About Brian

I am a political historian of the modern United States, with a special interest in the role of the media in shaping popular political cultures.

I cofounded and serve as senior editor of Made By History, a Time history section.

My book, Talk Radio’s America: How an Industry Took Over a Political Party That Took Over the United States, was published in fall 2019.

I am currently a scholar in residence at the University of Pennsylvania, where I teach courses in History and Political Science, and also manage the Red & Blue Exchange at the SNF Paideia Program.

Beyond my academic work, I regularly write for public audiences. I have appeared on radio, television, and podcasts. I also have served as a political analyst for outlets such as NBC10 Philadelphia and NBCLX.

I received my PhD and MA in history from the University of Virginia and my BA in political science (with honors) and history from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Outside of work, my interests include sports (especially Philadelphia sports), cooking, reading fiction, and very good dogs. I also spend entirely too much time on Twitter. You can find my new Substack newsletter, which includes a weekly political notes column, below.