Frank and David discuss the history of corruption in the United States, riffing on an article/podcast with David Frum and Anne Applebaum. Last Drops Frank: RIP Alan Day David: Congrats to Kathleen DuVal on Pulitzer winBy David Silkenat

The title of this episode is from Frank's first book. Frank and David discuss the history of the relationship between the Pope and the United States. Last Drops Frank: NYT historians on precedents for Trump David: Fields-Black's Combee wins Tom Watson Book PrizeBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss Paul Quigley's essay on the National Endowment for the Humanities. Last Drops Frank: Edinburgh University Club of Toronto David: monument for the AdamsBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss President Trump's new tariffs. Last Drops Frank: ancient tools in Marfa David: NEH grant cancelledBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the recent Signalgate scandal and some historical antecedents. Last Drops Frank: Tartan Day David: US history lecturer job at UFBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the Alien Enemies Act. Last Drops Frank: free books! David: lecture at UNFBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the Oval Office meeting between Zelensky and Trump. Last Drops Frank: 2025 Fennell Lecture David: Martha S. Jones's The Trouble of ColorBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the crisis in UK and US universities. Last Drops Frank: 2025 Fennell Lecture David: Hilary Green's Unforgettable SacrificeBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss presidents who have been labelled as kings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvOZs3g3qIo Nixon's White House uniforms Last Drops Frank: TR on Civil Service David: Barbara Weinstein on historians and politicsBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the history of Valentine's Day in the United States. Last Drops Frank: Locke's Second Treatise on Government David: new museum at the Lincoln MemorialBy David Silkenat

Inspired by a recent Jamelle Bouie article, Frank and David discuss DOGE, USAID, Elon Musk, and the state of the republic. Last Drops Frank: Trailer for History Channel series on Jefferson David: Fennell postdoc at EdinburghBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss Donald Trump's 2nd Inaugural and first week in office. Last Drops Frank: Public history professionals David: RIP Bill Leuchtenburg and NC Supreme Court electionBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss President-elect Trump's recent comments about Greenland, Canada, and Panama. Last Drops Frank: Marlene Daut's The First and Last King of Haiti David: This Day in Esoteric Political HistoryBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the passing of Jimmy Carter, reflect on 2024, and look forward to 2025. Listen to our earlier episode on Carter. Listen all the way to the end to hear our new credits!By David Silkenat

Back in Edinburgh, Frank and David discuss Trump's recent William McKinley fascination. Last Drops Frank: Howard Bryant's biography of Hank Aaron David: Roosevelt Institute for American Studies and Leiden Pilgrim MuseumBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the history of caffeine in the United States, including Tom Petty's affinity for diner coffee. Last Drops Frank: Tour of Irish NY with Patrick Griffin David: Early American history job at FloridaBy David Silkenat

Earlier this week, a federal court halted a Louisiana law that would have placed the 10 Commandments in classrooms. Frank and David discuss the history of the 10 Commandments. Last Drops Frank: David Blight oped in NYT David: PBS doc on the Wilmington CoupBy David Silkenat

After completely failing to predict the outcome, Frank and David discuss the 2024 election. Last Drops Frank: 19th century US history job at Edinburgh David: Baseball and climate changeBy David Silkenat

With only days remaining, Frank and David discuss the upcoming election. Last Drops Frank: The Comeback on Netflix David: Ebbets FieldBy David Silkenat

With less than two weeks until Election Day, Frank and David discuss the history of presidential polling. Last Drops Frank: National Library of Scotland and Tom Nichols on Trump and Washington David: Promotion for US GrantBy David Silkenat

After hurricanes Helene and Milton, Frank and David return to the topic of natural disasters. Last Drops Frank: Was Lincoln Gay? David: BrANCH and Edinburgh American History WorkshopBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the Secret Service. Last Drops Frank: Happy 100th Jimmy Carter! David: Reconstruction NPSBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the history of the youth vote. Last Drops Frank: Season 10 of Slow Burn David: RIP TupperwareBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss celebrity endorsements for presidential candidates. Last Drops Frank: Michael Hattem's The Memory of '76 David: Beavers at GettysburgBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the history of American expats and what happens when they return to the United States. Last Drops Frank: Lindsey Chervinsky's Making the Presidency David: slavery tours stopped at UVABy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the pros and cons of VP's running for president. Last Drops David: Lindsay Chervinsky on the Republican Party Frank: Bon voyage to DavidBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the Trump assassination attempt, the GOP convention, and Biden dropping out of the race. Last Drops Frank: RIP Trevor Burnard David: RIP Pete CarmichaelBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the recent Biden-Trump debate and the Supreme Court's latest decisions. Last Drops Frank: Edinburgh Open History Society David: When TakenBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss an article by Tom McGrath based on his new book on the Yuppies. Last Drops Frank: Rob Parkinson's new book Heart of American Darkness David: Frank at Open History Society on July 4 and Playing at WarBy David Silkenat

In light of the Trump verdict and Alito's flags, Frank and David discuss judges in American history. Last Drops Frank: USA wins in cricket David: Negro League records incorporated and new John Jacobs narrativeBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the recent campus protests over the war in Gaza. Last Drops Frank: Scottsville Museum David: Happy birthday, Thessaly!By David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the history of juries. Last Drops Frank: Ice tea in Canada David: new edition of CMOSBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss Donald Trump's endorsement of the God Bless the USA Bible and how presidents have interacted with the Bible. Last Drops Frank: David's inaugural and Fennell lecture David: Kathleen DuVal's new book and Atlantic articleBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the history of gambling in baseball. Last Drops Frank: RIP Daniel Jordan David: Manisha Sinha's new book on ReconstructionBy David Silkenat

With both Biden and Trump cinching their party's nominations, Frank and David discuss the six prior presidential rematches. Last Drops David: Inaugural Lecture on April 3. Frank: Fennell Lecture w/ Professor Sherene Saikaly on May 23By David Silkenat

David interviews Frank about his new book, A Revolutionary Friendship: Washington, Jefferson, and the American Republic. To hear more, join the live event (online) at Monticello on February 17. Last Drops Frank: RIP Harry Dickinson David: historians brief on 14th AmendmentBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the history of the Iowa caucuses and how political parties select presidential candidates. Last Drops Frank: Power Couples and the Barbary pirates David: JAH article on political partiesBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss how the Civil War era has made some unexpected appearances in the 2024 presidential race, including a difficult question for Nikki Haley and 14th Amendment challenges to Trump's candidacy. Last Drops David: American Ornithological Society changing policy on bird names Frank: RIP Ed Gray…

Frank and David celebrate 250 episodes of the Whiskey Rebellion. Last Drops Frank: Foner on Varon in the Atlantic and RIP Andre Braugher David: Hogmanay Torchlight ParadeBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss Henry Kissinger and try to put him into context. Last Drops Frank: Conference at Mass Historical David: new plaque in Durham and CSA flag in GlasgowBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss epic historical films, including some of the best and some of the worst. Last Drops Frank: Jane Kamensky new President of Monticello David: Fennell Forum on Energy HistoryBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss recent debates over the Senate dress code. Last Drops David: Shira Lurie's The American Liberty Pole Frank: new Milbauer Chair at the University of FloridaBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the history of manhunts in the United States. Last Drops Frank: profile of Mitt Romney in the Atlantic David: American History WorkshopBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss an article in Atlantic Monthlyby Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt on the health of the American democracy. Last Drops Frank: NYT article on JFK assassination witness David: Jonathan Jones on teaching with ChatGPTBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss David Rothkopf's article Here are 11 Wild Things That Could Happen in the 2024 Election Last Drops Frank: David's book Scars on the Land named a finalist for Frederick Douglass Prize. David: Now & Then endingBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss figures from American history whose reputations took a dramatic turn for the worse. Last Drops Frank: 100 years of the Jefferson Foundation conference David: Frank's new book available for pre-orderBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the conservative political organzation Moms for Liberty and its historical antecedents. Last Drops Frank: US Women's World Cup team David: BlackhavenBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss the history of third parties and the potential of third party candidates in 2024. Last Drops Frank: Congrats to Dr. Krysten Blackstone and Dr. James Mackay David: Cambridge Centre for Computing HistoryBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss Johann Neem's review of Kruse and Zelizer's Myth America. Last Drops Frank: Naturalization ceremony at Monticello David: Emancipation Proclamation at National ArchivesBy David Silkenat

Frank and David discuss places to go and experiences to have to understand America. Last Drops Frank: RIP Richard B. Bernstein David: Jupiter ArtlandBy David Silkenat