Podbit · The Bulwark Podcast
A Gallup poll found only 53% of Americans can summon any sense of pride in being American as the country turns 250. Susan Glasser connects this to the inversion of the American dream under Trump — the Pottersville president — but argues giving in is not the answer.
Where this was said
At 47:20 · chapter starts 46:00
The conversation turns to the America 250 celebration — what Tim Miller describes as 'a MAGA rally' scheduled in 104-to-107-degree heat on the National Mall with no chairs and possibly no water [1] — Susan Glasser "Only 53% of Americans proud to be American: A Gallup poll found that only 53% of Americans can summon any notion of pride in being American…" 48:08 . Susan Glasser predicts low attendance and a pre-written Trump Truth Social crowd-size grievance to follow. She then lands on the most emotionally resonant note of the episode: a Gallup poll found only 53% of Americans feel any sense of pride in being American as the country marks its 250th. Drawing on the Pottersville metaphor from It's a Wonderful Life, she describes Trump's America as the inversion of the American dream — the caricature of every value the country claims to hold. Yet she closes on a note of cautious hope: if someone can change the meaning of America's history as radically as Trump has, then someone else can change it back. It's never too late to show up for the ideals you claim.
A Gallup poll found that only 53% of Americans can summon any notion of pride in being American on the occasion of the 250th anniversary, with the figure having plummeted since Trump first took the presidency.
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