REWIND - THE EXECUTION OF THE ROMANOVS: WHO IS TO BLAME?

·41 min·4 clips

The Romanov children survived the first gunfire because their jeweled underwear acted as bulletproof vests.

The episode is a rewind of a classic episode from the comedy podcast The Alarmist, hosted by Rebecca Delgado-Smith, focusing on the execution of the Romanov royal family. It begins with a humorous introduction about the host's catastrophizing gift and the podcast's premise of blaming historical disasters. The narrative provides a chronological overview, starting with the Romanov dynasty's rise in 1613 and detailing key events leading to the execution. Tsar Nicholas II is portrayed as weak and unprepared, crowned at age 26 after his father's death. His marriage to Alexandra, a German princess, and early missteps like the Khodynka tragedy, where 1,500 died at their coronation celebration, are highlighted. Alexandra's dependence on Rasputin, due to their son Alexei's hemophilia, and Nicholas's failures in wars like World War I are discussed as factors eroding public support. The Bolshevik Revolution, led by Vladimir Lenin, is examined, with notes on Lenin's brother's earlier execution fueling revenge motives. The Romanovs' imprisonment, fake letters used to trap them, and their brutal execution in Ekaterinburg are described graphically, including how diamond-sewn underwear initially protected some children. Guests include producer Amanda, fact-checker Chris, and special guest Kate Casey, host of Reality Life with Kate Casey, who adds pop culture comparisons like the Romanovs resembling the Kardashians. The panel debates who is to blame, considering Nicholas II, Alexandra, Rasputin, Lenin, Yakov Yurovsky (the executioner), British royals for refusing asylum, and broader concepts like autocracy. They eliminate factors like fake letters and German roots, focusing on Nicholas's ineptitude and systemic issues. The episode concludes with Nicholas II being sent to 'Alarmist jail' and Lenin receiving a 'big slap,' blending comedy with historical analysis. Post-execution details, such as canonization and DNA identification of remains, are briefly mentioned.

As heard by us

A Romanov blame case that links Nicholas II, Alexandra, and the family tragedy to politics, pressure, and later commemoration.

The episode frames the Romanov execution as a blame case, tracing Nicholas II's unpopularity into the March 1917 protests and the soldiers' refusal to fire.

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Why you'd press play

You get the Romanovs, the blame game, and a royal collapse that runs from March 1917 protests to abdication.

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