What America Forgot About the Declaration | Michael Auslin (Audio)

Light Beer Dark Money · Oct 20, 2026 · 1m

Hoover Institution historian Michael Auslin joins Chris Clements to talk about his new book, National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America—and what Americans have lost by losing touch with their own history.

Before getting to the book, Chris and Michael compare notes on Virginia politics, the changes in Washington, D.C., the growth of democratic socialism at the local level, DOGE, USAID, and why political movements become more attractive when historical perspective disappears.

Then they turn to the Declaration itself: what Thomas Jefferson originally wrote, what Congress…