It’s March 4th. This day in 2004, Pat Toomey is challenging Republican Senator Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania senate race — trying to outflank him from the right in the state’s primary.
Jody, Niki, and Kellie look back at the moment where “to primary someone” became a political phenomenon, and talk to Nick Troiano of Unite America about why the primary system has been weaponized.
Nick’s new book is “The Primary Solution” — it’s out now!
Sign up for our newsletter! Get your hands on This Day merch!
Find out more at thisdaypod.com
This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.
Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcasts and award-winning stories.
If you want to support the show directly, you can do so on our website: ThisDayPod.com
Get in touch if you have any ideas for future topics, or just want to say hello. Follow us on social @thisdaypod
Our team: Jacob Feldman, Researcher/Producer; Brittani Brown, Producer; Khawla Nakua, Transcripts; music by Teen Daze and Blue Dot Sessions; Audrey Mardavich is our Executive Producer at Radiotopia
FDR's Court-Packing Plan Backfires (1937)
The Sketchy Deal That Makes Hayes President (1877)
Groundhog Day's Very Weird Origins (1877)
A Brawl In Congress (1798) w/ Joanne Freeman
No Nukes In Space (1967)
Why Do We Vote On Tuesday? (1845)
Ed Roberts, Father Of Independent Living (2010)
Marion Barry Caught Smoking Crack (1990)
The Pentagon, The Building (1943)
America's Biggest Slave Rebellion (1811)
America Drags Its Feet on MLK Day (1986)
The Children's Blizzard (1888)
Jefferson's Wall Between Church and State (1802)
Vietnam Draft Lottery Is Exposed (1970) w/ Walt Hickey
Ike vs. Squirrels (1955) [Archive Episode]
The Great Idaho Beaver Parachute Drop (1948) w/ Ian Chillag
A Bombing At LaGuardia Airport (1975)
The Assassination of Harry and Harriette Moore (1951)
How Puzzles Explain WWII w/ A.J. Jacobs
The First Crossword (1913) w/ A.J. Jacobs
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Criminal
Ear Hustle
Song Exploder
The Truth
the memory palace