A Nation Divided?

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We provide 121 financial advice that's personalized to you to help build your portfolio along with your financial confidence. For more information and important disclosures visit America prize.com/advice America prize financial services LLC, member FINRA and SIPC and celebrate from original seems like CC and Star Trek discovery. We are your family favorites like Dora the Explorer and the headquarters interface only. I have finally come one mountain collection on Paramount last good morning Gopal will be better. This is especially so in the morning in which we are we unleashing divide news or perhaps time describe our national motto. E pluribus unum mentally. One there is no denying the fact that in recent years, we drifted apart were treated to a separate corners hunkered down in our respective silos and yet Mr. Gallup's people. The folks who've been pulling our opinions for almost as long as most of us can remember. Gallup recently asked US adults whether they approve of marriage between black people and white people and 94% should actually do you know what the number was when Gallup first pulls the question back in 1958, 4%, almost a total reversal so in the face of all our differences. Some things seem to be moving in a more tolerant direction, even in the worst of times. What always saved us from slipping entirely off the urge has been the American sense of humor, the ability to laugh at ourselves, and 50 years ago this guy Archie Bunker walked in raisers engine to tens of millions of American home loans soon created, recently returned 100 and still producing and causing controversy puts a lot of people off interesting. I am determined to find a of all differences, fewer produced, more friction over the years than those between black and white Americans. The subject of my conversation with the singer-songwriter John legend Chad be like black people been patriotic and forgiving in this country fought for the ideals that the nation said we were founded on. We've done that for centuries and I think he believed in America more than America believed in us leaving it so and much of America is still struggling Lee County reports on some Oregon residents who simply don't like the progressive policies of the Roman state their solution move a big part of Oregon and Idaho. Our system is set up on a majority rules right I'm in agreement with that.

But at a particular point when the majority becomes a super majority then one side is negated and that I feel we are negated here from John Dickinson will hear the day divided America may be as old as America itself. Then Tracy Texas to Wyoming where the very rich are so rich that the not so rich can barely afford to live there. David poll finds out why some of us go off the rails when we go online telephone sound examines the never-ending disconnect between old and young Martha Tatian or goes in search of common ground plus commentary from David Sedaris humor from Jim Gaffigan and more. This is a special edition of Sunday morning and will be back after this there is a move on the way in Oregon that would successfully move the state line, making a large chunk of Oregon part of Idaho and if you think that's far-fetched, Lee calendar invites you to think again. This is 1863 Mike McCarter, the nose is American history guys with go ahead and get started here almost as well. As he knows his Bible your father. We just take you for this time his family lived and worshiped here in Oregon generation. The only time I lived out of the state was during the Vietnam war. When I was in the military but he's Oregon might not be the Oregon you're thinking one with the misty rugged coastline Pinot Noir wineries loyally. This is the side the world and more sparsely populated white lives in the town of La Plata. It's almost like Grand Canyon goes right along the Cascade Range it that big a divide. It is a big divide. What that means. Politically he says of the blue part of Western Oregon. Always outweighs the eastern parts and talking to a legislator over in the Portland area. I said the legislature doesn't listen to our people are representatives over here.

He said will stop Mike we hear what they're saying we just outvote you so McCarter decided to look for greener pastures or in this case at least once a little more. This would be Oregon and that across the river would be Idaho leading a movement called move organs border which seeks to push the blueprints was smaller but still populous state of Oregon and then taking all the world read bits and making them part of a bigger Idaho. So how much land we talk roughly about 63% of Oregon's land so big chunk big chunk when you have a government that won't listen to the opposition or take into account those of us that live out here, then we have no government representation. This town is about 200 that Cindy gives Jones real estate business and Burrell John Oregon which is closer to Boise than it is to Portland in virtually every way as it political difference is it a cultural difference it's holiday about here are concerns. They want they don't understand our lifestyle. She's been going door-to-door in support of the greater movement and she says she's found some pretty fertile ground of the 11 county reported to about nine have endorsed and it's on the ballot in two more counties this November. Some who voted against it, worried that it could discourage political discourse might even set a dangerous precedent for other states.

Others, though say that moving estates border seems almost logistically impossible. So really, what's the point I optimistically got a chance I look at it. American revelation was a big hurdle to make and they get that I don't that we should act like state lines are written in stone. We should look at them and say, does this actually makes sense. Author Richard Heitner wrote a book about secession vision says it's hardly a new idea. Secession has always been a no Catholics lived in Maryland and Georgia you know Puritans lived in New England. They were kind of separate to begin with, and that's why they wanted nothing to do with one another. That's really woven into our DNA.

Absolutely nothing sacred about Oregon is nothing sacred about Delaware my native New Jersey.

In my opinion is just kind of inherited forms, you might be asking right about now, instead of going through all the trouble to move the board across when you feel like that you need feel like you don't have a voice and make a decision. The self-described libertarian Williams moved his family and I know the suburbs of Portland is extremely difficult to leave family and friends. Her shed in the town of Idaho. He says he found other political refugees. The conservative already and no discontent disconnect.

I got an idea that they can be this way you feel accepted and appreciated for who you are all sending the same message to Oregon's leadership that you got a problem in Eastern Oregon. Mike McCarter knows the concept of majority rule can certainly be worried about that was when it teeters on Tierney.

He said that's when something has to be done best people to decide just how he says the voters themselves.

If we get done with this and it doesn't come about. The way we want.

At least we did it the right way so be proud of that. Over the course of this program will be looking at a number of issues that separators a wealth, and politics to begin killer placenta and an age-old problem in 50s Dick Tracy had a lot you could talk you can make phone calls all I've got one now at a brewpub in Bethlehem. We sat with for people over 64 people under 40. We wondered what differences they see between the generations. My parents had an arranged marriage.

I made someone who is not lucky enough to spend at the American dream.

But is it realistic our first house was $33,000 now the average car is $33,000 select ads is the level of anxiety and defeat to somebody already.

Couple that with the fact that some people jobs aren't the wages they should be making to be able to afford that kind of living. The conversation moved from finances we all live our echo chambers to technology when you're on social media are following and liking the things that think the same way as you and you become trapped in that and inevitably politics. Some of the main leadership we have in Congress are over the age of 70 are they really totally understanding of our younger generation. This idea that lie, social media, I do tick-tock dances. I totally know young people know you, you've zero. Ideally you want the best. I know a color I want the best, not necessarily saying that the older generation in government needs to totally go away. Maybe bigger balance that there was some finger-pointing as you grow older you keeping experiencing things and you inherit them to smoke in your back and you can't get it off. I'm going all day and I'm inheriting what you guys did to our client. :-) For the next generation to come to find out won't be anything you feel like you have to clean up the mess they live their lives, they did what they wanted to do and now I'm here. Composting, they probably feel like they were cleaning up the mess that was left to their smoking on planes. The biggest disagreement was over work ethics.

If you saving you sacrifice it does get better. Problem is, we haven't taught our kids went to entitlements and by making you entitled it wrong if you because you and I work young people today are spoiled what you said the average guys on his phone. About 300 times a day work for a living. I remember there used to be encyclopedia salesman to come to your door.

Now I have an encyclopedia in my pocket all times your follower not a leader. We start thinking for yourself.

You become a leader.

Eventually they found common ground. Every generation is asked different and like it makes you feel old. Our parents use things like groovy like that's a ridiculous word like our generations and things like lit in people younger than us are like what are you talking about i feel that's one thing that never changes. We are all getting old.

I need it so everything is life for got here and I need only think talk is the new tick-tock tick-tock have no idea what it means that this but it will also recycle 60s peers and freaking out because you had interracial couples got tattoos all your smoking.

How dear you confront the US government about drastically different with these things come back around to just have different cools same close in 1858 Abe Lincoln running for the U.S. Senate gave a campaign speech in which she said a house divided against itself cannot stand.

For the record he lost that election is John Dickinson, reminds us, we have been deeply divided before these objects from the deep history of American democracy and recent events from collections protests what have you and you start to see techniques and devices reappear over time. This incentive rhyme with each other any subjects I must talk to each other across different.

At the Smithsonian Institution historian John Greenspan is a curator in charge of that part of the nation's attic that holds the objects of American democracy and politics. I call this the fossil record that this is a Smithsonian is known for its dinosaurs. These are the fossils of democracy. Greenspan is also an author who was working on his latest book about the violence in American politics. At the end of the 19th century, the way you organize a campaign to get torches the way to midnight and you march through downtown when his work started to feel increasingly like a study of our own time when you are writing about these themes from the late 19th century. You're also seeing out your window in American democracy at that present moment, seeing these things from our past. This really ugly trends. I thought we put away a kind of reverse engineering come back here to relevant to Greenspan torches carried five years ago by white supremacists recall torches carried by advocates of the opposite position. Antislavery marchers of the 1860s the white awakes after the Civil War Blacks were attacked for exercising their newfound right to vote. Opponents of immigration question what it meant to be a real American recession of 1873 was followed by a hotly contested presidential election, whether it's 150 years ago or today when political affiliations become so closely associated with people's identities. Conflict is no longer about ideas. It's personal. Recent pew research Center poll found that growing shares in each party. Now describe those in the other party as more close minded, dishonest, immoral, and unintelligent, just like in the 19th century. Is that basically the most important distinction for us to pay attention to, which is not the strength of your beliefs, but the strength of your fear of the other side when American politics is at its ugliest. There's a sense among perpetrators of violence that the other side should not be participating has no right to bring us back from the brink.

Today, Greenspan suggests we look at how 19th century leaders cooled the passions of their times. How did they do it in a system that was rewarding acrimony. One of the things that drives this is that there's always a sense that certain class of politicians should be removed from the otherness of politics that residents in particular are specific kind of like a friendly national grandfather. There was a wall between the politics and the presidency and that wall is been a road fastening from historic perspective is to see how many things it seems that it seemed like the norms of democracy are just the people follow them until they don't.

How do we survive this. Where it seems only to be escalating towards something dangerous.

That's the fundamental question. I mean, there's a big transition from a political system ethnically public fought out in the public square to one that's private, where you don't talk about politics and the dinner table and the sense that restraint is the key value in democracy and it sounds too easy to say restraint and it works but if you say something enough in the culture.

That's how you make here is thought to ponder for those with kids in high school send them off to college or have them learn to trade the answer is not quite as clear-cut as you may think have a strict you certain on and next to the most use of equipment that's Julius right sitting on the other toilet seat he's a master plumber and an instructor training facility for the gas is five and five year apprenticeship learning the trade before they can call themselves licensed plumber.

New leveling will become crazy because of the five colleges for here. Don't get paid to learn to treat learning here and assisting a licensed plumber on the job. The printers can make up to $77,000 a year so this is Brandon micro ski work carries a certain stigma. Growing up my parents would see something that they all go to school so you don't end up like them will great pay great benefits not doing that, but people still look down on us that the regular everyday people.

The people at work 9 to 5. In office we get 30 smelly covered in all sorts of what we do. That division is partly if function of people thinking that because the work is dirty.

It must be stupid people never attempted skilled manual work, they may not understand just how intellectually rich and engaging. It can be, and demanding to describe Matthew Crawford is a mechanic with a PhD in philosophy is social troop. I was the director of a think tank and I quit that job to open a motorcycle repair shop because well the think tank work. Essentially, we started with a set of conclusions.

The ones that are donors wanted and then worked backward to a set of premises that could get us to the conclusions, whereas if you can't figure out why bike doesn't start and run right. You can't weasel your way out of it. Not starting and running right and reminds us there are 43 million Americans carrying the student loan debt averaging somewhere north of $37,000. The tradesmen will provide more than just a good look at what distinguishes the skilled trades I think, is that your always using your own judgment. The physical circumstances in which a plumber does work on electricians that you're never simply following a set of instructions you always have to get a handle on some novel situation and diagnose it with our hands by a lot of us up here really appreciate that people think it's simple to fix toilet think it's simple. Oh well pipe local five apprentice Jack T guy work with sets are without an audience like our formal autonomous artwork without audience is causing visions ignorance career: T smalls as business manager of local five that stigma that myth that people that are in training today trades because they couldn't do anything else. Not understanding that the guy that engineered highways is a trait guided engineered the IT services that get you your Internet is a training base got all know that because you put trust in politicians will break your heart you know I think they always say the vote Democrat people out in the field.

Most of them are very conservative values. Everyone visions in America today seem rooted in the perception that some white-collar workers and many college graduates have about themselves relative to the trades people keep their homes and cars, and the utilities functioning that illusion contributes to the contempt that many people feel for working class to my mind. A lot of that division in the country is facilitated by a lack of acquaintance with the kind of work that others are doing.

For those of us who are free of it to ourselves. You mind my asking Richard take a year over hundred thousand. It's a modest answer.

Julius makes way over $100,000 to help. Why do you think will still have such a spring working in will I feel my opinion is people need to have a certain status will feel better. Certain class group someone else you think going to college gives people sense of I'm little bit of the because an educated think were educated what the pandemic told us that we are now and this doesn't work, go the uneducated plumber right wing we collect some paramount classes your destination screen like orphan, frightening like monster I received collection of speaks paramount plus stream now college professor accident murder suspect her boyfriend from their host shotgun blast cast on podcasts Amazon music contests. What special edition of Sunday morning and here again instead company superstar with a social conscience for you will judge for yourself as we spend a few minutes with John Lynch and John legend definitely qualifies as the surface closely to MAs, 12 grannies, one Oscar and atonement accomplishment is so rare it's so use any Grammy Oscar Tony is sometimes blames to is going in the wrapper, and recorded the song which legend in common.

So Academy award Best original song in 2050, and this was legend accepting the Oscar wrote this song for film that was based on events over 50 years ago, but we say that Selma is now because the struggle for justice is right now. Incarceration was legend.

His first target for social change. You spend a lot of time focusing on penal reform.

Prison, one that's part of me not forgetting where I come from, and remembering how the criminal punishment system is affected so many people my family.

People in my neighborhood. I know so many personal stories of people been affected by families have been affected by, and then as I grew older, grew beyond what was personal to me in person to the people around me and I began to understand more holistically in the nation. We've done over the past few decades would become the most incarcerated country in the world and it's been costly in so many ways. I've been spending the last decade or so fighting to change that African-Americans are incarcerated at a rate more than five times that of white Americans across all races when it comes to prison population were number one. Why do you think we have absolutely people incarcerated country. As you pointed out, we have more prisoners in America than any other country in the world. I think a lot of it starts with our original sentence slavery at the has a lot to do with it.

Course outlaw slavery except for system I think you're referring to prison labor to absolutely because that made it illegal to force people to do labor except they were convicted of crime. I think you know there are a great many people who are worried about the fact that this country is moving and will have moved in the next 10 to 15 years or so to appoint where there are more people of color in this country than their own white people think they need to be learned, what I want them to realize is that equality doesn't have to take from anybody us all having equal rights as having human dignity having a community that's healthier and stronger for everyone. Doesn't need to hurt anybody and if you see everything is a zero-sum game. Yes, you might be worried to be more people of color than there are white people. That means if you like to start losing something that only means that people of color decide that they're going to do like people would like it will been doing to people, for the past several centuries.

Perhaps what Hollywood Madison Avenue PR person would have drafted for him legend doesn't mince words on the subject of racial equity in a TV interview with his almost 14 million followers on twitter. We can live in a society where we all respect each other's human dignity in the community that's strong for everybody safer for everybody healthier for everybody.

We don't need to believe that just because it is more than one group or another that somebody access to lose because that's a beautiful expression and I hope you're right that that's what we should believe if I'd been born black in this country. I'm not sure if I can find that reservoir of compassion that you're talking. Well I like black people been patriotic in this country we been forgiving in this country we fought for the ideals that the nation said we were founded on.

We've done that for centuries and I think we believed in America more than America believed in us to believe in itself, but yeah, I think we have an interest in fighting for democracy more empathetic community to make our lives better, but it will make everyone's life better to. Here's a lovely line about average stay command and put one of his feet in a bucket of ice and the other bucket of boiling water and on average he's comfortable. On average, Jackson Hole, Wyoming is a really comfortable place to live, but as Ben Tracy found it does help if you have a lot of money, Jackson, Wyoming is often called the last of the old West needs cowboy culture runs so deep rides along on the morning cup of coffee, and while some of the best things in life. Here, maybe free ASD price to live in this valley known as Jackson Hole. I love this community and I left the place right there is always that question in the back your mind are able to survive here Elizabeth hunting here from Massachusetts in 2018. For the first seven months only place she could afford to live within her van between living in your van your car in various apartments.

How many places have you lived eight or nine, and in a lot of places there's been not question as this is home for for how long. Teton County is now home to divide bigger than those mountains for which its name is the wealthiest and most unequal in America. The average income here is $312,000 median home price in the county is now more than $3.6 million that's left of food pantry overwhelmed by demand, staring at $6 million townhomes rising across the street.

The level of wealth level of disparity that you see minutes and times.

There is a saying in town that you either have three homes or three jobs. Many workers have been forced cheaper towns nearly 40 miles away over sometimes treacherous roads.

Hutchings works at a local restaurant and shares this basement apartment with a roommate. It's the most stable housing she's ever had here pierced Accenture time driving so much time working just trying to survive.

I think every penny has that question, is it worth that this area here is actually one of the holdovers in town that I imagine five years. Even will look very different. Yield school of the environment. Prof. Justin Farrell grew up in Wyoming and is author of the book billionaire wilderness. He says the middle class here has been completely hollowed out. Inequality is an issue playing out across the country is uniquely bad here it is uniquely bad. Actually it's nation leading that if you're making 4050 $60,000, you're likely living in your car or your only 45 minutes away.

For most people it's becoming unlivable. The reason he said is true about the 19 town County theory. They're arriving here exhilarated during coping. The desire for multimillion dollar mountain escapes has created a new land rush. Americans always looked West it's always been the lodestar of American identity and probably Jackson Hole with the cowboy image, and the Tetons. It's I think what makes it so special for so many people on top of that it's functionally taxing so Wyoming does not have a state income tax doesn't have a corporate tax so it's a really great place to park your money legally. All that wealth is cleverly disguised behind a façade of pickup trucks and genes.

It's almost as if the landmark watering hole. Million dollar cowboy bar was coming. This place is really unique because it allows people to engage in this personal transformation to become a normal person. They rely on the Western stereotypes to do that and so you have these millionaires even billionaires, dressing and Wrangler jeans dressing down trying to avoid any sort of class indicators that might make them look wealthy and I think it's really well-intentioned. Suharto is a private wealth advisor here from high tax, California girl he and his wife Monica relocated to Jackson in late 2020 was really about living in a different kind of place and really being closer to nature and so it's tremendous to be a part of that I get a sense that you really do have a respect for the place and I don't want this to sound rude but I assume you're aware that some people here think you are part of the problem, of course, absolutely. How does that feel it's my responsibility to show them that you know I understand that we came her more recently recovered baby's right but at the same time. If you approach it with the regard and respect in a listening and at the end of the day like anywhere they judge use as an individual kind of person you are. Hartl says he's planning to donate 1/3 of his tax savings to local nonprofits and charities. Teton County is one of the most philanthropic communities in America if I part of the problem. Shahram you know why the people that came then was able to buy a house in a marked up price and I'm very grateful for that. But again, I also see that I have an obligation as a result, Elizabeth Hutchings. She says she just wants to make sure people like her horse power that keeps this cowboy town. Running can also call the if we don't find a way to create a more equitable society and to support people with housing services dozens a nice restaurant. You look down the road and do you see yourself here in 10 years.

I don't care if I'm here in 10 years.

They want other people to have a better quality of life years since been thinking about what like the time coming out still.

I didn't. That was back in the 1970s now and having to do it all over again 65 years old. Then, with the same guy for 31 years and on this day I am announcing to the world straight, I haven't met anyone else having fallen in love with the woman I'm simply done fighting the term queer. What bothers me is not that it used to be a slur.

I just don't see why I have to be rebranded for the fourth time in my life. I started as a homosexual became gay, then LGBT now queer for what want to make others being asked to interview with the woman who identifies us queer because she's tall.

She never had a relationship with another woman doesn't care to for all I know both Stanley queer I'm not tall, just set their parking meters sustained higher than idea. I'm told that queer is about inclusion 10 umbrella that lesbians and non-binary people and bisexuals and all women can all stand just say I'm intersex I'm trans I'm a lesbian, etc. why do we need an ever-changing umbrella just to make the parades easier no longer matters what you are in practice just how you identify I'm going with heterosexual because like the words Jewish or female. It rarely if ever changes. I need a resting place in this is as good a one is something here on out on the Stratus icon but with a boyfriend government Charlotte Charlie Riley Nelson and I chatted you and Irishman in the regular American if anyone is America laugh over the years. It's Norman Lear recently turned 100 and he still is miles to go and promises to keep this to flag-waving celebration of America was produced in 19 to less than 10 years after the tour this country apart blissfully member that's Norman Lear, arguably the most successful producer of situation, using television. Norman is always been committed to the promotion of free speech is political action. People use this special found a way to have John Wayne supported Jane Fonda publicly posted so the nice on nationwide TV.

I think that she's a little mixed up thinking and I guess she feels the same about me. That's our right is symbols of national reconciliation go to the same special today. I am determined, Lear turned a couple of months back and when he talks about producing television specials now.

He is not. I promise you 1/2 a dozen in the works. We will be making my 10 I love it is.

Let's say 40 or 50 years ago situation, the big screw you, Norman produced a bunch of those thinking things will easily Norman Lear is considering recasting reproducing one of the most controversial sitcom episodes of all time episode was broadcast 50 years ago, a 47-year-old woman who fears that she and her husband may be too old to have another child. It's illegal and she is considering abortion.

All right you please get yours into the kitchen, puts a lot of people off.

Kristin and I wouldn't change a word the last moment. That's something I remember clearly is anything I have read just tell me will I'm doing the right thing. Not having the baby's response was the privacy of our lives doing the right in the privacy of our online doing the right thing.

CVS is what you think will happen this time they get 10 and because it was said steam find it all comes to the same thing. I know that tri-bunkers so linkable was the likelihood that some more work hairdresser around the Thanksgiving table you want get you away one big loud USA going down like a Jew who made a screen. You always managed to make us laugh about the most dangerous races hatred, bigotry can make us laugh today. If I were doing it today I would have a 13-year-old represent everything I care about is a pain in the ass talking about it and feelings about American she would just text 13 know a lot about the foolishness of the recognize problems that her parents are living with.

They are not facing. I have all the faith in the world and your creativity that you put a lot of those slender shoulders 13 year old scribbler to carry this mess. Help we are more sensitive to about not doing things we are more sensitive to about not doing things that offend women others of minority groups that has to be a good thing you say we have to be more sensitive today. Not sure I agree with every office as part of some who was there to make sure that others in the department don't go around defending one another 50 years ago. So the good thing I said something wrong that were living in a culture where that has to exist that there is a role for a person to make sure that other people the decent said something about the culture we live in. I'm getting the impression that what you're saying is we shouldn't need a department so nice to see your vehicle for getting us is always been the ability to make us laugh so the foolishness of the human condition is still going to do. I pray so tens of millions of Americans get their political marching orders on the radio.

Jim Axelrod is been listening trump one okay and binds illegitimate you just have to live with okay across America.

The message is loud and clear teachers in Florida are are facing the religious tyranny of Ron DeSantis. This Christian terrorist 35 years after the talk radio revolution on the air is still often an exercise in off the rails like I had like that that super white Harry look like a character in Ozark. The guys turning into a dictator right in front of your eyes. Brian Rosenwald is an industry expert in 2022's America. What's the nature of talk radio. Is it any different than it's been the last two or three decades, if anything, Jim. I think it's more extreme, following the repeal of the fairness doctrine in 1987. Broadcasters were no longer required to present both sides of controversial political issues. There is simply no way Joe Biden was legitimately elected president, which ushered in Rush Limbaugh's polarizing and immensely popular style that attracted 18 million listeners a week who felt dominant media outlets had a liberal bias and I think over that long span. It has unquestionably divided Americans.

It has unquestionably hardened our politics. Cracks can't rob you the next best thing is to convince you that you are being robbed and how is it good for America. It's not.

It's bad for America with facing a cultural crisis in this country. Michael Harrison is the publisher of talkers Magazine, the industry Bible if we could have on the liberal side. What we have on the conservative side, the talk radio industry would be better free speech would be better served in the nation would be better served. It's not that liberals haven't mounted a counter attack chose another battlefield is never a liberal Rush Limbaugh well II think they've gone into other. I think Jon Stewart has been every bit of a trailblazer as Rush Limbaugh looks and he happened to colonize late-night, your Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, most of the late, I comically left at this point I am working three page after Limbaugh weapon eyes talk radio for the right year remained outmanned and outgunned on the list of talkers Magazine top 10 most popular talk radio hosts all our conservative trail flows in both directions these days on commercial radio. The one part of the dial that is liberator. This is all things considered for public radio attracts big numbers, though it's relatively restrained, compared to the intense competition for listeners on commercial radio is creating ever more extreme approaches to attracting listeners CRT bathrooms that anybody can use them for any change in this dynamic talk radio is now with those running less willing to gamble on something like nuance.

I think right now it's have a take and don't suck because the only color that seems to matter more than red and blue, and are divided America is green.

What is the mission of talk radio is it to generate light or heat. The mission of talk radio is to generate ratings and revenue. So what's the answer, putting old and young, rich and poor. Conservatives and liberals in the same room and just have them talk it out, which is to say try something, anything, is Martha Tosh from supporters entry to processing center in Detroit, Michigan ground state in every sense of the word here. Purple doesn't mean moderate. It means the 50-50 red blue split is a chasm not a concern for our country and democracy.

That concern is why these people gathered on a recent Saturday in Traverse City, Michigan, half of them read the other half brought together by braver angels not-for-profit, attempting to narrow the divine here just to help people, those I'm concerned that polarization has become paralysis started in 2016. Braver angels now hold sessions nationwide to start out with some expectations to abandon it was shaped by Bill Doherty, who teaches relationships at the University of Minnesota.

He's also a marriage counselor. Is it a proper analogy of reds and blues in America and couples on the brink of divorce, there is an analogy to couples on the brink of big differences that divorce is not possible America in Traverse City, participants arrived and he said it first it was difficult to get in the car and drive, but I knew I had to do it to get over here the other side after what happened in January, 20, 21, when Kelly McIntosh addressed a virtual County commission meeting asking commissioners to denounce the boys after the violence of January 6.

This was the response. Then came the threatening phone calls.

Task number one at a red blue workshop is counterintuitive. List what they call you the stereotypes reds and blues in separate rooms such as conspiracy facilitators then asked each side. If there is a kernel of truth. Stereotypes will also see here and so it go for three hours peeling back the onion looking for common ground, no trying to change anybody's mind got wrenching to sit in those stereotypes and then to hear what the other side, how they felt like we saw them divided. They were these people showed up because they wanted to know each other, not by laypeople but by name. Brent swings and Kelly McIntosh. She's a annealing like her. Did you think you would click with someone of the blue persuasion so mentally I would say that when it hopeful with that but I didn't expect to find a friend. I was shocked at the comfort commandery because some things that we talked about were not real comfortable political things to talk about.

Here's the wild River Angels has held more than 2000 workshops and is growing so is the divine. As for closing it. The brave proposition here is that it is something what Jim Gaffigan gets the last word almost.

I guess it would eventually happen.

I have a stalker. Not surprising given how attractive I but yes, Jim Gaffigan has a soccer well stalkers.

These sickos are probably watching right now, and frankly, it makes me nauseous. There possessed of me. They have a problem now.

I've been advised by my lawyer cannot identify them by name, but I'll give you a hint. They are the Democratic public employees.

It's nice to be wanted by the two national parties that have consistently colluded to block the participation of any third party, but the problem is you won't leave me alone. Somehow they know where I live and have my email I get daily emails with suggestive subject lines like will you fight for America, Jim or Jim. Don't let them take your freedom occasionally they will leave glossy flyers in my mailbox bad mouthing other stalkers I can throw out the emails I can delete but the real harassment is the almost daily text messages from thoughts, pretending to be Republican or Democratic highly personal computer generated contract by knowing frankly an appropriate unmarried in these text messages. They always asked me for a small donation.

Just $25. Can I count on you to give $20.

What am I buying them lunch. They know I'm so cheap it's constant. The incessant begging for money makes me concerned. Those DC lobbyists are not paying our politicians enough.

Yes, there are problems with our democracy. For God sake both as insurmountable or some of the differences seen in the country seem worse.

So quite clearly the millions of people from other parts of the world who continue to think of no greater fulfillment of their dreams and to emigrate to these United States.

What we have never seen before, is the corrosive impact of social media, the means by which anyone with access to an iPhone can undermine reality replacing facts was full swords cruise with lies and spreading them around the world with the speed of light. If we can no longer agree on the definition of a fact that our country really is and from secular for listing. Please join Jane Pauley when a trumpet sounds again next Sunday morning with bleach again this week. The former longtime president of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richard if we had a referendum in every state in this country. This decision with the overwhelmingly rejected the midterms or could be a perfect measure of that to be a demonstration concern again and I think crosses partyline in geography about this kind of government intrusion. For more from this week's conversation followed it takeout with Maj. Garrett on podcast forever.

You get your podcast I maraca and it's been a while. I think busy digging up even more stories about the people and things of the past that are fascinating me now what your father think of the label of the whole idea of the Latin letter from the screen idols who redefine Hollywood's leading man was a love-hate relationship. My dad hated the work much. That's what I to the dog who introduced millions of kids to classic literature and listen to obituaries six