Podcast Summary: The Opinions –

Episode: America Was Defined by a Story. It’s Time for a New One.

Host: The New York Times Opinion • Date: September 16, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This premiere episode launches a new series examining the power—and necessity—of national narratives in America. David Leonhardt, Editorial Director at NYT Opinion, argues that the United States was uniquely founded upon a story rooted in Enlightenment ideals. As the country faces polarization and pessimism, the podcast explores why it’s crucial to craft a new story that can unite and guide Americans in a new era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of America’s Founding Story

• David Leonhardt reflects from the Jefferson Memorial, quoting Jefferson’s famous line—a distillation of Enlightenment beliefs that shaped the nation’s birth.
• (02:44) Jefferson’s Quote:
  “I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.”
  (Leonhardt/Quote Reader)
• Leonhardt underscores that, although the Founders failed to fully live by Enlightenment principles (notably regarding slavery and Indigenous peoples), the story they crafted about freedom, autonomy, and government’s legitimacy remains America’s foundation.
  • (03:43) “That will always be a deserved stain on his legacy and the legacy of the other founders. Still, the founding of this country did embody Enlightenment thinking in ways that no previous event had, even if it didn't always live up to that thinking.”

2. America’s Self-Definition Through Storytelling

• The nation is distinct in that it was founded not on ethnicity or religion, but on a narrative—a set of ideals and aspirations.
  • (04:31) “America was founded on a story.”
• Every significant U.S. social and political movement has been shaped by storytelling, particularly in times of crisis.

3. Historical Examples of Storytelling Presidents

• Leonhardt reviews how presidents have used powerful stories to lead through crisis or renew hope:
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt: Depicted America as a land of both security and freedoms.
    • (05:57) FDR: “Which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants.”
  • Ronald Reagan: Projected a confident, optimistic vision of strength and liberty.
    • (06:08) Reagan: “The American people said, let us look to the future with confidence, both at home and abroad. Let us give freedom a chance.”
  • Barack Obama: Inspired with a message of change and optimism.
    • (06:24) Obama: “That's what's happening in America right now, change is what's happening in America.”

4. Donald Trump and the Power of a New, Divisive Story

• Trump’s political dominance stems from his ability to craft a narrative of decline and lost greatness.
  • (07:02) Leonhardt: “It is vital to recognize that his political success depends on the story that he has told the country—a story about stagnation, unfairness, and lost greatness.”
  • (07:25) Trump: “We will make America strong again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again. And we will make America great again. God bless you and good night. I love you.”
• Notably, Trump’s story has broadened his coalition beyond his initial base, including more Latino, Asian, and Black voters in recent years.

5. The Call for a New American Story

• Despite the current pessimism and deep divides, Leonhardt insists that history shows America’s ability to reinvent itself through new narratives.
  • (08:32) Leonhardt: “America has overcome terrible injustices, gaping societal divisions and dysfunctional political leaders before, but it has always done so by imagining how the future can be different and then forging that future.”
  • (09:02) Leonhardt: “No, we are not guaranteed to do so again, but we can do so. And if we don't try, we are guaranteed to fail.”
• The show invites listeners to participate:
  • “What do you think America's next story should be? Tell us. Record a voice memo on your phone and send it to the opinions@nytimes.com.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• David Leonhardt on American identity:
  “America was founded on a story...Every important social and political movement has told a story. The abolitionists did. So did the progressives and the Whigs, the suffragists and the civil rights marchers...”
  (04:31–05:02)

• On why past and future stories matter:
  “Stories have been especially important when the country found itself in a crisis. They've enabled America to emerge from that crisis and to find a new path.”
  (05:15)

• Encouragement for listener participation:
  “We want to hear from you. What do you think America's next story should be?...send it to opinions@nytimes.com.”
  (09:22)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:42–02:35 — Introduction: Purpose of series & Jefferson Memorial setting
• 02:42–03:43 — Jefferson’s quote, Enlightenment ideals, founders’ contradictions
• 04:31–05:15 — America as a nation founded on ideas and stories
• 05:49–06:33 — Role of FDR, Reagan, Obama; power of presidential storytelling
• 06:53–07:52 — Trump’s narrative and its political impacts
• 08:32–09:14 — America’s history of renewal via new stories, call to action

Tone & Style

The episode’s tone is reflective, urgent, and ultimately optimistic. Leonhardt acknowledges challenges and failures, but strikes a hopeful note about the nation’s capacity for narrative-driven renewal. The language remains accessible, earnest, and inviting, seeking to unite rather than divide in envisioning America’s “next story.”