Episodes
The Resignation of Vice President Calhoun
December 28, 1832. John C. Calhoun resigns as Vice President of the United States after clashing with President Andrew Jackson.
The Flushing Remonstrance Establishes Religious Tolerance in America
December 27, 1657. Settlers in what is today Queens, New York write “The Flushing Remonstrance,” a petition that, for the first time in North American history, articulates that freedom of religion is a fundamental right.
Babe Ruth Joins the New York Yankees
December 26, 1919. Baseball’s so-called Sultan of Swat, Babe Ruth, is sold to the world-famous New York Yankees.
George Washington Resigns
December 23, 1783. American General George Washington resigns his military commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.
The Mock Execution of Dostoevsky
December 22, 1849. Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky is saved from execution by a last-minute reprieve, an event that shapes the novelist’s greatest works.
Apollo 8 Goes to the Moon
December 21, 1968. Apollo 8, the first crewed spacecraft to successfully orbit the Moon and return to Earth, launches from the Kennedy Space Center.
The US Invades Panama
December 20, 1989. President George H.W. Bush launches a US invasion of Panama to depose the country's dictator, and former CIA informant, Manuel Noriega.
The Great Swamp Fight
December 19, 1675. During King Philip's War, colonial militias wage a devastating attack against the Narragansett tribe in Rhode Island.
Saturday Matinee: Based On A True Story
On today’s Saturday Matinee, the Podcast “Based On A True Story” focuses on James Cameron’s Titanic. How much of Jack and Rose’s story from the movie was based on real history, and how much of it was fiction? Link to Based On A True Story: https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com/ See Priva…
Rugby Union’s “Match of the Century”
December 16, 1905. Rugby Union’s "Match of the Century" is played between Wales and the undefeated New Zealand at Cardiff Arms Park.
The Death of Sitting Bull
December 15, 1890. Native American chief Sitting Bull is killed by Indian police on the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota.
The Mystery Disappearance of Agatha Christie
December 14, 1926. An 11-day nationwide search ends when crime novelist Agatha Christie is discovered living under a false identity at a hotel in Harrogate, England after disappearing from her home.
The Battle of Alton
December 13th, 1643. The tide of the English Civil War turns against King Charles I at the Battle of Alton.
The Xi'an Incident
December 12, 1936. During the Chinese Civil War, Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-Shek is kidnapped, sparking a political reckoning that unites the Chinese against a common enemy: Japan.
Saturday Matinee: Where There’s A Will
On today’s Saturday Matinee, a rivalry between two Shakespearian actors triggers a deadly riot in the streets of Manhattan. Link to Where There’s A Will: https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/where-theres-a-will-finding-shakespeare See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pr…
Jim Morrison’s On-Stage Arrest
December 9, 1967. The Doors singer Jim Morrison is arrested in the middle of a performance in New Haven, Connecticut. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” Speech
December 8, 1953. US President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivers his famous "Atoms for Peace" speech amid the escalating nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union.
The Attack on Pearl Harbor
December 7th, 1941. The Imperial Japanese Navy launches its attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Arrest of Nazi War Criminal Pieter Menten
December 6, 1976. After evading punishment for decades, Pieter Menten, one of the Netherlands' most notorious Nazi war criminals, is arrested in Switzerland.
President Polk Triggers the California Gold Rush
December 5th, 1848: US President James K. Polk triggers the California Gold Rush by confirming discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill.
Puyi Becomes the Last Emperor of China
December 2, 1908: In a lavish enthronement ceremony, two-year-old Puyi becomes the Emperor of China, a title he will subsequently abdicate on three separate occasions.
The Assassination of Sergei Kirov
December 1, 1934. Leningrad mayor Sergei Kirov is assassinated by a lone gunman, prompting Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin to purge the Communist Party of his rivals.
Bonnie & Clyde’s First Robbery
November 30, 1932. The infamous outlaws, Bonnie and Clyde, rob their first bank.
The Zong Massacre
November 29, 1781. The crew of a British slave ship murders 54 Africans by dumping them into the sea to claim insurance, beginning the Zong massacre.