e.pluribus.us launched its first program over the summer and we’re excited with results so far. We believe that once fully developed it has potential to help people actually absorb, and thereby better understand opposing viewpoints. Here’s a quick intro to what we call “Project LISTEN.” Originally we just wanted a method to help ourselves better […]
Read moreHere is a funny, “spot-on” illustration of a key challenge we face in trying to have productive national dialogue. It’s honestly pretty humorous in how precisely it captures the problem. Background: one of our current test projects is to help a local community better understand residents’ conflicting views on an issue. One of the steps […]
Read moreMost of us would agree humans have a natural predisposition “to stay close to our crowd.” We tend to want to generally align with what our peers are doing and thinking. If all our friends are moving in this direction, we are pretty likely to lean toward doing so ourselves. I mean, that’s where they’ll […]
Read moreThere is an interesting lesson for all of us in “Gulf Coast States Politics” that illustrates both a key way our current polarization developed and the adverse consequences when it happens. Most of us know that for over 100 years the Democrats controlled the South, but now they don’t. Wikipedia: “For nearly a century after […]
Read moreQuick quiz: Who said this? “We don’t need to work with the other party. We control the Congress, White House and the Senate. We can do whatever we want.” Was it:A) Democrats in 2020B) Republicans in 2016C) Democrats in 2008D) Republicans in 2000E) … You see the point. Alright, then let’s instead turn to how […]
Read moreGreat exploration of the critical role of networks in driving social change.
Read moreClick the image to see the full cartoon on Politico.com. See more visual commentary from Matt Wuerker at Politico.com.
Read moreA most fundamental lesson for Americans from the events in Washington, DC this January is that we should not delude ourselves into believing that systems such as our own simply operate on auto-pilot and function to protect society and its structure, irrespective of how members of that society behave. Our democracy was never going to […]
Read moreI got pissed-off yesterday listening to a governor trying to re-cast his costly decisions during the first month of the COVID crisis as heroic leadership. But I caught myself. Because getting pissed-off doesn’t solve anything. Arguably, it’s just a way to viscerally salve angst without actually doing anything. You get angry. The hormones flood. You […]
Read more
I am calling it in from Iowa. After last night’s monumental tech glitch I thought I would report in from my caucus in Polk County, Iowa. My very first Iowa caucus, and I was excited to be there. “Warren will have the most support if Yang stays in the race. If he drops out, his […]
Read more
LISTEN scalably helps us understand why opponents think as they do.
Learn more >
INFLUENCE works to
enhance support for cooperation.
Learn more >
