But broad patterns obscured two noteworthy trends.

Pernicious polarization is a process that divides an electorate into two mutually distrustful camps. It can be thought of as us-versus-them polarization. It occurs when politics is reduced to a single dividing line around some kind of identity.

Four crucial signals can inform us about whether America’s authoritarian descent is real.

The pre-willingness of America’s billionaire class to grovel before a strongman, even before they are forced to comply, shows just how quickly freedom of the press in America is likely to fold when confronted with any significant pressure.

Recent assaults on DEI from the right have caused people who care about a diverse, inclusive America to circle the wagons. But proponents of diversity do need to alter these programs—not to please those who want to go backward, but to help America become the inclusive nation it needs to be moving forward.

Political leaders, more than anyone, have the power to stoke or stamp out this dangerous cycle of violence.

A realignment is already underway. So long as the country remains stuck in a messy stalemate, America will face greater political violence.

A discussion on what the research says about the roots and repercussions of polarization in American politics.

The Context is a podcast from the Charles F. Kettering Foundation, about the history, trends, and ideas shaping democracy in the United States and around the world. 

A discussion on the risks of political violence in the United States and what can be done to address them.

Insights into the authoritarian playbook and how over the past 20 years the Right has polarized our politics and our culture.

An Attempted Assassination of Trump Is Part of a Global Trend