America’s Deadliest Election: The Cautionary Tale of the Most Violent Election in American History

America’s Deadliest Election: The Cautionary Tale of the Most Violent Election in American History

Author: The New York Historical August 24, 2026 Duration: 27:12
One hundred and fifty years before the events of January 7, 2021, the 1872 Louisiana gubernatorial election—arguably the most contentious in American history, with both parties claiming corruption and neither candidate conceding—led to racial violence across the state and the deaths of at least 150 Black men in the Colfax Massacre. CNN’s Dana Bash and author David Fisher join David M. Rubenstein to discuss the little-known story of this violent moment in America’s history. Recorded on May 1, ...

David M. Rubenstein sits down with some of the most insightful historians and writers working today for conversations that feel less like a lecture and more like a discovery. For the Ages: A History Podcast, from The New York Historical, digs into the events and figures that define not just the American experience, but world history. Each episode is built around a genuine dialogue, where presidential legacies, the ideas of the founding era, and the often-overlooked individuals who propelled change are examined with fresh perspective. You’ll hear stories that challenge simple narratives, finding the unexpected connections and human complexities behind the dates and names. This podcast thrives on the depth and nuance that these expert guests bring, moving from broad societal shifts to intimate personal histories. It’s for anyone who believes the past is never truly settled and that understanding it requires listening to those who have dedicated their lives to its study. The production emphasizes clarity and substance, allowing the conversations to unfold at a pace suited for thoughtful reflection, whether you're a longtime history enthusiast or just curious about how we got here. Tune in for a series of engaging discussions that make history feel immediate and remarkably relevant to our contemporary world.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

For the Ages: A History Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:01
The early decades of the twenty-first century may be the most revolutionary period in modern history, with tectonic shifts in globalization, technology, identity, and geopolitics. But monumental change can be found acros…
Abraham Lincoln: His Life and Times [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:08
Few people know Abraham Lincoln as intimately as Harold Holzer. The author, co-author, or editor of over 50 books on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War era, Holzer has explored everything from Lincoln’s election to his as…
Viva la revolución: Spain's Role in American Military Conflicts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:11
Spain’s involvement in early American history might feel limited, but Spanish people and their descendants have been involved in American military conflicts, both through direct fighting and the supply of weapons and fun…
Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:06
For many Americans, Harriet Tubman can seem more like a character out of myth than a flesh-and-blood historical figure. Many know of Tubman’s escape from slavery and her brave work on the Underground Railroad, but little…
Mark Twain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:07
Mark Twain was America’s first literary celebrity, a master of his craft whose legacy hangs over our literary tradition. Twain’s words captured the nation’s imagination because the life he led touched on so many aspects…
Baseball's Past and Present [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:12
Known as “America’s pastime,” baseball is much more than a game in the United States. Both a source of national pride and symbol of our identity, the sport is also a window into our past. Born out of alleys and vacant lo…
An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:31
It’s been said that if you remember the ‘60s, you weren’t really there, but when Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin and her late husband, Dick, started to go through his papers from his time as one of…