Episode description

The suburbs are in danger, according to the speakers at the Republican National Convention last week. President Trump and Republican voices leaned into the anxieties that some white and suburban residents are grappling with in the face of deep political division, violent unrest and rapidly changing demographics.

We revisit our 2016 segment with Kwame Holmes, a historian and scholar-in-residence for Human Rights at Bard College, about the segregated history of the classic American suburbs of the past and today. 

Andrea Bernstein, host of the WNYC and ProPublica podcast, Trump, Inc. and best-selling author of “AMERICAN OLIGARCHS: The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power,” (out in paperback on October 6th) offers insight into her coverage of the RNC and joins us as we take calls from suburban voters who are uncertain about how they will vote come November.

Following the untimely passing of award-winning actor and philanthropist Chadwick Boseman, globally known for his role as Black Panther/ King T'Challa in the Marvel film franchise, our producer Veralyn Williams responds and encourages our listeners to tell us how they are lifting their own spirits in the midst of these heavy and uncertain times. 

How have you been seeking joy? What is keeping you going? Send us your voice notes to anxiety@wnyc.org or tweet using the hashtag #USofAnxiety. 

You can also follow Kai at @kai_wright and subscribe to our podcast for all of our episodes.

Tell us what you think. We're @noteswithkai on Instagram and X (Twitter). Email us at notes@wnyc.org. Send us a voice message by recording yourself on your phone and emailing us, or record one here.

Notes from America airs live on Sundays at 6 p.m. ET. The podcast episodes are lightly edited from our live broadcasts.