FEBRUARY 19, 2026 — Today, on the anniversary of Executive Order 9066 (signed by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1942), which “authorized the forced removal of all persons deemed a threat to national security from the West Coast to ‘relocation centers’ further inland,” History For The Reckoning launches. Hosted by writer and theater maker Spencer Ford, this new audio series confronts difficult periods of history by incorporating personal recollections and firsthand testimony.

The series is a long-form podcast examining chapters of the past that have been misrepresented, minimized, or deliberately erased, and the ways their consequences still shape the present. Season One, “American Concentration Camps: The Story of WWII Japanese Incarceration,” launches today. It traces the forced removal and incarceration of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans, examining the legality, politics, and lasting consequences of one of the most profound civil-rights violations in U.S. history. The series also highlights the decades-long fight for redress and healing led by the Japanese American community.

Episodes cover topics including pre-war Japanese American life, Pearl Harbor, life inside the camps, lesser-known Department of Justice camps, resistance movements, Supreme Court cases, reparations, intergenerational trauma, and the relevance of this history today, particularly for younger generations. The first episode features a conversation with George Takei, actor, writer, and activist best known for playing Lieutenant Sulu in the Star Trek television and film series.

The show is available on all podcast platforms, YouTube, and as a newsletter presenting additional visuals.

About the Host
Spencer Ford is a writer and theater maker based in Utah. He has worked across mediums, including stage musicals, screenplays, and children’s books. Research for the children’s book series he co-wrote (The Little-Known Heroes Series) first sparked his interest in this history, particularly the story of Frank Emi.

Community Support & Funding
Season One of History For The Reckoning was made possible with support from the Japanese American Citizens League – Mt. Olympus Chapter, the Takahashi Family Foundation, and the JA Community Foundation.

Learn More
Website: www.historyforthereckoning.com
Press Contact: Arielle Nissenblatt — ar*****@*****ds.audio