Derek Thompson

It's interesting because there are two ideas there that I think are are in tension. The idea on the one hand that the discovery of gold in California in the 1840s immediately changed the fate of and the value of California to any empire that wanted to acquire it. And on the other hand, the idea that maybe the U.S.

It's interesting because there are two ideas there that I think are are in tension. The idea on the one hand that the discovery of gold in California in the 1840s immediately changed the fate of and the value of California to any empire that wanted to acquire it. And on the other hand, the idea that maybe the U.S.

would have expanded to the Pacific even if Polk didn't try to acquire California in the mid-1840s. Do you see a tension there?

would have expanded to the Pacific even if Polk didn't try to acquire California in the mid-1840s. Do you see a tension there?

would have expanded to the Pacific even if Polk didn't try to acquire California in the mid-1840s. Do you see a tension there?

Walt, what about you? What does American history look like without Polk?

Walt, what about you? What does American history look like without Polk?

Walt, what about you? What does American history look like without Polk?

This was a lot of fun. I really appreciate it. Walt Bornemann, Robert Mary, thank you very much.

This was a lot of fun. I really appreciate it. Walt Bornemann, Robert Mary, thank you very much.

This was a lot of fun. I really appreciate it. Walt Bornemann, Robert Mary, thank you very much.

Thanks, Derek, very much. Many thanks to Bob Mary and Walt Bornemann for this show. We would love to hear your feedback for Plain History. What do you think about this little podcast in a podcast? What are some Plain History episodes that you think we should cover? Send emails to plainenglish at spotify.com and we will see you next week.

Thanks, Derek, very much. Many thanks to Bob Mary and Walt Bornemann for this show. We would love to hear your feedback for Plain History. What do you think about this little podcast in a podcast? What are some Plain History episodes that you think we should cover? Send emails to plainenglish at spotify.com and we will see you next week.

Thanks, Derek, very much. Many thanks to Bob Mary and Walt Bornemann for this show. We would love to hear your feedback for Plain History. What do you think about this little podcast in a podcast? What are some Plain History episodes that you think we should cover? Send emails to plainenglish at spotify.com and we will see you next week.

By reputation, Elon Musk and Donald Trump are builders. Musk has grown two of the largest hardware innovation companies in the world with Tesla and SpaceX. And as for Trump, he once told Golf Digest magazine, quote, I own buildings. I'm a builder. I know how to build. Nobody can build like I can build. Nobody. End quote.

By reputation, Elon Musk and Donald Trump are builders. Musk has grown two of the largest hardware innovation companies in the world with Tesla and SpaceX. And as for Trump, he once told Golf Digest magazine, quote, I own buildings. I'm a builder. I know how to build. Nobody can build like I can build. Nobody. End quote.

By reputation, Elon Musk and Donald Trump are builders. Musk has grown two of the largest hardware innovation companies in the world with Tesla and SpaceX. And as for Trump, he once told Golf Digest magazine, quote, I own buildings. I'm a builder. I know how to build. Nobody can build like I can build. Nobody. End quote.

But now these two are united in Washington, and the duumvirate of Trump and Musk has made their mark in the first month of this administration, not by building, but rather by its opposite, which is demolition.

But now these two are united in Washington, and the duumvirate of Trump and Musk has made their mark in the first month of this administration, not by building, but rather by its opposite, which is demolition.

But now these two are united in Washington, and the duumvirate of Trump and Musk has made their mark in the first month of this administration, not by building, but rather by its opposite, which is demolition.