We're in front of the National Museum of American History.

We're asking people what is one story or a fact that you thought you knew about American

history that turned out not to be true.

Growing up I was told that George Washington said and what it didn't do.

Everybody thought Thomas Edison invented the first light bulb, he actually did not.

I, for some reason, as a little kid, thought that if you were elected president once, you

just had to say, oh, I just want to do it again and you could run again and again and again.

I thought Betsy Ross was the first maker of the US flag, it actually is not.

I thought the American involvement, World War II, was where the heroes of the story were

the saviors and in reality there's more to it.

There was anti-Semitism at home, there's racism at home, there's a clouded political environment

and there's actually more to the story than just America saved the day.

It's Notes from America, I'm Kai Wright, welcome to the show.

Ron DeSantis has once again succeeded at placing himself at the Center of National Political

Conversation. The as yet undeclared presidential contender has learned well from his

Nemesis Donald Trump. If you want to distinguish yourself in Republican primary circles,

nothing works quite like picking a fight over race, gender or history and best if you can

hit all three. Schools emerged a few years ago as the preferred venue for these cultural provocations

and I just feel like the rest of us are still sort of reeling in the face of the onslaught.

Certainly, I will say that as a host of a show that talks a ton about race, gender and history,

I am preoccupied with the question of how we'll engage usefully in what will absolutely be an

intensifying conversation as we head into a presidential election. Which is why I'm excited

...