As European tourists travel across the United States for World Cup matches, many are discovering an America they didn’t expect: vast landscapes, friendly strangers, huge portions, small-town surprises and a sense of abundance that Americans often take for granted. Their reactions are going viral, offering a fresh reminder that the United States can look very different from the outside than it does on social media or the news.

Host Megan McArdle argues that Americans have become too pessimistic about their own country — and that seeing America through European eyes can help us rediscover what is still dynamic, generous, innovative and worth taking pride in.