How Do We Fix It?

Епизоде

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  AllSides: Balanced News, Bias Ratings, Dialogue Across Difference. John Gable 11.09.2026 28мин

  What role does the news media play in polarizing us? How do print, radio, TV, and online journalists reinforce our views of the world rather than connecting us to all sides of an issue? Our guest is John Gable, co-founder and CEO of AllSides.com, which rates news media sites for bias, organizes citizen roundtables, and links readers every day to coverage from left, right, and center-biased media. AllSides presents major news stories from a range of perspectives. In the episode we hear how it does it and why.Over four decades our podcast host, Richard Davies, worked in network radio newsrooms as a correspondent, reporter, and newscaster. He shares his concern that the work of many journalists “does more to divide us than make people curious about new ideas including those we disagree with or simply weren’t aware of.”At its worst, news coverage can be preachy, one-sided, or contain flat out lies. As consumers, how do we navigate this? What’s the best way to find balanced and truthful news that you can trust? Every day, AllSides dot com offers a free service: balanced news from MAGA, conservative, centrist, liberal and progressive publications. “The mission at AllSides is to free people from filter bubbles, to help them understand the world and each other,” John tells us in this episode. “If you only know the facts and don’t understand each other that’s not understanding.”John Gable is co-founder and CEO of AllSides, a public benefit corporation. He often writes about news coverage, polarization, and how technology impacts the media. John believes that information integrity is needed in news, AI, businesses, schools, government, and throughout our daily lives — wherever good decisions matter.Richard writes a Substack column about “How Do We Fix It?”. His “Here Hear” posts also offer frequent thoughts on language, politics, and the public square.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Can Democrats and Republicans Learn To Listen? Patricia Higgins & Doug Teschner 28.08.2026 23мин

  Here’s something many Democrats and Republicans agree on: The way we debate and discuss politics is messed up. We talk past each other instead of getting things done. Huge amounts of time and money are wasted on bickering and bravado. Neither political party has built a lasting coalition to deal with the most urgent problems of the day. In this podcast we look something local and practical: New Hampshire’s experiment in bi-partisan cooperation. Dozens of state legislators are part of the nation’s first Braver Angels-inspired cross partisan caucus where elected officials put aside political combat and learn skills of cooperation. Our guests are Democrat Patricia Higgins and Republican Doug Teschner. Patricia served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 2012 to 2018. Doug is also a former state legislator, and co-author of the recent book, “Beyond the Politics of Contempt: Practical Steps to Build Positive Relationships in Divided Times.”Both work with New Hampshire politicians at workshops and other events where caucus members learn how to disagree better and listen closely to the views of the other side.“It’s not easy and it has its ups and downs, but we’re excited we found people who are committed to the idea that we need to get along and have relationships,” Doug told us. “It’s not that we can’t disagree. We should disagree, but do it respectfully.”Political polarization is part of everyday life in America. Families are divided, friendships have been torn apart, public meetings can descend into shouting matches, and the work of elected officials can be stalled or disrupted when the political becomes the personal. “We know that fundamentally Americans need to learn how to talk with one another,” says Patricia Higgins. “This has to part of all the work that we do.”In this podcast we also discuss courageous citizenship, what Doug and Patricia learned as civic renewal activists, and the many challenges facing the national movement to bridge bitter partisan divides. How Do We Fix It? is a member of the Democracy Group network of podcasts and media publications. Our latest podcasts cover the people, projects and ideas of Braver Angels.Journalist Richard Davies is the host of “How Do We Fix It?” During four decades as an ABC News Radio Correspondent, Richard covered breaking news in 35 states and filed reports from more than ten nations in Europe, The Middle East and Latin America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Exact Same Place. Very Different Viewpoints. Chauncey Williams & Maryanne Colter 14.08.2026 29мин

  Here’s the bad news about civic renewal: It will not come easily or quickly. Toxic divides won’t be dramatically reduced because of one person or a dramatic election result. Renewal of America’s civic culture will require enormous effort in every state of the nation.Now the good news. Everyone can make a difference. Participation in renewal requires neither money nor fame. It begins with all of us. Locally and often through one-on-one conversations. These personal encounters can change hearts and minds.Our guests are Braver Angels volunteers Maryanne Colter and Chauncey Williams. Both of them embrace civic renewal in their communities.“So much of our politics today is ‘I just want to win’, but we’re not getting anything done because we can’t talk to one another,” says Maryanne, who serves as state coordinator for Braver Angels in Illinois.At workshops and other events, she works to physically bring opposite sides together in the same room. “This is where the magic happens, when we can sit across the table and treat people as human beings.”Chauncey Williams was honored recently at the Braver Angels Convention in Philadelphia for what he’s doing in Colorado. His unique project is called “Chats in the Park”. Chauncey visits parks in the Denver area, where he sets up a poster that says “what’s on your mind” along with two chairs next to him: One for Chauncey and the other for anyone who’d like to have a one-on-one conversation.Chauncey’s chats often change minds, including his own. “It’s been an interesting journey for me,” he says. “I’ve often been fascinated and humbled by realizing my own limitations in knowledge, and having that revealed.”“It’s been both an uncomfortable and also fun part of these conversations.”Both of these interviews were featured in earlier episodes of “How Do We Fix It?” Here are to our longer podcasts with Chauncey and Maryanne.Learn more about Braver Angels workshops and other activities.“How Do We Fix It?” is hosted by Richard Davies, and produced by Miranda Shafer. We get frequent help from Maury Giles, Gabby Kearns, and Wilk Wilkinson. Please review and subscribe to our frequent episodes where you listen to podcasts. Thank you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Hope Resilience and Citizenship. Yuval Levin 31.07.2026 36мин

  “Braver Angels events always leave me hopeful and energized,” says Yuval Levin of the recent Convention in Philadelphia. “A lot of people from different parts of our politics, from different parts of our country, from different parts of our economy come together and express a a kind of conviction that ultimately our country matters more than our parties, and our country matters more than ideological convictions.”In this wide-ranging conversation with one of America’s most admired public intellectuals, we discuss the resilience of the American constitutional system, the impact of attention politics, and the need for constructive disagreement and courageous citizenship at a time of toxic divides.“The American political tradition speaks in the first person plural in a really beautiful way and speaks in the voice of a people taking a kind of common ownership of their future together,” he says.Yuval Levin is a conservative political thinker and theorist, but unlike most writers and journalists of the right or left, he is a gentle advocate who does not argue for a strictly partisan agenda. His most recent book is "American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation— And Could Again".Levin is The Editor-in-Chief of National Affairs and the director of Social, Cultural and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a leading think tank in Washington D.C. Levin’s has written many articles for The National Review, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and other widely-read publications.He says that he is worried that America’s constitutional system is “under some assault by a president who wants too much power, and by a Congress that wants too little power and therefore is willing to allow the system to be deformed.”However, Levin remains hopeful. In retrospect, “I think our time will seem more stable and less divided than it seems to us,” he tells “How Do We Fix It?” “Our division is real. We need to make sure we don’t allow it to tear us apart. The fact that it has always been like this isn’t a reason not to worry. It’s a reason to take it seriously.”Recommendation: Yuval Levin recommends “The American Revolution”, a recent 12-part PBS documentary by Ken Burns. “It doesn't take partisan sides, and tells the story of the revolution in a very, very engaging way.”Here's a link to one of Yuval Levin's appearences at the 2026 Braver Angels Convention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  They Disagree Better on Immigration Reform: Diego Sanchez & Jim Robb 17.07.2026 30мин

  Immigration law reform and enforcement is a very heated and emotional issue. In recent years, no public policy has been discussed with more outrage, demonization, and disgust. Both sides of the immigration debate demand total victory. But their all-or-nothing approach has resulted in nothing. No major immigration reform legislation has been signed into law in three decades.Perhaps it’s time for less emotion and more respect for different points of view. The Braver Angels Citizens Commission on Immigration is working to show Congress and the nation that Americans with differing views on immigration can find common ground. The Commission includes includes citizens from all sides of the issue.Our expert guests in this episode come from opposing sides of the debate. They work closely together and are now friends. Jim Robb and Diego Sanchez are on the leadership team of the Commission, and served as co-chairs at the recent Braver Angels National Convention in Philadelphia.Diego was nine years old when he arrived in this country from Argentina. Before becoming a US citizen, he was an undocumented college student and DACA recipient. Today he’s a policy and strategy leader at the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, helping college and university leaders navigate immigration policy.“Citizenship for me is not just a legal status. It’s a responsibility, and that’s what I bring to this work: A responsibility to help the country’s future.”Jim supports more limits to immigration than Diego. As Vice President of Alliances at NumbersUSA, the nation’s largest-member immigration organization he advocates for a modernized system that aims to better serve America’s workers and long-term national interests.“It’s very hard to pass legislation, especially landmark legislation that affects policies on into the future, but that’s what we’re trying to do,” says Jim of his work on the Braver Angels Commission. “To get there you have to get to the missing word in American politics, which is actually not compromise. It’s agreement and persuasion. The democracy we’re all so proud of is built on checks and balances."For Diego, his work together with Jim and others includes a vital space for disagreement. “Disagree better means honest disagreement without contempt. It’s refusing to surrender the humanity of the person across from you.”In this episode we mentioned the Braver Angels weekly newsletter about current and upcoming workshops, debates and much more. If you want to receive it, send an email to [email protected] and ask to subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Braver Angels 2026 Convention Report and Reactions From Delegates 01.07.2026 25мин

  Something remarkable happened in Philadelphia, days before America celebrated its 250th birthday and streets away from where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Nearly 900 Braver Angels delegates at their Convention signed a pledge to be courageous citizens.Being a courageous citizen stands in proud contrast to easy citizenship. In America’s current culture of contempt, it’s courageous to build, not destroy. In this episode we hear from delegates, convention organizers and conference speakers, including two Members of Congress: Democrat Tom Suozzi and Republican Brian Fitzpatrick. Both Congressmen warmly praised Braver Angels for the work it does.One of major themes at the Convention was the work of the Citizens Commission on Immigration. We will hear much more about that on our next podcast episode. There was also a sense that almost ten years in, Braver Angels is moving from start up to take off. National leaders rolled out a strategic plan that calls for a big increase in volunteers and subscribers.And there was signing and song every day of the convention. You might now say that music is central to the heart and soul of Braver Angels.Here is the wording of the Pledge agreed to by Braver Angels delegates:"I pledge to be a courageous citizen: To choose curious listening over contempt; To build alongside those with different politics; And to embrace our shared duty to renew America's civic culture."Want to watch the plenary sessions at the four-day convention? All are available free on YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  A Conversation About Differences: Sue Lani Madsen 06.06.2026 41мин

  It's very easy to be outraged or depressed about American politics today, and much more challenging and interesting to consider how things might be better. Instead of dismissing our political opponents or viewing them with disdain or disgust, how can we understand them better and learn from them?That's where Braver Angels 1:1 Conversations come in. Two people from different backgrounds and beliefs use a structured list of questions. The goals are for both of them to better understand their experiences, feelings and beliefs, find out what you may have in common, and learn how to bridge divides.In this episode, our podcast host Richard Davies has a lively and fun 40 minute 1:1 Conversation with Sue Lani Madsen about their red/blue, rural/urban differences. Along the way, they learned a lot of interesting things about each other.Sue Lani Madsen is an architect and founding partner of a major regional architecture and interior design firm with over 40 years of experience serving public and private clients. She writes frequently on Substack, is a US Army veteran, volunteer firefighter and mother of five who lives on a ranch in rural Eastern Washington. A political conservative, Sue Lani serves as a co-chair of the Central/Eastern Washington Alliance of Braver Angels.Richard Davies spent nearly four decades as a Correspondent and reporter at ABC News Radio. He began his career as a radio journalist in England. Richard is a liberal and is a volunteer for Braver Angels in Connecticut and New York."How Do We Fix It?" is committed to asking constructive questions across differences. For nine years, Richard co-hosted this podcast with his good friend, James Meigs, of The Manhattan Institute and Wall Street Journal. In recent episodes, we've reported on the people, projects, and ideas of Braver Angels, America's largest volunteer-led grassroots movement devoted to healing divides and building civic muscle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Braver Angels Convention: A Pledge Renewed. Mark Metzger 22.05.2026 19мин

  One week before America celebrates its 250th birthday, Braver Angels will hold its annual convention in Philadelphia, the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.More than one thousand citizen delegates— Blues, Reds, and Independents— will be in the same place together over four days, June 25-28. They will honor the final words of the Declaration's authors: “we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”In Philadelphia “we will figure out how to renew that pledge to strengthen our civic bonds together,” says podcast guest, Convention Director Mark Metzger. “The theme is 1776-2026, a pledge renewed. We’re looking at what that pledge meant… at the start of the new nation, and what it means to us today.”America’s 250th anniversary focuses national attention on who we are as a nation, and who we hope to become. The Braver Angels Convention will play an active and engaging role in this national endeavor. The Declaration was not only a statement of independence from Great Britain, it was also a declaration of dependence on one another. Debates will be held, speeches made, workshops organized, music played, and films shown at this convention. This episode also discusses the meaning and goals of courageous citizenship.“True interdependence insists that rural conservatives and urban progressives, religious and secular citizens, activists and traditionalists do not have to agree in order to remain bound together,” says Jeff Thiemann of the Braver Angels Leadership Team. “It affirms that every group brings dignity and distinct experiences, and that our shared future depends on facing common challenges together.”Mark Metzger joined Braver Angels in 2022. In 2023, he oversaw operations and logistics for the Braver Angels National Convention in Gettysburg, PA, led the arts initiatives Four Score: A Memory Play and Braver Lens: Amateur Photography to Heal American Divides, and managed day-to-day operations of the National office. "How Do We Fix It?" reports on the people, projects and ideas of Braver Angels, the nation's largest volunteer-led grassroots organization devoted the healing civic divides. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Building Bridges, Crossing Divides in Utah. Jorgensen and Bernards 01.05.2026 25мин

  The nation has been shaken by violence yet again. The assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents Dinner was another jarring tear in the fabric of our public life. Every day Americans also hear divisive, angry, rhetoric from national political leaders and media pundits. On "How Do We Fix It? we discuss how growing numbers of Americans are pushing back against toxic divides. We report on the work of Braver Angels: The national movement that brings reds and blues together in the same room. This episode with Reena Bernards and Casey Jorgensen covers the Braver Angels Mobile Summit in Utah, a traveling conference where practical steps were taken to build bridges and cross divides.Volunteers drove an RV across Utah, and also ran in-person events where red and blue citizens worked together on polarizing issues such as immigration. Two mobile summits in late 2025, and again in the spring of this year, featured workshops, debates and dialog. The aim was to depolarize communities and strengthen civic engagement. "It was a wonderful experience," says Reena. "We became like a family."At the immigration workshop, which included equal numbers of conservatives and liberals, there was agreement on the need to secure the border and having a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants who'd lived and worked in the U.S. for a long time, contributed to society, paid taxes, and had not done anything illegal.Going into that workshop "I think people were thinking we'd be lucky to come up with one or two points of agreement," says Casey. "To have a list of over a dozen was really exciting."See more about the Braver Angels Utah mobile summit here.Casey Jorgensen is Braver Angels’ National Strategic Projects and Event Coordinator, and volunteers as the Red Mountain Region Co-Lead. Originally from Boise, Idaho, she and her husband, Dean (from Alberta, Canada) as well as their three grown children, and two more by marriage, live in Utah.  She’s also the unbiased grandmother of two perfect grandchildren.  Casey is President/Chair of Patriot Camps of America, a Utah Higher Education Inclusion Alliance Board Member, and has served as a GOP Precinct Chair and Delegate.  She enjoys live theater, is a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and feels honored to work with true Braver Angels.Reena Bernards leans Blue. As a volunteer Braver Angels moderator, she created the Common Ground Workshop, which brings together conservatives and liberals for constructive dialogue on a single issue. She was the Project Lead for Braver Angels Trustworthy Elections Campaign. Reena is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, in private practice in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. Reena lives with her husband Tom Smerling, also a Braver Angels moderator, in Takoma Park Maryland. They are pleased that their 2 adult children live nearby. Reena greatly enjoys being part of a performing dance group, The Chalice Dancers . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Why Braver Angels Workshops Bring Surprise and Hope. Maryanne Colter 10.04.2026 28мин

  Right now is a really difficult time to convince Americans to come together and listen to the other side. How can we be hopeful at a time of so much anger, division, violence and despair when our political leaders speak with such venom about their opponents?“What we’re doing now is sorting into our tribes and silos,” says our guest Maryanne Colter, state coordinator for Braver Angels of Illinois. With curiosity and humility she works to physically bring people of opposing views together in the same room. “This is where the magic happens, when we can sit across the table and treat people as human beings.”Here we learn about different types of Braver Angels workshops and how they often surprise and change the perspectives of those who take part. “That’s what brings me hope,” Maryanne tells us.“How Do We Fix It?” podcasts report on the people, projects, and ideas of Braver Angels, the national movement that pushes back against toxic polarization and brings reds, blues and independents together to find common ground and gain respect for different points of view. In their workshops, debates, and online events, Braver Angels explores how we can disagree better and choose connection over domination.In this episode we include extracts from a public television documentary by WTTW Chicago about the work of Braver Angels of Illinois. We hear what happened when blue-leaning members of Braver Angels spent an evening with Chicago Young Republicans last September, right after Charlie Kirk was murdered.Maryanne Colter has been a volunteer with Braver Angels since 2019. She has Moderated dozens of Braver Angels Workshops and took on the role of State Coordinator for Illinois in December of 2024. Maryanne recently retired after a long career in Project Management and Organizational Change Consulting. Learn more about previous episodes of How Do We Fix It? here. Please rate and review our podcasts wherever you listen to digital audio. Braver Angels holds events almost every day in towns and cities across the country. Explore its mission and work here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Braver Angels Ambassadors. Barbara Hancin and Ron McFarland 27.03.2026 26мин

  Braver Angels Ambassadors are among the most courageous of courageous citizens.Not only do they bridge the partisan divide, these volunteers meet people where they are. At meetings and events across the country, they go speak about Braver Angels as they try to convince skeptics that rebuilding civic trust is a cause worth supporting. In this episode, we hear from Barbara Hancin and Ron “Sugar Bear” McFarland, volunteer co-chairs of the Braver Angels ambassadors program.“What we’re were doing is giving hope to people,” says Barbara. “We don’t have to stay in the rancor. There are ways to build bridges and we’ll help you do that.”Barbara has more than 35 years of experience in higher education, with expertise in linguistics and second language learning, global studies, and academic administration. She’s a moderator for workshops that bring people together across differences. Barbara leans Blue and lives in Colorado. Ron leans Red and calls home home Ames Iowa. A former star college football player at Iowa State University, Ron has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as an educator, coach, mentor and civic bridge builder. In this episode, we hear about the mission of Braver Angels Ambassadors, plus exactly how and why they do their work. We share compelling and surprising examples of how Ron and Barbara engage with total strangers.Both of them say their volunteering has brought personal rewards. “It made me be more patient,” says Ron. “It changed me to understand that just because I think something should be a certain way that doesn’t mean the other person agrees.”“How Do We Fix It?” publishes frequent reports on the people, projects and ideas of Braver Angels, the largest nation group of citizen volunteers who are working to overcome America's divides and restore civic trust. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Braver Angels Citizens Commission on Immigration. David Lapp 13.03.2026 28мин

  Is it possible to find points of agreement on some of the most heated and divisive issues in American politics? Can people who profoundly disagree sit down and learn from each other? The answers to both questions is an emphatic "yes!".In this episode we hear about the current work of the Citizens Commission on Immigration from its Director, Braver Angels co-founder, David Lapp. The goal of the Citizens Commission is to demonstrate to Congress and the nation that Americans with differing views on immigration can find common ground. The Commission works in a red/blue balanced way and includes Americans from all sides of the issue. Over the past two years, grassroots Americans and national experts and advocates of all sides of the immigration issue have met together."There have now been about 50 immigration events across the country," David tells us. "We can find some meaningful areas of agreement." Large majorities of participants from the left and right agree on the need for secure borders, and believe that businesses should face penalties for hiring undocumented workers. Some agreement was also found on a pathway to citizenship for "Dreamers" who came to the US as children. The Commission was launched after about 750 delegates at the 2024 Braver Angels National Convention voted to establish immigration as a Braver Angels priority issue. By the end of this year The Commission aims to hold one hundred grassroots events across the country, and eight National Roundtable meetings.The point of having a citizens commission on immigration speaks to what Abraham Lincoln said: "In America we're a government of the people, by the people, for the people", says David. "Our laws and our policies should reflect what we the ordinary people think."In our interview we also discuss what David has learned in his years of committed work with Braver Angels. If you want to get a sense of the heart and soul of this movement, it's well worth listening to him. Before helping to start Braver Angels, David spent several years interviewing working-class Ohioans about their life experiences and families. He lives with his wife, Amber, and their six children in South Lebanon, Ohio—the site of the first-ever Braver Angels workshop in December 2016. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Braver Angels Courageous Citizens. Wilk Wilkinson and Maury Giles 27.02.2026 30мин

  Conflict entrepreneurs get money, influence and power by sparking anger and outrage. The Braver Angels call for courageous citizenship does precisely the opposite. In this podcast we hear the case for citizen power not paralysis, action not reaction, and why building America's civic muscle is so much better than burning things down.Here is a passionate, thoughtful and curious conversation between Braver Angels C.E.O. Maury Giles and Wilk Wilkinson, Director of Braver Angels Media Operations. Both came to their work with the campaign after years in the private sector. Maury and Wilk are conservatives in a movement where a majority is either independent or leans blue.Our episode is the latest in more than two dozen "How Do We Fix It?" discussions on the people, projects and ideas of America's largest organization committed to civic renewal and building trust across partisan divides. The edited recording was first published in longer form by Wilk's podcast, "Derate The Hate"."At the end of the day the common thing we're trying to get to is how do you get out of the outrage cycle so you can see clearly what you're going to do next," says Maury.Hear about about America’s crisis of mistrust, and the responsibility of citizens to act with courage, instead of reacting with fury and fear. Gain a fully understanding of the case for courageous citizenship. Learn why it's important to recruit more conservatives to our movement. Get the scoop about "A Pledge Renewed", the theme of this year's Braver Angels Convention in Philadelphia. This episode covers them all and a good deal more.Here's a link to "The Power of Giving Away Power How The Best Leaders Learn to Let Go", by Matthew Barzun, mentioned by Maury during the conversation. Thank you to Wilk for his help and giving us permission to share this discussion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Minnesota ICE Surge Is Ending. What Happens Next? Melinda Voss and Scott Schluter 13.02.2026 26мин

  The recent immigration crackdown in Minnesota that led to several thousand arrests, mass detentions, angry protests, deepening political divides, and the deaths of two US citizens in Minneapolis is coming to an end. What’s life been like for the residents of the Twin Cities during the recent surge of at least three thousand ICE agents on the streets? How will Braver Angels and other groups who work to reduce toxic political divides show up going forward? We consider these and other questions in this special episode of “How Do We Fix It?”Our guests are two leading members of Braver Angels Minnesota, Melinda Voss who leans blue, and Scott Schluter who leans red. Both say this has been a time of elevated emotions, anxiety and fear for public and personal safety.“It is so easy to be outraged when your fear level is so high,” Scott tells us. Discussions across divides have been difficult, he says. “Other than saying ‘ICE out’, then what happens?”Melinda says “the more we can sit down face-to-face with those we disagree, that in itself brings down the political temperature."Melinda and Scott acknowledge that a great deal of healing and community work will be needed in the coming weeks, months and years. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is an overwhelmingly liberal and progressive region. Having an honest and respectful conversation across divides requires courage, especially now.In this episode we look at the state of political polarization in the city, and talk about ideas to lower the temperature. We speak with Scott and Melinda about the work of Braver Angels in their state and what success could look like several years from now.Scott Schluter is the red-leaning Minnesota State Coordinator, having previously established the Minneapolis Alliance and leading the "World's Best Workforce" for the Minneapolis Public Schools. Scott developed key skills through his experience in retail sales and management, including bridging divides by asking thoughtful questions, listening well, seeking understanding and staying curious — qualities that align closely with the Braver Angels mindset.Melinda Voss is one of two state coordinators for Braver Angels Minnesota. She leans blue. Now retired, she was a staff writer for the Des Moines Register and Tribune for nearly 26 years, taught journalism at three universities, co-founded the Association of Health Care Journalists, starting as unpaid coordinator 1997-2000 and as executive director 2000-2004 and served as public relations director for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system 2005-2012.“How Do We Fix It?” reports on the people, projects, and ideas of Braver Angels. In recent episodes we’ve spoken with new CEO Maury Giles about recent initiatives and changes, Steve Saltwick about Citizen-Led Solutions, and Sam Rechak of the Braver Angels debate team. We are planning many more podcast episodes this year.A warm thank you to Minneapolis facilitator and connector Jessica Shyrack for timely and wise help as we prepared to produce this episode.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  What Braver Angels Learns From Gen Z: Natalie Laroche and Genevieve Raushenbush 30.01.2026 32мин

  If we’re going to get out of the political mess that we’re in right now, we will need a lot of help from Gen Z. Young people inherited our broken civic space, and they’re ones who will be the courageous citizens who   reimagine it.In this episode we learn from two former Braver Angels debate interns, Natalie LaRoche and Genevieve Raushenbush, about the skills, energy, and passion students and young people bring to the movement to depolarize politics. We also hear from them about they have learned at Braver Angels.Natalie LaRoche is the program manager for the Debate Team. Natalie was an intern in late 2021 and joined the Braver Angels staff a year later. She holds a BA in Government at Smith College. Genevieve Raushenbush was a recent intern at Braver Angels. Now she works at Sway, a start up focused on mobilizing citizen-led voting groups. Genevieve holds a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University and in 2025 was a legislate intern on the Hill. Both women are in their mid-twenties.“Young people are disengaging from political chaos,” says Natalie. But they’re also “really passionate about engaging in bridging movement exercises, whether with Braver Angels or partnership organizations like Bridge USA on campuses or Heterodox Academy. There are so many organizations in this space that really do engage young people.”Both Natalie and Genevieve share creative ideas about how young people can help Braver Angels up its game with new forms of digital outreach. We share two examples of short videos they created. Genevieve told us what she’s learning about reaching out and organizing voters in her work with Sway,“How Do We Fix It?” reports on the people, projects, and ideas of Braver Angels, the national movement working across tribal and partisan divides to heel our country and make a better world. Find more of our episodes about Braver Angels at our website. Subscribe to our latest episodes wherever you listen to podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Braver Angels Debates: Different and Fun. Sam Rechek 16.01.2026 26мин

  For many Americans, taking part in a debate is just about the last thing they’d put on their dance card.But Braver Angels debates are different. In this episode Sam Rechek explains why.“Braver Angels debates are fun,” Sam tells us. “We’ve created a structure where people can have productive disagreements about contentious issues. That’s something many yearn for, and they get interested in really fast.”Unlike most debates, there are no “winners” or “losers”. Speakers at Braver Angels debates are often passionate, but they can’t interrupt or be snarky about the other side. Compelling arguments are made on both sides in a respectful way. Different viewpoints about an issue are warmly welcomed, but all comments must be addressed to the chair, not directly to the person you disagree with.“There’s a real hunger for environments where people can have productive disagreements and mutual understanding”, says Sam. In our interview we also discuss LAPP skills, and the concept of courageous citizenship.Many of our beliefs about politics and controversial events are formed, or at least influenced, by fleeting impressions: Hot takes on social media, sound bites on TV and radio, and comments by those we know. This episode makes the case for going deeper and spending time with those you may passionately disagree with.Sam Rechek is Program Coordinator for the Braver Angels Debate Team. Several years ago as a undergraduate at the University of South Florida, Sam worked with FIRE - the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and Heterodox Academy. He founded a student organization, First Amendment Forum—1AF—which developed into a venue for contentious discourse and advocacy for free speech principles. Sam holds a BA in Philosophy and Political Science from USF and an MA in Legal and Political Theory from University College London."How Do We Fix It?" reports on the people, projects and ideas of Braver Angels, the nation's largest cross-partisan volunteer-led movement to bridge partisan divides. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Chats In A Park With Strangers: Chauncey Williams 19.12.2025 23мин

  Pick a controversial topic. Whether it’s immigration, race, climate change, the role of religion, or the economy, many of our assumptions that we view as completely reasonable can seem whacky or wrong to others. This may well include very smart, thoughtful people, who’ve had very different life experiences than our own.Our guest for this episode is Chauncey Williams, a Democratic-leaning Braver Angels volunteer in Denver.He was shocked when Donald Trump was first elected President in 2016. But instead of retreating into his political silo, Chauncey began a unique project. On different occasions he set up a table with two chairs in local parks, and invited total strangers to have conversations about important public matters. “One of the important things I came to realize is that I walk into a lot of those conversations with a host of assumptions about folks that aren’t always true,” Chauncey told us. “I’ve often been fascinated and humbled by realizing my own limitations in knowledge, and having that revealed,” he said. “I’ve had this happen on more than one occasion… As uncomfortable as it is, I also welcome it.”In our revealing interview Chauncey shares what he learned from his “chats in a park” project. We hear two audio extracts from his nuanced conversations— one with an outspoken conservative who challenged Chauncey on his views of drop boxes during elections, and another with a recent immigrant from Ecuador who explained what diversity meant to him and his family.Chauncey Williams lives in Colorado where he is involved with the Southern Front Range and Denver Alliances. This year, he helped launch a "Share Your Story" event to learn how others came to their views on specific political topics and on politics, generally. He is a member of Braver Angels Denver Alliance.“How Do We Fix It?” reports on the people, projects and ideas of Braver Angels, the cross-partisan citizen's movement that brings red, blue, and other Americans together in a working alliance. Braver Angels is building new ways for Americans to talk to one another, and act as courageous citizens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  More Outrage? No! Citizen-Led Solutions Yes! Steve Saltwick 05.12.2025 24мин

  More than at any time in our nation’s history, news coverage of politics and public events is dominated by national media, but many of the solutions to Americans toxic partisan divides are to be found at the local level.In this episode we hear from Steve Saltwick, the inaugural Senior Fellow of Braver Angels, and founding conservative co-chair of the Braver Angels Central Texas Alliance. Steve is one of the leading lights of Citizen-Led Solutions, a new Braver Angels nationwide initiative that equips communities across the country to find common ground through building trust and solving contentious issues. Citizens of many different backgrounds and opinions are directly involved. “It’s incredible when someone feels they’ve been heard,” Steve tells us. “A whole lot of people are talking at people. There’s not enough people talking with people about solving our problems.”Citizen-Led Solutions helps build civic muscle through action instead of outrage. “We’re not battling over one side vanquishing the other. It’s setting a norm of working together to solve problems our nation is facing,” he says.Steve is a neuroscientist who studies the human brain especially as it relates to artificial intelligence. He brings those skills to his work as a volunteer for Braver Angels.In this episode, we discuss two examples of Citizen-Led Solutions— in Newfield, New York, and Nashville, Tennessee. We also examine specific techniques used by Citizen-Led Solutions.“There’s a personal angle to this, a community angle, and a national angle,” says Steve.Learn more about Braver Angels here.Listen to our "How Do We Fix It?" podcasts about Braver Angels here.Braver Angels is America’s biggest cross-partisan, volunteer-led movement to bridge toxic political divides. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Thanksgiving Special: Disagreeing Better With Those You Love. Mónica Guzmán 25.11.2025 18мин

  Many people say Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday: No cards to be sent. No presents to be purchased. A pause with family and close friends before the year-end holiday rush. Thanksgiving is about gratitude, but it can also be a time of anxiety, and even dread. What do you say to family members, friends and neighbors who vote for a candidate or political party you despise? How do you react when they launch into a rant or say something that you find offensive? We share tips about how to disagree better with those you love.Our guest is Braver Angels National Advisor Mónica Guzmán, author of the book “I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times”. Móni is the liberal leaning, loving daughter of conservative parents. She’s had a lot of personal experience of connecting with people not like her. We hear several examples in this episode.Despite rigid political polarization among elites, everyday Americans may have much more in common than many of us believe. A new Gallup poll finds that more than four-in-five adults endorse compromise and reject political violence. Research for More In Common and other groups found that people have a distorted understanding of those on the other side of the political aisle.One-on-one and in-person conversations are the best way for us to overcome polarization in our personal lives, says Mónica. "The only context where we have our full arsenal of communication tools available is the in-person conversation."In our interview, Móni also shares valuable tips about how to listen with curiosity, lean into disagreements and turn them away from awkwardness and misunderstandings.Learn more about how to have better conversations with friends and loved ones who see the world differently than you do here at the Braver Angels website.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Be The People. Healing America and Restoring Civic Muscle: Maury Giles 07.11.2025 28мин

  Just over three months into his new role as leader of Braver Angels, we hear from CEO Maury Giles about his hopes, plans and goals for America's largest volunteer-led movement working to bridge partisan divides and disagree better for the common good.America has lost much of its civic muscle, and it's time to get it back, Maury tells our host, Richard Davies. Rising polarization, declining trust in public institutions and the media, the spread of misinformation, the longest-ever government shutdown, and recent political violence are all signs that something is deeply wrong with our public square."We're trying to help people understand first and foremost that the choice you have to make is that of personal agency: To say am I going to act or react?,” Maury says."In this country we all have the ability to express a point of view and to try to work to solve things, and we don't have to rely on our elected officials to do that. But we’ve lost sight of our civic muscle.”Maury Giles came to Braver Angels after a career in journalism, politics, market research, communications strategy, experience design, and business development. Richard asked him about the challenges and opportunities he faces as a bridge builder at a difficult time.We hear about the case for citizen-led solutions, and why the true remedy to our civic challenges isn’t reaction, but action, with neighbors working with their neighbors across divisions and mistrust. Over the past sixteen months, “How Do We Fix It?” has published more than twenty episodes about the people, projects and ideas of Braver Angels. Find them at our website. Like and subscribe to our shows on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about Maury’s work and Braver Angels’ mission here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.