Politics are more polarized than ever—or at least that’s how it feels to many Americans. Research from Pew indicates that Americans are more likely to say it is “stressful and frustrating” to have political conversations with those they disagree with now than they were a few years ago. What is fueling these increasing divides in American public life? And how can we escape our own ideological bubbles and reach across the aisle more effectively?
These are the questions that sparked today’s show with professors Michael Wagner and Lewis Friedland from The Center for Communication and Civic Renewal at UW–Madison and political scientist Elizabeth Connors from the University of South Carolina. They spend the hour reflecting on how life and politics got this way, the role of media and personal trust, and what we can do to expand our worldview.
Cover image: USC Dornsife
