CRAZY POLL TAX STORIES: The Way The 24th Amendment Was Passed, Why Some Loved Paying The Tax, and Three Words to Watch.

The 24th amendment banning the payment of poll tax or other tax in order to vote, had a crazy legislative history to get passed. Alexander's Hamilton's House became a central part of the Senate effort. How the poll tax was defended in 1939 in Texas, and how the way it was administered was often worse than any one-time fee. Also: 3 words to watch in voter ID battles. Why people still paid poll tax even after the amendment passed, and why maybe the 24th didn't need to be passed at all. in this episode a few stories we left out of our previous episode on the 24th Amendment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have we forgotten about George W. Bush and how much today's politics were defined during his administration? Does Congress have any role anymore? Have we reached a point where Congress not only has less power but doesn't want to use what it has? Over the years, federal power has shifted from Congress to the President, with particular acceleration since Reagan and George W. Bush's Presidencies. David Sirota of The Lever Podcast and Master Plan Podcast joins us to talk about this trend and how it is a planned effort with people of both parties involved. His podcast, Master Plan, is available at: https://podcasts.apple.com/br/podcast/master-plan/id1723377799 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reagan makes a big reform most see as a good thing. And he made a diplomatic move most see as a very bad thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The political world was shocked in 1987 when a 41-year old developer put an ad in the NY Times. Now it's 2026: he's consistent, sorta. What does it say about today? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1962, A civil rights champion and a civil rights opponent join on one thing - to ban poll taxes. The Court later rules that it applies to fees. What does it mean for today? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Homelessness, education, healthcare and other domestic issues under constant evaluation during the time of the Reagan Presidency. We look at the personal Ronald Reagan and the contention of critics that his policies didn't match the person. We look at first term and second term policy differences on homelessness, and the contention by supporters that homelessness was focused on by media in the 80's but not during other Presidencies. Finally, we look at Reagan's response to AIDS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reagan Battles Ford for the GOP Nomination. He loses. And becomes President. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Baker called Reagan's foreign policy "a witches brew." In one country, a longshot try for peace. In others, alliances with warmakers. Reagan's policy towards seven nations - El Salvador, Lebanon, Poland, Nicaragua, China, Grenada and Guatemala examined in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We seek to solve two puzzles: How did Reagan the Truman booster and N ew Deal supporter become Reagan the Goldwater acolyte? And when he entered politics, became GOP nominee and President, what were the economic results of his Presidency? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reagan is the only President to have led a union into a strike. Twice, with two wins. And that's why he knew how to a break a strike when he had to. But in doing so, did he encourage employers to be harsh with workers? Some think that's exactly what happened. This, and the joy of the tax cut passage is turning into concern about deficit numbers. Not even his whiz kid Stockman can find an answer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices