Interview: Ken Burns On The Birth of American Democracy — and the Battles That Still Define It
Few filmmakers have shaped how we understand America quite like Ken Burns. In this episode, Ken joins Mosheh for an in-depth conversation about his newest project — The American Revolution, a sweeping six-part documentary premiering this month on PBS.
The series reexamines America’s founding as more than a story of brilliant thinkers in Philadelphia — revealing a violent, fragile, and deeply human struggle for independence that almost failed. Burns explains how remarkable the American Revolution’s promise of “inalienable rights” was, and how the US influenced 200+ years of revolutions around the world. Burns explains why he thinks 1776 was the most consequential event since the birth of Jesus Christ.
Burns also discusses the present: What the Founders’ era can teach us about disinformation, division, and democracy in 2025. Why complexity — not simplicity — is the key to understanding our past and navigating our future. And how Burns finds optimism and faith in a nation that’s always been a work in progress.
The American Revolution premieres Sunday, November 16, on PBS and streams at PBS.org and the PBS App.
Mosheh Oinounou (@mosheh) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.
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AI-Generated Song Tops Charts; Pentagon Preps For Venezuela; ‘Naked’ Cheetos & Doritos
Headlines:
– Welcome To Mo News (02:00)
– Government Turns Back On: Flight Status Update (07:00)
– Pentagon Preparing For Possible Military Action in Venezuela (15:00)
– Rubio Calls For Foreign Governments To Stop Funding Sudan Paramilitary As War Expands (19:00)
– 1 in 4 US Households Are Living Paycheck to Paycheck (23:50)
– Britain’s 300-Year Tradition Of Wearing Wigs In Court Gets A Trim (26:00)
– ‘Naked’ Cheetos and Doritos Ditch Iconic Colors in Health Push (29:10)
– Holiday Shopping Preview With Target (31:45)
– AI-Generated Country Song Is Currently Topping Charts in America (35:10)
– What We’re Watching, Reading, Eating (39:00)
Thanks To Our Sponsors:
– LMNT - Free Sample Pack with any LMNT drink mix purchase
– Industrious - Coworking office. 50% off day pass | Promo Code: MONEWS50
– Surfshark - 4 additional months of Surfshark VPN | Code: MONEWS
– Factor Meals – 50% your first box plus free shipping | Promo Code: monews50off
– Shopify – $1 per-month trial | Code: monews
🐝 This podcast was recorded from the Mo News office at Industrious at Midtown on 50th St.
Mosheh Oinounou (@mosheh) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.
Jill Wagner (@jillrwagner) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. She's the Managing Editor of Mo News. Jill previously worked as a correspondent for CBS News, Cheddar News, and News 12. She also co-founded the Need2Know newsletter, and has made it a goal to drop a Seinfeld reference into every Mo News podcast.
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US Govt Now Open; Epstein-Trump Email Details; JFK’s Grandson Running for Congress; The Final Penny Ever Minted
Headlines:
– Welcome To Mo News + Northern Lights Visible In The U.S. (02:00)
– Longest Shutdown In US History Is Now OVER (09:20)
– House Democrats Release New Epstein Emails Referencing Trump (11:20)
– JFK Grandson Jack Schlossberg Running For Congress (23:50)
– Air Pollution in India's Capital Draws Protests As Schools Are Shuttered (27:00)
– Waymo Begins Offering Freeway Robotaxi Rides in San Francisco, LA and Phoenix (29:00)
– Final US Penny Minted After 232 Years (31:20)
– On This Day In History (33:50)
Thanks To Our Sponsors:
– LMNT - Free Sample Pack with any LMNT drink mix purchase
– Industrious - Coworking office. 50% off day pass | Promo Code: MONEWS50
– Surfshark - 4 additional months of Surfshark VPN | Code: MONEWS
– Factor Meals – 50% your first box plus free shipping | Promo Code: monews50off
– Shopify – $1 per-month trial | Code: monews
🐝 This podcast was recorded from the Mo News office at Industrious at Midtown on 50th St.
Mosheh Oinounou (@mosheh) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.
Jill Wagner (@jillrwagner) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. She's the Managing Editor of Mo News. Jill previously worked as a correspondent for CBS News, Cheddar News, and News 12. She also co-founded the Need2Know newsletter, and has made it a goal to drop a Seinfeld reference into every Mo News podcast.
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Baby Formula Recall; Trump’s 50-Year Mortgage Plan; Flight Woes Latest; Sydney Sweeney Movie Flop
Headlines:
– Welcome To Mo News (02:00)
– House Set To Vote To End Government Shutdown Today (04:40)
– Flight Delays & Cancellations Could Continue For Weeks (05:50)
– Baby Formula Recalled After Infant Botulism Outbreak (11:20)
– Trump's Faces Pushback To 50-Year Mortgage Plan (14:40)
– Gerrymandering Wars: Utah Judge Approves Map With New Democratic Seat (19:45)
– World’s Largest Aircraft Carrier Moves Closer To Venezuela (25:10)
– China’s Emissions Fall As Trump Admin Skips Global Climate Talks (28:20)
– Sydney Sweeney’s Box Office Flop (31:50)
– On This Day In History (34:00)
Thanks To Our Sponsors:
– LMNT - Free Sample Pack with any LMNT drink mix purchase
– Industrious - Coworking office. 50% off day pass | Promo Code: MONEWS50
– Surfshark - 4 additional months of Surfshark VPN | Code: MONEWS
– Factor Meals – 50% your first box plus free shipping | Promo Code: monews50off
– Shopify – $1 per-month trial | Code: monews
🐝 This podcast was recorded from the Mo News office at Industrious at Midtown on 50th St.
Mosheh Oinounou (@mosheh) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.
Jill Wagner (@jillrwagner) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. She's the Managing Editor of Mo News. Jill previously worked as a correspondent for CBS News, Cheddar News, and News 12. She also co-founded the Need2Know newsletter, and has made it a goal to drop a Seinfeld reference into every Mo News podcast.
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Historic Shutdown Nears End; Historic Meeting With Syrian President At White House; FDA Lifts Warnings On Hormone Therapy For Menopause
Headlines:
– Welcome To Mo News + Record Low Temps Across The U.S. (02:00)
– Shutdown Status Update (04:50)
– Congressional Democrats Are Furious Over The Shutdown Deal (07:00)
– More Flight Delays & Cancellations; Trump Takes Aim At Air Traffic Controllers (09:20)
– Syrian President Meets With Trump in White House (14:00)
– Supreme Court Rejects Bid To Overturn Landmark Same-Sex Marriage Decision (17:20)
– The FDA Will Lift Warnings On Hormone Therapy For Menopause (18:50)
– Trump Pardons Dozens of Allies Who Tried To Overturn His 2020 Election Loss To Biden (21:40)
– Wicked Witch’s Hat From 1939’s ‘Oz’ Hits Auction Block (23:00)
– On This Day In History (24:10)
Thanks To Our Sponsors:
– LMNT - Free Sample Pack with any LMNT drink mix purchase
– Industrious - Coworking office. 50% off day pass | Promo Code: MONEWS50
– Surfshark - 4 additional months of Surfshark VPN | Code: MONEWS
– Factor Meals – 50% your first box plus free shipping | Promo Code: monews50off
– Shopify – $1 per-month trial | Code: monews
🐝 This podcast was recorded from the Mo News office at Industrious at Midtown on 50th St.
Mosheh Oinounou (@mosheh) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. He has 20 years of experience at networks including Fox News, Bloomberg Television and CBS News, where he was the executive producer of the CBS Evening News and launched the network's 24 hour news channel. He founded the @mosheh Instagram news account in 2020 and the Mo News podcast and newsletter in 2022.
Jill Wagner (@jillrwagner) is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist. She's the Managing Editor of Mo News. Jill previously worked as a correspondent for CBS News, Cheddar News, and News 12. She also co-founded the Need2Know newsletter, and has made it a goal to drop a Seinfeld reference into every Mo News podcast.
A daily breakdown of the biggest news headlines from around the world -- from the essential to the entertaining -- with reliable analysis you can trust. Episodes feature Mosheh Oinounou (@mosheh) and Jill Wagner reporting the top news of the day, conducting interviews with newsmakers and answering listener questions.
USA