History Is Relevant
This podcast links the past to the present. The programs seek new perspectives on current events by examining the history that brought us to where we are today. The host, Robert Brent Toplin, is a university-based professor of history. He has published a dozen books and more than 200 articles, and he has commented on history, politics, and film in several nationally broadcast television and radio programs.
History Is Relevant
Latest Episodes
Trump’s Obama Obsession: Its Impact on the United States and the World
Presidents of the United States typically refer kindly to their predecessors, but Trump frequently denigrates Barack Obama. Trump has been doing this for years. He was the most outspoken proponent of the false Birth Certificate conspiracy theor...
Brexit Was an Economic and Political Disaster. There’s a Related Problem in the United States
June 2026 marked the tenth anniversary of Brexit -- a vote that eventually pulled the United Kingdom out of the European Union. Numerous economists and political analysts discussed Brexit’s impact on that tenth anniversary. Most of their ...
Five Men Made Trump President in 2016
How did Trump, a deeply flawed candidate who stumbled often during the 2016 campaign, win the presidential election?There are familiar explanations for the outcome. Analysts point out that Trump blamed China for the decline of manufactur...
Did the Supreme Court’s Ruling in Citizens United Corrupt American Politics?
The Supreme Court ‘s 2010 ruling in Citizens United v FEC declared the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting independent financial contributions. In subsequent years wealthy individuals, large corporations, and spec...
The Supreme Court Deals a Gut Punch to Voting Rights: A Southerner Reflects
The guest is Steve Bevis. He is a communications professional who met and worked with presidents, senators, representatives, governors, and corporate executives. Bevis recalls the racial injustices he saw growing up in Alabama. He d...