America at 250: Staying Hopeful, plus Saying No in a World That Demands Yes

Are we heading toward a second civil war? No, but what might happen could still be unsettling. Sharon has an honest conversation with YouTube civics creator Mr. Beat about radicalization, propaganda, and why there’s a difference between optimism and hope. Plus, in a culture that rewards compliance and punishes pushback, Dr. Sunita Sah tells us why saying no can be courageous and the most effective thing you can do. And be sure to read our newsletter at ThePreamble.com – it’s free! Join hundreds of thousands of readers who still believe understanding is an act of hope. Credits: Host and Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon Supervising Producer: Melanie Buck Parks Audio Producer: Craig Thompson (00:00:00) Could the US have another civil war? (00:12:13) Optimism vs hope (00:20:58) Saying no in a world that demands yes To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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America at 250: Staying Hopeful, plus Saying No in a World That Demands Yes is an episode from Sharon Says So by Sharon McMahon.

This episode is 44:31 long.

This episode was published on Mar 23, 2026.

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