search
Donate

Communiqué

Ken Burns and others discuss essential themes of liberty, equality and democracy on A MORE PERFECT UNION – Nov. 24 at 9


Posted on:

< < Back to

A MORE PERFECT UNION: INSPIRING CIVIC & CIVIL CONVERSATIONS ACROSS AMERICA

Monday, November 24 at 9:00 pm

A new one-hour special exploring the themes of liberty, equality, and democracy. Featuring Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and Yuval Levin, moderated by Jeffrey Rosen and Melody Barnes.

Left to Right: Co-moderators Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, and Melody Barnes, executive director of the University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, at the taping for A More Perfect Union. Taped September 29, 2025, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA.
Left to Right: Co-moderators Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, and Melody Barnes, executive director of the University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, at the taping for A More Perfect Union. Taped September 29, 2025, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA.
Credit: Courtesy WETA Washington, D.C.

A MORE PERFECT UNION examines how we think about America’s founding and how the ideas and values articulated 250 years ago remain relevant to conversations about governance today. This special engages Americans through a renewed civic conversation rooted in the founding principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Recorded at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and produced by WETA, A MORE PERFECT UNION features Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein, co-directors of THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, and Yuval Levin, Director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, in conversation with co-moderators Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the NCC, and Melody Barnes, Executive Director of the University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy.

Following the week-long premiere of Burns’s film, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (PBS, November 16-21), the special includes clips from the documentary focused on the founding era and the politics and ideas of the period, with a broader discussion about how the founders thought about executive and legislative power and the role of the judiciary.

Left to Right: Co-moderators Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, and Melody Barnes, executive director of the University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, with Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein, co-directors of The American Revolution, and Yuval Levin, director of social, cultural, and constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute, at the taping for A More Perfect Union. Taped September 29, 2025, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA.
Left to Right: Co-moderators Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, and Melody Barnes, executive director of the University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, with Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein, co-directors of The American Revolution, and Yuval Levin, director of social, cultural, and constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute, at the taping for A More Perfect Union. Taped September 29, 2025, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA.
Credit: Courtesy WETA Washington, D.C.

“It was a thrill to join Ken, Sarah, Yuval, and Melody for such a rich conversation about the enduring relevance of our founding principles,” said Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center. “At the National Constitution Center, we’re bringing those principles to life in our America at 250 Civic Toolkit and we’re looking forward to working with Ken and Sarah to spark a national conversation about the American idea heading into 2026.”

“Jeff Rosen and the National Constitution Center were wonderful partners as Sarah Botstein, David Schmidt, and I thought through the ideas associated with the American Revolution and how we could engage the public in a broad conversation about our founding,” said Ken Burns. “Sarah and I were very excited to join Jeff, Melody, and Yuval in this important conversation. We hope viewers have a chance to watch following the broadcast of our film, and continue to discuss these issues through the 250th anniversary of the country next year and beyond.”

“PBS is so pleased to further the conversation about America’s 250th anniversary with this timely special,” said Sylvia Bugg, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming at PBS. “A MORE PERFECT UNION beautifully complements THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, and we are proud to bring programming to audiences that can deepen their connection to the nation’s founding ideals. Together, these programs exemplify PBS’s mission to inspire understanding, dialogue, and civic engagement.”

A MORE PERFECT UNION is part of a slate of new programming for PBS America @ 250, a multiyear celebration of U.S. history, culture, and children’s programming that pays homage to America’s Semi quincentennial in 2026. As part of the largest national and local engagement effort in its history, PBS member stations are activating events in more than 75 markets nationwide. In addition to tentpole programming like THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION from Florentine Films, PBS KIDS, PBS LearningMedia, PBS Digital Studios, and PBS member stations are exploring these topics at a national and local level. PBS America @ 250 programming will span across History, Music and Culture, plus programming from PBS KIDS. Visit the PBS America @ 250 Explore Page at www.pbs.org/explore/pbs-america-at-250 for more program information and PBS LearningMedia resources.