#political-history
164 episodes · Page 7 of 7
#1186: Invisible Architects: The Ghostwriters of Democracy
Behind every major bill and court ruling is a ghostwriter. Explore the "invisible architects" who shape the legal language governing our lives.
#1166: The Morbegs: Myth, Memory, and the Burning Tree
Explore the hidden philosophy of the Irish classic The Morbegs and why a giant orange puppet still haunts our collective memory.
#1149: The Pattern Machine: The Science of Conspiracy Theories
From ancient Rome to modern forums, why is the human brain hardwired to find patterns in chaos? Explore the science of the "secret."
#1137: The Accidental Border: How Gaza Got Its Shape
Why is the Gaza Strip shaped like that? Explore the military "glitch" that turned a 1949 armistice line into a permanent reality.
#1125: Zionism-Washing: Is Zionism Inseparable from Judaism?
Is Zionism a modern political choice or a 3,000-year-old identity? Explore the "Zionism-washing" movement and its historical implications.
#1044: Ezra the Scribe: Architect of a Portable Identity
Discover how Ezra the Scribe transformed a nation’s identity from a physical temple to a portable text, shaping the modern world.
#985: Banking on Surveillance: The Secret History of KYC
How did opening a bank account become a security clearance? Trace the evolution of KYC from the 1970s to the age of AI surveillance.
#972: When a 'Hundred Thousand Welcomes' Expires
From the closure of Cork’s last synagogue to rising political hostility, we explore why Ireland’s Jewish community is facing an uncertain future.
#970: The Limits of the State: Can a Nation Survive Anarchy?
Explore the boundaries of power as we look at stateless Somalia, private cities in Honduras, and the radical mini-state of Liechtenstein.
#931: Dismantling the IRGC: The Inside-Out Strategy for Iran
Explore the surgical strategies and "economic octopus" behind the current push for regime change in Iran and the dismantling of the IRGC.
#860: The Global Rise of Strongman Rule
Explore why the world is retreating toward authoritarianism despite an era of decentralized technology and global connectivity.
#750: The Ancient Roots of Us vs. Them
Explore the ancient roots of human prejudice, from Sumerian steles to the digital echo chambers of the modern "global village."
#735: When Time Stretched: The Magic of Proportional Hours
Before atomic clocks, time was a living thing. Discover how ancient civilizations used "flexible" hours to coordinate their lives.
#733: How Generals Learn to Think
How do modern generals use ancient history to plan for AI warfare? Explore the high-stakes world of professional military education.
#568: The Birth of the Border: How Countries Were Invented
How did we go from sprawling empires to rigid borders? Explore the history of the modern country, from Westphalia to the French Revolution.
#512: The OPEC of Dirt: Why Israel Owns 93% of Its Land
Why does the Israeli state own 93% of the land? Herman and Corn explore the history and the impact of this unique monopoly on the housing market.
#487: The Biblical Pantry: Dining in 700 BCE Jerusalem
Step back 2,700 years to discover why there were no tomatoes in ancient Jerusalem and how bread became the center of the universe.
#483: The Ottoman Empire's Hidden Blueprint
Explore how 400 years of Ottoman rule and 30 years of British mandate built the physical and legal foundations of the modern State of Israel.
#482: The Sensory Overload of Daily Life in Herodian Jerusalem
Step back into Herodian Jerusalem. From "liquid bread" for breakfast to the chaos of the Temple, discover how the average person really lived.
#148: Why Can’t You Fire Your Local Politician?
Why can’t you call your representative about a pothole? Explore the history and trade-offs of Israel’s unique national voting system.