This week, S.E. considers the holiday weekend and the 250th Anniversary of America. In light of a new Gallup poll — and just, you know, being an American recently — it's clear we're all feeling a little meh about patriotism. It can feel divisive, even toxic, and apparently at a record low across the spectrum. But there have been glimpses of feel-good Americana as seen through the lens of the World Cup visitors who seem, again and again, tickled by our food, our stadiums, and our general warm-hug energy. Go us! Also in the interest of two things being true, producer Lauren talks about a new project called 250 American Promises - a national letter-writing campaign that considers how can we both celebrate America and ask it to do better. And stay tuned for an insightful conversation with author and political scientist Kirby Goidel about how Trump not only reshaped the Republican Party, but also the entire political system.

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It’s easy to feel bleak in the times we live. Can our democracy withstand so many forces trying to break it? In this week’s episode, SE shares an optimistic take: Just because we can’t see the solution doesn’t mean there isn’t one out there to any number of seemingly unsolvable problems facing the nation ahead of its 250th anniversary. She would never have predicted, for one, that a self-identifying “iPad kid” would, through the deus-ex-machina of good old fashioned peer pressure, one day aspire to be a “touch grass kid” instead. Sometimes solutions can be found that one never thought possible!

There’s plenty of news to get to this week as well, from Trump’s big reversal on housing, to a breakdown of the Iran fiasco with returning guest Josh Rogin.

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As predicted last week, Trump technically has a deal with Iran. But according to, well, everyone -- including leaders from his own party -- Trump's Iran deal not only reneges on every reason he listed for going to war in the first place but also rises to the level of "worst foreign policy blunder in decades." S.E. unpacks the art of Trump's abdominal deal. Later, S.E. talks Sarah Rumpf, contributing editor at Mediaite, about the public's plummeting trust in media. The two journalists debate the causes (it's not all Trump) and what could help.

If you have any thoughts about coffee, the news, or mental health, reach out to us at offthecupp@gmail.com, and your message could be read on a future show!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.