Eli Lake

There have been populist senators, governors, newspaper editors, and radio broadcasters. But, and this is important, while American history is littered with them, very rarely has a populist ever climbed as high as President Trump. In fact, it's only happened once before. The last populist to win the presidency was born before the American Revolution. He rose from nothing to become a great general.

There have been populist senators, governors, newspaper editors, and radio broadcasters. But, and this is important, while American history is littered with them, very rarely has a populist ever climbed as high as President Trump. In fact, it's only happened once before. The last populist to win the presidency was born before the American Revolution. He rose from nothing to become a great general.

He was the first man to represent the state of Tennessee in Congress. His adoring troops called him Old Hickory, and his enemies derided him as a bigamist and a tyrant-in-waiting. His name was Andrew Jackson, the guy who's still on the $20 bill.

He was the first man to represent the state of Tennessee in Congress. His adoring troops called him Old Hickory, and his enemies derided him as a bigamist and a tyrant-in-waiting. His name was Andrew Jackson, the guy who's still on the $20 bill.

He was the first man to represent the state of Tennessee in Congress. His adoring troops called him Old Hickory, and his enemies derided him as a bigamist and a tyrant-in-waiting. His name was Andrew Jackson, the guy who's still on the $20 bill.

If it feels like 2025 is uncharted waters, perhaps Andrew Jackson's path to the White House would be the best guide to what Trump's second term might look like. Because there are eerie parallels. Both presidents came to power insisting that the previous election had been stolen from them. Both were driven by their enmities. Both survived assassination attempts.

If it feels like 2025 is uncharted waters, perhaps Andrew Jackson's path to the White House would be the best guide to what Trump's second term might look like. Because there are eerie parallels. Both presidents came to power insisting that the previous election had been stolen from them. Both were driven by their enmities. Both survived assassination attempts.

If it feels like 2025 is uncharted waters, perhaps Andrew Jackson's path to the White House would be the best guide to what Trump's second term might look like. Because there are eerie parallels. Both presidents came to power insisting that the previous election had been stolen from them. Both were driven by their enmities. Both survived assassination attempts.

both Andrew Jackson and Donald Trump were outsiders who believed their elections were a mandate to vanquish the old establishment. And the establishments they railed against would really rather both of them just disappear. Tonight, a new look for the world's most iconic office. Items identified with President Trump now gone. The portrait of former President Andrew Jackson.

both Andrew Jackson and Donald Trump were outsiders who believed their elections were a mandate to vanquish the old establishment. And the establishments they railed against would really rather both of them just disappear. Tonight, a new look for the world's most iconic office. Items identified with President Trump now gone. The portrait of former President Andrew Jackson.

both Andrew Jackson and Donald Trump were outsiders who believed their elections were a mandate to vanquish the old establishment. And the establishments they railed against would really rather both of them just disappear. Tonight, a new look for the world's most iconic office. Items identified with President Trump now gone. The portrait of former President Andrew Jackson.

In 2021, President Biden removed a portrait of Jackson from the Oval Office. And well, this is what Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's chief strategist for his first run at the White House in 2016 told me he thinks the new president should do about that.

In 2021, President Biden removed a portrait of Jackson from the Oval Office. And well, this is what Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's chief strategist for his first run at the White House in 2016 told me he thinks the new president should do about that.

In 2021, President Biden removed a portrait of Jackson from the Oval Office. And well, this is what Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's chief strategist for his first run at the White House in 2016 told me he thinks the new president should do about that.

Steve Bannon got his wish. Jackson has returned to the Oval Office. I'm Eli Lake, and from the Free Press, this is Breaking History. Today, we look at the first time the elites got their butts kicked in a presidential election, what Andrew Jackson can tell us about Donald Trump, and our populist moment. After the break, stay with us.

Steve Bannon got his wish. Jackson has returned to the Oval Office. I'm Eli Lake, and from the Free Press, this is Breaking History. Today, we look at the first time the elites got their butts kicked in a presidential election, what Andrew Jackson can tell us about Donald Trump, and our populist moment. After the break, stay with us.

Steve Bannon got his wish. Jackson has returned to the Oval Office. I'm Eli Lake, and from the Free Press, this is Breaking History. Today, we look at the first time the elites got their butts kicked in a presidential election, what Andrew Jackson can tell us about Donald Trump, and our populist moment. After the break, stay with us.

If you've been following my work or tuning into Honestly, you know that at the Free Press, we're interested in how history shapes the world around us. Understanding today's headlines means looking at how the past informs our present, but too often that context is distorted by bias or reduced to oversimplified narratives.

If you've been following my work or tuning into Honestly, you know that at the Free Press, we're interested in how history shapes the world around us. Understanding today's headlines means looking at how the past informs our present, but too often that context is distorted by bias or reduced to oversimplified narratives.

If you've been following my work or tuning into Honestly, you know that at the Free Press, we're interested in how history shapes the world around us. Understanding today's headlines means looking at how the past informs our present, but too often that context is distorted by bias or reduced to oversimplified narratives.