In the wake of a shocking assassination, calls for unity clash with rising political rhetoric. The struggle over free speech intensifies as government pressure looms over media figures. A poignant discussion about gun violence emerges through a documentary that seeks to bridge divides. The hosts ponder the challenges of nurturing open dialogue in a polarized society. Can we find common ground, or are we too divided to engage meaningfully?
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insights INSIGHT
Predicting Catastrophe Fuels Polarization
Political leaders often exacerbate tensions by predicting catastrophe rather than offering humility.
David Green and guests argue humility would help de-escalate polarized reactions.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Practice Intellectual Humility
Look in the mirror and cultivate intellectual humility about your positions.
Sarah Isgur urges listeners to doubt certainties and ask if they help or hurt civic discourse.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Step Away From Algorithms
Turn off social media to avoid algorithm-driven grievance amplification.
Mo Elleithee recommends stepping away from phones and algorithms to regain perspective.
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After the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, both Republicans and Democrats called for unity and understanding — but polarizing rhetoric has continued to escalate. President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other White House officials have vowed to target the “radical left” for being politically violent. Democratic officials have warned that the White House may try to use the assassination to suppress speech. Those fears may have been realized when ABC was threatened over late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s comments about conservatives’ reaction to Charlie Kirk’s killing. Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, pressured the network to pull Kimmel off the air indefinitely. How do Americans feel about a government agency censoring speech that they don’t agree with? Whose responsibility is it to turn down the temperature when it comes to rhetoric and polarization?
David Greene worked with country singer Ketch Secor of the band Old Crow Medicine Show to produce a music documentary called Louder Than Guns. Greene spent time with Secor, touring across the country and hearing Americans’ reflections on gun violence and gun rights. When FOX News host Trey Gowdy said that Americans should have a conversation about preventing more gun violence, his fellow conservatives said he should be ashamed. How do we stop talking past each other during conversations about guns and create an open dialogue?
Are Americans too enraged by each other to ever experience unity? This week, a listener asked Left, Right and Center about America’s history of political violence and if our panel thinks anything has changed.
Left, Right & Center