The Bicentennial Was Better!
Summary
Wesley Morris and Jennifer Schuessler contrast the 2026 semi-quincentennial with the 1976 bicentennial, noting the former’s political polarization and lack of cultural resonance. They discuss Trump’s “Great American State Fair” and compare it to 1976’s unifying cultural moments like *Roots* and *Rocky*. The conversation explores how the bicentennial expanded public history, while the 250th anniversary feels fragmented and contested.
Topics discussed
Dell XPS laptop ad and intro
The semi-quincentennial vs. the bicentennial
Jennifer Schuessler joins to discuss history wars
State planners and anxiety over public history
The Great American State Fair and Freedom 250
Trump's awareness of the bicentennial
Apple Card and SNHU ads
Personal memories of the 1976 bicentennial
Rocky as a bicentennial movie
Roots, Schoolhouse Rock, and 1976 culture
Gone with the Wind TV rights and history boom
Competing national stories and unity
Conclusion on the meaning of the 250th
Outro ads and credits
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