In September 1944, while Allied troops battled overseas, the quiet Illinois town of Mattoon was seized by panic. Families awoke to a sickly-sweet odor, burning throats, and sudden paralysis, then glimpsed a shadowy figure slipping into the darkness. For two breathless weeks, newspaper headlines screamed of an “Anesthetic Prowler,” armed neighbors patrolled the streets, and the FBI weighed sabotage or chemical crime. Yet in the end, no culprit and no clear cause were ever found. Was it an industrial leak, a wartime spy, a malicious prankster, or mass hysteria born of home-front stress? This episode unpacks one of America’s strangest unsolved mysteries and asks what happens when fear itself becomes contagious. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SPONSORED BY THE PODCAST REPUBLIC: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/ LEARN MORE AT: www.historyshortspodcast.com SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/
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13:41
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13:41
Killing Wild Bill Hickok
Deadwood, Dakota Territory, 1876. A town of gold, grit, and gamblers. Among its rogues and prospectors walked a legend: Wild Bill Hickok, the Civil War scout turned gunslinger turned gambler. But on August 2nd, fate caught up to the myth. In a smoky saloon, with a hand of cards and his back to the door, Hickok was shot dead by a coward with a grudge. This episode unpacks the gripping true story of the man behind the legend and how the Old West’s most feared gunman met his end not in a duel, but in an ambush. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SPONSORED BY THE PODCAST REPUBLIC: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/ LEARN MORE AT: www.historyshortspodcast.com SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/
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13:20
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13:20
TODAY IN CONTEXT: Third Parties in American Politics- A History
In this episode of History Shorts, we explore the fascinating and often frustrating history of third parties in American politics, just as Elon Musk launches his own. From the Republican Party's origins as a third-party insurgency to the fleeting promise of Ross Perot and the Reform Party, we trace the moments when political outsiders challenged the system, and when they crashed against it. What does history teach us about third parties? Why do they so often fail? And can Musk’s new venture break the mold, or is it destined to become a footnote? Join us as we walk through the surprising successes, sobering failures, and enduring influence of America’s third-party movements. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SPONSORED BY THE PODCAST REPUBLIC: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/ LEARN MORE AT: www.historyshortspodcast.com SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/
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14:29
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14:29
Bloody Bill Anderson (Civil War True Crime)
In the borderlands of Missouri, where the American Civil War devolved into personal feuds and guerrilla terror, one name echoed louder, and bloodier, than the rest: “Bloody Bill” Anderson. Feared by Union soldiers, hated by Unionist civilians, and idolized by vengeful Confederate bushwhackers, Anderson wasn’t just a man; he was a menace. His savage reign of ambushes, executions, and mutilations left a trail of horror across Missouri, culminating in the Centralia Massacre, where over 120 Union soldiers were killed, many after trying to surrender. This episode dives deep into the life and legacy of William T. Anderson, exploring how a young man forged by trauma became one of the most sadistic figures in Civil War history. We examine the broader guerrilla war in Missouri, the personal vendettas that fueled its violence, and the dark aftermath that bled into America’s outlaw era. Was he a Confederate avenger? A terrorist? A man driven mad by loss? Join us as we unravel the grim tale of “Bloody Bill” Anderson. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SPONSORED BY THE PODCAST REPUBLIC: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/ LEARN MORE AT: www.historyshortspodcast.com SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/
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10:10
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10:10
COINTELPRO: America's Secret Surveillance Program
COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program) remains one of the most contentious and clandestine operations in American history. Initiated by the FBI in 1956, COINTELPRO operated covertly to surveil, infiltrate, discredit, and disrupt civil rights groups, political organizations, and individuals deemed subversive or threatening to national security. Targeting African American leaders, the civil rights movement, left-wing activists, and anti-war groups, COINTELPRO's actions continue to provoke debates on the balance between security and civil liberties in the U.S. DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A RATING OR A REVIEW! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE! SPONSORED BY THE PODCAST REPUBLIC: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/ LEARN MORE AT: www.historyshortspodcast.com SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast ADVERTISE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/advertise SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast LEARN MORE: https://www.historyshortspodcast.com/
Dive into the past with award-winning historian Peter Zablocki in this captivating daily podcast! Uncover hidden stories you never knew existed. And don't miss Friday Conversations where Peter teams up with top experts for riveting, in-depth discussions that bring history to life.
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