It’s not the first time ultrasmart Rachel Maddow gives a history lesson, and if we’re lucky, it won’t be the last. As western Mass denizens, we are fortunate to call Rachel Maddow one of our own. And for those who’ve read her books about American military power (“Drift”), big oil and gas (“Blowout”), and tuned in to her first podcast (“Bag Man”), you know ultrasmart Maddow gives a history lesson whenever she can.
As she is wont to do, Maddow, in her new podcast “Ultra,” explains just how much what’s past is prologue. As the second anniversary of January 6 rolled around, I decided to listen to “Ultra” on my daily commute. It was an eight-episode gift I gave myself between Christmas and New Year’s; you should give it to yourself, too.
While I am not a regular podcast listener, “Ultra” proved the perfect podcast in the weeks leading up to the anniversary of January 6. Moreover, it’s turned out to be a unique reminder that history does repeat itself. Who knew there was a serious sedition trial taking place in the United States in 1944? Maddow’s podcast does a deep dive into this exact history.
The Great Sedition Trial of 1944 is the subject of “Ultra.” Rachel Maddow’s natural story-telling talent begins with a fascinating anecdote about the mysterious death of Minnesota Senator Ernest Lundeen. She bookends the entire pod series by connecting 1944’s dots to this moment, right now. And all along the way, she pays so much respect to the Library of Congress, you’d think it was Valentine’s Day already.
To wit, from episode 1: “Archival radio material is from NBC News, via our beloved Library of Congress, with additional sound from CBS News.”
From episode 2: “Archival radio material is from NBC News, via the estimable Library of Congress, with additional sound from CBS News.”
From episode 3: “Archival radio material is from the oddly crush-worthy Library of Congress with additional sound from CBS News.”
Episode 4: “Archival radio material is from NBC News via the Library of Congress, which you really should visit. Have you visited? With additional sound from CBS News.”
Episode 5: “Archival radio material is from NBC News via the eighth wonder of the world, the Library of Congress. With additional sound from CBS News.”
Episode 6: “Archival material is from NBC News, via the tall, dark, and handsome Library of Congress.”
Episode 7: “Archival radio material is from NBC News, via the national library of the United States, the one and only Library of Congress, the biggest and most important library in the whole world, I could go on!”
Episode 8: “Archival radio material is from NBC News, via a little operation called the Library of Congress which you should maybe look into sometime; you will not be disappointed.”
It is a testament to ultrasmart Maddow that her podcast success has translated into not one but two adaptations. Ben Stiller and Lorne Michaels are turning her first podcast into a film, currently in pre-production. And Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner will adapt “Ultra.”
I strongly recommend that you close your eyes and listen to “Ultra” first. Whether you know what “ultra vires” means or not (I did not), it’s hard to see a double entendre. Still, ultrasmart Maddow’s history lesson could not be timelier.
