Presidential

The Washington Post

The Washington Post's Presidential podcast explores how each former American president reached office, made decisions, handled crises and redefined the role of commander-in-chief. It was released leading up to up to Election Day 2016, starting with George Washington in week one and ending on week 44 with the president-elect. New special episodes in the countdown to the 2020 presidential election highlight other stories from U.S. presidential history that can help illuminate our current moment. Hosted by Lillian Cunningham, the series features Pulitzer Prize-winning biographers like David McCullough and Washington Post journalists like Bob Woodward. [When you're done, listen to Lillian's other historical podcasts: Constitutional and Moonrise]

Episodes

BONUS | The presidents who’ve tried to win back the White House

As former president Donald Trump attempts to return to the White House, host Lillian Cunningham speaks with Library of Congress archivist (and “Presidential” fan favorite) Michelle Krowl about the history of former presidents’ efforts to win back the office after they’ve left.

Oct 23

44 min

BONUS | Women, politics and the presidency

Host Lillian Cunningham speaks with Sharon McMahon, author of “The Small and the Mighty,” about women’s ongoing fight for more political power—examining the arc of progress since 1920, when women across the nation first voted for president.

Sep 26

36 min

Introducing, "The Sports Moment"

Ava Wallace, sports reporter at The Washington Post, is in France to report on the Summer Games — and eat a lot of croissants. Join her through the entire run of the games, for several episodes a week as she captures the highs, the lows and the Paris of it all, along with other Post colleagues.

Jul 25

59 sec

The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop: ‘Somebody knows’

Forty years ago, the body of a prime minister went missing. The Post’s Martine Powers asks: Who’s responsible?

Nov 22, 2023

51 min

Introducing “The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop”

Grenada’s revolutionary leader was executed in a coup in 1983, with seven others. The whereabouts of their remains are unknown. Now, The Washington Post’s Martine Powers uncovers new answers about how the U.S. fits into this 40-year-old Caribbean mystery.

Oct 13, 2023

3 min

Listen to the first episode of “Field Trip”: Yosemite National Park

Lillian Cunningham begins her journey in the place that helped inspire the national parks. As wildfires threaten Yosemite’s giant sequoias, she asks how to ensure the survival of these ancient trees. Follow "Field Trip" to hear the whole series.

Jun 28, 2023

55 min

Introducing “Field Trip”

Journey through the messy past and uncertain future of America’s national parks. The Washington Post’s Lillian Cunningham ventures off the marked trail to better understand the most urgent stories playing out in five iconic landscapes today.

Jun 14, 2023

3 min

A sneak peek from Lillian

Exclusively for listeners of “Presidential,” Lillian Cunningham shares news about her new podcast. You don’t want to miss this.

Jun 6, 2023

56 sec

BONUS | Happy Presidents’ Day! Or … not?

Students, teachers and historians reflect on what has changed — and should change — about the way we teach presidential history today. This special episode features presidential experts Barbara Perry and Julian Zelizer, “How the Word Is Passed” author Clint Smith, and the AP government and politics class of teacher Michael Martirone.

Feb 21, 2022

26 min

Joe Biden: Triumph, tragedy and the fate of the center

Four years later, the “Presidential” podcast adds a new biography to its cadre of American presidents. This special episode explores Joe Biden's decades-long, hard-fought personal and political path to the White House, with the New Yorker’s Evan Osnos.

Nov 8, 2020

53 min