Episode 215: Polarization in a Pandemic

We’re in April, as the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic. Today, the U.S. has more reported cases than any other nation on earth - a fact that may in part be due to testing levels, but could also be due to a series of massive public policy mistakes. In the U.S., the federal response has been chaotic, to say the least. And here’s one reason: President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi don’t talk to each other. The intense anger and distrust between Republicans and Democrats could literally be costing our nation lives. Lee Drutman explains how we got into this mess and how we can get out of it. 

For more on this topic:

• Check out Drutman’s book, Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America
• Read his opinion pieces in The Atlantic, Vox, and The New York Times