This special broadcast includes Mo Rocca’s look at the Founding Fathers, Lee Cowan’s trip along Route 66, Luke Burbank’s exploration of America’s food melting pot and David Pogue’s story on how the railroad changed the country. Special correspondent Susie Essman sits down with her friend Larry David to talk about his new series “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Unhappiness,” Martha Teichner reports on women’s rights, Faith Salie visits with the multi-generational Italian family doing the fireworks for the nation’s Washington celebration and Nancy Giles has a slightly different look at abolitionist and statesman Frederick Douglass.

NOTE: the songbook performances were not included in the podcast due to content restrictions. Learn more about Sunday Morning's Essental American Soundbook here: https://www.cbsnews.com/projects/2026/sunmo-american-songbook/