Snap Judgment Snap Judgment

Introducing "First America": How 250 Years of History Shaped Today's Political Moment

Jul 14, 2026 · 37m

Summary

Host Rebecca Nagle visits Fort Snelling with historian Nick Estes to discuss the Dakota genocide and its parallels to modern ICE violence. She then explores how anti-Indigenous sentiment fueled the American Revolution, featuring Yale professor Ned Blackhawk. The episode argues that understanding this erased history is essential to comprehending current authoritarian trends in the US.

Topics discussed

Introduction to First America podcast Visiting Fort Snelling and its Dakota history The killing of Renee Good by ICE Connecting historical atrocities to present events The Declaration of Independence and Native erasure Interview with historian Ned Blackhawk Pontiac's War and the Proclamation of 1763 Land hunger as the true cause of the Revolution Understanding authoritarianism through history Preview of upcoming episodes and credits
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