The Long History Short Podcast

On this episode of the Long History Short Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Carter Malkasian, former advisor to US military commanders in Afghanistan and author of "The American War in Afghanistan: A History." We discuss the fallout of 9/11, the way that Al-Qaeda's attacks changed the thinking within the Bush administration, the practical difficulties US forces faced in Afghanistan, the withdrawal, and what Taliban rule is like today. On this 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, understanding the war to hunt down Bin Laden and prevent more terrorist atrocities is vital. For more information on the present-day Taliban administration of Afghanistan, check out this article: https://www.cfr.org/backgrounders/taliban-afghanistan On the Bush administration's altered take on foreign policy in the wake of 9/11: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-bush-foreign-policy-revolution/... Here's Dr. Malkasian's book: https://www.amazon.com/American-War-Afghanistan-History/dp/0197550770

On this episode of The Long History Short Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Gabriel Said Reynolds of the University of Notre Dame. We are fast approaching the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, and Dr. Reynolds and I discussed Bin Laden's interpretation of Islam, his role in al-Qaeda, the transformation of jihadist energies away from al-Qaeda and towards ISIS, the role of history in the Muslim imagination, contemporary jihadist movements, and a lot else. Here's a link to Dr. Reynolds's superb YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ExploringtheQuranandtheBible Further reading on al-Qaeda's theological ideas: https://www.hudson.org/national-security-defense/al-qaeda-s-ideology A good source of information on jihadist movements in Mali, Nigeria, etc. which Dr. Reynolds and I discuss toward the end of the interview: https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/violent-extremism-sahel More on jihadism today: https://www.city-journal.org/article/war-on-terror-taliban-al-qaeda-islam Dr. Reynolds on ecumenism between Catholics and Muslims: https://mcgrathblog.nd.edu/category/articles/2016/04/14/thinking-clearly-about-islam

On this episode of The Long History Short Podcast, I sat down with Rod Dreher, author of "The Benedict Option" and "Live Not By Lies," along with several other books and a popular Substack. He and I discussed American/European politics and culture. Rod's made the provocative claim that present day societal dysfunction resembles that of the Weimar Republic-- that period of German history that preceded the appointment of Hitler as Chancellor Germany and the institution of the Third Reich. Rod's book, "Weimar America," comes out next year. We also talk about the potential of AI to disrupt the economy, expand government surveillance of citizens, and the consequences of a world where work is optional. Let us know what you think in the comments below! For more from Rod, check out his Substack: https://roddreher.substack.com/ You can also check out his work at the Free Press: https://www.thefp.com/w/rod-dreher Or you can buy one of his books, several of which I've read and greatly enjoyed: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rod-Dreher/author/B00JV2IX3O?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1788058018&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

On this episode of the Long History Short Podcast, join me for a conversation with Katja Hoyer, author of "Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe." In our chat, Katja and I discuss the collapse of Wilhelmine Germany, the history of the Weimar Republic, what Weimar can teach us about contemporary politics, the Republic's downfall, and the rise of Hitler. She and I link German history to current developments in European politics, like the rise of the AfD (Alternative for Deutschland), recent shake-ups in UK politics, mass migration, and how to restore faith in democracy. For more from Katja, check out her excellent Substack: https://www.katjahoyer.uk/ Good article about the period between World Wars: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/war-war-europe-1919-1939 A 20 point (!!) lead for the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt: https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/afd-opens-20-point-lead-a-month-before-crucial-state-elections/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email To purchase "Weimar" or another of Katja's books, you can find them on her website, Amazon, or pretty much any bookseller. Here's a link: https://www.amazon.com/Weimar-Life-Catastrophe-Katja-Hoyer/dp/1541605799

On this episode of the Long History Short Podcast, I talk with Dr. David Betz, Professor of War Studies at the University of London, King's College. Professor Betz has made the provocative claim that due to polarization, mass migration, elite fecklessness, two-tiered justice, politicians' contempt for regular people, and other issues, civil war will break out in Great Britain and other European countries in the coming years. If that sounds provocative, give it a listen. I started as a skeptic, but he convinced me. Here's the first of Betz's essays defending his thesis: https://www.militarystrategymagazine.com/article/civil-war-comes-to-the-west/ Here's part two: https://www.militarystrategymagazine.com/article/civil-war-comes-to-the-west-part-ii-strategic-realities/

On this episode of the Long History Short Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Mara Hunter to discuss the history of the Sea of Azov, Russia's ambitions for the sea, how Azov affects global markets and trade infrastructure, and the future of the Ukraine War.For some more on the Ukraine War and the Sea of Azov, check out this article: https://lieber.westpoint.edu/carving-up-ukraine-what-about-the-azov-sea/ Here's some on the role of Orthodoxy in the conflict: https://www.v-theo.net/the-russia-ukraine-conflict-and-the-role-of-the-orthodox-church-a-documentary/ More on the history of Crimea: https://crimea-platform.org/en/krim-do-okupaciyi/istorichnij-ekskurs/

Welcome to another episode of Long History Short, where I discuss the state of Russian politics, Russian history, Putin's origins, Elections in Russia, US misunderstandings of Putin, and what it all means for the Ukraine War. My guest today is Professor Timothy Frye, professor of Post-Soviet Politics at Columbia University.

The Ukraine War's Latest. Firings at the head of the Ukrainian military, drone strikes in Crimea that have caused power outages, water shortages, and economic devastation. Ukrainian strikes against Iranian ships, threatening to blend these two conflicts together. Putin, Trump, and Zelensky sitting down to discuss a possible resolution to the conflict, with prospects looking bleak. Who are the people of Crimea, which has now become center-stage for the conflict between Russia and Ukraine? Where did they come from, what do they believe? On this episode of the Long History Short Podcast, join me and Dr. Brian Glyn Williams, Professor of History at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and former advisor to the CIA, as we discuss the troubled history of this peninsula, and what place it might play in the future of the Ukraine War. Photos of Professor Williams' journeys through Crimea: https://www.brianglynwilliams.com/crimea/pict_01a.html A link to a FREE online copy of Prof. Williams' book on the Tatars: https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/20315/file.pdf

In today's episode I sat down with Dr. Andrew Lambert, Professor of Naval History at the University of London, King's College. We discussed Ukraine's ongoing campaign against Crimea, the history of the Crimean conflict, including myths about the Light Brigade and the war's end, and the lessons that it has for us today, especially as Russia's economy begins to falter.Dr. Lambert's book on the Crimean War: https://www.amazon.com/Crimean-War-Andrew-Lambert/dp/0367669633An Up-Close Look at the Ukrainian strategy and how the people of Crimea view it: https://www.thetimes.com/world/russia-ukraine-war/article/ukraine-war-crimea-russia-drones-0lgvbtfkxFlorence Nightingale's Role in the Conflict: https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/florence-nightingale-lady-lamp

Join historian Nathan Schultz and I as we discuss the little-known history of the Regulator Movement: a protest movement against corrupt British officials in Colonial North Carolina that rhymes with, but doesn't sync nicely, with the American Revolution. Plus at the end you get to hear a little about colonial era cuisine too. Here's the link to the colonial recipe that Nathan mentioned. Just be careful; carbs kill: https://www.tastinghistory.com/recipes/chelseabuns

Happy Fourth of July! On this semiquincentennial anniversary of our nation's founding, I sat down with Dr. Theodore Madrid of Hillsdale College. He and I discussed the disagreements that our founders have with each other, the compromises that they made, the ways those arguments spilled into our conversation, and what it all means for us today. For more from Dr. Madrid check out this article: 'Cicero on Our Disengaged Age': https://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2026/03/100424/ Here's one on some of the battles between Hamilton and Jefferson: https://www.jackmillercenter.org/news/hamilton-jefferson-and-the-american-idea Here's a briefer on originalism: https://www.law.virginia.edu/news/201004/scalia-defends-originalism-best-methodology-judging-law

What did the Founders think about foreign policy? How did their ideas trickle into the Constitution? How did World War I and World War II change American foreign policy, and how did it shift again once the Cold War ended? What would the Founders think of the Iran War and contemporary foreign affairs? Tune into this discussion with Dr. David Hendrickson, author of the Great League of Peace and Power, to find out.

Today on the Long History Short Podcast, join my discussion with Dr. James Gelvin of UCLA as we discuss the history of Lebanon from the Ottoman Empire to the present day, why Israel and Lebanon have such a tempestuous relationship, and what it all means for the Memorandum of Understanding, and President Trump's attempts to bring the Iran War to a close. For further reading, here's a deep-dive on Lebanese history: https://www.historytoday.com/miscellanies/100-years-greater-lebanon Here's background on Hezbollah: https://www.cfr.org/backgrounders/what-hezbollah A hard-hitting critique of the Memorandum of Understanding: https://www.persuasion.community/p/the-art-of-the-non-deal

While President Trump tries to broker an end to the Iran war, a major stumbling block has been Israel's war in Lebanon. The paramilitary group Hezbollah has repeatedly traded blows with Israel, and Iran has insisted that a lasting peace settlement needs to bring that conflict to a close. But more is at stake than the future of the Iran War: population displacements and other spillovers from the conflict have jeopardized the future of Lebanon's existence, with some declaring it a failed state. To understand this conflict and where it may be headed, I sat down with Dr. Betty Anderson of Boston University, professor of Middle Eastern history and expert on Lebanon.

On this episode, since the NBA finals are upon us, we are doing something a little different-- talking to Rick Loayza of the Basketball History 101 Podcast. Tune in to hear about the history of the game, the growth of the NBA, and predictions about where the sport is headed.

Philosopher John Macias of St. Mary Seminary breaks down Just War Theory, and examines the Iran War, the American Revolution, and other conflicts in light of the theory.

The Cuban regime may be on the cusp of collapse. To understand the history of this troubled island-nation, and how we got to the current impasse, check out my conversation with Dr. Luis Martinez-Fernandez of the University of Central Florida, author of "Revolutionary Cuba: A History."

Tune in for my discussion with Dr. Thomas Zeiler of the University of Colorado, historian of US foreign policy.

Join for this discussion with Thomas Maidment, PhD candidate at Cambridge University. Follow me on Substack: https://substack.com/@longhistoryshort Here's a breakdown of election results: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/local-elections-2026-results-uk-map-b2973743.html For more from Thomas, check out this interview he did a few years back: https://doinghistoryinpublic.org/2025/05/12/thomas-maidment-historian-highlight/ A few years ago, The Rest is History did an episode on Mosley. Check it out here: https://podcasts.apple.com/bg/podcast/oswald-mosley-fascist-leader/id1537788786?i=1000629007957

Had a great conversation with Oxford's Luke Blaxill about the upcoming UK elections. For more on the election, read here: https://www.itv.com/news/2026-05-01/are-the-may-elections-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-the-two-big-parties

I had a lot of fun talking with Dr. Maitra. If you liked the way he thought, check out some of his latest: https://www.theamericanconservative.com/the-final-chapter-of-the-unipolar-moment/https://engelsbergideas.com/notebook/jd-vances-hope-for-a-hungarian-europe/https://thecritic.co.uk/american-crusades/

For anyone who wants to dive deeper into Hungarian history, here are some suggestions: How the Hungarian people endured World War II: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.eternalechoes.org/application/files/2916/1019/0172/the-life-of-the-hungarian-population_en_eternal_echoes.pdf More on Hungary's hyperinflation: https://planetbanknote.com/banknote-blog/hungarys-1946-hyperinflation-the-worst-inflation-in-history-and-the-fall-of-the-peng/?srsltid=AfmBOornFZ7K1PMWORFpwQ2sWRUfG1sX6FjynFhp17aGDb2GxSQUeGoz The Show Trial of László Rajk: https://yalebooks.yale.edu/2020/07/27/the-trial-of-laszlo-rajk/ Vivid documents and photos of the 1956 Revolution: https://www.hoover.org/library-archives/histories/1956-hungarian-revolution A profile of Hungary's new PM, Peter Magyar: https://www.ft.com/content/54d999c3-a9f0-40ce-9c66-245c9b20950a?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Today Hungary will determine whether Viktor Orban, Hungary's controversial Prime Minister, will leave office for the first time in 16 years. Tune in to hear how the country's past may decide the election. Further reading: An American expat in Hungary interviewed on life, politics, and more in Hungary: https://www.editorialedomani.it/politica/europa/rod-dreher-interview-orban-loses-election-reason-corruption-hd0ek5td?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email What's at Stake for Ukraine, Russia, and EU: https://tvpworld.com/92395808/will-a-tisza-victory-change-hungarys-policy-toward-ukraine-russia-and-eu?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email Short piece on the controversial treaty that carved up Hungary after WWI: https://roadstothegreatwar-ww1.blogspot.com/2021/06/all-about-treaty-of-trianon.html

Join in for my discussion with Dr. Michael Desch (Notre Dame) about the history of American grand strategy since the 1990's. Reading recommendations: 'Great Power Rivalries: The Case for Realism': https://mondediplo.com/2023/08/02great-powers 'Neoconservatism Rebaptized': https://www.theamericanconservative.com/neoconservatism-rebaptized/ 'An Open Letter to Paul Wolfowitz': https://harpers.org/archive/2013/03/a-letter-to-paul-wolfowitz/

Tune in for this discussion of the history of Lent, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, with Professor Eric Johnston of Seton Hall University.

My discussion with the University of Notre Dame's Dr. Asher Kaufman about Israel, Iran, and the crisis in the Middle East. Further reading: The intellectual origins of Zionism: https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/herzls-troubled-dream-origins-zionism

Listen in on this conversation about the historical context behind the latest news out of Iran, and what it means for the war, the global economy, and the world.

Political Science Professor Daniel Tavana breaks down the Iran War, and discusses the people, government, and future of this troubled country.

Join my discussion with Professor Jonathan Hall of the University of Chicago as we discuss the ancient Greek Olympics and how they influenced the modern games.

Join us for this discussion about the future of Venezuela, especially pertinent given the two most recent attacks on Venezuelan ships.

Tune in for this interview with Professor Charles Tripp, world-renowned expert on Iraq and Middle Eastern politics, where he details the complicated relationship between Iran and Iraq, and what it means for the crisis in the Middle East.

Join for this discussion of Iranian history from `the Revolution to the current crisis, featuring Professor Idean Saleyhan of the University of North Texas.

Tune in for this discussion about Iran's history, US-Iranian relations, and the protests sweeping the country, featuring Professor Magnus Bernhardsson of Williams College.

Join us as we discuss the history of Venezuela, what it means for the US intervention, and where the country's future is headed.

Listen to this discussion about the Cold War and how its legacy impacts American foreign policy and the war in Ukraine. Also check out these movies referenced in the episode: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqqqqZrD37h5e7dYRQa8Udia9bbx_Ig-w

Tune in for this discussion about the origins and course of the war, and the only way it's likely to end, featuring Professor Robert Freedman of Johns Hopkins University.

Join in for this discussion of the history of the Soviet Union, and its implications for the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, ft. Professor Eric Lohr of American University.

Tune in to this discussion about Russia from the 1500's to the Revolution, featuring Professor Sergey Glebov of Amherst College and Smith College.

Join me for a conversation with world-renowned scholar of Islam, Professor Gabriel Said Reynolds of the University of Notre Dame.

Join me for a discussion about Nigerian history and Boko Haram with Professor Toja Okoh of Loyola University, Maryland.

Join me in a discussion with Georgetown's Professor Jeffrey Anderson about life in Germany after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Join me for a discussion with Professor Brian van Wyck about World War I, Nazism, and life in Germany during the 20th century.

A discussion about nineteenth and twentieth century Germany, with Professor John Deak of the University of Notre Dame.