The Mishal Husain Show Ken Burns Says Gratitude Is the Missing Ingredient in Our Politics
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Nov 28, 2025 
Ken Burns, a renowned documentary filmmaker and historian behind iconic PBS series like The Civil War, discusses the complexities and global relevance of the American Revolution. He explores how the revolution's ideals influenced global anti-colonial movements while highlighting the irony of its founders' struggles with slavery. Personal reflections reveal how grief shaped his storytelling approach. As Thanksgiving approaches, Burns emphasizes gratitude as a healing force in today's polarized politics, advocating for a deeper understanding of American history.
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Revolution Is Messy And Multidimensional
- The American Revolution is far more complex than the tidy origin story taught in schools.
- Ken Burns says complexity gives drama and resists binary political narratives.
Iroquois Confederacy Shaped Union Ideas
- Native American political structures influenced early American ideas of union.
- Benjamin Franklin studied the Haudenosaunee and sought a similar union among the colonies.
Revolution Fueled Global Change
- Revolutionary ideas about liberty spread globally and fueled later revolutions.
- Burns argues the American Revolution helped topple monarchies and inspired anti-colonial movements worldwide.
