Complexity of American History
The administration promotes a narrow story of the country, ignoring the contradictions and complexities of its history.
2The Bulwark Podcast
Clint Smith: Make America What It Set Out to Be
Clint Smith discusses the complexities of American history, challenges for Black military members, and the aspiration for a multiracial democracy.
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Clint Smith: Make America What It Set Out to Be
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Turn this episode into your next question.
Ask naturally. GenPod can find a related episode—or make a focused explainer when the right one does not exist.Key takeaways
What to know before you press play.
Challenges for Black Military Members
Black members of the military face challenges under Hegseth, including disregarded service, blocked promotions, and expungements from the ranks.
3Aspiration for Democracy
The aspiration of America as a multiracial, multiethnic, multi-faith democracy is considered a noble goal that requires continued effort.
4Ask GenPod next
Keep the question moving.
“How does the narrow story of the country affect public understanding of history?”
“What specific actions has Hegseth taken regarding Black military members?”
“How can individuals contribute to building a multiracial, multiethnic, multi-faith democracy?”
Background reading
The context behind the episode.
Context
America 250
It is difficult to maintain a celebratory mood regarding America's 250th anniversary given current political and social climates.
1Questions
Questions to carry into the episode.
What is the administration's approach to telling the story of the country?
The administration only wants to tell a narrow story of the country without all the contradictions and complexities of its history.
2What challenges are Black members of the military facing?
Black members of the military face challenges under Hegseth, including disregarded service, blocked promotions, and expungements from the ranks.
3What is the aspiration for America's democracy?
The aspiration of America as a multiracial, multiethnic, multi-faith democracy is a noble one, and our job is to keep trying to build the country we want it to be.
4Experts
Voices named in the source.
Clint Smith
The Atlantic's Clint Smith
6Sources and disclosure
Where this guide comes from.
This episode features discussions on the Smithsonian, advice for talking to kids about history, and July 4th cookout joys. A full Bulwark membership is offered for $86 a year.
- Publisher show notes
It's hard to be in a celebratory mood about America 250.
- Publisher show notes
The administration only wants to tell a narrow story of the country without all the contradictions and complexities of its history.
- Publisher show notes
And for the past 18 months, it has also been a particularly challenging time for black members of the military under Hegseth, who brazenly disregards their service, blocks promotions of black officers, or expunges them from the ranks.
- Publisher show notes
But the aspiration of America as a multiracial, multiethnic, multi-faith democracy is a noble one, and our job is to keep trying to build the country we want it to be.
- Publisher show notes
Plus: the man who's trying to stop the magafication of the Smithsonian, advice for how to talk to kids about the country's history, and the simple joys of a July 4th cookout.
- Publisher show notes
The Atlantic's Clint Smith joins Tim Miller for the holiday weekend pod.
- Publisher show notes
show notes
- Publisher show notes
• Clint’s piece on being black in Hegseth’s military • Clint on the man who’s put himself between Trump and the Smithsonian • Clint's "How the Word Is Passed" • Thursday’s “Morning Shots” on the words of Gerald Ford • Tim’s July 4th playlist • This week only, a full Bulwark membership for everything we offer on our website is $86 a year.
- Publisher show notes
That's 14 percent off at http://thebulwark.com/july4
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