Shadow Politics, June 12, 2022
Shadow Politics with Senator Michael Brown and Marília Duffles
Guest, Dr JON GRINSPAN, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Jon Grinspan is the curator in the Division of Political and Military History at the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution.
Jon Grinspan's new book, THE AGE OF ACRIMONY: How Americans Fought to Fix Their Democracy, 1865-1915, argues that the democracy we inherited from the 20th century was really an outlier, created to fix our politics the last time they broke. In the late 1800s Americans feared that the republic was dying, torn apart by vibrant but violent partisan political campaigns. This era was only ended by a revolution in political restraint around 1900. Over time we came to consider that civility normal, and view our current divisions as unprecedented, but really we have deep history of struggling to calm an ugly system.
Grinspan studies the deep history of American democracy, especially the wild partisan campaigns of the 1800s. At the same time, Jon collects objects from current protests, conventions, elections and riots for the Smithsonian, to try to preserve our own heated moment for generations to come. Together, it involves a bit of time-traveling, explaining the past to the present and the present to the future.
His first book, THE VIRGIN VOTE: How Young Americans Made Democracy Social, Politics Personal and Voting Popular in the Nineteenth Century, uncovered the forgotten history of the youth vote, to show that young men and women were once the most engaged, and sought after, demographic in American politics.
MESSAGE FROM UNITED STATES SENATOR MICHAEL D. BROWN
Author Jon Grinspan will speak with Marília and I about political acrimony in America. What does yesterday tell us about today? Is the 2021 insurrection somehow connected to the past? We'll talk about this and what our future may be going forward. Jan. 6th was not the first attack on the U.S. Capitol, but will it be the last?
What, exactly, is history teaching us in this moment in time?
Tune in for this important interview. You can be part of the conversation by calling into the *LIVE* show with your comments and questions.
Headlined Show, Shadow Politics June 12, 2022
America in Turmoil; What has History Taught Us? Let's talk with guest, JON GRINSPAN, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution - Author Jon Grinspan will speak with Marília and I about political acrimony in America. What does yesterday tell us about today? Is the 2021 insurrection somehow connected to the past? We'll talk about this and what our future may be going forward. Jan. 6th was not the first attack on the U.S. Capitol, but will it be the last? What, exactly, is history teaching us in this moment in time?
Guest, Jon Grinspan
Jon Grinspan is a historian of American democracy, youth, and popular culture. He is a curator of political history at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History and a frequent contributor to the New York Times.
Shadow Politics
Shadow Politics is a grass roots talk show giving a voice to the voiceless. For more than 200 years the people of the Nation's Capital have ironically been excluded from the national political conversation. With no voting member of either house of Congress, Washingtonians have lacked the representation they need to be equal and to have their voices heard. Shadow Politics will provide a platform for them, as well as the millions of others nationwide who feel politically disenfranchised and disconnected, to be included in a national dialog.
We need to start a new conversation in America, one that is more inclusive and diverse and one that will lead our great nation forward to meet the challenges of the 21st century. At Shadow Politics, we hope to get this conversation started by bringing Americans together to talk about issues important to them. We look forward to having you be part of the discussion so call in and join the conversation. America is calling and we're listening… Shadow Politics is about America hearing what you have to say. It's your chance to talk to an elected official who has spent more than 30 years in Washington politics. We believe that if we start a dialog and others add their voices we will create a chorus. Even if those other politicians in Washington don't hear you — Senator Brown will. He's on a mission to listen to what America has to say and use it to start a productive dialog to make our democracy stronger and more inclusive. If we are all part of the solution we can solve any problem.
