Past Present Future

Jill Lepore on Trump, Guns and the Red Mirage

This week David talks to the historian and essayist Jill Lepore about where the chaotic last decade of American politics fits into the longer history of the nation. When and how did gun rights become a matter of principle rather than of pragmatism? What makes insurrection so appealing to so many people? Is another civil war really a possibility? Plus, what did the January 6th Committee miss about January 6th?Jill Lepore’s new book is <a href="https://bit.ly/3MzQvpz" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The American Beast: Essays 2012-2022</a><a href="https://shows.acast.com/pastpresentfuture/episodes/64b8dcf1081d350011c99148" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Listen to Gary Gerstle on PPF discussing what happened to the Republican Party</a> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Past Present Future is a bi-weekly History of Ideas podcast with David Runciman, host and creator of Talking Politics, exploring the history of ideas from politics to philosophy, culture to technology. David talks to historians, novelists, scientists and many others about where the most interesting ideas come from, what they mean, and why they matter. Ideas from the past, questions about the present, shaping the future. Brought to you in partnership with the London Review of Books. New episodes every Thursday and Sunday. Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.