Jon Meacham: The Fragility of the American Experiment

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, a creeping sense of political pessimism has captured the national conversation. Are we truly living through an unprecedented era of democratic decay, or is this just another chapter in the long, turbulent history of the American experiment?

In this episode of “Deseret Voices,” host McKay Coppins sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and presidential biographer Jon Meacham to unpack his latest book, “American Struggle.” Together, they trace how the political and media landscape has shifted over the last 15 years. Meacham shares why he believes the post-2020 election subversion efforts genuinely earn the title of "unprecedented," why democracy goes against humanity's natural default settings and how he keeps his grounding using a 500-year-old prayer ritual amid the non-stop chaos of modern news cycles.

“Deseret Voices” is hosted by award-winning journalists McKay Coppins and Jane Clayson Johnson, who go beyond the headlines to explore the stories, people, and ideas shaping our world today. Through thoughtful, in-depth conversations, the “Deseret Voices” podcast brings clarity and common ground to the complex issues defining our time. 

“Deseret Voices” is a Deseret News podcast, produced by Keira Farrimond, Creative Director - Video & Podcasts. 

Episodes of “Deseret Voices” drop every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts. Follow along and join the conversation on YouTube (@deseretnews), Instagram (@deseretnews), Facebook (@deseretnews) and X (@deseret).

Welcome to Deseret Voices, a weekly podcast from the Deseret News (https://deseret.com) that brings depth, nuance and respect to conversations about today’s complex topics and current events. Join our hosts, award-winning journalists McKay Coppins and Jane Clayson Johnson, every Thursday as they go beyond news headlines by talking with newsmakers and thought leaders to find common ground and uncover unique perspectives on today’s critical issues in politics, faith, sports, and more.