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250 Years Later, Why We’re Still Fighting About Our Founding

July 03, 2026 00:36:07 6.82 MB ( 27.86 MB less) Downloads: 0

Two hundred and fifty years ago, the founding fathers gave rise to a new nation. They also gave rise to an enduring myth about their virtue and what that meant about America’s virtue as a country.

Jia Lynn Yang, a New York Times journalist, discusses how the founding myth has evolved, why we are still fighting about it and why it may hold the key to America’s future.

Guest: Jia Lynn Yang, a New York Times journalist writing explanatory pieces about the ideas underlying the news.

Background reading: 

Photo: Michelle Gustafson for The New York Times

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

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