8 May 1945: Victory in Europe Day, the day after the armistice between the Allied powers and Nazi Germany goes into effect. Almost 5 years long, World War 2 in Europe destroyed millions of lives, burned ancient cities to cinders, displaced populations, and permanently changed the world order.

How, then, did it come to end? How did the Allies defeat the Nazis, and why did the war end when it did? What issues led the world from war to Cold War in only a few years, turning supposed allies against one another?

Jeff discusses VE Day and its legacy with historian John Moser, answering these questions and helping to set the stage for the rest of the 20th Century in Europe and the rest of the world.

Read Ian Kershaw's book. mentioned in the episode: https://a.co/d/echNXaL

Read the text of the Yalta agreement: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/the-yalta-conference/

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton

Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

What is 'grand strategy' and how does it differ from strategy? What does grand strategy mean to a nation, its leaders and people? How is such a thing developed and revised over time? And why is it so difficult for America to create and settle on such a thing?

Business and military strategy authority Dr. John Hillen discusses these topics with Jeff today, digging into what challenges America faces in the world, and the challenges we face at home as we work to determine our own national grand strategy.

Read John's book on Strategic Management - https://a.co/d/cmBwY5L

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton

Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

Why have NBA ratings dropped by half over the last decade? How has the game changed in recent years and what does the proliferation of legalized sports betting have to do with it? Jeff takes a break this week from questions of history and politics and looks at a slice of our public life with author and journalist Oliver Lee Bateman and addresses these weighty issues.

Or is there more to it? Is the creep of the HR department mindset to standardize, systematize, and optimize everything having an impact on one of our beloved sports?

Read Oliver's article on the topic, from RealClearBooks: https://tinyurl.com/4umhyujf

#nba #sportsbetting

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton

Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

On 19 April 1775, the American War for Independence began at the battles of Lexington and Concord. Take a step back in time this week to learn some of the forgotten stories of important and interesting individuals who were part of America’s revolution, of which the war, according to John Adams, was only a part.

Download a free copy of the American Revolution documents reader: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/product/american-revolution/

View the documents reader’s contents online: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/collections/the-american-revolution/

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton

Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

The 2024 elections left the Democrats in crisis, soul-searching over why they not only lost the White House, but also multiple down-ballot races, as well. Are we entering an era of party realignment? How is the leadership of the DNC grappling with these losses, and what do they see as the reasons behind them? What has their public response been, so far, to Trump’s return to the White House? And what might all this mean for upcoming elections?

Jeff is joined this week by author and columnist JT Young to discuss this important development in American politics.

You can get JT’s book here: https://a.co/d/97HVoQQ

Read JT’s article on this topic: https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5123096-democrats-ideological-shift/

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton

Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

What can we learn from those who came before us? What life lessons can be gleaned from the ideas and actions of noteworthy Americans? Dr. Cara Roger Stevens discusses the lives of 10 extraordinary Americans, whose lives offer us wisdom and guidance, with teacher and author Jeremy Adams.

You can find Adams' book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2GeECFi

#lessonsinliberty #americanhistory

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton

Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

What is statesmanship? What does it take to be a statesman? Is it possible to be such a leader during easy times, or only during the toughest moments in history?

Jeff sits down with Dr. Greg McBrayer to discuss Ronald Reagan's political philosophy and how he applied in understanding and dealing with the Soviet Union - and why Reagan earned the title of 'statesman.'

Learn more about Reagan, and two other 20th Century statesman, in our free online course "Tear Down This Wall..." - register at courses.ashbrook.org

#ronaldreagan #regan #coldwar #ussr #gorbachev #berlinwall

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton

Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea

Lindsay Chervinsky, Director of the George Washington Presidential Library, joins Cara Rogers Stevens this week to discuss Abigail Adams and her impact on John's public life.

Learn more about Lindsay: https://www.lindsaychervinsky.com/

Get her book: https://a.co/d/6OOF1ny

Learn about the George Washington Library: https://www.mountvernon.org/library

Listen to Lindsay's podcast: https://www.georgewashingtonpodcast.com/show/conversations/

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/theamericanidea