EPISODE · Mar 13, 2026 · 31 MIN
George Packer on Patriotism, Democratic Values, and Turning to Fiction
from Good Citizen · host Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
In this candid and searching conversation, George Packer wrestles with what it means to be a patriot in a fractured nation, and Ted presses him on whether shared facts or shared values will really unite us. George distinguishes between love of country and nationalism, and acknowledges a fading empathy for those he feels have betrayed democracy. Drawing on his newly published novel, The Emergency, he describes turning to fiction to reach the deeper truths that journalism could not. Find his work at theatlantic.com/author/george-packer For more, visit goodcitizenpodcast.com. Follow us on Facebook @TRPresidentialLibrary Instagram @trlibrary X @TRPresLibrary. And sign up for our newsletter at trlibrary.com/newsletter to stay up-to-date on the TRPL! -- Good Citizen is hosted by Ted Roosevelt V and produced by The Future of StoryTelling in collaboration with Charts & Leisure, on behalf of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation. Learn more about T.R.’s upcoming presidential library at www.trlibrary.com. Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation 350 Third Avenue Medora, North Dakota 58645 Future of StoryTelling Founder and CEO, Charles Melcher Director, Carolyn Merriman Producer, Alison Byrne Assistant Producer, Madison Brown Production Assistant, Tsuki Carlson Charts & Leisure Executive Producer, Jason Oberholtzer Producer, Meghal Janardan Editor, Garrett Crowe Mix, Andrew Atkin Music and Final Assembly, Michael Simonelli With special thanks to Paul Jackson, Edward F. O’Keefe, Robbie Lauf, Courtland Miller, and Matt Briney.
What this episode covers
In this candid and searching conversation, George Packer wrestles with what it means to be a patriot in a fractured nation, and Ted presses him on whether shared facts or shared values will really unite us. George distinguishes between love of country and nationalism, and acknowledges a fading empathy for those he feels have betrayed democracy. Drawing on his newly published novel, The Emergency, he describes turning to fiction to reach the deeper truths that journalism could not.
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George Packer on Patriotism, Democratic Values, and Turning to Fiction
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