Mysterious Goings On

On this special Independence Day episode, Alex steps away from fiction and into the present-day reality of a nation at a crossroads.Dispirit of ’76 (also published on Substack) is a personal roadtrip through American optimism—what it was, what it’s become, and whether we still have the will to pursue the “beautiful world” promised in Donald Fagen’s 1982 track “I.G.Y.” Along the way, Alex revisits key moments in U.S. history—from 1776, to the post-Civil War collapse of 1876, to the performative patriotism of the Bicentennial—and questions how the American myth holds up in an era of political grievance, disinformation, and performative outrage.This isn’t just a history lesson. It’s a drive through the literal and metaphorical cracks in our foundation, written from the road and the gut—with detours into the Roman Empire, Gore Vidal, altered flags, and the disorienting comfort of our modern lives.If you’re looking for something reflective, pointed, and (just maybe) hopeful, this one’s for you.CONNECT:​⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A