12 chapters across the catalog
Author Adam Gopnik discusses the tension between Darwin's historical vocabulary and modern scientific interpretations. The segment explores how both the creationist right and the woke left attack Darwinism for different reasons, leading evolutionary biologists to attempt to separate the man from the theory. The hosts argue that modern science is so deeply rooted in Darwin's work that "canceling" him would threaten the entire foundation of the field.
Historical frontier hangings in America are described as ticketed weekend entertainment events that drew thousands of spectators. The discussion draws a direct parallel between these public executions and modern "cancel culture" on social media. Both are characterized as mob-driven spectacles where participants seek to "get a piece" of the condemned individual's reputation, serving as a psychological deterrent for the rest of society.
Mo Facts introduces a CBS segment featuring novelist Kelvin Baker and journalist Jeff Glor discussing Baker's book, A More Perfect Reunion. Baker argues that America's primary failure is one of integration rather than race, suggesting the nation has punted on this issue since the Continental Congress. The discussion critiques the media narrative that Abraham Lincoln was a social justice warrior, noting that Lincoln's initial stance was to preserve the Union even if it meant maintaining slavery.
Mo Facts challenges the "Honest Abe" narrative by citing historian Jerome Bennett Jr.'s research on Abraham Lincoln's white dream. Bennett explains that from 1852 until his death, Lincoln actively worked on plans to deport Black people to Africa or South America to create an all-white nation. The segment highlights a proposed constitutional amendment from December 1, 1862, where Lincoln asked Congress for funds to colonize freed slaves elsewhere, contradicting the modern portrayal of his intentions.
The Emancipation Proclamation is deconstructed as a strategic military move by Abraham Lincoln to destabilize the Confederacy by removing its labor force and preventing European intervention. Lincoln waited for a Union victory at Antietam in 1862 to issue the proclamation, giving it "moral authority" despite it not freeing any slaves within the Union itself. The hosts argue that Lincoln's primary goal was restoring the Union, not the moral abolition of slavery, which informs Donald Trump's modern comparisons to the 16th president.
Historian Lerone Bennett Jr. details Abraham Lincoln's efforts to deport black people and create an all-white nation through colonization plans in Africa and South America. Lincoln proposed constitutional amendments to allocate money for this purpose as late as 1862. This historical fact is contrasted with the modern "Great Emancipator" narrative taught in public schools.
A listener highlights Thomas J. DiLorenzo’s book "Lincoln Unmasked," discussing Abraham Lincoln’s suspension of habeas corpus and his support for the colonization of Black Americans to Liberia. This leads to a "Cancel Cannon" segment for Steven Jackson and Dwyane Wade for their shifting stances on the Nick Cannon anti-Semitism controversy.
The discussion focuses on the historical intent of the United States as a nation designed for a specific group, referencing Abraham Lincoln's views on racial separation. The "rule of hypo-descent" is described as a mechanism used to protect the exclusivity of whiteness. The hosts debate whether race truly serves as the foundation of the country or if it is a grafted-on caste system.
Following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, President Andrew Johnson overturned Special Field Order No. 15. The 400,000 acres of land that had been granted to newly emancipated black people was seized and returned to white Southerners.
The discussion turns to the historical reality of Abraham Lincoln, noting that he was not an abolitionist in the traditional sense. In his 1858 debates with Stephen Douglas, Lincoln explicitly stated that he was not in favor of social or political equality between the white and black races.
The hosts question why Barack Obama, a constitutional lawyer, chose to be sworn in on Lincoln's Bible given Lincoln's history of supporting deportation. They describe this as a triumph of "optics" over historical truth, noting how the "Great Emancipator" narrative is ingrained in black culture through traditions like Watch Night.
Using clips from The New York Times, the segment traces the history of black enfranchisement from the Emancipation Proclamation through the Reconstruction era. It covers the 14th Amendment and the eventual 19th Amendment, while noting that voting remained contentious throughout the 20th century. Moe explains that older generations view voting as a hard-won obligation due to this proximity to the struggle.
