About this episode

Rebecca Nagle discusses the overlooked history of Native tribes in America's founding and its political implications today.

This 4th of July marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Although we often remember the American Revolution as driven by anger over taxation and representation, journalist Rebecca Nagle says the country’s founding was also compelled by a hunger for Indigenous land. Nagle is the host of the new podcast First America, which unveils a history of our country’s founding that most Americans never learned. She joins Marisa to talk about how that history shapes the political moment we’re living through today. But first, Marisa and Guy discuss a filmed confrontation from the weekend in which pro-Palestinian activists ran state Sen. Scott Wiener out of the San Francisco Trans March during Pride weekend. The viral video has become a flashpoint for right-wing critics and is signaling how central Israel and Gaza will be to November’s midterm elections. Learn more from Rebecca Nagle and the Indigenous scholars featured in First America: Rebecca Nagle’s This Land and book, By the Fire We Carry. Ned Blackhawk’s book The Rediscovery of America and scholarship here. Phil Deloria’s book, Playing Indian and scholarship here. Maggie Blackhawk’s scholarship and…

People in this episode

Host: Marisa

Guest: Rebecca Nagle

Topics covered

• Native American history
• American Revolution
• Indigenous land
• political implications
• pro-Palestinian activism
• midterm elections

Keywords

• Native tribes
• Declaration of Independence
• Indigenous land
• American Revolution
• political history
• pro-Palestinian activism
• midterm elections

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: First America, KQED, The Red Nation Podcast

Books & works: This Land, By the Fire We Carry, The Rediscovery of America, Playing Indian

More episodes of Political Breakdown

• Trump Targets California's Elections in Primetime Address · July 17, 2026 · 25 min
• The Politics of Data Centers · July 16, 2026 · 35 min
• The Modern Election Integrity Era · July 14, 2026 · 28 min
• Sexual Assault Allegations Reshape Political Races from Maine to San Francisco · July 10, 2026 · 31 min
• The State of Scientific Research and Medi-Cal · July 9, 2026 · 32 min
• America’s Long History of Voter Suppression · July 7, 2026 · 40 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Political Breakdown podcast page.