2 chapters across the catalog
Following the Civil War, the "Cowboy" base—comprised of former Confederate forces—reconstituted its power by moving west and taking control of military institutions. This allowed them to lead the wars against indigenous populations. Elon Musk's role as a major military contractor is noted as a modern iteration of this cowboy-military alliance, despite his incubation in the "Yankee" environment of Silicon Valley.
Historian Allen Guelzo explains that the Emancipation Proclamation was a "war powers proclamation" issued by Lincoln in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief. It only declared slaves free in Confederate-held territories where Lincoln had no actual authority, while leaving slavery intact in Union-controlled border states like Kentucky and Maryland. The hosts characterize the document as a strategic military tactic designed to destabilize the South's labor force rather than a moral crusade.
