All right.

Let's shift gears for just a moment here.

Whenever you're ready, I'll take your cue.

Welcome to Blinking Red, a podcast dedicated to truth-telling for these uncertain times.

Hello, everybody.

I'm Dan Rather.

This is a defining moment in our country's history.

A testing time, the likes of can, these turbulent, dangerous times.

We're trying to be a calm, steady voice in a time of tumult, shouting, and propaganda,

and trying to put what's happening into context and perspective, especially historical perspective.

So, let me start with a quick story.

But also to celebrate this very special, fourth of course. perspective. So, let me start with a quick story.

But also to celebrate this very special Fourth of July.

It was the Fourth of July, and our family was celebrating the 242nd anniversary of our great country's founding. I'm 86. My wife, Gene, reminded me that given my age, I've been around for more than a third of our country's history.

That was an eye-opening moment.

I like to think I've been a few places and seen a few things, but I don't think I'd ever thought of it that way.

Or perhaps another way to look at it is, our country from an overarching historical perspective

is still very young. We are a young, experimental country.

A lot has happened to America in the past 242 years.

We've survived some tough times.

I remember growing up in a hard-scrabble neighborhood in Houston,

where my family would give food to those who couldn't afford to buy it.

...