Preview Summary –

• To get a sense for our public discourse and how we got here, let’s pull out our ‘Civic 250’ lens and look back in time. This is where “Hometown 1776 meets America’s 250^th in 2026.”
• Since the founding of America, the media landscape has been a platform for winning people’s minds. Nowadays, it’s about adding people’s ears, eyeballs and clicks to the mix.
• During the Declaration of Independence, many founders understood that task is what you do in the position. Assignment is what you do for the public good, with purpose in the people.

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As the build-up to America’s 250^th unfolds, the first round of fireworks bursting in air is coming soon. With program plans and event announcements going out across town and country, some folks might already be picking out their lawn chair spot. We’ve seen this movie play out before at the 200^th mark, when the country was steeped in political upheaval after the Watergate debacle. The bicentennial at that time might have served as a respite from the din of the day and the dark of the night. Here we are again in a similar place but a more media-driven space.

To get a sense of what we see happening with our public discourse and how we got here, let’s pull out our ‘Civic 250’ lens and look back in time. Imagine this as a chance where “Hometown 1776 meets America’s 250^th in 2026.” In the early days, there were different fireworks and bombs bursting in air around the issues. It was a battle between the Monarchy and those asserting colonial rights. The King had issued a series of Acts that put pressure on the colonies to fall in line with taxes that became oppressive. Then backlash in the colonies created the rallying cry of ‘no taxation without representation’ and a concern about losing their freedoms. This led to a public information choice between traditional media of the British or independent media of the Americans.

Then in 1798, President John Adams signed into law the Alien & Sedition Acts. It was the Sedition Act part of the law that created a tension between those who were sympathetic to democracy and those who leaned on ideology. Fast forward to the civil rights movement and the three laws that were part of the crowning achievement. During the lead-up and subsequent years, the media landscape began shifting to liberal or conservative, left or right. That model has become a more dominant theme in how media might align with the electorate, and vice versa. Plus, over recent times, some media consumers have become unplugged based on an attraction to content that’s about culture wars (the fight), conflicts in their belief (the faith) and confusion around the issues (the fooled).      

Not enough time here to drill down on those elements but consider that since the founding of America, the media landscape has been a platform for winning people’s minds. As things expanded from print to radio and TV, the modern media became about adding people’s ears, eyeballs and clicks to the mix. These days, it seems the debate is with using platforms and tools towards liberty for all or loyalty to one. This might even make more sense when you consider recent clashes at ’60 Minutes’ or even Meet the Press.  So, the media landscape of the 21^st century seems headed in the direction defined by two paradoxical models: traditional or independent; left or right. Maybe the ‘fireworks’ at 60 Minutes, which is known for balancing traditional and independent, along with what’s happening in other parts of media are about which model will outlast, outwit, out-earn the other based on the current public information landscape of:

• Broadcast Networks: These are the OGs of modern media with programming around sitcoms, local news and light-fair entertainment.
• Cable Networks: This option in paid TV helped to increase the distribution of 24/7 news, mindless TV and other programming choices, for as many market segments as possible.   
• Streaming/Social Platforms: The new kids on the block in programming for media consumers. Some of the old, some of the new and some of the underground or underappreciated.
• Independent Platforms: This media segment has been getting renewed attention in the current social climate. As seen in the old days, many are wondering if our freedoms are at stake.

So, here we are about to celebrate with parades by day and fireworks by night. It’s not clear if we’re poised to move towards a more perfect Union, since issues are getting in the way of what this moment really means. What are some lessons from the journey that might help us self-correct our track and level-up the media story? Well, this might include how we embrace:   

1. America the Beautiful

When the early settlers arrived, they found areas already inhabited by native Americans. They liked what they saw not just in habitation but also in vast plantation. They saw America the beautiful in the wide land stretching south and west. These days we see ‘America the beautiful’ in the vast city skyline, wide ocean shores and unmistakable sights. But with beauty, there’s sometimes been the ugliness in how folks have approached development as a nation. It’s seen in the ‘isms and schisms’ that play out as culture war symptoms. We made it through settlement, slavery, segregation and beyond by striving for a beautiful situation.

2. America the Brave

The revolution first showed us America the brave. While the British had a military, the colonies were reliant on empowering everyday citizen-fighters, aka the militia. Many souls have been lost in wars fought for freedom. The problem is some see freedom solely as a response to perceived tyranny while others see it as a doorway to equality. One is approached as self-indulgent freedom, the other as self-actualizing freedom. We’ve seen America the brave in the fight for freedom from tyranny on the battlefield as well as the fight for freedom in communities by those who insist, resist and persist.

3. America the Brand

Biz experts say that in the 21^st century marketplace, it’s important to know what you sell and what’s your brand. Apply that to the nation’s journey and it might be said what we sell is the American dream, for those living here and others looking to come. It’s the idea of each generation finding itself better off than the previous one. That’s been a big concern among Gen Zs who question things. Then there’s America the brand, which has been described as American Exceptionalism. Well, put what we sell and what’s the brand in a new description of ‘American Essentialism’ for living in alignment and shared advancement.    

4. America the Best

This might be viewed in a competitive sense, with analytics to show. There’re those leading indicators of what sets up apart as a people, nation and global force. But these areas can experience roadblocks based on government policy or social currency. A broader view might be less about competition and more about consciousness. Think of how we’ve become awareness-driven on health matters, with monitoring devices in a watch, ring or wristband, and all the analytics from sleep to sweep. Our nation at the 250^th mark should welcome an awareness-driven approach to be at America the best from sea to shining sea.  

During the Declaration of Independence, many founders understood the assignment. America has gone through back-and-forth in politics, left-and-right in ideology, at times leading to extreme pendulum swings in policy. Plus, when conspiracy rules the day, it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s ‘made-up real’. Many founding fathers knew the difference between task and assignment. Task is what you do in the position. Assignment is what you do for the public good, with purpose in the people. Whether as an individual or nation going forward, let’s shine as America the beautiful, brave, brand and best.

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Tracks: Lorren – Shine – https://youtu.be/JzpmObyOWaQ?si=P2Sf3mV3pCUQr1x-

Tems – Free Mind – https://youtu.be/e8GzTXRAJ30?si=RxjldJ1rv3qfd_Bo