250 Years Later, Why We’re Still Fighting About Our Founding
7/3/202636 min
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
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsMichael Barbaro· Host0:01
The New York Times app has all this stuff that you may not have seen.
Speaker 20:04
The way the tabs are at the top with all of the different sections.
Michael Barbaro· Host0:07
I can immediately navigate to something that matches what I'm feeling.
Donald Trump· Soundbite0:11
I go to Games always.
Speaker 20:12
Doing the Mini, doing the Wordle. I loved how much content it exposed me to, things that I never would've thought to turn to a news app for. This app is essential.
Speaker 40:21
The New York Times app. All of The Times, all in one place. Download it now at nytimes.com/app.
Michael Barbaro· Host0:30
From The New York Times, I'm Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. 250 years ago, the Founding Fathers gave rise to a new nation and an enduring myth. A myth about their virtue and what that meant about our virtue as a country. Today, my colleague Jia Lynn Yang on the evolution of the founding myth, why we're still fighting about it, and why it may hold the key to America's future. It's Friday, July 3rd. Jia Lynn, it is really lovely to have you on the show.