✦Your Birthday. Our History. Everybody's Story.✦Hosted by Addae Olamina✦A new conversation every calendar day✦Fact-checked through the Library of Congress✦Same date. Different stories.✦The past, freshly told.✦Your Birthday. Our History. Everybody's Story.✦Hosted by Addae Olamina✦A new conversation every calendar day✦Fact-checked through the Library of Congress✦Same date. Different stories.✦The past, freshly told.
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National historical forum

History's biggest debates

Addae Olamina and our daily guests tackle history's most contentious questions. Cast your vote and see where modern listeners stand.

November 2 discussionThe Great Dakota Divide

"Was America really better off admitting two separate Dakotas rather than one unified giant state?"

In 1889, Republicans in Congress maneuvered to admit both North and South Dakota to gain four Senate seats instead of two.

November 3 discussionTaft vs. Teddy Roosevelt

"Was William Howard Taft actually a more effective trust-buster than Theodore Roosevelt?"

Taft initiated 90 antitrust lawsuits in 4 years — more than double Roosevelt's 44 suits in 7.5 years.

November 6 discussionThe Birth of Football

"Would modern college football athletes survive the rules of 1869 (25 vs. 25 with no helmets or forward passes)?"

The original Rutgers–Princeton game was closer to a brutal rugby scrum with bare knuckles and round soccer balls.

Join the full member debate