The John Fugelsang Podcast New Year Special Interview: Ken Burns
11 snips
Jan 1, 2026 
In this engaging conversation, award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns shares insights about his latest documentary, The American Revolution. He explains why now is the perfect time to explore this topic and the challenges of recounting a war without photographs. Ken emphasizes the significance of portraying Native nations and the complexities of figures like George Washington and Benedict Arnold. He discusses the importance of civic responsibility and offers a hopeful perspective on America's ability to address current divisions. Exciting projects on the horizon include stories about Reconstruction and LBJ.
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Revolution As Civil War
- The American Revolution must be seen as a civil war and global contest over North American land.
- Recognizing Native nations and enslaved people reframes the revolution's stakes and legacy.
Making The Invisible Visible
- Ken Burns describes filming six years of impressionistic reenactments across the continent to animate pre-photographic history.
- He matched reenactments with paintings, documents, maps and new voices to create a layered narrative.
Native Nations Were Central Players
- The revolution was a global war fought over land inhabited by Native nations with centuries-long diplomacy.
- The Iroquois Confederacy's political model influenced colonial thinking about union and diplomacy.