Condoleezza Rice on Democracy, Patriotism, and Why She Still Has Hope
The Preamble
Sharon McMahon
4.9 • 15.3K Ratings
🗓️ 16 March 2026
⏱️ 42 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Sharon tells us why sugarcoating history doesn’t help any of us. Truly loving your country means acknowledging the not-so-great and even horrible moments of its past.
Plus, Condoleezza Rice was banned from restaurants and movie theaters as a child because of the color of her skin. She went on to become Secretary of State. And somehow, after everything she's seen, and where we are now, she's still optimistic about democracy. You'll want to hear why.
And be sure to read our newsletter at ThePreamble.com – it’s free! Join hundreds of thousands of readers who still believe understanding is an act of hope.
Credits:
Host and Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon
Supervising Producer: Melanie Buck Parks
Audio Producer: Craig Thompson
(00:00:00) What it really means to be a patriot
(00:08:29) Condoleezza Rice on growing up in the segregated south
(00:23:42) The future of democracy
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | A year ago, President Trump signed an executive order, asserting that America's schools are to provide children with an education that instills, quote, a patriotic admiration for our incredible nation and the values for which we stand. |
| 0:18.4 | The order says it is, quote, discriminatory equity ideology to teach children |
| 0:24.8 | that the United States is fundamentally racist, sexist, or otherwise discriminatory, and that children |
| 0:31.8 | should be receiving a patriotic education that is, quote, an accurate, honest, unifying, inspiring, and ennobling |
| 0:41.0 | characterization of America's founding and foundational principles, a clear examination of how |
| 0:46.5 | the United States has admirably grown closer to its noble principles throughout its history, |
| 0:52.0 | the concept that commitment to America's aspirations |
| 0:55.6 | is beneficial and justified, and the concept that celebration of America's greatness and history |
| 1:02.7 | is proper. I spent three years researching and writing a book about unsung Americans who |
| 1:08.9 | changed the course of history. I believe deeply in the promise of |
| 1:13.2 | America. When a reader sent me a card saying that I was a true patriot, I was honored. And I think |
| 1:21.5 | the take in this executive order is wrong. True pride isn't built on a lie. More on that in a moment, but first, |
| 1:32.9 | welcome to the Preamble podcast. This week I'm speaking with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. |
| 1:38.0 | She talks about growing up in segregated Birmingham, Alabama, and why she still has faith in |
| 1:42.7 | democracy. In fact, she thinks it's on an upswing. |
| 1:46.1 | That's ahead. I'm Sharon McMahon, and this is the Preamble podcast. Now back to my story. |
| 1:55.1 | Sometimes American history is inspiring, no doubt, as I said in the small and the mighty, |
| 1:59.5 | with astonishing regularity, |
| 2:01.9 | Americans have held fast to their ideals, despite the clickbait stories that portend calamity. |
| 2:07.7 | And at the same time, America has too often fallen short of these standards. Both are true |
| 2:14.0 | at the same time. America has been just, and it has perpetuated injustice. We have been |
| 2:20.8 | peaceful and we have committed acts of violence. We have been and are good. And we have done terrible |
... |
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