The divisions in this country are deep, certainly deeper than most of us realized before Tuesday’s election. Where is the split and can it be repaired?
We have made it through one of the ugliest, most contentious campaign seasons in recent memory. We survived the election, but we still have some deep cuts. The past year has revealed a profoundly divided nation.
Members of both parties have a highly negative view of one another, leading to misunderstanding, distrust and animosity. The partisanship is exacerbated by rapidly changing demographics and a growing chasm between urban and rural areas.
Politics has pitted friends, family members and neighbors against each other. In an election that split voters right down the middle, half of the country is unhappy.
So now what? President-Elect Trump will have to govern a divided nation and in his acceptance speech pledged to be a president for all Americans. We’ll talk about unifying the country after a divisive election season.
Guests
Dr. Michael Bitzer - Professor of political science and provost, Catawba College
Alec Tyson - Senior Researcher at Pew Research Center
Dante Chinni - Data Journalist in residence at George Washington University and Director of the American Communities project, which studies politics, socio-economics, and culture in a time of change. He also writes for NBC News and The Wall Street Journal.
We want to hear from you. Has this election damaged any of your relationships? How have your conversations around politics changed? We’re opening the phone lines: call 704-926-9323 or 800-603-9323.
Related:
Pew Research Center: Partisanship and Political Animosity in 2016
"For the first time in surveys dating to 1992, majorities in both parties express not just unfavorable but very unfavorable views of the other party. And today, sizable shares of both Democrats and Republicans say the other party stirs feelings of not just frustration, but fear and anger."