Revisionist History: The Staten Island Problem podcast

Revisionist History: The Staten Island Problem

On the 250th anniversary of the United States, Revisionist History investigates the overlooked story of what was, at the time, the biggest secession movement in the U.S. since the Civil War. A movement that took place on a small island miles out to sea from New York City. An early example of the politics of resentment that dominates America today. What do you do when a democracy looks like it’s falling apart? Over the course of five episodes, The Staten Island Problem reconstructs the battle for New York City amidst the turbulent early 1990s — the rise of Rudy Giuliani, the peak of the homicide rate, the Wu-Tang Clan, young Donald Trump, and the first Black mayor of New York — all through the prism of the city’s Forgotten Borough. Through colorful characters and never-before-heard archival audio, The Staten Island Problem reveals what can happen when a disgruntled minority manages to take over — and fracture — a democracy. To get early access to ad-free episodes and extra content, subscribe to Pushkin+ in [Apple Podcasts] (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/revisionist-history/id1119389968) or at [pushkin.fm/plus] (https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin) . Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell's journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past—an event, a person, an idea, even a song—and asks whether we got it right the first time. From Pushkin Industries. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance. iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.

On the 250th anniversary of the United States, Revisionist History investigates the overlooked story of what was, at the time, the biggest secession movement in the U.S. since the Civil War. A movement that took place on a small island miles out to sea from New York City. An early example of the politics of resentment that dominates America today. What do you do when a democracy looks like it’s falling apart? Over the course of five episodes, The Staten Island Problem reconstructs the battle for New York City amidst the turbulent early 1990s — the rise of Rudy Giuliani, the peak of the homicide rate, the Wu-Tang Clan, young Donald Trump, and the first Black mayor of New York — all through the prism of the city’s Forgotten Borough. Through colorful characters and never-before-heard archival audio, The Staten Island Problem reveals what can happen when a disgruntled minority manages to take over — and fracture — a democracy. To get early access to ad-free episodes and extra content, subscribe to Pushkin+ in [Apple Podcasts] (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/revisionist-history/id1119389968) or at [pushkin.fm/plus] (https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin) . Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell's journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past—an event, a person, an idea, even a song—and asks whether we got it right the first time. From Pushkin Industries. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance. iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.

 

#208

The Staten Island Problem - Part 3: The Tuvalu Effect

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23 Jul 2026

31 MINS

31:29

23 Jul 2026


#207

The Staten Island Problem - Part 2: A New Map

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16 Jul 2026

27 MINS

27:57

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#206

The Staten Island Problem - Part 1: The Mayor vs. the Borough President

A riot, a voyage at sea, and a movement to break up the greatest city in the country. The ... more

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37 MINS

37:08

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#205

Coming Soon: The Staten Island Problem

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#190

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