OLD GOATS with Jonathan Alter

Then and Now: President Ford's State of the Union Address (1975) and President Trump's State of the Union Address (2026) A recording from Jonathan Alter and Julian Zelizer's live video

Then and Now: President Ford's State of the Union Address (1975) and President Trump's State of the Union Address (2026) • A recording from Jonathan Alter and Julian Zelizer's live video

After Censoring CBS, Trump Will Go For CNN I’ve learned Trump will kill Netflix’s bid for Warner and help Paramount win, giving him control of Fox, CBS, CNN, and TikTok. But as Colbert showed, we can fight back

After Censoring CBS, Trump Will Go For CNN • I’ve learned Trump will kill Netflix’s bid for Warner and help Paramount win, giving him control of Fox, CBS, CNN, and TikTok. But as Colbert showed, we can fight back

The Worst President Ever And why Trump's ballroom will some day double as a community center for kids

The Worst President Ever • And why Trump's ballroom will some day double as a community center for kids

Then and Now: AG John Mitchell (1969-1972) and AG Pam Bondi (2025-2026) A recording from Jonathan Alter and Julian Zelizer's live video

Then and Now: AG John Mitchell (1969-1972) and AG Pam Bondi (2025-2026) • A recording from Jonathan Alter and Julian Zelizer's live video

Will Progressives Stop Leading With Their Chins? It’s great that Democrats are blasting “The Epstein Class” but their House candidate in New Jersey needs to avoid “Israeli genocide” and “Abolish ICE”

Will Progressives Stop Leading With Their Chins? • It’s great that Democrats are blasting “The Epstein Class” but their House candidate in New Jersey needs to avoid “Israeli genocide” and “Abolish ICE”

Then and Now: Jimmy Carter, Why Not the Best? (1975) and Gavin Newsom Young Man in a Hurry (2026) A recording and edited transcript from Jonathan Alter and Julian Zelizer's live video

Then and Now: Jimmy Carter, Why Not the Best? (1975) and Gavin Newsom Young Man in a Hurry (2026) • A recording and edited transcript from Jonathan Alter and Julian Zelizer's live video

Rahm Emanuel Stirs the Pot He's a long shot for 2028 but even as an also-ran will shape the debate and the future

Rahm Emanuel Stirs the Pot • He's a long shot for 2028 but even as an also-ran will shape the debate and the future

Then and Now: Kyle Rittenhouse (2020) and Minneapolis (2026) Jonathan Alter and Julian Zelizer discuss the double standard around guns, protests, and political violence, from Kenosha in 2020 to Minneapolis today.

Then and Now: Kyle Rittenhouse (2020) and Minneapolis (2026) • Jonathan Alter and Julian Zelizer discuss the double standard around guns, protests, and political violence, from Kenosha in 2020 to Minneapolis today.

Why Minneapolis Indictments Are Coming Philadelphia D.A. Larry Krasner on the ins and outs of prosecuting crimes committed by law enforcement

Why Minneapolis Indictments Are Coming • Philadelphia D.A. Larry Krasner on the ins and outs of prosecuting crimes committed by law enforcement

Pretti's Killers Will Likely Go to Jail Once they are identified, police will arrest them. And qualified immunity won't work.

Pretti's Killers Will Likely Go to Jail • Once they are identified, police will arrest them. And qualified immunity won't work.

Then and Now: Truman and Greenland (1946), Trump and Greenland (2026) A recording from Jonathan Alter and Julian Zelizer's live video

Then and Now: Truman and Greenland (1946), Trump and Greenland (2026) • A recording from Jonathan Alter and Julian Zelizer's live video

Greenland and the Benjamins There’s a method behind Trump’s madness and it’s colored green.

Greenland and the Benjamins • There’s a method behind Trump’s madness and it’s colored green.

Then and Now: The War Powers Resolution (1973) and War Powers Resolution (2026) My weekly "Then and Now" convo with Princeton Professor Julian Zelizer

Then and Now: The War Powers Resolution (1973) and War Powers Resolution (2026) • My weekly "Then and Now" convo with Princeton Professor Julian Zelizer

How the Murder of Good Changes the Stakes for Good ICE won’t melt, but traumatic events of this kind create their own force fields that bring change

How the Murder of Good Changes the Stakes for Good • ICE won’t melt, but traumatic events of this kind create their own force fields that bring change

Then and Now: Kent State (1970) and Minneapolis (2026) A recording from Jonathan Alter and Julian Zelizer's live video

Then and Now: Kent State (1970) and Minneapolis (2026) • A recording from Jonathan Alter and Julian Zelizer's live video

Happier New Year?!? My Answer to Readers on How to Recover From Trump The key to surviving the Orange Monster begins with everyone getting involved in winning this November.

Happier New Year?!? My Answer to Readers on How to Recover From Trump • The key to surviving the Orange Monster begins with everyone getting involved in winning this November.

Then and Now: Reagan in 1986 and Trump in 2026 on the Outlook for the Midterms Reagan was doing well that year and lost eight Senate seats. Can history repeat itself?

Then and Now: Reagan in 1986 and Trump in 2026 on the Outlook for the Midterms • Reagan was doing well that year and lost eight Senate seats. Can history repeat itself?

Tatiana Schlossberg (1990-2025) My personal admiration for her Job-like mother and her Proustian writing

Tatiana Schlossberg (1990-2025) • My personal admiration for her Job-like mother and her Proustian writing

Have At Me--New Year's Edition Your chance to ask me anything or tell me where I got it wrong

Have At Me--New Year's Edition • Your chance to ask me anything or tell me where I got it wrong

The Trump Boomerang Effect: Bari Weiss, Meet Ozymandias While Trump muscles the media and renames the Kennedy Center, history will get the last laugh. Just ask the good people of Appleton, Wisconsin

The Trump Boomerang Effect: Bari Weiss, Meet Ozymandias • While Trump muscles the media and renames the Kennedy Center, history will get the last laugh. Just ask the good people of Appleton, Wisconsin

Then and Now: Carter's 'Malaise Speech' (1979) and Trump’s Economic Rant (2025) The striking contrast between the two tells how far we've fallen--but also offers hope for recovery

Then and Now: Carter's 'Malaise Speech' (1979) and Trump’s Economic Rant (2025) • The striking contrast between the two tells how far we've fallen--but also offers hope for recovery

Trump's Sickening Sociopathic Shots at Rob Reiner All Republican must be asked if they stand behind their master on this one.

Trump's Sickening Sociopathic Shots at Rob Reiner • All Republican must be asked if they stand behind their master on this one.

Trump's Secret Pardon-for-Profit Racket Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen and a bit of the backstory of the shameful pardon of the former Honduran president

Trump's Secret Pardon-for-Profit Racket • Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen and a bit of the backstory of the shameful pardon of the former Honduran president

The Most Historic Trump Story of the Week Is it Trump calling a reporter "Piggy," the Mamdani-Trump meeting, the Epstein files, or Trump threatening to execute members of Congress? Tough call.

The Most Historic Trump Story of the Week • Is it Trump calling a reporter "Piggy," the Mamdani-Trump meeting, the Epstein files, or Trump threatening to execute members of Congress? Tough call.

Epstein is a Watergate/Lewinsky Level Scandal This story will dog Trump until the end of his days.

Epstein is a Watergate/Lewinsky Level Scandal • This story will dog Trump until the end of his days.

What is the "American Contradiction”? Paul Starr on the deeper historical roots of what will be called the Trump Era — whether we like it or not. Plus: "Then & Now" on why Nancy is a Bad-Ass.

What is the "American Contradiction”? • Paul Starr on the deeper historical roots of what will be called the Trump Era — whether we like it or not. Plus: "Then & Now" on why Nancy is a Bad-Ass.

Then and Now: Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi in 2007 and 2025 Why Pelosi was the most powerful woman in U.S. history. Full stop.

Then and Now: Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi in 2007 and 2025 • Why Pelosi was the most powerful woman in U.S. history. Full stop.

Welcome to the Trump Slump With the overwhelming Democratic victories, Trump is now in a world of political hurt, and he has no way back before the midterms.

Welcome to the Trump Slump • With the overwhelming Democratic victories, Trump is now in a world of political hurt, and he has no way back before the midterms.

Then and Now: Food Stamps/President Lyndon Johnson and Food Stamps/President Donald Trump As 42 million Americans lose access to food stamps, we explain some of the history of a hugely successful program.

Then and Now: Food Stamps/President Lyndon Johnson and Food Stamps/President Donald Trump • As 42 million Americans lose access to food stamps, we explain some of the history of a hugely successful program.

My Answers to Your Questions On everything from how the midterms look to who the Democrats should nominate to why Trump can't run again

My Answers to Your Questions • On everything from how the midterms look to who the Democrats should nominate to why Trump can't run again