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On Politics With Lisa Lerer: These Divided States These Divided States
(35 minutes later)
Hi. Welcome to On Politics, your guide to the day in national politics. I’m Lisa Lerer, your host.Hi. Welcome to On Politics, your guide to the day in national politics. I’m Lisa Lerer, your host.
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The headlines after Election Day were bleak: “Voters are angry and divided;” “divisions are only growing wider;” and the brutal pronouncement that “America is in a cold civil war.”The headlines after Election Day were bleak: “Voters are angry and divided;” “divisions are only growing wider;” and the brutal pronouncement that “America is in a cold civil war.”
We are a country increasingly split along partisan lines — where we like to live, what TV we watch, who we want our children to marry, even what we eat.We are a country increasingly split along partisan lines — where we like to live, what TV we watch, who we want our children to marry, even what we eat.
A poll conducted in September by the Simon Wiesenthal Center found that while nearly half of Americans said they were talking about politics more than a couple years ago, a whopping 72 percent said they found it “harder than ever” to talk about the subject with people holding different views. Twenty-seven percent said they’d lost friends because of political disagreements.A poll conducted in September by the Simon Wiesenthal Center found that while nearly half of Americans said they were talking about politics more than a couple years ago, a whopping 72 percent said they found it “harder than ever” to talk about the subject with people holding different views. Twenty-seven percent said they’d lost friends because of political disagreements.
So, clearly, all of that division has been taking a toll. A few days after the election, we asked our readers to tell us how it has impacted your lives. You sent us tales of lost friendships, mixed marriages and tense family gatherings.So, clearly, all of that division has been taking a toll. A few days after the election, we asked our readers to tell us how it has impacted your lives. You sent us tales of lost friendships, mixed marriages and tense family gatherings.
Here are some of your stories, just in time for Thanksgiving dinner:Here are some of your stories, just in time for Thanksgiving dinner:
Susan Trolstrup sent us this note, “regretfully”:Susan Trolstrup sent us this note, “regretfully”:
My best friend, whom I entrusted my soul as my closest confidant for 35 years, joined the Trump Troupe during the presidential campaign. Our friendship began to unravel and even though we agreed to not discuss politics, we have not seen each other for 11 months (yet live 10 min. apart). Texts that are occasionally shared are all that is left holding the last shredded thread that connects us.My best friend, whom I entrusted my soul as my closest confidant for 35 years, joined the Trump Troupe during the presidential campaign. Our friendship began to unravel and even though we agreed to not discuss politics, we have not seen each other for 11 months (yet live 10 min. apart). Texts that are occasionally shared are all that is left holding the last shredded thread that connects us.
The political war that Trump raged has permanently taken its toll and has done irreparable harm.The political war that Trump raged has permanently taken its toll and has done irreparable harm.
Theodore D’Afflidio told us that our question “struck a chord”:Theodore D’Afflidio told us that our question “struck a chord”:
My family has decided no politics period at any event or meeting. As the only Democrat in this generation, I can live with that because we would otherwise be at one another’s throat as we were when we were all younger … We actually love and support one another, except when it comes to politics.My family has decided no politics period at any event or meeting. As the only Democrat in this generation, I can live with that because we would otherwise be at one another’s throat as we were when we were all younger … We actually love and support one another, except when it comes to politics.
Ted Wight told us of his experience as a conservative in liberal Seattle:Ted Wight told us of his experience as a conservative in liberal Seattle:
Living in Seattle and being more conservative, there are a lot of friends and relatives who do not share this philosophy. One walked out during a party, after I told a political joke. One said if he’d known that another old friend had been a Republican they wouldn’t be friends.Living in Seattle and being more conservative, there are a lot of friends and relatives who do not share this philosophy. One walked out during a party, after I told a political joke. One said if he’d known that another old friend had been a Republican they wouldn’t be friends.
The despise of Trump is palpable here.The despise of Trump is palpable here.
Barbara Weber wrote about her politically mixed marriage:Barbara Weber wrote about her politically mixed marriage:
I am married to a man who voted for Trump. And I love my husband. I voted for Hilary. I seem to run into Republicans everywhere I go. I actually like Republicans now — Bush never looked so good to me.I am married to a man who voted for Trump. And I love my husband. I voted for Hilary. I seem to run into Republicans everywhere I go. I actually like Republicans now — Bush never looked so good to me.
In general, I wake up determined to look at how we are all the same rather than our differences, but I find it hard work. I lose sleep, I am bothered by the political tension and the huge divide in America. I am grateful for the ability to see all the division, as I think it was there all along, but not nearly as visible. It is as if Trump threw open the doors to the closed clandestine workings of power. One cannot change things one cannot see, so for that I am grateful. He just might actually make American great again, but not in ways he thought.In general, I wake up determined to look at how we are all the same rather than our differences, but I find it hard work. I lose sleep, I am bothered by the political tension and the huge divide in America. I am grateful for the ability to see all the division, as I think it was there all along, but not nearly as visible. It is as if Trump threw open the doors to the closed clandestine workings of power. One cannot change things one cannot see, so for that I am grateful. He just might actually make American great again, but not in ways he thought.
Kimberly Carpenter said she’s been keeping “a much smaller social circle”:Kimberly Carpenter said she’s been keeping “a much smaller social circle”:
To be fair, almost everyone has a litmus issue, a deal-breaker for whether a candidate (or a party) can be supported. I am very sad to admit that I now have a broader application — I assign character or intellect weaknesses to people based upon whether they endorse Trump. In previous elections and maybe halfway through the 2015-2016 campaign, I could understand why people would support almost any of the candidates. For the last couple years, I am profoundly disheartened when I learn that a friend or family member continues to support a man so clearly without character or morals.To be fair, almost everyone has a litmus issue, a deal-breaker for whether a candidate (or a party) can be supported. I am very sad to admit that I now have a broader application — I assign character or intellect weaknesses to people based upon whether they endorse Trump. In previous elections and maybe halfway through the 2015-2016 campaign, I could understand why people would support almost any of the candidates. For the last couple years, I am profoundly disheartened when I learn that a friend or family member continues to support a man so clearly without character or morals.
And Bob Basofin wrote in with this, from the Chicago suburbs:And Bob Basofin wrote in with this, from the Chicago suburbs:
My wife voted Democratic. I voted Republican. Life goes on, even though the NYT would prefer some real “angry” stories.My wife voted Democratic. I voted Republican. Life goes on, even though the NYT would prefer some real “angry” stories.
We’ll leave you with some recent words of wisdom from the Dalai Lama:We’ll leave you with some recent words of wisdom from the Dalai Lama:
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Only one Senate seat remains undecided: Mississippi, where there will be a runoff on Nov. 27. Astead Herndon, who covers national politics for The Times, traveled to Jackson, Miss., this weekend. He sent us this dispatch:Only one Senate seat remains undecided: Mississippi, where there will be a runoff on Nov. 27. Astead Herndon, who covers national politics for The Times, traveled to Jackson, Miss., this weekend. He sent us this dispatch:
One of the best parts of reporting across the country is the ability to see historic landmarks that still have relevance today. This week, on a trip to Mississippi to report on the racial fault lines in this year’s Senate runoff election, I stopped by the home of Medgar Evers, the civil rights activist who was gunned down in his driveway in 1963.One of the best parts of reporting across the country is the ability to see historic landmarks that still have relevance today. This week, on a trip to Mississippi to report on the racial fault lines in this year’s Senate runoff election, I stopped by the home of Medgar Evers, the civil rights activist who was gunned down in his driveway in 1963.
As the tour guide spoke, outlining Evers’s life of voting rights activism, the many attempts on his life, and the precautions he took to safeguard his home, I couldn’t help but think that many of the issues he fought for are still being litigated today.As the tour guide spoke, outlining Evers’s life of voting rights activism, the many attempts on his life, and the precautions he took to safeguard his home, I couldn’t help but think that many of the issues he fought for are still being litigated today.
The Voting Rights Act, which some say Evers’s death helped bring about, has been weakened by the Supreme Court, and issues of black voter suppression were front and center in this midterm election — most notably in the Georgia governor’s race, but also here in Mississippi, where two recent comments by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith have, again, brought race to the forefront of the state’s politics.The Voting Rights Act, which some say Evers’s death helped bring about, has been weakened by the Supreme Court, and issues of black voter suppression were front and center in this midterm election — most notably in the Georgia governor’s race, but also here in Mississippi, where two recent comments by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith have, again, brought race to the forefront of the state’s politics.
The first, a comment by Ms. Hyde-Smith that she would attend a “public hanging” if a supporter invited her, invoked fraught memories of racist lynchings in the South.The first, a comment by Ms. Hyde-Smith that she would attend a “public hanging” if a supporter invited her, invoked fraught memories of racist lynchings in the South.
The other, an offhand comment about how it would be better if some people couldn’t vote, was also derided. Ms. Hyde-Smith said the comment was a joke, but in Jackson — where Evers lived — voters said such issues were no laughing matter.The other, an offhand comment about how it would be better if some people couldn’t vote, was also derided. Ms. Hyde-Smith said the comment was a joke, but in Jackson — where Evers lived — voters said such issues were no laughing matter.
“Medgar died because of stuff like this,” one Jackson woman, Verna Lee, told me.“Medgar died because of stuff like this,” one Jackson woman, Verna Lee, told me.
I headed for the house shortly after.I headed for the house shortly after.
Read Astead’s story: In Mississippi, Issues of Race Complicate a Senate ElectionRead Astead’s story: In Mississippi, Issues of Race Complicate a Senate Election
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• Free phones for votes in India?• Free phones for votes in India?
• President Trump created a $12 billion bailout fund for farmers hurt by the trade war. So far, it’s done little to cushion the blow.• President Trump created a $12 billion bailout fund for farmers hurt by the trade war. So far, it’s done little to cushion the blow.
• The Wall Street Journal gives us a portrait of Mark Zuckerberg “at war.” They write: “Mr. Zuckerberg, who previously set annual goals such as to learn Mandarin and read 25 books, said this year he would focus on fixing Facebook.” Good to have goals.• The Wall Street Journal gives us a portrait of Mark Zuckerberg “at war.” They write: “Mr. Zuckerberg, who previously set annual goals such as to learn Mandarin and read 25 books, said this year he would focus on fixing Facebook.” Good to have goals.
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Pre-Thanksgiving meals stressing you out? The New York Times is on it, with 21 easy dinners for the night before the big night.Pre-Thanksgiving meals stressing you out? The New York Times is on it, with 21 easy dinners for the night before the big night.
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Margaret Kramer contributed to this newsletter.Margaret Kramer contributed to this newsletter.
Thanks for reading. Politics is more than what goes on inside the White House. On Politics brings you the people, issues and ideas reshaping our world.Thanks for reading. Politics is more than what goes on inside the White House. On Politics brings you the people, issues and ideas reshaping our world.
Is there anything you think we’re missing? Anything you want to see more of? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at onpolitics@nytimes.com.Is there anything you think we’re missing? Anything you want to see more of? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at onpolitics@nytimes.com.