Shows
History Behind News ProgramTariffs' History: U.S. Politics & Foreign Policy | S5E24What are tariffs really used for? For economic protection? For political gain? For enforcing foreign policy? In this interview, I discuss the following with my guest scholar: ►Why James Madison foresaw tariffs as an inevitable source of conflict? ►In U.S. history, did Americans ever complain that tariffs are really a tax on the people? ►What was the first instance in which tariffs were used as a foreign policy tool? ►What is the Tariff of Abominations? ►How did tariffs backfire on Southern politicians? ►How are tariffs and...2025-05-131h 00
History Behind News ProgramHistory of the Papacy | S5E23How long was the longest conclave? Was St. Peter actually buried in the Vatican? Has the papacy always been in Rome? In this interview, we discuss the following: ►secret excavations in the Vatican►an ancient Roman cemetery under St. Peter's Basilica ►How did Rome remain the center of Christianity? The answer is not that simple! ►In early Christianity, was the See of Rome superior to other Patriarchies? ►How did the Great Schism happen? ►What was Charlemagne's role in the split between the Western Catholic Church and the East...2025-05-061h 21
History Behind News ProgramPower of the Presidency: What Our Founders Envisioned | S5E22Where do our presidents get their powers? Are those powers enumerated in the Constitution? Or are those powers bestowed by Congress? For our Founders, was the presidency essentially an instrument of legislative agenda? Or did they believe that the president possesses some sovereign right distinct and separate from Congress? In this interview, I discuss the following with my guest: ►Is it possible to compare a modern president, e.g., Pres. Trump, with one of our Founding presidents, e.g., Pres. Washington? Would this be like comparing apples to oranges? ►What was...2025-04-301h 04
History Behind News ProgramPolitical History of Secularism's Rise and Religion's Retreat | S2E21Politically speaking, is America a Christian nation? Is there any country that you would define as a “Christian Nation”? In this interview, I discuss the following with my guest scholar: ►Did Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison believe that America is a Christian nation? ►Is Canada a Christian nation? ►Is Britain a Christian nation? ►What is America's 'Civil Religion'? ►What does the term 'secular' mean? It's not as simple as you think! ►Has America experienced a secular surge? ►We have the Religious Right in our politics. So...2025-04-2358 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastAllah Before Muhammad: Pre-Islam Arabia's Real Story | S2E6Did you know that Allah had daughters? Did you know that before Muhammad, tribes of Arabia already believed in Allah? And if so, then, what did Muhammad offer them? In this interview, I discuss the following about pre-Islamic Arabia: ►a hotbed of monotheistic religions►What is Henotheism? ►the high God and the intermediary gods ►Allah and his daughters►Kaaba's history: water, idols and a meteor ►Kaaba - a big business ►Quraysh - powerful tribe than upended Arabia's tribal traditions►reenvisioning Yahweh and Allah 2025-04-211h 18
History Behind News ProgramTariffs and Taxes - History of U.S. Revenues | S5E20Taxes and wars go hand in hand. And as much as our current partisan politics suggest otherwise, it wasn't a Democratic U.S. president that ushered in the income tax. It was a Republican president - Honest Abe! And later, it was during another Republican president's term that the income tax became permanent - William Taft. The irony of it is that the poor masses and the progressive middle class pushed for the income tax to get the rich to pay their fair share. Now, the poor and the middle American families seem to shoulder most of the income...2025-04-161h 13
History Behind News ProgramS5E19 | South Korea: Perceptions of Failed History & Incomplete National Identity"Crisis of Historical Subjectivity" - my guest, Dr. Namhee Lee, used this phrase to describe the Korean people's experience of 'failed history' and their collective effort to overcome that past. This is the story of "disguised employees" - South Korea's intellectuals who left high-paying jobs to instead work on the factory floor with the aim of bringing about democratic change. 🚩About My 167th Guest:Dr. Namhee Lee is a professor UCLA's Department of Asian Languages & Cultures in UCLA. She is the author of the following books: Memory Construction and the...2025-04-111h 21
History Behind News ProgramS5E18 | America's Arctic Security - What Is "Arctic Exceptionalism"?I start this interview with a super simple question: where is the Arctic? As it turns out, the answer may not be so simple. In fact, it's a serious question that invokes geopolitical conflicts that seem to be undermining the "exceptionalism" of the Arctic. ►In this interview, I discuss the following with Dr. Troy Bouffard: Countries in the Arctic - the Arctic 8, 5 & 3. China - a "Near Arctic Country". Russia and China joint show of force in the Arctic - a wakeup call for America! Can/could Russia embarrass the U.S. wi...2025-04-041h 26
History Behind News ProgramS5E17 | POTUS v. SCOTUS: How America's Presidents Dared & Defied America's Highest CourtPres. Trump is not the first U.S. president to have strained relations with America's courts, including our Highest Court - the Supreme Court of the United States. In fact, more than one U.S. president has openly expressed his personal animosity toward one or more Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court. In this interview, I discuss the following with Dr. Barbara Perry: ►Our Founding Years: -U.S. Constitution, Washington & Adams -Jefferson and Chief Justice Marshall (that malignity!)-Marbury v. Madison (you learned about this ca...2025-03-281h 33
History Behind News ProgramS5E16 | The Fed: Unlikely Story of How Our Central Bank Was CreatedChairman Powell gave a much anticipated press conference this week. Did you know that most developed countries had central banks before we did? If so, then how did our financial system function? And did you know, that for much of our history, we've hated big banks (some still do)? If that's the case, then how was the Fed created? This is a story that takes us from the Founding of our Republic to 1913, the year in which the Fed was created through secrecy and via subterfuge. 🚩About My...2025-03-2158 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS2E5 | Nowruz History: Centennial of Iran's Solar CalendarThis is the story of (1) the king who invented Nowruz for the Guarded Domains of Iran, (2) the calendar system that survived the demise of religions and destructions of empires, (3) the solar calendar with the most accurate calculation of spring equinox before the atomic calendar, (4) the Book of Kings that narrated the mythology of Nowruz, and (5) nostalgia for Iran's pre-Islamic Persian glory. In this interview, we discuss Nowruz and Iran's solar calendar in the context of Achaemenids, Persepolis, Egyptians, Parthians, Sasanians, Abbasids, Samanids, Seljuks, Safavids, Qajars, Pahlavis and the Islamic Republic. We also talk about...2025-03-192h 18
History Behind News ProgramS5E15 | An Immigration Power Not Used By Any President - Until Pres. TrumpImmigration Exceptionalism! ►Is there something about immigration law and policies that distinguishes it from all other legal issues and policy matters? ►Does the Constitution carve out an exception for immigration law? And if so, what is that exception? ►As for the title of this podcast, what power has Pres. Trump used that no other U.S. president has previously exercised? 🚩About My Guest:My guest is Prof. Adam B. Cox, a professor of law at NYU. In this interview, we discuss his book The President and Immigration Law.2025-03-141h 05
History Behind News ProgramS5E14 | America's Men of Destiny. America's Manifest Destiny.Pres. Trump admires Pres. Polk and Pres. McKinley - two presidents who expanded America's territories in an age when territorial expansion was a measure of national success. In this interview, my guest compares Pres. Trump with Pres. Polk and Pres. McKinley. He also explains Manifest Destiny, and indulges my questions about what I term 'America's Manifest Destiny 2.0'. Mr. Merry also talks about America's Men of Destiny. So I ask him this: Is Pres. Trump a Man of Destiny? 🚩About My Guest:My guest is Mr. Robert Mer...2025-03-071h 20
History Behind News ProgramBonus | US Assurances: How Zelensky's Picture In Iran Could Hurt AmericaDo you think Russia would have dared to attack Ukraine when Ukraine had the third largest nuclear arsenal? And why is there a picture of President Zelensky hanging on the side of an overpass in Tehran, Iran? And no, this episode is neither about Ukraine nor about Iran. This is my take about America and American assurances. 🚩Related interviews🎧Finlandization of Ukraine and Finland's wars withRussia/USSR: https://bit.ly/HbN-S2E22-Finland🎧U.S.-Iran failed diplomacy: https://bit.ly/HbN-S2E25s-IranUSDiplomacy 🎧Pres. Trump's Iran sanctions https://bit...2025-03-0612 min
History Behind News ProgramS5E13 | America's Tycoons - Elon Musk's Political Power Compared To OthersElon Musk is different than prior American business tycoons. Arguably, he is more powerful. More poignantly, as my guest argues, he is less dedicated to democracy, and that makes him frighteningly more dangerous. In this interview, I discuss the following with my guest scholar: ►Who was Andrew Carnegie? ►How was he similar to Musk? ►How was Carnegie - once the richest man in the world - different than Musk? ►What was Carnegie's political relationship with Washington and his outlook for America? ►Who was William Randolph H...2025-02-281h 10
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS2E4: Where Did Turkic Peoples Come From?Turkic peoples have dominated Middle East history since the fall of the Sasanian Persian Empire. But where did they come from? Do they all essentially speak the same Turkic language? How is it that Turkic languages remained in the Middle East, when languages of many other conquering peoples faded from Middle East history, such as the Mongols? 🚩About My Guest: My guest is Dr. Kagan Arik, a Lecturer in Modern Turkish and Turkic languages, and coordinator for the Modern Turkish language program at the University of Chicago since 2008. He has also been active as Lecturer in...2025-02-261h 07
History Behind News ProgramS5E12 | Germany's Elections - AfD Party, anti-Immigrant politics & American neo-NazisDid you know that Helmut Kohl, the German Chancellor (1982-99), implemented a planto deport Turkish immigrant back to Türkiye?This is the History of Immigration & Far-right Politics in Germany. Mr. Elon Musk & Vice Pres. JD Vance have endorsed the AfD - Germany's anti-immigrant, Islamophobic, far-right party. And although the AfD commands 20% of the German vote, other parties refuse to form a coalition government with it. In this interview, I discuss the following with my guest: ►Germany's economic headwinds and growing budget challenges ►the rise of the A...2025-02-201h 16
History Behind News ProgramS5E11 | How Japan Works - The "most important bilateral relationship in the world, bar none."Japan's PM Ishiba wanted to visit Pres. Trump soon after Nov. 5. But President-elect Trump didn't grant him an audience until last week. Back in 2016, Japan PM Abe visited President-elect Trump at the Trump Tower. But why have Japanese leaders rushed to meet with Mr. Trump? Because America is important to Japan's economy and security. And vice versa. . In this interview, we discuss the following: ►The "most important bilateral relationship in the world, bar none."►Japan's longest running political party and its loss of power►How Japan's government structure compares to Ame...2025-02-141h 04
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS2E3: Manichaeism - Another 'Iranian' World ReligionMani wrote his own gospel. He performed miracles. And he claimed to be the true prophet - the final prophet!He told the Sasanian Emperor that his religion is better than all the other religions. Mani eventually, and perhaps predictably, ran into conflict with powerful Zoroastrian priests. His religion was persecuted in the Sasanian Iranian Empire and also in the Byzantine Roman Empire. Despite this, Manichaeism survived and spread from borders of China to Alexandria.🚩About My Guest: My guest isDr. Nicholas Baker-Brian, a professor at the Dept. of Ancient His...2025-02-131h 03
History Behind News ProgramIs America Repeating German Empire's Past Mistakes? | BonusThe German Empire was one of the most powerful nations. However, at the height of its power, it abruptly changed its foreign policy from accommodative and collaborative to aggressive and combative. In this video, I compare our country's new style of foreign policy to the German Empires. About the Image: Pres. Trump & Pres. Zelensky in the Oval Office, Feb. 28, 2025. Image By White House Rapid Response - https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1895529813819212191,Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=160853286My recommendations:2025-02-1211 min
History Behind News ProgramS5E10 | How California Ranks In Wildfire ManagementHow could the Los Angeles fires happen? We knew about Santa Ana winds. We knew about the extremely dry conditions. There were no surprises. So, how could this happen? Is California any good at wildfire management?In this interview, we talk about the following:►Native Americans' fire management►Good wildfires►Smokey Bear►American homes built close to wilderness►Coordination between state, federal and local fire management►California's wildfire management budget►the 5 Rs of fire management►Why R #4 always gets more money and attention th...2025-02-071h 05
History Behind News ProgramS5A9 | Are Tariffs As American As Apple Pie?Historically, America thrived on tariffs. In fact, we had tariffs from the very beginning - from Colonial times to the Confederation period to our Constitution, and then throughout the antebellum period, through America's industrial rise and from there up to WWII.In this episode, I'll share a brief review of this history along with my take on how Pres. Trump's tariffs may be different than previous tariffs in U.S. history. ☑️Images from left to right:Pres. Andrew Jackson, Donald Trump and George Washington, and Sec. of Treasury Alexander Hamilton2025-02-0510 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS2E2: Nestorian Christians In Persian Empire - Geopolitics & Zoroastrian Priests►Christian refugees to Sasanian Empire, or double agents for Byzantine Empire?
►Clash of the Sasanian and Armenian empires
►Were Nestorians treated better than Armenians in Sasanian Empire?
►Nestorian hospitals, schools and governing institutions in Iran
►Why Zoroastrian priests pushed to persecuted Nestorians
►Did a Sasanian king kill 150,000 Nestorians?
►How Nestorians succeeded in spreading Christianity from Middle East to China
►What happened to Nestorians?
►Is Nestorianism a misnomer?
🚩About My Guest:
My guest is Dr. Christian van Gorder, a professor in the Department of Religion at Baylor Un...2025-01-221h 17
History Behind News ProgramS5A6 | Inauguration Stories: President For One DayApril 30, March 4, March 5, January 20, & January 21. These are America's presidential inauguration days. In this brief episode, I share with you stories about our presidential inaugurations, including the one about the person who, arguably, was America's president for one day.And here is my post about this podcast, which includes photos of some of the people I talk about in this episode. 🚩In this episode, I also mention several priorguests in my program. Here are their names as well as links to my interviewswith them: ►Prof. Larry Schwartztol: America on...2025-01-2014 min
History Behind News ProgramS5E5 | From Wars With Canada To Tariffs On Canada51st U.S. State! America's interest in incorporating Canada, in some fashion, is as old as our Republic.In those early days and continuing until almost the end of the 19th century, our relationship with Canada was defined by recurring borders raids and wars, our distrust of Canada and our various plans to gobble up our northern neighbor, which was then an extension of the British Empire.And even though our relationship with Canada began to slowly and positively change after 1903, WWI and certainly WWII, Canada's identity was and, arguably, continues to be shaped in...2025-01-171h 12
History Behind News ProgramS5E4 | LA Fires: Rebuilding, Legal Ramifications & HistoryThis is a personal story about a beautiful neighborhood, with kind and supportive neighbors. A beautiful neighborhood that's no more! And this episode is also about the history of coastal Los Angeles, particularly Malibu. My guest explains the legal ramifications of the LA fires and explains how real estate investors will assess and support the huge rebuilding efforts after the fires. 🚩How to help the fire victims:My guest's kids set up this GoFundMe page to help their neighbors who lost their homes in the fire: https://www.gofundme.com/f/sunset-mesa-rebuild🚩About My Guest: J...2025-01-1643 min
History Behind News ProgramS5E3 | Does Trump Help Greenlanders Play World Powers Against Each other?Greenland, Denmark & America - a triangular relation that, per my guest, augurs benefits for Greenlanders. If that's the case, then... ►What do Greenlanders think of Mr. Trump's ideas for their island? ►What do Greenland's indigenous peoples & environmentalists think of America? ►Why did Denmark change Greenland's status from colony to province? ►Can Greenland survive economically as an independent nation? ►What is it like to live in Greenland? ►How do Greenlanders travel in Greenland? ►Who are Greenlanders anyway? 🚩About My Guest: My...2025-01-101h 07
History Behind News ProgramS5A2 | The First State Funeral. The First National Funeral.Funerals of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Harrison, Lincoln, Harding, Taft, FDR, JFK and more. What exactly does a "state fuernal" mean? And how many U.S. presidents had state funerals? I didn't get the chance to answer these question in the podcast. But I answered them in this post, and provided photos as well: https://bit.ly/HbN-Bonus-S5E1-7I hope you my peel of the history behind America's presidential state funerals. You can connect me on social: ►https://www.facebook.com/historybehindnews/►https://x.com/Hist...2025-01-0811 min
History Behind News ProgramS5E1 | How The Boring, Simple Process of Counting Votes Caused CrisesThe Electoral Count Act of 1887 (ECA) was law for 135 years. But then, Jan. 6, 2021, happened - the cause of which some partially attributed to the ECA (more about this in the interview). So, what was to be done? In 2022, Congress passed the ECRA, which will be law on Jan. 6, 2025, when the 119th Congress counts the 2024 Electoral votes. The ECRA is the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022.The counting of the Electoral votes has pushed our country to the brink on multiple occasions. Imagine this: it's two days before the presidential...2025-01-041h 34
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS2E1: A Country Caught Between Middle East, Europe & Russia
►Georgia is a country between two civilizations - Europe & Asia, and Islam and Christianity
►Until the Russians came, Georgia had maintained its status as an independent state.
►Georgia has punched above its weight under Russian and Soviet rule - prime example: Stalin, the most powerful Soviet leader, was Georgian!
In this conversation, Dr. Jones takes us from the ancient and Medieval history of Georgia, including its conflicts with Islamic empires and kingdoms, to its modern period of independence, and its struggle to realign itself with Europe.
🚩About My Guest: 2025-01-031h 13
History Behind News ProgramChristmas, Christianity, Controversy & Commercialization | S4EBonus ChristmasWhy Dec. 25? Why so much Christmas conflict & controversy in Christianity's history? Why is Christmas so important to Christianity? And to America?
In this episode, I ask my guest, Dr. Carey Roberts, the following questions:
►Why is Christmas such a grand celebration? What does this tell us about Christianity?
►Did it take a while for Christmas to take a central role in Christianity
►What's the difference between recognition and celebration of Christmas
►Did Christmas piggyback on existing Roman pagan traditions?
►How did Christmas enter America's culture? I...2024-12-201h 03
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E44: Instead of War, Let's Talk About Love In the Middle East►Did you know that the Arabic language has more than 60 words for 'love'? ►And did you know before Islam, Arabs had love poetry competition, and the best poems were written in gold and hung from the Kaaba? ►But what about love after the advent of Islam? Did you konw that romantic love is discussed in the Qur'an? ▶️Podcast: 🎧https://bit.ly/UME-S1E45 🚩About our guest: My guest is Dr. Abla Hasan, a Fulbright Scholar, a professor and the Coordinator of Arabic Studies Language & Culture Program at the Universit...2024-12-131h 09
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E43: Golden Age of Jewish-Muslim Relations Revealed In 900 Years of Preserved Records Discovered In A Cairo GenizahThe long history of coexistence of between Muslims and Jews, which defies our common understanding of the Middle East, is the subject of this episode.
My guest describes the long, intertwined history of Muslims and Jews, and how in comparison to Christian Europe, for several centuries Jews lived in relative peace in the lands of Islam and even thrived. He ends our conversation by asking us all to remember what we forgot.
🚩About our guest:
Dr. Pytlik is a professor in Anthropology and Judaic Studies, Director of Judaic Studies, and Director of the Cis...2024-11-221h 03
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E42: Why Britain's Prime Minister & Germany's Emperor Were Riled Up About An Ancient Middle East StoryThe story of the Flood told before the Bible! Gilgamesh caused an uproar in Europe.
Translation of the Epic of Gilgamesh in 1872 riled up Christian Europe - embroiling Prime Minister Gladstone and Kaiser Wilhelm II.
Gilgamesh, which was written in cuneiform, is an ancient story that was told and taught in Mesopotamia for 3,000 years. But it was lost to history for more than 2,000 years until 1854.
It's an ancient tale of gods and kingly adventure that weaves through topics familiar to our modern psyches and sensibilities - leadership, violence, quest for mortality, love, homosexuality...2024-11-081h 02
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E41: Why Israel's Lebanon War Was A Military Success But Otherwise A Terrible DefeatHow Ariel Sharon defied and deceived Israel's government to expand war in Lebanon - a former IDF Major shares his Lebanon War stories
►How did Israel get entangled in Lebanon?
►What was Israel's original plan for the 1982 Lebanon War and how did it change?
►How did Ariel Sharon trick the Israeli government into a military confrontation with the Syrians in Lebanon?
►Dr. Bregman's eyewitness account of the Lebanon War, including a dinner with Lebanon's president.
►What lessons can we glean from Lebanon's 1982 war for Israel's current military conflict there?
🚩About my guest:
Dr. Ahron...2024-10-2536 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E40: What Was Israel's Original Plan For Occupying Palestinian Lands? And How Did That Plan Change?Israel’s “Enlightened” occupation was the brainchild of Moshe Dayan. But Likud's 'revolutionary' 1977 election victory changed that.
In this interview, we discuss the following:
►Why was Israel's 1967 victory "cursed'?
►What id Mosheh Dayan mean by an "invisibl occupation"?
►How did the Likud Party's 1977 election victory change the Occupation?
►Did Israel draw lessons from past occupations in history? Or did it start the occupation process from a blank slate?
►Why did Israel unilaterally withdraw from Gaza in 2005?
►And how did Israel handle Hamas in its process of leaving Gaza?
►What is Dr. Bregman's prescripti...2024-10-2441 min
History Behind News ProgramWhy Trump's Maximal Sanctions Against Iran Backfired on America | Bonus👉full episode: https://bit.ly/UME-S1E39
►Are U.S. sanctions on Iran working?
►Are U.S. sanctions against Iran actually working against the United States?
►Have sanctions empowered and emboldened Iran's Revolutionary Guard… to the point that they were ready for war with the United States?
►Did sanctions help Iran's regime crush the Mahsa Amini protests?
►Are sanctions a one-way ratchet - easy to impose, hard to lift?
►Iran's economic decline - due to sanctions or mismanagement?
►If not sanctions, then what?
🚩About my guest:
Dr. Vali Nasr is professor at the Johns Hopkins Unive...2024-10-1107 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastMore Trump Sanctions On Iran! But Did His Maximal Sanctions Work? Or Did They Backfire on America? | S1E39►Are U.S. sanctions on Iran working?
►Are U.S. sanctions against Iran actually working against the United States?
►Have sanctions empowered and emboldened Iran's Revolutionary Guard… to the point that they were ready for war with the United States?
►Did sanctions help Iran's regime crush the Mahsa Amini protests?
►Are sanctions a one-way ratchet - easy to impose, hard to lift?
►Iran's economic decline - due to sanctions or mismanagement?
►If not sanctions, then what?
🚩About my guest:
Dr. Vali Nasr is professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. and the co...2024-10-111h 09
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E38: Is It Strange That Armenian Feminism Flourished After Armenian Genocide and In Capital of Perpetrator?►What is Armenian feminism?
►Was there such a thing as Armenian feminism without Armenian nationalism?
►Why did Armenian feminism flourish in Istanbul? And why after the Armenian genocide?
►Were Armenians more educated than their Muslim counterparts?
►Was the Armenian feminist movement similar to its Western counterparts?
►Why does the denial of the Armenian genocide persist in Türkiye?
►How was the past, with all its dark chapters, empowering for Armenian feminists?
🚩About my guest:
Dr. Lerna Ekmekcioglu is a professor of history at MIT and the Director of the Women and Gender Studies Program there.
2024-09-2753 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E37: Why Elimination of Armenians Was Not Like the Holocaust! And Why Wilsonian Armenia Did Not Materialize?►Fear - fabricated and real fear, nd how it caused the Armenian genocide
►Was the Armenian genocide a Holocaust?
►Why didn't the Ottomans kill all Armenians?
►What are the three ways to "eliminate" a people?
►Would the Armenian genocide have happened without WWI?
►Why does the denial of the Armenian genocide persist in Türkiye?
►What is a Greater Armenia? What is the Wilsonian Armenia?
►Is it legal in Türkiye to study the Armenian genocide?
🚩About my guest:
Dr. Lerna Ekmekcioglu is a professor of history at MIT and the Director of the Women and Gender...2024-09-2656 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E36: Why Is Kurdish Nationalism Unique? Consider This: Realization of A Kurdish Country May Require the Simultaneous Collapse of Three Other Countries!►What is Kurdish nationalism?
►What is Ottoman nationalism with Kuridsh colors?
►Were Kurdish people expose to European ideas of freedom, indepedence and nationalism?
►What is one major obstance to Kurdish independence?
🚩About my guest:
Dr. Djene Bajalan is a professor at Missouri State University. He is a historian of the Middle East specializing in the rise of nationalism and the evolution of the Kurdish question.
He is the author and/or editor of the following:
The Young Kurds: The Kurdish movement before the First World War, and
Studies in Kurdish History: Empire...2024-09-1343 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E35: Have Kurds Ever Had Their Own Country? Do They All Speak the Same Language? Practice the Same Religion?►Who are the Kurdish people?
►Is Kurdish related to any other Middle Eastern language?
►What religions do Kurdish people practice?
►Did Kurdish people ever have their own polity?
🚩About my guest:
Dr. Djene Bajalan is a professor at Missouri State University. He is a historian of the Middle East specializing in the rise of nationalism and the evolution of the Kurdish question.
He is the author and/or editor of the following:
The Young Kurds: The Kurdish movement before the First World War, and
Studies in Kurdish History: Empire, Ethnic and Islam.
Dr. Schultz and A...2024-09-1247 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E34: Religious tolerance in Middle East? Ancient polytheism is the answer, not monotheism!►Ancient theology vs. mythology
►How drunken gods created incapicitated people
►Humans were created to toil for gods
►Polytheism set the stage for monotheism
►Unlike monotheism, polytheism was tolerant
🚩About my guest:
Dr. Jillian Schwedler is a professor of political science at the City University of New York’s Hunter College and the Graduate Center, and also a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Crown Center at Brandeis University.
She is the author of many books, including the following:
Faith in Moderation: Islamist Parties in Jordan and Yemen
Understanding the Contemporary Middle East, and
Protesting Jordan: Geographies of Power and Dissen...2024-08-3024 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E33: How Middle East empires ushered in monotheism and ended polytheism.►Before Monotheism, what were the big religions of the ancient Middle East?
►What are the 4 constitutive elements of religion?
►In polytheism, there is no individual choice or belief. Regardless, polytheism is tolerant.
►Does the term 'religion' make sense in the context of Ancient Middle East?
►Does the term God make sense in the context of Ancient Middle East?
►Monotheism is very much tide to the rise of empires - particularly the first major empire: the Persians!
►How did polytheism die out? What happened to all the gods?
🚩About my guest:
Dr. Beate Pongratz-Leisten is a professor of...2024-08-291h 15
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E32: Is Jordan forever on the brink of a revolution? Is Jordan essentially a U.S. protectorate?►Why do Jordanians protest about water?
►Does Jordan coordinate its budget with the U.S.?
►How do protests in Jordan compare to other countries, such as protests in Iran or the U.S.?
►Why does the government of Jordan promote images of stability and instability?
►Why are cartoonists getting arrests in Jordan for alleged terrorism?
►Is Jordan essentially a U.S. protectorate?
►Is Jordan forever on the brink of a revolution?
🚩About my guest:
Dr. Jillian Schwedler is a professor of political science at the City University of New York’s Hunter College and the Graduate Center, and al...2024-08-0941 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E31: Are Jordan's royal family foreigners in Jordan? Why make fun of the King's Arabic? Protests in Jordan and Jordan's Identity.►Were the Hashemite royal family foreigners in Jordan?
►Did Jordan’s Hashemites belong to a larger, transnational royal family?
►How does the Hashemite royal family’s history impact Jordan’s national identity and nation-building efforts now?
►Why Jordanian protesters and cartoonists poke fun of King Abdullah II’s Arabic
►How were tribal protests in Jordan during Ottoman and British rules different than now?
►If Jordan is not a democractic country, then how are protests routine in Jordan?
►Do Jordanians experience politics in streets as opposed to in parliament and during elections?
►Dose criticizing the King of Jordan cross a red line?
►What does it...2024-08-0849 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E30: Sexual Politics in Iran. An implicit deal about women's rights between Iran's intellectuals and its conservative clergies.►Iranian women before the 1979 Revolution: rights in marriage, education and the right to vote
►Iran's society of two cultures before the Revolution
►The Shah's White Revolution and clergy's protest
►How everyone is having sex in contemporary Iran.
🚩About my guest:
Dr. Janet Afary is a professor of Religious Studies in UC Santa Barbara. She is the Mellichamp Chair of Religion and Modernity and the Director of the Iranian Studies Initiative.
She is the author of many books, including the following:
The Iranian Constitutional Revolution, 1906-1911, Grassroots Democracy, Social Democracy, and the Origins of Feminism,
...2024-07-2638 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E29: Did the Hijab come from Islam? Also, history of Iranian women's rights in marriage & society.►pre-Islam hijab was a status symbol
►Islam adopted the norms of the civilized world - including the hijab
►Reza Shah of Iran forceably unveiled women
►Khomeini was against women's right to vote, until he realized their voice may help his revolution.
►Iranian love poetry was homoerotic, not heterosexual love.
►Iranian love poetry was homoerotic, not heterosexual love.
🚩About my guest:
Dr. Janet Afary is a professor of Religious Studies in UC Santa Barbara. She is the Mellichamp Chair of Religion and Modernity and the Director of the Iranian Studies Initiative.
She is the author of many...2024-07-2540 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E28: Did Middle Easterners think Europe is a troubled & warlike region?►Did Christians see Europe differently than Muslims?
►Were Middle East Jews and Christians pro-"West" and Middle East Muslims anti-"West"?
►Are Muslims more tolerant of other religions than Jews and Christians are?
►How did Arab Christians fare under Muslim governments?
🚩About my guest:
Dr. Ian Coller is a professor of history at the University of California, Irvine - UCI.
His research interests include modern France, French Revolution & Empire, Modern Europe (c.1700-1900), and Muslim Mediterranean.
Dr. Coller's books and other publications include:
Muslims and Citizens: Islam, Politics, and the French Revolutio...2024-07-1228 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E27: Is the Middle East an inherently troubled region?►When did the "West" begin to perceive the Middle East as a troubled region?
►Have Sunni and Shi'a Muslims always been at war? How about Jews and Muslims?
►Why did France invade Egypt? Hint: it was not entirely about geopolitics.
►Have Europeans fought more wars than Middle Easterners?
►Can you think of any wars in the Middle East that match the scale of WWI or WWII?
►Was the de-Christianization of France somehow rooted in Islam?
🚩About my guest:
Dr. Ian Coller is a professor of history at the University of California, Irvine - UCI.
His research i...2024-07-1141 min
History Behind News ProgramS4E16: Elon Musk and History of America's Huge CEO Pay Packages►My guest claims that Mr. Musk's compensation is $0! How is this possible? ►What are the different components of a CEO's pay package?►Why have CEO salaries stayed constant for decades? ►Why did CEO stock options significantly increase in the 1990s?►Why did CEO pay for performance dramatically increase after 2006? ►Who determines CEO pay? And how? The answer and the story behind it are more complex than you might think. ►Who is driving the push to regulate CEO pay? Politicians or shareholders? My guest is intimately familiar with Mr. Musk's pay package. Not only is he an expert on e...2024-06-261h 12
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E26: Arab American Population & Political Power. How will they affect the 2024 presidential election? (part 2 of 2)►Do Arab Americans have powerful political lobbies? If not, why not?
►Can Arab American impact the outcome of the 2024 election?
►Are Arab Americans united about the ongoing conflict in Palestine?
►Are Arab Americans loyal to America?
►What is the population of Arab Americans?
►Was assimilating into America's culture particularly difficult for Arab Americans?
►Did American politicians categorize Arab Americans as inferior to White Americans?
►Was Arab immigration to the U.S. restricted by a quota system?
►Did Arabs immigrate to the U.S. in waves or trickle in over decades?
►Why are so many grocery stores owned by Arab Americans?
...2024-06-2141 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E25: Arab American History, Culture & Identity - Challenging Western Scholars (part 1 of 2)►When did Arabs begin to immigrate to America?
►Were early Arab immigrants to America from wealthy families? Did they come here for economic, political or religious reasons?
►Did Arab immigrants to America have anything in common? Do they have anything in common now?
►Did Western politicians and historian believe Arab Americans have anything in common?
►When did Arab Americans begin to form political organizations to represent them in America?
►Were these early Arab political organizations to affect change back home in the Middle East, or to affect change here in America?
►Why did Arab Americans form secret societies here...2024-06-2044 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E24: Why did the Crusaders sack Christianity's most magnificent city? While most of us don't know this story, most Greeks do! They have neither forgotten nor forgiven.►How could this possibly happen - Crusaders attacking a major Christian city?
►Why did Crusaders detour to Constantinople?
►Why did the Pope excommunicate the Cruaders?
►Was Constantinople the only Christian city sacked by Crusaders?
►What happened after the sack of Constantinople?
►What were European memories and later perceptions of this terrible event?
►Was there shame among Europeans?
►How was the sack of Constantinople justified in later decades and centuries?
►Why haven't Greeks forgotten and forgiven the sack of Constantinople?
►What did the Greeks tell the...2024-06-0749 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E23: The Crusades - huge history in Europe but mostly unknown in the Middle East! This is the unlikely story of the First Crusade's success.►Were the Crusades the Christian equivalent of Islamic jihad?
►Could the Crusades be explained as the battle of civilizations?
►What motivated Europeans to make the journey to the Middle East for war?
►Who were the Europeans that joined the Crusades? Were they rich? Poor? Middle class?
►What is the relationship between the medieval Crusades and the problems of the modern Middle East?
►Did Middle Easterners benefit from the Crusades – from contact with the Europeans?
►What did Middle Easterners think of the Crusades as they were happening?
►How did the F...2024-06-0645 min
History Behind News ProgramS4E15: Debunking Histories of Conservatism & Jewish Americans►What does it mean to be conservative? ►Is Donald Trump a conservative? ►How are most experts misunderstanding the history of America's conservatism? ►How are most experts misunderstanding an important part of modern Jewish American history? My guest has correctly predicted the outcome of every U.S. presidential election since 1984. In this episode, I ask him to predict the 2024 election? We also talk about FDR's record of helping or harming European Jews in the years leading up to WWII. 🚩About My Guest: Dr. Allan Lichtman is a Distinguished Professor of History at...2024-06-051h 03
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E22: When and how did Jewish people begin to leave their homeland?►How much of the stories in the Bible about the Jewish people is myth and how much of it is real history? Are the two in conflict at times?
►Did Jews leave their homeland in stages and over time?
►Did Jews become refugees?
►Initially, how far away from their homeland did Jews settle?
►Assyrian Empire's massive invasion of the Levant and displacement of peoples, including Jews
►Jewish revolts against the Roman Empire
►Destruction of the 2nd Temple
►Depopulation of Judea
►Lachish and remains of a massacre
🚩About our guest:
Dr. Pytlik is a professor in Ant...2024-05-2428 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E21: When did Jews live in this land? What did they call their land? When did Jewish people form their first kingdom? Where do the terms Jewish and Judaism come from?►Origin of the Jewish people, according to scholarship
►When did Judaism become a religion?
►Judah & Israel - how were these kingdoms different?
►How did Jewish kingdoms fit within the geopolitics of the region?
🚩About our guest:
Dr. Pytlik is a professor in Anthropology and Judaic Studies, Director of Judaic Studies, and Director of the Cis Maisel Center for Judaic Studies at Oakland, University, in Rochester, MI.
To learn more about him, you can visit his academic homepage. Also, here is his dissertation on Imagining David, the Man and King, and also a paper on the Canaanite a...2024-05-2345 min
History Behind News ProgramS4E14 : Georgia's Existential Moment - Join EU Or Return To Russia's Orbit►Georgia is a country between two civilizations - Europe & Asia, and Islam and Christianity►Until the Russians came, Georgia had maintained its status as an independent state. ►Georgia has punched above its weight under Russian and Soviet rule - prime example: Stalin, the most powerful Soviet leader, was Georgian! In this conversation, Dr. Jones takes us from the ancient and Medieval history of Georgia, including its conflicts with Islamic empires and kingdoms, to its modern period of independence, and its struggle to realign itself with Europe. 🚩About My Guest: Dr. Ste...2024-05-221h 13
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E20: Wouldn't you like to return to a time when Middle East was free of religious wars?►Whos is Shulgi?
►What is so special about the 3rd Dynasty of Ur?
►Why did civilization start?
►Could ancient women exercise a different religion than their husbands?
►Why do have 60 mins in an hour?
►Can a king be in two places at once?
🚩About My Guest:
Dr. Tonia Sharlach is professor at Oklahoma State University. Her fields of research and expertise include Ancient history, Sumerian and Babylonian civilization and religion, and women in Ancient Near Eastern religion.
She received her PhD from Harvard university and is the author of An Ox of One's Own: Royal Wives and...2024-05-1028 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E19: What happened when Mesopotamian gods went on strike? They created humans to do their work!►Who eats the food that is offered in temples to gods?
►Was separation of church & state even conceivable to ancient Mesopotamians?
►Ancient climate crisis: abandoned regions and religions
►How do we know so much about ancient Mesopotamia - from epics of gods to chronicles of kings to everyday lives of ordinary people?
►Did women have property rights in ancient Mesopotamia? Could women obtain divorce? Could women serve as clergies?
►Story of one king with a bride younger than his own kids!
🚩About My Guest:
Dr. Tonia Sharlach is professor at Oklahoma State University. Her fields of research and...2024-05-0934 min
History Behind News ProgramS4E13: History of Gambling - Divinations, Julius Caesar, Steamboats & Vegas►How we gambled before ash economy? ►Are religion and gambling somehow connected? ►How did risk-taking change after humanity settled down? ►How did 2nd chances - the concept of starting again - develop in America's gambling? ►Why did Las Vegas and Atlantic City seesaw on legalizing gambling? 🚩About My Guest: Dr. David Schwartz is UNLV's ombuds and also a professor in the Dept. of History. Previously, he was the director of Schwartz was director of the Center for Gaming Research within University Libraries. In recognition of his role in promoting the preservation of Las Vegas...2024-05-081h 03
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E18: Story of Iran's Nuclear Program & Perceived Threats To Its Security - How It All Began.What lessons does Iran glean from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a country that voluntarily gave up its nuclear power!
What is the logic behind Iran's nuclear program? And how has that logic evolved from the time of the Shah to Iran's 9-year war with Iraq, to Iraq's fall to the U.S. military in 2003, to Iran's present military involvement in places like Lebanon and Syria.
In this episode, we'll also talk about sanctions - they are easy to impose but extremely difficult to manage and to remove.
🚩Abo...2024-04-2636 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E17: After conquering Afghanistan & Iraq, did America miss opportunities to neutralize the hardline mullahs of Iran's regime?Today Baghdad, Tomorrow Tehran!
This was the mantra and mentality of very high ranking officials of the Bush White House after the swift fall of Baghdad to the US military in 2003, which was the same year that Iran sent a secret letter to the U.S., offering to negotiate about... well, just about everything!
In this episode, we'll also talk about why the Obama White House drew parallels... between Iran and Vietnam,... even though we were not at war with Iran?
In addition, my guest will tell us the story behind the unlikely...2024-04-2539 min
History Behind News ProgramS4E12: Ecuador: The Undoing Of A Once Peaceful, Multicultural Country"The continent's most violent country" is a phrase used in BBC News this week. In this episode, my guest scholar, Dr. Carmen Martinez Novo, takes us through the history of Ecuador's indigenous peoples and their struggles for equal rights and environmental rights, including an almost three-decade lawsuit against Chevron (initially Texaco). Of course, in this conversation, Dr. Martinez Novo will peel the history behind Ecuador's current state of violence - unprecedented for once a peaceful country. Dr. Martinez Novo is the author of Undoing Multiculturalism: Resource Extraction and Indigenous...2024-04-241h 03
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E16: The Crusades is an example of what happens when a group makes exclusionary claims on Palestine.Our Holy Land and only Our Holy Land!
What does this mean to you?
My guest scholar explained to me that the Crusades is an example of what happens when outsiders come in and make exclusionary claims on Palestine.
As she told me, the history of the Crusades is not forgotten by the People of Palestine, because they draw sharp contrasts between Christian Europeans' conquest of Jerusalem in 1099, in which Muslims and Jews were slaughtered and excluded, to the Muslim Arab re-conquest of Jerusalem in 1187, in which there was no bloodbath and Jews...2024-04-1230 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E15: Were Palestinians historically called Palestinians? No! Historian of Palestine explains.Would it surprise to hear a Palestinian, in fact, a scholar of Palestinians and their history, to assert that there was NOT a distinct people called Palestinians. Instead of Palestinians, my guest scholar prefers the "people of Palestine". And as it turns out, there is a huge difference between these two terms, a considerable distinction that belies our common misunderstanding of the people of Palestine and our attempts to shoehorn them into our current perceptions of homogenized peoplehood and modern nationhood.
As my guest scholar tells it, understanding the people of Palestine is not...2024-04-1138 min
History Behind News ProgramS4E11: The Saga of China's Brutal One-Child PolicyFamilies with second pregnancies were punished. Quiet often, mothers who became pregnant again were forced to abort - even in the third trimester. But now... China's government is promoting multiple pregnancies. There are even beauty pageants... for pregnant mothers. In this episode, a replay of its original recording in 2021, my guest scholar peels the history behind this news - the history of China's One-Child Policy.🚩About My Guest: Dr. Feng Wang is a professor of sociology at the University of California, Irvine - UCI. He has...2024-04-101h 02
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E14: Europe's fears & fascinations: American colonies vs. Ottoman trade and Islam's expansion?Spanish explorers and colonizers spoke in Christian terms and with religious zeal - calling for another crusade against the Muslims. And when describing the Americas, they referred to Montezuma as a Sultan, America's structures as mosques and Native women's dresses as Moorish.
🚩About My Guest:
Dr. Alan Mikhail is a professor of history and chair of the Department of History at Yale University. He is the author of several award-winning books , including:
Under Osman’s Tree: The Ottoman Empire, Egypt,
and Environmental History ;
Nature and Empire in Ottoman Egypt: An Environmental History...2024-03-2926 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E13: Why didn’t the Ottomans explore the Americas? Were the Ottomans a Turkish Empire? And how Islam entered Ottoman ethos and geopolitics?The Ottomans didn't explore the Americas because they didn't need to. The Ottomans were much wider polity than merely being a Turkish Empire. And the ambitions and life story of one Ottoman Sultan explains how the Ottomans became the custodian of Islam's holy cities.
These are the short answers to the questions posed in the title. But the long answer is way more interesting. The Ottoman Empire - the superpower of its time - writ large in Christian Europeans' minds.
In this episode, my guest, Dr. Alan Mikhail, explains the impact of the Ottomans in...2024-03-2836 min
History Behind News ProgramS4E10: The Longest Continuous Monarchy - Denmark's HistoryDenmark was once Europe's greatest Protestant power. But just in a span of two or so decades, it was reduced to a has-been. How did this happen? And what lessons are there for America? In addition, Denmark's monarchy is quite informal and highly approachable, particularly when compared with the British monarchy. 🚩About My Guest: Dr. Paul Douglas Lockhart is a professor of history at Wright State University. He teaches courses in military history, early modern Europe, and Scandinavia in its “Age of Greatness.” In 2022, he was elected to membership in the Royal Society for Dan...2024-03-271h 08
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E12: How did the mighty Sasanian Empire fall to the Muslim Arabs? Debunking widely accepted history!►How did the mighty Sasanian Persian Empire fall to the Muslim Arabs?
►What happened in the Persian Empire on February 9, in the year 628?
►How did the Sasanian royal attempt to retake Iran from the Muslims?
►Where is the tomb of the heir to the Sasanian throne - the last Sasanian King of kings, the last pre-Islamic Shah of Iran?
🚩About My Guest:
Dr. Khodadad Rezakhani is a lecturer and a senior research fellow at Leiden University. He is a historian of Global Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages, with a focus on Central and West Asia f...2024-03-1538 min
History Behind News ProgramS4E9: Did Persians Really Lose Their Empire To Arabs? Were They Persians Or Iranians?►How did the mighty Sasanian Persian Empire fall to the Muslim Arabs? ►What happened in the Persian Empire on February 9, in the year 628? ►Where is the tomb of the last Sasanian King of kings? Were the Achaemenid and Sasanian Empires Persian or Iranian? What's the significance of these terms in the context of the past? How about now? Or in the 20th century, when Persia officially changed its name to Iran? 🚩About My Guest: Dr. Khodadad Rezakhani is a lecturer and a senior research fellow at Leiden University. He is a historian of...2024-03-151h 24
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E11: Achaemenid & Sasanian Empires - Persians or Iranians? Peoples Included & Excluded. Historian ExplainsWere the Achaemenid and Sasanian Empires Persian or Iranian? What's the significance of these terms in the context of the past? How about now? Or in the 20th century, when Persia officially changed its name to Iran?
Were ancient tribes of Ukraine an Iranian people?
🚩About My Guest:
Dr. Khodadad Rezakhani is a lecturer and a senior research fellow at Leiden University. He is a historian of Global Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages, with a focus on Central and West Asia from 500-700 CE. His research focuses on the Sasanian and Early Isl...2024-03-1446 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E10: Were Ancient Middle Easterners Warlike & Violent? How Do We Know So Much About People Who Lived 4,000 Years Ago!Habits, health, beer parties, careers, raising kids, and personal crises – stories of ancient Mesopotamians told through more than half a million clay tablets. They say, “The past is a foreign country.” This is true. Also true are the similarities of modern and ancient people.
🚩About My Guest:
Dr. Amanda Podany is a professor of History at Cal Poly Pomona. She has authored many books, including the following:
Brotherhood of Kings: How International Relations Shaped the Ancient Near East, and
Weavers, Scribes, and Kings: A New History of the Ancient Near East.
🎧History o...2024-03-0129 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E9:How Successful Diplomacy Worked in Ancient Middle East - It Required 5 Essential ElementsBefore powerful empires could conquer faraway lands, the Middle East was a peaceful region, where sophisticated diplomacy averted wars with neighbors and established trade between distant kingdoms. And the absence of foreign intervention contributed to peace in the ancient Middle East.
🚩About My Guest:
Dr. Amanda Podany is a professor of History at Cal Poly Pomona. She has authored many books, including the following:
Brotherhood of Kings: How International Relations Shaped the Ancient Near East, and
Weavers, Scribes, and Kings: A New History of the Ancient Near East.
🎧History of America's Conspiracy Theories
...2024-02-2941 min
History Behind News ProgramS4E8: America's Conspiracy Theories - From Taylor Swift/Kelce Back to WWIWorld War I was a major turning point for America's conspiracy theories. Before WWI, conspiracy theories targeted minorities and marginalized groups. But after WWI, conspiracy theories became about our government, about the Deep State. My guest for this episode is Dr. Kathryn Olmsted, a professor at the History Dept of UC Davis. She is the author of many books on America's conspiracy theories, including two books that wediscuss: (1) Challenging the Secret Government:The Post-Watergate Investigations of the CIA and FBI, and (2) Real Enemies: Conspiracy Theories and American Democracy, World War I to 9/11. ...2024-02-281h 02
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E8: Is Yemen the Graveyard of Empires? Yemen Was "the Vietnam" of Which Country? Are the Houthis a Ragtag Army? Do They Need Iran's Help?The Ottomans, Portuguese and British have fought over Yemen. And through it all, the Zaydi Imamate has been there - since the 9th century. These are the roots of the Houthis - Shia Muslims who practice a different Shi'ism than Iran. As important as their religions beliefs may seem, including their association with Iran, as you will learn in this episode, it's more about geopolitics and power than anything else.
My guest for this episode is Dr. Charles Schmitz, a professor at Towson University and a non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute.
He is...2024-02-1630 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E7: Who Are the Houthis of Yemen? What Did Their Leader Admire About Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini? What Did They Admire About Egypt's Nasser?The Ottomans, Portuguese and British have fought over Yemen. And through it all, the Zaydi Imamate has been there - since the 9th century. These are the roots of the Houthis - Shia Muslims who practice a different Shi'ism than Iran. As important as their religions beliefs may seem, including their association with Iran, as you will learn in this episode, it's more about geopolitics and power than anything else.
My guest for this episode is Dr. Charles Schmitz, a professor at Towson University and a non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute.
2024-02-1536 min
History Behind News ProgramS4E7: Is Yemen The Graveyard of Empires? Are Houthis A Ragtag Army?Out of the 3 major trade routes in the Middle East before the Suez Canal, 2 traversed through Yemen. No wonder the Sasanian Persians, the Ottomans, the Portuguese and the British all occupied and attempted to colonize Yemen. In this episode our guest scholar, Dr. Charles Schmitz, will explain the rise of Houthis in the context of Yemen's religion and history, going back to the 9th century. Dr. Schmitz is a professor at Towson University and a non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute. This episode will be published in two parts on Feb. 15 and 16 at our...2024-02-1402 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E6: MAGA, Reclaiming History and the Need for Intellectual Communities - Lessons From the Middle EastMiddle East reclaims the glories of its past - real and imagined. As you'll note in this episode, colonialism derailed the history of Middle East. And now its despots, representatives, clerics, and the masses reach for history to continue what they believe should be their paths.
Interestingly, despite the repression of most Middle East countries, vibrant intellectual communities have flourished there in which they discuss history, philosophy and other subjects. Unfortunately, such communities are lacking in the United States.
Do you think we can create intellectual communities in America outside the university environment? If so, how?
...2024-02-0947 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E5: What Is Political Islam? And Why Would the Books of A Prominent Shia Muslim Philosopher Be Banned in the Islamic Republic of Iran?Does history have a meaning? Christianity demands a meaning - because human life is not in vain. And Islam is similar. But our perception of history has changed in the last 300 years. It has become more secularized. Interestingly, political Islam is a product of that process.
After you have listened to this episode, please share your thoughts regarding the following questions:
Do you think that people in the non-western world are not yet ready to exercise their democratic rights, and that they need guided democracy?
Does this proposition makes sense for our time...2024-02-081h 00
History Behind News ProgramS4E6: How to live with 25% inflation? PER MONTH!How Argentinians buy homes? Negotiate salaries? Going shopping? Argentina used to be Latin America's largest economy - but no longer! Mismanagement and politics have led to several national defaults and, by some measures, Argentina has the highest inflation in the world! To better understand Argentina's economic challenges, I spoke with Dr. Gabriel Palazzo (also visit his personal homepage and X.com account) - a development economist from Latin America exploring questions crucial to improving quality of life and well-being in developing economies. He is a Research Officer at the Institute of Development Studies in England. Prior to...2024-02-071h 20
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E4: America's Middle East Military Strategy After 9/11. Was War Our Only Option?Losing an American ally & the Carter Doctrine!
In yesterday's conversation with Dr. Bacevich, we discussed
how America's military strategy transitioned from fighting Nazis and fascists, and later fighting proxy wars against communists, to fighting in the Middle East. In this episode, Dr. Bacevich tells us about the fall of America's prime ally in the Middle East - the Shah of Iran. And he explains the Carter Doctrine, including the irony of America's military potentially supporting the Islamic Republic of Iran!
He'll also talk about our Middle East wars against terrorism - America's wars for more...2024-02-0232 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E3: What Happened in 1979? How Did America's Military Get Sucked Into the Middle East After Vietnam?What was the Carter Doctrine? How did the fall of the Shah of Iran affect U.S. military policy in the Middle East? Did America take sides in the Iran-Iraq War?
We love to get your answer to these questions:
Before listening to this episode, did you know that the United States supported Saddam Hussein in his long war against Iran?
Do you believe that America should continue to intervene in Middle East conflicts? Or should America leave the area alone and let the countries of the Middle East fight their own battles and reach peace...2024-02-0136 min
History Behind News ProgramS4E5: Would the North Have Gone To War If Slavery Was Not At Issue?While Ms. Nikki Haley was reluctant to say the "S" word (read slavery), we all know that slavery caused the Civil War. In this episode, we discuss whether slavery was the Civil War's immediate cause or its underlying cause.The in-depth analysis of this history is important for our current political moment because race is placed in front and center. For example, did you know that not all Southern states seceded? Or that most Northerners were deeply racist? Or that some slave states, such as Maryland, did not secede and that the Emancipation Proclamation did not apply to them...2024-01-311h 09
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E2: If Japan Could Catch Up With the West, Why Couldn’t Countries of the Middle East?Is democracy the best form of government for the economic progress of countries in the Middle East? If your answer is yes, then how do you explain Turkiye? But if your answer is no, then how do you explain the UAE? And if not democracy, then what form of government would you suggest?
click here to answer
This question form will expire on Fir., Feb. 2, 2024.
My guest for this episode is Dr. Philip T. Hoffman. He is a professor of Business Economics and History at the D...2024-01-2629 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastS1E1: Why Did Small European Kingdoms, and Not the Huge Empires of Asia, Conquer the World?And when did Middle Easterners begin to all fall behind Europeans? And what does it even mean to fall behind?
For progress, which one do you think is better:
many small states competing against each other?
big states with huge resources and internal stability?
click here to answer
This question form will expire on Wed., Jan. 31, 2024.
My guest for this episode is Dr. Philip T. Hoffman. He is a professor of Business Economics and History at the Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences of the California Institute o...2024-01-2555 min
Scholars Unravel Middle EastJanuary 25, 2024: Analysis, History, Myths & Mysteries of the Middle EastWelcome to our new program. I am Adel Aali, host of Unravelling the Middle East, an in-depth history and analysis podcast that will launch on January 25, 2024.
In this program, I ask my guests, who are all preeminent scholars, fundamental questions about the Middle East.
Unravelling the Middle East is a production of the History
Behind News program.
I started the History Behind News podcast three seasons
ago. Since then, 125 scholars (and counting) have guest participated in conversations with me to dig deep into the wide range of histories that help explain our news and...2023-12-2302 min
History Behind News ProgramS3E40: When did Jewish people live in this land? When did they leave it?As Gaza and Israel explode in crisis and unspeakable tragedies unfold there, we are producing a Middle Series in which we will soon have guests to tell the story of the Palestinian people.
In this episode, my guest, Dr. Michael Ptylik, tells the story of the origin of Jewish people through these discussion points:
From when were the Jewish people called Jewish?
What was their land called?
When did Jews form a polity?
So, was it Judaism or Yahwism?
When did Judaism become a religion?
When did Jewish people begin to leave Israel?
...2023-10-201h 12
History Behind News ProgramS3E34: How Ruthless Gangs Rend and Ravage Haiti“Is Haiti a Failed State?” I asked Dr. Robert Fatton.
Think about his question from the perspective that there is no civil war in Haiti. Yet, the country is in total and complete chaos.
In this episode, my guest, Dr. Fatton, answers the above question and talks about the history of why democracy did not take hold in Haiti, and how violent gangs became so powerful there. In fact so powerful that they could restrict the movement of Haiti's prime minister, and so powerful that Haiti's government outnumbered and outgunned, has asked for international military intervention to bring some sense of s...2023-09-011h 31
History Behind News ProgramS3E29: The Magic of the Movies... Is It Gone?Barbenheimer, Hollywood's Strike & Hollywood's History
Did you know, that the three stooges, Larry, Curly, and Moe, with their physical and slapstick comedy that we all know, never got a dime for all their movies we saw on our TVs? Why? Because those residual incomes were not in their contracts!
As my guest in this episode, Professor Thomas Doherty explains, this strike is similar to the 1960 strike, in that in the 1950s, technology changed everything. Back then, the new technology was TV. Now it’s streaming and AI. But Prof. Doherty also explains ho...2023-07-281h 16
History Behind News ProgramS3E27: Recession! What recession?Have economists predicted and prevented past recessions? Barely anyone is talking about a recession now. But just a couple of months ago, it was front-page and prime-time news.
And here is an excerpt from a June 4th WSJ article: “Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal in April put the probability of a recession at some point in the next 12 months above 50%. But they have said that since October, and the recession appears no closer.” So, in other words, no one really knows, not even the experts.
To better understand the history of America's recessions their fr...2023-07-141h 07
History Behind News ProgramS2E8: Wars in Ukraine, A History of Russian Imperialism And InsecurityDr. David Stone, U.S. Naval War College, is an expert on Russian military history. He takes us back to a treaty in 1654, one that Russia cites as the basis of its claim to Ukraine. From there, he explains the history of wars in Ukraine, from Peter the Great to Catherine the Great, and then to Vladimir Lenin, WWI and Ukraine's declaration of statehood, and then to the catastrophe of famine in the 1930s and the calamity of WWII.
Dr. Stone is the author of the following books:
Hammer and Rifle: The Militarization of the Soviet Un...2022-02-2554 min
History Behind News ProgramS2E5: Who Are Ukrainians? Kievan Rus'... Ukraine’s National IdentityAre Ukrainians and Russians One People? Mr. Putin certainly claims so. In this episode, Ms. Catherine Wanner, a professor of history, anthropology and religious studies at PennState University, sets out to answer this complex question by exploring Ukraine's and Russia's shared histories, as well as their similar languages and religions.
Professor Wanner has devoted her career to the study of Ukraine and Ukrainians, and has published extensively on this subject. Her most recent book is Everyday Religiosity and the Politics of Belonging in Ukraine (Amazon link). Examples of her previous books include State Secularism and Lived Religion i...2022-02-041h 10
History Behind News ProgramS2E4: 100,000 Overdose Deaths! - a clinical history of America’s opioid crisis. Chasing the White Dragon...Prof. Agahi was working with opioid users from the very beginning of the crisis. In this episode, she tells the story of how America's opioid problem became a pandemic!
Prof. Agahi tells us about "chasing the white dragon", a term she digs into and defines it in the context of overdose, which is the leading cause of death and injury in the U.S. She speaks about who is to blame, how should addicts be treated (wholistic approach), suicide prevention, harm reduction, and compares the opioid pandemic death tolls against other major U.S. killers, such as dia...2022-01-281h 08
History Behind News ProgramS2E2: Biden Is Forgiving Some Student Loans - history of why student loan programs were designed as a financial productProf. Shermer tells us how student loans were designed as a financial product, rather than a guarantee for higher education. This history, she explains, has made all the financial difference to students, their families and our country, and has created the current crisis.
As of the production of this podcast episode, America's student debt burden stood at $1.73 trillion! Do the math, and you'll note that this figure is not an insignificant percentage of our GDP. While this debt keeps on climbing, no one in government is really rushing to fix the problem. And here is something intriguing: this...2022-01-141h 01
History Behind News ProgramReflecting On Season OneListen to 42 highlights from Season One, and learn about what's coming up in Season Two.
The first season of ThePeel.news has come to an end. Over the course of the past 42 episodes, we've covered many fascinating subjects and organized them into several series, which you can find on our website.
In this first season, our audience has grown, our newsletter subscription has increased, and more and more of you are financially supporting our program through your small monthly contributions.
I am very grateful for your support, which helps us develop and di...2021-12-1727 min
History Behind News ProgramS1E42: America’s water rights - the Colorado River... and was Tennessee stealing Mississippi’s water from under them?Prof. Craig explains America’s water rights, the Colorado River’s special case and environmental consequences of diverting the water far away from their river sources.
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously decided against Mississippi in its water rights dispute against Tenessee. The case was not only the first oral argument of this term and the first decision rendered by the Court, but it was also the first of its kind: a dispute about groundwater rights that is based on tort law, and not the legal doctrine of Equitable Apportionment. If all of this sounds too... well, too leg...2021-12-1058 min
History Behind News ProgramS1E41: vaccines in ‘50s, ‘60s & '70s… clamor & rush to get vaccinatedAs Covid vaccine conflict continues, Dr. Wadman explains history of vaccines that saved our parents and grandparents.
Omicron arrived in America this week. It is a new Covid-19 variant, one which President Biden says is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic. Regardless, the President, the CDC and other health care professionals and institutions are encouraging Americans, as they have been for months now, to get vaccinated. To better understand what the world was like when there were no vaccines, and what happened when vaccines were developed, such as polio and rubella vaccines, we spoke with...2021-12-0353 min