Hillary Clinton calls Electoral College an 'abomination' in Netflix doc

Kalia Richardson , USA TODAYWed, June 24, 2026 at 11:26 PM UTC

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Netflix's "The American Experiment" serves as both a crash course in U.S. history and a reflection on the state of American democracy as the nation nears its 250th anniversary.

The five-part docuseries, directed by Brian Knappenberger with Tom Hanks as executive producer, offers novice history buffs an extensive look into the establishment of American democracy. Similar to Ken Burns' "The American Revolution," viewers are taken on a journey through the country's early beginnings from George Washington's adolescence and the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the ratification of the Bill of Rights and the Jan. 6 riots on the U.S. Capitol.

The new series teeters on a bipartisan ledge, carefully including conversations with political figures like former vice presidents Kamala Harris, Mike Pence, Al Gore; former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Republican Senator Ted Cruz. It also includes notable figures like Cherokee Nation principal chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and state senators Lisa Blunt Rochester, Rand Paul and Ron Wyden.

Along with the good, the docuseries explores the unanticipated cracks in America's history, such as the nation's inhumane evils like slavery and the exclusion of Indigenous nations from policy, and its lasting impact.

Here are five takeaways from Netflix's "American Experiment."

Hillary Rodham Clinton calls the electoral college an "abomination" in "The American Experiment"Hilary Clinton Shares Choice Words About the Electoral College

Hilary Clinton still has strong feelings about losing the 2016 presidential race, particularly about the final tally of electoral college votes. "Well, I personally think the Electoral College is an abomination," Clinton said, with a laugh, "For obvious reasons."

In Episode 3, she discusses Alexander Hamilton's warnings of demagogic leaders and the founding fathers' creation of the Electoral College, a contested voting body which scholars have called "a compromise on top of a compromise."

Despite winning the popular vote in 2016, Clinton lost the Electoral College vote to Trump, which ultimately secured his victory. This has only occurred in four other cases: in 1824, 1876, 1888 and 2000.

"It's a very bizarre feeling to know that nearly three million more people voted for you," Clinton said, "and a relic of compromises from the Constitutional Convention is going to prevent you from becoming president."

Mike Pence is featured in "The American Experiment"Mike Pence addresses the 2020 Election Results

In the final episode, Mike Pence recounts the moment President Donald Trump asked him to overturn the 2020 election results. Despite cries of a rigged election and a Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, Pence acknowledged he didn't have unilateral power in a letter to members of Congress, defied the president and certified the election.

"I'll always believe that I did my duty that day," Pence said. "To see to the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the United States."

Pence said he drew inspiration from former Vice President Al Gore, who similarly lost the election and ratified the vote.

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"My only purpose was to keep my oath," Pence added.

What Did Kamala Harris Say?

The former vice president focused on the debates that defined the country's founding and its ramifications on the present-day United States, omitting details about her 2024 presidential race.

In Episode 3, Harris discussed the early arrogance of the founding fathers who made proposals for America's independence and questioned who was entitled to freedom.

"When we talk about power… I still also believe in the power of our people to speak up and speak out against the abuses that they see," Harris said.

More: A Look at 'American Experiment' Hillary Clinton, Mike Pence come together in Netflix's 'American Experiment' trailer – Exclusive

Martin Sheen Voices George Washington

Martin Sheen, who famously plays President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet in "The West Wing," voices George Washington within the docuseries.

Voicing the first president of the United States is a unique casting that would pleasantly surprise fans of the nineties political drama who are eager to hear the "Grace and Frankie" actor in another presidential role.

Senator Ted Cruz in "The American Experiment"Ted Cruz Quotes 'The Godfather,' Lisa Blunt Rochester Believes in the American Experiment

By the end of the docuseries, Ted Cruz references his favorite movie, "The Godfather," and the opening line, "I believe in America." He later alludes to his upbringing as the son of a Cuban immigrant, who was imprisoned, tortured, and upon arriving in Texas, washed dishes, making 50 cents an hour.

"When I was sworn into office in January of 2013, I stood on the floor of the Senate," Cruz said. "My hand was on my father's Bible. In the gallery was my father looking down. He had tears running down his face and he said that day, 'Only in America.'"

As the docuseries examines the country's 250th anniversary, it also questions whether the country can withstand growing partisanship and pressure. For Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, who fights back tears in the episodes, the experiment is incomplete.

"Are we for some of us, or are we for all of us?" Rochester asked. "I'm not going to lean back. I'm not going to quit. I'm not going to stop. Democracy is worth it. It's worth it."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'The American Experiment' on Netflix – 5 takeaways from new doc

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