How Do We Fix It?

Swati Srivastava Crossing Party LinesThe Braver Angels Wayhere Richard Davies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“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 recorded for “Derate The Hate”, a podcast hosted by Wilk Wilkinson in collaboration with Braver Angels, the nationwide movement that brings citizens together across political divides, and pushes back against grievance, outrage and toxic polarization. As Wilk writes in his show notes about this interview: “This is not about partisan politics—it’s about restoring a sense of shared responsibility in our communities through intentional dialogue and real problem-solving.” Bill and Wilk discuss a new definition of citizenship and other topics, including how structured conversations can transform toxic divides, and why personal accountability is essential in civic life. Bill Doherty is co-founder of Braver Angels, professor at the University of Minnesota, and a nationally recognized expert in family therapy and civic healing. He is Director of the Minnesota Couples on the Brink Project at the University's Department of Family Social Science. Wilk Wilkinson is the new Director of Media Systems and Operations at Braver Angels. He plays a pivotal role in shaping national dialogue through conversations, storytelling and strategic media. His podcast, Derate The Hate, complements this mission by offering practical tools and conversations that inspire personal growth and civil engagement. “How Do We Fix It?” asks questions about critical solutions in public life. We report on the people, projects and ideas of Braver Angels. Our show is hosted by former ABC New Correspondent, podcast consultant and media coach, Richard Davies. Our producer, editor and sound designer is Miranda Shafer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Americans are divided by geography. Most of us live in overwhelmingly red or blue Congressional Districts. We are less likely than ever to know someone from the other side of the political spectrum. We are often misinformed about what members of the other tribe actually believe. In this episode we speak with Kirk Tatnall, Starla Brown, and Cade Smith about a Braver Angels exchange program. Participants from New York City and Jackson, Mississippi visited each other over two weekends. They held workshops and meetings, engaging in discussions across differences. “I just have a fundamental underlying belief that you cannot understand someone else unless you know them,” Kirk Tatnall told us. “You cannot really get to the motivations and the passions and the drive of other people until you see how they live.” The exchange began with the idea that only by coming together physically - in each other's backyards - can we begin to understand the other side. “We got to know each other, and we were allowed to be vulnerable in a very safe, wonderful environment,” said Starla Brown. “Being able to be vulnerable with people who don’t agree with you is empowering.” Exchange participants learned about two very different parts of the country, and engaged with people not like them. “It’s not just speaking. It’s being open to seeing someone in a completely new light, and if you do you can never see them the old way,” Cade Smith told “How Do We Fix It?” This podcast is our latest to report on the people, projects, and ideas of Braver Angels, who aim to restore the American spirit of working together. Our guests: Starla Brown is the current State Director for Americans for Prosperity's Mississippi Chapter. Starla is a 5th generation Mississippian and spent a portion of her life in South Florida where she worked in the construction industry and marketing development, as well as with the Florida chapter of AFP. Kirk Tatnall has been a New Yorker for most of his adult life. His career in advertising has spanned the digital marketing era and he continues to focus his time at the crossroads of media, data and adtech to deliver cross-channel television solutions. He is a husband and father to an adult son who continues to seek out reconciliation across a deeply divided nation. Cade grew up in Grenada, Mississippi and is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Access and Community Engagement in the Division of Access, Opportunity, and Community Engagement at The University of Mississippi. His work includes advancing the formation of collaborative partnerships between UM scholars and communities. He is also responsible for building bridges across divided communities through dialogue, education, and scholarly inquiry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Political speech in America is all too often dominated by hyperbole. We don’t just disagree, we find those on the other side to be offensive or even worse. All too often the language of curiosity, nuance and humility is missing from our dialog. In this episode we look at a novel way to reach across the divide. During the spring, Minnesota Braver Angels leaders who live in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region decided to visit six small towns in rural parts of the state. Our guests are Melinda Voss, who leans blue, and Scott Schluter who leans red. We find out what they learned while on their nine-day "Reduce the Rancor" bus tour. Melinda, Scott and other volunteers organized a series of events, including red-blue workshops, meetings with local community leaders, and conversations with people in six towns. They also did a lot of listening. “To be a Braver Angel requires a bit of humility," Melinda told us. "Your side might not have all the answers, and you might be wrong, and you might have something to contribute that would be valuable.” Getting both sides together to talk instead of yelling across the partisan divide has taken on a new sense of urgency. Nowhere more so than in Minnesota, after recent politically-motivated murders of a Democratic state politician and her husband, and the shootings of another Democrat and his wife. The violence was especially alarming in a state traditionally known for being “Minnesota Nice”, a term used to describe its courteous, mild-mannered, polite citizens. Here at How Do We Fix It? we look at ways to disagree better. Recent episodes have mainly focused on the people, projects and ideas of Braver Angels— an extraordinary collection of volunteers who work to depolarize America. More about our guests: Scott Schluter has been involved with Braver Angels as a red-leaning member since 2018, starting a Minneapolis Alliance in 2021 and then Minnesota State Co-coordinator in 2024. He spent a lifetime in photographic retail sales and management, which he’s found ties in greatly to the Braver Angel model of listening, asking great questions, acknowledging and working toward shared goals. Melinda Voss is one of two state coordinators for Braver Angels Minnesota. She leans blue. Now retired, she was a staff writer for the Des Moines Register and Tribune for nearly 26 years, taught journalism at three universities, co-founded the Association of Health Care Journalists, and served as public relations director for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is America’s role in a dramatically changing world? How does the health of our democracy impact other nations? In this episode we hear a rich mix of ideas in a conversation with podcaster, commentator, and former U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes. “Young people today are going to have to imagine a new US government and a new set of international institutions,” says Ben. A future administration “will have to renegotiate the terms of a new international order.” This hour-long episode is a recording of a live event held on May 22 in Washington D.C., produced by the Democracy Group and The McCourtney Institute. “How Do We Fix It?” is one of eighteen network members of Democracy Group, which features podcasts about civic engagement, civil discourse and the future of our democracy. Ben Rhodes is cohost of the foreign policy podcast, “Pod Save the World”. He served as Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting under President Obama. With former Biden advisor Jake Sullivan, Rhodes the co-chair of National Security Action, a political NGO. He is the author of two books: “After the Fall”, and “The World As It Is.” This Democracy Group recording is cohosted by Kamy Akhavan, who leads the Center for the Political Future at the University of Southern California, and Stephanie Gerber Wilson, host and producer of the podcast/column “Freedom Over Fascism”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re disturbed or simply turned off by America's rigid political divisions this is the show for you. We discuss creative skills and practices that put a little hope back in your political life Doug Teschner and Beth Malow are co-authors of the forthcoming book "Beyond the Politics of Contempt: Practical Steps to Build Positive Relationships in Divided Times." Their work builds on what they've both learned as bridge builders and Braver Angels volunteers. They also write about their work on Substack. Imagine a country where people of opposing political beliefs and different social, geographical and educational backgrounds get along pretty well, and manage to make progress together on vital issues that they care about. Our two guests show how it can be done. "We've always had debate and disagreement," Doug tells us. "The concern now is that this has become personalized. If you don't agree with me that means you're evil." People should disagree, but when it's about "us versus them, this is really dangerous for our country." Most Americans want to get along, says Beth. "I just think there are forces out there tearing us apart because that's what they see their profit and power in... We need to stand up and say enough is enough. We're better than this." Beth Malow leans blue. Doug Teschner leans red. He is a former Republican State Legislator in New Hampshire. Doug served as a Peace Corps country director in Ukraine and West Africa. He volunteers for Braver Angels as New England political leader. Beth Malow is a neurology physician, science and health communicator and lives in Vermont. She is also a trained volunteer moderator and debate chair for Braver Angels. This is our latest episode on the people, projects, and ideas of Braver Angels: The volunteer-led nationwide citizens’ group that’s working to bring people together across rigid and often antagonistic divides. During our interview Beth mentioned a May 20th Braver Angels New Hampshire debate that she's involved with. Our podcast host, Richard Davies, is a media trainer who works with clients to strengthen their public speaking, messaging, and interview skills. His email is daviescontentatgmail,com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ten years ago this month we launched our first show at a time of new beginnings for podcasts. We were early to this game, and well before podcasting became part of mainstream media. In contrast to other shows about politics and current affairs we ran against the grain, avoiding snarky slogans and angry attacks. How Do We Fix It? focused instead on solutions journalism and what might be improved if we listen carefully to others who we don’t agree with. We urge listeners to get out of their comfort zone. Right from the start, co-hosts Jim Meigs (leans red) and Richard Davies (leans blue) embraced nuance and celebrated the ideas of contrarians and compromisers alike. Their weekly podcast partnership lasted nine years. Together in this episode Richard and Jim consider a range of ideas that we have discussed. Our podcast was well ahead of many others in its stout defense of free speech for all sides and firm support of enlightenment ideals. We also share examples here of how we broke ground with episodes on the impact of smartphones on children and college students, the spread of COVID, and the need for carbon-free nuclear power to be part of the response to climate change. In this episode we include extracts from our rich catalog of episodes that date back to 2015. All of our shows can be found at howdowefixit.me. Recommendations: Jim and Richard are both avid podcast listeners. Two of their favorites are "Breaking History" and "Strangers on a Bench". Eli Lake interviews historians, academics and reporters for Breaking History, "mining the past of human experience to figure out the present. " British singer-songwriter Tom Rosenthal hosts Strangers on a Bench. He meets people for the first time while sitting on a park bench, usually somewhere in London.. How Do We Fix It? is a proud member of the Democracy Group podcast network. We recorded this episode at The Manhattan Institute in New York. Thanks for their help and support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We release this show at a moment of high political drama. Economics, financial markets, and America’s relations with the rest of the world are in a state of tumult. So how on earth do we talk with and listen to people on the other side? Should you even try? Jessie Mannisto, Director of Debates at Braver Angels says “yes!” In this episode we learn why understanding those who you disagree with is a vital first step to repairing civic relations. We discuss the First 100 Days Debates: “Is President Trump Making America Great?” Braver Angels is holding a series of structured debates this spring on birthright citizenship, DEI, foreign policy, the limits of executive power and more. Everyone has an opinion about the President and his Administration. “Right now we are all in some way emotionally activated, whether with triumph or with fear and anger,” Jess tells How Do We Fix It? host Richard Davies. “At Braver Angels we are coming together to try to live well in a polarized time.” This episode is our latest report on the people, projects, and ideas of America’s largest cross-partisan group that’s boosting civic friendship. Bringing Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic is vital work. At a time of so much anger and misunderstanding the repair of our national conversation may be the biggest challenge the nation faces. Subscribe to our podcast. Like us at your favorite podcast platform. Head to Braver Angels to learn more about the work they’re doing. Jessie Mannisto came to Braver Angels as a volunteer after being "cancelled" by friends for disagreeing with some of their political views—an experience that led her to seek a space where she could, in the words of the Braver Angels Way, "speak freely and fully without fear." Now she works to cultivate such a space for others, regardless of their beliefs. She also trains Braver Angels members to chair their own debates; one major part of this is mastering our own responses to fear and anger so that we can support others in doing the same, learning from those emotions what they are trying to tell us and using this information constructively. Before joining Braver Angels, Jessie served as a leadership analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency focusing on Eastern Europe. She is also the founder and editor emerita of Third Factor, a magazine and membership community for creative and intellectually excitable people striving to develop and live by their values. She is a native of Detroit, Michigan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I don’t do this work in optimism. I do it in hope”, Braver Angels President David Blankenhorn tells our podcast. “If we’re going to have any chance to fix this and save our country, this is what needs to be done.” Soon after the tumultuous 2016 election Braver Angels sprung to life— co-founded by David, Bill Doherty and David Lapp. Two years after its founding this nationwide volunteer-led citizen movement had its first convention attended by 72 conservative and 72 liberal delegates. Last summer, more than 750 reds and blues were at the Braver Angels national convention in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In the past few years Braver Angels workshops, debates, and other events have been held in all 50 states. The work continues every day all across America. We are releasing this repeat episode of our 2024 interview with David, recorded at Braver Angels offices in New York. This June he will transition from his role as Braver Angels President. Episode 416 includes more of our conversation and David’s thoughts. This episode is the latest in our series of reports on the people, projects and ideas of Braver Angels. For the past ten years, How Do We Fix It? has featured lively and creative cross-partisan interviews with a broad range of authors, journalists and public thinkers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(Use first three paragraphs for page one) #426 Braver Angels. Learning & Listening Across Political Divides: Wilk Wilkinson What do you think of people who you totally disagree with about politics? Can you listen to their point of view and have a constructive conversation? Do you dismiss the other side as evil or deplorable? In this episode we hear from Wilk Wilkinson, a Christian conservative who voted for Donald Trump. He has working class roots and grew up poor. A decade ago Wilk was enraged at liberals, but today he’s working closely with both reds and blues at Braver Angels to turn down the volume on loathing and distrust. “There’s no reason why I can’t have civil conversations with people on the blue side”, says Wilk. “We cannot get stuck in this idea that just because politically we don’t see eye-to-eye we are enemies.” Wilk’s podcast is “Derate the Hate.” He’s had “guests from all over the spectrum and talked about gratitude, forgiveness, and personal accountability” with authors, journalists, life coaches, and psychologists. “I’ve taken away incredible things from people who I disagree with vehemently on politics and most other things”, Wilk told us. “We’ve all got our blind spots, but not one of us is not worth talking to.” Wilk works in the trucking industry in central Minnesota. He describes himself as a devoted husband, a loving father, and a steadfast Christian conservative. He came from humble beginnings and as a child lived in small towns across the upper Midwest. Wilk started working at the age of 10 and hasn’t stopped. Through his podcast and personal experiences, Wilk shares candidly about the power of personal accountability, gratitude, and civility. He firmly believes that our reactions to life's challenges define us more than the challenges themselves. In his view, civility entails recognizing the humanity in everyone, regardless of our differences, our differing opinions, and/or backgrounds. Wilk says his journey from adversity to success in his career, marriage, and parenting exemplifies the transformative power of perseverance and self-improvement. His podcast and work as a volunteer leader with Braver Angels, offer hope, guidance, practical tips and tools for positive change. Wilk was recently named to the Board of Advisors at the Prohuman Foundation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the five years since the COVID pandemic began, trust in public health institutions and vaccines has plummeted. According to a new opinion poll, just over half of the public now says they trust the Food and Drug Administration to make the right recommendations on health issues at least “a fair amount,” down from nearly two-thirds (65%) in June 2023. About 1 in 4 Republicans parents now say they’ve akipped or delayed some children’s vaccines. "Why Should I Trust You?" is a new podcast about why so many Americans have lost trust in science and public health. We hear from two of the show's co-hosts, journalists Brinda Adhikari and Tom Johnson. They speak about what they've learned from a remarkably broad range of skeptics, scientists and doctors who have different opinions about vaccines and public policy on healthcare. "How Do We Fix It?" reports on the people, projects and ideas of Braver Angels, America's volunteer-led cross-partisan movement working to bring people together across rigid lines of partisan division. Braver Angels' Truth and Trust Project was featured on episode 414 of "How Do We Fix It?". This work aims to bridge divides among people with different views on official responses to the pandemic. Braver Angels helped Brinda and Tom as they launched their podcast. Tom Johnson is an award winning producer with experience in documentary series, digital, cable and network news. Brinda Adhikari is the former executive producer of The Problem with John Stewart. This episode also looks at the changing public comments from Robert F Kennedy Jr., who may be the most powerful voice in US public health today. As we release this episode he's set to become President Trump's Health and Human Services Secretary. Kennedy's Senate nomination hearings have been highly contentious. To critics he's a destructive vaccine skeptic and spreader of conspiracy theories. Many Trump supporters see Kennedy as a hero and a fighter, willing to take on a broken healthcare system. We also learn more about the remarkable contrast between the high level of distrust over the introduction of vaccines against COVID, and what happened during the 1950’s after the polio vaccine was introduced. Then there was a huge amount of acceptance. Some thought the vaccine was almost a gift from God. The vaccine reduced fear and increased trust of doctors and public health officials. Thank you to Braver Angels for help with making this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Do We Fix It? raises questions about solutions to divisive topics of politics and public policy: Decidedly secular matters. In this episode we look at how religious groups and institutions can help bring people together across divides. Braver Faith is our focus. The Right Rev. Mark Beckwith is our guest. Braver Faith is one the newest and most vibrant groups within Braver Angels— America's largest cross-partisan, volunteer-led movement that works to push back against rigid polarization. Led by faith leaders from many different religious backgrounds and beliefs, Braver Faith is a civic organization that develops educational tools to build bridges between people who are divided over politics. Mark Beckwith speaks with us about the group's goals and principles. "So many people that I talk to within Braver Angels tell me their commitment emerges from their particular faith", he tells us. Ordained in the Episcopal Church in 1979, Mark Beckwith has served parishes in Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Elected Bishop of Newark, New Jersey, he served in that capacity for 12 years before retiring in 2018. Bishop Beckwith is a liaison for Bishops United Against Gun Violence, and is the co-founder of Faith Leaders for Ending Gun Violence, a national ecumenical group of diverse leaders. He is the author of "Seeing the Unseen: Beyond Prejudices, Paradigms and Party Lines." Braver Faith organized an online gathering the evening before President Trump's inaugural January 20. Here's a link. Three speakers shared their thoughts about how faith can play a role in building bridges. Prayers from a range of faith traditions were offered. We include short extracts in this podcast. "How Do We Fix It?" publishes frequently. We report on the projects, people, and ideas of Braver Angels. Host: Richard Davies. Producer and sound designer: Miranda Shafer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the fall 2024, a young British filmmaker jumped in a small car and drove across America, asking more than 200 strangers the same two questions: "How did we lose connection with our neighbors, and how do we get it back?" Many of the answers and explanations are fascinating. "I am a firm believer that developing a curiosity or a curiosity in strangers is the cure for a polarized and isolated world," says Joseph Sim, the director and producer of the new documentary, "A Road Trip Across a Divided America." In this podcast we also hear from experts, everyday citizens and members of Braver Angels, who gave Joseph renewed hope that America can overcome the toxic divides that currently poison so many friendships and family relationships. Part of the message of Joseph's documentary is to encourage curiosity. "There is an adventure to be had. There is knowledge to be gained if you get curious about the people around you," he told us. "You honestly can't prepare yourself for what you'll find if you do that." Want to watch Joseph's wise and entertaining video? It's easy. The documentary is available at https://www.jojofilm.co.uk/ Watch Joseph's TedX talk as he makes the case for curiosity and speaking with strangers. Our podcast— "How Do We Fix It?"— makes shows about the people, ideas and projects of Braver Angels, the nation's largest volunteer-led citizens movement that's pushing back against rigid and destructive polarization. Braver Angels helped Joseph make his film. Everyday there are Braver Angels local, regional, or national workshops, debates, and events. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The holiday season is here, but many people across the country may dread sitting down with their nearest and dearest— all because of politics. In this episode we share down-to-earth advice from two wise experts who have thought deeply and creatively about how to minimize conflict and maximize cooperation with parents, family, and friends. Tania Israel is a Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara and award-winning author of "Beyond Your Bubble: How to Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation". Arthur C. Brooks is Professor of the Practice of Public and NonProfit Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School. We discuss the findings of his book "Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America From the Culture of Contempt". We make podcasts about the work, ideas, and projects of Braver Angels, the volunteer-led, cross-partisan network of American citizens who are working together across divides to push back against toxic polarization. This episode is very much in the spirit of what Braver Angels are working to achieve. This show is released just weeks after the election of Donald Trump to serve a second term as President. Divisive rhetoric by both sides during the campaign added to recent bitterness and division. Polarization is "not only hurting our connections with other people, it's hurting our health and our democracy," says Tania Israel. She argues that Americans "need to strengthen our connections with other people and tolerate, even embrace differences". A longer version of the interview with Tania was first published by the podcast, "Let's Find Common Ground". In the second half of this podcast we hear about the radical ancient teachings of Jesus, Buddah and many religious leaders— love your enemies." This is a "subversive, sort of crazy-sounding idea", Arthur Brooks tells us. But it can have a profound impact on how we live. "It's pretty easy to love your friends, but to love your enemies is something entirely different," he says. "You see them in an entirely different way. You change your own heart." Our "How Do We Fix It?" interview with Arthur Brooks was first recorded in 2018. Richard Davies and his co-host Jim Meigs asked the questions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some wore red hats, others wore blue. Outside scores of polling places in many states across the country, pairs of Democrats and Republicans sat together in a radically simple experiment called the Braver Angels Election Day Initiative. The contrast between dire media forecasts of violence, and calamity during the election and what actually happened was stark. The day passed by calmly with minimal reports of disruption. There was a sense of quiet majesty that day. In this episode we hear about the experience of three Red/Blue pairs of Braver Angels volunteers. For all of them the experience of presenting themselves in public as liberals and conservatives who could get along was uplifting. We also get reactions and reflections about the results and what they mean for our democracy. Our guests are: Liberal Don Goldberg and conservative Elizabeth Doll who were outside the King County Election Headquarters in Renton, Washington on Election Day. Dorsey Cartwright, who voted for Harris, and Roger Haynes who backed Trump, spent several hours together close to a polling station in Austin, Texas. The third red/blue pair Martin Hunke (Blue) and Tarleton Ferrin (Red) in Tucson, Arizona. Braver Angels volunteers had posters that said Vote Red, Vote Blue, We're All Americans Through and Through. "People were really warm about it," said Elizabeth. "They seemed sometimes surprised, sometimes amused, but everyone was really receptive." Don said the experience in Renton "was really kind of delightful". Our Blue volunteers, as expected, were deeply saddened by the election result. "I felt some sadness," said Martin Hunke. "I realized that we live in very different worlds. We can't agree on what truth is." "In elections people win and lose, but we as Americans are left with moving forward together," conservative Roger Haynes told us. "We have to learn to win and lose with grace and understand how to be more empathetic with people whose side didn't win... Do we take this as another gotcha moment or do we try to step outside of our tribe and ask what's it like for them?" This episode was produced with the help and encouragement of David Albright, Jessica Jones, and Mónica Guzmán at "A Braver Way" podcast. Our deep thanks to them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you believe what you see in newspapers, websites and on TV? Most Americans don't trust the people who are supposed to truthfully report the news. A new Gallup poll says Americans have record-low trust in mass media. Only one-in-three adults has a "great deal" or a "fair amount" of confidence in the media to report the news "fully, accurately and fairly." More than 150,000 readers each day turn to Tangle, a website read by liberals, conservatives and independents. Every day Tangle tackles one current debate in American politics, and summarizes arguments from left, right, and center. All Sides Bias Checker gives Tangle a "middle" rating, which means the site neither leans left nor right. Our guest, politics reporter Isaac Saul, started Tangle in 2019 as an independent, ad-free, nonpartisan newsletter. He grew up in Bucks County Pa. — one of the most politically divided counties in America — where he was exposed to a huge range of political opinions and values. As a young journalist, Isaac learned the media ecosystem was broken when he found that he wasn’t being judged based on his writing, but where it was being published. On Tangle "you will encounter a wide range of views, including some you really disagree with," Isaac tells us. "We're trying to be a big tent news organization and we are succeeding at that... Our readership is split almost evenly between conservative and liberal readers." "I'm working from the premise that the reds and blues don't understand each other," he says. "I really do want to bring people under one roof with a shared set of arguments to analyze and talk about, and a shared set of facts to work from." About this show: Every couple of weeks we release a new episode hosted by Richard Davies about the work, the ideas, and the people of Braver Angels, a remarkable band of brothers and sisters who get together across political divides in person and online: Reds and Blues who do battle against toxic polarization. In this show we speak with a fellow traveler of this effort. Links to news sites that feature a range of opinions on a single issue: Tangle, All Sides, and Ground News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you fed up with politics and especially the presidential campaign? On How Do We Fix It? we're reporting on the people, projects and ideas of Braver Angels. This nationwide citizen-led movement is a growing coalition of liberals and conservatives working to restore hope and co-operation to our politics. In this episode we speak with a second pair of Red-Blue volunteers who will be working together and meeting voters outside a polling site on November 5th. It's all part of the nationwide Election Day Initiative. Our guests are Elizabeth Doll and Don Goldberg. On election day, they will be outside King County Election HQ in Renton, Washington. "The other is not necessarily the enemy", Don tells us. "They just happen to be another side." Elizabeth agrees and hopes that one result of the Initiative is that Americans "recognize people can be friends... talk about politics with each other, disagree about politics, and still be in relationship with each other." Elizabeth Doll is Director of Braver Politics at Braver Angels. She's been a volunteer, and a consultant for political campaigns in the Pacific NorthWest. Don Goldberg is a writer and political social satirist who now helps transcribe the podcast, "A Braver Way". This episode is a reminder that America's voting system differs across the country. Washington state votes by mail. All voters receive paper ballots. They put them in drop boxes, or hand in their ballots to the local county elections department on or before election day. You can find out more about the Election Day Initiative on the Braver angels dot org web site. Braver Angels also have local in-person and online events all across the country. Look for one at the "Find an Event" prompt here. This show was put together with help of the production team at "A Braver Way", a podcast about how Americans of all viewpoints can disagree about politics without losing heart. Thanks to their team David Albright, Jessica Jones and show host Moni Guzman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These final days before the election are tense times. Today’s toxic politics are hurtful and heart breaking for many of us. Maybe we all need a hope vaccine. An injection of kindness, curiosity and understanding for those who see the world differently than we do. In our latest report on the work, ideas, and people of Braver Angels, the nationwide citizen-led campaign against political polarization, we learn more about its Election Day Initiative: A volunteer-led effort to push back against political climate change— the hurricane of hate resentment and disdain that many on the left and right feel for the other side. Our guests in this episode are liberal Dorsey Cartwright and conservative Roger Haynes. They are two of many red/blue pairs of citizens who will sit and stand together outside polling places across America. M. Dorsey Cartwright is a retired marriage and family therapist in Austin, Texas. She travelled internationally leading workshops for couples, individuals, adult children and parents, as well as for communities. Valuing the healing of relationships, Dorsey has turned her attention to America’s political environment. First as an active member of No Labels and its mission to depolarize the House and Senate, and then Braver Angels, with its mission to depolarize our citizenship. Her politics lean blue. Red-leaning Roger Haynes is a retired Chief Master Sergeant with 23 years of active military service and he recently left a civil service appointment with the government. He has served in his community in various roles including HOA, City Commission, and is also active helping local Friends of NRA committees raise grant funding in areas such as youth education, women-focused clinics, law enforcement training, hunter safety, range improvement, firearms and marksmanship training and safety. He’s passionate about the First and Second Amendments. Learn more here about Braver Angels “American Hope Campaign”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elections are vital to all democracies: The authority of the government comes solely from the consent of the governed. But millions of Americans don’t trust the electoral process and have highly negative views of politics.. Many have little or no confidence that all votes will be fairly and accurately counted. What should be done to improve our elections? We discuss reforms that both conservative reds and liberals blues can endorse. Some may surprise you, including ending gerrymandering and the unanimous recommendation on requiring ID to vote. The Braver Angels Trustworthy Elections Initiative held 26 workshops with nearly 200 evenly-balanced Red and Blue participants. Together, they found 727 unanimous points of agreement. Our guests are Larry Mayes and Walt McKee— the Blue and Red Co-Chairs of the Trustworthy Elections Leadership Team. They discuss their recommendations and what they learned together during the past four years. Larry Mayes has over two decades of experience working with elected municipal, state, and federal government officials and community leaders, focusing on driving human development and social capital. He is Senior Vice President for Government and Community Relations for Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Boston. In 2014, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh appointed Mayes to the Community Ombudsman Oversight Panel. The Panel for several years reviewed Boston Police Department Internal Affairs cases that were on appeal from citizens as well as random investigated cases. Walt McKee lives in Maryland with his wife, Juliana. They have been married for 40 years and have three adult children. He worked as a business entrepreneur and, in addition to Braver Angels activity, Walt serves on two nonprofit boards: Steadfast, which serves homeless youth, and the Sandy Spring Slave Museum and African Art Gallery. In this episode, we also learn more about how Braver Angels will send red and blue voters to polling places across the country on election day, to show Americans that no matter who we’re voting for, we can— and must— get along. It’s easy to take part. Learn more and sign up here at the Election Day Initiative. This episode of “How Do We Fix It?” is our latest report on the work, ideas, and people of Braver Angels, America’s largest volunteer-led citizen group that’s working across the country to push back against polarization. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Braver Angels is addressing a huge threat that could disrupt the future of our democratic republic: The rigid, often bitter, divisions between reds and blues. While nearly four in ten voters identify as "independent", more than nine in ten Americans fall into one of two broad categories. They identify as either conservative or liberal leaning and tend to vote for either Republicans or Democrats. "If this country breaks apart, if violence increases to the point where we are killing each other, it will be because of those two groups and the extreme leaders of those two groups," says Braver Angels co-founder and President David Blankenhorn. "That's the division we are looking at. That's the bridge we want to build. That's what's threatening the country." This episode is part two of our "How Do We Fix It?" podcast interview with David. We discuss Braver Angels bridge building by young people. Our conversation also explores America's political divisions and the Braver Angels approach to reforming and rebuilding American political discourse one conversation, one debate, one workshop at a time. In part one— our previous episode— we began by discussing the movement's origin story. Before co-founding Braver Angels, David Blankenhorn led the Institute for American Values, a think tank on civil society. He founded the Mississippi Community Service Corps, the Virginia Community Service Corps, and the Committee for Economic Change at Harvard University. David co-founded the National Fatherhood Initiative, and is the author of five books including his most recent, "In Search of Braver Angels: Getting Along Together in Troubled Times.” This podcast mentions the work Braver Angels is doing on college campuses. One example is how campus free speech debates encourage open minds at Denison University in Ohio. Recommendation: We give shout outs to "A Braver Way" and "Derate The Hate". Móni Guzman of Braver Angels is the host of "A Braver Way", A podcast about how you - yes YOU - can disagree about politics without losing heart. Another fine bridge building show to listen to is "Derate the Hate" ,hosted by Wilk Wilkinson. This episode is the fifth in a series of podcasts about work, ideas and people of Braver Angels. We’re grateful for their inspiration and support. All our podcasts are available for free here Note: Please Subscribe to “How Do We Fix It?" Rate us and review us wherever you get podcasts. This helps spread the word about these shows and the work of Braver Angels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.