Wigs For Whigs History: Recent Episodes
Joe Cook
Discussions of topics in history and politics, from a high school history teacher. Views expressed are only those of the speaker(s), and not of any places of employment or affiliated organizations.
Host: Joseph Cook MA History AMU BA History Gettysburg College
Host Joe Cook kicks off Season 5 with political panelists Bill Venezia, Judge Ed DeFazio, and Dr. Michael Buxbaum. They talk government shutdown, Pam Bondi, and Jeffrey Epstein.
Have thoughts or questions? Email them to wigsforwhigs@gmail.com
Host Joe Cook discusses the history, present, and future of the Israel-Palestine conflict with the panel featuring educator Bill Venezia, Dr. Michael Buxbaum, Judge Ed DeFazio, and teacher Frank McGady. Can the Wigs for Whigs team solve thousands of years of conflict in less than an hour?**
Share your thoughts to wigsforwhigs@gmail.com
**spoiler: No, no they cannot
Host Joe Cook talks Epstein List, Tariffs, Israel, and the Supreme Court with the political panel of Educator Bill Venezia, Judge Ed DeFazio, and Dr. Michael Buxbaum.
Host Joe Cook and the political panel (educator Bill Venezia, Judge Ed DeFazio, Dr. Michael Buxbaum) discuss the Big Beautiful Bill, the war in Ukraine, and other topics in the news in July 2025.
Host Joe Cook discusses the latest news with Bill Venezia and Judge Ed DeFazio. They talk about the Big Beautiful Bill, the bombing of Iran, the Supreme Court, and ICE raids.
Have a question or an opinion to share with the hosts? Reach them at wigsforwhigs@gmail.com
Host Joe Cook and the political panel (educator Bill Venezia, Dr. Michael Buxbaum, and Judge Ed DeFazio) discuss the first few months of the Trump Presidency 2.0
Note: the host obviously mispeaks or did incorrect quick math when he says 136th day . . . But the good people at Wigs for Whigs want you to know that this mistake was all Biden’s fault.
Host Joe Cook chats with educator Bill Venezia, Judge Ed DeFazio, and Dr. Michael Buxbaum about the group chat fiasco for the Trump administration, the effects of tariffs, and other recent developments in the news.
Host Joe Cook and Bill Venezia chat about expectations for the 2025 MLB season, on the eve of Opening Day.
Share your predictions, thoughts, and questions with the hosts by emailing wigsforwhigs@gmail.com
Host Joe Cook and the political panel (educator Bill Venezia, psychologist Dr. Michael Buxbaum, and Judge Edward DeFazio) discuss the peace talks regarding Ukraine, the actions of DOGE, and the Trump Cabinet.
Host Joe Cook chats with Bill Venezia about the upcoming Super Bowl and favorite Super Bowl memories.
Host Joe Cook chats with the political panel of Bill Venezia, Judge Ed DeFazio, and Dr. Michael Buxbaum about the first week of Trump 2.0
Host Joe Cook chats with Bill Venezia and Judge Edward Defazio. They all eat some crow over their incorrect predictions about the election. Then, like true pros, they pivot to claim they always knew this was going to happen and prognosticate on what’s next. Political punditry at its finest! Lastly, they all share what they are thankful for as we enter the holiday season.
Host Joe Cook and the political panel make predictions on the eve of the 2024 election. See how smart or dumb they really are!
Host Joe Cook and the political panel discuss the war in Ukraine in the context of the upcoming US Presidential Election.
The news keeps getting bigger and so does the Wigs for Whigs political panel. Host Joe Cook is joined by Bill Venezia, Judge Ed DeFazio, Dr. Michael Buxbaum, and educator abroad Daniel Gurry to discuss the fallout from the presidential debate and other major topics in political news from early September 2024.
Host Joe Cook talks with Judge Ed DeFazio, Dr. Michael Buxbaum, and Bill Venezia about the latest developments in the 2024 race. Joe Biden dropped out, the RNC happened, Kamala and JD Vance have risen, and more.
Host Joe Cook remembers his professor, mentor, and friend Dr. Peter Carmichael. Did you have a teacher or professor who had a profound impact on your life? Share it with us at wigsforwhigs@gmail.com
Host Joe Cook has a roundtable discussion with Bill Venezia, Dr. Michael Buxbaum, and Judge Edward DeFazio about the fallout of Donald Trump’s conviction in his New York criminal trial. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joecookhistory/message
Host Joe Cook is joined by Bill Venezia and by special guest Dr. Michael Buxbaum to discuss the stranglehold the two-party system has in the United States and the value of alternatives to the two current major parties. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joecookhistory/message
Host Joe Cook and Bill Venezia discuss some of the latest news related to the 2024 election and some baseball. Joe shares one conspiracy he believes in, Bill teases a dive into Tik Tok, and more! Share your thoughts and questions to WigsForWhigs@gmail.com--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joecookhistory/message
Host Joe Cook and Bill Venezia discuss the importance of voting, a new effort to register students to vote, and some of the latest developments in politics and baseball. View Joe Cook’s Voting Rights event from 2/12/24: https://youtu.be/lhHsrBas-nY?si=2Wo-LfANWa5A6PVm Share a Voice Message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joecookhistory/message--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joecookhistory/message
The triumphant return of Wigs for Whigs after an unexpectedly long hiatus. Joe Cook and Bill Venezia talk politics, football, and baseball. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joecookhistory/message
Host Joe Cook is joined by Bill Venezia and Judge Edward DeFazio to discuss legal issues facing the former president and the elections that are now less than a year away. Four jurisdictions, three judge appellate panels, two unpopular presidents, and a partridge in a pear tree! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joecookhistory/message
Host Joe Cook discusses American Civil War hero Philip Kearny. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joecookhistory/message
Host Joe Cook and Bill Venezia discuss the continuing chaos of recent political news, how educators can deal with this in the classroom, and why voting matters so much. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joecookhistory/message
Season 3 is here, at last! We know you’ve been eagerly waiting. Host Joe Cook and Bill Venezia catch up on the news from over the summer, touching on the chaos in Washington, the war in Israel, and the Trump legal troubles. Reach out with your thoughts (written or as a voice memo) to wigsforwhigs@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joecookhistory/message
Host Joe Cook and Bill Venezia discuss the latest in election news, Donald Trump legal troubles, and other political topics.
Host Joe Cook and Bill Venezia check in on the Major League Baseball season just over 1/4 of the way through. They talk all things Mets, Yankees, and Skyline Chili.
Host Joe Cook and Bill Venezia have talked a lot about the law in recent episodes. Disclaimer: Neither of them are lawyers. On this episode, we have real, live legal experts! Former prosecutor and judge, Hon. Edward DeFazio, and leading NJ defense attorney, Brian Neary, join Wigs for Whigs to talk about Donald Trump’s legal challenges. Have thoughts or questions for the Wigs for Whigs gang? Reach them at WigsForWhigs@gmail.com
Host Joe Cook and Bill Venezia talk corruption, cronyism, and other icky subjects when they discuss some New Jersey politics past and present.
Host Joe Cook & Bill Venezia discuss (in real-time) the self-surrender of Donald Trump.
Host Joe Cook and Bill Venezia discuss some film history in anticipation of the upcoming Academy Awards. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook and Bill Venezia discuss some names floated for the 2024 presidential primaries, then look back at failed candidates from the past who had been labeled as frontrunners. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook and Bill Venezia chat with guest Jack Bohrer (MSNBC news producer) about his book, The Revolution of Robert Kennedy. They discuss the political and personal sides of RFK, and how he should be remembered today. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook is joined by Bill Venezia, Frank McGady, and special guest Leo Vaccaro to discuss ongoing efforts to rename Taney Street in Philadelphia. The group of Catholic school educators (Hudson Catholic & St. Joe’s Prep) also discusses Caroline LeCount, George Meade, William Still, and historical memory in general. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook and Bill Venezia discuss the vice presidents who ascended to the presidency upon death or resignation of the president. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook and Bill Venezia reflect on the events of January 6, 2021 — two years later. They discuss memories of the day, its historical and political significance, and their thoughts on how the events can be discussed with students. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook and Bill Venezia chat with Joe Pompeo (Vanity Fair media correspondent) to discuss his new book, Blood and Ink: the Scandalous Jazz Age Double Murder that Hooked America on True Crime (HarperCollins: William Morrow, 2022)--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook reflects on the 1852 death of Whig Party leader Henry Clay. The paper Cook presents here won “Best Paper” at the 2015 Symposium on 19th Century Press. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook sits down with Bill Venezia and Frank McGady to reflect on the 2022 Midterms and look ahead to the presidential primaries for 2024. Have a question or comment? Submit it to wigsforwhigs@gmail.com and it may be featured on a future episode.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook answers questions submitted by listeners. Questions deal with slavery, the legacy of Jefferson & Hamilton, and the changes in the major political parties over time. Submit your questions to wigsforwhigs@gmail.com
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook sits down with Bill Venezia and Frank McGady to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and how it may be impacted by the US midterm elections.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook sits down with Bill Venezia and Frank McGady to discuss the most important elections in US History as well as the upcoming midterm elections.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook sits down with Bill Venezia to discuss how to compare athletes from different eras in sports history.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Opening remarks from a November 2021 event about the legacies of the Emancipation Proclamation, organized by podcast host Joe Cook.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook sits down with Bill Venezia to talk baseball history in honor of Opening Day 2022. They discuss favorite players, favorite memories, and baseball trivia.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook continues his discussion with Bill Venezia from a couple weeks earlier, regarding developments in the war in Ukraine.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook sits down with regular guest Bill Venezia to discuss the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the American response, and listeners’ questions.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook sits down with Bill Venezia to talk about Brian Flores’s new discrimination lawsuit against the NFL, as well as related topics in the history of sports and society. Note: Cook teaches a course on Sports in US History.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook welcomes Bill Venezia back to the podcast to discuss more qualities shared in common by US Presidents — but this time trying to discover any similarities between America’s less-successful executives.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook sits down with fellow history teacher Frank McGady to discuss the qualities that have distinguished great leaders in the history of the United States military. At the school where both men teach, Cook offers a course on the Civil War while McGady offers a course focusing on the World Wars.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Host Joe Cook and guest Bill Venezia discuss the qualities that make for a good president, as well as some analysis of how presidents of the past rank in terms of those qualities.
This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app