America's 250th: A Split Celebration

Two rival anniversary commissions and a culture of contestation turn America’s 250th into a fight over who counts as American. This episode examines competing commemorations, the political theater around concerts and cancelation, and how inclusivity is being weaponized to define belonging. We also trace policy moves—from diversity program rollbacks to voting restrictions—and the very real health and social costs of exclusion, showing how who gets invited to the party matters every day of the year.