313. Ken Burns Replay. The Master Documentarian on Extremism in America, Ukraine, The Importance of The Midterms, Doing a Film on Iraq & Afghanistan, His Dog Chester.

The holidays are here and we’re taking a much needed break, but we wanted to leave you one more holiday gift before we left. It’s a special episode from our archives and it’s one that means a lot to us. We’re rewinding things all of the way back to fall of 2022, right before the midterms. 

It was a time when we needed to hear a voice of reason. Someone to ground us. To calm us all down with some sobering reality. Some history. Some perspective. And some wisdom. 

Ken Burns (@KenBurns) is a truly important, inspiring and iconic American who is shaping what America has been, what it is, and what it will be. He is an exceptionally wise, insightful and trusted leader. A man who understands history--and the historic nature of the times.

He’s the visionary mastermind behind the greatest stories of our country—of our people–of our history—and of our future. The Civil War (1990), Baseball (1994), Jazz (2001), The War (2007), The National Parks: America's Best Idea (2009), Prohibition (2011), The Roosevelts (2014), The Vietnam War (2017), and Country Music, and now, The US and the Holocaust–a new six-and-half-hour documentary directed and produced by Ken Burns and his longtime partners Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein. They describe it as a deep dive into "America's response to one of the greatest humanitarian crises in history." He’s also the author of the new book, Our America: A Photographic History. 

He’s a historian. He’s a documentarian. He’s a master storyteller. He’s a patriot. He’s our mirror. And he’s a conscience for us all. 

Have a great holiday and we’ll be back next week with another great look back before we return in 2025 with all new episodes.

Every episode of Independent Americans hosted by author, activist and social entrepreneur Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) is the truth beyond the headlines–and light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It’s content for the 42% of Americans that proudly call themselves independent. And delivers the Righteous Media 5 Is: independence, integrity, information, inspiration and impact. Always with a unique focus on national security, foreign affairs and military and veterans issues. This is another pod to help you stay vigilant. Because vigilance is the price of democracy. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans will continue to be your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. 

-Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. 

- WATCH video of Paul and Ken’s conversation here.

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