The First Division was one of the two that landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day. Here, from the 60th anniversary in June, 2004, is an information-rich discussion of the action that began the western invasion of Germany. Col. John Votaw held a high command in the postwar First Division and Flint Whitelock had just authored “The Untold Story of the Big Red One on D-Day.”

In a conversation from 2005 we talk with “presidential historian” Michael Beschloss about the struggle, in Roosevelt’s last year, over what future should be planned for, or imposed on, Germany. Some historical sound clips heighten the narrative and the discussion raises the counter-factual question: What would have happened if the “Morgenthau Plan” to reduce Germany to an “agricultural nation” had been implemented?

Religious historian Stephen Prothero joined us in 2007 to discuss his just-published book on religious illiteracy. The conversation begins with a quiz testing what people do or don’t know about the major religions. You can test yourself, get your grade and then go on to a quite informative conversation about religion in national and international politics.

A contentious evaluation of American foreign policy – or the lack of it – is put forward by the two members of our A-Team, Chris Robling and Charles Lipson, who are again joined by Democratic publicist Kitty Kurth. Under close discussion are Ukraine, Russian ambitions, Chinese expansionism, Nigeria, the collapse of Iraq, ever-looming Iran, embattled Israel and the confused or confusing performances of the Obama-Kerry team.

With Donald Kagan of Yale University we discuss the great conflict between Athens and Sparta, as originally reported and explained by one of the generals, Thucydides, who is still regarded as “the father of history.” This 2003 conversation illuminates the causes, nature and consequences of war as they were 2,500 years ago and still are today.