Category Archives: Radio Show

A casual material history of the United States from Bill, Rachel, and guests. Recorded twice weekly in Newton, Massachusetts.

July 25, 2022 – The 1930s Syphilis Campaign – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 436

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On the 50th anniversary of the 1972 revelation of the unethical Tuskegee Syphilis Experiments begun in 1932, Bill and Rachel look back at the huge national push against syphilis in the 1930s United States (before penicillin) and the many strange effects of that campaign.

Links and notes for ep. 436 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/AFD-Ep-436-Links-and-Notes-The-1930s-Syphilis-Campaign-and-Tuskegee.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird

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July 17, 2022 – Telstar – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 435

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60 years ago this week, on July 23, 1962, President Kennedy addressed the US and Europe simultaneously by video via a Telstar satellite link. As with the transatlantic telegraph cable about a century before, it was a major development. (Bill and Rachel.)

Links and notes for ep. 435 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/AFD-Ep-435-Links-and-Notes-Telstar.pdf

Intro music by Stunt Bird.

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July 10, 2022 – Western Union – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 434

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Bill and Rachel explore how Western Union went from the first nationwide US telegraph monopoly to putting the first US commercial communication satellite into space and becoming the global remittance leader.

Links and notes for ep. 434 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/AFD-Ep-434-Links-and-Notes-Western-Union.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird. Special outro cited in notes.

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July 3, 2022 – State Lotteries – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 433

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Bill and Rachel explore the settler-colonial origins and influences of American lotteries and discuss why they were eventually banned and then brought back.

Links and notes for ep. 433 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/AFD-Ep-433-Links-and-Notes-State-Lotteries.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

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June 26, 2022 – Modern Elevators – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 431

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Bill and Rachel look at the development of the modern elevator from the 1850s onward and debate its effects on the American city in comparison to streetcars, electrification, and automobiles.

Links and notes for ep. 431 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/AFD-Ep-431-Links-and-Notes-Modern-Elevators.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

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June 20, 2022 – Justice For Janitors LA 1990 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 430

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On June 15, 1990, the LAPD violently smashed up a peaceful march by SEIU janitors in Los Angeles who were trying to grow their membership via new contracts with outsource cleaning service companies. Bill and Rachel discuss.

Links and notes for ep. 430 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/AFD-Ep-430-Links-and-Notes-Justice-for-Janitors-LA-1990.pdf

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June 12, 2022 – Road to OSHA – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 429

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Rachel talks about what the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) achieved and how the United States arrived there in the first place.

Links and notes for ep. 429 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/AFD-Ep-429-Links-and-Notes-Road-to-OSHA.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

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