Protesting 250

Plus, Coke and cars

Apr 11, 2026

∙ Paid

We’re back! Thanks to everyone following our “50 Weeks That Shaped America” series—and those of you who have signed up to receive full-video, ad-free versions of our series every week by supporting This Day. Keep the feedback coming!

Now, let’s check back in on America250!

America250 Around America 🗺️

The 250th is here! Here’s how folks are celebrating, commemorating, and conceiving the moment. With thoughts from This Day host Nicole Hemmer (who has taken to calling this year A250 for short…)

Coca-Cola unveils collectible mini cans for America's 250th birthday
- Americans love to collect things, especially things that celebrate states and territories (remember the state quarters?). Each one highlights “local culture,” and you can bet they tested those designs to death before unveiling them (because Americans, in addition to collecting things, love to argue about what makes their home states distinct!).

America250 painting dedicated to Parkinson’s research | Local News | wfmj.com
- The painting is for a good cause, but boy do the selected images and portraits tell a story…
Halifax, NC to mark colonies' first big step toward independence | Coastal Review
- Halifax is a big part of the story of independence—check out our episode on the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence to learn more!
2026 Ram 1500 America250 Limited Edition Trucks Go Full Red, White, and Blue
- It is the official position of at least one-third of the hosts of this pod that trucks this size are inherently anti-social (and also that the decal on these trucks looks like the Blue Lives Matter flag). But if you want to spend $70,000 on your A250 memorabilia, don’t let us stop you. (Although think about how many commemorative Coca-Colas you could get for that price!)

More America250 History To Think About 🤔

Like Trump, U.S. Embassies Are Raising Cash for Lavish July Fourth Parties - The New York Times
- This is a plot point from an episode of The Diplomat, which I bring up only because I want someone to talk about The Diplomat with me now that I’m all caught up.
In ‘1776’ at Ford’s Theatre, the Founding Fathers are just like us - The Washington Post
The 1776 expedition that shaped western North Carolina, left lasting impact on Cherokee

250 Years Pursuing Happiness

By Nicole Hemmer

As the Trump administration’s “History Rocks” tour gets underway—part of its A250 celebrations—organizers are being met with protests and cancellations. That’s because, despite the professed nonpartisan nature of the tour, it draws most of its funding from right-wing groups like Turning Point USA, the Heritage Foundation, and the anti-trans group Moms 4 Liberty. In small towns across the country, parents, teachers, and students have staged protests against the partisan tour’s presence in their communities.

It’s easy to bemoan this development as another sign of the country’s discontent as the 250th anniversary approaches. And to be clear, that is one of the big stories of A250. But there’s something inspiring here as well: people in these communities care enough about the administration’s war on history to step forward and resist—which seems to me to be the best way to honor the 250th anniversary of the revolution.