As America turns 250, Joseph Ellis examines the founders' promise and their failures

As America approaches its 250th birthday, PBS NewsHour senior correspondent Judy Woodruff traveled to Vermont on February 25, 2026, to explore with historian Joseph Ellis the founders' promise and their failures, examining what it means to be American and what aspects of the nation's history remain unresolved. Vermont, whose motto is 'Freedom and Unity,' served as an appropriate backdrop for Woodruff's series 'America at a Crossroads,' which seeks to capture the nation's current moment of reflection. The series aims to ask Americans fundamental questions about their identity while acknowledging both the remarkable achievements and the exclusions built into the nation's foundation from its inception. Woodruff, with her five decades of experience covering politics and news at NBC, CNN, and PBS, brings her seasoned perspective to this examination of America's past, present, and future as the country approaches this significant historical milestone.