# After 250 years, do US citizens still believe in the American Dream?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/americast-89638/after-250-years-do-us-citizens-still-believe-in-the-american-dream
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/americast-89638/after-250-years-do-us-citizens-still-believe-in-the-american-dream.md
Podcast: [Americast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/americast-89638)
Published: 2026-07-03T17:00:00+00:00
Episode link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct8lz9
Audio file: http://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nwmpsr.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/americast-89638/episodes/after-250-years-do-us-citizens-still-believe-in-the-american-dream
Duration seconds: 1416

## Resource

How have 250 years of history shaped modern America? As historic July 4th celebrations take place across the country this weekend we ask how does modern America compare to the vision of the Founding Fathers in the 18th Century? What does it means to be an American citizen today and has that changed over time? Where does this all leave the American dream? In this episode, Justin and Anthony talk to the historian Heather Cox Graham who writes a daily Substack on American politics and society and has started a video project - 250 to 250 - to mark the historic landmark. Today, we are bombarded by information at a frenetic pace but can a careful consideration of the past 250 years tell us more about the United States in 2026? HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent GUEST: • Heather Cox Richardson, historian, author, Substack columnist, founder of 250 to 250 project marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Purvee Pattni, George Dabby, Tom Gillett and Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part…

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