As the United States of America is poised to celebrate its semiquincentennial, host Esty Dinur asks, what is the status of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in our nation? Our guest, historian Thomas Richards Jr., says that if people from 1776 were transported to our world, they would be stunned by what they see. On the one hand, the diversity of the US and the fact that every citizen can vote would surprise the founders as sure successes of our democracy. On the other hand, if they looked at Trump or the state of the Constitution, they would find our democracy in real trouble.

Featured image of the cover of The Unfinished Business of 1776.