America at 250: What Citizens Really Think of Their Country

As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, reporters from NPR member stations across the country are asking a simple question: How do you feel about your nation? This semiquincentennial—a 250-year milestone—has sparked conversations from coast to coast. Citizens are sharing their hopes, frustrations, and reflections on what it means to be American today. The answers reveal a complex portrait of pride, division, and cautious optimism.