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How polarization turns into political violence

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7 Policies Democrats and Republicans Agree On

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The Dangerous Myth of the Cynical Genius

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Make It A Habit: Ask 'Why Is This Issue Important to You?'

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Make It A Habit: Be Hard on Issues But Soft on People

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Editorial

How polarization turns into political violence

18 Jun 2025
Editorial

7 Policies Democrats and Republicans Agree On

11 Jun 2025
Editorial

The Dangerous Myth of the Cynical Genius

04 Jun 2025
Editorial

The Last Of Us Warns That Us Vs. Them Thinking Is As Deadly As The Zombies

28 May 2025
Make It A Habit

Make It A Habit: Ask 'Why Is This Issue Important to You?'

27 May 2025
Editorial

Emotional Costs of Working to Overcome Divides: Reflections from the Builders Team

14 May 2025
Editorial

When Words Start Wars: Why Even "Everyone is Welcome" Sparks Controversy

07 May 2025
Editorial

The Paradox of Tolerance: Should We Not Tolerate Some Views?

30 Apr 2025
Editorial

If Activists Want to Win, They Must Engage — Not Avoid

23 Apr 2025
Editorial

When Outrage Goes Viral: What's Ragebait and How to Spot It

16 Apr 2025
Editorial

How “Common Sense” Can Divide Us

09 Apr 2025
Editorial

Objections We Hear: “MAGA and Republicans Are Not the Same”

02 Apr 2025
Editorial

In-Group Backlash: Amy Coney Barrett and Gavin Newsom

19 Mar 2025
Editorial

White Lotus Teaches Us About Political Divides

12 Mar 2025
Editorial

The Zelensky-Trump Meeting Blow-Up: What You Missed

05 Mar 2025
News

5 Tips for Spotting Fake News and AI-Generated Media

25 Feb 2025
Editorial

“Why Is It on Us to Take the High Road?”: Opposed Views on Our Divides

19 Feb 2025
Editorial

On Immigration, Seeing the “Other Side” Without Contempt

19 Feb 2025
Editorial

6 Lessons on Love: How a Democrat and Republican Make It Work

10 Feb 2025
Editorial

Lessons on Reducing Toxic Polarization: From India to the U.S.

05 Feb 2025
Practices

Three Habits of Builders

29 Jan 2025
Editorial

5 Ways Liberals Can Build More Bridges with Conservatives

29 Jan 2025
Editorial
Illustration of a man in a cap holding a "Stop the Steal" sign amidst a crowd on a city street.

Even in Victory, Republicans Should Listen to Their Opponents

22 Jan 2025
Editorial
Comic-style illustration of a man in a suit reading a newspaper intently on a red train, with other passengers visible in the background.

Angry at "the Media"? 4 Reasons To Cut Them Some Slack

15 Jan 2025
Editorial
Man in a suit climbing a ladder out of a cracked ground hole, smiling and looking upwards against a yellow background.

To Solve America’s Problems, We Need Bridges — and Ladders

15 Jan 2025
Editorial
Illustration of hands holding phones with messages, overlayed on a stylized image of the U.S. Capitol building.

3 Ways to Encourage Leaders to be Builders

08 Jan 2025
Editorial
Illustration of a hand touching water, creating ripples, with the U.S. flag in the background.

2025 and Beyond: Why Reflection Is Key to Reducing Political Toxicity

19 Dec 2024
Movement Hype
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Our 5 Most Important Reads of 2024

19 Dec 2024
News
A formal gathering in a large hall with an American flag, featuring officials speaking and seated attendees, with red and blue wave patterns overlaying.

Builders vs. Dividers: Who Fared Better in Elections?

17 Dec 2024
News
A half-completed crossword puzzle with some blacked-out squares and a yellow "P" tile on a textured turquoise background.

Why is ‘Polarization’ Merriam-Webster’s 2024 Word of the Year?

11 Dec 2024
Editorial

4 Points to Help Navigate Fear and Anger at Trump’s Election

04 Dec 2024
Movement Hype
A map of the USA with overlapping speech bubbles containing ellipses, indicating communication or conversation across various regions.

Election Reactions — and Other Thoughts from the Builders Community

26 Nov 2024
Editorial

3 Tips for Keeping Thanksgiving Talks Tension-Free

20 Nov 2024
Editorial
Abstract art of a mountain with cascading waterfalls, stars and stripes in the sky, creating a dynamic, stylized landscape scene.

6 Reasons Why Understanding Each Other Is More Important Than Ever

13 Nov 2024
Editorial
People standing in line outside a building for early voting; a sign reads: "EARLY VOTING available HERE.

After the Election, Our Work May Be More Difficult For a Time

30 Oct 2024
Editorial
Person typing on a laptop with a large browser bar overlay on the screen in a digital art style.

4 Ways to Respond to Political Insults That Help Reduce Polarization

30 Oct 2024
Video
A woman smiling with text: "12 Geniuses: How will Democracy Last in America?" Background shows a child facing patriotic imagery.

How Young Leaders Are Helping Bridge Divides

23 Oct 2024
Editorial
A woman and a man face each other with a silhouette of the U.S. map between them on a dark background.

Four Reasons You Should Distinguish Politicians from Their Voters

23 Oct 2024
Video
A person in a cap with digital art of hands holding Earth and recycling symbols. Text: "12 Geniuses: Gen Z Conservative's Climate Change Agenda.

Conservative Environmentalist Talks About Polarized Politics and Simplistic Stereotypes

16 Oct 2024
Editorial
Hand with a gavel above a U.S. flag-covered ballot box, with a somber crowd standing in the background.

Three Points to Lower Anxiety About Political Violence

16 Oct 2024
Video
A woman speaks via video call next to an illustration of a hand holding TV logos, with text: "American Crisis: Trust in the Media.

Many Americans Don’t Trust Legacy Media

09 Oct 2024
Video
Smiling man in a video call; illustration of diverse professionals beside him. Text reads: "67% of Americans Support Age Ceiling.

Young Political Leaders Have a “Bias Towards the Future”

02 Oct 2024
Editorial
Two hands casting ballots with checkmarks into a red, white, and blue box, watched by a dark crowd.

More Polarization, More Election Distrust: Why We Must Avoid Temptations to Call Lost Elections “Rigged”

02 Oct 2024
Video
Person speaking with headphones; an illustration of a hand holding a bottle labeled "Antidote for Political Division" shown next to them.

From Contempt to Connection: How Curiosity Transforms Us

25 Sep 2024
Movement Hype
A group of people posing on a red carpet at the Nashville Film Festival, with a blue backdrop featuring the event's logo.

Both Sides of the Gun Debate Come Together at Tennessee 11 Premiere

25 Sep 2024
Video
A smiling man in glasses with text reading "Navigating Truth in the Era of Misinformation" beside an image of hands holding a phone with "Fake News".

Will AI-Generated Media Lead to Political Chaos? Can We Stop It?

18 Sep 2024
Editorial
Man speaking at a podium with the National Governors Association logo, gesturing with his hand, against a background with stars and a flag.

Want More Votes? Try Depolarization

18 Sep 2024
Editorial
Two orange signs on a grassy landscape: one reads "LAND MINES AHEAD" and the other "REDUCING POLARIZATION." Both are attached to a barbed wire fence.

Our Work Will Sometimes Bother You — Let's Talk About That

13 Sep 2024
Video
Smiling man with glasses, labeled as Dr. Pano Kanelos, beside art of an elephant and donkey in graduation caps. Text: "Navigating Division on College Campuses.

Are Universities Missing Opportunities to Heal Division?

10 Sep 2024
Editorial
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A Liberal Reader Criticizes Us for “Both-sides”-ism

10 Sep 2024
Video
Man thinking with finger on chin, next to a collage of vintage TVs displaying CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and ABC logos. Text: "How to Practice Better Media Literacy.

Be Skeptical But Not Cynical: Advice From a Media Professor

04 Sep 2024
News
Retro TV displaying a blue screen with a stylized face logo.

One Journalist's Fake-News Moment and How It Relates to our Divides

04 Sep 2024
Video
A woman speaks with a backdrop of a graphic showing two opposing sides in a cultural conflict. Text: "Escaping the Culture War Cycle of Anger.

What Can a Chicago Gang Member Teach Us About Our Divides? Amanda Ripley Explains

28 Aug 2024
News
Stage setup for the 2024 Democratic National Convention with a large screen displaying "DNC 2024" and people seated in the foreground.

Calls For Unity at the DNC — But We Need More Than Words

27 Aug 2024
News
Hand holding a smartphone displaying a podcast titled "Debate Hate Election 2024" against a collage of people smiling in video calls.

Debate Without Hate: A Podcast to Help You Navigate the Election

21 Aug 2024
News
Three copies of the book "Unhumans" with a red cover featuring a skull, hammer and sickle, and other symbols.

J.D. Vance Endorses Book with Dehumanizing “Unhumans” Language

14 Aug 2024
Editorial
Magnifying glasses highlighting "extremist" and "moderate" in a dictionary. Background shows a drawing of masked figures and a lion.

What Do We Mean by “Extremists” and “Moderates”?

08 Aug 2024
Movement Hype
A teacher stands in front of a classroom with students in desks, with a large crack on the floor. An American flag hangs on the wall.

A Free Education Resource that Helps Students Engage Across Differences in Better Ways

31 Jul 2024
News
Stage with RNC 2024 logos, Milwaukee outline, elephant symbol, and American flag backdrop. Text credits The Hill.

5 Polarizing Moments from the 2024 Republican National Convention

24 Jul 2024
Editorial
Person with backpack walks down a dark hallway, surrounded by oversized pointing fingers and neon pink lighting.

"I Get a Lot of Hate From Both Sides”: 16-Year-Old Writes About Impacts of Polarization

24 Jul 2024
News
A group of people in business attire sit around a conference table discussing, with "National Governors Association" logo in the top left corner.

Builders Can Win: Thoughts on Attending a National Governors Association Convening

17 Jul 2024
Editorial
Crowd at a rally with "4 Ways to Turn Down the Temperature on Political Violence" text overlaid in bright yellow.

After Trump Shooting, Four Ways to Lower the Temperature

15 Jul 2024
Editorial
Illustration of a red elephant on the left and a blue donkey on the right, symbolizing political parties, on a crumpled white background.

4 Myths About America's Toxic Polarization Problem

10 Jul 2024
Editorial
U.S. flag waving against a city skyline with a partly cloudy sky and a shadowed, dramatic background.

This July 4th, Can We Strive to See the Best In Each Other’s Views of America?

02 Jul 2024
Editorial
Person watching a TV screen showing cracked logos of Fox News Channel and MSNBC, symbolizing media division.

Are You Willing to Walk a Mile in Their Media Shoes?

18 Jun 2024
Editorial
Submarine underwater with a humorous "Please be patient, student driver" sign on the side.

Misleading Survey Results Can Amplify Animosity and Fear

12 Jun 2024
Editorial
A solemn man in a suit with an American flag pin, set against a dark, blurred background.

How We Respond to Trump’s Verdict Matters

05 Jun 2024
Movement Hype
A man in a suit and a woman in a patterned blouse stand against a purple background, with names "Daniel Semenza" and "Jennifer Carlson" below.

Can Citizens Solve Contentious Issues? Two Experts Weigh In on Our Citizen Solutions Work

29 May 2024
Editorial
Scales balance sad emojis with social media reactions on a man's head, symbolizing emotional and digital weight.

Is Toxic Polarization Caused by Our Addiction to Negativity?

29 May 2024
Editorial
Silhouettes of people with megaphones and flags, surrounded by colorful paint splatters in black, green, blue, and red on a white background.

For Campus Protests (and Other Polarizing Issues), Do We Often See What We Expect To Find?

22 May 2024
News

Daniel Lubetzky TED Talk: Replacing “Us vs. Them” with a Movement of Builders

15 May 2024
Editorial
A stylized megaphone with vibrant colors set against a grayscale background of a city with tents.

Navigating the Clash of Conflicting College Protest Narratives

08 May 2024
Editorial
Person holding a microphone in front of a background featuring multiple covers of the book "The Conservative Environmentalist.

Conservative Environmentalist Benji Backer Talks Polarization and the Pressures to Conform

17 Apr 2024
News
Close-up of a hand holding a statue's base with text about "Civil War," a film by Alex Garland, slated for IMAX release in Spring 2024.

"Civil War" Movie Reactions: "Can That Really Happen in America?"

10 Apr 2024
News
Four people standing against a purple background with the text "Gun Rights & Safety" in the center.

PBS Highlights Our Citizen Solutions Work on Gun Rights and Safety

02 Apr 2024
Practices
Illustration of a young man on the left and an older man on the right, separated by tape. Political symbols, elephant and donkey, are present.

6 Steps for Mending a Politically Strained Relationship

20 Mar 2024
Editorial
Two boxing gloves facing each other: one purple labeled "Reducing polarization," and one red labeled "Political activism," in a spotlighted ring.

Is Political Passion at Odds with Reducing Political Toxicity?

13 Mar 2024
Editorial
Two people sitting across from each other at a table with drinks. The woman in yellow is smiling, while the man in gray gestures with his hand.

Some People Hated the Depolarizing Heineken Ad. Why?

06 Mar 2024
Editorial
Two people sit at a table in a bright room. The person on the left looks down, while the person on the right listens attentively.

How Does This Heineken Beer Commercial Reduce Toxic Polarization?

21 Feb 2024
Editorial
Torn red elephant and blue donkey images on a textured background, symbolizing political division.

Toxic Polarization Fractures Our Relationships — Even With Our Political Peers

08 Feb 2024
Editorial
A group of people look up, surrounded by pointing hands from above. The image has a blue glow around the figures.

Who's to Blame For Our Toxic Polarization? (Or is "Blame" the Wrong Word?)

31 Jan 2024
Movement Hype
Orange book titled "Why Not Moderation? Letters to Young Radicals" by Aurelian Craiutu on a teal background with a yellow swoosh.

Can Embracing Political Moderation Help Us Reduce Toxic Polarization?

31 Jan 2024
Editorial
A woman with short hair in a suit stands confidently, surrounded by a distorted mirror effect reflecting multiple blurred figures.

Through a Distorted Lens: How Perceptions of the "Other Side" Drive Toxic Division

25 Jan 2024
News
Person holding a tablet displaying a Newsweek cover with American flag elements and the headline, "America Is More United Than You Think.

Newsweek Asks: Is America More United Than We Think?

17 Jan 2024
Make It A Habit
Woman holding a notepad looks concerned, talking to a man in a dimly lit room with yellow-checkered curtains.

Make It A Habit: Be Hard on Issues But Soft on People

13 Dec 2023
Editorial
A man in a suit holding a glass award stands beside a woman in a sequined top against a graph paper background.

A Letter To College Students: 10 Ways To Side With Humanity

13 Dec 2023
Movement Hype
A frosted cake with a number 2 candle is surrounded by a collage of grayscale headshots in the background.

The State of the Movement: Thoughts on Our Two-Year Anniversary

07 Dec 2023
Movement Hype
A man in a suit speaks at a microphone, with multiple hands reaching up toward him against a textured green background.

A Conflict Resolution Expert Wants To Challenge You

29 Nov 2023
Movement Hype

A Liberal Attends a Trump Rally With Curiosity as His Guide 

15 Nov 2023
Editorial
A man and woman facing each other, gesturing and appearing to argue, on a textured background. Triangular symbols suggest speech.

Why Is Polarization a Problem? Isn’t it Normal For Us To Strongly Disagree?

07 Nov 2023
Practices
A green map-like background features 15 circular photos of diverse individuals scattered across the surface.

A Video Shown To Reduce Us vs. Them Political Contempt

06 Nov 2023
Practices
Massive swirling storm cloud over a coastal city skyline with tall buildings and a body of water.

Low-tech Solutions For Spotting AI-generated Media

01 Nov 2023
Make It A Habit
The image shows large, blue "AI" letters surrounded by abstract, black, swirling lines on a reflective, dotted surface.

Make It A Habit: Check Images and Videos for Signs of Being AI-generated

25 Oct 2023
Make It A Habit
A person holds glasses focused on an eye chart, highlighting the "E" at the top, indicating improved vision with the lenses.

Make It A Habit: Try To Recognize and Reduce Your Bias

11 Oct 2023
Make It A Habit

Make It A Habit: Avoid Biased, Polarizing News Sources

04 Oct 2023
Make It A Habit
A person sits at a desk, holding their head in frustration while looking at a laptop. Glasses and a smartphone lie on the table.

Make It A Habit: Avoid Divisive Language

27 Sep 2023
Make It A Habit
A group of people seated around a large rectangular table in a well-lit conference room, engaged in a meeting or discussion.

Make It A Habit: Adopt a Problem-Solving Mindset

20 Sep 2023
Editorial
An older person with wavy blonde hair and glasses, wearing a patterned black shirt and white jacket, stands in front of a red background.

Stephanie Was Robbed at Gunpoint at 18. Now, She is a Firearms Instructor.

19 Sep 2023
Make It A Habit
Three people with lightbulbs for heads sit around a dining table against a purple background.

Make It A Habit: Finding Consensus on Divisive Issues

12 Sep 2023
Make It A Habit
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Make It A Habit: Break Out of Your Bubble and Build Bridges

06 Sep 2023
Make It A Habit
A person in a suit with a light bulb for a head, standing with arms crossed against a crumpled purple background.

Make It A Habit: Tips to Navigate the Incoming Flood of Election News

30 Aug 2023
Video
Two smiling men in shirts; an arrow points to an old photo of a young boy smiling in a green shirt.

Justin Lee's Struggle as a Gay Man and Devout Christian

24 Aug 2023
Make It A Habit
Four people with lightbulb heads in vintage clothing stand against a purple background, symbolizing ideas and creativity.

Make It A Habit: You Know What Happens When You Assume...

23 Aug 2023
Make It A Habit

Make It A Habit: Are You Willing To Compromise?

23 Aug 2023
Make It A Habit

Make It A Habit: 4 questions to ask yourself when you're getting emotional

22 Aug 2023
Editorial
People in business attire stand on rocky terrain, facing a large cracked boulder with an American flag planted on top, against a dark green background.

And Then All At Once: Joe Walsh’s Transformation From Divider to Uniter, in His Own Words

09 Aug 2023
Editorial
People holding signs reading "Overcome Division" and "Embrace Diversity" with various hands pointing towards them.

"You Want Us to Compromise With Those Extremists?": A Common Objection to This Work

25 Jul 2023
Editorial
Two people with megaphones face each other, with a light bulb between them, connected by arrows. Black background with textured effect.

Americans think the "other side" is the problem when it's really the solution

28 Jun 2023
Editorial
Vintage illustration of a woman and man in conversation with speech bubbles. Text reads "We Are The #87percent" at the bottom.

Watch Your Language: The power of words and our duty to choose the right ones

31 May 2023
Editorial
Person wearing a hat and jacket sits inside a large snow globe on a green background.

Clear Thoughts: Rising above the echo chamber

18 May 2023
Editorial
Woman with glasses, wearing a dark outfit, sitting indoors. She has a thoughtful expression. Green graphic swirl encircles her shoulders.

It's Time to Cross the Street, Folks: An Epidemic of Loneliness and Its Effect on Polarization

10 May 2023
Video
An older man in a suit talks to a woman in red holding a microphone in a crowded indoor setting.

Remember When McCain Defended Obama?

02 May 2023
Video
Two men are in the foreground, one wearing a hat. A police car with flashing lights is in the background.

Former Convict Partners with Police

02 May 2023
Video
A person in a tan and white hoodie speaks into a microphone at an outdoor event with tents and artwork in the background.

Am I Trying to Understand, or Am I Trying to Change Minds?

02 May 2023
Editorial
A group of people on the subway texting on their phones

Hyper-Partisan Politicians Get 4x More Coverage Than Bipartisan Problem Solvers

02 May 2023
Video
A person in a pink suit and maroon shirt speaks against a blue background.

Former White Supremacist Tony McAleer: A Journey to Radical Compassion

02 May 2023
Practices
Man in a suit gestures with hands in front of bookshelves, with a map outline of the USA in the background.

How to Overcome Toxic Polarization

02 May 2023
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