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Revisionist History

Revisionist History

Pushkin Industries 200 Episodes Oct 8, 2026

Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell's journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past—an event, a person, an idea, even a song—and asks whether we got it right the first time. From Pushkin Industries. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance.

Episodes

Wolfgang's Law - Part One
Wolfgang's Law - Part One Oct 8, 2026 1903 Over the last few years homicide rates in Baltimore have plummeted. A city once labeled America’s murder capital is seeing a reprieve that seems nothing short of miraculous. What happened? This week, Malcolm takes a look at what Baltimore is doing to save lives.  To learn more about the organization Termite founded, visit: https://switchinglanesadultandyouth.org/ You can order The
Brian Lehrer and Malcolm Gladwell Talk Policing and Guns
Brian Lehrer and Malcolm Gladwell Talk Policing and Guns Oct 2, 2026 2077 A dispatch from the book tour – Malcolm recently joined WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show for a conversation about his new book, The American Way of Killing. We’re sharing it here today, including listener phone calls about their own experiences and questions about the epidemic of gun violence in America. You can order The American Way of Killing at Gladwell.com or wherever books
The Invention of an Epidemic
The Invention of an Epidemic Sep 24, 2026 2933 In Malcolm’s new book, The American Way of Killing, he investigates why gun violence in the United States is so much worse than every other country in the West. Today, we’re sharing a chapter from the audiobook and over the next four weeks we’ll air episodes about the gun violence epidemic in America. Later in the series, Revisionist History looks at how Baltimore turned its homi
President Barack Obama & Malcolm Gladwell: How Reconstruction Still Defines America
President Barack Obama & Malcolm Gladwell: How Reconstruction Still Defines America Sep 22, 2026 3717 Malcolm sat down with President Barack Obama while making Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise for a conversation about history, progress, and why democracy is never a finished project. What makes Reconstruction one of the most misunderstood eras in American history, and why does it still have so much relevance today? Today, we’re sharing an extended version of their conversation.  Yo
A Dollop Crossover | Ben Naddaff-Hafrey on Staten Island and the Revolutionary War
A Dollop Crossover | Ben Naddaff-Hafrey on Staten Island and the Revolutionary War Sep 17, 2026 4818 After Ben's Staten Island summer, he sat down with The Dollop hosts, comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds, to examine Staten Island during the Revolutionary War. Ben, Dave, and Gareth dive into an extremely niche topic in history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Fines
The Fines Sep 10, 2026 1852 How did some remains of those who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks end up in what was once the world's largest landfill? In this episode: the battle that continues to this day over what some see as a pile of dust, and what others see as the remains of the dead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Staten Island Problem - Part  5: Revenge of the Forgotten Borough
The Staten Island Problem - Part 5: Revenge of the Forgotten Borough Aug 6, 2026 2413 Election night 1993 meets election night 2016. The fate of the island and the country converge in the figure of one man: Rudy Giuliani.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Staten Island Problem - Part  4: Wu-Tang vs. Shaolin
The Staten Island Problem - Part 4: Wu-Tang vs. Shaolin Jul 30, 2026 1994 At the height of the secession movement, the Wu-Tang Clan forms on Staten Island. We take a tour of early 1990s hip-hop and reveal the hidden history of the group.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Staten Island Problem - Part  3: The Tuvalu Effect
The Staten Island Problem - Part 3: The Tuvalu Effect Jul 23, 2026 1889 A group on Staten Island tries to stop secession, squaring off against the secessionists in a heated set of debates and meetings recorded on never-before-seen archival tapes. A set of debates best understood via a detour into the history of a remote Polynesian island.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Staten Island Problem - Part 2: A New Map
The Staten Island Problem - Part 2: A New Map Jul 16, 2026 1677 After the Supreme Court takes a close look at New York City government, Staten Island comes out the loser. A local artist begins organizing for secession. We take a deep dive into the psychology of the island, which has a lot to do with the largest garbage dump in the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Staten Island Problem - Part 1: The Mayor vs. the Borough President
The Staten Island Problem - Part 1: The Mayor vs. the Borough President Jul 9, 2026 2228 A riot, a voyage at sea, and a movement to break up the greatest city in the country. The first Black mayor of New York City faces off with the borough president of Staten Island and tries to hold his city together.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Revenge of "A Good Walk Spoiled"
Revenge of "A Good Walk Spoiled" Jul 7, 2026 2855 Ten years ago, Malcolm inveighed against the exclusive country clubs of Los Angeles in an episode of Revisionist History called "A Good Walk Spoiled." This November, thanks to a Los Angeles City Council member who heard the episode, Los Angeles voters will have the opportunity to take up Malcolm's cause. Today, Malcolm revisits "A Good Walk Spoiled," and speaks with Councilmember Adrin Nazarian ab

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