How to Fix It with John Avlon S2 Ep56: Why Did Trump Fire the Nation’s Historian? (w/ Colleen Shogan)
Dec 28, 2025
Colleen Shogan, former Archivist of the United States, shares her insights about the troubling implications of Trump firing the nation’s historian. She highlights how history has become a political tool and discusses the importance of civic engagement and media literacy in today’s polarized climate. Colleen also explains her project, In Pursuit, aimed at making presidential history accessible for the country's 250th anniversary. She reflects on the need for a nuanced understanding of patriotism and the critical role of technology, like AI, in preserving history.
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Presidential Lessons In Bite-Sized Form
- In Pursuit will distill presidential lessons into one-sentence leadership takeaways across 70 essays for 2026.
- The project aims to make presidential history accessible and relevant to contemporary civic life.
Why The 250th Won't Mirror 1976
- Fragmented media and polarization make 2026 different from 1976's unifying bicentennial.
- Shogan remains optimistic that curated historical storytelling can help reframe shared values.
Promote Deliberative Patriotism
- Teach civic pride as deliberative, not blind, patriotism and pair it with responsibility.
- Encourage citizens to learn history and step up rather than outsource democracy to politicians.