America in Free Fall? Historian Jill Lepore on the US at 250

The US Constitution faces a crisis of rigidity, as its historical design for amendment has become effectively paralyzed by modern political polarization. Historian Jill Lepore argues that this constitutional stagnation forces political change through the Supreme Court and executive orders, leading to an unhealthy "cult of the presidency" and a distortion of the separation of powers. Beyond the legal framework, the rise of an "artificial state"—where public discourse is dominated by corporate-owned platforms and automated bots—further erodes the foundations of democratic deliberation. While the framers intended the Constitution to be a living, amendable document to prevent insurrection, the current inability to update it peaceably leaves the nation vulnerable to political instability. American history provides no map for this unprecedented era, necessitating a return to foundational civic engagement rather than the mere veneration of historical figures.