Each week on The Newsfeed, host Paris Jackson and a team of veteran journalists dive deep into one topic and provide impactful reporting, interviews and community insights from sources you can trust. Each day this week, this post will be updated with a new story from the team.
The United States will soon mark 250th anniversary, at a moment when many of its people feel divided, fearful, and concerned about the future of the country.
With that in mind, for the last few months, we’ve been asking people we’ve interviewed for the show this question: what does patriotism mean to you? All this week, we’ll be sharing what some of them said.
"This country was founded upon people that held up their hand and said, ‘Enough!’"
Here’s the response from Elle Cree, a veteran and trans woman who we interviewed earlier this month for a story about her move to Washington from a red state.
Story published 06/29/2026
Elle Cree
“Patriotism, to me, is being able to stand up for your values, to be able to stand in a city square and say, ‘The emperor has no clothes.’ It's an old story. And to be able to do so without fear of retribution, without fear of retaliation. This country was founded upon people that held up their hand and said, ‘Enough!’ We have the ability to do that. Our voices cannot be silenced.
Patriotism is treating everybody with respect. Everybody with dignity, and to value each person's opinion. I share that value and I expect others to give that same respect to me. That's what being a patriot is.
It's not about putting flags on your car. There's a John Prine song that I love, and it's ‘Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore.’ And by God, that's what this is about. It's not about putting something up. It's not about being somewhere on a Sunday morning. It's about every day taking care of everybody that's around us and making sure that everybody has a voice at the table,” Cree said.
“Patriotism means being proud of who we are.”
Today, you’ll hear parts of the responses from Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Andrey Sklyar, the organizer of the “Decent Social Skills” event in Seattle.
Story published 06/30/2026
Andrey Sklyar
“So, it's funny. It's become a dirty word, right? These days, to say that you are pro-America, that you value and want to protect and want to cherish it. Those that feel that the system has failed them don't feel the same way, and for valid reasons. And so, that's a really hard question to answer right now, because I feel like it would only apply to half of America. One definition would apply to one half, and (for) the other, the answer would be like, ‘being patriotic is non patriotic,’ right?” Sklyar said.
Katie Wilson
“Patriotism means being proud of who we are, I'll say, as a city and also as a country. And I think who we are right now is clear, right? Like, we are one of the most multicultural societies in the world. Like, we are built on immigration. We are... held together more by our aspirations and our ideals and our values, ideally, than by the fact that we all came from the same place. And I think that that is something that's really beautiful and also something that, we're struggling right now to put that into practice as, as an ideal, as a value,” Wilson said.
“Make it real. Make it like you say it’s supposed to be.”
We went to downtown Seattle to ask people what patriotism means to them. Here’s what they had to say.
Story published 07/01/2026
Kimberly West
“I think about people. I think about people and supporting people the best way you can, whether it's in within your own immediate community... And I think that can be multiple communities, multiple identities,” West said.
Niko Kent
“To me, patriotism means being able to do a little bit more than just complaining about the environment we're in. I feel like quite often, especially in Seattle, we look at actions the mayor has taken, our governor, and it's really easy to, you know, offer more issues than solutions. And so, for patriotism, I think really as a community coming together, being more participative in community events, offering more hopeful solutions,” Kent said.
Larry Crowder
“It means to me ,(a) 21-year Air Force veteran from the South. All the things I’ve seen growing up, even crosses burning in my parents’ friend's front yard. So the patriotism that... we're striving for. It's all fake. It's fake from a standpoint of what we're looking at now because we're going backwards... Make it real. Make it real. Make it like you say it’s supposed to be,” Crowder said.
My head goes on a swivel. Who’s saying it? And for what ends and for what purposes?
In early June, at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival, NPR Fresh Air Co-Host Tonya Mosley asked Princeton University Professor and author Eddie S. Glaude Jr. about author his thoughts on patriotism.
Story published 07/02/2026
Tonya Mosley, Fresh Air: “I wonder what's your relationship to patriotism overall? and to that idea of us holding such reverence and such pride in this myth and this idea of a freedom being something that could be bestowed upon us?”
Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.: “Yeah. Patriotism. You know, the first sentence, what it's trying to do is hold off idolatry. The idolatry of the state, Right? Something so morally dubious and so abstract... But sometimes patriotism to my ear sounds like a rebel yell.
Those people who embrace the flag, who wrap themselves up in the piety of the country, are often more than not folk who think I should be in my place. Folk who are behind the assault on voting rights. Folk who want to deny the specificity of the experience that shape how I see this place. So usually when I hear, a robust, visceral embrace of love of country, you know, my head goes on a swivel. Who’s saying it? And for what ends and for what purposes?”
“It's that deep belief in the plurality of our nation”
In our last episode this week, you’ll hear from the publisher of Seattle Gay News, the founder of Guma Imahe, and civic assembly participants.
Story published 07/03/2026
Renee Raketty, Seattle Gay News Owner/Publisher
“I've always been proud to say that I was born here in this country. I have, you know, raised my right hand (for) the Pledge of Allegiance. I definitely believe in, basically, standing up to colonial powers and declaring our independence. But also, like, it was a painful process and a lot of people were hurt along the way. So patriotism, to me, is helping people who are suffering from one thing or another. Not forgetting our history, remembering the marginalized community that we had to step on - or that were stepped on, you know - to achieve the success this country’s had today. But nevertheless, I still think collectively, it's a beautiful country,” Raketty said.
Joel Larimer, Guma Imahe founder
"Patriotism for me means to appreciate the rights that you currently have. Understanding who you are as an American, you know, whether it's through the Constitution, whether it's through diversity... You know, the United States is a melting pot, and there's no specific actual culture, you know.
Just being proud and appreciative of what the forefathers and those who have fought for you to have these rights and freedoms... and that's mainly our military, you know. And even to those patriots back on Guam that continue to fight for the United States on the forefront. You know, thank you for all you do. And I appreciate all of you,” Larimer said.
Theo Moriarty, Civic Assembly Participant
“It means you deeply embrace the values of your nation in letters of fire written across your heart, rather than simply a flag or simply a statement. It's not nationalism. It's that deep belief in the plurality... of our nation
I've lived my life in mostly public service. And I think we can do better. And I think if we honor our traditional values of inclusivity, democracy and plurality, then we will meet that that challenge. But right now, I'm very worried for the next 250, if we even get there,” Moriarty said.
Hillary Moralez, Civic Assembly Participant
“It's so hard because I feel like it's evolved so much over time. I'm someone who, I was raised to believe in volunteer politics. I actually am the chair of the 44th legislative district Democrats. And I spend a lot of time, volunteering in that aspect. And to me, patriotism is the ability to criticize your country and the ability to hold two ideals at the same time.
I love the United States. I love our democracy. And I love the country that my family immigrated to. I absolutely hate where we are right now. And I think that being able to... hold those two ideals is something so important. And being able to be motivated to do something about it is patriotism.
Getting out there and organizing pride events is patriotism. Getting out there and getting people to vote and know what their rights are is patriotism. Being frustrated and angry and getting neighbors to protect other neighbors who might be targeted by ICE is patriotism. I believe that the strongest ideals of our country are something that we can't compromise on,” Moralez said.
