Atlanta, GA, May 20, 2025 — PBS announced today at the network’s annual meeting in Atlanta that a new, one-hour special — A MORE PERFECT UNION: INSPIRING CIVIC & CIVIL CONVERSATIONS ACROSS AMERICA — will premiere following the November 2025 premiere of Ken Burns’s new series, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
Taped at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and produced by WETA Washington, D.C., the second-largest producing station for public television, A MORE PERFECT UNION will examine how we think about America’s founding and how the ideas and values articulated 250 years ago remain relevant to conversations about governance today.
At a time of profound political polarization, this special aims to inspire and unite Americans through a renewed civic conversation rooted in the founding principles of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the American idea.
The program will record live at the National Constitution Center in September 2025, and feature THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION director Ken Burns in conversation with Jeffrey Rosen (President and CEO of the NCC), Melody Barnes (Executive Director of the University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy), and Yuval Levin (Director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute), among others. The discussion will explore essential themes such as liberty, equality, democracy, separation of powers, and civil rights.
Located steps from Independence Hall and Independence Mall, the “most historic square mile in America,” the National Constitution Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, and delivers educational programs and online resources that inspire citizens and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution.
The special will premiere nationally on Monday, November 24, 2025, following the November 16-21, 2025, premiere of THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, which was directed by Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt. It will also include educational resources for students, teachers, and communities to encourage deeper conversations about America’s founding values.
“The broadcast of THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION this November is a chance for all of us to learn about how our founding inspired the world,” said Jeffrey Rosen, the President and CEO of the National Constitution Center. “I’m thrilled to join Ken in a conversation about how the history of the American idea remains relevant to who we are today.”
“The National Constitution Center has been a terrific partner in helping us understand this complex history,” said Ken Burns. “They’ve also worked closely with PBS LearningMedia and other partners to generate learning materials that will engage students across the country. Our founding was perhaps the greatest event in human history and we must ensure that young people today — and future generations — appreciate what we’ve inherited and how they can work together to ensure an even more perfect union.”
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION examines how America’s founding turned the world upside-down. Thirteen British colonies on the Atlantic Coast rose in rebellion, won their independence, and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired centuries of democratic movements around the globe. The series will premiere Sunday, November 16 and air for six consecutive nights through Friday, November 21 at 8:00-10:00 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS. The full series will be available to stream beginning Sunday, November 16 at PBS.org and on the PBS App. More information is available at pbs.org.
A MORE PERFECT UNION will premiere Monday, November 24, 2025 on PBS (check local listings). It will also stream at PBS.org and on the PBS App.
A MORE PERFECT UNION is part of a slate of new programming for PBS America @ 250, a multiyear celebration of U.S. history, culture, and children’s programming that pays homage to America’s Semiquincentennial in 2026. As part of the largest national and local engagement effort in its history, PBS member stations will activate events in more than 75 markets nationwide. In addition to tentpole programming like THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION from Florentine Films, PBS KIDS, PBS LearningMedia, PBS Digital Studios, and PBS member stations will explore these topics at a national and local level. PBS America @ 250 programming will span across History, Music and Culture, plus programming from PBS KIDS. Visit the PBS America @ 250 Explore Page at www.pbs.org/explore/pbs-america-at-250 for more program information and PBS LearningMedia resources related to this effort as they premiere.
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION is a production of Florentine Films and WETA Washington, D.C. Directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt. Written by Geoffrey C. Ward. Produced by Sarah Botstein, David Schmidt, Salimah El-Amin and Ken Burns. Edited by Tricia Reidy, Maya Mumma, Charles E. Horton, and Craig Mellish. Co-Produced by Megan Ruffe and Mike Welt. Cinematography by Buddy Squires. Narrated by Peter Coyote. The executive in charge for WETA was John F. Wilson (who passed away in November of 2024). Executive producer is Ken Burns.
A MORE PERFECT UNION: INSPIRING CIVIC & CIVIL CONVERSATIONS ACROSS AMERICA is a production of WETA Washington, D.C. The executive producer is Kate Kelly. The producer is Sandy Petrykowski. Major funding is provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts. Funding is also provided by The Travelers Companies, Inc. and the Charles F. Kettering Foundation.
About WETA
WETA is the leading public broadcaster in the nation’s capital, serving Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia with educational initiatives and high-quality programming on television, radio and digital. WETA Washington, D.C., is the second-largest producing station for public television, with news and public affairs programs including PBS News Hour, PBS News Weekend and Washington Week with The Atlantic; films by Ken Burns and Florentine Films, such as The American Buffalo and the forthcoming documentary The American Revolution; series and documentaries by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., including Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Great Migrations: A People on the Move; performance specials including National Memorial Day Concert and A Capitol Fourth; and health content from Well Beings, a multiplatform campaign. Sharon Percy Rockefeller is president and CEO. More information on WETA and its programs and services is available at weta.org. Visit facebook.com/wetatvfm on Facebook.
About PBS
PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 42 million adults on linear primetime television, more than 15 million users on PBS-owned streaming platforms, and 56 million people view PBS content on social media, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS LearningMedia for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. As the number one educational media brand, PBS KIDS helps children 2-8 build critical skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality content on TV — including a PBS KIDS channel — and streaming free on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video app, games on the PBS KIDS Games app, and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at PBS.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, Facebook, Instagram, or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on X (formerly Twitter).
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