Songs of US Musical Legacy Project

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Oh no That's why Lifeelock monitors hundreds of millions of data points a second for threats to your identity, which is way more than anyone can do on their own If we find anything suspicious like new loans or changes to your financial accounts, we alert you right away, all through text, phone, email, or the Lifeelock app. Get the alerts that could make all the difference. Save up to thirty percent your first year at lifeifelock dot com slash special offer. Terms apply live shot there of the punishing heat in our nation's capitol can make out the reflecting pool. Yeahah, you can see some of the green from here. What you can't see from this view atop the Washton Monent is the utter lack of crowds at the American State Fair to celebrate our two hundred fiftiet. It's really a sad missed opportunity by this administration. Welcome back to Morning Joe. It is Friday, july third Holay holiday Eve. Let's begin this hour by diving into some of the top stories we're following this morning Beginning with the Department of Justice yesterday declining to turn over additional files related to the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. as had been ordered by a U. S. district judge The DOJ instead asked the judge to delay the deadline or to disregard it by accepting the department's reasoning for not handing over the materials DOJ officials argue that releasing more files would harm Epstein's victims as they contain sensitive or private information The department has faced criticism and legal challenges for months now over these slow release and heavy redactions of these materials, which were ordered to be made public last year by the Epstein Files Transparency Act that was passed by Congress elsewhere. A new report by the Washington Post reveals that Donald Trump Jr. could soon personally profit from a proposed gun rule change currently under consideration by the Trump administration Last year, Trump junior helped take the online retailer grab a gun public, of which he is both a shareholder and board member The company is often referred to as the Amazon of Guns The Post reports that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobbacco, firearms and exxplosives is considering a rule change that would allow firearm purchases to be completed entirely online That would include identity verification and background checks According to reporting in Reuters. If finalized, the rule would be among the most consequential changes to the U.S gun policy in two decades potentially driving huge growth in online gun sales. It's according to ten industry officials store owners, and gun control advocates who are interviewed by Reuters. Reuters goes on to report that the change could directly benefit Trump junr. who' more than three hundred thousand shares in Grab a gun. are currently worth more than seven hundred thousand dollars A spokesperson for the president's son responded to the reports stating that Trump Jior had no role in the ATF proposal. It's simply a stunning development that a member of the Trump family might profit from a change in administration policy. Elsewhere, the FBI is redirecting manpower into an investigation that's connected to the twenty twenty election results in Georgia Again In an attempt to find new evidence to support President Trump's baseless election fraud conspiracy theories The probe has been labeled a priority for the bureau and Two of U. S. officials familiar with the matter, tell MS now, it's become a nationwide effort doocuments obtained by MS now show that FBI leadership is authorizing intelligence analysts to work overtime on the case, including weekends and holidays The document also shows that FBI director Cash Patel is ordering personnel from all field offices to participate An unclassified memo issued on Wednesday ordered all FBI field offices to immediately surge support to an FBI Atlanta priority investigation. More than two hundred and fifty FBI Intel officials are being moved to this probe This comes as the bureau pours over more than six hundred boxes of seized election result election records taken from a Fulton Cy Georgia election facility. in January then director of National intntelligence, Tulsa Gabbard. personally went to Fulton County to oversee that raid The FBI has declined to comment to MS now Let's bring in Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. He is a member of the Armed Services' Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees Also join the table, we have Pulture Prize winning host of Pablo Ti findinds out MS now contributor, Paatori MS now's Ali Vitali still with us as well Thank you all. Senator, we appreciate you being here with us. So much to get to with you, but let's start with that last story You'd think the FBI had other priorities right now, but clearly not. as Director Patel has is surging personnel to Fulton County to reinvestigate, let's be clear baseless claims by the President of the United States about election fraud. What concerns you about what they might be doing for twenty twenty and what they might be setting up for twenty six and twenty eight Well, that's the key question. What are they setting up for this next election and twenty twenty eight You know, on its face, the pursuit of these baseless claims is fodder for Saturday Night Live and the humorous, but there's a deadly serious consequence, which is the waste of FBI resources, the compromise of this great agency's integrity And the pandering to Donald Trump Cash Patel is proving to be really the ultimate Trump syycophant There is an effect on the integrity of law enforcement. And also in effect beginning the rigging of the next elections or attempt to do so by claims un supported claims of some kind of corruption in these local elections, which will enable Trump, potentially to call out militia, call out the FBI try to, in effect, take over elections, and we are working hard in the United States Senate to prepare and fight that kind of threat to electional integrity Senator, there are so many fronts, obviously, as that roundup of headlines that John just Ran through indicates, but the notion of the president's wealth now becoming more than an open secret at this point as it is being argued about on CNBC just yesterday How do you describe the scale of the conflicts of interests, whether it's a gun company or whether it's a crypto scheme, or whether it's any number of these projects? How do you explain That scale and also what might be the remedy available to the Congress to the Senate. The scale and scope would have been unimaginable just a couple of years ago. I mean, we're talking about the president making two point two billion dollars In one year onene point four billion of it. from his crypto venture, which involves investments by the Emiratates of Hundreds of millions of dollars And then of course all of the other crypto omromises that involve wealth to the Witkoff and Trump famamilies too put it in a nutshell as we approach this two hundred fiftieth birthday of our country, this kind of corruption was exactly founders sought to prevent by including clauses in our Constitution that forbid this kind of self enrichment by people in power And there are remedies for it I intend to continue my investigation on the Permanent Subcommittee on invvestigation I am pressing everyone who would have any knowledge about it, obbviously we're in the minority right now, but once we are hopefully in the majority, these investigations can reveal all of the tentacles of this corruption, both from foreign interests and domestic ones. But the scale as you have said is just beyond words in the magnitude, and it affects not only Trump, but everyone around him, the granting of pardons, for example, involving fixers, lobbyists, lawyers close to the administration. They are making millions of dollars by compromising the national interest. and of course the story just mention where the presresident's sons have been benefiting by their investments, not only in grab a gun, but also defense companies that have received three point seven billion dollars. Once you begin talking about it. There's almost no end to the conversation, but it is exactly what the founders sought to prevent in the emoluments Clause and other provisions of the Constitution. and what we have hoped to stop with laws. So I will just finish on this note. Republicans need to be held accountable. Republicans in Congress have been absolutely silent I want to drill down a little bit on the questions that you're asking on the Permanent Select Committee on Investigations, because you wrote to the acting AG this week demanding some new information on a closed DOJ investigation that goes into President Trump's decision to grant clemency to a convicted fraudster. That clemency ended up costing victims and the government more than fifteen point five million dollars in what would have been restitution for roughly a one point six billion dollars fraud scheme that this private equity executive participated in, I wonder what information you're looking for from the attorney general. And I recognize that you say it's just a letter. we're in the minority. and I think that's the right assessment. But in this specific instance, you are supposed to have acting AG Todd Blanche in front of the judiciary commommittee in about two weeks when folks come back to town And so I wonder what might he bring that could answer some of the questions that it seems you rightly have about this Absolutely right. G question In fact, I pressed Todd Blanche when I met with him just last week And I will press him again in the confirmation hearings. for facts surrounding The parent shutting down of an investigation that was underway in the Eastern District of New York top officials in the Department of Justice apparently called the U. S. attorney in the Eastern district and quashed an investigation into an improper payment for clemency And what happened apparently is that Aave Fraudster, by the name of David Gentel, sentenced to seven years in prison for defrauding. Thousands of people. how of fifteen point five Million dollars, as you have said walked into prison on his first day and said he was paying two point five million. to a priest in connection with his effort to get out of jail. And lo and behold, in fact, clemeny was granted. He was released after just twelve days and very importantly, that restitution to the victims was sty meat as a result shhutting down that investigation when top officials of the Department of Justice Soog. the U.S. attorney in the Eastern district. raises the most serious kinds of questions so far T blank has refused to answer my questions. I'm going to be asking them again during the confirmation hearing, and I'm going to be calling on my Republican colleagues to hold his nomination until we get answers The American people deserve that information. Those hearings scheduled just a couple of weeks from now. Senators, stay with us. We want to get your reaction to this story. A Catholic nun Detained by Iice while walking to mas in the state of Texas has now been released after members of Congress intervened in the case A spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville confirmed the USA today that the nun was released last Sunday evening several hours after Ice had initially detained her in the town of McGallum The incident sparked outrage in the local community A post on social media by one local church asked parishioners to pray for the nun the initial reports of her detention As news about the case spread Members of the Southern Texas Congressional delegation called for her release Other lawmakers, including Republican Cgresswoman, Monica D La Cruz, worked with DHS to secure the Nun's release TheSi said it's continuing to gather information surrounding the circumstances of the incident a DHS and IC have not yet responded to our request for comment. Let's go live now to Fort Worth, Texas and MS now reporter Nandi Ingamwu, Nandi Good morning. You spoke to one of the lawmakers who work to get this nun released What more did he tell you about just what happened here Yeah, I spoke to Democratic representative Henry Kayar, who was among the South Texan Cgressional leaders that were immediately contacted by church leadership when sister Letisia Agboja, Nigerian nun, was detained. He told me that immediately after hearing the news, seeing the outrage, he reached out to the DHS leadership, including Mark Wayne Mullin and also Borderar Tom Homan and he really credited Homan for playing more of an active role in ensuring the release. He says He told me that his message to Homan was that, look, my constituents support a degree of border security. But when they see images of Iice going after you a nun draped in religious garb, one who, mind you has served as a volunteer minister at this church, one who has worked And healthcare in South Texas for the last ten years, when they see images of someone like that with no criminal record being detained, it does nothing but sow distrust in the agency and create a culture of fear. So apparently Homan was receptive to that message, according to KR, as well as the bipartisan backlash that was only growing as the nun was detained in the hours even after her release And Homman facilitated her release that Sunday. KQuayar says she actually got to speak to sister Lisia Boja following her release. I want to play for you part of our conversation about how she was feeling when she was out of ice custody She was very grateful. She was also set, you know, she was scared when she got picked up, you know, all of a sudden people come in Sar, are you so and so yes? Well, Here you go not knowing where she was going to. So she explained to me What had happened to her and not can understand, it was scary the way she presented. When you put an image of a nun going on a Sunday morning or her Garb going to church and get it picked up That's not the right image we want of America And Quar said that this instance is one of many that is the reason why he wants to see more guardrails placed on ice. guuardrails, including the reinstatement of a policy that previously barred Iice from conducting arrests near sensitive locations, whether that's a hospital, church or school. That's a message we heard echo from church leadership. I want to read a little bit from this statement from Bishop Daniel Flores of the ArchDCes of Brownsville. He says it is clear that homeland security enforcement protocols that make it possible for a religious sister or anyone to be detained and handcuffed while peacefully walking to church on a Sunday morning are wildly disturbing and need to be reformed MS now reporter Nandi Ig Guanwu. Thank you so much for joining us this morning live for us there in Fort Worth, Texas. Senator, just wanted to get your reaction to this particular story, but this story as just noted, is one of many U this is one of many right now in terms of, you know, IC agents, you know, seemingly know, making mistakes, abusing power at time and the wrong people are being detained. This is not in President Trump's words, his promise of removing the worst of the worst. It's exactly the opposite of removing the worst of the worst. and what we're seeing is this pattern repeated all around the country again and again again, sadly The new leadership, my former colleague, Mark Wayne Mullins has failed to change these kinds of abusive and excessive tics arresting Absolutely Innocent. people who have done nothing wrong, played by the rules And it happened in West Hartford just within the past couple of weeks. A restaurant owner Co has been in this country for almost thirty years pillar of the community clelearly having problems with documentation, but no risk of flight, no danger to anybody detained in Rhode Island for cou of weeks. He was released just Hours ago, literally as a result of our intervening and fighting, I have done this trying to fight again and again and again because they've for example, detained Afghan refugees who helped our troops while they were in the fight in Afghanistan and risked his life. He's here because he would be killed if he were sent back to Afghanistan and they detained him for months. We have managed to intervene in these casase to fight for these people, but we shouldn't have to do it. The agency is out of control. We tried to institute reforms. In fact, we refuse to fund ICE and CBP. and The Republicans with their recconciliation B push through that funding And we need to reggain the majority for Democrats so we can bring this agency under control Afghan interpreter, a restaurant owner A nun Often cases children, not the worst of the worst. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthalf of Cannicut, Thank you for join us morning. We hope you have a good july fourth. You too. Coming up here on morning, Joe, we're going to go through the latest knockouts at the World Cup as we enter the final day of competition in the round of thirty two Plus, the record setting attention on Tam USA as prepares to play for a spot in the quarner finals. We're coming for you, Belgium You're watching morning Joe, we'll be right back. Bison is est Now presents the chart topping original podcast, The Best People with Nicole Wallace. This week, Princeton University professor and author, doctor Eddie Glud. I'm always coming from the moral angle. The choices we make, the events of the day, the horrors that we have to report. Our response to it all has everything to do with what kind of people we are and who we aspire to be. The best people with Nicole Wallace. Listen now For early access and free listening and bonus content, subscribe to MS Now Premium on Apple Podcasts Welcome back, Time to talkal. Wkup. The victory for the US men's national team this week marked the most watched soccer telecast in English language history Fox Sports says that nearly twenty four and a half million viewers tuned in. two nil win over Bosnia, which garnered a peak audience over thirty one point eight million. all thirty one point eight million upset about that red card. Team USA next will take on Belgium on Monday in the round of sixteen. Now as for yesterday's action on the pitch, superstar Christiana Ronaldo celebrated his first ever knockout stage goal at the World Cup last night. You just saw it. He converted a penalty kick for Portugal And the sixty eighth minute to tie their match against Croatia It was the header from Jon Caro Ramos with Ronaldo Rub been subed off the field. This came in stoppage time ultimately clinched a two one win sending Portugal to the round of sixteen This is a good matchup. Portugal now gets to play in the quarterfinals on Monday against Spain. Portugal' Spain Spain rolled past Austria for a three nil victory And yesterday's round of thirty two contest out in Los Angeles, Switzerland also advances reaching the round of sixteen for the fourth consecutive time after a workman like two Nil win over Algeria. We have three more knockout games slated for today, including World Cup Cinderella, Cape Verde matching up against well, Argentina and a guy named Messi. You can see the whole schedule there. Paba, let's two things. The first, that Croatia, Portugal game, the headlines are actually the goals that didn't count. There is a tweet that's been going viral this week about how do you explain soccer to a non fan like an American who's just getting into the World Cup How do you explain the concept of offside? And basically you say, did something exciting happen? If so, it was offside. Yeah, And I can actually turn to the back page of the New York Post because what they said about the US and that red card also applies to Croatia, its flag and the sentiment, which is Red, white and screwed, Yes. This also applies the thing you want, by the way, as a sports fan, which now, of course, as America coalesces around this tournament, everybody could be mad about the rules is can you let the players decide If it's a close call, you the players decide. And according to the video system replay system, Andccord to that video angle, which we did not see at home, but apparently the ref might have an angle on There was a touching of the ball while the teammate was beyond the line. and so guess what What would have been extra time. is instead. So here So here's the graphic here. it's a real this would have been an absolutely thrilling tying goal. as you can see in the hundred seventh minute we plus ten here. Yeah, really devastating for Kroatians. And Pablo, you mentioned it. The red card also controversial. I will note. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wandered into the White House briefing room Also suggesting that that red car was bogus, which makes one wonder President Trump, where are you? Let's get in here and get this thing overturned. If Mike Pence had the courage, they could they could make this different. He Look, FIFA gave him a peace Prize. Now is the time to cash. Absolutely. In Monday against Belgium, we'll have more to say that morning. Okay. in a minute, back to the news And coming up here, the Trump administration appears to quietly delete long standing advice for staying cool in the summer heat after New York City mayayor Zoron Mom Donni faced intense backlash for giving that exact same guidance. Also ahead. We'll be joined by one of the candidates in the Michigan's Democratic Senate primary race who just got a major endorsement from a top progressive lawmaker Morning Joe is coming right back with all that and more. Look at that, a live shot of the construction zone that is known as the White House. Cranes Scaffolding. hole in the ground where the East wing used to be. All right. thing used to be there. The White House Meanwhile, the Trump administration seems to have quietly taken down a government web page offering Homeowners coolly advice. A Republicansily heavily criticized New York City Mayor Zorron Mom Donny for offering New workkers that exact same guidance. With temperatures hitting triple digits here at NYC, Mom Donnie, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, posted guidance yesterday asking residents to set their ACs to seventy eight degrees Mom Donnie wrote, a stable grid means the AC stays on and lives are saved Republicans, of course, were outraged by the advice Former Congresswoman, Marorie Taylor Greene took to social media, writing that American energy should be so strong and plentiful That you never have to set the AC above seventy if you don't feel like it Congressman Rand Paul of Kentucky also reacted W wrriting Senator Ramp Paul also wrote this proof that communism is unfortunately alive and well. And Senator Ted Cruz of Texas swed in writing in a first world country, you could turn on the AC. We'll note that Texas leaders, that's where Ted Cruz lives, have made the same request of its own residents on multiple occasions, including during a series of past heat waves And until recently, the Department of Energy had similar guidance for homeowners on its website But as you can see That page has now been taken down. So Pablo real quick, not only I mean first of all, previous New York City mayors, including Republicans have given the same advice Bloberg did. And others, you know, the grid is taxed. And the Trump administration also did that. I just like the idea of what counts as victimhood now. Because seventy eight degrees, Oh, that's a good cover. C we get back to John for a second holding the con air. seventy eight degrees, ay, none of that hot, sorry to be, you know Whatever, you know, facts don't care about your feelings about this, but also The whole takaking downown of the webpage, as always, the cover up is funnier than the crime. Like guys. There's an internet archive, I can find that page in about five minutes of the commercial break and I might at this point. So More on this story going forward. Meanwhile, so there are fears of a communist takeover of American thermostats, but setting that aside, there has also been a wave of progressive candidates winning Democratic primaries the last two weeks On Tuesday, a twenty nine year old Democratic socialist defeated a long time incumbent in Colorado. The latest in a streak of far left victories from the centennial state to New York and beyond. While some party leaders are pushing for moderate candidates moving forward Our next guest, Democratic candidate for U. S. Senate in Michigan, Abdul E Said, is hoping the recent trend continues when voters in his state head to the polls next month. And he just secured an endorsement from prominent progressive Cgresswoman Alexandri Occasio Cortez, who argues that he is, quote, building a winning coalition by putting forward an agenda that speaks directly to working people And Abdul Elseed joins us. now. So good to see you again. Let's start there with this obviously significant endorsement from AOC. Why do you think right now Candidates on the left, the real progressives in the party, yourself included seem to have so much momentum Well, we've taken the time to listen. I myself have been to one hundred and ten different cities, four hundred and fifty public events. We go everywhere. We talk to everyone. And no matter where you go, people are deeply frustrated by the fact that they can't afford a dignified life. They're worried about somebody getting sick and having to hit that six thousand dollars deductible They're worried about being able to pay just for the meat to be able to grill up on july fourth. They're worried about being able to afford the utilities. And we're speaking to what it looks like to take corporate hands off of our politics so that our politics can actually be about trying to make our lives more affordable Staying with unions, guaranteeing health carere through Medicare for all And I think that is winning up and down the ballot because for too long, we've been focused on parties and where the parties are going rather than the people and what the people need. And I think this movement is about the people and what we can do to actually serve them So yesterday, you gave a television interview you were asked about the Middle East and you expressed Some frustration that you were always asked about in Israel, but never asked as to whether a Palestinian state had a right to exist. So let's do that now. Do you believe a Palestinian state has a right to exist? Should that be the will of the free Palestinian people? then yes, but here's the point At the end of the day, we have this debate here in America about what we ought to be doing over there But I believe in equal rights to peace, dignity and self determination for all people. And the decision about what happens in the future to create the ultimate peace should be between the Palestinian people and Jewish Israeli people about how they want to live moving forward And so it's not actually our decision to make. And I'll tell you this The question about Israel having a right to exist is separate from whether or not Israel has the right to ar its tax dollars and too many politicians spending huge amounts of money in this race through APAC think that our best use of our tax dollars is to be sent over there to drop bombs over there rather than to invest in healthcare and schools and housing here And I happen to believe as the next senator from Michigan that I want my tax dollars spent in Michigan So that message there, what you just said about Palestinian state, but also the Israeli state and American taxpayers, do you think I mean certainly right now in the Democratic primary, there's some energy behind that idea. But can that win in a general election I'll tell you what There is no room I've been to where somebody doesn't come up to me and says you know I voted for Donald Trump and I'm voting for you. Now that might break some minds in New York or DC. But here in Michigan, people understand that we're struggling. and they say, look, I want America first. I thought that's what that guy was going to give me. And then he went off to Venezuela and Greenland and Iran I think you really want to make sure I have health carere here. I think you really care about the quality of my kids school, and that's what I want to. So I'm voting for you. And so I think that can win in the general election, I think that can win nationwide. It's Aly Vatali in Washington, DC. You know onene of the things that I hear on Capitol Hill in the aftermath of what happened in New York primaries and the aftermath of what happened in Colorado primaries is just simply trying to play the game of addition. How do Democrats retake the House? How do Democrats retake the Senate? But I think implicit in that is a question of when members of the Democratic Socialist Party come in As part of the Democratic Party, where is the line? Wh does DSA start and the Democratic Party end? And I wonder how you're thinking about that as someone who is on the more progressive side of the spectrum and is trying to embrace this very big tent for the Democratic Party Yeah Allie, I really appreciate the question. First, I don't identify as a socialist. I just write about capitalism And I can tell you that capitalism, its biggest danger was never government regulation. itss biggest danger was always monopoly and oligopoly And we've gotten to a point in our economy right now where no matter what you want to buy, what you want to pay for, there are like two or three mega conglomerates that get to decide what that price is. They use AI and algorithms to colle to raise your prices on you I think part of the reason they get to do that is because corporations have too much of a say in who our elected officials are, so they have too much of a say in our governance. I just want regulation on capitalism so that actually works for people. I'm a doctor and I saw that worst of all in healthcare. I wrote a book on Medicare for all. We don't need Private health insurance, we need guaranteed health insurance, we could do that easily if we were willing to get past big pharma, big insurance, big hospitals who are dominating our system right now. So we can do hard things and we can actually provide for people if we're willing to break the chokehold that too many corporations and special interests have on our politics You know, when you speak about the oligopoly, when you speak about who is getting rich right now as so many Americans are suffering, a lot of Americans are looking at Silicon Valley And they think to themselves, how is it that artificial intelligence as an industry is booming beyond precedent while people are struggling on main street. And so how do you propose dealing with that, how do you propose taking control, perhaps of an industry that is going beyond what anyone had imagined Thank you so much for asking that question because it's a question I get asked at every single town hall I do People are worried about a data center in their backyard. They're worried about whether not they're going to have a job in the era of AI We've proposed a plan called AI under Democracy. Now, AI is new technology, but democracy is quite old technology that we've used to govern ourselves and the things that we create for a very long time. And I trust it to be able to govern AI as well. Right now, we have AI being created under the incentives driven by the greed of very, very rich billionaires and I guess a trillionaire, too I think the best thing that we can do is break away new AI companies from old school internet companies Set them up as corporations that are focused on the public good, not just their bottom line, and make sure that we have democratically elected or appointed folks on each of their boards. If we do that, then we can make sure that the incentives that they are focused on, like curing cancer are what they do instead of figuring out how to take half of our jobs. Democratic candidate for the U. S. Senate in the state of Michigan, Abdul E Sed. Thankk you so much for joining us this morning. Thanks for having me Coming up here on Morning Joe, we're going to take a look at a new project, which is asking artists to reflect on America's musical legacy That's next on this fourth of July weekend. You're more than just one thing. Your vehicle should be two. More connectivity when you're the boss. Hey Google, when's my next meeting? And more space when you're the mom. Everyone in? The all new M's is CX five. More to move every side of you Google is a tremark of Google LLC sequence is shorted and simulated. The critics have spoken. World War two with Tom Hanks is a must watch. It is on a scale no one's ever seen before. An enormous accomplishment. The world turned upside down Global history on the grandest scale. All wars changed the world, but none of them, like the Second World War did, unlike any World War two docue series before World War two with Tom Hanks, new episode Monday at eightight Oly onn History Ne day on the A. Ever since I was young, I've watched people working hard, chasing opportunity, making sacrifices, doing everything they can to build a better life. And now, we're shining a light on what matters most, ourur economy, our national identity, our democracy, our future The stakes have never been higher. It's all on the line. On the line with Alicia Menendendez, weeekdays at twelve PM Eastern on MS Now. I had this vision of America, this myth of America. There are people coming from somewhere and there are people who are here who are going somewhere.. Every sixty or seventy years, our culture feels we've lost our w. And it's just the way the pendulum swings and it always is good to sort of reassess There are lots of people missing from the Great American song book that could expand our ideas of what it means to live and to love and to suffer and to grow. I Couldn't wipe this black off if I tried. That's why I lift my head with pride. It's hard to even expound on a line like that because it is so emotionally impactful. There's a lot of infamy surrounding the song, but we feel like it's really an important part of the fabric and foundation of our nation That's part of the special performance and conversations series titled Songs of US, in which musicians reflect on how America's musical identity has evolved and where it's headed as we mark the nation's two hundred fiftieth anniversary Joining us now, Liza Levy. She's the president of Salt Lick Incubator, the company behind this new music series. Lizah, thank you so much for joining us for having. So give us let's start right there. What is the like sort of the The animating ethos of this series I think as the United States reaches its two hundred fifteth birthday, Everyone is reflecting, right? They're reflecting on our past and our future. And I think that our goal was to give the microphone to the artists and ask them. They're the greatest empaths we have. I think music is one of our greatest exports. So the idea is Can we ask the artists, what are the songs from our musical leegacy that you are so proud of and you are So happy to come from that we're birthed here in America, and what are the songs moving forward if you were to create the next iteration of the Great American songbook What would be those songs that are going to live beyond all of us? Yeah, the songbook, of course, you know, always evolving, always growing and incomplete. and this is an addition to trying to add to that. So tell us about some of the selections make. Yes. So we ask the artists to perform two songs. One would be something more classic, sort of America's songbook era mayies, twenties to fifties ish, and then contemporary songs by their peers that they think are both timely and timeless. So in the more classic era we had Cruesdale performing Amazing Grace, which of course is a song about horrific wrongdoing and the plight for redemption. We had three artists Jordan Simone, Nia, Ashley, and Leia the Leo performing somewhere over the rainbow, a song about hope and our future. We had Grace Potter perform This land is your land by Woody Guthrie and the forgotten verse or the less known verse, which says there was a big high wall that tried to stop me. The sign painted said private property, but on the backside, it didn't say nothing This land was made for you and me So we have a clip featuring Amy Grant who talks about one of the songs that she chose to perform for the series and what America's two hundred fiftieth birthday means to her. I sang the sixth of January. and I love that song because it has so many historical references And it's a song about possibility and unrest, which by the way, that is the great experiment that is America. And and I do feel like the line that kind of just rests in Oness is we've lost our way And probably every sixty or seventy years. Our culture feels that way