USA 250 in Context: Echoes of 1976 in 2026

As the US marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, historian Karl Brooks asks a timely question: Which America are we celebrating?

From Santa Fe’s place far outside the 1776 rebellion to the sharply politicized commemorations of 2026, Karl Brooks revisits the Bicentennial of 1976—when President Ford and Ronald Reagan battled over the meaning of patriotism and immigration—to explore how New Mexico’s layered histories continue to shape the stories we tell about our nation. A fast-paced look at two milestone anniversaries in unsettled times.

Historian Karl Brooks has authored numerous books and articles about American environmental and legal history. Brooks practiced law in his hometown of Boise while serving three terms in the Idaho Senate. He served as President Obama's EPA regional director in Kansas City and national operations manager in Washington, DC. He then managed court operations in northern New Mexico following a stint as deputy director of the state's Administrative Office of the Courts. He lives in Santa Fe, where he teaches remotely for the University of Kansas School of Public Affairs, helping undergraduates understand the legal system and graduate students prepare for public service.

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