Current Events that Relate to History
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Origin StoryThe Dangerous Legal Theory Behind Trump’s Power Grabs
There was no “unitary executive” until some dudes made the idea up to save Nixon.Mother Jones -
Book ReviewIs Spying Un-American?
Espionage has always been with us, but its rapid growth over the past century may have undermined trust in government.The Atlantic -
CommentThe Historic Dangers of Slashing Medicaid Funding
Medicaid has always been fiercely contested political terrain, and past cuts have had disastrous human costs.Made By History -
Book ReviewThe Prelude to the Civil War
“Only two states wanted a civil war—Massachusetts and South Carolina.”The American Conservative -
CommentWhy Beyoncé Is Carving a Route Along the ‘Chitlin' Circuit’
From Jim Crow-era performance to contemporary gospel musicals, entertainers have shaped the Black public sphere.Zócalo Public Square -
Q&AThe Courts Won’t Save Us
Rather than resisting authoritarianism, the courts have enabled Trump’s rise.Jacobin -
exhibitStrike!
Stories about American workers who have taken collective action to demand better conditions from those who benefit from their labor.
From the HNN Archive
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What Is the Role of the Historian?
Rethinking the job of history — and the American Historical Association — after the veto of the Gaza “scholasticide” resolution. -
“A Party for the White Man”
The scene at the 1964 Republican National Convention, when Barry Goldwater was nominated and black Republicans’ worst fears about their party were confirmed. -
Indifferent to the Fate of Freedom Elsewhere
Jimmy Carter is known for his defense of human rights worldwide. But in 1979, he threatened to deport thousands of Iranian student protesters. -
Ohio’s Little-Known Fascist Member of Congress
How a local prosecutor protected white supremacists and went on to a career in Washington, DC. -
Whose Side Are College Administrators On?
There’s a long history of politicians targeting student protesters — and of campus leaders abetting those efforts. -
The Constitution Does Not Speak for Itself
In 1841, John Tyler said he was the president. The Constitution said he wasn’t. What happened next? -
“At Any Future Time”
In 1880, the daughter of a Welsh politician turned to fiction to expose perspectives missing from the official record, upending histories for generations to come. -
Letting the World Scream
In 1984, the U.S. rejected the International Court of Justice’s jurisdiction, revealing its tendency to ignore international rules it sees as unfavorable — even when it helped write them.