Katelyn Bledsoe and Lauren Stewart on America at 250 and What Comes Next

Lauren Stewart (0:00)

At the end of the day, right, what these candidates are pushing within the DSA are what so many people from around the world are fleeing their country to come to America to escape. And I think that that's something we have to keep in mind and stay anchored to the values and the principles that were in the Declaration of Independence, that were in our Constitution, that started this country because we did not want to tolerate living under a king. We did not want to tolerate a one size fits all government when there were so many different individual views and opportunities. For the next 250 years, I hope that we continue to anchor to the Constitution, to anchor to the Declaration of Independence and remember why we started this country and remember the parts of being under British rule we did not like and did not appreciate and just how fortunate we are to live where we are, to have the freedoms that we do and never to secede them over to any government, whether it's one that you agree with at the moment or a single point in time, but that individual.

SPEAKER_2 (1:00)

Americans are capable of achieving extraordinary things when they have the freedom and opportunity to do so. This is American Potential.

Hey everyone.

David From (1:11)

Welcome to the American Potential Podcast. I'm your host, David From.

So as you look back on the summer, it's truly been one for the history books. We celebrated 250 years of American independence and then we saw the World Cup come, the world came to visit, reminding us just how unique our country is.

Our guest today, Katelyn Bledsoe and Lauren Stewart, recently had the chance to ask members of Congress about those topics and more during a media row event. We're excited to welcome them both back to the podcast. Lauren, Katelyn, welcome.

Katelyn Bledsoe (1:42)

Hi. Thanks for having us. We're excited to be here.

Lauren Stewart (1:44)

Glad to be back.

David From (1:46)

Excellent.

So a few months ago, we had the World Cup wrap up and you had a chance to talk to some of the members of Congress about how fun it was. To not only watch the games, but how people got to experience our country. And you all asked members of Congress about it. And here's what they said.

SPEAKER_5 (2:02)

Well, all these YouTube videos are awesome, right? Of people walking in from some other part of the country and walking into a grocery store or a Buc-Ease or a convenience store and just being overwhelmed with the stuff that we take for granted as Americans. We take for granted every single day.

SPEAKER_6 (2:18)

Well, Buc-Ease, I mean, Buc-Ease is my favorite.

SPEAKER_7 (2:21)

We take it for granted.

Katelyn Bledsoe (2:23)

I haven't taken it for granted yet.

David From (2:24)

The brisket sandwich is pretty special.

Katelyn Bledsoe (2:26)

It is.

SPEAKER_8 (2:27)

Freddie. Freddie has been my favorite. The German tourist and his buddies who have been road tripping across the United States because they are seeing our beautiful, amazing nation through very, very new eyes and unbiased eyes, right? You have a whole segment of the population here in the United States that just hates everything about the United States.

And they can't really articulate why. But when you have someone who comes from another country and is just blown away by everything, from the gas stations, Buc-ee's, right? That was like a religious experience for him, to just the natural beauty of our country in these very, you know, main street towns that are the heartland. Yeah. And then, you know, the hospitality that he's experienced and just how incredible people have been in welcoming. That, to me, is just the best of America.

SPEAKER_9 (3:21)

Well, as an Ulster Scott, it's kind of fun to watch the Scottish come over here and party. I think they surprised Boston a little bit. They're the Irish. They thought they could party harder than they were. I think maybe the Scots gave them a run for their money. You can't understand a thing they're saying when they're drunk, but they're fun to watch. I think it's fun to watch everybody come to America and go, this is pretty cool. We like the food. We like the ambiance. We like the availability for things at all times of the day and the energy. It doesn't matter what country you're watching when you go in and you just watch the energy and something that's positive. It's not divisive. It's not political. It's just fun.

SPEAKER_11 (3:57)

We hosted in Alabama at Auburn University.

Messy was able to play a warm-up match there with about 90,000 fans there in Auburn, Alabama. And I think that that's great. But then to see people that experience the American life of our eats, our drinks, Buc-ee's is going to be a hit for a bunch of people. But I'll tell you this right here. It's a great experience and other people understand what America is all about. The freedoms that we have here and to be free at it and free. The big thing is, there's been a lot of bloodshed so that we could experience this 250 years in America and a lot of people envious.