Throughline

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  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Throughline

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Throughline is a time machine. Each episode, we travel beyond the headlines to answer the question, "How did we get here?" We use sound and stories to bring history to life and put you into the middle of it. From ancient civilizations to forgotten figures, we take you directly to the moments that shaped our world. Throughline is hosted by Peabody Award-winning journalists Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei.Subscribe to Throughline+. You'll be supporting the history-reframing, perspective-shifting, time-warping stories you can't get enough of - and you'll unlock access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/throughline

  1. The Lord Of Misrule (Throwback)

    2 DAYS AGO

    The Lord Of Misrule (Throwback)

    By the time his book went to press in London, on November 18, 1633, Thomas Morton had been exiled from the Puritan colonies in Massachusetts. His crimes: drinking, carousing, and — crucially — building social and economic ties with Native people. His book outlined a vision for what America could become. A very different vision than that of the Puritans. But the book wouldn't be published that day. It wouldn't be published for years. Because agents for the Puritan colonists stormed the press and destroyed every copy. Today on the show, the story of what's widely considered America's first banned book, the radical vision it conjured, and the man who outlined that vision: Thomas Morton, the Lord of Misrule. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/throughline. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    49 min
  2. The Mother of Thanksgiving

    21 NOV

    The Mother of Thanksgiving

    The Thanksgiving story most of us hear is about friendship and unity. And that's what Sarah Josepha Hale had on her mind when she sat down to write a letter to President Lincoln in 1863, deep into the Civil War. Hale had already spent years campaigning for a national day of thanksgiving, using her platform as editor of one the country's most widely-read magazines and writing elected officials to argue that Americans urgently needed a national story. But she'd gotten nowhere – until now. Five days after reading her letter, Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. At the time, no one was talking about Pilgrims and Native Americans. But that too would change. Today on the show: a Thanksgiving story you may not have heard, how it happened, and what it leaves out. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    50 min
  3. Behind the Scenes of Throughline

    14 NOV

    Behind the Scenes of Throughline

    Today on the show, we're taking you behind the scenes. We'll tell you how Throughline was born, some of what goes into making our episodes, and a little bit about how we make our special sauce — the Throughline rizz, as the kids say. If you want more of these behind-the-scenes conversations become a Throughline+ subscriber. You can find out more at plus.npr.org/throughline. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    51 min
  4. The Chinese Textiles That Tell the Story of Empire (Throughline+)

    11 NOV · BONUS • THROUGHLINE+ ONLY

    The Chinese Textiles That Tell the Story of Empire (Throughline+)

    Throughline fellow Yin Cai talks with producer Lawrence Wu about the Chinese textiles that tell the story of an empire's end, and what objects like fish skin garments can tell us about politics, class, and early capitalism. To get access to this episode, listen to Throughline sponsor-free, and support public radio, sign up for Throughline+ at plus.npr.org

    16 min

  5. 7 NOV

    The Electoral College (Throwback)

    What is it, why do we have it, and why hasn't it changed? Born from a rushed, fraught, imperfect process, the origins and evolution of the Electoral College might surprise you and make you think differently about not only this upcoming presidential election, but our democracy as a whole. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    47 min
  6. A History of Settlements

    31 OCT

    A History of Settlements

    The question of settlements has loomed over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades, and has only intensified in the past year. According to a UN report, since October 7, 2023, there has been a record surge in settlement activities and increased settler violence against Palestinians. Today on the show: how the settlement movement grew from a small religious mission to one of the central tenets of the current Israeli government. It's a story that intersects with other topics we've covered in our series relating to this conflict – the history of Hamas, the rise of the Israeli right wing, Hezbollah, and Zionism. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/throughline. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    54 min
  7. The Swing State Power Brokers

    24 OCT

    The Swing State Power Brokers

    Today on the show, two stories of building power in swing states: from the top down, and the bottom up. First, how a future Supreme Court justice helped launch a program to challenge voters at the Arizona polls in the early 1960s, in a county that's become a hotbed for election conspiracies in the decades since. Then, how a 1973 labor strike led by Arab Americans in a Michigan factory town sparked a political movement that could play a major role in the 2024 election. This story is part of "We, The Voters," NPR's election series reported from the seven swing states that will most likely decide the 2024 election. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    51 min
  8. How We Vote (Throwback)

    17 OCT

    How We Vote (Throwback)

    Drunken brawls, coercion, and lace curtains: believe it or not, how regular people vote was not something the Founding Fathers thought much about. Americans went from casting votes at wild parties in the town square to doing so in private booths, behind a drawn curtain. In this episode, the process of voting: how it was designed, who it was meant for, and the moments when we reimagined it altogether. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

    55 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
99 Ratings

About

Throughline is a time machine. Each episode, we travel beyond the headlines to answer the question, "How did we get here?" We use sound and stories to bring history to life and put you into the middle of it. From ancient civilizations to forgotten figures, we take you directly to the moments that shaped our world. Throughline is hosted by Peabody Award-winning journalists Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei.Subscribe to Throughline+. You'll be supporting the history-reframing, perspective-shifting, time-warping stories you can't get enough of - and you'll unlock access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/throughline

Information

  • Creator
    NPR
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2024
  • Episodes
    346
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2019-2021 NPR - For Personal Use Only
  • Show Website
    Throughline
  • Provider

    NPR has identified itself as a trader for this podcast and confirmed that this product or service complies with European Union law. Address 1111 N Capitol St NE Washington District of Columbia 20002-7502 United States Phone Number +1 2025132000 Email dsa_inquiries@npr.org

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