Sean Wilentz

How party politics have affected economic and social inequality over the course American history.

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump represent the partisan divide in the country, but author and historian Sean Wilentz argues that partisanship is a good thing.  

"Critical elections" occur every few decades and can lead to major shifts in the nature of political parties. We may be in the midst of one. 

What we expect of our president likely differs by party affiliation, but the historical records shows that some presidents are more effective than others. Why?

A recent Pew poll found that although 45% of Americans believe Snowden's leak helped the public, 56% wanted criminal charges brought against him. Did he act to protect the rights of Americans, or dismantle what he considers a surveillance state? Does it matter why he acted? Brooke talks to New Republic contributing editor Sean Wilentz about his cover story that asks that very question.

Beacon - Late November

Historian Sean Wilentz talks about the rich history of Columbia Records, and how the label combined technical and social change to create of some of the greatest albums ever made. In 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story, he tells how Columbia nurtured the careers of legends such as Bessie Smith, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé, and many more.

Today, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of his first album, Bob Dylan is releasing a new album called “Tempest.” And The Takeaway is looking at the album, as well as who Bob Dylan...

Our series on great concert halls and nightclubs from New York music history continues with a look at Gerde's Folk City, a hub for the Greenwich Village folk scene of the 1960s and ‘70s – and the site of Bob Dylan’s first professional gig.

Princeton University history professor Sean Wilentz has tackled major topics in books like The Rise of American Democracy and The Age of Reagan. His new book, Bob Dylan in America, explores one of the most complex figures in music.