Rest is history podcast disappointment

As a TRIH fan, I’ve enjoyed this discussion. Both Tom and Dom know that men can’t be women, and although they don’t engage hugely with the debate, it’s clear what their views are. I loved being reminded that on TRIP it was Dom, the historian, who called the presidential election correctly. Incidentally, his books on late 20th century are massively readable and entertaining - I highly recommend.

They did an episode about elections and when they were talking about political violence, mentioned that Rosie Duffield was unable to hold hustings due to threats against her. It was in June 2024 (so pre the sunlight of the FWS judgment) and I actually remember tearing up that someone in media had noticed and rightfully put it down as political violence when people within her own party were gleefully ignoring it and smearing her at every turn. I didn't take the mention of TERFs in the recent episode as anything other than a pertinent analogy.

This is how I understood it too - it helps that I also remember an episode of TRIH a while ago in which they (hilariously) characterised Edward VI as a Harry Enfield-esque teenager, forever shouting 'I HATE YOU' in his breaking voice at his sisters and stropping off out of the room.

I think with that as background it makes it more obvious where they were coming from.

Yes I listened to that, an excellent episode.

Yes! So much this. Dominic sandbrook on Trigonometry was excellent on this and how everyone believes they are on the right side of history

https://youtube.com/shorts/ERK17DGnhhE?si=-s59Ux5sBmFVXKSa

Rory and his emotional support pen 😆

I really enjoy TRIH and have laughed out loud quite a bit at the Elizabeth series (and the Lady Jane episodes are really funny too) but the "LADS, LADS, LADS!!!" irks me sometimes.

I like Rory, and I've learned a lot from him. He's the complete opposite of me in so many ways and it's done me good to listen to him.

I didn't but I am sad enough to be going back and re-watching the livestream at random intervals. It's even funnier than I am remembered. How does Rory get paid for being so consistently wrong? In any other role he'd be fired.

One of the things I like about TRIH is that big themes of history emerge by themselves across time periods. For example that wherever and whenever you go, human beings behave like human beings. It totally shuts down the idea we might learn from history as apparently the only lessons we actually listen to are 'that guy was a massive shit but got to be very rich and important' not 'slavery and war are bad.'

The reasons TRIH aren’t likely to do a women’s rights/feminist history podcast is/are the reasons they do so well. They have an increasingly clear view of what their audience responds to, and what their audience thinks their job is. So they and their audience are delighted with episodes that showcase interesting women from the past, and will describe why they’re interesting with feminist and political insights, but they don’t do much in the way of the theory of history or big political themes that cross centuries. Thank goodness, because I never understood a word of any of that. Also I think they are acutely aware that two chaps discussing key moments in women’s history can easily go a bit wrong.

Do you remember earlier on? Dominic was the only one who, when they went round the table, said that Trump would win. The rest of them were huffing prentendium, and Rory was positive that it would be Kamala. And they were asking Dominic "Why"? And he gave them some actual facts and figures, and dispassionate assessment.

Rory is always wrong, about everything 😆

This thread has reminded me of Dominic's election night summary on TRIP. I've just rewatched it and your description of Rory slowly dissolving is so accurate.

Even when Alastair gives Dominic the floor, he sounded so petutlant when he says "Dominic, you as the person who got it right, what do you think we got wrong?" Meanwhile Rory is just sitting slumped to the side like a puppet with its strings cut.

It was an absolute joy. Watching Rory slowly dissolve.

So glad that Tominic are still sound 👌

This is how I interpreted it - just put a lot more eloquently than I could.

Absolutely. It’s still jarring to hear that word though isn’t it, no wonder it gets our backs up and it’s understandable to fear the worst.

I do think some of Tom’s views on e.g. Byron are a little unsound, but was very glad to hear Dom being totally Team Fanny recently 😆

Phew 😁 I am glad for the clarification!

That was exactly my take as well. They are both team TERF!

I'm so glad you turned out to be wrong on this, OP - I opened the thread with dread - but it's good to see TRIH discussed. I would really love to see them do something on the history of women's rights - within the UK, or globally. It is so stark when you see how recently we began to be treated, legally at least, as equal citizens. Last week was the 50th anniversary of the Sex Discrimination Act reaching the statute book. Did anyone see much in the way of commemoration of that? Nope, me neither.

He was the only clued in person on that.

Phew, would have been sorely disappointed to lose faith with TRIH, I've lost enough podcasts as it is.
I was listening to Tom Slater on the Heretics podcast and he eloquently explained why I have gradually stopped listening to TRIP, Newsagents and alsoFi Glover and Jane Garvey.

I thought it was because they are not brave enough to tackle this subject but he explains that they are all stuck in 1997 neoliberalism. They haven't moved with the times, I don't think TRIH necessarily want to tackle it either but I don't get that vibe from them.

Tom was quite good about calling out the TRA attempts to label Elagabalas as 'trans' were lacking in any factual basis whatsoever.

I think these two are fundamentally right headed about this. Unlike their idiot misogynistic buddies on TRIP

They are absolutely making a point about Edward VI being a narrow-minded and judgemental teenager

Absolutely, he was on the TRIP (US) on election night and absolutely nailed the views of the US public when it came to identity politics and the effect of the 'Kamala is for they/them, Trump is for you campaign'

Dominic is absolutely on board. He is always the first one to point out women's perspective (heartwarming given he's meant to be the bluff Tory etc etc etc) and has definitely made references to terfiness and JKR before.

One reason I ditched TRIP but still adore these two.