About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges liberals face regarding patriotism in light of the country's 250th anniversary, featuring a conversation with historian Beverly Gage.

This July 4th, liberals are faced with an awkward milestone. The country’s 250th anniversary requires our attention, and yet, the state of national politics brings only angst and despair. This month on Say More, we bring you the series PATRIOTISM IS A VERB, about the ways liberals who are uncomfortable with the idea of patriotism and reclaim their love of country. In this first episode, host Anna Kusmer talks to Yale Historian Beverly Gage about the power of a good American road trip, and her new book This Land is Your Land. Gage says although the national mood is fraught, our big birthday provides a perfect moment for us to reset our relationship with the country. Email us at saymore@globe.com. And tune in next week for an interview with Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley where she talks about why she thinks, ‘dissent is patriotic.”

People in this episode

Host: Anna Kusmer

Guest: Beverly Gage

Topics covered

• patriotism
• liberals
• American history
• national politics
• July 4th
• cultural identity

Keywords

• patriotism
• liberals
• American road trip
• national mood
• July 4th
• Beverly Gage
• This Land is Your Land
• Ayanna Pressley

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Yale

Books & works: This Land is Your Land

Places: Massachusetts

More episodes of Say More

• PATRIOTISM IS A VERB: Teaching US History to Immigrant Kids · July 15, 2026 · 23 min
• PATRIOTISM IS A VERB: Rep. Ayanna Pressley is an a ‘situationship’ with America · July 8, 2026 · 24 min
• How Boston Came Down with World Cup Fever · June 25, 2026 · 27 min
• Politics Panel: From Platner to Rollins, it’s One Scandal After Another. · June 18, 2026 · 32 min

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