On July 4, 2026, the United States observed the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Podcast host Jon Stewart discussed the document with Yale historian David Blight and Harvard historian Annette Gordon‑Reed, who described the text as a statement that outlines the right of people to alter or abolish a government that becomes destructive of their rights.

The Declaration, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, asserts that all men are created equal and are endowed with unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It further explains that governments derive their authority from the consent of the governed and that when a government becomes destructive of these ends, the people have the right to alter or abolish it.

Stewart recommended the full text to listeners, noting that the document is relatively brief. A previous article by David Corn and Tim Murphy a year earlier highlighted similarities between grievances listed in the Declaration and actions taken by the current administration, though the earlier piece did not draw a direct causal link. The article includes the opening passage of the Declaration, which declares the colonies' reasons for separating from Great Britain, and a list of 27 specific grievances directed at King George III, such as refusal to assent to laws, dissolution of legislative bodies, and the presence of standing armies without consent. It also notes Ben Franklin’s 1787 remark that a republic can be maintained only if citizens remain vigilant: “A republic, if you can keep it.”

The piece ends with the Declaration’s concluding statement asserting the colonies’ right to be free and independent states, followed by a birthday greeting to America.