Hosted by Alan Ballinger · 🇺🇸 US · EN · 27 episodes
Established thought leaders with verified media credentials.
With a focus on examining the historical context behind current events, Roots of Today uses a combination of narrative storytelling, expert analysis, and thematic exploration to illuminate the past’s influence on the present. Join us as we uncover how the events of the past have helped create the current world.
Alan Ballinger hosts Roots of Today, a history show with 27 episodes published.
We recently passed the 84th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the attack that finally dragged the United States into the second world war. When I was a kid, I remember it being something that most peopl
The United States Marine Corps originates in a congressional decision taken amid crisis and improvisation. In November 1775—months after Lexington and Concord, and with the siege of Boston grinding on—the Second Continen
Today we journey back to November 7, 1775, and a dramatic, startling document known as Dunmore’s Proclamation. We'll explore the life of its issuer, John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, the events that led him to issue it,
Next year marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, when the Continental Congress of the United British colonies in North America had the audacity to do the unthinkable – declare their independence
When it comes to the events surrounding the American revolution and the birth of the nation, there are signposts that most of us learned as children. There is the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the midnight ride
Before “Antifa” became a flashpoint in American politics, it was born on the streets of 1930s Berlin. In this episode of Roots of Today, we trace Antifa’s journey from its origins as Antifaschistische Aktion under German
This episode is different. It's an unscripted conversation between me and Elena, the AI personality that helps with the research for each episode. Until now, she’s been a silent partner, shaping the research and scripts
As the clock strikes midnight tonight, the federal government could close its doors once again. For millions of Americans, that means missed paychecks, shuttered offices, and a grinding halt to the daily functions of the
This week on Roots of Today we look at the history of American presidential debates — from the marathon Lincoln–Douglas encounters of 1858 to the viral soundbites of the modern era. Along the way, we’ll revisit the lines
The assassination of Charlie Kirk while speaking to students on a Utah college campus had brought the topic of political violence to the forefront of our national discourse. How his murder will affect the political fortu
While researching for the next episode, which I planned to be a continuation of the topic of political assassinations in the United States, I decided to record a completely unscripted episode where I discuss my experienc
Conservative icon and activist Charlie Kirk joins a list of civil rights figures and politicians who were killed for speaking what they believe. Thousands have expressed their desire to pick up the baton and carry Kirk's
In early September 2025, President Donald Trump announced that he would deploy federal troops into several major U.S. cities to quell unrest — even if governors objected. The announcement immediately set off a wave of de
In an NPR report from September 5th, President Trump signed an executive order on Friday to give the Department of Defense a new name: the Department of War. The change returns the department to a name that it carried fo
At its best, the CDC is a scientific bulwark against disease. At its worst, it becomes an institution caught between science, politics, and profit. The question for us is whether the CDC can navigate these pressures and
In 2014, Russia invaded and then annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine. It became clear that Russia faced no real consequences for that violation of Ukrainian sovereignty, so in 2022 Vladamir Putin followed up with
On August 12th, 2025, the White House sent a formal letter to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, ordering a comprehensive review of exhibits, educational materials, and even social-media posts at eight museums. T
In the United States, political power has always been counted—literally. From the moment the framers dipped their quills into ink and drafted Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, they established a system in which r
Eighty years ago this week, two American bombers lifted off from an airfield on Tinian Island in the Western Pacific and flew into history. Each plane carried a single bomb—one codenamed "Little Boy" and the other codena
In the previous episode, Episode 6 – The Voice of America, we diverted a bit and talked about how the VOA was used parallel to other media broadcasts run by the CIA to affect regime change in Latin American nations. One
Charlie Kirk
political activist, author, media personality · conservative media
1 appearance on this show
RFK Jr.
candidate for director of Health and Human Services · Health and Human Services
1 appearance on this show
RFK Jr.
US Secretary of Health and Human Services · Health and Human Services
1 appearance on this show
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Roots of Today is hosted by Alan Ballinger. The show is categorised under history and has published 27 episodes.
Roots of Today has published 27 episodes.
Roots of Today regularly covers history. It sits in the history category.
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