Daily Stream: History & Politics Chat

When social media leaves you feeling like you're neck deep in fake news and hot takes, Heather Cox Richardson is a soothing, grounding force. A writer, political historian, and professor of history at Boston College, Cox Richardson has amassed nearly 750,000 followers on Facebook since beginning a nightly recap of the day's political events.

With History & Politics Chat, her weekly livestream on Tuesdays at 4 PM EST, Cox Richardson provides even more historical context and gives her followers an opportunity to chime in with burning questions or suggest a topic on which to focus for the week. From the post office to the payroll tax to campaign finance and the definition of "treason," Cox Richardson dives into her subjects with a calm, assuring approach that's the antithesis of hot takes. She anchors the events dominating current politics in the ongoing story of our republic, sharing information on relevant incidents or players from the past and how the situations that come close to mirroring today panned out historically. 

Cox Richardson's Facebook page also holds archived livestreams that hone in on other subjects, such as the history of the Republican Party and "the American paradox"—how the United States became an international symbol for democracy and equality on a foundation of racism, sexism, and classism. 

Watch History & Politics Chat with Heather Cox Richardson via Facebook.