Emergency Pod - Removing History in Philadelphia and the History Happening in Minneapolis

In this "emergency" episode of Public History with Justin, Jake, and Molly, Jake and Molly step away from their planned programming to confront a moment happening right. This was recorded on Monday, January 26.

The conversation begins in Philadelphia, where interpretive panels about slavery at the President's House - steps from Independence Hall - were quietly removed ahead of America's 250th anniversary. It doesn't end there.

Jake and Molly unpack why removing interpretation is fundamentally different from removing monuments, and why telling the stories of the enslaved people who lived and labored in George Washington's household matters - especially at the nation's most symbolic historic site.

From there, the episode widens. The discussion turns to Minneapolis, to horrific viral video, to state violence, and to the dangers of controlling historical narrative in moments of political crisis. Drawing connections to labor massacres in the late 19th century and the long struggle for civil rights, Jake argues that history isn't over - it's happening now.

This episode of Public History with Justin, Jake, and Molly explores:

• The removal of slavery interpretation at Independence National Historical Park
• Why monuments are not history - but interpretation is
• Naming the enslaved people erased from the landscape in Philadelphia
• Controlling narrative as a feature of authoritarian power
• Parallels between modern state violence and past labor massacres
• Why history still matters when it's being challenged in real time

(Image: Detail from a photograph by WHYY at President's House)