Weekly Roundup: Trump's America250 Spectacle, the SSPX Schism, and the Rise of Democratic Socialists
Summary
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, Brad Onishi and Dan Miller examine how Donald Trump has transformed the semiquincentennial celebration into a showcase for political patronage, executive power, and Christian nationalism. They unpack the controversy surrounding the America250 festivities on the National Mall, including allegations of corruption, the role of PragerU and Hillsdale College in shaping historical narratives, and what the celebration reveals about competing visions of American identity and democracy.
The conversation then turns to the Vatican's dramatic excommunication of clergy and members associated with the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), exploring what the schism says about the growing influence of traditionalist Catholicism in American politics and its connections to the broader Christian nationalist movement. Brad and Dan close by discussing the rise of democratic socialists in Congress, what these electoral victories reveal about generational shifts in American politics, and why the future of democracy may depend on who gets to define the nation's story.