The History-Politics Podcast: Putting the Past to Work
UCLA Luskin Center for History and Policy 166 episodes Oct 28, 2026
The History-Politics Podcast: Putting the Past to Work is a show from the UCLA Luskin Center for History and Policy that connects historical analysis with contemporary issues and policy decisions. Each episode uses context from the past to make sense of present-day debates and governance challenges. It is produced by David Myers and Roselyn Campbell, with original music by Daniel Raijman.
Episodes
What is Public History?
We are thrilled to introduce Season 7 of The History-Politics Podcast! This season we are experimenting with a new format. Instead of one long season over the academic year, we will have multiple shorter seasons, each of which will focus on a specific topic. Season 7 will explore the intersection of public history, museums, and policy. In this episode, host Rose Campbell interviews interim LCHP Di
Updates for Season 7!
We are excited to announce a new season format for The History-Politics Podcast! Going forward, we'll have shorter seasons that focus on a specific issue or topic. This will allow us to dive deeper into the historical context of policy discussions that are happening today. We'll be back in mid-October with new episodes for Season 7, which will focus on public history, museums, and policy
Why History Matters: Immigration
In this special episode, we share a recording of a UCLA event titled Why History Matters: Immigration, sponsored by the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Department of History as well as the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Moderated by Dean of the UCLA Division of Social Sciences, Abel Valenzuela, this event features a discussion between UCLA professors Kelly Lytle- Hernández, Ahilan Arul
Sorcery and the Legacies of Colonialism in the Dominican Republic
Assistant Director of the LCHP Rose Campbell welcomes UCLA historian Robin Lauren Derby to discuss her new book Bêtes Noires: Sorcery as History in the Haitian-Dominican Borderlands. Robin explores how beliefs surrounding the bacá, spirits that appear as animals, preserve cultural memories of colonialism, slavery, authoritarianism, and capitalist exploitation in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. D
Trump, Populism, and the End of the Neoliberal Order
Guest host and former LCHP Postdoctoral Associate Ben Zdencanovic welcomes Cambridge historian Gary Gerstle to discuss whether Trump and MAGAism represent the end of the neoliberal order. Gary traces American political systems starting with the transition from the New Deal order, which emphasized government regulation of capitalism in the public interest, to the neoliberal order that prioritized d
Equality, Law, and the Trans Community
In this episode, host Rose Campbell is joined by Cary Franklin to discuss nationwide efforts to erode the rights of transgender people. While the recent Supreme Court decisions allowing states to ban transgender girls from participating in sports at publicly funded schools have garnered attention, this is only the latest attack by the Trump administration. Beyond barring transgender people from r
The 2026 Primaries and California’s Future
The Los Angeles primary elections, held June 2, 2026, were the source of great debate and not a few surprises. In this episode, David Myers, in his farewell episode as founding host of The History-Policy Podcast, interviews longtime LA public official and frequent LCHP collaborator Zev Yaroslavsky to discuss what the primary elections tell us about California’s political climate and what the futu
The Future of History: Have We Reached the End of History Again?
This special episode of LCHP’s History-Politics Podcast features a recording of an event titled “The Future of History: Have We Reached the End of History Again?” This event was the first in a multi-part series by the Luskin Public History Program in conjunction with the UCLA Luskin Center for History and Policy at the Wende Museum. LCHP Director David Myers moderates a conversation between Miloš
Orbán, Trump, and the Autocrat's Playbook
In April 2026, the world was shocked by when Péter Magyar handily defeated long-time Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán. In this episode, LCHP Assistant Director Rose Campbell speaks with legal scholar Kim Lane Scheppele about this unexpected upset after sixteen years of Orbán's autocratic regime, and what it reveals about the rise and fall of modern authoritarian regimes. Drawing on decades of re
Religion, Suffrage, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Host David Myers welcomes historian Ellen DuBois to discuss her recently published book about the life, legacy, and contradictions of Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Ellen emphasizes Stanton’s central role in launching the women’s suffrage movement alongside Susan B. Anthony and her enduring relevance to modern debates over women’s rights, religion, and democracy. Ellen explores Stanton’s partnerships wit
Antisemitism and the Law in Trump 2.0: A Perspective from UPenn
In this week’s episode, host David Myers leads a discussion with Amanda Shanor, Sigal Ben-Porath, and Serena Mayeri about the legal and historical implications of the Trump administration’s request for lists of Jewish students, faculty, and organizations at the University of Pennsylvania. The conversation situates the subpoena within broader federal investigations into alleged campus anti-Semitism
Borders in Times of Instability
In this special episode of The History-Politics Podcast, we share a recording of LCHP’s recent event, “Borders in Times of Instability: A Cross-Disciplinary Conversation with Luwei Ying and Hiroshi Motomura.” This conversation is a continuation of our previous episode where political scientist Luwei Ying drew upon her work as an LCHP grantee to discuss her co-authored paper "Historical Border
Historical Border Instability and Democratic Backlash
In this episode of the History-Politics Podcast, host David Myers speaks with UCLA political scientist Luwei Ying about her research linking historical border instability to the contemporary rise of populist politics. Drawing on her work as a Luskin Center for History and Policy grantee and the report she co-authored with David B. Carter and Sadaf Vafa, Luwei explains that regions which experience
Immigration Enforcement and Latine/x Families
In this episode, host Rose Campbell speaks with UCLA social welfare scholar Dr. Tatiana Londoño about the psychological and social toll of immigration enforcement on Latine/x immigrant communities in the United States. Drawing on both her personal experience as a Colombian immigrant and her years of research, Londoño explains how immigration policies, from the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform Act t
Native Agency, NAGPRA, and Museums
In this episode, Rose Campbell, Assistant Director of the Luskin Center for History and Policy, welcomes guests Stephen Aron and Joe Horse Capture of the Autry Museum of the American West to discuss the historical power imbalance between Native American tribes and museums. Historically, museums collected Native objects, and even human remains, through coercive or unethical means, reflecting a colo
The Law and Politics of the Federal Assault on Higher Education: The Pasts and Futures of Higher Education
Host David Myers welcomes legal scholar Joseph Fishkin to discuss the present and future of higher education amid growing federal pressure on universities. Fishkin’s work spans constitutional law, inequality, and equal opportunity. Fishkin explains that law and politics are inseparable: while law operates as a specialized language with its own norms, it is always shaped by political context. Recen
Higher Education in Peril: The Pasts and Futures of Higher Education
As part of our series devoted to the pasts and futures of higher education in the United States, this conversation, hosted by LCHP Director David Myers, features Princeton sociologist Kim Lane Scheppele alongside legal scholars Ariela Gross from UCLA and Nomi Stolzenberg from USC to discuss an escalating war on universities by the Trump administration. Scheppele frames the assault as a distinctly
Why Does US-Iran Hostility Persist?
In this episode of The History-Politics Podcast: Putting the Past to Work, host David Myers speaks with Dalia Dassa Kaye on why U.S.–Iran relations constitute the longest-running hostility in American foreign policy. Dalia argues that while Iranian actions and the regime’s post-1979 anti-American ideology are central to the conflict, U.S. policy narratives have also played a decisive role. Repeate
The Living Legacy of the Grateful Dead
In this episode, host David Myers interviews Jim Newton, renowned political journalist and UCLA lecturer, on his recent book on musician Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead, the iconic American band. Newton reflects on his personal and professional pathway to writing about the Dead. He traces his first serious recognition of “Deadhead culture” to the 1982 US Festival, where the band’s community st
The Future of History Part 2: Special Episode
In the second part of then & now’s special presentation of the panels from the “Future of History” conference, David Myers, host of then & now, moderates a conversation on the precarious state of history, democracy, and cultural institutions in the United States. The panelists include Lonnie G. Bunch III, the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; Athena N. Jackson, UCLA’s Norman a
The Future of History Part 1: Special Episode
This episode of then & now features a panel from the “Future of History” conference moderated by UCLA Professor Brenda Stevenson, an award-winning historian of race, gender, slavery, and community. She introduces three UCLA historians whose work spans the U.S. and the globe: Professor Kelly Lytle Hernández, a MacArthur Fellow and leading scholar of race, immigration, and mass incarceration; Pr
Plenary Address from the Urban History Association: Special Episode
In this week’s episode of then & now, David Myers moderates a panel discussion from the recent Urban History Association meeting in Los Angeles. The panel discussed two important questions: What is distinctive about Los Angeles as an urban experience and experiment? And what does L.A. tell us or teach us about urban life at this critical moment in U.S. history?Panelists included a mix of dist
Important Update for Then & Now
We are redesigning Then & Now to better reach you, our listeners! Please fill out this survey before October 15, 2025, to let us know how we can improve, and be entered to win a FREE copy of Dr. Myers' book The Stakes of History. We look forward to your feedback!Survey link: https://tinyurl.com/Then-and-Now-Podcast-Survey
Race, Industry, and Resistance: A Conversation with Jennifer Klein.
In this week’s episode of then & now, guest host Dr. Ben Zdencanovic is joined by Dr. Jennifer Klein, the Bradford Durfee Professor of History at Yale University, to explore Cancer Alley, the stretch of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana. Spanning roughly one hundred miles, Cancer Alley is densely packed with chemical plants, hazardous waste sites, and prisons
The Challenge to University Autonomy in an Illiberal Age: A Conversation with David N. Myers and Ben Zdencanovic.
In this week’s episode of then & now, LCHP Director Professor David N. Myers is joined by Dr. Ben Zdencanovic to discuss their collaborative work on a new LCHP report, The Challenge to University Autonomy in an Illiberal Age: Historical and Comparative Perspectives. Compiled over the past year as higher education in the U.S. faces heightened scrutiny and mounting political pressures from the U
The Rise of the Religious Right in U.S. Politics: A Conversation with Neil J. Young.
In this week’s episode of then & now, LCHP Assistant Director Dr. Rose Campbell is joined by historian Dr. Neil J. Young to examine the evolution and ongoing influence of conservative Christian family values in contemporary U.S. political discourse. Neil offers a nuanced account of how ideals such as monogamy, cisgender heterosexual marriage, and rigid gender roles within a patriarchal framewo
Defunding Big Bird: The Politics and History of Public Broadcasting. A Conversation with Josh Shepperd.
In this episode of then & now, guest host Dr. Ben Zdencanovic welcomes Professor Josh Shepperd, Associate Professor of Media Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder and Director of the Library of Congress Radio Preservation Task Force (RPTF). Josh, acclaimed author of Shadow of the New Deal: The Victory of Public Broadcasting (University of Illinois Press, 2023), discusses the complex hi
A Conversation with Pulitzer Prize Winner Benjamin Nathans: The Lives and Afterlives of the Soviet Dissident Movement.
In this week’s episode of then & now, we’re joined by Benjamin Nathans, Alan Charles Kors Endowed Term Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, to talk about his recent book, To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause: The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement (Princeton University Press, 2024)—which was awarded the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction and the 2025 Pushki
The Sociolinguistics of Exclusion: Affirmative Action, DEI, and the Struggle for Belonging. A Conversation with Jamaal Muwwakkil.
In this episode of then & now, we are joined by Dr. Jamaal Muwwakkil, Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow at UCLA and incoming Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Washington, to discuss the recent rollback of affirmative action and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in American universities. Jamaal examines how these changes—set in motion by the Supreme Court’
Coming Out Republican: The Gay Right and the Politics of Belonging. A Conversation with Neil J. Young.
In this week’s episode of then & now, LCHP Assistant Director Dr. Rose Campbell is joined by Dr. Neil J. Young—historian, podcaster, and author of Coming Out Republican (The University of Chicago Press, 2024), which traces the history of conservative and libertarian gay figures in United States history and their influence on the modern Republican Party. In this episode, Neil examines the evolv
Mexico's Dirty War and the Struggle for Accountability: A Conversation with Carlos Pérez Ricart.
In this week’s episode of then & now, guest host Professor Fernando Pérez-Montesinos is joined by Carlos Pérez Ricart, Assistant Professor in International Relations at the Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE) in Mexico City, to discuss Mexico’s Dirty War—an internal conflict from the 1960s to the 1980s between the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)-ruled government and left-w
Why History Matters: L.A. Wildfires Past, Present, and Future
In this week’s episode of then & now, we present a recording of a recent panel discussion focusing on L.A. wildfires past, present, and future. This program is part of the “Why History Matters” series presented by the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Department of History—a series dedicated to the belief that historical knowledge is an indispensable, and often missing, ingredient in public debate.”
Are There Limits to Presidential Power? A Conversation about the Unitary Executive Theory with John Mikhail.
In this week’s episode of then & now, we are joined by John Mikhail, Carroll Professor of Jurisprudence at Georgetown University Law Center, for a deep dive into the controversial theory of the unitary executive. Rooted in the Constitution’s Vesting Clause, this theory asserts that the president holds centralized control over the executive branch. While the theory has longstanding roots in con
Donald Trump’s Uses (and Abuses) of History: A Conversation with Bruce Schulman.
This week’s episode of then & now is part of an occasional series exploring the past, present, and future of U.S. foreign policy and the U.S.-led international order. Guest host Dr. Ben Zdencanovic is joined by Bruce Schulman, Professor of History at Boston University, to discuss the Trump administration’s selective use of history, especially its nods to the McKinley era’s embrace of tariffs a
Preservation amidst Devastation: Salvaging Historic Tiles after the Los Angeles Wildfires. A Conversation with Conservator Amy Green.
This week’s episode of then & now is part of a series co-sponsored by the L.A. History Collaborative, in which we explore the impact of the catastrophic wildfires that affected Los Angeles in early 2025. We are joined by Amy Green, Principal of Silverlake Conservation and one of Los Angeles’ most seasoned historical conservators. She discusses her efforts to preserve intricately crafted tiles
Why History Matters in an Age of Polycrisis
In this week’s episode of then & now, we present a recording of a recent event co-sponsored by the Wende Museum and the Luskin Center for History and Policy. This event launched the Meyer and Renee Luskin Public History Program at the Wende Museum, a series made possible through the extraordinary generosity of Meyer and Renee Luskin, with a thought-provoking conversation on the role of history
Indigenous Fire Stewardship and Ecological Resilience: A Conversation with Daisy Ocampo Diaz.
This week’s episode of then & now is part of a series co-sponsored by the L.A. History Collaborative, in which we examine the effects of the devastating Los Angeles Wildfires in early 2025. Dr. Daisy Ocampo Diaz joins LCHP Assistant Director Dr. Rose Campbell to discuss the Fowler Museum’s exhibition Fire Kinship: Southern California Native Ecology and Art, one of the exhibitions associated wi
Reconstructing German-Jewish Cultural Heritage after the Los Angeles Wildfires: A Conversation with E. Randol Schoenberg.
This week’s episode of then & now is part of a series examining the effects of one of the most powerful and destructive natural disasters in U.S. history: the Los Angeles Wildfires. Co-sponsored by the L.A. History Collaborative— a new consortium of cultural institutions and historians committed to using the tools of history to assist in the reconstruction of the lives and stories of those dee
Trump 2.0 and the Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy: A Conversation with Stephen Wertheim.
This week’s episode of then & now is part of an occasional series exploring the past, present, and future of U.S. foreign policy and the U.S.-led international order with guest host Dr. Ben Zdencanovic. Joined by Dr. Stephen Wertheim, Senior Fellow in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, we critically examine the far-reaching implications for U.S.
Europe Without Borders: The Rise and Partial Fall of the Schengen Zone. A Conversation with Isaac Stanley-Becker.
In this week’s episode of then & now, we are joined by Dr. Isaac Stanley-Becker, a reporter on intelligence and national security issues for The Washington Post, to examine the rise and partial fall of the Schengen Zone amid ongoing and polarizing debates regarding immigration policy. Through the lens of his dual expertise as a journalist and a historian, Isaac explores the origins and histori
The Los Angeles Wildfires in the Age of the Pyrocene: A Conversation with Fire Scholar Stephen Pyne.
This week’s episode of then & now is the first in a series examining one of the most powerful and destructive natural disasters in U.S. history, the Los Angeles wildfires. Joined by Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University Stephen Pyne, one of the country’s leading thinkers about fire, we discuss the history of urban fire to understand what is unfolding in Los Angeles—where lives, commun
Domestic Violence, Title IX, and the Stories We Don’t Tell: A Conversation with Joy Neumeyer
**Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual and domestic violence.In this week’s episode of then & now, guest host Professor Jared McBride is joined by Dr. Joy Neumeyer to discuss her recent book, A Survivor’s Education. In the book, as well as this episode, Joy interweaves her own experiences of domestic abuse and the bureaucracy surrounding Title IX with Soviet and Russian
The Epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: A Conversation with Shannon Speed
**Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual and domestic violence. In this week’s episode of then & now, LCHP Assistant Director Dr. Rose Campbell is joined by Dr. Shannon Speed to discuss systemic violence against Indigenous women. According to a 2016 study, Indigenous women are 10 times more likely to be kidnapped or murdered than almost any other population group in the Un
Continuity and Change: The Fairfax District and What it Tells us about LA. A Conversation with Stephanie Zager, Michaela Esposito, and Ella Kitt
In this week’s episode of then & now, UCLA undergraduates Stephanie Zager, Michaela Esposito, and Ella Kitt join us to discuss the results of their LCHP report on the evolution of the Fairfax District in Los Angeles. The three researchers chronicle the district's rise and decline against the backdrop of the inevitable ebbs and flows of urban change. Influenced by migration patterns, econo
Unpacking the 2024 Election: Trendlines and Developments in California Politics. A Conversation with Raphael Sonenshein and Zev Yaroslavsky
This week’s episode of then & now is the second in a series exploring the historical backdrop to and consequences of the 2024 election. Joining us are Raphael Sonenshein, a nationally recognized expert on racial and ethnic politics in California and Los Angeles, and Zev Yaroslavsky, one of Los Angeles's best-known public officials. This episode begins by continuing the discussion of histo
Unpacking the 2024 Election: Trends, Tensions, and Transformations. A Conversation with Lynn Vavreck
In this week’s episode of then & now, we explore the 2024 presidential election and try to understand the enduring impact of a political realignment that began with Donald Trump’s rise in 2016. Joining us is Professor Lynn Vavreck, a UCLA professor and leading expert on U.S. elections. Professor Vavreck explores how Trump’s victories in 2016 and 2024 reflect a seismic shift in American politic
Why History Matters: Reproductive Rights and Justice
In this week’s episode of then & now, we present a recording of a recent event hosted by the UCLA History Department, "Why History Matters: Reproductive Rights and Justice." This event brought together experts to explore the far-reaching effects of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in June 2022. Hosted by Kevin Terraciano, the conversation delves into the hist
Reproductive Justice on the U.S.-Mexico Border: A Conversation With Lina-Maria Murillo
In this week’s episode of then & now, we delve into the complex history of reproductive justice in El Paso, Texas, a key city along the U.S.-Mexico border that has shaped broader conversations around race, health, and community care. Guest interviewer Professor Elizabeth O’Brien speaks with Professor Lina-Maria Murillo, a leading scholar in reproductive justice whose research focuses on gender
Reproductive Healthcare, Religion, and Inequality in Brazil and Beyond: A Conversation with Cassia Roth
The topic of reproductive healthcare and access to abortion has emerged as a pivotal point in the weeks and months leading up to the 2024 presidential election in the U.S. In this week's episode of then & now, our guest interviewer Professor Elizabeth O’Brien speaks with Professor Cassia Roth, a historian of Society, Environment, and Health Equity at the University of California, Riversid
How Mathematics Shaped the Great Grid of America: A Conversation with Amir Alexander
Welcome back to then & now! To kick off our 5th season, we are joined by Professor Amir Alexander, a historian of mathematics in UCLA’s Luskin Department of History. His latest book, Liberty’s Grid, examines how Founding Father Thomas Jefferson transformed early America into a mathematical landscape. Jefferson’s vision of an empty, gridded space was intended to create a framework for people
From AMLO to Claudia: Mexico Elects a Woman President: A Conversation with Leila Miller
In this week's episode of then & now we explore a landmark moment in Mexican politics: the election of Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo as the country's first female president at the beginning of June 2024. Environmental scientist Sheinbaum secured a decisive victory, succeeding the current president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.Joining us is Leila Miller, a seasoned former correspondent for
Under the Heat Dome: A Conversation about Thermal Inequality with Bharat Venkat
2023 marked the hottest year recorded in human history, with predictions indicating a worsening global trend. In early June 2024, southern California experienced an extreme heat dome, with temperatures rising into the triple digits. Currently, heat alerts affect over 16 million people across California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. This escalating situation is not confined to the United
Land, Endowments, and Ethics: Unpacking the Historical Legacy of UC Real Estate Investments. A Conversation with Samuel Feldblum, John Schmidt, and Abbie Cohen
Recent campus protests have focused new attention on university investment policies. The call for greater transparency and divestment from Israel has led to questions about the growth and composition of large university endowments, including that of the University of California (UC). How did the UC system achieve its robust financial position? One answer lies in its deep-rooted connection to land
Answering Your Questions About Gaza: A Dialogue with UCLA Historians
In this episode of then & now, we present the recording of an event held at UCLA on May 13, 2024. This event, sponsored by the UCLA History Department, featured a conversation between UCLA Professors David Myers and James Gelvin about the history and context of the Israel-Hamas war and the situation in Gaza.The brutal attack on Israeli citizens by Hamas on October 7th, 2023, shocked the world.
Free Speech and Academic Freedom in the University: A Conversation with Michael Meranze
As the war in Gaza rages on, discussions surrounding free speech and the right to protest have surged across the United States, particularly on college campuses. When a pro-Palestine encampment at Columbia University was raided by police, leading to dozens of arrests in late April 2024, university students around the country set up their own protests and encampments, urging for an end to the war a
Why History Matters: Gun Violence
Gun violence has become deeply ingrained in the historical fabric of the United States, intertwined with the principles outlined in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which grants individuals the right to keep and bear arms. This amendment is frequently invoked in debates surrounding the implementation of stricter gun control measures.In this week's episode, then & now present
Free Speech, Cancel Culture, and Safe Spaces: A Conversation with David Cole
In the wake of the events of October 7th in Israel and the swift reaction by the Israeli government against Hamas, student protests have erupted on campuses around the United States, igniting fervent discussions about free speech, the First Amendment, and safe spaces. This week on then & now, we are joined by David Cole, the National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union and the
Deadly Borders: A Conversation on Immigration with Dr. Jason de León
As the U.S. primary elections unfold, the issue of border security, particularly along the US-Mexico border, has taken center stage. Concerns about the number of people crossing the U.S. southern border illegally have prompted extreme and sometimes fatal measures by U.S. officials to curb the flow of migrants. How effective are these measures at slowing illegal immigration, and what is the cost fo
Challenges and Opportunities in the New Age of AI: A Long-Term View with John Villasenor
As advances in technology continue to shape our world, understanding the implications of artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, and digital privacy has never been more important. In this episode of then & now, we delve into the crucial intersection of technology, law, and policy with John Villasenor, a distinguished professor at UCLA and co-director of the UCLA Institute for Technology,
The Nuclear Threat Today: A Conversation with Albert Carnesale
While the conflicts between Israel and Palestine and Russia and Ukraine are center-stage, the threat of nuclear weapons hovers ominously over our world. The recent release of the popular movie "Oppenheimer" reminds us of the extraordinary potency of nuclear weapons. Russia's aggression in Ukraine has raised concerns about its nuclear intentions, while China, under President Xi Jinpi
Is California an Outlier? Health Care Policy in the Sunshine State: A Conversation with Historian Ben Zdencanovic
One of the most vexing social problems in U.S. society is our country’s healthcare system, which is wracked by rising costs, inequitable access, and manifold inefficiencies. Unlike Canada or a number of European countries, the United States has never adopted a single-payer system in which the government provides health insurance to all. Instead, it has favored a range of private options alongsid
Israel, Gaza, and the U.S.: A Conversation with Aaron David Miller
On this episode of then & now, Middle East expert Aaron David Miller offers his perspective on the current state of affairs in Israel and Gaza after October 7, 2023 — and on the broader historical context of the explosion of violence in recent months. Drawing on his decades of service in the U.S. State Department, he also traces the arc of American diplomacy on the Israel-Palestine question,
America On Strike: Labor Takes Center Stage
In our final episode of 2023, we are sharing a recording of an event hosted by the UCLA History Department as part of the Why History Matters series. Labor movements have surged to the attention of the public over the past year, with the historic Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes at the beginning of the year as well as the United Auto Workers strike later in the year. Moderated by UCLA Professor
Understanding the Israel-Gaza Conflict: Causes, Conduct, and Consequences
For this special episode, we are sharing a recording of a Zoom event hosted on November 21 by the UCLA Luskin Center for History and Policy. Featuring two UCLA history professors, Dr. James L. Gelvin and Dr. David N. Myers, this informational session explores the historical background to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, addressing questions such as:What is Hamas?What led to Hamas' attack on Isra
The Enduring Power of Non-Violence: A Conversation with Rev. James Lawson
This episode of then & now features a conversation with the Reverend James Lawson, the legendary social justice activist who introduced the practice of non-violent action to the civil rights movement. The conversation takes up Rev. Lawson’s early years and encounters with racism in Massillon, Ohio; his exposure to the idea of non-violence through his reading of Gandhi and while on mission in
Unions, Labor, and the American Working Class: A Conversation with Nelson Lichtenstein
On September 15, 2023, workers from the United Auto Workers union went on strike at Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Stellantis simultaneously, quickly expanding to include tens of thousands of workers at automobile factories throughout the United States. Founded by visionary and then UAW president Walter Reuther, At its founding, the union focused on better wages and conditions for all wor
Urban Spaces Past and Present: A Conversation with Monica Smith
More than half the world’s population currently lives in cities, and current estimates suggest that by 2050 nearly 7 out of every 10 people will live in urban spaces. In an increasingly crowded and urbanized world, space has become a precious commodity. As a species, we seem drawn to cities, despite their obvious disadvantages. From the ancient cities of Southeast Asia to the crowded streets of mo
What is Going on in Nagorno-Karabakh? A Conversation with Historian Sebouh Aslanian
Reports have emerged in recent weeks that a grave humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Nagorno-Karabakh, a contested region in present-day Azerbaijan that contains a large majority of Armenian residents. A prominent international lawyer, Luis Moreno Ocampo, in fact, maintains that “a Genocide is being committed” by Azerbaijani forces against Armenian residents. This episode of “Then & Now” feat
The Long Roots of Israel's Democracy Crisis: A Conversation with Michael Sfard
As we transition to our fourth season of "Then & Now", this episode features renowned Israeli human rights lawyer, Michael Sfard. He offers an analysis of Israel's current crisis of democracy, including the attacks on the judicial system and Supreme Court, and a wide contextual frame that extends back to 1948 and to the founding document of the state of Israel, its Declaration
Fighting Crimes against the Environment: A Conversation about “Ecocide” with Kate Mackintosh
Following the recent destruction of the Kakhovka dam in the south of the country, the government of Ukraine accused Russia of the crime of “ecocide.” This term first surfaced in the 1970s in the context of the U.S. military’s use of Agent Orange in Vietnam. Since that time, the term has gained currency in international legal circles as a tool to fight against large-scale violations of the enviro
From Diversity to Reparation: A Conversation about Race, Higher Education, and the Aftermath of the Affirmative Action Decision with Eddie Cole
On June 29, 2023, the US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to end affirmative action for college admissions, stating that considering race as a factor was unconstitutional, while preserving ‘legacy’ admissions which often allow students of alumni entrance to prestigious institutions. Yet from the establishment of the first university in the United States, race has been a consistent organizing principle in A
The Case for Open Access: A Conversation with Peter Baldwin
In this episode, historian Peter Baldwin makes the case for open access. He surveys the history of knowledge production and transmission from the Gutenberg Bible, which opened up access in unprecedented ways. Open access today, he argues, is not a novelty but continuous with earlier developments in which artists and thinkers were "workers for hire," who were compensated for their creat
The Politics of Reproductive Rights: A Conversation with Elizabeth O'Brien
Women's reproductive rights have been a contentious issue over the past few years in the United States. Both federal and state measures have been introduced that restrict women’s ability to make decisions about their bodies and reproduction, culminating last year with the Supreme Court’s reversal of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. Though the US has been a public battleground for women’s re
Zev's Los Angeles: A Conversation with Zev Yaroslavsky about his New Memoir (Part II)
In part two of our conversation with Zev Yaroslavsky, one of Los Angeles's best-known public officials, we continue our conversation on his recently released memoir and his reflections from his long career in politics. In this episode, Zev talks about the history of race relations in LA, the growing crisis of its unhoused population, and the importance of taking political risks. Zev also reca
Zev's Los Angeles: A Conversation with Zev Yaroslavsky about his New Memoir (Part I)
In the first of a two-part conversation, "Then & Now" sits down with Zev Yaroslavsky, one of LA's best-known public officials, to talk about his fascinating life and forty-year career in politics. Yaroslavsky has just released a memoir entitled Zev's Los Angeles that traces his rise from a Jewish immigrant family in Boyle Heights and Fairfax to his stunning election to Cit
The Life and Times of J. Edgar Hoover: A Conversation with Beverly Gage
As the director of the FBI for nearly half a century, John Edgar Hoover was the chief architect of the American security apparatus during a large chunk of the 20th century. A recognizable figure in popular memory, Hoover is also remembered for his fierce campaigns against Communism and his antipathy to civil liberties, which led to egregious abuses of power. In many ways, his career symbolized th
What Can We Learn from History? A Conversation on Israel and America, Past and Present, with Yael Sternhell
The United States and Israel have both been roiled by major democratic crises in recent years. Many observers attribute these crises to the Trump presidency and the recent plan by the Netanyahu government to undertake a major overhaul of the judiciary. But their roots may well extend back further. Can we learn from the histories of these two countries in understanding the present? Does the story
The Global Debt Crisis and the Neoliberal Economy: A Conversation with Ahilan Kadirgamar and Jamie Martin
In the decade since the global financial crisis of 2007-8, a number of countries have faced and succumbed to sovereign-debt crises and declared bankruptcy. After Greece, Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina, Zambia, and Lebanon, Sri Lanka has recently joined the ranks of countries felled by economic downturn, whose harsh impact will be felt by its people for a long time to come. In this context, the ques
The Past and Future of the Humanities? A Conversation with Katherine Fleming
In the wake of the pandemic and persistent underfunding, cultural and educational institutions in the United States today are increasingly confronted with an uncertain fate. How can they sustain growth, enfranchise new audiences, and increase diversity at a time when “the death of the humanities” looms on the horizon?In this episode of Then & Now, Katherine E. Fleming, the president and CEO of
From Resistance to Representation in Transnational Hip-Hop: A Conversation with Samuel Lamontagne
Hip-hop culture and rap music are often assumed to be quintessentially American art forms. But by the late 1970s, hip-hop had transcended its roots in the US coasts. In France, artists from the African diaspora experimented with hip-hop, using it as an art form to articulate Blackness at a time when their community had little visibility in public life. Hip-hop became a critical tool for crafting B
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