{"id":2609543,"date":"2026-06-02T12:01:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T16:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-thirds-of-americans-believe-founding-fathers-would-be-disappointed-in-the-nation-at-250\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T12:02:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T16:02:38","slug":"two-thirds-of-americans-believe-founding-fathers-would-be-disappointed-in-the-nation-at-250","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-thirds-of-americans-believe-founding-fathers-would-be-disappointed-in-the-nation-at-250\/","title":{"rendered":"Two-thirds of Americans believe Founding Fathers would be disappointed in the nation at 250"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftwo-thirds-of-americans-believe-founding-fathers-would-be-disappointed-in-the-nation-at-250%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2609543&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Washington Secrets highlights how Americans are approaching the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-met-by-genocide-joe-philadelphia-protesters-after-american-possibilities-speech\/\" title=\"Biden confronted by &#039;Genocide Joe&#039; protesters in Philadelphia following &#039;... possibilities&#039; speech.\">upcoming <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/americas-250th-birthday-will-be-a-commemoration-not-celebration-in-virginia-because-leftists-dont-think-its-worth-celebrating\/\" title=\"America...s 250th Birthday Will Be A \u2018Commemoration,... Not \u2018Celebration... In Virginia Because Leftists Don...t Think It...s Worth Celebrating\">250th anniversary<\/a><\/a> of the Declaration of Independence with disappointment and division. A new Elon University poll finds that while most people say they\u2019re proud to be American, majorities think the nation has failed its founding ideals, and most rate today\u2019s democracy as only fair or poor-suggesting the country isn\u2019t \u201cat ease\u201d with itself.<\/p>\n<p>It also notes that the \u201cFreedom 250\u201d capital anniversary concert plans have fallen apart: many major performers have withdrawn over accusations that the event has turned into a political spectacle, leaving Donald Trump as the main expected celebrity. The white House has tried to distance itself from the organizers, saying the concert is a separate entity.<\/p>\n<p>The column than touches on a reported heated exchange between Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about actions in Lebanon, while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-in-first-network-interview-since-leaving-wh-trump-honors-late-rush-limbaugh\/\" title=\"BREAKING: In First Network Interview Since Leaving WH, Trump Honors Late Rush Limbaugh\">conservative broadcaster<\/a> mark Levin attacks the leak but also reinforces that it really happened. It closes with references to Jill Biden\u2019s memoir (framed as portraying her as largely uninvolved in her husband\u2019s political decisions), plus brief \u201clunchtime reading\u201d links to other political and cultural stories.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Welcome to Tuesday\u2019s edition of Washington Secrets. Today, we wonder whether the Founding Fathers would have been Milli Vanilli fans (originalists are welcome to weigh in on what the text tells us) in light of a new poll that suggests all is not well with their legacy. (The Founding Fathers\u2019 legacy, not Milli Vanilli\u2019s). And we lick our lips at the \u201crevelations\u201d in Jill Biden\u2019s new memoir\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Is the U.S, about to get the semiquincentennial it deserves?<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4590612\/trump-demands-dismissal-of-his-new-york-court-cases-calling-them-political-witch-hunts\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump demands dismissal of his New York court cases, calling them \u2018political witch hunts\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4589142\/jerome-powell-fed-independence-stress-test\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Jerome Powell speaks about Fed independence after stepping down: \u2018Undergoing a stress test\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4588911\/los-angeles-mayor-fight-tightens-karen-bass-spencer-pratt-final-pitch\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Fight for Los Angeles mayor tightens up as Karen Bass, Spencer Pratt, and Nithya Raman make final pitch<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The capital\u2019s 250th anniversary celebrations are in tatters. Eight of nine headline acts for concerts in Washington, D.C., have pulled out, leaving <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\"><strong>Donald Trump<\/strong><\/a>  as the only <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4588429\/trump-america-is-back-rally-musician-boycott\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4588429\/trump-america-is-back-rally-musician-boycott\/\"><strong>big name expected on stage<\/strong><\/a>  amid a welter of accusations that the nation\u2019s big moment has been hijacked for political ends.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And a new poll suggests that there is perhaps no better reflection of the state of the nation as it turns 250.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So although some 68% of American adults say they are proud to be American, 69% believe the signers of the Declaration of Independence would be disappointed in the way American democracy turned out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The survey of 1,000 adults, conducted by Elon University from April 30 to May 6, explores how Americans view the nation\u2019s past, present and future ahead of the big party. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans have complex and diverse feelings about America 250,\u201d said Jason Husser, director of the Elon University Poll and a professor of political science and public policy. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe found several points of optimism among Americans, including pride in being American and belief that the United States has a uniquely important role to play in world history. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAt the same time, many Americans expressed significant concern about the health of American democracy today, and the country is split on its outlook over the next 50 years.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The results do not show a nation at ease with itself.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More than half of Americans (52%) said the United States was unsuccessful in meeting its founding ideals, compared with only 30% who said it had worked out. Nearly three-quarters of Americans (73%) rate the overall health of U.S. democracy as only \u201cfair\u201d or \u201cpoor.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some of those divisions played out in very public fashion at the weekend. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Freedom 250 announced the line up for its Great American State Fair concert series which included hip hop artist Young MC, Brett Michaels of Poison, and Morris Day and The Time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But they quickly said they were not going to appear.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUnfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be part of,\u201d Michaels wrote on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DY6M0UYlRXh\/\"><strong>social media<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vanilla Ice was the only star still slated to appear as of Tuesday morning (when half of Milli Vanilli became they latest to drop out).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The White House is now distancing itself from planners at Freedom 250, which is run by Trump allies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou do realize it is a separate entity right?\u201d a source <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4589705\/freedom-250-concert-white-house-controversy\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4589705\/freedom-250-concert-white-house-controversy\/\"><strong>told the Examiner\u2019s Naomi Lim.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-mark-levin-s-helpful-intervention\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mark Levin\u2019s helpful intervention<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Monday, Axios\u2019 Barak Ravid reported that Donald Trump had fumed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding he halt his attacks on Lebanon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019re f***ing crazy,\u201d he reportedly told him during a heated call.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Israeli officials seem to have denied that such sentiments were expressed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But helpfully Mark Levin, the conservative broadcaster with deep administration links, is on hand to confirm it happened.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhomever leaked that story to Barack [sic] Ravid at Axios did a grave disservice to our country, to our president, to Israel, and to Israel\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >prime minister<\/a>,\u201d he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/marklevinshow\/status\/2061596930627514732\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/marklevinshow\/status\/2061596930627514732\"><strong>posted on X<\/strong><\/a>, saying it amounted to a breach of federal law.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Iranian regime will benefit from that leak, viewing us as weak and desperate for a deal \u2013 even coming to Hezbollah\u2019s defense.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He may not have intended it, but Levin managed to both denounce the story and confirm its veracity.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-quote-of-the-day\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quote of the day<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is plenty to enjoy in <strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4590379\/jill-biden-memoir-defends-joe-biden-legacy\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4590379\/jill-biden-memoir-defends-joe-biden-legacy\/\">Jill Biden\u2019s new memoir<\/a><\/strong>, which should have been titled like most political memoirs: It wasn\u2019t my fault!<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But let\u2019s just savor the thread where she seems to suggest she had absolutely nothing to do with her husband\u2019s political decisionmaking, his plans to run in 2024 and his ultimate decision to drop out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe said, you know, \u2018What do you think, Jill? What do you think?\u2019\u201d she recalls in an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/arts-culture\/books\/jill-biden-on-her-memoir-and-a-marriage-where-difficult-things-werent-discussed-aec2265b?st=SJS3Ga&#038;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/arts-culture\/books\/jill-biden-on-her-memoir-and-a-marriage-where-difficult-things-werent-discussed-aec2265b?st=SJS3Ga&#038;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink\"><strong>interview with the Wall Street Journal<\/strong><\/a>, which suggests she and her husband didn\u2019t discuss difficult issues. \u201cI said, \u2018No, Joe, I\u2019m not giving you my opinion. This is a decision you have to make for yourself.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Right. Yeah.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-lunchtime-reading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lunchtime reading<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/06\/02\/nyregion\/tom-kean-jr-new-jersey-absence.html\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/06\/02\/nyregion\/tom-kean-jr-new-jersey-absence.html\"><strong>A congressman was suddenly absent. So we looked. And looked<\/strong><\/a>: Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) hasn\u2019t been seen in three months. His name is on primary ballots today. His staff says he is dealing with a medical issue but has offered no further details. So is going on? Do send your theories to <em>Secrets<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/sports\/soccer\/matt-freese-harvard-usmnt-fifa-world-cup-rcna345907\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/sports\/soccer\/matt-freese-harvard-usmnt-fifa-world-cup-rcna345907\"><strong>The goalkeeper who might lead the US to World Cup glory<\/strong><\/a>: Let\u2019s be honest. The U.S. is not going to win the tournament. But this is a great read on Matt Freese, who once wrote a college research project on penalty kicks, and is now competing to be the starting goalie the World Cup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>You are reading <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>, a guide to power and politics in D.C. and beyond. It is written by Rob Crilly, who you can reach at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#c0b3a5a3b2a5b4b380b7a1b3a8a9aea7b4afaea5b8a1ada9aea5b2eea3afad\"><span class=\"__cf_email__\" data-cfemail=\"e497818796819097a49385978c8d8a83908b8a819c85898d8a8196ca878b89\">[email\u00a0protected]<\/span><\/a> with your comments, story tips, and suggestions. If a friend sent you this and you\u2019d like to sign up, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/click1.trk-washingtonexaminer.com\/xprvgynrhhctscghtpnrptnqlrtypjmjlkrlcnpvhgpdcr_jtjrvfbrrsmwbqmnsbmvsv.html?a=Washington+Secrets+Lara+Trump&#038;b=01%2F21%2F2026&#038;c=WEX_Washington+Secrets&#038;d=25812206&#038;e=da31c45955c9411a6c40ecd0e967fa8def1f0fc08362faaa0dee09386ff5c41b\">click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to Tuesday\u2019s Washington Secrets: would the Founding Fathers be Milli Vanilli fans-per a poll on their legacy? And we look at Jill Biden\u2019s new memoir\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4136,"featured_media":2609544,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26149591959822.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[33729,33895,44076,34832,35343],"class_list":["post-2609543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-american-history","tag-founding-fathers","tag-national-identity","tag-public-opinion","tag-u-s-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26149591959822.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609543","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2609543"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609543\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2609547,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609543\/revisions\/2609547"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2609544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2609543"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2609543"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2609543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}