American history reveals that critical events often occur in the public eye rather than in the shadows. Major incidents, such as the Salem witch trials, the Whiskey Rebellion, and the Red Scare, highlight a pattern of visibility surrounding societal challenges. This bright yet dark immediate history is paired with a collective tendency to forget these significant moments, indicating a striking duality in the American narrative where crises are both exposed to the public and quickly sidelined in memory.
Trump’s historic felony conviction, a SCOTUS ruling in favor of presidential immunity, and a dumpster fire Biden vs. Trump debate: Those are just a few of the things that have happened on the American democracy front since Kara spoke to historian Heather Cox Richardson in January. In a special Independence Day episode, Kara and Heather replay that conversation, including history lessons from her book Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, and then rejoin at the end. They discuss what Heather thought of the first presidential debate, why she believes changing presidential horses mid-race would be disastrous for Democrats, and how events of the past six months have (or haven't) changed her perspective about American Democracy.
Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find Kara on Instagram/Threads as @karaswisher
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