Who is Joseph McCarthy, the young senator who gives his name to these trials? Had Communist agents really infiltrated the US Government? Who were the Rosenbergs, America's most notorious communist couple, executed for giving state secrets to the Soviet Union? Why were American academics forced into exile?

Sarah Churchwell and David Olusoga introduce Joseph McCarthy and the loyalty purges that made him notorious. 

Email: journeythroughtime@goalhanger.com 

X: @ThroughTimePod

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Instagram: @JourneyThroughTimePod

Social Producer: Emma Jackson

Assistant Producers: Alfie Rowe, Alfie Norris 

Producer: Alice Horrell

Head of History: Dom Johnson

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor

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