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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