As America approaches its 250th birthday, Michael Bailey sets aside his angst and offers a thoughtful, humorous, and deeply personal celebration of the United States. Hosted by Dale McConkey, this special episode counts down 25 things Michael loves about America—from the profound to the delightfully unexpected.

The conversation spans everything from America's founding ideals, history, government, and innovation to its culture, geography, food, language, music, literature, and natural wonders. Along the way, Michael reflects on what makes the American experiment unique while acknowledging its imperfections with honesty, humor, and gratitude.

Whether you find yourself nodding along or raising an eyebrow, you're bound to come away with a fresh appreciation for the many facets of the American story—now 250 years strong.

The views expressed on American Angst are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

In this episode of American Angst, political philosopher Michael Bailey offers a clear, engaging, and deeply informed exploration of the filibuster—what it is, how it has evolved, and why its modern use may be undermining democratic governance in the United States. Moving beyond the familiar image of marathon speeches, Bailey explains how today’s “silent filibuster” functions as a routine tool of obstruction, effectively requiring a supermajority for most legislation and raising serious questions about accountability, majority rule, and the balance of power. Drawing on constitutional principles, historical context, and contemporary political realities, he challenges the common defenses of the filibuster—particularly the idea that it protects minority rights—while arguing that it often suppresses deliberation rather than promoting it. Host Dale McConkey provides light humor and conversational flow.

The views expressed on American Angst are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

After a break, American Angst returns with Dr. Michael Bailey bringing his sharp, historically grounded perspective to one of the biggest questions in political culture right now: how unusual is this latest American war footing, really? Rather than offering hot takes, Bailey carefully sorts through what feels familiar, what feels troublingly new, and what may signal a deeper shift in the way the United States talks about power, war, and presidential authority.

With his trademark mix of intellectual seriousness, dry wit, and wide-ranging historical context, Bailey explores whether today’s rhetoric around conflict is simply more of the same—or something far more unsettling. If you want political commentary that is thoughtful, probing, and more interested in perspective than panic, this episode is worth your time.

The views expressed on American Angst are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.