Happy 250th! (thread 13), Episode 2: Ben Franklin in 2026: Kites, Smartphones, and Fireworks

Picture Ben Franklin strolling through a neon-lit city, grinning at electricity, marveling at smartphones, and taking notes on everything — from vaccines to influencer culture. He'd be equal parts delighted and exasperated: thrilled by inventions, annoyed by waste, but endlessly curious about how it all works.

He'd poke at our politics and our habits, shake his head at doomscrolling, and then, with a wry smile, remind us that progress needs upkeep and citizen effort. In short: he'd be skeptical, amused, and quietly proud that the experiment he helped start is still going.