Feb 6, 1922: The Washington Naval Treaty – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 411

100 years ago today, the US, Britain, Japan, France, and Italy signed the Washington Naval Treaty. Intended to de-escalate a battleship arms race, it ended up marking the dawn of the aircraft carrier age, which makes it very relevant even now. Bill and Rachel.

Links and notes for ep. 411 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/AFD-Ep-411-Links-and-Notes-Washington-Naval-Treaty-of-1922.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Jan 23, 2022 – Agnes Smedley – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 409

Rachel and Bill discuss Agnes Smedley, an American journalist and activist who helped the Indian independence movement, Soviet intelligence, and the Chinese Communist forces.

Links and notes for Ep. 409 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AFD-Ep-409-Links-and-Notes-Agnes-Smedley.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

[Unlocked] Feb 23, 2021 – The American Protective League feat. @housetrotter – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 353

[Unlocked] During WWI, a Chicago ad man pitched the Bureau of Investigation on a volunteer secret police, which grew to nearly 300,000 unpaid agents and foreshadowed strategies of the later US intelligence state. Friend of the show Ben aka @housetrotter joins Bill and Rachel to discuss.

Links and notes for Ep. 353 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bonus-AFD-Ep-353-Links-and-Notes-The-American-Protective-League-feat-Housetrotter.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

August 1921: The Battle of Blair Mountain – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 394

Description: One hundred years ago this week, the Battle of Blair Mountain was in full swing in West Virginia as thousands of heavily armed union miners fought dug-in pro-owner militias. Bill and Rachel examine.

Links and notes for Ep. 394 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/AFD-Ep-394-Links-and-Notes-August-1921-Centennial-Battle-of-Blair-Mountain.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

July 25, 2021 – The US Intervention in the Russian Civil War – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 390

Description: In 1918, against better judgment and with few achievable goals, the US intervened militarily in the Russian Civil War in Siberia and Archangel. Almost immediately, everyone knew it was a disaster. Bill, Kelley, and Rachel examine it.

Links and notes for Ep. 390 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/AFD-Ep-390-Links-and-Notes-US-Intervention-in-the-Russian-Civil-War.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

[Preview] Jun 1, 2021 – Louis F. Post – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 379

Full episode on Patreon: Bill and Rachel discuss Louis F. Post, an early Assistant US Labor Secretary with some radical leanings, who ended up blocking thousands of post-WWI deportations.

[Preview] May 25, 2021 – The Red Ark – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 377

Full episode on Patreon: Bill and Rachel discuss the Red Ark (or Soviet Ark) deportations of Russian-born American anarchists in 1919. (Don’t miss our two part series from 2019 on American anarchist history!)