https://mattlira.substack.com/p/the-ken-burns-effect
Millions of Americans now inhabit information ecosystems that barely overlap. Most public figures avoid crossing these boundaries; some out of fear of unfriendly audiences, others because they worry that stepping outside their own silo will provoke a backlash from their closest allies. Burns’ latest tour defies that trend, as one of our nation’s great storytellers has moved effortlessly from The Today Show to Theo Von’s podcast, from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to Joe Rogan’s studio. What stands out is not merely the breadth of platforms he visits, striking as that is, but the authenticity with which he delivers his message. Burns shares the American story with a consistent sense of moral seriousness and intellectual credibility without condescension or pandering, addressing the best versions of his hosts and their audiences.