The Gist

Polarization Nation

It’s not just about the issues: Fear, competitiveness, and tribalism all make it harder for Democrats and Republicans to get along.

Protesters shout at each other during a rally on Sept. 24, 2017, in Berkeley, California.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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Political parties are like people: They grow and change, their values shift, and sometimes they become downright belligerent. Lilliana Mason says America’s two political parties are in the middle of a shift, and it won’t be over anytime soon: “What happened to conservative southern Democrats after the Civil Rights Act passed? They didn’t like it. … It took an entire generation for conservative Southern Democrats to become Republicans.” Mason is the author of Uncivil Agreement: How Politics Became Our Identity.

In the Spiel, “angel moms” deserve sympathy, but they’re being used.

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