In 2026, the United States will mark its 250th birthday—a milestone that invites both celebration and reflection. What has the American experiment achieved, and what has it squandered? At a time of intense polarization at home and shifting power abroad, Jeffrey Goldberg, Atlantic editor in chief, and George Packer, Atlantic staff writer, join Daniel Benjamin, president of the American Academy in Berlin, to discuss this current moment in American history and what might be next. The conversation, joined by Süddeutsche Zeitung editor in chief Wolfgang Krach and editor at large Andrian Kreye, is presented in partnership by the American Academy in Berlin, The Atlantic, and SZ.