# Who Are We, America?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-next-big-idea-daily-5988609/who-are-we-america
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-next-big-idea-daily-5988609/who-are-we-america.md
Podcast: [The Next Big Idea Daily](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-next-big-idea-daily-5988609)
Published: 2026-07-02T08:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/YAP4719532494.mp3
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/YAP4719532494.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-next-big-idea-daily-5988609/episodes/who-are-we-america
Duration seconds: 1682

## Resource

With America's 250th birthday just days away, two books ask the same urgent question from very different angles: what does it mean to be American—and are we living up to our own ideals? In All We Say, former Obama speechwriter Ben Rhodes traces the battle for American identity through fifteen defining speeches, from Benjamin Franklin to Donald Trump. And in The Flag Was Still There, M. Todd Bennett and David McKean revisit the state of the union every fifty years, finding a through line of resilience even in our most fractured moments. 🎁 Save 20% on a Next Big Idea Club membership when you use code PODCAST at nextbigideaclub.com ✉️ Get big ideas in your inbox with our daily newsletter. Subscribe at bookoftheday.nextbigideaclub.com Sponsored By: Homeserve — Go to homeserve.com/nbid to find the plan that's right for you FODZYME. — Finally, you can enjoy your favorite foods without the pain. Go to icaneatagain.com/daily

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## Transcript

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