How To 250: Live from On Air Fest!

·26 min·2 clips

Jody Avirgan reveals a soft launch of bonus conversations about America's 250th birthday and the work of history in 2026.

This episode features a live conversation from On Air Fest in Brooklyn, where host Jody Avirgan and historians Nicole Hemmer and Kelly Carter Jackson discuss America's 250th birthday, known as the semi-quincentennial. They frame the discussion as a soft launch for bonus conversations throughout 2026, focusing on the work of history in this moment. The hosts begin by reflecting on how the 250th serves as an organizing principle, with Hemmer noting that battles over American history have become literal street conflicts, such as in Charlottesville in 2017 and nationwide in 2020. Carter Jackson shares personal anecdotes about teaching history to her children, including showing them documentaries on African-American history. The conversation shifts to a review of America 250 events, with Carter Jackson selecting the time capsule contest, which will bury items for 250 years, and Hemmer choosing America's Field Trip, a curated educational program for students. Avirgan highlights political aspects, critiquing the Trump administration's co-optation of events like a triumphal arch and a proposed UFC fight on the White House lawn. Hemmer expresses interest in the National Garden of American Heroes, predicting statues might be torn down. Other events discussed include tall ships in New York, tree plantings across states, and a Ralph Lauren collaboration with the U.S. Postal Service. The hosts then offer advice on engaging with history, suggesting road trips in the Northeast, Southeast, and West Coast to visit sites related to abolitionism, civil rights, and the gold rush. Hemmer emphasizes the value of physical spaces, like visiting Money, Mississippi, where Emmett Till was murdered, to deepen historical empathy. The episode concludes with a promotion for the show's newsletter and bonus content, including an upcoming episode on Lincoln with Jamel Bouie.

As heard by us

A live Brooklyn check-in on America 250, with history's public face and political clutter in view.

Jody Avergan brings Nikki and Kelly into a live On Air Fest conversation in Brooklyn to revisit America 250, the semi-quincentennial, and what it means to do history work in 2026.

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You get a live-audience Brooklyn chat on America 250, plus a subscriber pitch if you want the rest.

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Play clips from this episode More from This Day (An America 250 History Show)