Podcast / American Prestige / Mar 18, 2025

The End of Resistance History

On this episode of American Prestige, Charlotte Rosen on the short life of a liberal historiography that emerged during the first Trump administration.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

The End of Resistance History w/ Charlotte Rosen | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

On this episode of American Prestige, Danny and Derek speak with Chicago-based historian and writer Charlotte Rosen about the end of so-called “Resistance history”, a particular strain of liberal historiography that emerged during the first Trump administration. They talk about Resistance history’s defining characteristics, how it might have been an overcorrection to defend liberal democracy against attacks by Trump, how historians who engaged in this form of history viewed it as political action, some of the movement’s biggest figures, the apparent elitism and self-promotion among its proponents, the AHA and the decline of the history profession, and more.

Read Charlotte’s piece “The End of Resistance History” over at Protean Magazine.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States

On this episode of American Prestige, we’re joined by Chicago-based historian and writer Charlotte Rosen about the end of so-called “Resistance history,” a particular strain of liberal historiography that emerged during the first Trump administration. We talk about Resistance history’s defining characteristics, how it might have been an overcorrection to defend liberal democracy against attacks by Trump, how historians who engaged in this form of history viewed it as political action, some of the movement’s biggest figures, the apparent elitism and self-promotion among its proponents, the American Historical Association and the decline of the history profession, and more.

You can read Charlotte’s piece “The End of Resistance History” over at Protean Magazine.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Israeli Annexation in the West Bank w/ Oren Ziv | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Danny and Derek welcome to the show Oren Ziv to talk about Israeli settlement expansion and political changes in the West Bank. They discuss the legal and political structure of Areas A, B, and C; the proliferation of settler outposts; displacement of Palestinian communities; state support for settlers; Bezalel Smotrich’s sovereignty plan; new settlement approvals; the weakening of the Palestinian Authority; and potential future scenarios for the territory.

Read Oren’s article in The Nation, “Erasing the Lines.”

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Daniel Bessner

Daniel Bessner is an historian of US foreign relations, and cohost of American Prestige, a podcast on international affairs.

Derek Davison

Derek Davison is a writer and analyst specializing in international affairs and US foreign policy. He is the publisher of the Foreign Exchanges newsletter, cohost of the American Prestige podcast, and former editor of LobeLog.

More from The Nation

Peter Magyar (C), lead candidate of the Tisza party, speaks to supporters after polling stations closed during Hungarian parliamentary elections on April 12, 2026, in Budapest, Hungary.

How Hungary Fought Its Fascists—With Zack Beauchamp and Jennifer McCoy How Hungary Fought Its Fascists—With Zack Beauchamp and Jennifer McCoy

Podcast / Mar 18, 2025 The End of Resistance History We have, of course, always been experts on Hungary… but just in case we’re missing something, we brought on two actual expe…

Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu visits an Israeli military unit stationed in the occupied territory of southern Lebanon on April 12, 2026.

Palestine and the Iran War Palestine and the Iran War

Yousef Munayyer on the divergence between the US and Israel.

Jeet Heer

Cybertrucks Are a Safety Disaster—With Dara Kerr

Cybertrucks Are a Safety Disaster—With Dara Kerr Cybertrucks Are a Safety Disaster—With Dara Kerr

Paris Marx and Dara Kerr discuss how Elon’s prioritization of aesthetics over safety created a safety crisis, causing people to burn alive in their Cybertrucks.

Paris Marx

Protesters hold a “No Kings” flag as they take part in the rally and march on March 28, 2026, in Washington, DC.

Rebecca Solnit on Long-Term Strategy—Plus, Resisting ICE in Small-Town America Rebecca Solnit on Long-Term Strategy—Plus, Resisting ICE in Small-Town America

Podcast / Start Making Sense / Mar 18, 2025 The End of Resistance History On this episode of Start Making Sense, Rebecca Solnit argues for understanding change over more than…

Podcast / Start Making Sense

US President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago club on December 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida.

America, Israel, and the Jews (With David Klion) America, Israel, and the Jews (With David Klion)

Aaron and Matt are joined by Nation columnist David Klion to talk about the role that Israel has played in the rise of American fascism.

President Donald Trump pauses as he finishes speaking about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

The Party of Chaos—With Paul Heideman The Party of Chaos—With Paul Heideman

Danny and Derek welcome writer Paul Heideman to talk about the shift of the Republican Party from the party of business interests to a fragmented, personality-driven coalition

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

x