Ben Franklin's World
Ben Franklin's World is an award-winning podcast about early American history hosted by historian Liz Covart, Ph.D. It's for people who love and enjoy history and want to know more about the people, places, and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world. Ben Franklin's World also offers a weekly newsletter "History Behind the Headlines." Each week, Liz explores the early American origins and precedents of a topic from our modern-day headlines.
🦎 What Texas Just Did Isn't New, Gerrymandering Started Here
Hello, Reader! What links today's redistricting fight in Texas to a founding father you may not know? This week, Texas lawmakers released a new electoral map that critics say distorts representation to favor one political party. But this tactic isn't new. It dates back to 1812 and to a man named Elbridge Gerry. 🖼️ The Big Picture What's Happening: Texas Republicans released a new election map this week that some analysts say may favor incumbents and limit the influence of demographic change...
🗞️The Epstein Case Reignites an Old American Fear: Hidden Power
Hello, Reader! The Epstein files are back in the news--and so is the question that haunts every democracy: 👉 What happens when power hides behind closed doors? New reports say President Trump's name appears repeatedly in sealed Justice Department records related to Jeffrey Epstein. The DOJ has declined to release the full contents, sparking concern over elite protection and selective justice. But this isn't new. From the founding era to today, Americans have long feared shadowy influence,...
"God Saved the President": History Warns Us What That Means
Hello, Reader! This week, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) marked the one-year anniversary of the attempted assassination of President Trump. At a House Republican Leadership press conference, Speaker Johnson stated "Assassins...tried to kill him, but God miraculously spared the president's life. I think it's undeniable. And he [God] did it for an obvious purpose. And his presidency and his life are the fruits of divine providence." The Speaker's remarks invoked a long historical...
A New Chapter for Ben Franklin’s World 🎙️
Announcement Dear Reader, As a Ben Franklin's World insider, I wanted you to be the first to know our big news! We're Going Independent--Again. Ben Franklin's World is now produced by Clio Digital Media, a small, independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that I co-founded with fellow historians Joe Adelman and Karin Wulf. Our mission? To create high-quality, independent history content and to build a community of curious minds like yours. This move brings us back to our roots. It gives us complete...
120+ Dead in Texas: What the First U.S. Disaster Relief Teaches Us
Hello, Reader! Natural disasters don't just test emergency systems. They test our values, priorities, and sense of community. As historic flooding devastates parts of Texas--killing more than 120 people and leaving entire neighborhoods submerged-- we pause not just to grieve, but to understand. What happens when the unthinkable strikes? Who helps? And how have Americans answered these questions before? This week, we trace the evolution of U.S. disaster response from bucket brigades to FEMA....
📜 The Founders Feared This — It Just Passed the House 🗽
Hello, Reader! It is an unusual moment to be studying the American Revolution. If you've been listening to Ben Franklin's World, you know the Revolution had many causes. But one big idea that connected them all: 👉 People believed the British government had become corrupt and tyrannical in its use of taxes, military force, and unchecked power in the colonies. This concern drove the Founders to create something radically new: a government derived from the people, structured with checks and...
Can a President Accept a $400M Gift? What Madison Would Say About a Presidential Jet ✈️
Hello, Reader! A luxury jet, a foreign monarchy, and a United States President. It sounds like the start of a novel, but this is a real-world scenario that's testing one of the U.S. Constitution's oldest safeguards: the Emoluments Clause.Drafted in 1787 to prevent foreign influence over U.S. officials, the Emoluments Clause is in the spotlight. So what did the Founders intend? And how does an eighteenth-century concern about gifts from kings apply to today's headlines? Thank you to Tim for...
What George Washington Knew About Stopping a Virus
Greetings, Reader! The United States is experiencing the worst measles outbreak in decades. More than 900 cases have been confirmed across 30 states in 2025, with Texas reporting the majority. Although the World Health Organization declared measles to be eradicated in the United States in 2000, public health officials say declining vaccination rates have opened the door for its return. 📍Measles Resurfaces — What the Past Can Teach Us 🖼️ The Big Picture: Measles is a highly contagious and...
Where is Congress? 👀 James Madison Would Like a Word.
Hello, Reader. While listening to my morning news podcast this week, I heard the host mention that Congress passed a bipartisan bill. It struck me: This was the first time I had heard about Congress in several weeks. The headlines are all about Trump. Executive orders. Court challenges. Campaign rallies. In his first 100 days back in office, President Trump has signed over 140 executive actions, which have reshaped U.S. policy on immigration, energy, education, and the federal workforce....
This Week, the World Mourns. So Did America in 1790.
Hello, Reader.. The world paused this week. The death of Pope Francis stirred an outpouring of grief across nations and faiths-- a rare moment when billions stopped to honor a life that shaped our global conscience. But this isn't the first time a funeral has brought people to the streets. In 1790, as the young United States was still finding its voice, more than 20,000 mourners filled the streets of Philadelphia to say goodbye to Benjamin Franklin. What do these public moments of mourning...