America's birthday blues

Today, Explained

Vox

Politics, Daily News, News

4.3 • 10.3K Ratings

🗓️ 9 June 2026

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

America's 250th birthday party has gotten political. So did its last big one. This episode was produced by Kelli Wessinger and Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. The Capitol and Lincoln Memorial near a video display showing "250" projected on the Washington Monument during an America250 kickoff celebration. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	There, I heard there are going to be a record number of fireworks.
0:06.1	Oh, okay.
0:06.8	Everybody's excited about America 250 in Washington, D.C.
0:10.6	Like a Guinness World Record number of fireworks.
0:12.9	Producer Kelly Wessinger is excited.
0:15.1	Lee Greenwood is excited.
0:16.3	Because there ain't no doubt I love this land.
0:20.6	Are you going to stick around for any of the events?
0:23.6	Oh, we're only here till Thursday.
0:25.6	Leaving on Thursday is excited.
0:27.6	Admittedly, it's gotten a little messy.
0:29.6	The concerts a flop.
0:30.6	A judge might stop the UFC fight.
0:32.6	The fireworks should be good.
0:34.6	Which I'm excited about because I love fireworks.
0:36.6	Good for you. Like a lot.
0:37.8	Yeah.
0:38.9	The country's divided.
0:39.9	The protests are planned.
0:40.8	The locals are anxious.
0:42.7	The president fell asleep at a Knicks game.
0:43.9	It's summer in America.
	...

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