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The David Frum Show

The Triumphs and Tragedies of the American Revolution

The David Frum Show

The Atlantic

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 2.4K Ratings

🗓️ 22 October 2025

⏱️ 62 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On this episode of The David Frum Show, The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with an urgent warning about TikTok’s looming sale to Donald Trump–aligned insiders—a move David calls the “biggest giveaway since the days of the railway grants.” He argues that the American media landscape has been quietly transformed, and political power has shifted from legacy outlets to algorithmic platforms loyal to the president. Then David speaks with the filmmaker Ken Burns about his new documentary series on the American Revolution. Together, they explore the Revolution’s competing legacies—liberty and exclusion, heroism and hypocrisy—and how its unresolved contradictions still shape the nation’s identity. Burns reflects on the moral complexity of figures such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, the forgotten role of Loyalists and Indigenous nations, and the Revolution’s echoes in contemporary America. Finally, David discusses Benjamin Nathans’s Pulitzer Prize–winning book, To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause, an exploration of the Soviet dissident movement and the story of Alexander Esenin-Volpin, who defied tyranny by insisting that Soviet laws be obeyed exactly as written.  Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:15.5

In the Premier League, everyone pushes their hardest to win.

0:18.4

And now it's your turn.

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With their EPL fantasy challenge,

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Coca-Cola are giving you a chance to win big by beating the best. All you have to do is build a team

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based on rules set by an icon. And to help you on your way, I've got a tip to help you build your

0:30.9

team. Make sure you keep an eye on fixtures. Who are the players up against next? Sometimes it's not

0:36.3

about form. Like there are some players that

0:38.5

for whatever reason, always play well against certain teams to do your research. To get involved

0:44.3

in the EPL Fantasy Challenge, all you've got to do is grab a Coke and scan the code on the pack.

0:49.1

Just by playing, you get a chance to win Coke swag or vouchers. But if you beat the icon who set the rules,

0:55.5

you could win vintage Coca-Cola jerseys,

0:58.0

Premier League tickets and more.

0:59.8

So go ahead and get involved.

1:01.9

Grab a Coke, drink it in. Hello, and welcome to the David Frum show.

1:17.5

I'm David Frum, a staff writer at The Atlantic.

1:20.4

My guest this week will be Ken Burns, the great American documentarian, producer most recently of a remarkable series on the American Revolution,

1:28.5

we are so pleased and honored to welcome Ken Burns to the David Frum show.

1:32.6

My book this week will be very relevant history of the Soviet dissident movement by Benjamin

1:37.9

Nathan's called To the Success or A Hopeless Cause.

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