Forgiveness and Fight
Politics these days is heavily tilted toward fight as the clips below amply demonstrate. But why?
Passionate Yet Civil Discourse
Keeping the discussion focused, moving forward and in the service of winning over not just hearts, but minds as well.
Trivialization
Focusing on straw man issues whose value in enforcing biases is more important than their substance.
“We are all Americans”
A statement by DC Better Angels (McLean, VA Nov. 4, 2017 Red/Blue Workshop Attendees) At the end of our Better Angels workshop, with an equal number of blues (Democrats) and
“Group Uses Marriage Counseling Methods to Help Bridge Political Divide”
NPR // Braver Angels hopes to bridge this era’s political chasm.
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Great Advice on How—and Why—to Disagree Productively
Robust disagreeing is actually a good thing.
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How the U.S. Can Become More Civil
The Tennessean // Thanksgiving does not have to be a time to dread feeling heartburn over what controversial things some guests might say.
We Celebrate Thanksgiving
Whether you’re a left-winger or a right winger, try also to be an Angel-winger and lift the conversation above the differences to see the fuller, truer picture that is America.
Politics is no child’s game.
Politics is where citizens meet to hash out our deepest disagreements – and in doing so literally create the society, the civilization that we and our children will live in.
Our Mission
America has a polarization crisis. We aim to be the solution. Political polarization is crippling America, threatening our democracy, and making our government dysfunctional. It’s tearing apart families, turning neighbors
“Meet The Group Trying To Fix America’s Partisan Divide One Workshop At A Time”
Daily Caller // Sixteen people from both sides of the ideological aisle gathered Saturday for an unlikely experiment: learning how to speak civilly and trying to understand each other.
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The Dying Art of Disagreement
If you are genuinely serious about your disagreement with an issue, you must actually listen to and understand what you are disagreeing about.
‘Better Angels’ aims to bring civil discourse to divided America
Al Jazeera // Confrontations between supporters of US President Donald Trump and demonstrators that oppose his policies have often become violent during the US president’s first year in power.
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“Reds’ and ‘blues’ sit down together to try to heal the political divide”
Minneapolis Star Tribune // A group called Braver Angels is organizing the gatherings of Republicans and Democrats to talk, listen and find what they have in common.
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United States has never been so unified
Nieuwsuur // It is an election campaign with an intensity that you normally only see in presidential elections. US President Donald Trump travels all over the country for his now famous campaign meetings. He himself is not on the ballot, but the interim elections in the United States are more than ever about the president.
8 Red (and Blue) Flags of Polarization
We, as Americans, cherish the freedom and right to disagree—which we do, often deeply about important issues that need resolution.
Politicizing The Fallen
The gesture of honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country was callously used again and again as an excuse to point fingers at “them.”
Community Organizing with Lew Finfer
David welcomes Lew Finfer, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Community Action Network, to the Better Angels podcast, to talk about what community organizing really is, and what insights working a
A Conversation with William F. Winter, Former Gov. of Mississippi
David talks with William F. Winter about Mississippi in the 1960s, the role of compromise in politics, and whether “not a politician” is a good credential for someone who wants
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Otherizing
We, as Americans, cherish the freedom and right to disagree—which we do, often deeply about important issues that need resolution.
The Enemy of Freedom
The aftermath of the horrific mass murder in Las Vegas shows once again how polarizing the issue of gun control is—and how counter-productive polarization is.
Bill Doherty Talks Better Angels on the KQ Morning Show
Better Angels’ lead facilitator Bill Doherty talks to Minnesota’s 92 KQRS about our summer bus tour — and what it was like bringing liberals and conservatives together across the country.
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“Minnesota professor hopes to overcome political divide”
Associated Press // A University of Minnesota professor is among those on a mission to mend the hostility between critics and supporters of President Donald Trump.
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“Better Angels tour brings civil discourse to Americans bitterly divided over politics”
Washington Times // Liberal Susana Isaacson, 70, and conservative Susan Symingron, 63, are friends who have bridged their political divide but couldn’t find anyone else to join their bipartisan exchanges.
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“Politicians can’t seem to do it but these citizens are learning how to find common ground”
Washington Post // Like so many Americans, most of Donna Murphy’s social circle shared her politics. So when she, a self-described liberal, was tasked with putting together a weekend-long event with an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, she needed to broaden her bubble.
Politicians can’t seem to do it but these citizens are learning how to find common ground
The Washington Post // Like so many Americans, most of Donna Murphy’s social circle shared her politics. So when she, a self-described liberal, was tasked with putting together a weekend-long event with an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, she needed to broaden her bubble.
Video: “Better Angels Aim to Bridge National Political Divide”
NBC // A national tour with the aim of reunifying a fractured America rolled into New England on Monday. The “One America” tour arrived in downtown St. Albans, Vermont.
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Better Angels Aim to Bridge the Political Divide
NECN // A national tour with the aim of reunifying a fractured America rolled into New England on Monday. The “One America” tour arrived in downtown St. Albans, Vermont.
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The “better angels” by David Blankenhorn
Neue Zürcher Zeitung // The sociologist David Blankenhorn, a staunch opponent of Trump, founded the organization “Braver Angels” after Trump’s election victory. The aim of the workshops offered there is a more understanding relationship between politically different thinkers.
‘Bridging the Red/Blue Chasm’
Sun This Week// The “Bridging the Red/Blue Chasm” meeting on June 19 at the Wescott Library put on by the Better Angels Project pleasantly surprised me. To the editor: The