America: The Story of the USA
America: The Story of the USA

America: The Story of the USA

Liam Heffernan | A Mercury Podcast

Overview
Episodes

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This is your deep‑dive guide to how the United States became what it is today - politically, culturally, and socially. We unpack the pivotal moments, defining conflicts, influential leaders, and overlooked voices that shaped, and continue to shape, the nation’s identity. Designed for curious listeners, students, educators, and lifelong learners, this series blends accessible storytelling with historically grounded insight to help you understand not just what happened in America’s past, but why it still matters now. If you want a clear, compelling, and richly narrated journey through U.S. history, this is the podcast that brings the American story to life. Made in partnership with the British Association for American Studies. . AD FREE & BONUS CONTENT: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa . GET THE NEWSLETTER: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ BRANDS & ADVERTISING: [email protected] . America: A History is a part of the Mercury Podcast Network, hosted by your resident US expert Liam Heffernan, in partnership with The British Association for American Studies: baas.ac.uk

Recent Episodes

In the Making: Is Trump Running out of Patience with Iran?
MAY 21, 2026
In the Making: Is Trump Running out of Patience with Iran?
This week, US senators have voted unanimously to withhold their own pay during future shutdowns. We also look at the latest redistricting news, and what it could mean for future elections. And, as the war in Iran continues, we take stock of what exactly is happening after Trump warned the clock is ticking on a peace deal. What does that even mean, and what does peace even look like? My guest this week is Andrew Gawthorpe from Leiden University, whose research focuses on the foreign policy and politics of the modern and contemporary United States, and is the host of the excellent newsletter, America Explained. . Stories: 03:54 - Redistricting https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-congress-trump-voting-rights-b939802fd1ee9c3ae47a8619151a9746 14:04 - Senators Withhold Pay During Shutdowns https://apnews.com/article/senate-pay-shutdown-withhold-government-face16eac3196ad4c3bedf3d699be87f 19:23 - The War in Iran https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p4y9y48xo 39:56 - WordSkills Competition https://uk.news.yahoo.com/community-college-student-michigan-1st-113401010.html . Sources: Trump’s clock is ticking on Iran: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd0p4y9y48xo  Redistricting is out of control: https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-congress-trump-voting-rights-b939802fd1ee9c3ae47a8619151a9746  Senator’s vote to withhold pay during future shutdowns: https://apnews.com/article/senate-pay-shutdown-withhold-government-face16eac3196ad4c3bedf3d699be87f Michigan student becomes first women at World Welding Championships: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/community-college-student-michigan-1st-113401010.html WorldSkills Shanghai 2026: https://worldskills2026.com/ . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/americathestoryoftheusa Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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48 MIN
How Did Speeches Win the American Civil War?
MAY 19, 2026
How Did Speeches Win the American Civil War?
Speeches in wartime do more than persuade. They inspire, they unify, and they define the terms of struggle. In the years around 1861, orators on both sides used rhetoric to justify secession, to call men to arms, to appeal for foreign sympathy, and to reframe the meaning of the Union. From abolitionist orations to Confederate defenses of slavery, public speech shaped recruitment, diplomacy, and memory. So in this episode, I’m asking… how did speeches win the American Civil War? . Special Guest: Thomas Wright, a Professor of History at the University of Sussex, who specialises in 19th‑century American political culture and rhetoric. His recent work examines public persuasion, print culture, and transatlantic debates during the Civil War era. . Highlights: 02:10 - Speeches were an event 05:45 - Politics and religion 09:35 - The Antislavery Movement 16:13 - The Most Consequential Speech in American History 21:06 - The Confederate Argument 27:18 - Did the South Really Believe in Slavery? 32:36 - Abraham Lincoln 39:52 - The Art of the Soundbite 42:45 - Gladstone's Speech 48:00 - What Makes Speeches So Powerful? 53:59 - Modern Speeches . For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠ . Contact us: [email protected] Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠ Brands & advertises: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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62 MIN
In the Making: But Seriously... Is Donald Trump Ok?
MAY 14, 2026
In the Making: But Seriously... Is Donald Trump Ok?
This week, after an epic Truth Social session from the President, we revisit a question we asked several weeks ago... is Donald Trump really ok? Because things are getting out of hand now! Also, Trump rehires a guy he fired a year ago into the same job. And a diplomatic test of strength for the White House as Trump visits China, in what may just turn out to be a historic trip. My guest this week is John Meagher, one of Ireland's top new comedians and a former martial artist who represented his country. So like Joe Rogan, but better. . Stories: 01:31 - Trump hires Cameron Hamilton to FEMA... again https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/president-nominates-cameron-hamilton-lead-fema-year-after-fired-rcna344632 10:58 - Trump in China https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-china-trip-arrival-353c768987542843e2033aa684266879 22:12 - Is Trump ok? https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trump-truth-social-obama-arrest-controversy-1796488 44:50 - Poonsylvania https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/05/12/large-fertilizer-spill-makes-messy-commute-along-highway/7921778605613/ . Sources: Trump’s Truth Social frenzy: https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trump-truth-social-obama-arrest-controversy-1796488  Health fears: https://www.aol.com/articles/trump-health-fears-5-unhinged-090000000.html  Trump hires Cameron Hamilton again: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/president-nominates-cameron-hamilton-lead-fema-year-after-fired-rcna344632  Trump in China: https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-china-trip-arrival-353c768987542843e2033aa684266879  Poo closes PA road for hours: https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/05/12/large-fertilizer-spill-makes-messy-commute-along-highway/7921778605613/ . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/americathestoryoftheusa Get in touch: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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53 MIN