Last week’s KEEN ON America interview featured a conversation with R. Derek Black, the son of a KKK Grand Wizard, whose all-too-American life has been defined by radical personal reinvention and second chances. In contrast, Ali Velshi, host of MSNBC's "The Last Word", not only chose to come to America from Canada, but also chose to become an American citizen. For Velshi, a self-styled libertarian who confesses to holding five passports, the act of being America suggests the kind of small act of courage which he writes about in his eponymous new biography. Americanness, for Velshi, is chosen not given. It suggests our agency to fight for democracy. Being American is then, by definition, a form of political obligation. It requires small acts of courage from citizens like Ali Velshi.

Ali Velshi is MSNBC’s Chief Correspondent and the host of Velshi. Previously, he was CNN’s Chief Business Correspondent and co-host of American Morning. Velshi has been nominated for multiple News and Documentary Emmy Awards.

Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.

Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe