day team has a bunch of cool new projects coming out over the next week... more

It’s May 30th. This day in 1979, a Manhattan 6-year-old by the name of Etan Patz goes missing on his... more

It’s Memorial Day — today we’re bringing you an episode from the archives to mark the weekend. We’ll be back... more

We’re doing a special two-part series on the American Girl Doll line of historical dolls! This is part two. Jody, Niki,... more

We’re doing a special two-part series on the American Girl Doll line of historical dolls! Jody, Niki, and Kellie are joined... more

It’s May 21st. This day in 1934, William Burns resigns from the Bureau of Investigations in scandal, replaced by J... more

It’s May 18th. This day in 1927, a man detonated bombs at a school in Bath, Michigan, killing dozens of... more

It’s May 16th. This day in 1973, a 70-day standoff at Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge reservation comes to... more

It’s the second of two episodes we’re doing with Paul Kix about the critical weeks in Birmingham, Alabama in May... more

It’s May 11th. This day in 1963, a series of bombs explode in Birmingham, Alabama — one at the hotel... more

It’s May 9th. This day in 2012, President Obama gives an interview in which he expresses his support for gay... more

It’s May 7th. This day in 1994, during a town hall airing on MTV, President Bill Clinton is asked whether... more

We’re doing a couple episodes on moments of historical gossip with our new Radiotopia pals from the show Normal Gossip. Today,... more

It’s May 2nd. In 1847, a US military ship, the USS Jamestown, was loaded up with food and other relief... more

It’s April 30th. This day in 1994, an 18-year-old American named Michael Fay is awaiting his punishment in Singapore for... more

It’s April 27th. In 2004, a report aired on 60 Minutes II featuring reports and photos of abuse by American... more

It’s April 25th. In 1777, a 16-year-old by the name of Sybil Luddington went on a 40-mile nighttime ride to... more

We’re re-running some favorite recent episodes this week, and will be back with brand new episodes very soon! It’s December 4th.... more

We’re re-running some favorite recent episodes this week, and will be back with brand new episodes very soon! It’s October 4th.... more

We’re re-running some favorite recent episodes this week, and will be back with brand new episodes very soon! It’s December 15th.... more

It’s April 13th. This day 1810, a new canal is being built in Washington, DC in an attempt to give... more

It’s April 11th. This day in 1962, ads are appearing in Louisiana newspapers offering one-way bus rides to northern cities... more

It’s April 8th. This day in 1994, the Florida legislature passed a bill that would offer some reparations and support... more

It’s April 6th. This day in 1926, a massive oil fire near San Luis Obispo, California is enveloping the area... more

It’s April 3rd. This day in 1990, the Arizona Senate votes to remove Governor Evan Mecham from office — for... more

It’s April 2nd. This day in 1910, a Louisiana senator proposes allocating a quarter of a million dollars to import... more

It’s March 20th. This day in 1959, a skirmish between the fisheries police and an oyster boat results in the... more

It’s March 27th. This day in 2009, the US is responding to the outbreak of the H1N1 flu, which would... more

It’s March 27th. This day in 1863, Jefferson Davis declared a “day of fasting and prayer” to support the Confederate... more

It’s March 23rd. This is, in some ways, the birthday of Uncle Sam — it was the first time that... more

It’s March 20th. This day in 1852, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” is the best-selling book in the country, capturing a growing... more

It’s March 19th. In 2008 (on March 17th) New York Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned after a week of reports about... more

It’s March 16th. Today we mark Evacuation Day (technically the 17th), a day in which Boston marks the retreat of... more

It’s March 13th. This day in 1955, news breaks that the White House is engaged in a full-on battle against... more

It’s March 12th. This day in 1961, an Atlanta woman by the name of Ruby Doris Smith Robinson joins the... more

It’s March 9th. In 1972, President Richard Nixon made a surprise visit to China, meeting with leaders and sending images... more

It’s March 7th. IN 1869, President Andrew Johnson pardoned a man by the name of Samuel Arnold — who had... more

It’s March 5th. In 1938, the two original creators of Superman sold the character to what would become DC Comics... more

It’s March 2nd. In 1981, in late February, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher travelled to the United States to meet... more

It’s February 27th. This day in 1995, President Bill Clinton is in Canada, where he offers seemingly-bland remarks about the... more