Axios' Jim VandeHei & Mike Allen write: We're taking a break from the chaos of news and life in January of 2026, and stepping back — way back — to think about where America stands on the 250th anniversaries of both Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" manifesto (Saturday) and the signing of our Declaration of Independence (July 4).
Doom and gloom often light up our screens. But that shouldn't — and doesn't — define us. Never forget: This is a great country with exceptional promise.
Why it matters: We're the most perfect, imperfect experiment in self-governance, freedom and progress in the history of humanity.
