<<<SHOULD AMERICA EMBODY MORE OF THE VALUES OF THE GREATEST GENERATION?>>>

Hi John, 

This week, Americans and the entire free world commemorated D-Day, when thousands of brave young American, British, and Canadian soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy to begin clawing back Europe from the clutches of fascism. They changed the course of history. 

If you haven’t had the chance to visit the area, I can’t recommend it enough. Even today, beautiful seaside French towns exist alongside crumbling concrete ruins that serve as a somber reminder of the fierce battles that took place there. Guides will help you retrace the steps of heroes who climbed the cliffs of Point du Hoc and made the first inroads into Hitler’s Atlantic Wall. And standing among the marble white Latin crosses and Stars of David solemnly lining the American cemetery that overlooks the English Channel, you can begin to get a sense of the scale of these heroes’ sacrifice. 

This week, retired Admiral William McRaven published a poignant op-ed in which he called on us to revive the values of unity and patriotism embodied by members of the Greatest Generation. McRaven wrote that his mother, a member of that generation, “believed that America was exceptional because there was goodness in our hearts, goodness that transcended our hatreds, goodness that brought us together in the worst of times, goodness that showed the world that despite our internal strife and political divisions we could rise above it all and be the best version of ourselves. This was what made America exceptional.” 

During the back half of the 20th century, America was led, in large part, by the members of the Greatest Generation, many of whom served during World War II. Gerald Seib’s recent essay in The Wall Street Journal talks about how that shared experience instilled in them a commitment to service and working together for the common good, leading to landmark bipartisan legislation like the Civil Rights Act and the Interstate Highway Act. 

This cooperative and patriotic spirit has been lost in Congress and many parts of America, and No Labels is working to help us rediscover it.  As we commemorate the heroes of D-Day, let us strive to live up to the values they embodied and vow to preserve the democracy they devoted their lives to defending. 

Admiral Dennis Blair
No Labels Co-founder

How Do We Want America to Be?
By William McRaven

My mother was a member of the Greatest Generation. Born in 1921, she was raised on a small farm in East Texas. She went to church every Sunday. Her family struggled through the Great Depression. Her brother went off to fight World War II in the Pacific, and she found lasting love with a fighter pilot from that war.

Congress Got More Done When the Greatest Generation Ran It
By Gerald F. Seib

The Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center is named after three U.S. Senators who met there while being treated as World War II veterans, highlighting the significant influence of WWII veterans in Congress. The departure of the last WWII veterans from Congress in 2014 marks the end of an era characterized by bipartisan cooperation and legislative achievements, contrasting sharply with the current divisive political climate.

No Labels Talks Episode 8: "The Biggest Scam Ever?" with Allysia Finley

For this week’s episode of No Labels Talks, host Ryan Clancy welcomed Wall Street Journal Editorial Board member Allysia Finley to discuss both the politics and the economics of President Biden's domestic agenda, in particular his controversial proposals to provide student debt relief for millions of Americans. Heading into the 2024 election, economic concerns are at the top of many voters' minds. In Finley's view, the culprit behind many of those concerns are policies put in place by the Biden administration that have fueled inflation on everything from gas to groceries. Is Finley right in her assessment? Decide for yourself after listening to this week’s episode.  

How Do We Fix the Border Crisis? Find Out on the Next No Labels Talks with Jessica Vaughan

Thursday, June 13 at 2 PM ET 
Americans have ranked the immigration and border security crisis as the top issue facing the country in Gallup’s poll for three straight months, and voters will be watching to see what President Biden and former President Trump say about these challenges during their debate later this month. On Thursday, June 13 at 2 PM ET, Jessica M. Vaughan, Director of Policy Studies for the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), will join host Ryan Clancy on our next episode of No Labels Talks to discuss these challenges and offer her thoughts on securing our borders.

No Labels is always looking for more ways for our supporters to get engaged. If you’re interested in asking Jessica Vaughan a question about the border security crisis, please submit it below. Our host, Ryan Clancy, will choose one of your questions to ask and, if you include your name and where you are from, he’ll ensure our guest knows the question comes straight from you!  

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