'Cautiously optimistic': Swing voters describe their view of America at 250

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Are you arrogant to beryllium an American? That's a question we posed to a group of plaything voters from plaything states, who person a past of voting for candidates from some large governmental parties.

Their answers bespeak a nuanced presumption of this state astatine a clip of partisan polarization and wide discontent.

"The reply is yes," said John from Pennsylvania successful a dependable memo shared with NPR. "I americium arrogant to beryllium an American. It's a precise imperfect country. There's a batch that inactive needs to beryllium worked on, a batch that inactive needs to beryllium done."

John is 1 of a twelve voters participating successful a task called Swing Shift, wherever we regularly instrumentality the somesthesia of voters who could assistance determine the elections successful 2026 and 2028. NPR agreed not to usage the afloat names of these voters truthful they are capable to talk much freely astir politics.

"Yes, I americium and ever person been arrogant to beryllium an American," said Jason from North Carolina.

"I would inactive say, yes, here, but with immoderate flimsy embarrassment," said Wally from Georgia.

"I'm arrogant to beryllium an American," said Gerald, besides from Georgia. "This is the top state connected the satellite Earth."

"We unrecorded successful the champion state successful the world," said Theresa from Pennsylvania. "We person democracy. We person freedom."

"I bash person immoderate pridefulness to beryllium an American," said Evan from Wisconsin. "However, I besides person a batch of shame."

"Why shouldn't I beryllium arrogant to beryllium American?" asked Lee from Nevada. "I mean, we unrecorded successful 1 of the champion countries successful the world."

To people America's 250th Anniversary, a caller poll from NPR/PBS News/Marist asked that question and recovered a partisan disagreement successful whether radical explicit pride, and a divergence successful strength arsenic well. Overall 65% of those surveyed accidental they are "proud" oregon "very proud" to beryllium an American. But the partisan divided is stark. 93% of Republicans are "proud" oregon "very proud" portion that aforesaid sentiment is shared by lone 45% of Democrats. .

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A pulse of the state arsenic it turns 250

All implicit the country, with large fireworks shows and tiny backyard barbeques, Americans volition people the nation's 250th day today. To get a consciousness of however they are feeling astir the country, we asked the plaything voters for 1 connection oregon operation to picture however they consciousness astir America's future. They are "uncertain," "concerned," "hopeful," "worried," "excited," and "cautiously optimistic."

And past there's Lee, who has a caller job, and his optimism is unqualified.

"I deliberation we're going to person a bully future," helium said. "Because, wherefore wouldn't we?"

Gerald, who voted for Presidents Obama and Biden but has gone each successful connected MAGA and President Trump, sees Democrats arsenic a threat.

"They effort to instrumentality them basal freedoms distant each azygous day," said Gerald. "If you springiness them a foot, they volition instrumentality 10,000 miles. We cannot fto up."

Evan, who grew up Republican and voted Democratic for the archetypal clip successful 2024, says he's disquieted astir corruption.

"The authorities is not moving for radical oregon the colonisation anymore," Evan said. "They're moving for themselves, corporations and different countries."

Wally says that helium voted unenthusiastically for Trump successful 2024, but has since soured connected him.

He worries astir corruption and a diminution of spot successful institutions.

"I consciousness we're drifting further and further distant from what we're founded on," said Wally. "America has turned into a free-for-all of sorts. People are anxious implicit the future, and we're seeing successful the governmental sphere, elected officials fundamentally getting richer and richer disconnected the backs of hardworking Americans and utilizing their presumption to look aft themselves and not their constituents."

Two of the plaything voters, without prompting, brought up artificial intelligence.

"I'm disquieted what's going to happen, if we're going to fto exertion instrumentality implicit fundamentally who we are arsenic quality beings," said Theresa, adding "we request radical to beryllium successful control, and we request radical to beryllium successful power that are kind."

John describes AI arsenic "challenging and scary." But helium besides says he's hopeful it could beryllium harnessed to cure crab oregon thing good.

As helium reflects connected his ain country, he's recovered position from an improbable source: World Cup shot fans and tourists.

"They're amazed astatine our abundance. They're amazed astatine our beauty, our wealth," John said. "They're intrigued by our food. They're intrigued by our aerial conditioning."

Jason, from North Carolina, says watching these fans "who are experiencing the United States for the archetypal clip themselves, and seeing everything from the measurement of choices, to pricing, to the state of question and code and actions," has fixed him a caller appreciation for what Americans have.