America at 250: A View from Britain, with “The Rest Is History”

America at 250: A View from Britain, with “The Rest Is History”

Author: The New Yorker June 29, 2026 Duration: 53:14
Americans tend to see the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War as milestones in world history that inaugurated the era of modern democracy. But the British, unsurprisingly, see these events quite differently. David Remnick talks with the historians who host the popular podcast “The Rest Is History,” Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland. Growing up in Britain, Sandbrook explains, the Revolution seemed like “a parade of quite boring men talking very earnestly about liberty, [with] battles that involved twenty people in a field somewhere. . . . It’s not Waterloo!” The King was “annoyed” to lose the thirteen colonies to the new nation, but, for his government, “it could have been a lot worse.” Sandbrook and Holland discuss historical events that overshadow the American Revolution in the British mind; the 1619 Project and the subject of slavery; the “colossally consequential” Presidency of Donald Trump; and the fate of the British monarchy. Further reading :  “Was the Declaration of Independence Better Before the Edits?” by Jill Lepore.  “The American Revolution Wasn’t the Main Event” by Daniel Immerwahr. “Two Hundred and Fifty Years of Complicated Commemorations" by Jelani Cobb The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.  Tune in to The Political Scene wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Each week, The Political Scene | The New Yorker brings the magazine’s signature depth and clarity directly to your ears. This isn’t just a recap of headlines; it’s a sustained conversation with the people who spend their days investigating the forces shaping our world. You’ll hear from the publication’s own writers and editors, whose reporting and analysis provide essential context for understanding today’s complex political landscape. The rhythm of the week structures these discussions: Mondays feature editor David Remnick in thoughtful conversations and narratives about unfolding events. Then, on Wednesdays, senior editor Tyler Foggatt selects one consequential story and explores it thoroughly through interviews with both New Yorker staff and leading outside voices. Fridays round out the week with contributions from the magazine’s staff writers, offering their distinct perspectives. Tuning into this podcast means getting behind the scenes of the journalism itself, listening as sharp minds dissect power, policy, and the human stories at the heart of it all. It’s for anyone who wants to move beyond the noise and find a more nuanced, informed take on American politics and global affairs.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

The Political Scene | The New Yorker
Podcast Episodes
The Shifting Meaning of “Moderate” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:30
The New Yorker contributing writer Jon Allsop joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss the shifting meaning of the word “moderate” in the 2026 election season. They talk about recent primary results in Michigan and Wisconsin, and…
Bernie Sanders and Erin Brockovich Take on Data Centers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:02
1. The data centers that power artificial intelligence are being built at a rampant pace, and are spurring resistance all over the country. Apart from public concerns about A.I.’s impact on jobs, privacy, and other aspec…
Gina Raimondo on Reclaiming the American Dream in the Age of A.I. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:05
The Washington Roundtable’s Evan Osnos interviews the former Commerce Secretary and Rhode Island governor Gina Raimondo about a problem she’s been working on since she left the Biden Administration: how to make sure that…
What Is Ibogaine and Why Is Trump Talking About It? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:55
The journalist Michelle Lhooq joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss her reporting on ibogaine, a psychedelic that has recently been embraced by the right—including President Donald Trump. They talk about the movement to promote…
How Socialist Is the D.S.A.? Megan Romer Explains [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:09
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Andrew Weissmann Thinks Donald Trump Can Be Held to Account [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:31
The Washington Roundtable’s Jane Mayer interviews Andrew Weissmann, a former prosecutor for the Department of Justice who served as a lead member of the Mueller investigation, about what meaningful legal accountability i…
Obsession-Worthy Stories: A Washington Summer Roundtable [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:58
The Washington Roundtable reflects on the stories they’ve been following this summer, touching on the “power mourners” at Lindsey Graham’s funeral, Anthony Fauci’s diaries and Senate hearing, and China’s usurping of the…
The Woman Who Took On the N.R.A. After Two Gun Suicides [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:58
The New Yorker contributor Mike Spies joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss the story of a woman who lost two partners to suicide by firearm and then spent years in a legal battle with the National Rifle Association over her la…
One Refugee’s Journey Through ICE Detention [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:30
In 2025, as ICE was struggling to meet an impossible goal of three thousand immigration arrests per day, the agency took an unprecedented step: picking people up when they arrived at immigration court. These were immigra…