Filmmakers Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein sit down with Margaret Hoover to discuss their latest project, “The American Revolution,” ahead of its premiere on PBS.

The 12-hour documentary series revisits America’s founding, aiming to tell the complete story rather than the "sanitized" version many have come to know. Burns and Botstein explain why the revolution was also a bloody civil war–and ultimately a world war.

They talk about the impact of leaders like George Washington and lesser-known elements like the roles of women and Native Americans in the war. They also detail how they built the narrative with maps, written records, and commentary from modern historians.

Burns and Botstein respond to President Trump’s efforts to downplay negative aspects of the nation’s history, and Burns–who endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024–comments on maintaining neutrality in his work despite his personal politics.

They also talk about how the founders’ warnings against tyranny and executive overreach remain relevant today.

Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, The Tepper Foundation, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, and Pritzker Military Foundation.

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