How Do We Fix It?

Lifelong educator and Braver Angels volunteer Mary Thomas-Vallens gets more hopeful about America’s political future when she’s working with teens. “I’m fired up every time I talk to them,” she tells How Do We Fix It?. “I am their biggest cheerleader.” In this episode we also hear from Braver Teens , the youngest members of the bridging movement that works to depolarize politics and work across ri...

In 2017, data analyst Wesley Warshawer was shocked by a poll that said 50% of Americans supported Donald Trump, about half lived with a gun their home, and a third believed in a literal reading of The Book of Genesis. This didn’t match the views of anyone he knew in Silicon Valley, California. What he read about our country's deep divides led him to sell his apartment in San Jose and spend 18 mont...

What role does the news media play in polarizing us? How do print, radio, TV, and online journalists reinforce our views of the world rather than connecting us to all sides of an issue?  Our guest is John Gable , co-founder and CEO of AllSides.com , which rates news media sites for bias, organizes citizen roundtables , and links readers every day to coverage from left, right, and center-biase...

Here’s something many Democrats and Republicans agree on: The way we debate and discuss politics is messed up. We talk past each other instead of getting things done. Huge amounts of time and money are wasted on bickering and bravado. Neither political party has built a lasting coalition to deal with the most urgent problems of the day.  In this podcast we look something local and practical:...

Here’s the bad news about civic renewal: It will not come easily or quickly. Toxic divides won’t be dramatically reduced because of one person or a dramatic election result. Renewal of America’s civic culture will require enormous effort in every state of the nation. Now the good news. Everyone can make a difference. Participation in renewal requires neither money nor fame. It begins with all of u...

“Braver Angels events always leave me hopeful and energized,” says Yuval Levin of the recent Convention in Philadelphia.  “A lot of people from different parts of our politics, from different parts of our country, from different parts of our economy come together and express a a kind of conviction that ultimately our country matters more than our parties, and our country matters more than ide...

Immigration law reform and enforcement is a very heated and emotional issue. In recent years, no public policy has been discussed with more outrage, demonization, and disgust. Both sides of the immigration debate demand total victory. But their all-or-nothing approach has resulted in nothing. No major immigration reform legislation has been signed into law in three decades. Perhaps it’s time for l...

Something remarkable happened in Philadelphia, days before America celebrated its 250th birthday and streets away from where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Nearly 900 Braver Angels delegates at their Convention signed a pledge to be courageous citizens. Being a courageous citizen stands in proud contrast to easy citizenship. In America’s current culture of contempt, it’s courageous to...

It's very easy to be outraged or depressed about American politics today, and much more challenging and interesting to consider how things might be better. Instead of dismissing our political opponents or viewing them with disdain or disgust, how can we understand them better and learn from them? That's where Braver Angels  1:1 Conversations come in . Two people from different backgrounds and...

One week before America celebrates its 250th birthday,  Braver Angels  will hold its  annual convention  in Philadelphia, the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. More than one thousand citizen delegates— Blues, Reds, and Independents— will be in the same place together over four days, June 25-28. They will honor the final words of the Declaration...

The nation has been shaken by violence yet again. The assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents Dinner was another jarring tear in the fabric of our public life. Every day Americans also hear divisive, angry, rhetoric from national political leaders and media pundits.  On "How Do We Fix It? we discuss how growing numbers of Americans are pushing&nbs...

Right now is a really difficult time to convince Americans to come together and listen to the other side. How can we be hopeful at a time of so much anger, division, violence and despair when our political leaders speak with such venom about their opponents? “What we’re doing now is sorting into our tribes and silos,” says our guest  Maryanne Colter,  state coordinator for  Braver A...

Braver Angels Ambassadors are among the most courageous of courageous citizens. Not only do they bridge the partisan divide, these volunteers meet people where they are. At meetings and events across the country, they go speak about Braver Angels as they try to convince skeptics that rebuilding civic trust is a cause worth supporting.  In this episode, we hear from  Barbara Hancin  ...

Is it possible to find points of agreement on some of the most heated and divisive issues in American politics? Can people who profoundly disagree sit down and learn from each other? The answers to both questions is an emphatic "yes!". In this episode we hear about the current work of the  Citizens Commission on Immigration  from its Director, Braver Angels co-founder,  David Lapp ....

Conflict entrepreneurs get money, influence and power by sparking anger and outrage. The  Braver Angels  call for  courageous citizenship  does precisely the opposite. In this podcast we hear the case for citizen power not paralysis, action not reaction, and why building America's civic muscle is so much better than burning things down. Here is a passionate, thoughtful and curi...

The recent immigration crackdown in Minnesota that led to several thousand arrests, mass detentions, angry protests, deepening political divides, and the deaths of two US citizens in Minneapolis is coming to an end.  What’s life been like for the residents of the Twin Cities during the recent surge of at least three thousand ICE agents on the streets? How wi...

If we’re going to get out of the political mess that we’re in right now, we will need a lot of help from Gen Z. Young people inherited our broken civic space, and they’re ones who will be the  courageous citizens  who   reimagine it. In this episode we learn from two former  Braver Angels  debate interns, Natalie LaRoche and Genevieve Raushenbush, about...

For many Americans, taking part in a debate is just about the last thing they’d put on their dance card. But Braver Angels debates are different. In this episode  Sam Rechek  explains why. “Braver Angels debates are fun,” Sam tells us. “We’ve created a structure where people can have productive disagreements about contentious issues. That’s something many yearn for, and they get int...

Pick a controversial topic. Whether it’s immigration, race, climate change, the role of religion, or the economy, many of our assumptions that we view as completely reasonable can seem whacky or wrong to others. This may well include very smart, thoughtful people, who’ve had very different life experiences than our own. Our guest for this episode is Chauncey Williams, a Democratic-leanin...

More than at any time in our nation’s history, news coverage of politics and public events is dominated by national media, but many of the solutions to Americans toxic partisan divides are to be found at the local level. In this episode we hear from  Steve Saltwick , the inaugural Senior Fellow of Braver Angels, and founding conservative co-chair of the  Braver Angels...

Many people say Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday: No cards to be sent. No presents to be purchased. A pause with family and close friends before the year-end holiday rush.  Thanksgiving is about gratitude, but it can also be a time of anxiety, and even dread. What do you say to family members, friends and neighbors who vote for a candidate or political party you despise? How do you reac...

Just over three months into his new role as leader of Braver Angels, we hear from  CEO Maury Giles  about his hopes, plans and goals for America's largest volunteer-led movement working to bridge partisan divides and disagree better for the common good. America has lost much of its civic muscle, and it's time to get it back, Maury tells our host, Richar...

Liberals and conservatives are caught in a politically toxic feedback loop. Our guest,  Zachary Elwood , argues that when people express contempt for those on the other side, they contribute to a cycle of conflict that weakens our nation. Increasingly, Americans view polarization as a worsening crisis. Two-thirds say the political system is too divided to solve the nation’s problems.  A...

How do we help people see their common humanity and find common ground? We discuss this and much more with our guest, independent filmmaker and storyteller,  Swati Srivastava . At a time of polarization and deep political divisions in America, growing numbers of citizens are now pushing back against the fear, loathing and distrust that poison our national conversation. Our podcasts report on...

“Our political leaders— left, right, and center— have a thin view of citizenship,” says  Braver Angels  co-founder  Bill Doherty . He argues that everything from healthcare and education to public safety and politics “is the work of we the people. That’s the robust idea of citizenship…Ultimately the big problems are those of all of us” This episode features an interview re...