Smerconish: America faces a crisis of nostalgia | CNN

Smerconish: America faces a crisis of nostalgia

Published 1:45 PM EDT, Sat July 5, 2025

WILDWOOD, NEW JERSEY - MAY 27: People walk along the beach days before the Memorial Day weekend, the un-official start of summer, on the Jersey shore on May 27, 2021 in Wildwood, New Jersey. Wildwood, like many beach communities throughout the United States, is looking for a successful and busy summer season after staying mostly closed or partially open last summer due to Covid-19 restrictions. Many resort community retail businesses are also suffering from a shortage of labor as some workers are choosing to stay home and others have changed career paths. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Smerconish: America faces a crisis of nostalgia

Smerconish

CNN Michael Smerconish describes the best decade in America from his childhood and explains why nostalgia plays a critical role in American politics.

8:41 • Source: CNN

This just in... 16 videos

WILDWOOD, NEW JERSEY - MAY 27: People walk along the beach days before the Memorial Day weekend, the un-official start of summer, on the Jersey shore on May 27, 2021 in Wildwood, New Jersey. Wildwood, like many beach communities throughout the United States, is looking for a successful and busy summer season after staying mostly closed or partially open last summer due to Covid-19 restrictions. Many resort community retail businesses are also suffering from a shortage of labor as some workers are choosing to stay home and others have changed career paths. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Smerconish: America faces a crisis of nostalgia

08:41

Now playing

• Source: CNN

CNN on scene as rescued Laos villagers load ambulance

01:46

Now playing

• Source: CNN

Four more villagers rescued from flooded Laos cave

01:27

Now playing

• Source: CNN

thumb_22669781_15118.561_thumb.jpg

Divers describe navigating through pitch black, sharp rocks and cool water during daring Laos cave rescue

03:29

Now playing

• Source: CNN

16x9_vid.00_00_06_15.Still015.jpg

See rescue moments of first villager trapped in Laos cave

01:03

Now playing

• Source: CNN

This video grab provided by Metta Tham Rescue Kalasin, shows rescuers evacuating the first of five villagers, center, who had been trapped in a cave in Xaisomboun province, Laos, Friday, May 29, 2026. (Metta Tham Rescue Kalasin via AP)

CNN’s Will Ripley reports exclusively from Laos amid harrowing cave rescue

04:37

Now playing

• Source: CNN

<p>At the Château de Versailles, the very stage where Molière performed before Louis XIV, an experiment in artificial intelligence is having its world premiere. CNN attends the premiere, and sits down with the collective that trained an AI on Molière’s complete works to generate an entirely new play in his style.</p>

Can AI resurrect the genius of France’s greatest playwright

02:55

Now playing

• Source: CNN

Screenshot 2026-05-29 at 11.33.26 AM.png

Watch: First survivor is safely out of flooded cave in Laos, rescue diver says

01:09

Now playing

• Source: CNN

Screenshot 2026-05-29 at 10.50.36 AM.png

Watch: First survivor is safely out of flooded cave in Laos, rescue diver says

02:01

Now playing

• Source: CNN

Laos 16x9 1.jpg

Exclusive: CNN speaks to wife of man trapped in Laos cave

00:32

Now playing

• Source: CNN

CNN on scene of daring rescue of villagers from cave

01:38

Now playing

• Source: CNN

still_22555982_305322.115_still.jpg

Yvonne Orji on comedy, faith and Nigerian identity: ‘It’s just who I am’

22:50

Now playing

• Source: CNN

RenameThisHorizontal.00_00_21_12.Still001.jpg

CNN speaks exclusively with sisters whose brothers are trapped in Laos cave

01:45

Now playing

• Source: CNN

firecoat paint 1.png

Could this fire-deflecting paint help homes survive wildfires?

03:12

Now playing

• Source: CNN

loop_raw.00_00_18_02.Still001.jpg

CNN shows Laos cave rescue from above

02:07

Now playing

• Source: CNN

16x9_vid Copy 01.00_00_45_11.Still012.jpg

‘We’re really hungry’: people trapped in Laos cave tell rescuers

00:50

Now playing

• Source: CNN