…but lately, the news has felt exhausting. And this year, for a lot of Americans, Fourth of July celebrations have taken a different tone.

What does it mean to be American when it feels like there are such stark divisions in our country? A PBS News segment touched on this sentiment, asking Americans how they view their country right now. As one put it: “America is an argument.” We’re continuously wrestling with tensions that the founding of our country laid out. Continuously trying to improve.

As a journalist, I try to remember that criticism is a form of optimism. At the core of criticism – and journalism – is identifying and acknowledging where we have fallen short, but also having the optimism that there can be something better.

So, I’ll leave you with that, in addition to a smattering of public media stories: some might make you angry or sad, while others might make you think or smile. And some just might give you a little bit of optimism.  

And in case you were wondering, Mark will be back at the helm of this newsletter next week.

Until next time,

Esta