From the dud that was the Great American State Fair to a Supreme Court that barely upheld birthright citizenship, Karpf and Loge unpack what it really means to tell a positive story about being American in 2026. Plus: Trump’s FIFA red card mess, Platner’s failed Senate bid, and why actually winning the victory is the only way to keep a real American story alive.

Footnotes:

• What is the Great American State Fair like? | The Future, Now and Then⁠⁠
• Supreme Court upholds principle that almost all born on U.S. soil are American | The Washington Post⁠⁠
• How Local News Reduces Loneliness | Washington Monthly⁠⁠
• Inside the White House Campaign to Overturn a World Cup Red Card | The Wall Street Journal⁠