The 250-year experiment: America’s birthday

The Intelligence from The Economist · Jul 3, 2026 · 36m

Big birthdays are often a time for reflection. Our editors and correspondents chat through the state of American democracy as seen from inside and outside the country, the country’s perennial paroxysms of immigration policy, and its undimmed power to export its culture to the world.

Watch extended clips from Insider here.

Guests and host:

Robert Guest, deputy editor

Rebecca Jackson, Southern correspondent

Daniel Knowles, Midwest correspondent

Aryn Braun, West Coast correspondent

Jon Fasman, senior culture correspondent

Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”

Topics covered:

American…