Professor Buzzkill

Dr. Kathleen Belew explains the history and myth behind insurrections in recent American history. She dismantles the “lone wolf” myth about political violence, as well as the myth of “it’s not who we are as Americans.” She shows us how insurrectionists have created their ideologies, promoted them through fiction and educational materials, and crafted organizational structures. Frightening but important history! Episode 499!

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Buzzkill Bookshelf

Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer (eds.), Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past

America’s top historians set the record straight on the most pernicious myths about our nation’s past 

The United States is in the grip of a crisis of bad history. Distortions of the past promoted in the conservative media have led large numbers of Americans to believe in fictions over facts, making constructive dialogue impossible and imperiling our democracy.  

In Myth America, Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer have assembled an all-star team of fellow historians to push back against this misinformation. The contributors debunk narratives that portray the New Deal and Great Society as failures, immigrants as hostile invaders, and feminists as anti-family warriors—among numerous other partisan lies. Based on a firm foundation of historical scholarship, their findings revitalize our understanding of American history. 

Replacing myths with research and reality, Myth America is essential reading amid today’s heated debates about our nation’s past.

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