Joseph Pascone

Year(s) Discussed: 1898-1918 In the second half of the conversation, with my special guest, Joe Pascone of the Turning Tides Podcast, we move from Puerto Rico’s 19th-century struggle for autonomy into the island’s capture by the United States and the legal limbo that followed. We examine the fallout of the Spanish-American War, the rise of American corporate and political control, and the ways Puerto Ricans resisted cultural erasure through language, politics, and identity. The discussion closes by showing how the island’s status was shaped by racism, empire, and unfinished debates that still define Puerto Rico today. More information can be found at https://www.presidenciespodcast.com.

Year(s) Discussed: 1815-1898 In the first part of this conversation, I am joined by Joe Pascone of the Turning Tides Podcast to trace Puerto Rico’s history from the post-Napoleonic era through the rise of nationalism, rebellion, and colonial resistance. We explore the island’s shifting political status, the legacy of piracy and slavery, and how Puerto Rico became a crucial but often overlooked part of larger Atlantic world struggles. This opening half sets up the central question of the episode: how did Puerto Rico’s fight for autonomy get eclipsed by empire?

Year(s) Discussed: 1908-1921 Four candidates. Forty-eight states. Only one can come out on top with at least 266 electoral votes needed to win. To discuss the knock down, drag out brawl that was 1912, I am joined by Joseph Pascone of the Turning Tides Podcast to go through the ins and outs of this impactful election and the elements of modern US presidential elections that start to make their appearance in this campaign. More information can be found on the page for this episode at https://www.presidenciespodcast.com.

Year(s) Discussed: Prehistory-1954 Being in the midst of a war with Great Britain did not stop some Americans in the early 19th century from thinking about territorial expansion into Spanish-held colonies in the Americas including those in the Caribbean. For this episode, I am joined by Joseph Pascone, host of the Turning Tides Podcast, to examine the history of Puerto Rico, the key to the Antilles, and how numerous European powers vied for control of this island for centuries prior to it becoming a US commonwealth. During our discussion, we learn about some common developments and trends that took place both in Puerto Rico and what became the United States. Links referenced can be found at www.presidenciespodcast.com. Note: There are references to violence related to the colonial experience and enslavement throughout this episode.