In an age when saying the wrong thing in a Twitter post could leave you ghosted by onetime friends—or worse—we find our country torn apart at the political seams. But things don’t need to be this way. Constructive social discourse is not dead, it just needs a little resuscitation. From CurtCo Media. Consider Meet Me in the Middle your political rehab. Each week, Ed Larson (Pulitzer Prize winning historian, author, and world-wide lecturer) invites guests from across the ideological spectrum—including politicians, activists, and celebrities—to sit down, discuss the issues, and if not find consensus, at least find common ground. So bring an open mind and remember, we’re more alike than different.
https://www.curtco.com/meetmeinthemiddle
episode 36: 36 - Empathy Vs Values: with Activists and Authors Gregg Hurwitz and Billy Ray
In this episode screenwriter Billy Ray and author Gregg Hurwitz discuss the differences between Republicans and Democrats. They present practical ways to have good faith discussions with each other. Ray and Hurwitz acknowledge there are valid reasons for Republicans to support Trump and for Democrats to support Biden. They suggest that both sides agree politically more than we disagree and that politicians and corporations play on individual fear. Gregg Hurwitz relates his experience with cults and messaging. Billy Ray concedes there are problems on both political sides. Historian Ed Larson lists the reason why Republicans support Trump. Ray and Hurwitz state their case for how Donald Trump was elected in 2016.
TIMESTAMPS:
4:00 - How to communicate with Conservatives and Liberals
7:30 - Personality traits in Republicans and Democrats
12:15 - Ed Larson on Culture War and Wedge Issues
16:15 - Political positioning and cults
21:30 - Conceding that we can agree to disagree on many issues and personalities.
23:10 - How to appeal to Conservatives
26:15 - How Hillary lost in 2016
Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle
Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM
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Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson, and Jane Albrecht
Guests: Screenwriter Billy Ray and Author Gregg Hurwitz
Produced by: Mike Thomas
Edited by: AJ Moseley
Sound Engineering by: Michael Kennedy
Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick
A CurtCo Media Production
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