With political polarization at a recent high, AllSides highlights stories on efforts to find common ground. In large part, this increased rancor is due to media bias, where news organizations rely on a business model that exacerbates partisan tensions. There are countless individuals and organizations that are working to find common ground on issues across the spectrum. Here are a few we work particularly closely with:
Living Room Conversations facilitates discussions among people with different political beliefs and provides a step-by-step guide to having respectful dialogue on an array of contentious issues.
The Bridge Alliance works to improve civic engagement and is composed of a network of more than 80 political organizations.
The Listen First Project promotes civil discourse by encouraging people to listen to those we disagree with. They regularly publish commentary and organize events with political and community leaders from diverse backgrounds that tackle major political issues.
Political Violence Doesn’t Have To Be Inevitable After This Election
As all of my friends know, I’m a political junkie. Each day, I wake up excited—not because I’m naturally an upbeat person, but because I know there’s a new episode of The Daily from The New York Times waiting for me to listen to. I recently put on a new episode and was not happy to hear the hosts describing the inevitability of “outbreaks of political violence” if Donald Trump loses on November 5th. I understand how some people have arrived at this conclusion. But I also don’t accept that conclusion, and the rest of us shouldn’t either.
The Election Will Not Solve Our Problems
Elections have consequences — and unfortunately, this one will not solve all our problems.
Regardless of who wins, there will still be fundamental problems politicians can’t fix. Bias and misinformation will still flood social networks and news media, pitting us against each other. Toxic business models, blind partisanship, filter bubbles and bad actors (domestic and international) will continue to sow social division and threaten the fabric of our democratic republic.
As America’s Political “World Series” Wraps Up, Let’s Focus on the Long Game
How about that World Series? Following the recent epic clash of two storied franchises, Dodgers fans are still celebrating, while Yankees fans are misty-eyed about what might have been. As for me, I’m a diehard Giants fan, and I’m already excited about next season … looking at you, Buster Posey!
The beauty of baseball, America’s pastime, is that there’s always next season.
We can heal our differences with a little help from our friends
Americans have always had political differences, but in recent years those disagreements have devolved into vitriolic personal attacks and even violence. The proud tradition of open and spirited debate – a cornerstone of our democracy – is spiraling into a destructive force.
The 2024 elections have amplified this trend as candidates at all levels embrace mudslinging over the exchange of ideas. Their messages are trumpeted by news organizations, social media algorithms and partisan echo chambers.
A Divided America Agrees: We Deserve Better Than This
The latest national poll from The New York Times and Siena College shows former President Donald J. Trump leading President Biden by nine percentage points among registered voters — a pretty big shift in his direction in the week since the presidential debate.
It has become clear in the past week that there is no obvious path to replacing Mr. Biden as the Democratic Party’s nominee. But there is a strong desire among Americans for something different.
Newsom and DeSantis agree on swiping smartphones from school kids — but they’re still sniping
Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis have spent years hurling political and policy grenades from their blue and red state capitols — the personification of a nation riven by partisan warring.
But the California Democrat and the Florida Republican now find themselves converging on an issue that’s gained a surprising amount of bipartisan support: outright banning, or severely curtailing, children from using smartphones at schools.
That doesn’t mean the popular policy will erase the long-running grudge match.
There's at least one thing that Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis may agree on
California Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to restrict the use of smartphones in the state’s public schools, according to an article from Politico that was published Tuesday.
The announcement, made exclusively to Politico, comes a day after Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy argued in a New York Times op-ed that social media platforms are damaging enough to the mental health of adolescents that Congress should require the platforms to come with a warning label, similar to the ones you find on tobacco products.
Newsom and DeSantis find rare common ground in social media restrictions for children
Florida’s Republican governor and California’s Democratic governor rarely find common ground, but they may have found their bipartisan commonplace: social media restrictions for children.
Govs. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and Gavin Newsom (D-CA) have agreed in recent weeks that social media poses some inherent harm to children and should be restricted. The agreement likely won’t push away the pair’s feud, but it “underscores the scope of this problem,” according to California Republican Assemblyman Josh Hoover.
Politics roiled a community. It worked to rebuild trust with trash and flowers.
Before the troubles started, Melanie Wilson believed she’d finally found paradise.
She and her husband had moved from Washington, D.C., to Washougal, Washington, in 2019. After the cacophonies of the U.S. capital, they immediately felt at home with tranquil views of the mountains, including the snowcapped peak of Mount Hood in the Oregon distance. Lewis and Clark once camped here on the banks of the Columbia River over two centuries ago. The pace of life here is as unhurried as the logging barges wending through its gorge.
Tornado warning issued for Arkansas, Pennsylvania: "Protect yourself"
Tornado warnings have been issued for parts of Arkansas and Pennsylvania. In a message to people in impacted areas, the National Weather Service (NWS) said: "TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris." This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections...